Chapter 188, Capturing Asteroids

"This asteroid numbered M0001 cannot do it. Its diameter is more than 130 meters. Although more than 80% is iron, its mass has far exceeded the limit that our spacecraft can drag, and its mass has reached 200 million. Many tons.”

Tang Boyuan and Dong Zhifei were looking for suitable targets at this time. As the spacecraft entered the core area of ​​the asteroid belt, more and more asteroids were discovered.

"Look at this one, get rich, get rich."

Dong Zhifei excitedly sent information about an asteroid to Tang Boyuan. At the same time, he looked like Brother Zhu, drooling and yelling.

"If you two have something good to share, don't just worry about your own happiness."

"That's right, how do you get rich?"

The other team members also spoke one after another, but unfortunately they and others could not understand the spectral data, nor could they analyze the mass and composition of asteroids, etc., so they could only worry.

"Holy crap, I'm really rich. Most of the elements in this asteroid numbered M0823 are gold. Oh my God, this is simply an asteroid made of gold."

"Damn, its mass is too big, more than 200 million tons, it is not something we can eat at all."

Tang Boyuan was very happy at first. If he could bring back an asteroid full of gold, the whole earth would completely explode. But when he calculated the mass of the asteroid, he couldn't help but curse.

"I go!"

When other people heard this, they were like deflated balloons.

"The mass of this asteroid is only 3 million tons. We can definitely drag it, but its mass is too small, and it is basically made of silicon, which has little value."

"The mass of this asteroid exceeds 10 million tons. Although it is basically made of iron elements and is very valuable, it exceeds our ultimate capabilities."

Dong Zhifei and Tang Boyuan were very patient in calculating the mass and composition elements of each asteroid. Anyway, there were more and more asteroids around, and there were plenty of opportunities to choose from.

"Based on spectral image analysis, planets and meteorites in the asteroid belt can be roughly divided into three types. More than 60% of all asteroids are carbon-rich C-type asteroids."

"The number of S-type asteroids containing silicon accounts for about 25%. The spectrum shows that their surfaces contain silicates and some metals, but the composition of carbonaceous compounds is not obvious. This shows that they are significantly different from the composition of the original solar system. It may be the result of the melting mechanism in the early solar system."

"The total number of M-type asteroids accounts for about 15%. Their spectra contain iron-nickel-like spectral lines, which appear white or slightly red, without the characteristics of absorption lines. It is speculated that M-type asteroids should be made of The core is formed by a devastating impact with iron-nickel as the main matrix."

Scientists have a rough idea of ​​the structure of planets and meteorites in the entire asteroid belt based on the spectral information detected by various instruments. This is a scientific method, and you can already know it clearly from thousands of miles away.

What really plays a big role are the smallest number of M-type asteroids. These asteroids contain a large amount of metal resources. According to spectral detection, most asteroids are composed of silicon elements and can only be used to produce solar power. something like a board

"Everyone, hurry up and take a look. An asteroid with a diameter of about 80 meters was found 2,270 kilometers ahead of us. According to the spectral wavelength and color position, this asteroid is actually made of iron elements! This asteroid The weight is between 9 million tons and 1 million tons, which is definitely our best goal.”

Tang Boyuan sent the data of the asteroid S0087 on the surface to everyone on the spacecraft, and then he screamed with excitement. The whole body is made of iron elements, and the mass is just right. This is definitely the goal that everyone has been looking for. .

"The current price of steel is more than 3,000 yuan per ton. If this unrefined raw ore is taken into space, I think 5,000 yuan per ton is a cabbage price. No matter how low the cost of space plane transportation is, it will still be higher than that on the ground. It’s a lot. If this meteorite weighs 10 million tons, it can be sold for at least 50 billion yuan!”

Someone next to me immediately calculated the number in a flash, 50 billion yuan, just an asteroid, a relatively common asteroid!

"Oh my God! It seems that this asteroid belt is full of gold. Any asteroid is worth tens of billions of yuan. The number of asteroids with iron as the main component accounts for 15% of the total. It’s easy to find! ”

Zhan Fei exclaimed with saliva all over his body!

Everyone else on the spacecraft was shocked when they heard the numbers. At first they didn't realize how valuable this asteroid with a diameter of less than 100 meters could be. But now they heard that it was worth 50 billion. Everyone was dumbfounded, like I don’t know how many asteroids like this I encountered along the way.

"The entire asteroid belt is filled with gold!"

Luo Xiaoyao 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 and so on are needed in space, which are completely transported from the ground to space. Obviously this is not possible, and mining asteroids from asteroid belts will inevitably become mainstream, and perhaps my own opportunity will come in the future.

Such thoughts flashed through his mind, and soon, Luo Xiaoyao regained his composure.

"Everyone, pay attention, the spacecraft changes direction, we are going to capture the asteroid."

The distance of more than 2,000 kilometers seems very far, but for a spacecraft flying in the starry sky, it only takes a few minutes to reach the vicinity of the asteroid.

The huge butt of the Dumbo spacecraft slowly opened up, and two small spacecraft roared out, each carrying a long rope.

This rope is naturally not an ordinary rope. It is all made of carbon fiber materials. A strand of carbon fiber as thin as a hair can hang several tons of things. Carbon fiber material is a new type of fiber material with high strength and high modulus fiber with a carbon content of more than 95%. It is a microcrystalline graphite material obtained by stacking organic fibers such as flake graphite microcrystals along the axial direction of the fiber and carbonizing and graphitizing.

Carbon fiber is "soft outside and hard inside", lighter than metal aluminum, but stronger than steel, and has the characteristics of corrosion resistance and high modulus. More importantly, it not only has the inherent intrinsic properties of carbon materials, but also has the softness and processability of textile fibers. It is a new generation of reinforcing fiber.

Before setting off, Fuyun Group had already worked out a detailed method for mining asteroids. First, they used this high-strength carbon fiber rope to weave a net on it with a small spacecraft, and then used the spacecraft to pull the asteroid out of its original orbit.

Finally, relying on the gravity of the solar system, they calculated the position and let the asteroid re-form a new orbit passing through the earth. When the asteroid is about to reach the earth, they dragged the asteroid again and relied on the gravity of the earth to capture the asteroid, forming an orbit around the earth and becoming a satellite of the earth. In this way, even if the asteroid is captured, the rest can be handed over to the solar power plant to use the reflected solar energy to smelt the asteroid.

Two small spacecrafts slowly flew to the location of the asteroid. These two spacecraft will be responsible for weaving a net for the asteroid and wrapping the asteroid with carbon fiber ropes.

"Swoosh! Swoosh!"

A steel fork was launched from each spacecraft, which relied on inertia to penetrate deeply into the asteroid. A long carbon fiber rope was dragged behind the steel fork. Then the two spacecraft began to entangle the asteroid continuously, one circle after another, and soon they were entangled dozens of times.

Then the two spacecraft began to fly around each other and entangled the two ropes again, and slowly flew into the Dumbo spacecraft.

In the Dumbo spacecraft, the mechanical arm began to wrap the rope behind the small spacecraft around the pillar of the spacecraft. At this time, the rope connected the Dumbo spacecraft and the asteroid, but the rope was not tightened, so there was no big impact on each other.

All this seems very simple, but it is actually full of risks. It is definitely not so easy and simple. Apart from anything else, you must know that the spacecraft and the asteroid are constantly moving at this time, and the speed is very fast, so first of all, the speed and direction of the two must be adjusted to be consistent, so that they can achieve a state of relative stillness.

Then, using a small spaceship to entangle an asteroid is also full of risks. In addition to orbiting, asteroids also rotate. If you are not careful, the asteroid may drag the small spaceship and cause a major accident such as collision.

When two small spaceships are entangled with each other to weave ropes, you also need to pay attention. It requires very superb flying skills, and the performance requirements of the spaceship are also very high.

You must know that this is in the void of the universe, not on the earth. There is no air here, no east, south, west, north, up, down, left, right, etc. It is not easy to change direction at will.

Although the risk is great, the technological equipment on Dumbo is the most advanced, which is the most advanced technological crystallization of Fuyun Group. In addition, the crew on the spacecraft are carefully selected, and everyone has rich experience in space, so they can complete all this smoothly.

"The rope is fixed!"

"Start the engine!"

As Luo Xiaoyao gave the order, everyone began to get nervous. Although according to theoretical calculations, Dumbo can completely drag this asteroid weighing nearly 10 million tons, this is only theoretical data. Everyone is still quite panicked about what will happen when the operation is actually carried out, because this is related to everyone's life.

PS: It's too cold, my hands and feet are cold!