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Chapter 2807 The Era of Space Hegemony (Second Update, Please Subscribe)
Just imagining it is enough to excite people.

How could I not be excited?

After all, this discovery changed not only the fate of humankind, but also the course of human civilization.

In some ways, its significance is unparalleled.

"The course of human civilization will be changed as a result."

Li Yi'an's conclusion is beyond question. Yuan Jialiu immediately expressed his agreement with this.

"Yes, if it can be widely used, the entire human civilization will be rewritten."

"So……"

Li Yi'an then asked:

What are SpaceX's plans?

Now that we have this discovery, what is the next key point?
Of course, this means further increasing the development of the moon and the mining and transportation of minerals, which are issues that SpaceX needs to address.

Without cheap transportation, everything is just empty talk, just like when the "X crystal" was first discovered—the transportation cost of 4 yuan per gram was of no practical value.

"We will do everything we can to reduce costs. In addition to reusable rockets, we will also accelerate the development of the Pathfinder spaceplane."

Yuan Jialiu then gave a brief introduction to the development of the Pathfinder post-spaceplane.

It is not an ordinary spaceplane; it needs to be carried to high altitude by an An-225 giant transport plane and then take off from its back.

The design concept of this spacecraft is to perform space launch missions and to be reused multiple times, thereby reducing the cost of space transportation and improving efficiency.

"Theoretically, its transportation cost is about 50% lower than that of the reusable Falcon rocket. As a result, we can transport fuel and various machines into space at a much lower cost."

Then Yuan Jialiu continued to explain:

"Of course, the most important thing is the mining equipment. The next key task is to conduct further exploration of the area where 'Element 113' was discovered in order to determine the mineral reserves."

We plan to collaborate with Ocean Minerals to develop mining equipment suitable for lunar use, which has already been used in the mining of element 113.

At the same time, the company will develop a new generation of heavy-duty reusable rockets with a payload capacity of 500 tons—in this way, we can not only transport large equipment into space, but also further reduce transportation costs.

Transporting minerals from the moon back to Earth is extremely expensive, and even now, the price of the raw material for "X Crystal" is still equivalent to that of gold.

Even so, it's all worth it, since the higher price is acceptable compared to the expected performance improvement.

So what is the price of element number 113?
Is such an expensive price acceptable?
Li Yi'an could certainly accept it, after all, it was a new element that could change the fate of all mankind.

It will upend everything, so what does it matter if it's a bit expensive?

The only problem is the reserves. If it's just a tiny amount, then it certainly doesn't mean much.

Nodding, Li Yi'an said:

"Jia Liu, all you need to do is make a plan and then implement it. This metal is extremely valuable, so it's worth spending any amount of money. I'll figure out the money."

Li Yi'an has always been a staunch supporter of the space program.
However, he really didn't expect to make such a series of discoveries on the moon. These two discoveries alone are enough to repay the investment in SEA's large space program.

Even if it costs tens of billions more, spending hundreds of billions would be worthwhile.

"At this stage, its cost may be very high, but we are researching a new generation of heavy-lift rockets that are also reusable. Once they are successful, transportation costs will definitely be reduced significantly."

With the addition of spaceplanes, it will be very safe and inexpensive to transport people or goods.

Perhaps we really can turn the moon into our mining center.

Yuan Jialiu paused slightly, then added:

"At that time, we can even build the smelting center directly on the moon and transport the minerals directly back to Earth. We can even turn the moon into a space base for traveling to other star systems, just as you originally planned."

We will build interstellar spaceships directly on the moon. From there, we will embark on journeys to Mars and other star systems.

Although all of this sounds a bit like science fiction, when Yuan Jialiu was doing it, it no longer felt like listening to a science fiction novel when he first heard Li Yi'an describe it.

The appearance of Element 113 completely changed everything. All the science fiction and all the dreams may become reality in the next ten or twenty years.

They might even live to see the day when humans fly to Proxima Centauri.

"yes……"

Li Yi'an nodded and said:

"I look forward to this day, and I believe it will come. I have been waiting for that day to arrive."

……

Moon!

After Yuan Jialiu left, Li Yi'an, sitting in a leather armchair, glanced at the report in front of him again and said softly:

"My goodness!"

No one answered him.

The office was quiet. At that moment, he even wanted to shout to release his pent-up excitement. But unfortunately, there was no one to share it with him.

My son is currently visiting the Middle East.

As for the others, they don't have such a high level of secrecy.

As of now, element 113 is top secret.

Just like the "X crystal" back then, it took several years to thoroughly study it before it was made public.

Now... that's certainly true too.

The level of secrecy is even greater than it was back then, because element 113 is more valuable than the "x" of element 99, after all, it was a discovery that completely changed human civilization.

"Oh dear, I got a little too excited."

As he muttered these words to himself, Li Yi'an stood up from the large teak desk, walked across the room, and stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window on the south wall, gazing intently at the moon.

38 kilometers above him, a silvery-gray world awaits quietly, its depths holding countless surprises, no one knows.

However, the surprise it brings now allows Li Yi'an to see the future—right before his eyes.

It is not merely a technological revolution that has overturned human civilization; the changes it has brought to technology are unprecedented.

All known civilizations will be changed as a result.

It's not just about change, but about bringing human civilization to a new and unprecedented level.

This is from the perspective of civilization.

For nations, this could lead to a new "superconductor hegemony."

This kind of hegemony is far different from any hegemony in the past!
Countries that master superconducting technology will dominate the future human world: similar to OPEC in the oil era, but also fundamentally different.

Because the changes brought about by superconductors are not limited to energy.

Rather, it is a complete transformation of the entire technological system and the entire civilization system.

To some extent, a "superconductor empire" may emerge, in which the country that controls the key element—namely, lunar superconducting minerals—will have absolute power.

If lunar superconducting minerals can be utilized on a large scale, their significance will be no less than the combined inventions of the steam engine, electricity, and computers.

Humanity will enter a new era of free energy, instantaneous transportation, unparalleled computing power, and space colonization.

The only question is—whoever masters it first will control the future, and whoever masters the world.

Like all politicians, when Li Yi'an looked at this issue, his first thought was politics and hegemony, and this hegemony would be absolute.

Economic hegemony, technological hegemony, military hegemony!
Moreover, he will bring dominance in space.

This space hegemony is also very likely to extend to space colonization—it will inevitably arise alongside interstellar exploration.

The arrival of space colonization also means that humanity can finally escape Earth—not all of humanity, but SEA!

Because hegemony inherently possesses an exclusive nature.

This is also the fundamental reason why SEA will remain invincible in the future—the vastness of space gives SEA the capital to go all in.

What is the biggest problem in a time of peace?
Who has the courage to go all in?

If space colonization were achieved, who wouldn't have the courage to go all in?
There's no need to even speak, because the "nuclear balance" is gone, and the emergence of room-temperature superconductors could very well change the "nuclear balance."

After all, once humanity truly enters the space age, what use would it be for countries on Earth to launch nuclear missiles?
Because all ballistic missiles carrying nuclear weapons are launched beyond the Karman line, at a distance of 100 kilometers in space, and then return.

Starships deployed in space could easily use weapons like lasers to intercept enemy ballistic missiles as they enter space.

In that case, the nuclear threat from other countries to the SEA would essentially cease to exist. However, the SEA has always possessed the capability to nuke these countries.

And the nuclear balance will be completely broken.

"It seems the moon is Earth's future!"

Earth, humanity... these are just pronouns. After all, Li Yi'an is a realist. He only cares about himself and SEA itself.

He scribbled something casually in the notepad, ranging from controlled nuclear fusion as a super energy source to spacecraft powered by superconducting plasma engines...

Then, Li Yi'an leaned back in his chair, held onto the backrest, and gently whistled, muttering to himself in an expectant tone.

"Okay, so this is a technological revolution that will revolutionize human civilization. The only question is, how much of it will there be, and will it be able to meet all the needs..."

Turning around in his swivel chair, Li Yi'an gazed at the moon, and he could even imagine the changes that would occur in the future.

Even if element 113 on the moon is finite, it doesn't matter at all, because its discovery on the moon means that the same or similar elements exist on other planets.

With this good start, we can send interstellar ships to other planets or asteroid belts to search for the same minerals.

In the vast expanse of space, how could there not be a sufficient number of new elements?
They will surely be able to meet human needs, and human society will inevitably enter a new era.

This was the first time Li Yi'an had seen a completely new and unpredictable future.

(End of this chapter)