Star Rider

Kurt's Journal #7 - DSF 3137

I stood in front of the hatch of 3137, with a few used life support backpacks scattered around, some asteroid mining surveying tools neatly arranged to the side, and some empty sample boxes. There were some faint footprints on the ground!

Upon closer examination, they were indeed footprints. However, due to the absence of powdery substance, the footprints were shallow and difficult to discern. Nevertheless, it was evident that someone had been traversing this area, as one set of footprints extended towards the rear of the cabin and continued into the distance...

"Cube, please check the records of DSF 3137 for me."

"Kurt, the records show that about 9000 clock cycles (6 years) ago, DSF 3137 encountered an engine failure during a KU-2 mission and crashed, with no survivors."

"No survivors?"

"Yes, there was no biometric data in the final stage, the spacecraft disintegrated, and the rescue was terminated."

No survivors, but what about these footprints? Could it be that a technical malfunction prevented the biometric data from being reported, and the astronauts persisted for a while before giving up rescue? I suddenly felt a chill in my heart, imagining someone dying alone and hopeless, far from humanity, millions of miles away.

"...The astronaut from 3137 was named Alcon," Cube seemed to be providing me with more information, almost muttering to himself.

"Cube, I saw footprints extending towards my 1 o'clock direction and disappearing. Can you detect anything in that direction?"

"...No abnormalities, just some rocks, the ground is flat, and the radiation readings are normal."

I put down the mining survey kits and jumped in the direction of the footprints...

I could vaguely recognize that not far away there was a relatively large stone, and the footprints continued in that direction. At this point, the area I was in turned into the shaded side. I turned on the flashlight, and under lower light, the footprints became easier to see. I saw the footprints turn behind the stone...

I slowly jumped to the edge of the stone and vaguely saw a circular object rising on the other side of the stone - it was an astronaut's helmet!!! My heart suddenly accelerated, and I was a little out of breath. Cube seemed to sense something: "Kurt, I detect abnormal fluctuations in your breathing and heartbeat, but the air pressure, temperature, and radiation are normal, and no anomalies have been found. The sun can reach your area in about five minutes. I've been here all along. What did you see?" In this situation where I was about to witness a desperate death, a human voice really made me calm down. I took a breath and said, "It should be an astronaut."

Turning over the other side of the stone, I saw the full picture of the astronaut. He was sitting on the ground with his head down and his feet stretched forward, his hands resting at his waist and crotch, with unexpected calmness. I thought I would see a hysterical death scene. Although the company does not allow everyone to share death photos taken during various rescue missions, these are public secrets in the clubs and space stations. Many desperate astronauts have already had mental breakdown when the rescue team arrives. Some people will open their helmets and freeze to death, some will write curses on the ground or spacesuits, some will shoot themselves. I thought I would see something like this, but the posture of this astronaut was so relaxed and quiet that it made me feel as if time had stopped.

I slowly squatted down and began to inspect him. With the help of the flashlight, I could see the astronaut's face inside the helmet. He had his eyes closed, and there was a bit of ice crystal on his face and the mirror of the helmet. However, his expression was very peaceful, even with a hint of a smile. It was strange - why would he die so calmly in such conditions? Was it because he had given up all hope?

"Cube, did you see it?"

"Kurt, yes, I've been recording all along. He looks like he died of freezing. There is no life support system on his spacesuit."

I stood up and took another careful look. Indeed, the interface of the life support system was empty. It appeared that the astronaut was solely clad in an extravehicular activity spacesuit (EVA suit), devoid of any external attachments. It was as straightforward as donning regular everyday clothing, except for the prominent, oversized helmet that served as a reminder of its purpose as an EVA spacesuit. Then, my gaze fell upon an iron chain passing through the astronaut's waistband, fastened to the ground by means of a prospecting bolt. Alongside the astronaut, there was also a small backpack affixed to the ground through the iron chain.

"Cube, who is he?"

"The record shows that his name is Alcon, and the record was terminated when he was about 34 years old... And, the sunlight will reach this area in two minutes."

It seems that the backpack is very important to him. At this point, Cube reminded me, "Kurt, the first batch of records has been sent to the mother planet. According to rescue regulations, you can collect the astronaut's personal belongings and bring back the recorder in the cabin. We can bring his relics and records back, and I am also waiting for the next instructions from the mother planet."

I opened the backpack's clasp and put it into my own collection bag. The sun slowly rose from the horizon, and I turned and jumped towards the crashed cabin section. It would take at least one clock cycle to wait for instructions from the command center. Before that, I just followed the operational procedures to collect the crew and spacecraft logs and took photos. Following Cube's instructions, I found the data interface board of the abandoned cabin section and retrieved the flight recorder before jumping back to my own spacecraft.