Chapter 1600 The Distant Outpost (First update, please subscribe)
In space, water is the key to everything.
If there is no water, everything is empty talk. My so-called space dream, the so-called permanent base of the moon, is nothing more than nonsense.
Human survival cannot be separated from water. There is a saying that "in the desert, gold is useless, but water is priceless." Compared with the earth covered by 70% by the ocean, the moon is a super desert.
Not to mention providing oxygen from water to meet people's needs for survival in space, even the most basic drinking water cannot be met.
For humans, whether it is oxygen or drinking water, it is the first prerequisite for surviving in space.
To ensure this, you can't bring a barrel of water to the moon. Of course you can bring a barrel of water to the moon, but it is very costly.
Everyone is very clear about this. Yuan Jialiu thought for a while and said: "At present, we don't know if there is water on the moon, but even if there is water on the moon, it must exist in the form of ice.
We all know that there are many places at the north and south poles of the moon that are "dark and sunless" all year round, and they cannot contact the sun's exposure, which is a "permanent shadow area". Ice can only be preserved in these places, otherwise it would have been heated and evaporated by the sun. ”
That is, based on common sense, in fact, do they have water in Antarctica at all? After all, the probes they had launched before either flew around the moon to obtain photos of the moon's surface. Or after landing, detect certain areas.
"So, there is probably water near the South Pole of the Moon.
And there are some highlands in the Antarctic region, and 70% of the year are always covered by light. The continuous sunlight can provide a stable energy supply to the base."
Yuan Jialiu talks about the advantages of establishing a lunar base in Antarctica. Finally, he emphasized: "For example, some craters, they have shadow areas that are always covered by shadows, where ice and other minerals may exist. Areas that are always exposed to sunlight can provide lasting And stable energy.
There is no better place to be there in my opinion. ”
”This is just possible. "
Eugene said.
"If we choose the landing point in Antarctica just by relying on this kind of guess, the risk will be very great. "
"The space career itself is an adventure, isn't it?
Sometimes we should have some adventurous spirit. "
Yuan Jialiu said with a smile.
"Just like Columbus discovered a new continent, at that time, he did not know that there was a new continent on the other side of the sea. Now we are the same as him. I don't know if there is water there? This is an adventure. "
Adventure!
This is the essence of the space industry, at least before humans really set sail in space, any space exploration will be like this.
"The humans today are like the South Islanders of the past. When they come to the sea, they put their canoe into the sea. As for what will happen in the sea? This can only be handed over to heaven."
After saying this, Yuan Jialiu was silent for a while, and then said: "It's like rolling dice, let's give everything to luck."
Listen Eugene thought about his decision and said: "You know, if such a thing was placed in the United States or the Soviet Union, it would not be approved because the feasibility is very slim." br>
The reason why it will not be approved is that in the space exploration of the United States and the Soviet Union, they must have enough reason to convince their superiors.
Leave everything to luck like this...it's simply unreasonable.
Especially, this kind of thing costs hundreds of millions of yuan. Try, after all, if there is no water nearby, the station is destined to be abandoned.
"Fortunately, we are a company, aren't we?"
Yuan Jialiu's answer made Eugene laugh and said, "Yes, we are a company, so we have more but... until now we have not made any real profits."
In fact, Space Exploration Technology Company has never been a company.
From the beginning, with Li Yian's strong intervention, the aerospace departments of military aerospace-related units, such as the Naval Research Laboratory, the Army Ballistic Missile Bureau, the Air Force Rocket Engine Research Institute and other institutions, all It was classified as a Space Exploration Technology Company, thus gradually building the prototype of the company.
Although it is a company, it is an independent institution, equivalent to a ministerial unit, parallel to the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Education, etc. Its director is directly appointed and removed from the official residence and directly obeys the official residence. This policy ensures the unity of the company and the residence, and ensures that many plans, either visionary or extremely stupid, can be carried out paranoidly.
As a company, it obviously goes beyond the principles of the company - never look at profits.
What will happen if a company is not profitable?
Development will certainly be restricted. However, for space exploration technology companies, the first thing they consider is not just profit.
But the future.
Just like the company's responsibilities - persist in exploring, focusing on discovery, and striving to find answers to questions!
"One day we will make a profit, I believe that that day will be in the near future."
"Who knows?"
Eugene said with a shrugged her shoulder.
"We can find any rare minerals on the moon.
Perhaps, by that time the moon can become our new continent, just like the American continent. Provides materials such as gold and silver. , At that time, I think people will actually go to the moon.
Before that... the moon may be just a distant outpost. Once there is no financial support, it will give up that outpost at any time." br>
"Distant outpost."
Listening to Eugene's description, Yuan Jialiu agreed with her.
"Yes, the moon is a distant outpost, and it may be artificially abandoned because of lack of financial support. Of course, it may also become an outpost for us to enter space."
The future is What does it look like?
No one knows.
Even when they are the head of the Sea Space Program, they are just simply imagining it. While they were there to imagine the future, local astronauts were training here on the Pilgrim Island in the Indian Ocean.
A simple vehicle with silver light flashing under the sun was slowly driving under the control of a soldier.
Several scientific researchers in the distance measured the physical condition of the astronauts through monitoring instruments.
"Why do you need to train here?"
Sun Mingli asked curiously. After coming to Pilgrimage Island for the first time a few years ago, he felt like he had entered an alien planet.
All kinds of strange plants are unique on the earth. No wonder Star Wars uses this place as an outdoor location.
Because these plants look like alien products.
But why do they come here to train?
"In terms of terrain, this place is closer to the moon. Although astronauts can train in the training center at Wanhu Corner, the lunar rover needs to be experimented here."
Reinhard looked at the lunar rover in the distance and said:
"After all, he may face various environments on the moon. The deserts and complex mountains and deserts here are somewhat similar to the moon to a certain extent."
"Moon rover... ”
No mistakes, one poem, one content, one in 6, one book, one bar, one read!
Seeing the lunar rover with wheels like a birdcage, Sun Mingli said.
"This is the only lunar rover in the world!"
"Yes, it's not only the only one, but also the most expensive one... 2 million yuan per unit!"
This price can't help but make people a little shocked.
"2 million per car!
It's so expensive!"
"It's a little expensive, but it's worth it."
Reinhard said looking at the rover.
"Bringing a lunar rover is a well-thought-out decision.
The surface of the moon is complex and vast, and the area that can be reached and surveyed by astronauts on foot is very limited.
The existence of the lunar rover allows astronauts to move faster and more efficiently, and go deeper to further places for scientific investigation and sample collection.
The lunar rover can carry more scientific instruments, in different ways Locations are measured and experimented to obtain more comprehensive data.
Although the rover itself has a certain weight, the rewards it has reaped are huge. Through the driving and detection of the lunar rover, the scientific rewards gained are huge. "
In fact, it is also the advantage of latecomers. The Soviet Union and the United States took the lead in achieving moon landing, but their range of lunar landing activities is extremely limited.
According to the public information of the two countries, it also It is to explore the area of about one square kilometer nearby.
It is precisely because of this that Space Exploration Technology Company regards the lunar rover as an inevitable option for a moon landing, which is to explore larger areas and larger areas. .
Although the lunar rover looks extremely simple and primitive, it is just a flat plate with four wheels. However, in the process of designing and manufacturing the lunar rover, many technical problems are still involved, such as lightweighting. Design, high reliability, adaptability to extreme environments, etc.
"We must explore a large enough area to discover what we need."
Reinhard's answer made Sun Mingli look at the lunar rover with some confusion. "What we need."
What we need?
What else is on the moon?
The answer is not unknown. As early as last year, Space Exploration Technology's 11th unmanned lunar probe, "Yutu 5", realized automatic unmanned sampling of the moon and returned the samples to Earth.
Although the Soviet Union had achieved this mission before. But one kilogram of lunar soil obtained through that detection. Scientists found something in it that interests them very much.
For this reason, Space Exploration Technology Company has certain purpose in exploring the moon.
But all this is not known to the outside world.
Even to a certain extent, since the Soviet Union and the United States successively landed on the moon, almost no one has paid attention to the progress of Space Exploration Technology Corporation.
Actually, this is normal, just like most people know that the world's highest peak is Mount Everest, but few people know which mountain is the second peak.
People can only remember first.
As for the second, it is often unknown. What's more, the third one?
What people don't know now is that although they lag far behind the Soviet Union and the United States in time, they may go further. At least in the mission plan, they have longer-term plans and plan.
Sometimes, people don't need to know all of this at all. In fact, this is the most complicated side of the space race. It is not just about getting to a place and planting a flag.
Whether it is the Soviet Union or the United States, they have their own plans. As a participant in this game, Space Exploration Technology also has its own plans.
Who is the final winner?
No one knows that the first player to put the flag is not necessarily the final winner, just like the American continent. Although Spain first discovered the American continent, the last one The winner is someone else.
So, the flag-plugging game in space is just the beginning of the game.
To be the final winner, you still need to make breakthroughs in many fields. Only in this way can you become a real winner.
(This chapter ends)