Homo sapiens.

Fortunately, there are abundant carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen resources underground on the moon, which was discovered through the detection data of the past few years.

According to the data analysis of the long-term monitoring of the moon, it can be known that carbon compounds will continue to be released on the relatively young lunar maria and the lunar plain. Obviously, this is evidence of the existence of a large amount of carbon in the lunar subsurface.

The hot springs near the Copernicus base have naturally been carefully detected.

The carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and radon gas emitted by the hot springs are hundreds of times higher than that of ordinary moon rocks.

There are a lot of elements that are volatilized into outer space every year on the moon. If the moon’s gravity is too weak to bind these volatile elements, it would not be as bare as it is today.

Obviously, the scale of each base on the moon is good, and the construction time is earlier than the Venus Cloud Palace project, but the industrial scale of the moon is not even one-tenth of that of Venus.

The reason is that the moon has too little carbon, and its gravity is quite different from that of the earth.

On the contrary, Venus has a high concentration of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere, and its own gravity is close to that of the earth. Therefore, it can use local materials and use biosynthesis technology to mass-produce the required parts.

Now the Copernicus base is going to mine hot springs, the purpose is to obtain carbon resources and reduce the pressure on the earth's material delivery.

Qin Lang and several other rotating leaders are very clear about one thing, that is, if the moon base wants to do something, it must get rid of the resource dependence on the earth headquarters.

Otherwise, all kinds of materials need the support of the Earth Headquarters, and it will be very difficult to develop.

For example, the mass projector project on the back of the moon, why has been dawdling before, but the progress of the project has been soaring in the past two months, the reason is that the base on the back of the moon is self-sufficient in a large part of parts.

Now the person in charge of the base, such as Qin Lang, has realized that the base is scarce in the three elements of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen.

There are four of their solutions.

The first plan is to strengthen the recovery and reuse of hydrocarbon and nitrogen resources inside the base.

The second solution is to use alternative materials as much as possible to reduce the resource consumption of hydrocarbons and nitrogen.

Both programs are trying to save money.

The third option is to mine the moon's underground hydrocarbon and nitrogen resources, such as hot spring mining.

The fourth plan is to use spacecraft to capture some asteroids with relatively high water content and high carbon content, and then pull them to the vicinity of the lunar orbit and hand them over to the recently constructed lunar orbit industrial space station.

This is an open source effort.

Through these programs, the Copernicus base is gradually solving the plight of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen resources.

Qin Lang discussed with Balu for a while, and after listening to his opinions, he went to another workshop without stopping.

This workshop is for assembling miniature space capsules, which is similar to the drone production workshop on the earth. The main product is the miniature space capsules with rough skin and thick flesh.

He looked at a miniature space capsule in front of him, which was about the size of a large gasoline barrel, with a length of about 10 meters and a diameter of about 3 meters.

The miniature space capsule itself does not have an engine or the like, and can be carried by other spacecraft and thrown around the moon as a temporary scientific research station.

Previously, this kind of space capsule could only be delivered through the Earth headquarters, but now their base can also produce miniature space capsules by themselves.

"Xin, can the production capacity of the miniature space capsule keep up with the schedule?"

Li Xin, who is in charge of this workshop, saw Qin Lang walk in, and he directly reported some situations: "Now 5 to 15 miniature space capsules can be produced every month, but the precision instruments need to be transported from the Earth headquarters."

"5-15? The production capacity is okay." Qin Lang nodded with satisfaction.

Li Xin said helplessly: "If the supply of raw materials can be increased, the production capacity can be increased by about 80%."

"By the way, I'm here this time and I have a task for you..."

Chapter 564 Preemption

On Balu's synchronous robot, the big-eyed lens looked at him: "What mission?"

"It's about the task of equipment manufacturing. This is an improvement plan. Take a look."

"Improvement plan?!" Baru took the tablet and looked at the so-called improvement plan.

The improvement plan of the miniature space capsule is very simple, that is to install three 12.5mm machine guns on it, so that it has the ability to automatically attack intruders.

There was a hint of incomprehension in Baru's voice: "Now the moon is the company's base, is it necessary?"

"Who said there is only the company's base?" Qin Lang raised his eyebrows slightly.

"? The Lunar South Pole base of the Earth Federation? Is it necessary for the base to be so prepared?"

Qin Lang shook his head: "Balu, you underestimate the evil thoughts of human nature too much, just look at this!"

Immediately, he called up a piece of information investigated by the Field Service Department on the tablet computer, and let Baru see what it means to be defensive.

[Special investigation report on the Lunar Base of the Earth Union... The lunar cargo spacecraft No. 14 launched by the Space Exploration Corporation is equipped with 30 rounds of the space version of the Stinger, as well as five 5mm cannons, and carries 30 radix ammunition... ]

"Now do you still think that the moon base of the Earth Federation is not a threat?"

"They are courting death!" Balu's tone became cold.

Qin Lang shrugged: "There are too many people with delusions of being destroyed. Even if we don't have the idea of ​​doing something, they will be wary of us in their hearts."

"I understand, but is the machine gun enough? Do you want to prepare other weapons and equipment?" Baru asked.

"It's not necessary. We have deployed 36 dead light satellites in lunar orbit, and large bases have dead light cannons. They can't make any waves."

"Then I made it according to the improved plan."

"Well, please excuse me."

"Individual matter."

Qin Lang came out of the industrial area and drove the electric car to the mining area.

At present, a total of 7 mineral mining sites have been opened around the base, which can produce 5000 to 6000 tons of various minerals every month.

On the way to the mine.

He was discussing mining work with his assistant Riel.

……

the other side.

Deputy base director Deva Sinbad, he is also discussing the matter of lunar minerals with several people at the same time, but the area they are discussing is not around the Copernicus crater, but the mineral resources near the south pole of the moon.

In front of the lunar holographic projection model, Deva pointed to one of the craters: "The moon base of the Earth Alliance is inside the Kravey crater. Our recent work is to control the dozen or so craters around the Kravey crater."

"Deputy Chief, are there enough micro-capsules?" a robot asked.

Deva replied confidently: "It's enough, we have 7 in stock, and we can produce 12 this month, plus three fireships, enough for us to control these craters."

"Then let's discuss the minerals in these craters! We must control the most resource-rich areas." Another lunar mineral researcher who came over via a synchronous robot suggested.

Deva nodded: "Well, the important resources of the moon are actually water resources and carbon resources. Among the 16 target craters, we found a lot of water ice and dry ice in the Langozhitan crater that we controlled in advance, especially those Areas that have not been exposed to the sun for a long time store a lot of water ice and dry ice."

The lunar mineral researcher called up a holographic map with the stratum detected by the geological remote sensing satellite.

In the craters around the south pole of the moon, there is a general rule, that is, the depth and width of the craters, the surrounding latitude, and the height of the terrain jointly determine the storage capacity of water ice and dry ice at the bottom of the craters.

The closer to the South Pole, the deeper the depth, the smaller the width, and the higher the surrounding terrain, the greater the storage of water ice and dry ice.

On the contrary, the storage capacity of water ice and dry ice is smaller.

The researcher pointed to several craters that store huge amounts of water ice and dry ice and suggested:

"These four small craters should be controlled with emphasis. I suggest that the fireship be placed in one of the craters as the core of the Antarctic base."

Deva looked at it: "Yes, I will arrange it."

"In addition, this mountain range also needs to be focused on. It is best to gradually control it."

It was a mountain range formed by a volcanic shield, although due to the long-term damage of the moon's cosmic rays and solar wind, many mountains have been ground down.

In addition, the large-scale volcanic activity on the moon has also stopped for hundreds of millions of years, but this does not mean that there is no volcanic activity on the moon.

Because the core of the moon is still active at this time, it has not completely cooled down.

On the other hand, volcanic eruptions do not necessarily require intense geological activities themselves, and asteroid impacts can also bring about intense volcanic eruptions.

Especially for a planet like the moon without a dense atmosphere, the destructive power of asteroids is astonishing. Those large maria were formed when large asteroids hit the moon.

Those volcanic remains left over from ancient times contain very heavy metals and rare metal minerals.

For example, the volcanic mountain range at the south pole of the moon in front of us, through the exploration of the Lunar Geology and Mineral Research Institute, has stored a large amount of copper, sulfur, lead, thorium compounds or simple substances.

Sulfur is of minor importance, but copper, lead, and thorium are very important.

Copper is one of the raw materials for wires and motors, lead is one of the core materials for various protective layers, and thorium is one of the raw materials for nuclear fission.

If gold, silver and rare earth elements from other volcanic relics are added, the Lunar Branch can produce gold-based thermoelectric materials, silver-based superconductor materials, and produce nuclear power plants by itself.

Now all bases on the moon rely on cobalt rod nuclear batteries as their core energy source, but the lunar base does not have the ability to produce cobalt rods and must be transported from the Earth headquarters.

Although Homo sapiens attaches great importance to the transportation of cobalt rods, the possibility of accidents is basically eliminated.

But cobalt rods are extremely dangerous radioactive substances after all. If they leak into the earth's atmosphere, the consequences will be disastrous.

According to the instructions of the headquarters, Qin Lang, Dewa and others must find a way to mine the moon's thorium and uranium as soon as possible to realize self-produced nuclear fuel.

At present, they have found that among the volcanic remains on the moon, there are many deposits of heavy metals, rare earths, and radioactive minerals.

According to the integrated analysis of the magnetic field detection data, at least 1000 million tons of mineable high-grade uranium ore and 676 million tons of thorium ore are stored in strata at a depth of about 3980 meters on the surface of the moon.

If fully mined and refined, 2782 tons of nuclear fission raw materials (purity 99%) can be extracted.

The Caucasus base set up by the Moon Branch in the Caucasus Mountains in the northwest of the Wet Sea is dedicated to mining thorium ore, and is currently conducting research on bio-enrichment technology for thorium ore.

The reason why so much attention is paid to radioactive substances is mainly for the mass projector project on the back of the moon, which requires a huge amount of electrical energy.

Cobalt rod nuclear batteries have no way to supply enough energy, and nuclear fission power plants must be launched.

Of course, the Lunar Branch has another mission, which is to seize resource-rich areas as soon as possible and curb the development and benefits of the Earth Alliance on the moon.

As long as there is not enough income, the free world dominated by private interests will definitely feel weak in continuing to explore the moon.

After all, private companies have to eat, and those investors will also retreat when they see that the benefits are nowhere in sight.

Chapter 565 Enclosure

Galaxy 3, February 7nd.

Moon, South Pole.

Clavi Crater.

Earthlink Lunar Base.

A spacecraft carrying two astronauts is using the thrust reverser engine of the spacecraft to brake and adjust its flight posture, and then slowly land on a sandy field not far from the base.

The engine nozzle blows a lot of lunar soil dust.

The first two astronauts who arrived with the ship were checking various equipment at this time.

"Yingwu, the spacecraft equipment is very normal, you should report the situation to the Earth headquarters!"

Lin Yingwu nodded, then buried his head on the keyboard and entered a series of instructions.

Soon the headquarters of the Earth Federation replied to them, asking them to prepare to leave the capsule, and sent them the communication codes of the dozen or so space capsules that had landed before.

"Captain, the communication code has been received."

"Well, we will go out of the cabin together later." Captain Du Feihu said while connecting the spaceship with the network of other space capsules through the communication code.

Then they activated the cameras of the other capsules, and through the cameras of the other capsules, as well as the searchlights, the spacecraft could be clearly seen.

Du Feihu quickly adjusted the position of the camera, aiming at the exclusive hatch of the spaceship.

After all, this manned landing on the moon is a very important matter for the Free World and the Earth Federation Association. He must ensure that the moment he leaves the cabin can be captured by the camera.

Originally, regarding the march to the moon, the four major forces in the free world were very divided. Now they need to give everyone a little confidence.

After more than ten minutes of debugging, Du Feihu finally completed the debugging of the lens and lighting.

"Captain, the moon dust outside has dissipated."

"Notify the Earth headquarters that we will carry out the mission out of the cabin within half an hour."

"Ok."

Du Feihu stood up, went to the cabinet specially reserved for space suits, took out a set of space suits, and put them on himself.

Twenty minutes passed quickly.

Lin Yingwu also put on the spacesuit for the extravehicle.

On the side of the Earth headquarters, the Earth Alliance has simultaneously launched a live broadcast, and the pictures of the lunar south pole base can be seen on the TV stations and the Internet within the four major forces.