How could the astronaut trapped in the deep pit be rescued?
Actually, the solution was quite simple, a rope would suffice.
Zhang Zhiguang and Fang Lin, who had been prepared for some time, had been alternating rest every half hour to ensure their strength; all the tools they might need were placed on the lunar rover, fully charged, and they were ready to depart just 10 minutes after receiving the order.
On Dawn III, there was a 15-meter EVA safety tether, which could be used to pull up the two astronauts without a problem. The trouble was in rescuing Victor from beneath the rubble.
In the end, the task was assigned to Explorer 9. Zhang Zhiguang decided to first let it go down to clear away the rubble, and if that didn't work, he would go down himself.
The direct distance from the landing site of Dawn III to the crash site of "Blue Moon" was only 7 kilometers, but the traveled route was about 15 kilometers; it would take the lunar rover only half an hour to get there.
