Great Power Technology

Ye Zhou pressed the start button, and the 12 refrigerant engines on the Wei Qing entered working condition. Compared with the ultra-high overload of the Zheng He, the acceleration of this spacecraft was much gentler.

It was even so gentle that he could hardly feel the spacecraft moving. However, the bright blue flames ejected by the 12-speed engine in the video clearly showed that this was perhaps the most daring plan in human history. It has already begun.

How much force does it take to move a star?

Ye Zhou once thought about this problem. Without precise calculations, he subconsciously believed that this might require hundreds of millions of tons or even billions of tons of power.

But actually, the answer is, all it takes is the power of one finger.

As long as it is not completely unaffected by friction and the satellite is revolving stably in orbit, even a small force is enough to change its orbit. The effect may take a long time, but it is absolutely effective.

However, how much force is needed to make a celestial body weighing 1.7

The answer is 4.7 million tons of thrust.

Only this thrust can generate enough acceleration in a short period of time. At the moment when Zhenghe passes over the target impact point, Io can collide with Io, and the huge energy generated by the impact can be poured back into adjacent areas. In the dimensional channel.

The numbers on the screen keep flashing. Judging from the intuitive data, the single thrust of the 12 propulsion engines on the Weiqing has risen to the 40,000-ton level. In 9 minutes, the Weiqing will enter the 1-kilometer range of Europa's Carme. inside, and used the landing device on the front of the spacecraft to directly contact Io and push it out of its original orbit.

The entire acceleration process will last for 16 minutes. The two steerable fluid-free engines are responsible for angle adjustment and stationary maintenance, which is also the key to success.

An hour later, Ye Zhou's sight was filled with the huge body of Callisto. He nervously observed the engine data, fearing that there would be a problem in any of the links.

"We have entered the landing area. Dangyang can land. Please pay attention to the engine status to avoid affecting the Carme orbit status."

"Dangyang received it and started landing."

In the vast starry sky, a huge cone-shaped spacecraft silently approached its target. On the huge buffer device on the head of the spacecraft, four giant claws composed of high-strength materials had stretched out. After a moment, the giant claws came into contact. The surface of Callisto then penetrated deeply into the soil and rock like a probe.

The locking device was activated, and Dangyang was firmly fixed on the satellite surface. After a brief tremor, the Dangyang pilot issued a reply of "landing successful."

Subsequently, the Changping and Humen landed in sequence, and finally the Weiqing. When the Weiqing's hull with a diameter of more than 1 kilometer collided with Europa, Ye Zhou's heart beat suddenly.

The huge sound caused by the collision did not spread even one meter in the vacuum environment of the universe, but inside the Wei Qing, the sound like a drum had already sounded the war drum for everyone.

"The push ship has landed successfully. The target push time is 110 seconds away. The countdown begins now."

Cold numbers jumped on the screen. Ye Zhou used the last time to check the working status of the engines. Then, when the push countdown ended for 60 seconds, as his command was issued, all 48 push engines entered the saturated load state.

Hot plasma burned in the furnace, and gases and reactive materials were violently ejected. In the wake of the four spacecraft, a small amount of space dust and meteorite fragments that unfortunately fell into it were even directly evaporated.

"The thrust of the single machine is 80092, acceleration is in progress, and it is expected to reach the peak thrust in 20 seconds."

Ye Zhou calmly reported the status of the engine to the commander, and then locked the engine thrust at 99,000 tons.

"Thrust reaches peak, thrust locks."

"Received, the spacecraft is accelerating normally and will pass the first orbital intersection in 30 seconds. Dangyang and Changping, start their engines for reverse thrust, reduce acceleration, and avoid the Europa 38 orbit."

"Received on Dangyang."

"Changping received it."

After a brief pause, each of the two spacecrafts started their six thrust engines and pushed back. Dust was everywhere on the surface of Io, and an unprecedented sandstorm blew up on this old satellite.

Europa's acceleration immediately slowed down, and two minutes later, it passed Europa at a distance of 6 kilometers.

"Assessing tidal force effects."

"The direction has deflected by 0.3 degrees. Dangyang has started its steering engine. The countdown to the end of the adjustment is expected to be 10, 9, or 8."

The orbit deflected by the tidal force generated by the passing of Io was corrected in the blink of an eye, the engine reverse thrust was completed, and Io continued to approach Io's prograde orbit driven by the four spacecraft.

Everything went extremely smoothly, and the engine was in good working order - and even had power to spare.

This made Ye Zhou feel a little relieved. The situation he was most worried about did not happen. The divertor was working normally, even if the temperature of the furnace had reached an astonishing 200 million degrees Celsius or more, and even if the rate of ash production had exceeded that of any human being. The volume observed in a fusion reaction, but the powerful divertor can still withstand such pressure.

"There is a 10-minute countdown to the end of the push. There is no intersecting track ahead of you. Everything goes well."

The voice of the pilot of the Washington came. They still stayed on the original track, maintaining a safe distance from which they could intervene in time, and monitoring the dangers behind the four Chinese spacecraft.

"Understood, the push countdown is 10 minutes, and the thrust is locked at 99,000 tons."

The tense emotions of everyone in the fleet relaxed slightly. For them, the most difficult part of the entire plan was actually over.

As long as they complete the landing, as long as they push the engine to run smoothly, and as long as they avoid the intersection of Jupiter's orbits, then the road ahead of them will be smooth.

It is true that it is not easy to control this satellite with a diameter of more than 40 kilometers to accurately hit the moving target towed by Zhenghe. However, with the assistance of quantum computers with terrifying computing power, accidents may occur. Sex is actually extremely low.

"It seems that this mission has been completed. After I return, I want to go to Tokyo to take a bath in a hot spring."

"Tokyo? It's better to go to China."

The navigators on the Washington and Dante spaceships who stayed behind were chatting easily in the communication channel. The navigator on the Wei Qing immediately interrupted:

"Don't chat in public channels, stay vigilant, our mission is not over yet!"

Ye Zhou felt helpless at their behavior, but from another perspective, this was probably their national character.

Even under extremely high pressure, they still dealt with it with an attitude that was so relaxed that it could almost be said to be cynical.

Such a personality also has good sides, such as being highly resistant to stress, but at the same time, the probability of problems will greatly increase - especially when performing work that requires high concentration and precision.

"Don't be so nervous. Everything that follows is very simple. Don't worry, I'm watching your butt."

The pilot of the Washington said jokingly. After a pause, he continued to report:

"Everything is normal in the orbit. The propulsion engine caused disturbances to the original satellite orbits, but these disturbances will not be transmitted until they complete one revolution. By then, we will have already evacuated to a safe area."

"Understood, start testing the unlocking device."

"The unlocking device is normal. After 6 minutes, Dangyang will begin to unlock."

"Received, will be unlocked in 6 minutes."

"Washington, start the thrust engines and prepare for emergency intervention procedures."

"The thrust engine has been started, and the current load is 40%. You can intervene at any time - but I don't think you need it."

Ye Zhou looked at the location information flashing on the screen and couldn't help but repeat in his mind:

Yes, it shouldn't be necessary.

However, just as his thoughts crossed his mind, the exclamation of the pilot of the Washington suddenly came from the earphones.

"Shit! Distance is 1,700 kilometers, Europa is approaching! The orbital intersection is expected to occur in 21 minutes!"

"It's going to hit Carme!"

"what happened?"

"It's the disturbance from Zheng He! Its engine turbulence changed the orbit of Callisto. Different from what we calculated, Callisto was captured by Callisto's tidal force, and its orbit is rising!"

"Understood, decision will be made in two minutes."

The voice of the pilot of the Wei Qing was still calm, but at this moment, Ye Zhou's expression was already cold.

At this moment, they have no choice.

If they continue to travel at the current acceleration, all propelled spacecraft will break away from Carme after 8 minutes, then they will be unable to do anything to impact the impact of Europa 41.

And if they decelerate like they did to avoid Jupiter, it means they have to start accelerating again, and the acceleration process will be forced to extend for more than 20 minutes. In other words, all four Chinese spacecraft will lose their escape. window.

"This is the Wei Qing. Here are the decisive orders."

"Dangyang, Changping, and Humen, turn on the engines to reverse thrust and execute deceleration."

Ye Zhou breathed a long sigh of relief, he understood the meaning of this order.

These four Chinese spaceships cannot go back.

His hand was placed on the button to release the thrust lock on the screen, but just as he was about to press it, the voice of the Washington's navigator came again from the earphones.

"Don't worry."

"We will continue to implement the original plan."

"This is the USS Washington, we will intercept Europa."