Chapter 1370 The Gate of Hell

"Disappeared?"

Jinling Space Launch Center.

When Lu Zhou heard the report about the earthquake structure, he was so surprised that he almost didn't stand up from behind his desk.

Seeing the surprised expression on Lu Zhou's face, Director Chang Hezhi nodded with a strange expression.

"That's right... According to the updated mission log of our Mars scientific research station, our scientific research personnel sent a Mars rover to the target area, but when they arrived at the fracture structure, they found that there was nothing there."

"It's as if... disappeared overnight."

The fault structure more than ten meters deep disappeared overnight?

Lu Zhou had never heard of such an incredible thing.

"Did there be a sandstorm that night?"

"Sandstorms occur all the time on Mars, but even if it is a sandstorm, it is impossible to bury a fracture structure more than ten meters deep overnight... These are the original words recorded by Dr. Fan in his work log."

Lu Zhou said.

"Just tell me what else he said."

Director Chang Hezhi shook his head and said: "Nothing else, that's all he said about the fault structure. Other than that, it's about the application for publication. He hopes to make public the amazing geological discovery." Publish it so that more people can analyze this miraculous phenomenon.”

The scientific research funds for the Ascension to Fire Project mainly come from Huaguo. The scientific research results produced by all scientific research activities on Mars belong to the collective of the Manned Fire Assemblage Project Office in name, so if you want to publish the scientific research results, you must Must apply to and be approved by the Manned Fire Program Office.

However, under normal circumstances, this kind of research project that does not involve sensitive experimental content is just a formality. Of course, the Crew Program Office hopes that they can produce more valuable results, so that their investment in the Mars project will be worthwhile.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Zhou nodded.

"Just do as he says."

Although Lu Zhou felt that it would be too hasty to announce this discovery now, and it might be more rigorous to wait until more clues are obtained, but this Dr. Fan's proposal also makes sense.

After all, the power of one person is insignificant, and a solution conceived by one brain is not as reliable as tens of millions of brains working together. Only when more people participate in this field can we hope to solve the problem.

Looking at the work log in his hand, Lu Zhou's eyes stopped at the coordinates of 14.7° south latitude and 128° west longitude, and his index finger swept this line lightly.

"Speaking of which, what's the name of the mountain next to this fault structure?"

Director Chang Hezhi: "If I remember correctly, according to the naming of the International Astronomical Union... Its name seems to come from a work of art."

"artwork?"

"The Gates of Hell, the author is Auguste Rodin..." After a pause, Director Chang Hezhi thought for a moment and continued, "Translated, it is called the Gates of Hell."

Door of hell……

The name is a bit unlucky.

Chewing this word repeatedly, that ominous premonition resurfaced in Lu Zhou's heart again.

"This name is not very auspicious," picked up the pen from the table, and wrote a line of text next to the copy of the work log. Lu Zhou handed it to Director Chang Hezhi, "I will change the name in the work log later. It's called."

"128 abnormal points?"

"Well," looking at Director Chang Hezhi, Lu Zhou continued succinctly, "Raise the priority of this research project to A-level, and report to me immediately if there are any new discoveries."

...

Since the failure of the "New Virginia" project last time, due to pressure from public opinion and funding, NASA has suspended more than 90% of Mars projects.

However, although the launch plan left NASA with a lot of feathers, and it has not even slowed down until now, it does not mean that they have given up their desire for Mars so willingly.

However, everything has returned to the category of rationality.

NASA High Resolution Imaging Science Laboratory.

This is the command center of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Curiosity, and it is also the only research team in the entire NASA that still focuses on Mars.

"The latest research data."

Throwing a document on the desk, Professor Astak looked at the middle-aged man wearing glasses sitting behind the desk, and continued, "I don't know if you have read it, but I suggest you Have a good look."

"The latest research information?"

Muttering these words, Professor Kermiton reached for the document and glanced at it roughly.

However, it doesn't matter if you don't read it. When he looked down two lines along the document, especially after seeing the color photo attached to the text, his expression suddenly became weird.

"Seismic tectonics... appear and then disappear? How is that possible?"

"I also find it very...unbelievable," Professor Ashtak continued, looking at Professor Kermiton, "but planetary geology is not my research direction. I want to know what you think of this matter."

"What do I think? How else can I see it, only they are there, what is up to them... If they are right, then we are wrong. The geological activity of Mars is still quite active, and the core has not yet Cooling? This seems to be the only explanation, and there may also be a special local tectonic movement, allowing the formed fracture structure to heal overnight? Hiss... this sounds like a supernatural event."

Pushing the glasses on the bridge of the nose, Professor Kermiton sat up straight from the chair and continued, frowning, "To be honest... these two comparison pictures are really not from P?"

The geological activity of Mars has ceased. This is not just an empty phrase, but a conclusion drawn from rigorous scientific analysis based on the thermal radiation images taken by NASA.

All the clues point to the complete cessation of geological activities on Mars, and the complete cooling of the magma in the earth's core.

This is a dead planet, there is no possibility of any plate movement, let alone any earthquake or cracks caused by the earthquake.

Not likely, at least in the last few billion years.

It's not that he judges the belly of a gentleman with the heart of a villain.

It's just that the falsification of research results such as P-maps, data compilation, etc. is not a very rare thing in the academic world.

"I have already analyzed it with a third-party testing agency. At least according to the electronic file updated on their official website, there is no obvious trace of modification on the photo... Of course, it does not rule out that their methods are so clever that we can't see it."

"In any case, this is too unbelievable." Putting the research materials in his hand on the table, Professor Kermiton sighed after pondering for a long time, "It would be great if I could go to the scene to see it."

A bitter smile appeared on Professor Astak's face.

Go to Mars and have a look...

The idea sounds fanciful.

But I have to say that this seems to be the best way compared to standing on the earth and guessing at a distance of tens of millions of kilometers.

However, when the two of them were looking at this document and having a headache, a sentence suddenly came through the door.

"Actually, it may not be impossible."

Hearing the voice from the door, the two raised their heads to look at the door in unison.

I saw Director Carson standing there and walking into the office.

"Sorry, I undoubtedly overheard your conversation, but your voice is too loud, and I just came here to ask Professor Kermiton for something..."

Facing the two people's questioning eyes, Director Carson shrugged his shoulders, coughed lightly and continued, "Due to well-known reasons, the White House intends to repair relations with Huaguo, and according to what I have learned, the two sides have already included historical Many parties have reached an agreement on the remaining issues...Of course, we don't need to worry about these things. The key is that Huaguo agreed to reserve about 1 to 2 international cooperative research projects for us among the next batch of personnel going to Mars. number of personnel."

Professor Astak was stunned for a moment, and said hesitantly.

"That is to say...we can hitch a ride to Mars with the Chinese people?"

"It's okay to say that, but I hope you can understand it as a scientific research cooperation, and it is the kind that is beneficial to both parties..."

Coughing heavily, Chief Carson, who forcibly ended the topic, continued to look at the bewildered Professor Kermiton with a serious expression.

"I just heard that you seem to be very interested in geological research on Mars?"

"That's right..."

Seeing Professor Kermiton gradually showing a hint of hesitation on his face, Carson didn't give him any time to think about it, and immediately threw out his proposal.

"Professor Kermiton, then."

"Would you like to go to Mars for the long-term friendship between the two countries?"