Europa, also known as Europa.
It was Jupiter's sixth known planet and fourth largest moon.
It was discovered by Galileo in 1610.
The reason why it was called Europa was that it was the second closest to Jupiter among all moons.
Europa was a magical moon.
It was so magical that almost all astronauts yearned for this moon.
This was because Europa was an ocean planet...
Its surface was covered with a thick layer of ice, and beneath the ice was a gentle ocean.
As life on Earth was born from the ocean, everyone had reason to believe that Europa, which had an environment extremely similar to Earth's deep sea, could also breed life!
It was even possible that a highly developed civilization could be born on Europa.
Of course, the possibility of this happening was slim.
If they could really confirm the existence of life on Europa, then the entire human civilization's society, form, philosophy, consciousness, way of thinking, contradictory concepts, and other aspects would undergo earth-shaking changes.
Without a doubt, this would be the most important event in the entire history of human space exploration.
NASA had also arranged for a senior astronaut to explore Europa.
Unfortunately, even though they had spent the most money, they didn't get a share of it at all...
In response to this, NASA's internal staff flew into a rage and gave Chen Yu an extreme evaluation: He is an extremely narrow-minded, selfish racist who lacks international spirit and free will...
Boom!
After entering Europa, Chen Yu put down the Life Sphere and took a step back. "Please start your performance."
After exchanging glances with each other, the two astronauts skillfully connected to the life support system and decisively opened the sphere's lid!
"Ka … Ka ka …"
However, as soon as the lid was opened, before the two astronauts could react, Europa's pseudo-space environment caused the lubricant inside the sphere to boil and sublimate!
Immediately afterward, the extremely low temperature of minus 160 degrees Celsius instantly froze the evaporated gas, firmly fixing the two astronauts in place and preventing them from moving.
Icy mist filled the Life Sphere.
Beautiful, deadly...
"Damn it."
One of the astronauts reacted quickly and immediately closed the lid. The air pressure and temperature inside the sphere then quickly returned to normal.
The solid white mist also softened once more, and liquid droplets dripped down from the sphere.
In the temporary plan formulated by the China Aerospace Research Institute, they had considered the problem of lubricant sublimation. However, they didn't expect lubricant to freeze so quickly in the future...
"Let's collect the liquid first," one of the astronauts suggested through the radio.
"Okay."
The two of them immediately opened the box and took out a professional collection container from inside to fill the lubricant inside the ball.
When Chen Yu, who had been observing from the outside, saw that the two were safe, he turned his attention to his surroundings.
Europa was a world of ice and snow.
It reflected the rays of the distant sun with astonishing efficiency.
If one stared at a certain spot for a long time, the reflected light would sting their eyes.
Its surface was uneven, with many stranded glaciers and sporadic exposed rocks.
Looking up, one could vaguely see a thin layer of air and even clouds.
Chen Yu guessed that the mist might be formed by liquid ammonia being carried by the thin methane wind.
[This is Europa?
She's pretty!]
[Other than Earth, Europa is the planet with the most water in the solar system.]
[Lots of Water, good review.]
[The more water there is, the more likely life will be born.]
[What's wrong with my brain?
Why do I feel like you're driving?]
[I have a question. Why wasn't the water captured by Jupiter's gravity field?]
[The presence of water does not mean that there is life.]
[Sorry, Europa has clay minerals!
Coupled with the temperature of the deep sea, the possibility of life was extremely high!
It's just that humans have yet to prove it.]
[Industry insiders are here. Many people in academia believe that Europa has life at the bottom of the sea.]
"This is a magical planet..."
Bending down, Chen Yu picked up a piece of hard ice and muttered to himself.
Click!
At this time, the Life Sphere's lid was opened again. The two astronauts then emptied a large amount of lubricant and climbed out of the sphere in a sorry state.
As the astronauts couldn't communicate with Chen Yu verbally, they naturally didn't waste any time and quickly started working.
The two astronauts had a clear division of labor. One of them pulled out various equipment from the box and was responsible for setting up the Life Sphere.
The other took out a sharp alloy pick and an electric impact drill and began tapping the ice for sampling.
Due to Jupiter's tidal gravitational pull on Europa, the thick ice on the surface would sometimes be torn apart, causing a large amount of deep-sea material to erupt. Hence, it was possible to study the composition of the deep-sea without drilling holes in the ice.
The only problem was that the accuracy was not accurate.
As the Life Sphere's work progressed, the number of viewers in the five livestream rooms skyrocketed.
A considerable portion of these viewers were academic elites, and they were watching the most important extraterrestrial work in human history from a rigorous perspective...
Four minutes later, the astronaut setting up the Life Sphere excitedly pressed the glue seal button. The Life Sphere then started surveying the surrounding environment and activities under the ice.
The Life Sphere's equipment had two transmission ports. One was aimed at the two astronauts' microcomputers, while the other was aimed at Earth, which was hundreds of millions of kilometers away.
This ensured that the information obtained was secure.
There was no need to worry that the astronauts would encounter any accidents.
"I'm done on my side."
"I'll be done soon as well," the ice-shaving astronaut said as he increased his speed.
"Your... spacesuit is damaged."
After glancing at the other party's life-support data, the astronaut said with an ugly expression, "Did it get cut inside the sphere just now?
Hurry up and come back. "
"Oh, it might have been cut by ice... It doesn't matter. There are still two more sets!"
"I'll help you."
"No need!
Don't come over!
The ice is too sharp! "
After stopping the other party from approaching, the ice-shaving astronaut turned around and looked at the mist-like gas leaking from the left side of his waist. Gritting his teeth, he swung the pickaxe at his scalp and tossed out pieces of ice that were identical to each other.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud …
With each strike, the spacesuit's damaged surface grew larger and larger.
At this point, the astronaut simply gave up and swung the pickaxe with all his might.
Meanwhile, Chen Yu watched this scene from a short distance away. However, he didn't say anything.
He simply focused the camera on the astronaut.
Since this was an interactive game, he should follow the game's rules.
No matter how great one's work was, one must complete it by themselves.
This was the responsibility of a profession...
Thud!!
Accompanied by a crisp sound, the astronaut shattered the two-meter-deep ice. He then removed two sets of samples from the ice and stored them in special containers.
"Hurry up and come back. The PS index is too low."
"..." After hesitating for a moment, the astronaut looked at his companion. Instead of returning to the ice, he ran another dozen or so meters away and smashed his pickaxe against an exposed rock.
"What the hell are you trying to do?"
"Don't come over! Immediately!
Immediately! Immediately! "
Beads of sweat appearing on his forehead, the astronaut picked up a piece of rock and held it in his hand. He then dashed toward the Life Sphere.
"Hurry up!"
The other astronaut forcefully opened the Life Sphere's lid and supported each other as they entered the sphere.
"Phew..." After closing the lid, the astronaut carefully stored his pickaxe and removed his helmet. He then took a deep breath and exhaled deeply. At the same time, his excited expression distorted as he said, "This really is the Life Sphere. It's even more reliable than a spacecraft cabin."
"Are you tired of living?
Why don't you swap with me? "
"Swap with you?
What nonsense are you thinking? "The astronaut said, curling his lips." This credit belongs solely to me!
It'll go down in history in the future!
I'll kill anyone who tries to snatch it from me with my pickaxe!
Moreover, with so many samples, if the station doesn't give me a first-class merit, I'll throw them all away! "
The other astronaut also removed his helmet. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, he said, "The comms is still on. The command center will hear us in a moment."
"If they can't hear us, what else can I say?
It just so happens that my partner and I are about to get married. Hehe, I even have a house this time. "
"... Isn't your partner me?"
"Scram."