Vol 6 Chapter 3240: Mars atmospheric deceleration landing system

After listening to Zhou Xiangming's words, Wu Hao couldn't help but smile. How to reach Mars is always an important question and a prerequisite for Mars exploration.

In addition to the need for a high-thrust heavy-duty launch vehicle to launch the super-heavy Mars probe into space, a ground-fire orbit transfer propulsion system is also needed to transport the Mars probe from the earth to Mars.

It can be said that a voyage of almost 200 million kilometers requires this earth-fire orbital transfer propulsion system to be responsible for navigation.

In fact, if compared according to the classic spacecraft structure, the Mars probe can be regarded as a crew cabin or a return capsule. This ground-fire orbital transfer propulsion system can be regarded as the service module at the back, or it can also be regarded as the propulsion module.

Its biggest role is actually to carry the Mars probe to Mars. In this respect, it is very much like a rocket. It's just that it's more complicated than a rocket.

It has not only a main engine, but also a swimming engine, attitude engine, reduction engine, etc. These engines perform their respective duties and work together to ensure that during the long voyage from Earth to Mars, the Mars probe can be carried safely and smoothly to the Mars orbit.

Along the way, you not only have to go through a lot of switching on and off, adjusting your attitude, but you also have to accelerate and decelerate. Especially the deceleration process when arriving at Mars is crucial. If the speed is too fast, it may directly skip Mars and pass by Mars.

If the speed is too slow, it may not be captured by the weak gravity of Mars and cannot enter the orbit of Mars.

It is not uncommon for some probes to even crash directly into Mars because they did not decelerate in time.

So Wu Hao was naturally very happy when he heard Zhou Xiangming say that the development work of the geofire orbital transfer propulsion system was basically completed.

"Thank you for your hard work." Wu Hao asked, patting Zhou Xiangming's shoulder.

Hearing Wu Hao's words, Zhou Xiangming smiled slightly and said modestly: "This is all a team effort. I just did my duty."

Wu Hao smiled and shook his head, and said seriously: "No, your role cannot be ignored. A good leader and the right choice can make the team get twice the result with half the effort."

After appreciating it, Wu Hao continued: "Let's talk about the atmospheric deceleration landing system."

Zhou Xiangming nodded and his expression became serious: "The atmospheric deceleration landing system, which we commonly call the 'sky crane', is the most challenging part of this mission.

Our team drew on the experience of the lunar exploration project and made a lot of technological innovations. At present, we have completed the design and preliminary testing of the system and are conducting more rigorous ground simulation tests. "

Wu Hao frowned slightly and asked: "What were the results of the preliminary test? Did you encounter any difficulties?"

Zhou Xiangming took a deep breath and said solemnly: "The preliminary test results show that the system performance meets expectations, but there are still some unstable factors under some extreme conditions. We are conducting in-depth analysis and optimization of these unstable factors."

After hearing this, Wu Hao was silent for a moment, and then said slowly: "The environment of Mars is indeed much more complicated than that of the moon. It has an atmosphere and wind. And compared to the moon, the surface of Mars is complicated. This requires us to consider more factors.

So it is certain that there are difficulties. The key is to see how to overcome these difficulties and solve the problem. This system is related to the success or failure of Mars exploration. Without it, our Mars exploration rover cannot safely reach the surface of Mars. "