novelbin Chapter 768 - 741: Unmanned Outer Solar System Space Probe
Chapter 768 - 741: Unmanned Outer Solar System Space Probe
Chen Shouyi glanced at it and put the file back into the folder.
He was deep in thought.
Recently, the fluctuations of the spatial passage have been intense, with measurable physical data frequently oscillating, sometimes increasing, sometimes contracting.
Obviously, the resistance of the "Ancestor God" greatly affected the process of "Tamu" devouring.
This, for humanity, is undoubtedly a good thing.
Bai Xiaoling stepped back two steps, acting as a bodyguard, vigilantly watching her surroundings, silently, without disturbing Chen Shouyi’s thoughts, although she probably never imagined that in such a short moment, Chen Shouyi had already read through the ten-plus pages of the report.
Chen Shouyi snapped out of his thoughts, patted the bicycle seat, and said with feigned nonchalance: "Hop on, I’ll give you a ride."
"Ah, President Chen, this... then I won’t be polite."
...
Human technology is accelerating.
The space program has been underway for less than three months, and humanity has already taken the first step forward.
Just after National Day, Chen Shouyi was invited to attend the launch ceremony of the unmanned outer Solar System space probe, which also had the intention of providing an escort.
Earth is not safe, with quite a few remnants of the Barbarian God still left on Earth.
Although the likelihood of such an attack is small, who knows if some Barbarian God might have a screw loose.
...
AM.
At the launch command center several tens of kilometers away from the Jingjin Industrial Zone, it was brightly lit.
As early as a day prior, the area had already been cleared, with countless soldiers temporarily blocking off various routes.
Beside a gigantic rocket on the launch pad, dozens of engineers, both domestic and foreign, were conducting final inspections.
"Still using chemical fuel for the launch? This can’t fly out of the Solar System." Chen Shouyi looked at the large monitor screen and commented blandly.
"President... President Chen, the rocket... is just to deliver the unmanned outer Solar System space probe to outer space. Subsequently, it will rely on its own plasma engine and the deployed solar sail for propulsion. Its speed is tens of times that of Voyager 1. If all goes well, it could reach the Kuiper Belt in just three to five years." The young female engineer specifically accompanying Chen Shouyi hurriedly explained:
"It is equipped with an Original Force detector to detect changes in Original Force and thus determine the range of Original Force, which is the primary goal of this probe’s launch."
Because Original Force affects electronic activity, detecting Original Force is not difficult; the technology is already available.
Chen Shouyi nodded.
According to the space program’s plan, humanity’s ultimate goal is not to leave the Solar System to seek new star systems. This is neither realistic nor do humans have the capacity to transport billions of people to other star systems.
Interstellar travel is no joke.
Although the Solar System is only 4.22 light-years away from its nearest neighbor, with humanity’s current level of technology, even if a spaceship powered by nuclear pulses were built, it might still take hundreds or even thousands of years to reach.
And the most likely outcome is running out of fuel and supplies midway, becoming a ghost ship drifting in a dark stellar void.
Being able to bring billions of people to the Kuiper Belt is already humanity’s most arrogant fantasy.
According to the idea, even if the Solar System were consumed, relying on this asteroid belt on the outskirts of the Solar System, humanity could still obtain adequate resources and supplies to sustain basic survival and technological development.
If that area remains within the realm of Original Force, humanity’s only option would be to migrate to a different world, and then it would be unknown how many people would be abandoned.
Reality is that desperate.
Earth appears to be generally peaceful, but in reality, it has already entered the countdown to destruction.
...
On the other side, after condoling the staff at the launch center, the president walked over with a smile, looking amiable: "President Chen, this is your first time seeing a rocket launch, right?"
"Seen it many times." Chen Shouyi responded succinctly.
"Ah!" The president looked surprised.
"Haha, seen it on TV."
"I meant in person!" The president chuckled: "I didn’t expect President Chen to crack jokes."
How novel.
He wasn’t born with a face of indifference.
From his childhood to now, the jokes he remembers could be compiled into a book; he just never had a place to use them.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the president sincerely said: "President Chen, although the country doesn’t have much with which to reward you, we still want to thank you for all you’ve done for the country."
"It was just a minor effort." Chen Shouyi knew the other party was referring to the last donation: "It was of no use to me anyway."
"Useless to you, but immensely useful to the country. By the way, where did you get those metals last time?" The president asked, intensely curious.
Those metals could no longer be described as simply excellent.
The detected physical properties were mind-blowing—you could imagine metals with melting points in the tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of degrees?
Could you imagine metals ten or a hundred times harder than diamonds, yet with ductility similar to ordinary metals?
The key is their enormous quantity, as much as 35 million tons.
Even if they were pure metals, they could be directly used as spacecraft hulls.
"I synthesized them." Chen Shouyi said.
The president was dumbfounded upon hearing this, taking a long time to react.
"You... you synthesized them?"
Chen Shouyi nodded his head with some helplessness.
Some things are just this helpless; things he takes for granted always surprise others.
This is perfectly normal, isn’t it?
Even low-level Barbarian Gods can synthesize, let alone him.
Seeing the atmosphere turn a bit awkward, Chen Shouyi broke the silence: "Are those metals still enough?"
"Enough... no, not really enough." The president said, with a slightly reddening face.
Such metals are never enough; even several times more wouldn’t suffice, solving the primary material issue for spacecraft.
Chen Shouyi didn’t mind either; for him, it was just a minor effort: "When the time comes, send the materials to Zhonghai, and I’ll synthesize some when I have time."
The rapid ringing of a bell suddenly echoed in the launch command center.
"President, President Chen, there are only three minutes left until the launch." The chief engineer, who had been standing aside like a log, and was eagerly hoping to be invisible, had to speak up to remind them.
"President Chen, would you like to handle the countdown for ignition? Maybe it’ll bring a bit of luck." The president smiled, in a good mood.
"Sure." Chen Shouyi nodded, agreeing to bless the process.
...
"10"
"9"
...
"3"
"2"
"1"
"Ignition!!"
The launch button was pressed.
The next moment, a giant rocket suddenly spewed flames and began to lift off, gradually ascending into the sky, its speed increasing faster and faster.
PS: Once again delayed till now, feeling sleepy and tired, can’t even keep my eyes open; the second Chapter will have to be delayed until before dinner, still within the same day, hopefully that doesn’t count as breaking my word.