The TY-C9 “Long March Mule”: China's Modular Martian Transport Beast

Icarus
May 7
5 min read

Unveiled in 2088 by Tianyuan Surface Systems, the TY-C9 quickly became the workhorse of the Martian frontier. Officially classified as a multifunctional modular transport vehicle, the TY-C9 was designed to haul payloads across volatile dust fields, withstand extreme thermal gradients, and serve as a mobile operations base when needed. This rugged beast of burden proved its worth in one of the most hostile environments humanity has ever dared to inhabit—reliably ferrying everything from scientific equipment and life support systems to rescue teams and medical supplies across the unforgiving Martian landscape.

The TY-C9 “Long March Mule”: China's Modular Martian Transport Beast — TY-C9 “Long March Mule”

Chassis & Structure

The TY-C9 is built on an aerospace-grade carbon-titanium composite frame, offering exceptional strength-to-weight performance and fatigue resistance under Martian conditions. Embedded flexion joints and magnetorheological dampers provide adaptable suspension without relying on conventional hydraulics. In variants using hydraulic assistance, a perfluoropolyether-based synthetic fluid (like Fomblin Z25) is employed—engineered to operate in temperatures from -90°C to +150°C without significant viscosity change or evaporation loss.

Its undercarriage is protected by a graphene-laced titanium mesh, shielding sensitive systems from micrometeorite impacts and abrasive regolith. The wheels are made of memory-alloy lattice wrapped in abrasion-resistant ceramic polymer, optimized for flex, shock absorption, and grip on loose or fractured terrain.

"Futuristic cockpit interior of the TY-C9 Martian transport vehicle, featuring dual pilot seats, wraparound panoramic windows, and an advanced digital control interface with multiple HUD displays." — The panoramic forward windshield is composed of triple-layered transparent alumina glass

The panoramic forward windshield is composed of triple-layered transparent alumina glass with embedded nano-coatings for radiation filtering, glare reduction, and thermal regulation.

Designed for 20 years of autonomous or crewed operation, the TY-C9 is fully field-serviceable by robotic units and requires no atmospheric maintenance.

Radiation Shielding

Operating on a planet without a global magnetic field or dense atmosphere, the TY-C9 is equipped with multi-layered radiation shielding to protect its crew and sensitive systems during long-haul missions across Mars’s vast, exposed terrain.

Its outer hull incorporates boron-infused polyethylene panels, known for their high hydrogen content, which effectively blocks galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and solar energetic particles (SEP). These are sandwiched between aerogel-based insulation and graphene mesh layers, which provide additional particle dispersion and thermal buffering.

The interior living and command compartments are further reinforced with a detachable storm shelter pod, located at the center of the vehicle’s mass, surrounded by water tanks and food storage modules that act as passive radiation shields—a classic dual-use design leveraging the high hydrogen content of water.

Advanced variants of the TY-C9 field experimental low-energy magnetic shielding coils, generating a localized magnetic bubble capable of deflecting charged particles during solar events. Though still in trial phases, initial results from the Tianyuan-11 mission showed a 27% reduction in cumulative radiation dose over a 3-week journey.

While Martian settlers are advised to limit surface exposure to under 500 days per decade, the TY-C9 allows for temporary extension of operational range through active and passive shielding, giving mission planners greater flexibility between remote outposts.

Life Support & Crew Habitat

Designed for multi-sol expeditions between distant Martian settlements, the TY-C9 features a fully integrated Closed-Loop Life Support System (CLLSS) to sustain a crew of up to six for journeys lasting up to 30 sols without resupply.

The main habitat module, located behind the cockpit, includes pressurized living quarters with modular sleeping pods, a galley with rehydration units, and a compact sanitation bay. Humidity and air quality are regulated by solid-state CO₂ scrubbers and oxygen regeneration units that recycle exhaled gases via water electrolysis and sabatier reaction modules, storing excess O₂ in high-pressure tanks.

Thermal regulation is handled by phase-change materials embedded in the walls, coupled with radiant heat exchangers that adapt to Mars's extreme diurnal temperature swings. A smart insulation layer, made of multi-layered aerogel and nanofoam, maintains internal temperatures between 18–22°C regardless of exterior conditions.

Water is reclaimed via advanced membrane distillation units, processing humidity, greywater, and condensation. Emergency reserves of 400 liters are stored beneath the flooring, thermally protected and radiation shielded.

"Interior view of the TY-C9 Martian command vehicle showcasing a spacious cockpit with dual control seats, digital dashboards, a central mission table, and a crew member standing near a lounge area with a sofa and shelving." — The interior of a larger, commander model

Psychological well-being is supported through adaptive circadian lighting, soundscape options, and augmented-reality interfaces that simulate Earthlike environments. Each bunk includes a foldable screen with connection to the settlement network and crew mental health monitoring systems.

In the event of decompression or equipment failure, the habitat can seal into a hardened emergency core—an independently pressurized section with backup oxygen, food, and communication systems rated for 48 hours of survival.

Power System

The TY-C9 runs on a layered power architecture built for absolute reliability. Its primary energy source is a modular RTG (Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator), delivering continuous power for over a decade. Supplementing this, high-efficiency photovoltaic panels unfold when stationary, feeding a cold-resistant lithium-sulfur battery array.

For added redundancy, an optional hydrogen fuel cell unit provides auxiliary energy and heat during system maintenance or peak loads. In worst-case scenarios, manual kinetic generators—crank- or pedal-powered—allow the crew to sustain critical systems like lighting and communication. Even in total system failure, the TY-C9 is never powerless.

Drive System & Mobility

Equipped with a fully autonomous Level-5 self-driving system, the TY-C9 navigates Mars’s fractured landscapes, crater fields, and regolith dunes without human input, guided by lidar arrays, radar, and subsurface terrain-mapping AI. Under typical mission profiles, the vehicle operates in auto-pilot mode, capable of crossing over 3,000 km without external guidance.

But for many crewmembers, driving isn’t a task—it’s freedom. In a world of confined domes and sterilized routines, steering the TY-C9 becomes a ritual of agency and exhilaration. A tactile manual driving module—complete with mechanical steering, throttle, and brake overrides—lets mission leads take control when desired or necessary.

In the event of total electronic failure, the TY-C9 can still be manually driven using purely mechanical systems. This last-resort "handcart mode" allows low-speed movement powered by manual steering and kinetic battery charging cranks, enabling crews to trickle-charge vital systems every few hours. Slow, exhausting, but—crucially—possible. Even with zero power, the TY-C9 can bring its people home.

“Detailed infographic of TY-C9 Martian transport vehicle highlighting retractable steering, radiation layers, battery banks, and payload bays.”

Modular Payload Compatibility

The TY-C9’s rear bay was designed with Tianyuan Type-A and Type-B modular interfaces, allowing it to seamlessly integrate a wide range of mission-specific payloads. These standardized coupling systems support rapid deployment and reconfiguration in the field—whether for logistics, rescue, or research.

On the Vostok mission, the TY-C9 was outfitted with compressed water tanks, autonomous medical crates, and a deployable triage tent, enabling frontline emergency care in a hostile environment. In agricultural deployments, it has hauled soil regeneration units, hydroponic nutrient packs, and seed vault containers to establish greenhouse systems in new settlements.

The TY-C9 is also capable of hosting drone docking stations, communications relays, AI-supported research labs, and mobile data servers. In high-security missions, its rear bay can be converted into an armored personnel module or fitted with diplomatic-grade life support pods for transporting high-value personnel between domes.

Whether it's evacuating injured colonists, setting up a mobile greenhouse, or ferrying quantum data cores between research hubs, the TY-C9 serves as the Swiss army knife of Martian transport—ready to adapt to whatever challenge the Red Planet throws at it.