The third Monday of October.
For the two superpowers locked in the space race, today was undoubtedly a momentous day.
According to the timetable announced at the final Mars Rescue Program Working Group briefing, today was the day the two astronauts would return to their respective countries.
Humanity's greatest rescue operation in history, spanning tens of millions of kilometers, had finally come to an end.
After everything they had been through along the way, both astronauts were already exhausted in body and mind.
After consulting the astronauts themselves, Jones, who was Dutch, would take a flight provided by the Netherlands government directly back to Amsterdam. Jason, on the other hand, was American, so he would naturally take the flight arranged by the White House and return to his homeland.
Shangjing International Airport.
The Hua Nation Protocol Department had arranged a grand handover ceremony.
Standing at the entrance to the special security checkpoint, Jason finally met the man who had saved his life—the chief designer of the Lunar Orbital Construction Committee, Lu Zhou, who had pushed for the rescue plan and dispatched the Rosy Glow to Mars.
"Thank you." Jason gripped Lu Zhou's right hand and shook it firmly. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he looked at him with complicated eyes and said sincerely, "Thank you for bringing me back from Mars!"
Although, because of their identities and positions, the man standing before him could be considered the greatest competitor of the Ares Program and even NASA, that did not prevent him from offering Lu Zhou his highest respect and gratitude.
"You're welcome." Lu Zhou firmly returned the astronaut's handshake, smiling as he nodded. "Come visit us again when you have the chance."
"I definitely will." Releasing Lu Zhou's hand, Jason glanced at the American diplomats standing nearby, then looked