Annihilation of the solar system

Song Shi was about to speak when he suddenly remembered something. He looked at his watch and thought for a while before saying:

"The launch date of the 'Windmill Project' is today. I know that there is a star observation module in the star port. We may still be able to see it when we go there. Let's talk as we go."

Although it was his first time to come to Star Port, Song Shi was familiar with the layout of Star Port because he had participated in the design and finalization of Star Port.

"General Master Song, my personal understanding is that it is very important to conduct on-orbit detection of organic creatures on transfer orbits. This will allow us to better understand what they are going to do after they come to the ground. Why instead?

What about a secondary plan?" Zhou Cheng asked as he followed Song Shi.

Song Shi awkwardly walked through the passage of the star port, looking at the instructions on the computer in his hand and saying:

"At the beginning of the crisis era, we were not sure how they would reach the Earth. It was more speculation, so at that time the mainstream detection plan focused on long-distance observation. You also know that in space telescopes

A lot of investment has indeed been made in this aspect, and the data obtained is enough to support the implementation of the earth defense plan. Therefore, the proximity detection is put aside for now.

Until not long ago, they began to send spores from Titan to low orbit through biological launch tubes, and then used biological rocket engines to send spore groups into transfer orbits. After that, they crushed Europa in front of everyone.

.We finally understand how they get to Earth."

Zhou Cheng also kept avoiding the staff who often shuttled around the star port while following him.

"But through existing observation methods, we don't completely know what is in those spores and ice cubes?"

Song Shi replied:

"Yes, that's why the plan for in-orbit close-in observation of the detector was launched. However, because all resources are currently focused on ground defense and space defense plans. For supplementary detection plans such as on-orbit reconnaissance, the investment is not enough.

So big.

The main reason for this is that the detector carries nothing more than optical, radar and infrared observation equipment. Just because the observation distance is close, the results obtained will be more accurate than remote observation, but the breakthrough discoveries may not be too many.

Moreover, they are still very far away from us, and it may take several years for the detector to meet them in orbit. Even if some key data is detected, there is not much time left for humans. For current decisions

, it won’t be of much help.”

Zhou Cheng asked again:

"Can't we let the detector fly to those spores and collect something to bring back?"

Song Shi replied:

"Of course the plan was made as you imagined in the beginning, but it is very difficult to implement. Now everyone knows that they will arrive on the earth in a few years, so our detectors must be fast enough.

It is actually not difficult to increase the speed. Just install a large enough engine on the detector. But when it reaches the orbit of the spore cluster, it has to slow down, which requires installing a larger deceleration engine on the detector. Then it has to accelerate back.

It also has to slow down when approaching the earth. Under the current engineering and technical conditions, this is an unsolvable knot."

Zhou Cheng thought for a while and said:

"Then can the detector fly to the surface of the spores, collect samples, analyze them on the spot and then transmit the data back?"

Song Shi smiled:

"Professor Zhou, your thinking is indeed very quick. You also planned to do this later, but the problem is still the same. You need to reach the spore cluster quickly, and you are limited by the upper limit of current engineering and technical capabilities. In addition, the communication delay caused by the long distance is still

We are unable to control the detector in real time and can only rely on AI to control the detector, and the detection results may be difficult to meet expectations. Therefore, the approach detection plan, which was originally highly valued, has become a secondary project."

Zhou Cheng also understood what Song Shi meant. According to the current industrial technology capabilities, reaching the spore clusters in a short time and sending back the data after completing the sampling is no longer a problem that can be solved by investment alone. He sighed and said

:

"Hey...it seems really difficult."

"It's not completely impossible. Since our engineering capabilities limit us and we can't make the detector too big, then we can make it lighter. Only the AI ​​main control system, optical detection system, probes and molecular biology are left on the detector.

Analysis system, return system, battery, deceleration and attitude adjustment system. Everything else has been cut off, so that the weight of our single detector is less than 200 kilograms." Song Shi said. Although Zhou Cheng couldn't see his expression,

But it can be heard from his words that Song Shi is very proud of his design.

Zhou Chengyi thought something was wrong.

"The probe doesn't even have an acceleration system, so how does it fly to the target?"

At this time, Song Shi had already brought Zhou Cheng to the top of a longitudinal cabin located at the outermost edge of the rear side of the star port. This place was different from the top of other cabins. There was no docking port here but a glass dome. The entire starry sky

With sweeping views, it is a rare romantic place in the busy star port.

There is an optical astronomical telescope under the dome. Song Shi fiddled with the telescope, which was as long as a person and said:

"This is designed as an artificial observation post for observing space objects within 300,000 kilometers. Its function is to issue early warnings for close space collisions in the future doomsday war. Now it can be used to observe the launch of the 'Windmill Project'."

"Isn't the detector launched from the ground?" Zhou Cheng asked.

"You will understand why the detector can have no acceleration power system when you take a look." Song Shi had already adjusted the telescope.

Zhou Cheng came to the eyepiece. The orbiter in the lens was suspended in space, like a huge four-blade windmill impeller on the edge of Amsterdam. This made him immediately understand what Song Shi meant. He couldn't help but sigh:

"What a wonderful design! Separate the acceleration power system from the detector. This can not only achieve extremely high speeds, but also greatly reduce the weight of the detector! The centrifugal acceleration of the rotation of the 'windmill' is used to throw the detector out. It's wonderful.

!”

"Hey, there is no other way." Song Shi's words were full of helplessness and humility.

In the lens, the ends of the four impellers of the windmill emitted an orange-red light. As the flames gradually expanded, the light became dazzling, and the windmill began to rotate slowly.

"We use an automated system to control the thrust of the rocket engine at the ends of the four impellers to achieve a dynamic balance of rotation." Song Shi explained to Zhou Cheng while looking at the distant light spot outside the dome.

Soon, the rotation speed of the windmill became very fast. The specific structure of the four blades could no longer be seen in the camera. Only the twinkling ghost image of a helicopter rotor rotating at high speed could be seen. The flames at the end of the impeller also stretched into flames.

A slender arc.

"The windmill has begun to accelerate, and the linear speed of its impeller end will reach 1/10 of the speed of light." Song Shi looked at the light spot proudly.

As the rotation speed further increased, the four fire dragons at the end of the windmill were connected end to end. At this time, the "windmill" looked like a hot wheel wrapped in flames and spinning rapidly under Nezha's feet in the fairy tale.

Suddenly! The "windmill" that originally rotated very stably trembled slightly, and four black shadows were thrown out from the ends of its four impellers. The black shadows flew out so fast that even Zhou Cheng was not sure that he saw it.

It's an illusion, but the accelerating rocket has stopped working.

"The launch has been completed. Only one of the four things thrown out is the six detector mission payload modules we installed at the end of the impeller arm. They gained enough speed and then used attitude-adjusted rockets to accurately enter orbit. The rest

Three are counterweight blocks so that the 'windmill' can continue to maintain dynamic balance rotation after launch, so that the rocket can slow down and recycle the 'windmill'.

The detector will arrive near the orbit of those spores in a year and then slow down. With luck, one or all of those detectors will be nailed to a certain spore, then detect its molecular biological characteristics, and then transmit the information

Come back." Song Shi said while looking at the universe where only the vast sea of ​​stars was left.

Zhou Cheng moved his eyes away from the eyepiece. He looked at the calm Song Shi in disbelief and praised:

"I really admire the wisdom of being able to design such an exquisite launch method based on the current technological level!"

Song Shi just shook his head slightly, with a bit of self-mockery in his words:

"This is nothing more than racking your brains to sharpen a bronze sword. Compared with a fine steel sword that has been tempered for thousands of times, it can still only be regarded as a work of art."

After saying that, both of them turned their eyes to the moon with only a hook in the distance.