Normally, the high ground of public opinion is often occupied by the Americans.

However, the president never expected that this time it was preempted by the Chinese.

[Mars encounters a once-in-a-century abnormal climate, global sandstorms cover Mars, and "New Virginia" may be in unprecedented danger! ] 】

In the body of the report, Renren Daily quoted researchers at the Qianzhou Radio Astronomy Observatory as saying the sandstorm could last for months.

As a direct result, the light on the surface of Mars may be 70% or even more than 80% lower than usual, and the problems that come with it are the decline in power generation and the drop in surface temperature.

Martian colonies need more energy to sustain them.

Paradoxically, it is difficult for them to get enough energy from solar energy to keep the entire life support unit running!

If this problem is not properly addressed, they may only last up to two months before they run out of oxygen in the life support unit......

As soon as the news came out, it immediately caused an uproar in North America.

Is New Virginia buried by a sandstorm?

WTF？

It's not the natural disaster on Mars that makes the North American people angry, it's that they haven't heard any news so far!

Even seven days ago, they were sitting in front of the TV, sipping beer and eating potato chips, watching Columbia Television's "Mars Diary" and watching the enviable and unusual lives that those brave colonists lived on Mars.

And yet now......

The ghost is still envious!

Many people who had signed up for the Ares Project volunteers broke out in a cold sweat after seeing this news, glad that they were not selected.

And when these people come to their senses from their fears, anger ensues!

Almost the day after this news was released by the overseas edition of Renren Daily, related topics swiped on Facebook and other major social platforms.

People have posted screenshots of their withdrawal from the Ares program, saying that they have been deceived by NASA and the U.S. government, and that the Ares program has never had any safety guarantee, this is a murder of Chiguoguo, an inhumane experiment that disregards life and treats people as guinea pigs!

As for those bananas who previously preached "pioneers of civilization", "beacons of the world", and "when Americans stand on Mars, our space has just risen into space", and posted on social platforms that they signed up for the Ares program, they are like deflated balls, and they are not jumping.

Of course, there are also those who lick in a different position.

For example, "The Star-Spangled Banner will never give up on any citizen, even if he is on Mars!" "The BFR rocket will take our hero home!" "Something like that......

But in any case, against the background of NASA's active concealment of the facts, these voices seem a little pale.

At the same time, the popularity that Space-X has amassed for Project Ares through "The Martian Diary" has almost come to naught. According to unreliable sources, the number of volunteers who signed up for the Ares program was once close to 20 million, but in just one day, the number dropped to 5 million, and it is still falling.

At present, Space-X and NASA have closed the registration channel on the official website, and the number of applicants shows that it has become a mystery how many warriors are left with their names on it......

Outside the NASA building.

The OB vans of the major media outlets circled around and almost filled the parking lot outside the building.

Reporters with long guns and short guns gathered outside the building, and the situation was chaotic for a while.

"Mr. Carson! What is the situation in New Virginia now? ”

"Why did our colonists have such an accident just two weeks after they landed on Mars? Didn't NASA conduct an expedition to the Martian climate before approving the launch project? ”

"Did NASA not think about rescuing our colonists at all? Why hasn't there been a new launch schedule yet? Are you going to give up our heroes? ”

"We have the right to know the truth!"

One microphone after another was held in front of him, looking at the reporters gathered outside NASA headquarters, Director Carson's forehead was covered with sweat, and he felt that his whole head was swollen.

Taking a deep breath, he spoke loudly with all his strength, trying to calm the reporters who were blocking the entrance to NASA headquarters.

"If necessary, we will make an announcement! But now is not the time, we can only say that our colonists are quite safe now! We have the world's most advanced artificial biosphere technology, so even if the dust storm lasts for more than a year, they will be safe! ”

However, not many people apparently bought Director Carson's response.

Thinking of "Mars Diary", which was suspended some time ago, many people have vaguely guessed something.

Things may not be rosy in New Virginia.

They may not last long......

……

It is not something that can be kept secret that Mars is experiencing a global sandstorm, and the space observation center with a little bit of strength can directly observe the muddy planet through large astronomical telescopes.

However, most space agencies are unaware of the devastating impact this global dust storm could have on the colonial outpost of New Virginia.

It wasn't until the news published in the overseas edition of Renren Daily that this fig leaf was completely lifted......

Finally getting rid of the difficult reporters at the door, Director Carson, who walked into the NASA building, walked quickly in the direction of the command room. Immediately behind him, the secretary general of NASA's secretary's office spoke to him at a rapid pace.

"We're in a pretty bad situation at the moment, Jones is Dutch, and the Dutch government says it's concerned about the latest developments in the Ares program. Last night, the French side also publicly stated that if NASA could not give a reasonable explanation for the security situation in the New Virginia colony, it might consider closing the registration window for its Ares program...... The French president stressed that this was the demand of their people. ”

"Shet, who cares if those French ginseng don't participate!"

Despite the curses, the expression on Director Carson's face was not relaxed.

The issue has gradually escalated to the diplomatic level.

Europe is an important ally of the United States, and it is impossible for the United States to completely ignore their feelings.

What's more, the real key issue now is not this at all, but this news that has been poked out, which has completely forced them into a corner.

If they don't save people, then the president won't survive the next election. And before the next election, he will definitely be kicked out of NASA by the president.

And even if they want to save people......

There is no way at all.

Walking quickly into the command room, Director Carson took a deep breath and was about to explain today's task to the staff sitting here.

However, at this moment, his assistant ran over to this side in a hurry with his laptop in his hand.

"Director, your video call."

Director Carson looked at the computer in his hand and asked, "Who called?" ”

"The IP of the communication request points to the other side of the Pacific Ocean......" swallowed, and the assistant added quickly and carefully, "It seems to be Huaguo Jinling." ”

Carson's pupils contracted slightly, as if he had guessed something.

Staring at the unfolded laptop, he reached out and tapped the enter button.

Soon, the video was connected.

A familiar and annoying face appears in the center of the video area.

"Hello, Mr. Carson, it's a pleasure to meet you, it looks like you're in a little trouble."

Staring at Professor Lu on the computer screen, Director Carson didn't ask him how he got his Facebook account, but said with a calm face: "Yes, but you don't need to worry about it, we can solve it ourselves." ”

"Really?" Lu Zhou smiled and said, "I'm idle and bored to calculate for you, 72 hours ago you probably had an unconventional transfer orbit that you could use, but now you probably need a BFR rocket equipped with 72 Raptor engines to be competent for the launch mission to Mars." I have written a paper on the calculation process and posted it on Arxiv, if you are interested, you can learn about it. ”

Seeing this, Director Carson almost didn't spurt out a mouthful of old blood.

It's okay to be idle and bored.

It's even more interesting to write a paper about the calculation process and send it to Arxiv.

With this guy's influence on Arxiv, I'm afraid that tomorrow, those reporters who have finally dispersed will come to the door with new "bullets......

Looking at the annoying face in the video, Director Carson said with a calm face, "You're here to see our jokes?" ”

"Of course not, we are deeply saddened by what happened to you," Lu Zhou shook his head and continued with a smile, "I just wanted to ask...... Electric propulsion system, do you want to know about it? ”

。 m.