"Asteroids of around 200 million tons are all made of iron elements."
"The price of steel on earth is now about 3,000 per ton, and even the price of iron ore is more than 600 per ton. We are directly in space. If we calculate 1,000 per ton, it is not excessive."
"With such a simple calculation, this asteroid is worth 200 billion!"
Mao Jun did a simple calculation with his fingers, and his whole breathing changed.
It is just an inconspicuous asteroid in the void, but it is actually worth 200 billion.
"Hu~hu~"
"Isn't it right? An asteroid like this is worth 200 billion?"
"Do not believe?"
"This is calculated based on a simple method. In fact, if it is transported to the outer space of the earth, its value is definitely far more than 200 billion. You must know that transporting steel from the earth to space also requires a freight."
"Although there are anti-gravity spacecraft now, the transportation cost is much lower than before, but if you calculate it, charging you two to three thousand per ton for freight is a very cheap thing."
"A conservative estimate of 200 billion is already very cheap."
"Let me go, just such an inconspicuous-looking asteroid, among the asteroids everywhere in this asteroid belt, is actually worth 200 billion. This does not mean that this asteroid belt is a mountain of gold and silver.
All over the place?”
Some people were dumbfounded after hearing this. Looking at the data in the computer, the asteroid is still not visible because it is 5,000 kilometers away and cannot be seen with the naked eye.
"Haha, what do you think?"
"Didn't we encounter an asteroid that contained 100 million tons of gold earlier?"
"Look at the asteroids in this asteroid belt. Asteroids of a few hundred meters or thousands of meters in size are everywhere. There is nothing strange at all. There are so many asteroids containing metal elements. It's completely OK.
It is said that this asteroid belt is a treasure belt."
"Ma Dan, I will also mine asteroids from now on. This will be like getting rich overnight."
During the discussion, no one thought that this seemingly inconspicuous asteroid in the void could be so valuable. This random one is worth 200 billion. Such a small asteroid in the entire asteroid belt
The planets are almost endless, and God knows how many treasures they contain.
“There is gold everywhere!”
Shi Kai couldn't help but sigh, and kept thinking in his mind. With the rapid development of the space industry and technology, more and more steel, metal, etc. are needed in space, which are completely transported from the ground to space.
Obviously this is not possible, and mining asteroids from the asteroid belt will inevitably become the mainstream, and perhaps my own opportunity will come in the future.
Such thoughts flashed through his mind, and soon he regained his composure.
"Attention everyone, the spacecraft changes direction and we go capture the asteroid."
A distance of more than 5,000 kilometers seems very far, but for a spacecraft flying in the starry sky, it does not take a few minutes to reach the vicinity of this asteroid.
The huge hatch on the Star Catcher spacecraft slowly opened, and two small anti-gravity aircraft roared out, each carrying a long rope.
This kind of rope is naturally no ordinary rope. It is all made of ultra-high molecular polyethylene. A hair-thin piece of ultra-high molecular polyethylene can hang something weighing several tons.
Ultra-high molecular polyethylene is a new type of polyethylene material with high strength and high modulus. It is "flexible on the outside and rigid on the inside". It is lighter than metal aluminum, but its strength is higher than steel. It is also corrosion-resistant and has high modulus.
.It is resistant to broadcasting and low temperature. More importantly, it not only has the inherent characteristics of polymer materials, but also has the soft processability of textile fibers. It is a new generation of reinforced materials.
Before setting off, the Xinghai Institute of Science had already formulated detailed methods for mining asteroids. First, they would use this high-strength polymer polyethylene material to weave a network on it with a small spacecraft, and then use the spacecraft to weave a net on it.
The spacecraft diverted the asteroid from its original trajectory.
Finally, rely on the strong gravitational pull of the sun in the solar system to calculate the position and allow the asteroid to re-form a new orbit passing the earth. When the asteroid is about to reach the earth, drag the asteroid again, and then rely on the gravity of the earth to pull the asteroid away.
Capture, form an orbit around the earth, and become a satellite of the earth. In this way, the capture of the asteroid is completed.
Two small anti-gravity aircraft slowly flew to the location of the asteroid. These aircraft will be responsible for weaving a net for the asteroid and wrapping the asteroid with high-molecular polyethylene rope.
"Hugh! Hugh!"
A steel fork was launched from each spacecraft. The steel fork penetrated deeply into the asteroid by virtue of its speed. A long carbon fiber rope was dragged behind the steel fork. Then the two spacecraft began to wrap around the asteroid in a circle.
, another circle, and soon it was wrapped dozens of times.
Then the two aircraft began to fly around each other, entwining the two ropes together again, and slowly flew into the Star Catcher spacecraft.
Inside the Star Catcher spacecraft, the robotic arm began to wrap the rope behind the aircraft around the huge hook at the tail of the spacecraft. At this time, the rope connected the Star Catcher spacecraft and the asteroid. However, the rope was not tightened, so the ropes connected to each other.
It doesn't have much impact at all.
The Star Catcher spacecraft also always maintains the trajectory and speed of rotating with the asteroid, and the two are in a relatively stationary state. This is also to facilitate the capture of asteroids.
All of this seems very simple, but it is actually full of risks. It is definitely not that easy and simple. Among other things, you must know that the spacecraft and asteroids are constantly moving at this time, and their speeds are very fast.
Therefore, we must first adjust the speed and direction of the two to be consistent, so that they can reach a state of mutual rest.
Then using a small spacecraft to entangle an asteroid is also full of risks. Asteroids generally not only orbit, but also autobiographical. If you are not careful, the asteroid may drag the small spacecraft into collision and other accidents.
When two small spaceships are entangled and braided with ropes, you also need to pay attention. It requires very superb flying skills, and the performance requirements for the spacecraft are also very high.
You must know that this is in the void of the universe, not on the earth. There is no air, no southeast, northwest, up, down, left, etc., so it is not easy to change the direction at will.
Although the risk is high, the technological equipment on the Star Catcher is the most advanced and is the pinnacle of Xinghai Technology Group's technological achievements. In addition, the crew members on the spacecraft are carefully selected, and everyone has the ability to
With the rich experience in space and the corresponding training in advance, we can complete all this smoothly.
"The rope is fixed!"
"Start the engine!"
Following Shi Kai's order, everyone began to become nervous. Although according to theoretical calculations, the Star Catcher can completely drag an asteroid within 300 million tons, but this is only theoretical data.
, everyone is still panicking about what will happen when the operation is actually carried out, because this is related to everyone's life.
The powerful anti-gravity engine started. Under the powerful power, the entire Star Catcher spacecraft began to vibrate, and the speed of the spacecraft also began to slowly change. The ultra-high molecular polyethylene rope connecting the Star Catcher spacecraft and the asteroid
It also started to slowly straighten and tighten.
"Attention everyone~"
Shi Kai, Mao Jun and others have all put on spacesuits, and some team members are already flying in small spaceships in space. Once the spacecraft has an accident and is pulled apart by powerful forces, everyone can still rely on the small spacecraft.
The spacecraft saved his life and returned to Earth.
Everyone stared at the data very nervously, looking at the ropes getting tighter in the space outside, and praying silently in their hearts.
Soon, everyone felt a huge earthquake in the spacecraft. Everyone felt that under the action of a strong inertia, everyone was almost ejected. Fortunately, everyone was firmly fixed on the space chair and fully prepared.
The ultra-high molecular polyethylene rope connecting the Star Catcher spacecraft and the asteroid suddenly collapsed. On the asteroid, the one-meter-diameter rope was tightened into the asteroid until it encountered the hardest rock layer.
Stop.
"call!"
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Everything went well and nothing happened to the Star Catcher spacecraft.
"Increase the horsepower~"
Shi Kai stared at the data carefully. At this time, the power of the spacecraft was not exerted at all. As his order was issued, the vibrations on the spacecraft became even greater. The powerful power of the anti-gravity engine began to appear. In addition,
Using the strong gravity of the star, the asteroid began to change, its original trajectory changed, and a new orbit began to form.
"Haha, it worked!"
Xia Zhigang, Ouyang Fei and others, who had been paying attention to the situation of the asteroid, couldn't help laughing happily. At this time, the orbit of the asteroid had changed, deviated from the original orbit, and began to form a new orbit.
Calculate the current orbit and calculate the time and place of encounter with the Earth's orbit."
On the other side, Huang Zhibin and Long Zhankong became even more nervous. They didn't have any free time, because they still needed to calculate the new orbit and then calculate the time and place to converge with the Earth's orbit. This was related to
At that time, it will be a big deal whether the asteroid can be captured by the earth's gravity.
"The current orbit cannot coincide with the Earth's orbit and must be modified."
Soon, using a supercomputer, the two quickly calculated that the current orbit of the asteroid was completely unable to intersect with the Earth's orbit, so the orbit had to be adjusted.
If you have just started to adjust now, the energy consumed can be very small, and the angle and amplitude of adjustment can also be very small. This is the best time to adjust the orbit and angle.
"Calculate the trimming direction and trimming degree."
Astronomers quickly used supercomputers to start recalculations, and soon came up with new data.
"Captain, the asteroid needs to be trimmed by 2 degrees, and the direction is 9 degrees from the Earth's ecliptic plane."
Xia Zhigang hurriedly sent over the results calculated by himself and Ouyang Fei. The longer it took, the more energy would be consumed in revising them.
"clear!"
"Start orbit correction."
Shi Kai obtained the latest data, and the Star Catcher's flight direction and angle began to adjust. Behind the Star Catcher, the asteroid's orbit also began to change, bit by bit, slowly changing towards the planned orbit.
Originally, the engine of the Star Catcher spacecraft was powerful enough to propel the asteroid by itself, but that consumes too much power. The most labor-saving way is to learn to use the strong gravity of the sun. Relying on the huge gravity of the star can greatly save fuel and energy.
.
A few days later, the astronomical scientists on the spacecraft breathed a sigh of relief. They had repeatedly calculated the current orbit and speed of the asteroid. Combined with the orbit and speed of the earth, they would meet the asteroid in 42 days, 23 hours, 34 minutes and 45 seconds.
When the earth converges, it will be captured by the earth's gravity in one fell swoop and become a satellite of the earth.
"Huh, this trip went quite smoothly. It didn't take long to complete the task. After all, it only took us a little more than 4 months."
The Starcatcher dragged the asteroid and entered the inertial flight mode. Everyone on the spacecraft also relaxed. Shi Kai calculated the time and said to everyone with a smile.
"It was indeed very smooth. It didn't take much time to find the asteroid, and the capture of the asteroid was very smooth."
"Originally, I was prepared not to be able to return to Earth for at least half a year."
"Haha, I was prepared not to be able to return to Earth for a year."
"It's better to go back early. After completing this task, I'm going to take a good rest for half a year and spend time with my family~"
"You said that when our asteroid is approaching the earth, will it cause panic on the earth?"
"Definitely. If an asteroid weighing 200 million tons were to land on the earth, the consequences would be unimaginable. So we have made repeated determinations and repeated and careful calculations of the orbit every day. At the same time, the orbit is also
Cutting the earth’s orbit.”
"At that time, if it cannot be captured by the earth's gravity, it can fly directly over the earth. In addition, in the outer space of the earth, if an accident occurs, we can also use the guide rail to destroy it."
"Having said that, by then, I'm afraid our company will be at the forefront of the storm again. It is estimated that there will definitely be a large number of protests and opposition waves around the world."
"Never mind them, they are protesting, we are quietly getting rich. As for the 200 million tons of steel, the entire earth's steel production is only about 2 billion tons a year. This asteroid can account for 200 million tons of the earth's steel production.
One-tenth, we are quietly getting rich. With these steels, we can build more spaceships in space. By then, won’t all the resources in this asteroid belt belong to us?”