The current observation results finally provide support for this plan - to open a hole in the asteroid and use the reverse thrust of the gas released from its internal pressure to change its orbit so that it does not hit Sedna. Some possibilities. But to determine whether this possibility is actually feasible, further observations are needed.
For example, determine the specific gas content inside it, determine its pressure, how much decay heat the radioactive heavy elements can provide, calculate the amount of reverse thrust, etc. Only when all the data is clear can we finally determine whether this plan is feasible.
Zhao Changxing quickly told the people on the Spark spacecraft and Sedna about his observations and speculations. Sure enough, just as Zhao Changxing expected, the arrival of this news made everyone excited.
The subsequent detection plan was quickly drawn up. According to the plan, Zhao Changxing will return to the Huzhong spacecraft, bring more equipment and return to the asteroid for further observations.
Among the new equipment is a seismometer, which will be installed on the surface of the asteroid. After that, a simple thruster will push a large rock to hit the asteroid. This will cause the asteroid to vibrate, and then by collecting and analyzing these shock wave data, the seismometer can roughly obtain the mass distribution data and element composition data inside it, thereby determining how big the "cavity" inside it is. , and the mass of the gas element.
In addition to the seismometer, there is also a gravity detection device. Through the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in different places, analysis of elemental composition and mass distribution can also be carried out. Combined with a seismometer, the data obtained will be more accurate.
There is also a radiation analyzer that can more accurately measure the amount of decay heat.
There are a dozen types of related equipment in total. This time, it is necessary to thoroughly understand this asteroid. Only in this way can further arrangements be made.
After this glimmer of light appeared, Zhao Changxing had several more discussions with people, and finally decided that the disassembly plan should continue and that facilities and materials of important value that could not be manufactured should be continued to be transported to the Fire spacecraft. Because time cannot be afforded, once it is finally determined that the plan to change the orbit of the asteroid is not feasible, it will be too late to continue the relocation plan at that time.
Under this situation, Zhao Changxing once again came to this asteroid with people's hopes, and immediately began further observation and analysis.
At this moment, there is less than five months left for the asteroid to hit Sedna.
Along with Zhao Changxing's actions, one piece of data was identified and then included in the comprehensive analysis system. Mass distribution, elemental composition, internal pressure, thermal decay, heavy element mass, etc., all have accurate data.
During this process, when seeing data that meets expectations, people will cheer and get excited, feeling that they are one step closer to success. When people see data that does not meet their expectations, they will be disappointed and sad, but they still retain hope, hoping that the next data can make up for the shortcomings of the current data.
People's moods rise and fall suddenly, wandering repeatedly between heaven and hell. Only Zhao Changxing always had a smile on his face, was always calm and firm, and it seemed that no amount of bad news could hit him. However, whenever they see Zhao Changxing's figure, people's hearts will slowly calm down.
Today is the last and most important day when data is born.
The abundance of the radioactive heavy element, now identified as plutonium-242. Obviously, only if its content is high enough, it can provide enough decay heat to heat the solid gas elements inside the asteroid and provide enough pressure inside it. And with enough pressure, subsequent plans may be successful.
In the Falcon 1 spacecraft, Zhao Changxing operated relevant equipment and carefully observed every data presented by the instruments. When the last data was presented, Zhao Changxing sighed and shook his head.
Data show that the element content of plutonium-242 on this asteroid is only 0.056%-0.093%. And this level of element content is not enough to provide enough heat inside it. Without enough heat, there is not enough pressure. Without enough pressure, there is...
Zhao Changxing sent this data back to the Fire spacecraft, his expression still calm.
In the Spark spaceship, people gathered in the conference room, waiting anxiously for the arrival of the last data as if they were waiting for the lottery draw. When this data was finally received, the entire conference room fell silent, and everyone looked pale.
You must know that the ultimate goal of this series of plans is not to completely push away the asteroid, but to make it a satellite of Sedna. Because this requires the lowest thrust and the lowest requirements for various indicators, it is the easiest to achieve.
But now, can't even meet this minimum requirement? Even if this plan is really implemented, it will only be able to change the orbit and angle of its impact on Sedna, but the matter itself cannot be changed?
This data is actually only a little lower than the required data, only about 4%-5%. The difference is not big. But even if there is such a small gap, the result will be one of heaven and one of hell. The distance between the two is like a natural chasm.
Compared with complete despair, it is more cruel to have hope first and let people have illusions, and then to destroy the hope and return to despair.
But what are you afraid of?
"The situation hasn't gotten better, but it hasn't gotten worse either. It's just a possibility. At worst, we can just continue to relocate. I don't believe that our human civilization can be extinct here."
Zhao Changxing comforted people while driving the Falcon 1 spacecraft towards the Fire spacecraft.
That's exactly what he was thinking.
"Children are still a bit tender after all and can't bear the blow."
Driving the Falcon 1 spacecraft into the berth of the Fire spacecraft, and entering the Fire spacecraft through the isolation door, looking at the people with sad faces, Zhao Changxing could only comfort and encourage people loudly again: "What is there to be sad about? We are Aren't we already prepared for failure? We just have to make do in the Spark spaceship for a while. Now we just haven't found a better way, but it's not worse than before, right? Okay Okay, let’s go to work.”
Relocation planning begins again.
Although there has been encouragement from Zhao Changxing, people's mood is still a little low.
The same is true for Chen Feng. In fact, the changes he felt were deeper and greater than others. Because he was one of the few of all people who had the next generation.
Now, he and Qian Yue's child is several years old, innocent, lively and cute. As long as you can see your child, no matter how hard or tiring the day is, you will instantly regain all your energy.
"The suffering that my father went through back then, now, do I want my child and Chen Yue to go through it too?"
This incident will inevitably lead to a great reduction in people's living standards. In this process, there may even be sacrifices.
Just thinking about Chen Yue not having enough to eat, not having enough clothes to wear, working all day long and struggling to survive, Chen Feng felt pain in his heart like a knife.
"There must be a way, there must be a way..."
During this period, it is not that people have not thought of ways to increase the pressure inside the asteroid. For example, make some explosives and stuff them in, or make a light-concentrating film large enough to heat it with sunlight. However, these methods were proved to be unfeasible after simple calculations.
Qian Yue also noticed the changes in her husband. But she also had nothing to do about this matter. The only thing that can be done is to comfort her silently.
The relocation plan was tight and labor hours were long. But even so, in the few breaks, Chen Feng would always read a lot of information and think about it all day long.
This is still the case today. After finishing today's work, Chen Feng returned to the room and through the terminal, Chen Feng connected to Xiao Xi's database again.
Inadvertently, he saw some information about Enceladus.
"Enceladus is a planet covered in water ice with a liquid ocean beneath it. Saturn's tidal effects heat its interior..."
Chen Feng was startled for a moment and murmured: "Tidal... effect?"
He suddenly remembered something and his whole body became energetic. He quickly opened the calculation interface, entered a series of data, and started the calculation.
When the final result came out, his body even began to tremble slightly with excitement. He sent a communication request to Zhao Changxing without any hesitation.
"Chen Feng, is something wrong?"
"Dad, I made a discovery. We all missed one thing before. We, we...Dad, it is completely feasible and completely hopeful to change the orbit of this asteroid..."
In Comprehensive Base No. 1, the leisure and entertainment area - which recently also served as a conference room, Chen Feng hurriedly met Zhao Changxing, who looked slightly excited.
"Tidal effect, we forgot the tidal effect in our previous calculations!" Chen Feng said quickly: "When this asteroid approaches the Sedna star, the gravitational tidal effect of the Sedna star will heat its interior. Provide another part of the heat. I have calculated that this part of the heat can just make up for the heat gap caused by the insufficient heat of the decay of plutonium-242, and can just meet the internal pressure requirements! The fact is that we do not need to do any additional actions. Just relying on this part of the gravitational tidal effect is enough! We have every hope of changing its orbit!"
