Chapter 196 Mars simulation results

After the sampling work was completed, as the motor turned in the opposite direction, the long drilling rod was quickly pulled out from the surface.

There was nothing unusual in the first five meters.

The surface of the drilling rod was covered with red rock chips.

But the next picture was a little different.

A deep red.

Seeing this obvious color difference, Bai Yixuan's eyes showed some uneasiness.

Being on an alien planet, facing this unknown situation, uneasiness and worry are extremely common psychological phenomena.

Not only Bai Yixuan, but also the other five teammates showed some worry on their faces.

"Captain, this..."

Xia Wanyi's voice came from the radio.

"Calm down." Bai Yixuan took a deep breath and said softly, "Wait until all the drilling rods are out before seeing the situation."

There was silence in the team's radio channel.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the drilling rod in front of them.

The motor stopped.

Bai Yixuan and Hong Fan, as the two people closest to the drilling rod, found the problem at the first time.

"Wet?" Hong Fan stared at the drilling rod in front of him blankly.

Bai Yixuan subconsciously reached out and gently touched the drilling rod, then twisted it gently with his fingers.

"No, to be precise, it should be damp."

...

Mars City No. 1.

"Five meters underground is wet soil?!"

Lv Yongchang looked at the holographic image in front of him in disbelief.

"Professor, it should be wet Martian dust glued together." Zero meticulously corrected Lu Yongchang's slip of the tongue.

"It's not important!"

Lv Yongchang waved his hand casually, frowning.

"The point is, how can it be wet? How can it be wet?!"

"Zero, what is the surface temperature of Mars now?"

Zero quickly responded to his question: "It is currently noon in Gale Crater, and the surface temperature is 10 degrees Celsius. Affected by the sun, the temperature is about 20 degrees Celsius higher than the same period last year."

Lv Yongchang frowned.

10 degrees Celsius, this does make it possible for liquid water to exist.

"What's the temperature at night?"

"Last night, the surface temperature of Gale Crater was -25 degrees Celsius, about 15 degrees Celsius higher than the same period last year."

Lv Yongchang shook his head solemnly: "No, this is not right."

"Such a temperature is definitely not enough to melt the ice layer five meters underground!"

"Could it be the effect of underground magma?" Just as Lv Yongchang was struggling, a familiar voice came from the door.

Lv Yongchang trembled slightly, obviously startled by the sudden sound.

He quickly raised his head and looked towards the door.

"Brother Xu?"

"Why are you here?" Seeing the visitor, Lv Yongchang's eyes showed a bit of surprise, "No, when did you come?"

Fang Xu skillfully pulled out the chair in front of the desk and greeted the mechanical arm next to him: "Zero, make me a cup of tea."

After seeing the mechanical arm move, he turned his head and looked at Lv Yongchang: "I just came not long ago, probably when you were struggling with the surface temperature of Mars."

A cup of hot tea was handed to Fang Xu.

He reached out to take the teacup, nodded to the mechanical arm and thanked it, then continued: "I'm here for the medical cabin."

"Medical cabin?" Lv Yongchang frowned even deeper, "What's wrong with the medical cabin?"

Fang Xu shrugged: "Academician Mao said that the basic functions of the medical cabin have been studied almost, and it is estimated that it will not take long to realize it."

Hearing this, Lv Yongchang's frown suddenly relaxed a lot.

This should be the first good news since coming to Mars.

The breakthrough of medical cabin technology will greatly extend the average life expectancy of humans.

Although the life expectancy of a hundred years is not enough for interstellar civilization, it is always a good thing to have a breakthrough anyway.

"So, what about the underground magma activity you just mentioned?"

Lv Yongchang brought the topic back: "There is no large-scale magma activity on Mars, you should know this."

"You also said that there is no large-scale magma activity." Fang Xu said while drinking tea, "I just gave you a guess, maybe there is still a little magma activity under the Gale Crater."

Lv Yongchang nodded silently.

Perhaps only this reason can explain the existence of liquid water.

"Professor, the complete report of the drilling sample has come out."

As Zero's voice sounded, a report appeared in front of Lu Yongchang.

"Sedimentary rock?!"

"There are obvious traces of water erosion and sedimentation?!"

Looking at the data in front of him, Lu Yongchang's eyes flashed with excitement.

"Sure enough, Mars was really a habitable planet in the past!"

Fang Xu also put down the teacup in his hand at this time, looking at the test data provided by Zero with surprise.

This is a subversive discovery!

"If there is water flow, then the types of minerals on Mars may be more than we imagined?" Fang Xu asked softly.

"That's right." Lv Yongchang nodded quickly.

"But it's still not as good as Earth."

"Among the more than 4,400 minerals known on Earth, more than 2,900 are related to biological activities."

"It's obviously impossible for these minerals to exist on Mars."

As he spoke, Lv Yongchang turned his head and gave Lingxia an order.

"Zero, let Bai Yixuan and others drive Xuannv II to make a complete survey of Gale Crater."

...

A few days later.

"Professor, the survey data is out."

The holographic projection quickly unfolded, and a thumbnail of the full view of Gale Crater appeared in Lv Yongchang's office.

"Zero, simulate the structure and texture inside the crater."

"See where the water comes from."

A few minutes later.

"Professor, the simulation results are out."

Arrows and water flows began to appear on the holographic projection: "According to the simulation results, part of the water comes from the surrounding area, which is the so-called rain."

"The other part comes from Mount Sharp."

"Rainwater? Mount Sharp?" Lv Yongchang frowned.

These two sources...Mount Sharp is easier to explain.

After all, in the drilling and detection of Mount Sharp, a large amount of underground ice was indeed detected.

It is also possible that there were glaciers on Mount Sharp in ancient times.

It's just rainwater...

Lv Yongchang's eyes moved slightly and he whispered.

"Zero, continue the simulation. The surface temperature of Mars rises by 70 degrees Celsius. What will be the result?"

As soon as the voice fell, a red image of Mars appeared in front of him.

As time went by, the ice caps at the poles of Mars melted rapidly, and a large amount of carbon dioxide and methane were released.

The injection of greenhouse gases greatly improved the warming ability of the atmosphere of Mars.

Afterwards, water vapor began to condense, and rain appeared on Mars.