When everyone escaped from the small interstellar spacecraft, they were not far away from the Wolf 359 star system, only about 0.7 light-years. However, at this distance, it was also out of reach for the three small aircraft similar to human shuttles. .
The distance of 0.7 light-years has exceeded the maximum range of small aircraft, and its theoretical range is only 0.3 light-years.
In desperation, they had no choice but to make a desperate move and sacrifice part of their supplies to increase the range of the other two aircraft.
After precise calculation and distribution of supplies, the following measures were taken: part of the supplies of the aircraft carrying supplies were evenly distributed to the other two aircraft, and then the propulsion energy of the aircraft was completely extracted for use by the latter two.
It has to be said that this method is very risky. When it is still uncertain whether the expedition fleet will really be in the Wolf 359 star system, this approach is tantamount to self-destruction.
But being in the vast interstellar space, this is also the most practical method.
One and a half years later, the two small aircraft ran out of energy. After adding the energy of the extracted aircraft, they sailed in the vast interstellar mist for another five months until they completely lost power.
At this time, it is still 0.09 light-years away from the destination.
The two aircraft were floating quietly in the dark and silent starry sky like two solitary sails. What was even more serious was that most of the supplies had been consumed, which was less than three months.
Although the so-called rations, apart from the popping-bead-style water, had a slight taste, the Taiboxing-style bagged food was simply unpalatable, but even these were precious at this moment.
The careful Zhou Yun made a scientific and precise distribution of food and water. The so-called scientific and precise distribution was nothing more than maintaining the most basic energy consumption of Liu Hanyang, Xiao Hang and herself.
In this case, eating well is a luxury.
Even so, when the aircraft loses power, no matter how precise the distance is, death is only a matter of time.
An aura of despair and helplessness filled everyone's hearts. At the critical moment, Li Sujia stood up and proposed to donate her own energy pool and the energy pools of Mecha X367 and Mecha X72 for the propulsion energy of the aircraft.
Her proposal was immediately strongly opposed by Liu Hanyang and Zhou Yun. Without a life support system, rashly extracting the energy pool from her body would be tantamount to killing her.
However, Li Sujia's idea provided another possibility, which was to extract the energy pools of the two mechas and use them for the propulsion energy of the aircraft.
For the two mechas who are machines themselves, the extraction of the energy pool does not endanger their lives, but only temporarily loses consciousness and is in a closed state.
The two small aircraft started up again, drawing two brilliant electric lights in the vast space and flying towards the Wolf 359 star system...
Two months later, the energy of the two small aircraft was exhausted again, and they were suspended alone in the empty starry sky. But this time, in an astronomical sense, they were very close to their destination.
They are on the outskirts of the Wolf 359 star system, about 35 million kilometers away.
This red dwarf star, which is a UV-type flare star, can be clearly seen on the navigation screen of the aircraft. Its mass is much smaller than that of the sun, and its brightness is also dimmer. However, because it is a flare star, it has strong magnetic activity in its photosphere. The luminosity undergoes a brief increase in energy, followed by a rapid decay.
Therefore, when strong magnetic activity occurs in the photosphere of this red dwarf star, Liu Hanyang and others 35 million kilometers away can clearly see the dazzling, aurora-like strong illumination.
Of course, its brightness and energy released are far greater than those produced by Earth's aurora.
Looking at the colorful light, it seemed that everyone had forgotten the existence of time and that they were trapped in space and unable to move.
It is so beautiful that one almost forgets everything.
"There's a way!"
Liu Hanyang's sudden words brought everyone's thoughts back from the beautiful wonders of the universe. They looked at him in confusion, and finally realized that they
The dangerous situation he was in also looked forward to his way out of the predicament.
"Both mechas have motors and energy storage devices that drive their respective weapon systems. They can form a perfect motor drive device to drive the small aircraft towards Wolf 359." Liu Hanyang added excitedly.
Li Sujia and Zhou Yun had long-lost smiles on their faces. They saw hope, but Xiao Hang had a sad look on his face.
"The idea is perfect, but where does the kinetic energy come from?" Xiao Hang questioned.
Li Sujia smiled mysteriously, then looked at the confident Liu Hanyang, and a moment later turned his attention to the red dwarf star 35 million kilometers away.
"Ha! Don't you understand yet?" Zhou Yun stared at Xiao Hang, smiled, and then pointed at the colorful light emitted by Wolf 359 and continued, "The kinetic energy comes from it!"
Xiao Hang suddenly realized it and finally understood.
"Let's take action!" Liu Hanyang said.
With the joint efforts of everyone, two solar panels made of metal sheets from the two mecha bodies were completed. They were placed directly above the two small aircraft and connected with the motors and motors of the two mechas. Energy storage devices are connected.
20 minutes later, the kinetic energy generated by the bright light and radiation of Wolf 359 was used to drive two small aircraft towards their destination...
Although the speed is very slow, it will not be stuck in space waiting to die.
Once the two aircraft enter the gravitational range of Wolf 359, its strong gravity can provide the aircraft with a steady stream of kinetic energy. Coupled with the power correction provided by the two solar panels, it is enough to propel the two aircraft into the star system. in the gravitational field of any planet.
Liu Hanyang's plan was successful. Although there were many dangers during the process of entering the star system, fortunately, the excellent and steady driving skills of Li Sujia and Zhou Yun made the entire entry process scary but not dangerous.
After five hours of intense and exciting entry, the two small aircraft finally hovered on the ecliptic plane of the Wolf 359 star system.
At this moment, what appeared in front of everyone was a dim red dwarf star, Wolf 359, bathed in dim light with two planets orbiting around it.
One of them is a gas giant planet, Wolf 359b, which is about 1.5 times the mass of Jupiter. The other, Wolf 35, is in the habitable zone and is a rocky planet 0.9 times the mass of the Earth.
The former is too close to its parent star, causing its internal temperature to be extremely high. Heat waves billow from the center of the planet to its surface. The area is larger than a giant city. The hot airflow is like a huge wave, spreading over the entire surface of the planet. It is so terrifying. The scene was comparable to hell.
Although the latter is a rocky planet in the habitable zone, the dim light and thermal radiation of its parent star are not enough to provide it with enough heat. In addition, the planet does not have an atmosphere, resulting in its surface temperature remaining at more than minus 100 degrees Celsius all year round. degrees below zero, with the two poles falling below more than 200 degrees below zero.
Looking at the data of the two planets, Liu Hanyang and others could not help but fall into despair. The journey to Wolf Star that took several years ended in such a cruel way.
Unexpectedly, this is most likely the burial place for everyone.
In such a harsh planetary environment, it is impossible for the expedition fleet to be stationed here, even as a temporary shelter.
They set their sights on the Lutan 726-6 star system, which is only 1 light-year away from the star, and hope that the expedition fleet can be stationed there. However, the current situation is that the only energy is not enough to go to the star system, or even even Flying out of the Wolf 359 has become a luxury.
The inability to find traces of the voyage fleet meant that they were in an isolated and helpless situation. In fact, they had reached a dilemma.
Maybe they'll be trapped in that galaxy forever.
With supplies running out, they may all die of starvation within a few months.
The two small aircraft were plunged into deathly silence and coldness, as if they had fallen into an ice cellar that would never see the light of day.
Cold and suffocating, dark and despairing.
"Landing on Wolf 35, maybe the voyage fleet is there!" Liu Hanyang said with his eyes widened, as if all his aura was gathered around his eyes.
"Hanyang, calm down! It's a frozen planet. In an environment of more than 100 degrees below zero, it's impossible for a long-distance fleet to station here, even for a short stay!" Zhou Yun advised.
"These data are just the results given by these two rudimentary airborne detectors, and may not be accurate. Maybe the surface temperature of Wolf 35 is not as low as detected!"
As Liu Hanyang spoke, he suddenly realized something. He cast his eyes on Wolf 35 again and murmured: "It is tidally locked by the star, locked..."
His words seemed to make Li Sujia realize something, and she quickly said: "Yes! I understand what Han Yang means. Once a planet is tidally locked by its parent star, the temperature of the side facing the parent star and the other side facing away from the parent star may be too high. It may be too low to be inhabited, but the temperature near the twilight line is likely to be suitable, and perhaps the voyage fleet is stationed near the twilight line.”
"I think the probability is very low." Zhou Yun shook her head, pointed to the airborne detector and said, "It has already given the surface temperature of the planet, including the temperature near the dusk line, which should be correct."
"The airborne detector is a device of the Taibo aliens. Maybe it gives the average temperature." Xiao Hang interjected.
"The average temperature is even more terrifying. Think about our moon. It is also tidally locked by the earth and is in the habitable zone. Is its surface temperature suitable?" Zhou Yun said with a smile.
"The moon is a satellite of the earth, and what we are discussing now is a planet of a star. The two are not the same concept and magnitude!" Xiao Hang said tit for tat.
The quarrels in the two small aircraft were endless, and no one could convince the other. In the end, Li Sujia made the decision and decided to go to Wolf 35 to find out.
She understood Zhou Yun's worry. Once they landed, the energy of the two crafts would not be enough to escape the planet's gravity and return to space.
To be cautious, Li Sujia adopted a compromise plan, which was to hover about 200 kilometers above Wolf 35, and then use airborne detectors to conduct precise detection near the twilight line.
Three hours later, the detection results came out, and the cold data instantly cooled everyone's enthusiasm.
The surface temperature of Wolf 35 twilight line is minus 127 degrees.
