Great Country Academician

In the office, Weng Yunzong was sitting on the sofa and scratched his head.

Regarding Xu Chuan's sudden idea of ​​mining lunar mineral deposits, he couldn't think of any constructive opinions for a while. After all, he was not an expert in the mining industry.

After thinking for a while, he looked at Xu Chuan and said, "Since you have made a decision, I won't say anything to persuade you. I will take this plan report away later and study it carefully."

After a slight pause, he continued: "However, the mining of lunar mineral deposits is not a trivial matter, and to be honest, the Aerospace Research Institute does not have the ability to mine mineral deposits. Even the entire Xinghai Research Institute does not have such capabilities. work ability.”

"According to my opinion, if it is really going to be carried out, I suggest contacting domestic mining groups and relevant experts to conduct a specific investigation first."

Xu Chuan nodded and said: "Well, I have considered what you said. Regarding the mining of lunar mineral deposits and the research and development of intelligent equipment, I have already written a letter and handed it over to the industrial leaders. By then, I will personally take the lead in organizing this project, and I believe there won’t be any big problems.”

The development of lunar resources is a project that he has planned for a long time.

In the era of traditional chemical fuel launch vehicle spaceflight, it would undoubtedly be a very difficult task to establish a scientific research base on the moon and mine mineral resources. It can even be said that it will be almost impossible to do it in ten or twenty years.

But in the face of the electric propulsion system composed of small fusion reactor + aerospace engine, this impossibility has become possible.

The Xinghai space shuttle broke away from the earth's gravity well and entered space with a carrying capacity unmatched by traditional spacecraft.

Through ground rockets or another space shuttle to replenish supplies, it can even bring various scientific research equipment and mining tools to the moon at once.

If the second-generation electric propulsion space shuttle is designed, developed and manufactured, it can even transport various materials directly to the lunar surface without any obstacles, without touching the lunar landing equipment.

In this way, the biggest obstacle to mining minerals on the lunar surface is the low gravity + near-vacuum environment on the lunar surface.

Once these two are solved, it can be said that the remaining problems will not be obstacles.

For these two key questions, Xu Chuan also gave the answer: "That is to replace labor with intelligent equipment."

Perhaps from a technical perspective, this solution is not very mature, but its feasibility is completely sufficient.

Because in recent years, the development of intelligent mining equipment has been quite rapid.

For example, driverless cars.

Perhaps it may take some time to perfect in cities and on highways, but in mining areas, this is a technology that can be fully implemented.

For example, iron ore mines in Australia have begun to use driverless transportation on a large scale since 2012 to reduce labor costs, the risks of mining, etc. Up to now, more than 50% of Australia's mining resources have been transported by unmanned large-scale engineering vehicles.

In China, in 2020, the Mining Bureau also issued the "Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Intelligent Mining", proposing phased development goals for intelligent mining.

For example, in the field of coal mines, high-level officials have given instructions that by 2025, domestic large-scale coal mines and coal mines with serious disasters will basically be intelligent, including open-pit coal mines to achieve intelligent continuous operations and unmanned transportation, etc.

From these points of view, intelligent mining will undoubtedly be the future development trend.

The mining of lunar mineral deposits and the advancement of technology can in turn help the development of domestic intelligent industrial systems.

In addition, on the other hand, the reason why he is eager to launch the lunar mineral resource mining project now is also the lunar biosphere project + the establishment of the lunar outpost.

After all, speaking strictly, except for helium-3, all resources on the moon have "relatively large" reserves on the earth.

At least to say that there is a shortage, there is actually not much of a shortage. The only problem is the transportation cost.

If we miss this wave of "rigid" demand for the lunar biosphere project + lunar base, I am afraid that the subsequent mining plan for lunar mineral deposits will be delayed indefinitely.

After all, mining on the moon is not realistic with current technology, and its cost is much greater than mining minerals on earth.

There is still a long way to go to make money from lunar mining.

In Xu Chuan's view, unless the lunar base is developed on a large scale in the future, once the lunar biosphere project + lunar base is completed, subsequent lunar exploration will not have a huge demand for mineral resources on the moon.

At least it won't be big in the short term.

Of course, water ice resources and helium 3 resources are not under discussion.

No matter what the circumstances, these resources are in rigid demand or are highly scarce.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Beijing, Fuxing Road, in the main building of the Industrial and Information Center.

Sitting in the office, an old man with completely white hair slowly read the letters and investigation report documents in his hand while wearing a pair of reading glasses.

Opposite him was Wu Yuankang, the leader of the space agency, sitting upright on the sofa.

After a while, the old man behind the desk reached out and took off his glasses, put down the report document in his hand, thought for a while and said: "The moon, the advancement of intelligent mining systems, the construction of lunar biosphere projects and scientific research bases are slowly progressing." The academician’s plan is really unexpected.”

The promotion of intelligent mining systems is indeed what China has been doing, but they have not really thought much about moving the corresponding projects to the moon.

Although countries around the world have been shouting loudly for the development of outer space resources, the United States has even shouted the slogan of mining lunar mineral deposits before 2030.

But everyone knows what the actual situation is.

Even if the difficulty of mining is put aside, transportation alone is quite a troublesome matter.

Unless you treasure minerals that are almost completely scarce on the earth, such as helium-3, going to the moon to mine will be a total loss.

As for the biosphere project, it was something he had not thought of.

Although he had heard about it in the past two days, he was still a little shocked when the planning document was placed in front of him.

If this project is really completed, it can be said that their immigration to the moon is really just around the corner.

After all, when resources can be supplemented to a certain extent from the outside, the number of people that a large biosphere can accommodate will undoubtedly far exceed that of a scientific research base.

Opposite, Wu Yuankang, who was responsible for delivering the letter, sat half-assed on a chair and said cautiously: "Academician Xu means that the mining of lunar mineral deposits will be carried out in conjunction with the construction of the lunar base."

"It happened that when we manned the moon some time ago, we discovered a shallow titanium-rich metal mine in the lunar South Pole. We can use it to practice and accumulate experience and technology."

Opposite me, the elder from the industry and information industry smiled and continued: "Have you done any relevant research?"

Wu Yuankang nodded and said: "The formal investigation report has been arranged for processing. Before coming, I first made a preliminary understanding and consultation with experts from the National Energy Group, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Engineering."

"Overall, it is difficult to develop intelligent lunar mining equipment, but it is not impossible. Experts from the three parties generally believe that it can be given a try."

"After all, intelligent mining equipment can not only be used on the moon, but also has great potential on the earth. From this point of view, it is quite worthwhile to invest a certain amount of manpower and material resources in research and development."

After a slight pause, he continued: "In addition, what Academician Xu means is that he will personally take the lead in leading this project."

Hearing this, the old man was a little moved. With so much work on his hands, could he still be busy?

After thinking for a while, he said: "In this case, after the formal investigation report is completed, you can arrange for the relevant Xinmen Group to organize a team to go to the Xinghai Research Institute to connect with Academician Xu and complete the investigation. Then I will approve the project.”