Exploring the Outer Reaches

The Federation's series of major projects on the Moon and Venus had not affected its other space exploration efforts.

For example, on Mars, at the end of last year (2021), the Ministry of Aerospace had constructed the Mars Outpost Base on Phobos and stationed five astronauts there for long-term duty.

Besides studying Martian lifeforms, the Mars Outpost Base was also tasked with communications relays, monitoring the outer reaches of the Solar System, and similar duties.

This year, the outpost had continued to expand.

It now contained 362 space modules, along with a range of supply reserves and newly built facilities such as communications stations and maintenance stations.

November 2, 2022.

After 173 days of travel, Zhurong-class spacecraft No. 012 arrived at the Mars Outpost Base, delivering 3,400 tons of supplies and eight astronauts.

The first group of astronauts, who had been stationed at the base for one year and three months, had finally completed their mission and could return to Blue Star aboard the spacecraft for recuperation.

Compared with Venus, Mars was more troublesome, mainly because its surface was unsafe and contained all manner of deadly microorganisms. For the time being, a base could not be established on the Martian surface.

As a result, bases could only be built on Phobos, Deimos, or in low Mars orbit.

All bases constructed in those regions faced the same problem: low gravity. A low-gravity environment could have all sorts of adverse effects on astronauts' bodies.

Although the Ministry of Aerospace had equipped every astronaut with pressure suits, built-in nano armor, nanobots, and various medicines to alleviate space syndrome, these measures could only slow the effects. They could not cure them completely.

Venus, however, was different from Mars. Not only could ground bases be established there, but its gravity was also very close to