Start with a blacksmith shop.

Chapter 369 Follow-up Arrangements

"Everyone should have a general idea of ​​today's topic beforehand. Now I'll repeat it here: the inventor of the space fighter is Academician Li Zhenhua, who just gave us some of his opinions on Mars development.

The main point is that, given the current level of technology, large-scale development of Mars is simply not feasible.

After learning of this viewpoint, the relevant leaders of our Kyushu Space Agency conducted a verification process and concluded that Academician Li's viewpoint is the most relevant to our current situation.

The reason I've gathered everyone here today is to discuss this viewpoint, to see what everyone's opinions are, and to see if there are any other perspectives!

A representative from the Kyushu Space Agency, who was also the moderator of the seminar for deputy directors, reiterated Li Zhenhua's views at the meeting and asked the attendees if they had any other opinions.

Right after the leader finished speaking, the people attending the meeting, who already knew the topic of the meeting, couldn't help but huddle together in twos and threes to discuss it.

The leaders sat quietly on the stage, while the discussions among the experts in small groups below made the entire venue somewhat noisy.

The noise didn't last long. The experts all knew that it wasn't appropriate for them to discuss things privately for too long at this meeting. If they had any opinions, they should express them in front of everyone and then discuss them together.

Soon the entire venue returned to silence. Seeing that the experts had quieted down, the leaders took the opportunity to continue asking on stage: "Now that everyone knows our topic for today, we hope that everyone will speak up and strive to reach a conclusion through today's seminar."

Just as the leader finished speaking, an elderly expert in the audience turned on the microphone placed in front of him.

"Hey, let me share my opinion first. I think Academician Li Zhenhua's point of view is correct, and our Kyushu Space Agency should be grateful that at this critical moment there is someone with a clear mind who puts forward opposing views."

It was so timely! We were all caught up in the frenzy of Mars exploration because of the data brought back by the Mars exploration team, so we, being so focused on the details, didn't think things through as comprehensively as we should.

My view is that I agree with Academician Li Zhenhua's opinion: we should take a comprehensive approach to the development of Mars. We cannot let Mars's extreme attraction cause us to lose our rationality in our fanaticism!

After the elderly professor finished speaking, a younger expert in the audience eagerly turned on his microphone and continued speaking.

"I have listened to Professor Zhang's point of view, and I have also been familiar with Academician Li's point of view before. But we can't just ignore Mars, such a treasure planet, because of the limitations of technology and the immaturity of the current conditions!"

Think about it, comrades. Before this, did we have any results from our exploration of Mars? No! We had been exploring extraterrestrial life, specifically Mars, all along.

I believe it would be inappropriate for us to abandon Mars development now, as we would lose the opportunity for Kyushu to expand its territory once again!

Of course, there will be both supporters and opponents, and these two viewpoints represent the two main opposing views that have led to people's wavering stance on the Mars development plan.

One side believes that Mars development is not yet mature, while the other side believes that Mars development should not be abandoned for various reasons.

Subsequently, at the meeting, the experts began to express their opinions, and neither side could convince the other. The focus of these experts was on whether to completely abandon Mars, but they all forgot Li Zhenhua's proposal to appropriately carry out Mars exploration activities.

The leaders of the Kyushu Space Agency on the stage watched as the scene spiraled out of control. They had originally intended to solicit opinions, but now some experts were standing still, taking out paper and pens, and writing down formulas. It looked like the discussion was about to turn into a professional debate.

The leader who chaired the meeting couldn't help but interrupt the discussion at a crucial point.

"Everyone, let's stop for a moment. I've heard everyone's comments, but you've all forgotten one thing from Academician Li Zhenhua's point of view: to continue the Mars exploration program."

And let's not forget that large-scale development of Mars is not suitable at present.

Our space agency's opinion is that the exploration of Mars should continue, but we will retain our previous views on large-scale development of Mars.

Mars development will only resume when our technological level reaches a certain point.

The experts in the audience only then noticed the key point in Li Zhenhua's viewpoint. After that, the experts began a very rigorous calculation, and the final conclusion was indeed consistent with Li Zhenhua's viewpoint.

On this matter, everyone reached a consensus, and then the leaders of the space agency asked again if there were any other opinions to be raised.

No sooner had he finished speaking than an expert voiced his opinion.

"As Professor Zhang mentioned before, we should be grateful that Academician Li Zhenhua has cooled down our fervent attitude and given us more time for calm reflection."

I just came up with a feasible plan for the future: instead of keeping an eye on Mars, why don't we focus on asteroids near Earth for now!

I believe these asteroids are the ones we should be focusing on. With our current technology, the further development of Mars is extremely difficult, but what about the asteroids around us?

With the technology we possess, we are fully capable of developing the surrounding asteroids; this is the direction we should take going forward.

It's important to know that these asteroids are incredibly rich in resources; some are even large lumps of iron, composed entirely of metal in outer space.

We can certainly obtain more from these asteroids than from Mars; the vast number of asteroids contain massive amounts of mineral resources.

Furthermore, I believe we may find other new elements on these asteroids that do not belong to the periodic table.

Even if we don't discover any new elements, it would be good if we could bring back the minerals contained in these asteroids.

"With our own spaceplanes, if we can bring back massive amounts of minerals, we should no longer be held hostage by certain foreign countries in terms of mineral resources!"

When the leaders of the space agency heard someone raise a topic that had little to do with Mars, they thought to themselves, "Indeed, there is strength in numbers."

Immediately after this idea was proposed, the experts at the meeting discussed it again.

As time passed, the seminar gradually drew to a close, and they reached their final conclusions.

The large-scale development plan for Mars will be postponed indefinitely. When it will be restarted depends on the current level of technology. Everything will proceed naturally. In other words, we will do what we should do at what time.

The exploration of Mars will continue, which will be of great benefit to their future development of Mars. It would be a good thing if they had the technology but still didn't know much about Mars.

While Mars exploration proceeds as usual, the focus will remain on exploring the environment surrounding Earth, primarily targeting a vast number of asteroids.

As for the scope of exploration, it is within the entire solar system. Given the current speed of spaceplanes, we do not yet have the conditions to explore the entire solar system. To put it bluntly, it is still some areas near Earth.

Keep in mind that the diameter of the solar system is about two light-years, and what is the fastest speed they have achieved so far? It has only just exceeded the third cosmic velocity.

Even traveling at the speed of light, it would take two years to travel from one end of the sun to the other, which gives you an idea of ​​how vast the solar system is.

Earth is merely a speck of dust in the solar system. When the scale is increased, the solar system appears as a speck of dust relative to the vast universe.

If they really want to move freely within the solar system, they must at least master the speed of light, or something like the speed of light.

Of course, there is another technology that would allow people to move freely within the solar system, namely wormhole technology, or warp drive, which has not yet been invented or proven.

Only when they invent the warp drive, enabling the folding of space, can they fly out of the solar system and explore the vast universe.

Only then will true extraterrestrial exploration truly begin for humanity.

After this highly confidential seminar, which concerned Kyushu's future exploration of the outside world, Kyushu began to implement the conclusions reached at the meeting.

The Kyushu Space Agency's current mission remains focused on exploration. As for how to transport any minerals or other resources they discover that are useful to Kyushu back to Earth, there are no plans yet.

Of course, while exploring, they will gradually shift resources toward the moon in the future, as the moon has greater development value than Mars and asteroids around Earth.

The sheer amount of helium-3 contained in the lunar regolith alone is something that no other celestial body possesses. Moreover, prior to this, there was a new research finding that water exists in deeper parts of the moon.

Therefore, if there is water on the moon, then farming can be carried out on the moon, and Kyushu has been doing this all along; the farming plan on the moon has never stopped.

The lunar base is no longer just a scientific research and exploration base; it has begun to develop into an agricultural base. The moon is no longer just a place for planting crops.

The entire planting area has expanded more than ten times compared to the beginning, and this planting on the moon has also caused some changes in the seeds brought from Earth.

Take wheat, for example. Due to the difference in gravity between the moon and the earth, wheat grown on the moon is larger in terms of plants, and not only the plants, but also the wheat grains are larger.

This change became particularly noticeable starting with the fourth generation of wheat seeds from the moon, with each generation of plants growing larger and the grains becoming fuller than the last.

And as they reproduce generation after generation, this increasing effect is constantly solidified. In the eyes of agricultural experts, as long as this effect can be successfully solidified, it will lead to another surge in wheat production on Earth in the future.

Of course, planting on the moon would require far more resources, but it would all be worthwhile. If the positive effects of various plants were to become established, then converting the land developed on the moon into a seed breeding base would be a very good outcome.

Under these conditions, everything on the moon proceeded normally. Following that symposium, the space agency formulated a new plan for external exploration.

First of all, it should be noted that there are currently four empty aircraft in service in Kyushu, one of which is mainly responsible for traveling between Earth and the Moon.

As for the arrangements for the other three spaceplanes, the space agency has made arrangements for them one by one since the last time.

One of them is still carrying out a Mars-related exploration mission. As things stand, people still don't know enough about the mysterious Mars, so the Mars scientific exploration program must continue as normal.

However, we will not continue to develop Mars extensively; we are still in the stage of understanding Mars and collecting Martian data.

Furthermore, in the subsequent plans, the crew will be adjusted for the next launch to Mars, with adjustments made to the personnel composition while ensuring the normal operation of the spaceplane.

The aircraft will be operated by four people, with two additional scientists specializing in Mars research. These scientists will be sent to Mars to conduct on-site scientific research and to perform some hypothetical experiments.

The selection of scientists is also based on comprehensive considerations, taking into account their good health and choosing experts with broad knowledge.

That's the arrangement for this one spaceplane. What about the other two? One of them is there as a rescue aircraft.

Their daily mission is to provide rescue for people in space, whether it's the Tiangong space station or the Guanghan Palace base on the moon. Even the Mars exploration team is within their responsibilities.

What about the remaining spaceplane? It was assigned to a mission to explore asteroid resources. The crew on board was not just astronauts; an astronomer was also on board.

To provide the crew with theoretical and technical support in outer space so that they do not get lost in the vast universe.

(End of this chapter)