Zhao Changxing very much hopes to finish all the facilities and buildings in the industrial zone and then build other buildings. Like now, if we retreat when the construction completion level is only about 80%, we will definitely feel a little uncomfortable.
Not only that, Zhao Changxing also hopes to set up a fixed mining team - in addition to pyrite, water mines, nitrogen mines, dry ice mines and other mining areas, it is best to station fixed manpower, build professional mining facilities, and use running water The path of chemical industrialized mining will ensure that no matter what you do in the future, you don’t have to worry about a lack of resources.
But the reality is that, let alone establishing fixed mining sites, there is no time to build even several originally planned chemical production lines in chemical plants and resource recycling and processing centers here in the industrial zone.
"Time is tight and the tasks are heavy. Things here can only be discussed later. The resource collection mode can only maintain the status quo for now."
The current mining model is that a few people work in the factory when the factory is busy. When the factory is short of raw materials, they drive a space vehicle to some mining sites that have been explored before, such as Shuikuang No. 1. , Manganese Mine No. 1, Dry Ice No. 1 and other places to go around and extract some resources to maintain production.
This will definitely affect efficiency, but there is currently no time and energy to adjust.
Zhao Changxing sighed secretly again.
With the matters in the industrial zone temporarily over, the construction of the No. 2 Comprehensive Base was put on the agenda.
At this moment, it is about a year and a half before the third generation of humans reaches adulthood. So, let’s use this year and a half to solve their housing problem first.
"There are a total of 60 children in the third generation. When they become adults and can work, I will have more power. By then, whether it is the industrial zone or the construction of the No. 3 planting base , and establishing fixed mining sites can be done.”
"The difficulties are only temporary and will get better in the future. Now, just get over it."
Eight people were left behind in the industrial zone to maintain production. Zhao Changxing returned to the No. 1 Comprehensive Base with the remaining 18 adults.
These 18 people, plus 19 in total, are all the strength to build the No. 2 comprehensive base.
After a day's rest, the construction of the No. 2 comprehensive base began immediately.
The drawings have been prepared by Xiao Xi in advance according to people's requirements. In the planning, the total area of the No. 2 comprehensive base is also 10,000 square meters. Zhao Changxing plans to build 150 houses in it, so that 300 people can live in it. The fourth generation of children has also been born, and after the fourth generation there will be a fifth generation, among which people will naturally give birth to children. children, in total, 150 houses can roughly meet people's living needs within 20 years.
In 20 years' time, although the population will be larger, the engineering capabilities will inevitably be stronger. When the time comes, just continue to create.
150 houses means an area of at least 3,000 square meters. Including corridors, passages, walls and other public areas, as well as canteens, warehouses, life support, leisure and entertainment areas, emergency medical areas, etc., the total area will at least double to 6,000 square meters. A little more affluent and less compact, it would be 8,000 square meters.
When finalizing the planning drawings, Zhao Changxing discussed with people: "There is still about 2,000 square meters of spare area. It is better to build a larger sports venue with this area."
In the several bases on Sedna, entertainment and leisure facilities are very scarce. Among the specially planned so-called entertainment and leisure areas, there are at most some area-saving, simple and affordable projects such as chess, gym, and video game room. There is no place that is as vast as the big playground on Earth.
This makes people feel depressed all the time. And this is obviously not good for physical and mental health.
Now that the No. 2 comprehensive base is to be built, Zhao Changxing simply solves this problem together.
This proposal was unanimously approved. So planning drawings were developed according to these requirements.
Like the No. 2 planting base, the No. 2 comprehensive base will also be built underground. After all, it is not a factory, but a place where people live for a long time. Radiation protection requirements must be considered.
The construction process is still the same as that of the No. 2 planting base. First, dig a pit, then isolate it, lay layers of boards, and make isolation walls internally according to the plan.
Time passed bit by bit, and after laying the foundation of the No. 2 Comprehensive Base, Zhao Changxing suddenly received bad news.
The news came from Xiaoxi.
"Captain, our gold and platinum reserves have been reduced to close to the warning level. You need to prepare in advance."
This news made Zhao Changxing startled. It took him a moment to react.
An ominous premonition arose in his heart.
Gold and platinum are very rare elements, both on Earth and on Sedna. They are not widely used in industry, and can even be said to be very rare, but their status is quite important.
For example, the surface of some components needs to be plated with a thin layer of gold so that its performance can meet the requirements. For example, in some chemical reactions, a small amount of platinum is needed as a catalyst - its dosage is also not high, but if it is not available, it will not work.
When the Fire spacecraft left the earth, people were not sure whether they could find rare element deposits such as these two elements from Sedna, so they directly stored some on the Fire spacecraft and asked Zhao Changxing to Wait for the astronauts to bring them directly.
The gold element brought from the earth was not much, only about one ton, and the volume was only 50 liters. The carrying amount of platinum is almost at this level.
Because the amount used was small, Zhao Changxing almost didn't pay attention to the remaining reserves. When prospecting on Sedna, Zhao Changxing also specifically searched for veins of these rare elements, but found none.
"Xiao Xi, how much do we have in reserve now?"
"There are still about a dozen kilograms of gold reserves, and 22.3 kilograms of platinum."
"How long will it last?"
Zhao Changxing still has some hope in his heart. He hoped that these rare elements could at least support the completion of the No. 2 Comprehensive Base. At that time, people can allocate their energy and spend their time searching for these two mineral deposits in other places on Sedna.
But Xiao Xi's answer disappointed Zhao Changxing again.
"Unfortunately, Captain, the platinum element reserve is barely enough, but there is still a big gap in the gold element reserve. Gold element is indispensable for the construction of the core components of the No. 2 base's life support system."
Without a life support system, even if the entire framework of the No. 2 Comprehensive Base is completed, it will not be able to support people's survival internally.
"Why didn't you warn me earlier?"
Zhao Changxing was slightly angry.
"Originally, the reserves were sufficient. But recently, you adjusted the production plan of the industrial zone and accidentally consumed a large amount of gold elements, resulting in insufficient reserves."
Only then did Zhao Changxing realize that he had decided to build a batch of engineering vehicles some time ago, which consumed part of the gold element reserves.
However, those engineering vehicles are necessary to maintain the normal operation of the industrial zone. Without them, the production efficiency of the industrial zone will be greatly reduced, and it will not even be enough to support the building materials demand of the No. 2 Comprehensive Base. But now that they are built, the demand for gold elements in the No. 2 Comprehensive Base's life-support area cannot be met.
"Meeting."
Zhao Changxing quickly summoned all the adults and once again gathered in the leisure and entertainment area of the No. 1 Comprehensive Base. Those who are unable to attend the meeting will also participate in the meeting via video.
There is enough space in the leisure and entertainment area, which can also be used as a meeting room.
The number of participants in this meeting reached 41. The 30 people from the second generation who originally had only the right to observe and not have the right to speak, now have become mature and rational enough because they have been working for several years, and have the qualifications to truly participate in the meeting.
As soon as this news from Xiao Xi was announced, people started talking about it. But after much discussion, there was only one way to solve the problem in the end.
The only way is to dedicate a few people at this moment to search for gold mines on Sedna. During the period before the gold mine was found, people first carried out the construction of the remaining areas of the No. 2 Comprehensive Base that did not require gold elements.
What else could be done? Is it possible to remanufacture the construction machinery that has already been built and refine the gold again?
Not to mention whether we have the ability to refine it, but without those machines, what would happen to the production in the industrial zone? The industrial zone cannot maintain production, and the No. 2 comprehensive base cannot be built either.
This solution is the only option for people no matter where you look at it. But a very important question is, what if the gold mine is still not found until the No. 2 Comprehensive Base and other places that do not require gold elements are built? What should I do if I still can't find the gold mine?
In that case, not only would the No. 2 Comprehensive Base not be built, but the subsequent No. 3 planting base, the light industrial factory in the industrial zone, and even all future buildings would not be able to be built.
This possibility makes everyone's heart heavy.
"Don't worry too much about this problem."
Zhao Changxing spoke in a very determined tone, trying to calm people's worries as much as possible: "From a probability perspective, such a large planet will have almost all elements that can exist for a long time, but the reserves will be more or less. That’s all. If we search carefully, we will definitely find it.”
There were a few echoes, and the meeting ended.
But there was one sentence that no one said.
In terms of probability, the probability that a planet as big as Sedna does not have gold mines on it is indeed extremely low. But the key question is...where on the planet are they?
surface? Or 100 meters underground, a thousand meters, even a hundred kilometers, or even the core of the earth?
You know, at this moment, humans don’t have much ability to dig deeper. Besides, if the gold mines were buried too deep, it would be impossible to find them.
But there is only one way, so let’s try it first.
