Zhao Changxing once again returned to the Fire spacecraft at the fastest speed and saw the waveform of this signal with his own eyes.
"During this period, in the direction of Cygnus, have you observed any natural phenomena worth noting?"
As soon as he asked this question, Zhao Changxing shook his head subconsciously.
If there is, Xiao Xi will definitely report it to herself.
Sure enough, Xiao Xi said: "No."
This is also a radio wave signal that seems to have certain rules. Moreover, Xiao Xi was also unable to decipher the information from it - if it really carried some information.
Also because the sample size is too small.
But receiving signals suspected of having certain "intelligent" characteristics twice in a row from the same direction was enough in itself to give Zhao Changxing some bad associations.
"Continue to observe." Zhao Changxing made a decision again: "Also, from now on, all our communications will be conducted at the lowest power."
"Okay Captain."
This is a degree of "radio silence."
Zhao Changxing is consciously hiding himself. Although he didn't know if it was useful or meaningful.
With a sense of crisis and urgency, Zhao Changxing once again devoted himself to the construction of the base.
Today's young men and women only have theoretical experience learned from textbooks and classrooms. Practical operation experience is almost nonexistent, and Zhao Changxing's guidance is still needed. It took almost another year for the young men and women to really get started with the work on the Spark spacecraft, Humanity Base No. 1, and various aspects of industrialization promotion, and they could start working independently.
Perhaps it is because they are getting older and becoming more mature, so they are more able to understand the difficult situation of human civilization at the current stage. The teenagers have grown up rapidly and have truly become Zhao Changxing's right-hand man.
Under this situation, in the industrial zone, machinery casting and metal processing equipment were completed several times faster than before. The focus of the next work was adjusted again, from metal smelting, processing, and casting to chemistry and chemical engineering.
Chemical raw materials that are essential in various industrial processes, such as various acids, alkalis, salts, various oxides, various hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, alicyclic hydrocarbons, or similar methanol, ethanol, formaldehyde, Acetone, vinyl chloride, etc., scientists on Earth have developed artificial synthesis paths using existing substances on Sedna as raw materials. In the laboratory, if manual and customized methods are adopted, Zhao Changxing is completely capable Ability to synthesize any required chemical raw materials by itself.
But the key problem is that this synthesis method is too inefficient. Only industrialization and large-scale production can produce enough chemical raw materials and ultimately produce building materials that can be used to build new planting bases.
Now, what Zhao Changxing hopes to build is a sulfuric acid production line. Sulfuric acid is called the mother of chemicals and is an indispensable part of the manufacture of many chemical materials. At this moment, the production line planned by Zhao Changxing has an annual output of sulfuric acid as high as 5 tons, and a daily output of about... less than 14 kilograms.
This output, if placed on Earth, which has a complete range of industries and has already achieved large-scale production, would probably be laughed at. But on Sedna, if this production line can be built, it will definitely be an amazing achievement.
Zhao Changxing plans to build this production line using a process called the "wet sulfuric acid method." Of course, what is used here is optimized by earth scientists, but the basic principle is still the same.
First, sulfur is burned to obtain sulfur dioxide, and a catalyst vanadium pentoxide is added to oxidize it again to sulfur trioxide. After hydration, sulfuric acid can be produced.
The sulfur element was present in large quantities in the veins where Zhao Changxing collected iron ore before - it was pyrite, and the so-called pyrite was actually ferrous disulfide. After it is smelted and purified, the iron is used to make steel, and the sulfur is used to synthesize sulfuric acid, making the best use of everything without wasting anything.
With sulfuric acid as a raw material, Zhao Changxing can start building an ethylene production line and produce ethylene. With ethylene, subsequent synthetic fibers, synthetic rubber, plastics, and even a series of raw materials such as vinyl chloride, styrene, epoxy, acetic acid, etc. can be produced.
Led by the two young men who were his assistants, Zhao Changxing immersed himself in the work.
Today, the two enemies who took turns to work in the industrial zone were Qian Yue and Chen Feng. Perhaps because he has grown up, Qian Yue's personality has become more introverted, and Chen Feng is no longer introverted, but has begun to become calm. But you can still vaguely see the shadow of your childhood.
There seems to be something wrong with the mood of these two people today. Zhao Changxing was keenly aware that the two of them always seemed to peek at each other from time to time while working. Once the eyes of the two parties come into contact, they will instantly move away like an electric shock.
"There is a story between these two little guys..."
Zhao Changxing looked at the time and saw that it was time for a break, so he announced a break and then deliberately left the place, leaving the two of them some space to be alone. After a while, when Zhao Changxing came back, he saw some uncontrollable smiles on their faces, and seemed to be in a very happy mood.
Zhao Changxing observed the words and expressions and just pretended that he didn't know anything.
The days passed slowly in this situation. After a few more months, the sulfuric acid production line was finally completed, and after a while, the ethylene production line was also completed. For safety reasons, Zhao Changxing temporarily moved the two production lines to independent buildings next to the main building of Base No. 1 and connected to the main base through passages.
In the future, these chemical plants will obviously have independent premises, but for now they can only make do with it.
After initially solving the production of sulfuric acid and ethylene, Zhao Changxing will have more development directions and can build at least thousands of factories that produce different products. However, Zhao Changxing cut them all down.
At the current stage, Zhao Changxing's purpose is very clear, which is to produce whatever materials are needed for the construction of the new planting base first, and everything else will come later.
The world is huge, but eating is the biggest problem. If people starve to death, no matter how many talents and strategies they have, they will not be able to be used.
What is currently being carried out is the production line of synthetic rubber, fiber and plastics. The sealing gaskets, cable insulation and thermal insulation layers required to build new planting bases all require this production line to produce.
As the types of production lines improve and increase, the demand for basic materials is also increasing. Based on this, the Red Flag space vehicle had to run around all day long on the land of Sedna, transporting truck after truck of ore. In addition to the two people driving the space vehicle and the two people who stayed behind in the Spark spacecraft, the remaining six people plus Zhao Changxing were also busy all day long and rarely had time to rest.
The process of the rubber production line is much more complicated than the previous basic material production lines. There are even some parts that cannot be produced by the existing metal processing technology, and they have to rely on 3D printers to customize them manually. This also delayed a lot of time. It took Zhao Changxing and others more than three years to complete it.
By this time, the second generation of children were already ten years old. The first generation of teenagers are already 23 years old. Zhao Changxing's age has reached 51 years old.
During this period of time, Xiao Xi received signals with special characteristics twice from the direction of Cygnus. But so far, Zhao Changxing has not made any other discoveries. So there was nothing he could do except continue to monitor.
Today, in order to celebrate the completion of the rubber production line, Zhao Changxing specially brought thirty kilograms of mutton, as well as a large number of vegetables, mushrooms, sesame paste, etc., and took everyone back to the Fire spaceship to prepare for a meal of the children's favorite hot pot. Celebrate.
Zhao Changxing and the ten children of the first generation sat at a table with a total of eleven people. The 30 children of the second generation were divided into three tables for a total of four tables. They divided the mutton and vegetables, and the group of people became lively. Start eating.
At this moment, Zhao Changxing felt quite like three generations living under the same roof, and he also felt a sense of accomplishment. Because he clearly knew that almost all of these children could be said to have been raised by himself.
The dinner was enjoyable. When they were almost halfway through the meal, Qian Yue and Chen Feng looked at each other. Finally, Chen Feng said to Zhao Changxing a little shyly: "Dad, there is something..."
"Oh? You said."
The first and second generation children, regardless of their age, all became quiet.
"I, I..." Chen Feng hesitated, his face turned red and he couldn't speak. Qian Yue looked impatient, so he stood up and said, "Dad, Chen Feng and I are planning to get married."
"marry?"
This familiar yet unfamiliar vocabulary made Zhao Changxing feel dazed for a moment, and he couldn't help but recall the time when he attended other people's weddings on Earth.
Before you know it, decades have passed...
Seeing Zhao Changxing's silence, Chen Feng said anxiously: "Dad, don't they say on TV that people have to get married when they reach a certain age? They have to sleep in the same bed and have children..."
Qian Yue pinched Chen Feng quietly, causing him to grimace in pain.
Zhao Changxing woke up from his memories, and a smile immediately appeared on his face.
"This is a good thing. Good boy, good boy. Then...it's better to choose a different day than to hit it. Let today be your wedding ceremony, okay?"
"Yeah! Yeah!"
The second-generation children cheered, and the sound spread throughout the Spark spacecraft. If there was air outside the spacecraft, the sound might be transmitted directly to Humanity Base No. 1.
"Wait a moment."
Zhao Changxing suddenly stood up and quickly walked to the back of the cabin. Everyone looked at him, wondering what he wanted to do.
But Zhao Changxing took out dozens of apples, handed them to the kitchen robot, and issued an instruction. After a while, the kitchen robot, under Xiao Xi's control, brought out a large bucket full of juice.
"On Earth, when a couple gets married, they have to toast the guests to express their gratitude. We don't have wine here, and we can't drink it, so we can use juice instead."
The kitchen robot fetched cups and poured juice for everyone. The children of the second generation looked at the apple juice and their eyes almost went straight.
Apples are very precious. There is only one apple tree planted in the entire Human Base No. 1. Due to environmental factors, the number of fruits grown every year is pitiful. Zhao Changxing usually used this thing as a reward to those who performed well, and he was reluctant to eat it, let alone use it to squeeze juice.
They have only seen juice on TV and have never drank it. Zhao Changxing was also very happy today, so he became cruel and took out dozens of apples to squeeze juice.
Qian Yue, who was slightly shy but still bold, and Chen Feng, who was even more shy, stood up and came to Zhao Changxing with cups in hand.
"Dad, thank you."
The two of them bowed to Zhao Changxing at the same time.
"Good boy, good boy."
