The last human in the universe

Chapter 31 Tidal Effects
The current observation results are finally for this plan—opening a hole in the asteroid, using the reverse thrust of the gas released from its internal pressure to change its orbit, so that it will not hit the Sedna star—provided 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, the amount of decay heat that radioactive heavy elements can provide, calculate the magnitude of reverse thrust, and so on.Only when all the data is clear can it be finally determined whether this plan is feasible.

Zhao Changxing quickly told the people on the Pyro spacecraft and Sedna about his observation results and conjectures.Sure enough, just as Zhao Changxing expected, the arrival of this news made everyone excited.

The follow-up detection plan will be drawn up soon.According to the plan, Zhao Changxing will return to the Huozhi spacecraft, bring more equipment and return to this asteroid for further observations.

Among the new equipment, there is a shock wave instrument, 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 the seismic wave data, the seismic instrument can roughly obtain the mass distribution data and element composition data inside it, so as to determine the size of the "cavity" inside it , and the mass of the gas element.

In addition to the shock wave instrument, there is also a gravity detection device.Through the magnitude of the acceleration of gravity in different places, the analysis of element composition and mass distribution can also be carried out.Combined with the seismic wave meter, the obtained data will be more accurate.

There is also a radiation analyzer, which can more accurately measure the size of the decay heat.

There are a total of more than a dozen types of related equipment. This time, we must make a thorough understanding of this asteroid.Only in this way can further arrangements be made.

After this dawn appeared, Zhao Changxing had several discussions with the people, and finally decided that the dismantling plan should continue, and the non-manufacturable and valuable facilities and materials should be transported to the Pyro spacecraft.Because time cannot afford to be delayed, once it is finally determined that the plan to change the orbit of this asteroid will not work, then it will be too late to continue the relocation plan.

Under such circumstances, Zhao Changxing came to this asteroid again with people's hope, and immediately started further observation and analysis.

At this moment, there are less than five months left before the asteroid hits Sedna.

Along with Zhao Changxing's actions, one data after another was found out, and then incorporated into the comprehensive analysis system.Mass distribution, element composition, internal pressure, thermal decay, heavy element masses, etc., all have accurate data.

During this process, seeing the expected data, people will cheer and be excited, and feel that they are one step closer to success.Seeing data that does not meet expectations, people will be disappointed and sad, but they still retain hope, hoping that the next data can make up for the lack of current data.

People's moods rise and fall suddenly, wandering between heaven and hell repeatedly.Only Zhao Changxing always had a smile on his face, always calm and firm, as if no matter what bad news could hit him.However, whenever they see Zhao Changxing's figure, people's hearts will always calm down slowly.

Today is the last and most important day when data is born.

The abundance of a radioactive heavy element, now identified as plutonium-242.Obviously, only if it has enough content can it provide enough decay heat to heat the solid gas elements inside the asteroid and provide enough pressure inside it.And with enough pressure, the follow-up plan can be successful.

In the Falcon [-] spacecraft, Zhao Changxing operated the relevant equipment and carefully observed every data displayed by the instrument.When the last data was presented, Zhao Changxing sighed and shook his head.

Data show that on this asteroid, the element content of plutonium-242 is only 0.056%-0.093%.And this level of elemental content is not enough to provide enough heat for its interior.Without enough heat, there is not enough pressure, and without enough pressure, there is just…

Zhao Changxing sent this data back to the Pyrotech spacecraft, his expression still calm.

In the Tinder spacecraft, people gathered in the conference room, waiting anxiously for the arrival of the last data as if they were waiting for a lottery draw.After finally receiving this data, the entire conference room was 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, which is the easiest to achieve in comparison.

But now, can't even meet this minimum requirement?Even if this plan is really implemented, in the end, it can only 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 huge.But even with such a small gap, the result is a heaven and a hell.The distance between the two is like a moat.

Compared with complete despair, it is more cruel to have hope first, let people have illusions, and then puncture hope and return to despair.

But what to be afraid of.

"The situation hasn't gotten better, but it hasn't gotten worse either. It's nothing more than a possibility. The big deal is to continue to relocate. I don't believe that our human civilization can be extinct here."

While comforting the people, Zhao Changxing drove the Falcon [-] spacecraft towards the Tinder spacecraft.

He really thought so in his heart.

"The children are still a little tender after all, they can't bear the blow."

Driving the Falcon [-] spacecraft into the berth of the Huozhi spacecraft, and entering the Huozhi spacecraft through the isolation door, looking at the sad people, Zhao Changxing had no choice but to comfort and encourage them again loudly: "What's so sad? Let's Aren't we ready to fail a long time ago? It's just a matter of time in the Tinder spaceship. Now we just haven't found a better way, but it's not worse than before, right? Okay? All right, let's go to work."

The relocation plan started again.

Although Zhao Changxing has been encouraging, people's mood is still a little low.

The same is true of Chen Feng.Even, the changes he felt were deeper and greater than others.Because he is one of the few people who has a next generation among all people.

Now, his and Qian Yue's children are several years old, innocent, lively and lovely.As long as I can see my child, no matter how hard or tiring the day is, all my energy will be restored instantly.

"The hardships my father experienced back then, now, do I want my child, Chen Yue, to experience it too?"

This incident will inevitably lead to a great reduction in people's living standards.During this process, there may even be sacrifices.

As long as he thinks that Chen Yue will not have enough to eat, cannot wear warm clothes, and struggles to survive all day long, Chen Feng's heart will feel like a knife cut.

"There must be a way, there must be a way..."

During this period of time, it is not that people have thought of ways to try to increase the pressure inside the asteroid.For example, make some explosives and stuff them in, or make a large enough light-concentrating film and heat it through sunlight.However, these methods have been proved to be infeasible after simple calculations.

Qian Yue also noticed the change in her husband.But for this matter, she also has nothing to do.The only thing that can be done is to comfort silently.

The relocation schedule was tight and the labor hours were long.But even so, during the few breaks, Chen Feng would always read a lot of information and think about it all day long.

It still does to this day.After finishing today's work, Chen Feng returned to the room, and through the terminal, Chen Feng connected to Xiaoxi's database again.

Inadvertently, he saw some information about Enceladus.

"Enceladus is a water-ice-covered planet with a liquid ocean beneath it. Saturn's tidal effects heat its interior..."

Chen Feng was stunned for a moment, and muttered in his mouth: "Tide... effect?"

He suddenly remembered something, and his whole body was refreshed.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 due to excitement.He sent a communication application to Zhao Changxing without the slightest hesitation.

"Chen Feng, is there something wrong?"

"Dad, I've made a discovery. We've all missed something before, we, we... Dad, changing the orbit of this asteroid is completely feasible, completely promising..."

Comprehensive Base No. [-], leisure and entertainment area——recently, it also serves as a conference room. Chen Feng hurriedly saw Zhao Changxing, who was faintly excited.

"Tidal effect, our previous calculations forgot the tidal effect!" Chen Feng said quickly: "When this asteroid approaches Sedna star, the gravitational tidal effect of Sedna star on it 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 it can just meet the internal pressure requirements! The fact is that we don’t need to do any extra actions, Just relying on this part of the gravitational tidal effect is enough! We have every hope to change its orbit!"

(End of this chapter)