JOURNEY OF A COMMANDER PART 18
28 Aug 2022Ni6h70wl
16.10.3307 Novara Expedition Day 23Once again, the Novara stopped at a red dwarf star. After the first scan data ran through the ship's computer, traces of microorganisms were found on Planet 9, which had a thin argon atmosphere.
The ship's computer is no longer comparable to the supercomputers of that time. Still in the 21st century, the manufacturing size of 2nm was reached and thus the physical limit. By changing the structure and improving the materials, mega-core processors could already be introduced in the 30th century. As computing power was no longer needed after a certain point, the further development of the systems ebbed away. At the same time, high-performance quantum computers were still being developed.
The ship's computer of small ships is equipped with a mega-core processor - 1.024 million computing cores, 16 petabytes of memory and enough storage space. M-size ships have double and L-size ships have 4 times the computing and memory power.
Planet Hypao Aoscs PL-Y b5 9 is a rather small ice world with a gravity of 0.22 G. After the DOS probes were fired, the presence of bacteria was confirmed.
The landing went off without any complications, the ship also weighed barely a fifth, the relatively weak energy shields could already cope with that.
"You want to go out alone with the SRV again? At least take a crew member from the research deck with you."
"No. Listen, these away missions I'm doing as commander, if I need company it's yours and no one else's." Apparently this speech did any good, for this subject was not broached again during future landings.
The surface of the planet is bleak, frozen and logically completely unsuitable for human life. It never ceases to amaze me how these extremophile microbes manage to survive in such inhospitable environments.
After a few minutes I found the first colony. Bacterium Vesicula apparently requires argon to grow and appears as a cluster of tight loops on the ground. This variant had the colour variation orange. It is thought that the colouration depends on soil occurrence. Others claim that colour variations depend on the spectral class of the home star. For the star theory, data for this is stored in the ship's exobiological database and analysed when sufficient data is available.
Sample No. 3 was collected and I returned to the ship. On these icy surfaces, slowing down is not always easy, even for an SRV. We could not detect any other life forms on this planet and continued the journey.
In the evening
The same day, the Novara reached the system Hypao Aoscs HA-A c5, a K-star that is on the threshold of becoming a G-star. In addition to 4 gas giants and their associated moons, there is a supermassive terrestrial ice planet in 5th position. VSS measurements showed that the planet has almost 31 Earth masses.
The ring system consists largely of rocks and ice, and here too a moon may have come too close during the formation of the system. The planet has active volcanism beneath the surface and spews hot water vapour onto the surface. At 74K surface temperature, the water freezes and adds to the already existing ice surface.
A landing would be possible despite the thick helium atmosphere, thanks to our special approach suite, but due to the high gravity we refrained from trying.
Much more interesting is moon 5 a, which orbits the planet at a distance of 1.5 million km and has a thin methane atmosphere. Methane is a biomarker and an indication of existing life. The moon was subjected to a detailed surface scan and indeed, two distinct biological signals were detected.
The landing began, 0.03G is not much, hull or shield damage was not to be expected. However, I had to be more careful with the SRV, one little thrust too much and you are where you didn't want to be. Due to the methane-laden atmosphere, the moon's "sky" has a yellow to greenish hue. The instruments confirm a 100% methane concentration at a pressure of 0.043 atm, relatively high for such a small moon.
The average surface temperature is 91K, exactly the melting point of methane, which means that the organisms living here need methane for their metabolism in liquid and/or gaseous form.
Within a short time I was able to confirm this assumption, the gaseous aggregate state is required by the bacterial colonies and the liquid state by the Fonticulua found here.
Bacterium Bullaris apparently lives on atmospheric methane and shows itself in the form of a network of interconnected bubble patterns. Further characteristics, especially the cause of the corresponding colour variation, are still the subject of research.
The second life form was Fonticulua Digitos, this Foniticulua species thrives in atmospheres containing methane and forms a bundle of cylindrical tubes that sprout directly from the frozen ground. The outer shell consists mostly of water ice, but traces of methane hydrate have been found inside, either part of an oxidation process or a waste product. We will only be able to find out more with time. After the last sample was taken, I returned to the ship.
24.10.3307 Novara Expedition Day 31
"We're still hanging around in the Hypao Aoscs sector, it's about time we left for Sagittarius A*," my first officer mentioned during the morning breakfast.
Yes, she's right, we've been stuck in this sector for a few days and hardly make any distance.
"It is my concern that at least the surrounding systems of Lactea have been explored by us. In a few days we will finally leave and leave this sector behind us." I hoped that this assurance would be sufficient. Of course, the crew is also interested in the supermassive black hole in the centre, so it's a bit frustrating when the intended destination is still a good 13,500ly away.
Breakfast was taken in the light of the star Hypao Aoscs KG-Y c6, a K-star orbited by 7 celestial bodies, one of them a moon.
The first scan data were analysed and revealed that planet 1 and 3 harbour exobiological life. Both celestial bodies are high-metallic worlds with thin atmospheres, once sulphur dioxide and once carbon dioxide.
In general, it is confirmed that the greatest biodiversity can be found on planets whose atmospheres contain ammonia, carbon dioxide or water. Especially in such thin atmospheres. More complex life forms already require more complex atmospheric compositions.
Which is not to say that life does not occur on worlds with other gases, just not in this diversity.
First we landed on Hypao Aosc's KG-Y c6 1, this single bio-signal was indeed bacteria after the DOS probes had mapped the planet.
Upon closer examination and sampling, the species was specified as Bacterium Cerbrus, a bacterial species found on worlds where water or sulphur dominates the atmosphere. This species photosynthesises and converts the light from its star into energy. Their colonies resemble a brain-shaped mass of smaller, interconnected cells.
After the samples were stowed away, we continued towards Planet 3.
11:15 a.m.
"Four species."
"Are you sure, no measurement error?"
"No I'm sure, four different species have apparently evolved on this planet despite a thin atmosphere."
At Planet 6, the DOS was able to register a whole four different bio-signals, we hadn't had that many before. Good, we haven't looked into exobiology enough before either, as the necessary equipment has only recently been commercialised.
"COVAS, initiate landing sequence."
---Confirm, orbitalflight engage---
---Landing sequence initiated, all passengers keep seated---
---Reverse thrusters activated---
---Landing gear deployed ---
---Landing sequence initiated, all passengers keep seated---
---Reverse thrusters activated---
---Landing gear deployed ---
"Will you accompany me or is it already no longer reasonable due to the circumstances?" the question was justified, especially since the radiation exposure outside the ship is not recommended for pregnant women.
I have been aware of this pleasant circumstance since June 3307, unfortunately, I must confess, I have treated my first officer like a raw egg ever since. The regular examinations in the infirmary have so far shown no abnormalities, everything is in perfect order. Still, space is not the right place for new complex life.
"No, I'll stay on the ship for the future missions. Someone has to chase the crew around." she laughed.
So did I, because I knew she was serious.
"Alright, for four different species, I'll be out longer than usual. An hour minimum." And that was already tight, possible provided there were several species in the same area and no change of location.
"Be careful out there, as always."
"I do, always." Even though I use this phrase I am aware of the responsibility towards my soon to be family.
First of all, I explored the immediate area with the SRV, a whole three species could be spotted in the close-up area. The fourth apparently grows on a different substrate.
This finding has been made so far, that the habitats of each species strongly depend on the subsoil. Some species only grow in the mountains, in ditches, on plains or simply everywhere.
The first species found was Bacterium aurasus. These bacteria thrive in atmospheres rich in carbon dioxide and sunlight. They cause an area-wide colouration of the planet's surface. It is also the most common type of bacteria found on planets with thin atmospheres.
After the bacteria samples were collected and the container stowed away, I began studying the second species, stratum tectonicas.
Stratum are low-lying photosynthetic organisms that attach themselves firmly to the surface of rocks. The body of the organism may be embedded in the rock for protection from the elements, leaving the tough photosynthetic proto-leaves exposed. Their simple proto-evolutionary nature means that they are commonly seen on rocky worlds. The colouration is determined by a mixture of the mineral content of the adhering rock and the absorption spectrum of the nearby stellar body.
Tectonicas is a stratum species with a thick, rock-like outer shell covered with an irregular lattice of lighter cells that then absorb sunlight for photosynthesis. The hard shell is apparently due in part to the storage of carbon from the atmosphere. I was also able to collect this three specimens quite quickly.
The third species was of genus type tussock.
These are robust, photosynthetic plants that look similar to tussock grasses. They have a shallow but complex root structure that requires a firm surface to provide structural stability. Groups can form by stolonisation or wider spread through a variety of seeding mechanisms. Some species have developed cell structures with high sugar concentrations to protect themselves from frost damage.
The one in front of me belongs to the Propagito subtype, this tussock species has pointed leaves whose tips are covered with colourful flower-like seed pods.
After some searching, I found the fourth species - Aleoida Arcus.
Aleoids are extremely hardy photosynthetic organisms that thrive in dry environments. The thick, waxy leaf structures protect them from extreme environmental conditions. When gas exchange becomes unfavourable, the leaves can completely seal off the organism from the atmosphere and induce a state of hibernation. The tapered leaves form precipitation channels that draw fluids into the heart of the organism. There they are absorbed by a series of specialised cells and stored in the root structure until needed.
Arcus in particular has erect clumps of long, serrated leaves that can open to expose a reproductive organ with tiny round seeds.
After a beaten hour, I had actually done it. I went back to the ship, had the damage to the SRV repaired and went to the dining room on deck 9 after this tiring outdoor mission. It had been a long day and I was not in the mood anymore.