Super Copy of Great Power Technology

The remaining two unmanned probes are still operational and can send and receive messages normally via the quantum communication system. Unfortunately, the spacetime inside the Star Stream Channel is disordered and filled with spatial turbulence, making it impossible to determine their current location or calculate how long it will take for the unmanned probes to pass through the Star Stream Channel and reach the interior of the Sirius system.

The distance between the Sun and Proxima Centauri is approximately 4.2 light-years, while the distance between the Sun and Sirius is 8.6 light-years—more than twice the distance. Therefore, the time required to traverse the stellar flow channel is correspondingly longer, which is understandable. Currently, humanity knows very little about the internal structure of the stellar flow channel; there is no theoretical basis or relevant model for reference. Once a spacecraft enters the stellar flow channel, it can only drift along, forcing its way forward. Whether it will encounter danger, and when it will be able to reach the other side, are completely unknown.

On this day, Qiao Ruida, along with his wife and children, boarded a large sightseeing spacecraft to travel to the vicinity of Mars for a vacation. In China today, space tourism has replaced overseas travel as a new tourism trend. The preferred destination for most people participating in space tourism is, of course, the Moon. After all, the Moon is closer to Earth, the travel time is shorter, it has been developed for a longer period, its facilities are more complete, and the cost is relatively low, making it affordable for ordinary dual-income families. Mars tourism, however, is a brand-new space tourism project recently launched by Ruida Aerospace in conjunction with the China Tourism Bureau. Because Mars is far from Earth, the flight time is longer, and the cost is higher, it is only suitable for retirees with a particular interest in space and ample time, or wealthy business owners who are not short of money, to participate and experience the upcoming space age in advance.

As the big boss of Ruida Aerospace Company, Qiao Ruida didn't do anything special when leading his family on a vacation to Mars. Instead, he joined other tourists on a passenger-version spaceplane, taking off from the Ruida Aerospace Base, heading to the commercial space station, resting briefly, and then boarding a large sightseeing spacecraft, flying directly to distant Mars.

This large sightseeing spacecraft, a new type of civilian spacecraft completed and put into service in the last six months, is the largest civilian spacecraft to date. The entire spacecraft is 500 meters long, 200 meters wide, and 60 meters high, making it a true space behemoth. The spacecraft's interior is luxuriously and elegantly decorated, with a full range of facilities. These include a swimming pool, cinema, restaurant, bar, dance hall, karaoke room, gym, tennis court, card room, and many other recreational amenities—everything you could want. There's even a sizable park and playground on board to help passengers pass the time during the long, boring flight.

The Yangtze River sightseeing spacecraft was simply too large in size and tonnage. Even with two newly developed large anti-gravity engines installed, its maximum speed was still not very fast. In addition, Mars was currently on the opposite side of the sun, and the distance between it and Earth was quite far, so much so that it would take a week to fly to the vicinity of Mars.

"Daddy, Daddy, we've been on the plane for four days already! When will we get to Mars?" When they first boarded the Yangtze River sightseeing spaceship, everything was new and exciting, and the two little ones were incredibly curious. They held Qiao Ruida and Du Qingqing's hands, running around and not wanting to stop for a moment. But children don't have much patience. After just four days, they got tired of life on the spaceship and started asking Qiao Ruida when they would arrive on Mars.

“Based on the current itinerary, it will take at least three more days to reach Mars. What’s wrong, my little princess? Have you had enough of staying on the spaceship?” Joreda crouched down, looked directly into her daughter’s eyes, and spoke to her patiently.

"Yes, Dad, my brother and I have been on the spaceship for four days now. We've been to the park, the playground, the swimming pool, and other places several times already. But you won't let us go to other entertainment venues like bars and nightclubs. I'm so bored staying in the room all day looking at picture books and watching cartoons." The daughter blinked her bright eyes and complained to her father in a serious tone, her little expression making her seem like a little adult.

"There are too few entertainment venues suitable for children on the sightseeing spaceship. This is indeed a problem. I need to write it down and tell the people at the spaceship design institute so that we can improve it when designing and building the next sightseeing spaceship." Qiao Ruida pondered for a moment, keeping this in mind. Analyzing the current situation of the tourists on the spaceship, there are indeed some parents who have signed up for space tourism with their children, including Qiao Ruida's family. Most of the entertainment facilities and venues on the spaceship are designed for adults and are not suitable for children, which was indeed a shortcoming in the initial design.

"Dad, Dad, can you hear me?" After not getting a response from her father for a long time, Xiao Wangshu became anxious and grabbed Qiao Ruida's big hand, shaking it back and forth.

"I heard you, I heard you. I know there's a really interesting and fun place on the spaceship that you've never been to."

"Oh, Dad, what place are you talking about? Is it really as fun as you say?"

"Let me tell you, there's a very large observatory on the stern deck of this spaceship. From there, you can use a space telescope to see some very beautiful galaxies and nebulae."

"Is the observatory as beautiful as the starry sky we saw at the planetarium last time?" Their daughter has been particularly interested in the stars since she was little. Qiao Ruida and her husband are happy to cultivate their child's interests and have taken her to places like planetariums and astronomical museums many times.

"The stars we see in the planetarium are projections of the starry sky onto a spherical screen; they are not real stars. It's different at the observatory. The starry sky there is real, and the telescopes are real too. The stars, nebulae, and galaxies you see are all real."

“Great, Dad, let’s head to the observatory right away! I can’t wait!” The daughter grabbed Jorid’s big hand and started walking out with her little legs.

"It's almost lunchtime. Call your mom and brother, let's go to the restaurant for lunch, and then go to the observatory to see the stars, okay?" Qiao Ruida raised her wrist, checked the time, and realized it was almost noon. She suggested the family have lunch first, then head to the observatory. So the four of them, hand in hand, left their room and headed straight for the restaurant in the middle of the first deck. (End of Chapter)