Interstellar Energy Tycoon.

hours later.

Supplies are replenished.

The weight of the Zhantian has increased to more than 5500 tons, reaching a full load state, but more than [-] tons become the working fluid for acceleration and deceleration.

Then adjust the direction, and run towards the 7X1973 platinum comet about 6 million kilometers away in a certain direction under the energy supply of light sail reflectors, photovoltaic arrays, and energy relay satellites.

The light power received and effectively used by Zhantian has reached the level of 100 million kilowatts, which can propel a mining spacecraft weighing more than 5000 tons, accelerating at an acceleration of more than 1G, and the plasma stream ejected by the engine exceeds 3000km/s. This is still a high-consumption mode that pursues maximum thrust without saving working fluid.

more than three hours later.

Zhantian has a speed of more than 100 km/s.

According to the formula of acceleration and distance, Zhantian has crossed the orbit around the moon and traveled 50 kilometers away.

At this time, the irradiation accuracy of conventional light column energy supply has begun to decline, and the light diffusion rate has increased significantly, which is difficult to maintain.

It's time for the star ring reflector to come in handy.

Therefore, the several energy-supply beams first retracted, and then hit the beams of light to the big horn-shaped entrance of the star ring reflector, passed through hundreds of meters of converging reflection pipes, converged into a slender and straight beam of light, and then precisely hit the snail back of the 'Zhantian'.

at this time.

The Zhantian exited the violent acceleration stage, and most of the ion engines were shut down. Only a few dozen special engines emitted azure blue light and generated a thrust of about 500 tons, allowing the Zhantian to slowly accelerate forward with an acceleration of 0.1G. These dozens of special engines can accelerate the ion flow to 5000km/s in the low-to-medium thrust mode.

Because the energy that Zhantian can obtain is unlimited, but the working medium it carries is limited, which has become a limiting factor instead.

However, after the 1973X6 platinum comet is captured, Zhantian can directly use the material on the comet as the working medium for propelling the mining spacecraft. Although the solid working medium is not easy to use, it can be used, but the ionization rate is low and the specific impulse is small.

That is to say, as long as you have come into contact with the 1973 platinum comet, you don't have to worry about running out of working fluid, even if it is almost exhausted, you don't have to worry about being afraid.

In the deep and boundless dark space.

Zhantian mining spacecraft, operating in the cockpit.

Looking at the screen in front of him, he could feel the microgravity on the soles of his feet—in fact, this is not gravity, but the simulated gravity brought about by the acceleration of 0.1G. However, the captain Zhang Jianxiong felt that this mission was much easier and more comfortable than he imagined. It was not like the astronauts on the space station. No matter eating, bathing or going to the toilet, it was not very convenient, and ordinary people might find it difficult to adapt.

But under the energy supply of the star ring reflector, the microgravity on the "Zhantian" will always exist, and it will accelerate to more than 800 kilometers per second in about five days, and then the acceleration will be reduced to 0.05G. After continuing to sail for five days, the maximum speed of the spacecraft will break through to 1000 kilometers per second, reaching an unimaginable high speed.

The last five days were a process of constant deceleration, reducing the speed with a negative acceleration of 0.15 to 0.25G. The crew living area in the Zhantian only needs to rotate 180° to be in a microgravity environment again—yes, the crew living area is a spherical rotatable area. Although the diameter is only 20 meters, the internal space is like a submarine cabin. After accommodating [-] crew members, it seems quite small, but it is still adaptable. At least in the microgravity environment, it is different from the work and life on the ground. Not big, and certainly better than a completely weightless space station.

"I don't know when artificial gravity technology will break through, but using the simplest acceleration and deceleration principle, we have this kind of experience, which shows that as long as there is unlimited energy, almost everything can be obtained, using both clever and clumsy methods."

exclaimed one crew member.

"Currently, the Group's space energy facilities have only collected 1 million KW of generating power, which is negligible compared to the total radiation power of the sun. If the Group can collect hundreds of trillions of KW of power, let alone a platinum comet, it is a dwarf planet with a diameter of thousands of kilometers. We can also drag it, just need multiple mining spacecraft to pull together."

"Yes, the value of a platinum comet is several trillion, but the diameter of this comet is only more than 800 meters. If it is a planet with a diameter of more than 800 kilometers, I don't know how much it will be worth? Hundreds of trillions should be no problem, and there are many such dwarf planets in our solar system, right?"

"There are Ceres, Vesta, Pallas, Europa, Europa, etc., but these dwarf planets contain more light elements and contain a lot of water ice, which may not be very valuable." Said crew member Yu Hao.

"Water resources in space are valuable, okay?"

Another crew member said: "Bringing these water and ice resources to the moon, Mars, space cities, and even the most water-scarce desert areas on our Azure Star can sell for at least 100 yuan a ton. If we pull 1 million tons in one trip, we will earn 100 billion yuan. Isn't this called making money?"

"That's right, water and ice resources are also very valuable resources, which can be sold at a high price. Whether it is industry, agriculture, or daily life, our human life is inseparable from water. The demand in all aspects is very large, and it contains a lot of business opportunities."

"What about the hydrogen in Jupiter's atmosphere? It is said that more than 80% of Jupiter's composition is hydrogen, and the same is true for Saturn. Their hydrogen content is so high, and their weight is hundreds of times that of Azure Planet. If such a huge hydrogen resource is exploited, can it be sold at a suitable price?" Xiao Bicheng asked.

"Hydrogen has a wide range of uses. It can be used as an industrial raw material to reduce various metal and non-metal oxides to obtain various raw materials and water. If hydrogen is transported to the moon and Mars, it can replace the role of water. With the help of hydrogen, a large amount of water can be used as fuel, or hydrogen can be used as a supplement for hydrogen fuel cells.

"Okay, there is no need to argue anymore. No matter what kind of material or resource it is, it is valuable. The difference is only the quantity and the price, but it will not affect its own value. The mission of us interstellar miners is to mine whatever is scarce and needed by human beings, so that human beings can get rid of the plight of scarcity and obtain great wealth in resources. Only in this way will our mission be completed."

Captain Zhang Jianxiong said, ending the debate.

……

soon.

The ten-day accelerated voyage ended.

Then enter the deceleration phase.

The distance to the 1973X6 platinum comet is also getting closer.

1 billion kilometers.

5000 million kilometers.

2000 million kilometers.

Only the last 500 million kilometers left.

The platinum comet with a small tail appeared in Zhantian's surveillance screen.

Zhang Jianxiong and others can already see that the meteorite with a diameter of more than 800 meters, the pitted surface, and the silvery and light golden luster, prove that its metal content is very high, its structure is firm and stable, and its internal metal core is estimated to have very few non-metallic impurities.

There are dozens of small meteorites trailing at its tail, ranging in diameter from a few meters to tens of meters. Experts speculate that these meteorites should be stripped from the main structure of the platinum comet. The content of precious elements is not high, the total weight does not exceed [-] tons, and contains a small amount of water ice resources.

"We catch the big meteorites, and the small meteorites are used to supplement the working fluid. All the big and small meteorites are just packed. The whole family needs to be neat and tidy!"

The chief mate Chen Yu said excitedly, and the other crew members all agreed that this arrangement was good and very desirable.

The distance between the two sides is less than 100 million kilometers!
The Zhantian, which had decelerated to below 50 km/s, started a period of violent deceleration under the power of the beam of light, and soon dropped to zero, and even accelerated in the opposite direction, and moved in the same direction as the platinum comet, and the speed had to be consistent.

After another day.

10 Month 2 Day!
The distance between the two sides has been shortened to less than 5000 meters, and the crew can clearly see the size, shape and surface pits of the platinum meteorite with the naked eye.

However, the working medium in the working medium cabin of Zhantian has dropped to more than 500 tons, only 1/4 of it is left, so it must be replenished.

"Space workboat dispatched! First catch small meteorites to replenish working fluid for the spacecraft!"

Captain Zhang Jianxiong gave an order!
Four single-person ellipsoidal spaceships are dispatched!Each of them carried a small net, and went straight to the small meteorite behind the main comet, and then launched the net bag, and quickly covered it. Meteorites with a diameter of less than 50 meters could not escape the clutches of the clutches.

As for the energy supply, four 5000KW low-power beams of energy can be emitted by Zhantian.

Then!

Small meteorites, like fishes, were captured and dragged by spaceships. If they were less than 3 meters in diameter, they could be thrown directly into the raw material processing channel and crushed.

If it is directly larger than 3 meters, it will be cut with a high-energy laser first, and then put into the processing channel for crushing.

The work continued for nearly another day.

Zhantian successfully replenished about 3000 tons of solid powder working fluid, and also obtained about 200 kilograms of gold, which was separated during the screening process of the working fluid, but only gold in a single state can be obtained. At present, it does not have the ability to chemically separate, so there are many elements such as platinum, silver, copper, nickel, etc., which can only be wasted.

But that's okay!

The main body of the platinum comet is still there, as long as this big guy is dragged back, their mission will be completed.

So after replenishing the working medium.

"Throw out the big trawl and start catching the big fish!"

Zhang Jianxiong gave another order!
wow~
A huge net was released by the spaceship.

Four small spaceships, each pulling a corner, spread out, enveloping the platinum comet, and the diameter of the giant net's net was over a thousand meters, and the length of the thick cable was ten kilometers long, which was completely sufficient.

hours later!

The main body of the platinum comet was caught successfully!

The command and control center on Azure Star erupted into enthusiastic cheers, and the staff stood up and applauded, all with extremely excited faces.

"The Zhantian has captured the platinum comet and is about to return. It is requested to increase the power supply. We will return with the comet!" Captain Zhang Jianxiong said.

"Good! The power supply of the star ring reflector has been increased to 500 million KW, and it is expected to arrive in half an hour. Please be ready."

Technicians do it.

In space, the beam of light irradiated on the horn of the star ring reflector increased several times in an instant, and finally went straight to Zhantian with a beam of extremely bright and thin red beam.

(End of this chapter)