Chapter 206 - Sol Three Hundred and Twenty-Six, Eye Estimation and Orbit Altitude (1/2)

Chapter 206: Sol Three Hundred and Twenty-Six, Eye Estimation and Orbit Altitude

Tang Yue stopped the work he was doing. “Lass, you need to trust us. Help…”

“Help will definitely arrive in time, right?” Mai Dong said. “You have already said that many times.”

Tang Yue was speechless. He had indeed said it several times. He no longer knew if the statement was to boost Mai Dong’s morale or to encourage himself. No one knew if help would arrive in time. Based on the usual Hollywood troupes, the cargo spacecraft would definitely arrive in time. Furthermore, it would always arrive at the last critical moment—just as the space station was about to crash—and save the female lead. The leads would reunite and usher in a perfect ending.

But reality wasn’t a movie. It didn’t have a script that had arranged a perfect ending.

The principle of mediocrity existed everywhere in the Universe. Any outcome was considered normal and reasonable.

Tomcat silently used some pliers to hit the stretcher. It didn’t wish to say anything since not making any promises meant not needing to be responsible for any of them. However, Tang Yue had kicked it.

“Ahem… Miss Mai Dong. I’ll teach you a rough way to estimate your altitude.” Tomcat cleared its throat. “Can you see the Isidis Planitia now? Or can you see the Endeavor crater? What about the Victoria crater? It doesn’t matter which crater you use. Find a reference point that you can see.”

“Hmm… Endeavor crater… Endeavor… Let me look for it. It should be around the Meridiani Planum. Around the equator where the Meridiani Planum is… I can see it. I can see the Endeavor crater, Mr. Cat,” Mai Dong replied. “Mr. Cat, do you copy?”

“Copy, Miss Mai Dong. Do you have a pencil or ruler with you? If not, taking off the IVA suit’s glove and raising your thumb would do.”

Mai Dong looked around and reached out to grab a pencil that was floating past her. She removed the pencil cap and said, “Mr. Cat, I have a pencil in hand.”

“Alright, listen to me. Follow my instructions. Stretch out your right arm in front of you and hold up a pencil,” Tomcat instructed. “Then close your left eye. Stare at the pencil tip with your right eye. Let the tip be aligned to the left of the Endeavor crater. Make sure that the crater, pencil and your right eye forms a straight line. Heard that? They need to be on the same line.”

The girl followed Tomcat’s instructions and held the middle of the pencil. She stretched out her arm and held it straight in front of her. She closed one eye and slowly spun her body, making the pencil tip align with the crater’s shadow on Mars.

“It’s done, Mr. Cat.”

“Now, open your left eye. Keep your body still. Do not move your arm or pencil. Close your right eye and use your left eye to look at the pencil tip,” Tomcat said. “Tell me where the pencil tip is.”

“Hmm… It’s slightly halfway across the Endeavor crater.”

“That’s good enough.” Tomcat nodded. “Alright, Miss Mai Dong, you can open your eyes. The United Space Station is presently at a height between 110 to 120 kilometers.”

Tang Yue and Mai Dong were taken aback.

Tang Yue stood by the side observing Tomcat’s instruction of using a pencil and the closing of one’s eye to determine the space station’s altitude. He couldn’t help but be curious about it.