Chapter Seventy-Three: The Lunar Palace Base

The rocket began its orbital turn, heading toward the far side of the moon. As the engines conducted a second acceleration, the silhouette of Earth gradually faded from view. Once the rocket entered its trajectory over the far side, the commander immediately switched to manual control, personally piloting the craft. He watched the data streaming across the screen, carefully adjusting the rocket’s flight orientation.

After about half an hour, the Earth was no longer visible at all; in its place loomed the dark shadow of the moon’s far side. Everyone in the crew cabin stared intently at the screens, gazing at the shadowed lunar terrain ahead.

“Senior, the front and the far side of the moon don’t look much different to me. Why do people say there are aliens on the far side? If I had to point out a difference, I guess it’s just that the craters are more numerous back here.”

Peng Dongli replied, “Of course there’s no difference. People used to say the far side of the moon housed aliens and alien bases, but that was just hype—conspiracy theories sparked by the fact that humanity couldn’t see the far side from Earth.

“In fact, the reason the far side is never visible from Earth is due to tidal forces between Earth and the moon. These forces gradually slowed the moon’s rotation until it became tidally locked, always presenting the same face to our planet.”

“Mm, I understand now.”

“But…”

Zhang Mingyang was about to ask another question when the commander’s voice interrupted him: “Comrades, we’ve reached the Aitken Basin. Below us is the famous Von Kármán crater—our nation’s first far-side lunar probe, Chang’e 4, landed right down there.”

As he finished speaking, the screen shifted to show a massive impact crater looming before them.

Zhang Mingyang activated his communicator and looked up information about the site: “The South Pole–Aitken Basin is the largest impact crater on the moon, Earth’s satellite. It’s about 2,500 kilometers in diameter and 13 kilometers deep—one of the largest known impact craters in the entire solar system. It’s also recognized as the moon’s biggest, oldest, and deepest basin.”

The screen shifted again, now showing a small probe.

Peng Dongli quickly pointed it out to Zhang Mingyang, “This is our nation’s first probe to the far side of the moon, launched twenty-two years ago—the world’s first spacecraft to achieve a soft landing and exploration on the lunar far side. It was this probe that discovered the ‘lunar gold mine.’”

Gazing at the diminutive probe on the screen, Zhang Mingyang was struck by its immense contribution to his country.

The view switched yet again, showing the northern edge of the Aitken Basin, a modest valley—their destination today, Dadi Valley.

“Everyone, we’re almost at Moon Palace Base. Pair up in teams of two and start putting on your spacesuits,” the commander instructed.

Everyone loosened their safety equipment and began to pair off and suit up. Zhang Mingyang and Peng Dongli removed their restraints and took out their spacesuits.

“Junior, let me help you,” Peng Dongli offered.

Zhang Mingyang nodded, stepping into the inner layer. Once he’d finished, Peng Dongli sealed the outer layer, and Zhang Mingyang then helped his senior suit up as well.

Seeing everyone ready, the commander used the communications system to report to Moon Palace Base: “Moon Palace, Moon Palace, this is East Fourteen, requesting permission to land, requesting permission to land.”

Soon, Moon Palace Base replied: “East Fourteen, landing zone is clear. You may land, you may land.”

---

Both sides having finished their exchanges, the commander unfastened his own safety equipment and donned his spacesuit.

“Everyone, check your spacesuits one more time to ensure there are no issues,” he reminded.

Zhang Mingyang glanced at the display on his left arm; it was green, confirming everything was in order.

When the commander saw that everyone had finished their checks, he took his seat at the controls for the final landing report: “Moon Palace, Moon Palace, East Fourteen has engaged reverse thrust. Speed brakes deployed. Preparing to land.”

“Moon Palace acknowledges. East Fourteen, proceed to landing area number seven. You are cleared to land.”

With the report complete, the commander watched the landing visuals on his screen, adjusting the rocket’s orientation.

Everyone’s eyes were glued to the large screen behind him, watching the rocket inch closer to the launch tower.

“Left five degrees.”

“Left four degrees.”

…

“Left one degree.”

“Bang!”

With a thunderous sound, the launch tower securely locked onto the rocket, completing the landing.

“Moon Palace, Moon Palace, East Fourteen has landed. Crew preparing to exit.”

“Moon Palace acknowledges. Crew will use the tower ladder passage.”

“East Fourteen acknowledges.”

With the final words of the report spoken, the commander instructed everyone to activate their suit oxygen systems and prepare to disembark in an orderly fashion.

Zhang Mingyang received the order and gripped the armrest, rising from his seat.

The others stood as well, lining up to await the commander opening the hatch.

Suddenly, Zhang Mingyang’s spacesuit lit up with a red warning. Peng Dongli, standing behind him, rushed over and grabbed Zhang Mingyang’s left arm to check the suit display. “Junior, why is your heart beating so fast?”

Staring at the hatch, Zhang Mingyang swallowed nervously. “I’m excited. It’s my first time setting foot on the moon.”

“I—” Peng Dongli released Zhang Mingyang’s arm, looking helpless. “Why did I ever let you tag along?”

“Hatch is ready to open. Everyone, pay attention.”

---

The commander pressed the button beside the hatch, and with a hiss of escaping air, the door slowly opened.

“Everyone, line up one by one.”

The commander floated out first, standing atop the launch tower outside the hatch to direct the crew’s exit.

As the others gradually exited, Zhang Mingyang’s turn finally came.

“Come on, young man, let me help you,” the commander said, guiding Zhang Mingyang out of the cabin and onto the hundred-meter-high launch tower.

Stepping out the hatch, Zhang Mingyang was utterly transfixed by the scene before him.

Above, blackness covered the entire sky, speckled with faint stars decorating the night. Below, black lunar soil stood beneath ten towering launch towers, dozens of round and square buildings scattered across the landscape.

Zhang Mingyang nudged Peng Dongli behind him and stammered, “Senior, I—I need to take a picture!”

“Take it when we get down,” Peng Dongli said, giving him a shove.

“Whoa!” Because Peng Dongli pushed so hard and gravity here was so weak, Zhang Mingyang was propelled five meters forward, nearly tumbling off the tower. He managed to grab the railing just in time.

“Whoa, Senior, what are you doing?! I almost fell!”

Peng Dongli walked over, patting his shoulder. “Don’t worry, even if you fell from here, you wouldn’t get hurt.”

With that, he started down the stairs.

“Hmph! If that’s true, why don’t you jump down instead of taking the stairs?”

In fact, it wasn’t so much walking as hopping—Zhang Mingyang gripped the railing and leapt several meters at a time.

The whole group descended the stairs in a series of bounding jumps.

At the final step, about to set foot on lunar soil, Zhang Mingyang suddenly recalled that world-famous phrase: “That’s one small step for a man, but one giant leap for mankind.”