April 2027, Liangguo Rocket City
Daphne Braun is 27 years old, blonde and tall. She is studying for her second doctorate at Jinsheng University of Technology, specializing in astronomy and astrophysics.
More than a week has passed since the kidnapping incident, and Daphne has been recuperating at home. Today is the weekend, and Daphne's father, Professor Braun, invited David Halsey to visit his home.
In order to thank Uncle David for his help, Daphne prepared a rich barbecue feast with her own hands.
The three of them sat down in the courtyard. Professor Braun and David were both rarely seen wearing loose T-shirts. They stood up from time to time to flip the marinated steaks and pork sausages on the oven.
Cold beer is indispensable. Although it is not a hearty drink, the three of them drank it to their heart's content.
Daphne seemed to have completely erased the frightening memory, and returned to the beautiful world she was familiar with physically and mentally.
"Daphne, I'm really happy to see you like this." David raised the beer can and gestured for a toast with Daphne. After taking a big sip, he asked:
"I heard from your father that you studied for another doctorate in astronomy. Have you graduated?"
"He is a doctor of astronomy. He has not graduated yet. He is writing a doctoral thesis. The direction of the thesis was suggested by my father." Daphne also took a sip of beer, answered politely, and continued:
"The title of my doctoral thesis is "The Development and Regulation of Space Industrialization."
David has a certain knowledge base in astronomy and is also familiar with the close cooperative relationship between Jinshengzhou University of Technology and Liangguo Space Administration.
However, this is the first time I have heard of the term space industrialization.
David was very interested in this new term. Professor Braun noticed David's attention and helped Daphne introduce David.
Space industrialization is indeed a new term and a new field.
With the huge leap forward in human science and technology, it is no longer a dream to use local materials for industrial production and construction in space.
At present, man-made facilities such as satellites and spacecraft are manufactured and assembled on the ground. These man-made objects are subject to the load of the launch rocket.
If you want to build large facilities such as a space station or a lunar base, you have to launch rockets multiple times, which is extremely costly.
Space industrialization is a good choice, but although the prospects are great, there are also many difficulties.
The first difficulty is getting a lot of water in space.
With water, hydrogen can be decomposed to obtain sufficient fuel, and oxygen can be decomposed to ensure that personnel can stay for a long time. Therefore, scientists call water the oil of the space industry.
There are two ways to get water in space.
One way is to establish bases on the moon, Mars or even Jupiter's moons (such as Europa) to liquefy the detected ice and collect it.
Another method is to launch a special spacecraft to capture near-Earth asteroids with high ice content and collect water. The academic name of this type of spacecraft is "orbital maneuvering vehicle", commonly known as space tugboat.
Capturing asteroids to obtain water is currently mainly used in purely theoretical research on composition and composition.
If the water in the asteroid is taken out and towed to a designated space station or space work platform, the space tugboat needs to have better maneuverability.
If it can really be realized, the space tug will become a veritable "space tanker".
"Space tug? This is interesting. Does China's space agency have any plans in this regard?" David Halsey asked.
"The Liangguo Space Agency has already had plans in this area, and I will be participating in it now. After graduating from the Ph.D., it would be great if I am lucky enough to officially join the project team." Daphne Braun answered, showing her longing. With an excited expression, he continued:
"However, even though I was fortunate enough to participate in the launch of the space tugboat, unfortunately Liang's country is not the first country to launch such a spacecraft."
David asked eagerly: "Isn't Liang the first? Will other countries launch the space tug first?"
Daphne laughed and said: "It's not that other countries will launch, but it has already been launched! Guess which country it is?"
David turned his fingers with interest and counted several major space powers. Daphne Braun shook her head proudly and denied each one.
Professor Braun, who was enjoying the delicious food and the good weather, suddenly seemed to have been hit hard. In a tone that destroyed the harmonious and relaxed atmosphere, he shouted almost loudly:
"Jade Khanate!"
Daphne Braun was startled. If it hadn't been her father who gave the answer, as the question maker, she would have been angry at others announcing the answer first.
David Halsey, like Professor Braun, was completely distracted from the atmosphere of the scene and from Daphne's puzzle itself.
David looked in the direction of Professor Braun, waiting for the professor's explanation.
"In October 2022, the Jade Khanate Space Agency launched a space tug named Thurman. I did not realize that it might be related to the problems we are facing now."
Professor Braun said and stood up, and David also stood up and left the table.
Daphne Braun knew a little about the nature of David's work, so she intelligently started to put away the dishes and said:
"Uncle David, thank you for coming to see me and chatting with you. I feel much better. You can go to the study with my father to continue chatting. I will take care of it here."
In Professor Braun's study, David asked: "No country has launched a space tugboat, but the Yuhan people were the first to launch it five years ago. The Liangguo Space Administration and the Liangguo military have paid attention to this spacecraft." What’s going on?”
"We have indeed paid attention. The Liangguo Space Administration's focus is on the scientific research value and technological innovation of this space tugboat. The conclusion is that the Jade Khanate tugboat is not difficult from a technical point of view. No breakthrough scientific research value has been found yet. ." Professor Braun couldn't hide the slight disdain among his colleagues and continued:
"On the contrary, the Space Command is more concerned about the Jade Khanate tugboats. They are worried that Liang's artificial satellite will be captured. Of course, that is equivalent to the Jade Khanate declaring war on Liang. In the past few years, the Yuhan people have not made any substantive actions. ." The professor added:
"By the way, the Yuhan people named this space tugboat the Thurman. As far as I know, the Thurman dynasty was a powerful dynasty in ancient Bo."
After listening to Professor Braun's introduction, David Halsey was not as nervous as he was just now when he heard the name of the Jade Khanate.
David can also completely understand why Professor Braun did not tell him about this a few days ago.
The Yuhans launched a space tug, but nothing happened for several years.
In Professor Braun's view, he certainly does not think that the Jade Khanate's space tug has anything to do with Daphne's kidnapping case and the so-called "Little Girl" project.
Although David couldn't explain or figure out the connection between the space tugboat and his investigation mission, he was still unwilling to give up the caution and sensitivity he was accustomed to as a professional agent.
The new ideas Daphne and Professor Braun introduced to David, the industrialization of space, especially the idea that water is the oil of the space industry, were swirling around in his head.
Water, oil, space tug? David suddenly asked Professor Braun without thinking:
"Taking water from asteroids, I'm talking about water, do you think this has something to do with the water-retaining agent?"
"Water-retaining agent? You are too imaginative. Based on my current knowledge, I think water-retaining agent has nothing to do with space tugs." Professor Braun replied without thinking.
The two fell into silence again. Professor Braun noticed David's frown and consoled him:
"Didn't you tell me that when the investigation reaches a dead end, new clues will emerge on their own? There is still more than a month until May 25, and there is still enough time."
There was a loud knock on the study door, and Daphne Braun shouted something outside the soundproof door.
Professor Braun frowned. Everyone in his family knew his rules. He didn't like to be disturbed when he was talking with his guests in the study.
Professor Braun walked to the door and opened it impatiently.
"Come on, come on and watch TV." Daphne excitedly pushed the two of them to the TV in the living room.
Playing on the TV is the latest report:
"Today, at 16:00 Eastern Time in the Kingdom of Liang, the Jade Khanate Space Agency launched a large launch vehicle and successfully sent two space tugs into the predetermined orbit. The tugs were named: Seshan and Sephi."
