This star is going to the moon

Chapter 472 A Generous Gift of Crabs: What exactly did the Chinese discover on the far side of the moon?! (Third update)

The Orion spacecraft has been under development for nearly twenty years. It was originally part of NASA's Constellation program and was intended to replace the retired Space Shuttle and transport personnel to and from the International Space Station.

The main reason was the explosion of the space shuttle in 1986, which everyone assumed was due to the immaturity of the newly developed space shuttle technology.

As a result, in 2003, at the beginning of the new century, another space shuttle disintegrated during its return to Earth, which led the United States to decide to retire the space shuttle program.

Because it claimed to have low costs, but the actual costs were extremely high.

And the promised high safety level turned out to be surprisingly low!

To retire the space shuttle, a replacement spacecraft had to be developed. So the United States began developing a new spacecraft based on the Apollo spacecraft, which is the Orion spacecraft.

It also comes in two models: a near-Earth version and a deep-space version. The near-Earth version goes to the International Space Station, while the deep-space version goes to the Moon and Mars.

But with each new emperor comes a new court. When the US's leading ram changed to black, the "War God V" rocket and the return to the moon program were canceled; they were going to Mars!

Fortunately, the Orion spacecraft program was able to continue because it could support manned deep space exploration goals.

With the addition of the newly launched SLS rocket, they have been elevated to the highest priority.

The initial plan was for the Orion spacecraft to begin testing in 2008 and be able to carry people to replace the Space Shuttle by 2010, at which point the Space Shuttle could be retired.

However, Orion's progress was not smooth sailing; it was subject to many requirements.

For example, the low Earth orbit version of the Orion spacecraft is designed to transport 4 to 6 people to the International Space Station, while the lunar landing version is designed to carry 4 people, and the Mars landing version is designed to carry 6 people.

At the same time, a version of the unmanned cargo spacecraft similar to the Russian Progress spacecraft needs to be developed.

Before anything even happened, NASA's second design review led to major changes in the spacecraft design.

NASA initially wanted to use liquid methane as fuel for the Orion spacecraft, but at the time, the technology for liquid oxygen-methane powered rockets was not yet mature.

After a period of research, in order to save time, the self-ignition propulsion system was approved.

Later, they changed the airbag landing system and wanted to use the more primitive Apollo-style return capsule.

It turned out that the airbag was better, so they changed it back.

There are many similar situations that prevented the Orion spacecraft from completing its maiden flight within the scheduled time.

The bad news was that Orion had a competitor at the time.

However, it's also good news, because the competitor is the X-33 experimental aircraft.

The X-33 program failed because its technology was too complex, even more so than that of the Space Shuttle.

Only the Orion spacecraft remains; it's the only one left.

Thus, the Orion spacecraft was transformed into some kind of SLS large rocket.

In short—it was canceled!
Even after the Space Shuttle was retired, its maiden flight was still nowhere in sight.

NASA was forced to pay nearly $1 million per ticket for its manned spacecraft program, and finally, it launched the Commercial Crew Program.

Then came SpaceX's "Crew Dragon" and Boeing's "Starliner".

Although the Orion spacecraft subsequently made its maiden flight, it still encountered numerous technical problems, so...

Crew Dragon spacecraft's maiden flight was a success!
Orion spaceship: "Huh?"

The Kite-class space shuttle has successfully completed its maiden flight!

Orion spaceship: "Huh?!"

Laos and China announced their manned lunar landing plan, with the lunar spacecraft development progressing rapidly and a test flight around the moon scheduled for 2022!

Orion spaceship: "Huh?!?!?"

The failed maiden flight of the wrecked Starliner.

Orion spaceship: "...Comparing me to trash?" Of course, Americans would never say such things when they're bragging.

It directly bestowed the title of "shipbuilding genius" upon the Orion spacecraft development team.

Anyway, as long as we can complete the unmanned lunar orbiter mission first in 2022, everything will be fine!
Well, the most important thing is to send a manned lunar orbiter in 2023 or 2024, and then achieve the goal of returning to the moon in 2024.

As long as we take the lead over the elderly and Chinese, then everything will be fine.

Regarding the return to the moon, the US has released the latest information on the "Lunar Gateway" space station.

After all, the lunar orbital space station in the Artemis program is different from the lunar orbital space station in China; it is intended to be used when returning to the moon.

The Lunar Gateway is a small outpost, only one-sixth the size of the International Space Station, and represents NASA's gamble on establishing a foothold at the lunar south pole, where water ice could potentially provide fuel for future exploration.

The portal is equipped with 12-kilowatt Hall thrusters, the most advanced electric propulsion system ever built. It is designed to accommodate astronauts for up to 90-day stays, serve as a transit point for lunar landings, and test technologies for the journey to Mars.

It was built jointly by multiple countries. NASA built the logistics module for the propulsion module, the European Space Agency provided the living quarters and refueling system, Xiao Rizi manufactured the long-term living quarters for astronauts, Gama built the extravehicular robotic arm, and the UAE built the airlock to support spacewalks.

Because it is for the return to the moon mission, the first module, namely the propulsion module, will be launched next year.

NASA's statement is... everything is under control, and the mission will definitely be completed on time!

China's lunar orbit space station will only be used later when the international lunar research station is built, so there's no rush.

The main focus of the presentation by Lao Zhong tomorrow will be the unmanned lunar exploration mission.

And we just received an interesting photo taken by the Yutu-2 lunar rover from the far side of the moon.

Because it was so interesting, many big names involved in the lunar mission got a sneak peek, including Lu Yun.

Upon seeing this, he had an even brighter idea!
"Hey, I have an idea!"

So the next day, the Shenzhou-17 crew held a departure ceremony, took a shuttle bus to the launch tower, and began preparing to "board" the spacecraft from outside.

(picture)
Netizens quickly commented on the replacement of the ancestral "folding red stool" with a more comfortable armchair in the live stream, and then entered the live stream room for the second day of the International Astronautical Congress.

As always, the older Chinese speaker started the discussion.

The chief designer of Chang'e 6 announced the launch time for the Chang'e 6 lunar sample return mission from the far side of the moon.

"We will launch the Chang'e 6 probe next May, which will collect the first sample from the far side of the moon..."

Then, Lu Yun came up again, and he was responsible for explaining the progress of the lunar navigation and resource exploration plan.

"The Yutu-3 and Yutu-4 lunar rovers have approached the edge of the Sharkton crater and are searching for a suitable 'entrance' to explore the interior of the crater..."

"In addition, the Wu Gang 2 lander will be launched next month, carrying the Yutu 5 and 6 lunar rovers to land in Sverdrup-Hansen crater, which is also a promising candidate site for a lunar base..."

"By the way, speaking of the Yutu lunar rover, our diligent Yutu-2 lunar rover just took an interesting photo on the far side of the moon yesterday."

"Everyone, please take a look..."

As he spoke, a seemingly ordinary photo of the far side of the moon appeared on the large screen behind Lu Yun.

Its upper half is the black universe, and its lower half is the gray far side of the moon.

However, this picture cannot be looked at closely, because if you look closely, you will find that it is not flat at all.

At the end of the “flat” horizon, there stands a square, blurry image that looks abruptly out of place!

It's like a house with a door!

(Photo of the mysterious cube-shaped object on the far side of the moon by the Yutu-2 lunar rover)

Upon seeing it clearly, some foreigners lost control on the spot.

"Hey, you crabs, what have you found on the far side of the moon?!"

(End of this chapter)