After clinking a few more glasses, everyone felt comfortable and leaned back on their chairs, enjoying the breeze and chatting.
Zhang Jun asked Wu Hao: "According to this progress, when will our "Wangshu" intelligent lunar surface patrol and exploration vehicle be able to drive to the vicinity of the south pole of the moon."
Wu Hao smiled and shook his head when he heard this: "I'm not sure about this. It depends on the state of travel. The terrain on the moon is very complex, and the driving speeds of vehicles are also different. If you calculate it as an average of ten kilometers per hour, that's two hundred kilometers per day.
Forty kilometers, if you really hurry, you may be able to reach it in three or four lunar days. But our vehicle is not just riding on the lunar rover, it also has to carry out detection missions, so the speed will naturally be much faster.
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If we want to reach near the south pole of the moon, I think it will take a year or two."
Does it take so long? Zou Xiaodong was slightly surprised and said: "Didn't it say that our two sides are the fastest lunar rover in history?"
Yang Fan replied with a smile: "One or two years is considered fast enough, and two, three, four, or five years is considered very fast. Do you know how many meters Chang'e 5 has traveled in total in these years?"
Besides, compared to the vastness of the universe, which is measured in light years, two or three years is nothing, it’s just a blink of an eye.”
"Arrived near the South Pole of the Moon is not the end of the exploration mission of the "Wangshu" intelligent lunar surface patrol rover. In fact, this is the progress. When we understand the ice coverage near the South Pole of the Moon,
and related geological structure and mineral resources, then the "Wangshu" intelligent lunar surface patrol rover will change direction, follow the edge of the lunar extreme low circle, then drive westward, and cross the twilight line at the appropriate time
, arrived at the far side of the moon.
Although the far side of the moon is not the first target for site selection of our lunar scientific research stations and lunar cities, the far side of the moon is still very valuable for exploration. On the one hand, we need to detect the rich mineral deposits on the far side of the moon. Logically speaking, the mineral deposits on the far side of the moon should be
The mineral deposits are much richer than those on the front. Because the back has withstood more meteorite attacks and cosmic rays, the mineral deposits formed are also richer.
In addition, the far side of the moon also has its unique advantages. It can shield the complex electromagnetic wave influence of the earth, so that some related experimental projects can be carried out. In addition, the far side of the moon always faces outer space, so it is an excellent place for deep space observation, so it is more suitable
Build astronomical telescopes and astronomical observatories.
Finally, if humans go into deep space in the future, the back side of the moon will be very suitable for establishing a space port, thereby assuming the role of a lunar gateway. It will become an important gateway transfer station for humans to go into deep space, and return from deep space to the earth.
Another point is that from a military perspective, the back of the moon is very suitable for establishing a military base. Internally, it can block many direct attacks from the earth. Externally, it can also defend against many threats to the earth from outer space.
, such as asteroid defense, or alien invasion, etc.”
Speaking of this with a smile, Wu Hao softened his tone and said: "Of course, it is too early to say this now. What we have to do now is to find out the distribution of mineral resources on the front and back of the moon, and when the scientific research stations and lunar cities will be established.
Site selection. Before other countries and companies reach out, we will occupy it first.
This is just like how countries scrambled to establish research stations in Antarctica. Based on the principle of first come, first served, countries are looking for locations with better geographical conditions in Antarctica to establish scientific research stations. But Lao Mi has done an even better job.
, relying on its own advantages, it established a scientific research station directly on the pole of Antarctica and directly occupied the pole. If other countries want to build scientific research stations later, they will have to avoid this location."
Do we also need to fight for the North and South Pole of the moon in advance? Zhang Jun asked quickly.
In response, Wu Hao waved his hand and explained: "No need, it is not of much value to us.
We must have a concept in mind, that is, we are a private enterprise and we are conducting a civilian commercial aerospace exploration project, so of course our first priority is to make profits.
We have invested so much in this project, and the money must not be wasted. We have to earn it back. How to earn it back is that we have to be the first to dig out some valuable projects on the moon and seize the opportunity.
The lunar poles have high scientific research value, but the economic value is relatively average. Instead of expending energy and resources to do that, it is better for us to grab more mineral resources and occupy more suitable scientific research stations and lunar cities.
Let’s choose the location.
Of course, this is not absolute. If someone or an organization is willing to pay a lot of money for us to do it, then why not do it."
Hehe hehe... After hearing his words, everyone chuckled.
Everyone's laughter fell, and Yang Fan continued what Wu Hao said: "Actually, I prefer to postpone projects like the lunar scientific research station and lunar city. At present, our focus is still on the fields of manned spaceflight and launch vehicles.
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Only with strong accumulation in the fields of manned space technology and launch vehicle technology can we promote our lunar scientific research station and lunar city projects. It can be said that the first two laid a solid foundation for the latter, and only the foundation
Only when it is strong can we proceed with the next steps. Otherwise, it will be a castle in the air. It looks good but is very dangerous. If you are not careful, it will collapse directly and be destroyed.
In addition, the investment in building a lunar scientific research station and a lunar city at this stage is really huge, and with our current strength, it is still unaffordable. Therefore, at this stage, on the one hand, we are developing manned space technology and launch vehicle technology to lay the foundation;
It is to continue to accumulate strength and strengthen our own strength. Only when our own strength is strong can we support the smooth progress of such a huge project."
I agreed. Zou Xiaodong nodded and said: "If you take too big a step, it will be easy to get stuck. It is better to take it one step at a time. This way, although it will be slower, each step will be taken steadily, so that there will be no problems."
After Zou Xiaodong finished speaking, Wu Hao smiled and nodded in approval: "You're right, it is indeed not suitable to start the lunar scientific research station and lunar city projects at this stage. On the one hand, the technology is not mature enough, and there are still many problems that we need to solve.
There are too many technologies that we need to overcome, so this requires a long process.
On the other hand, what you just said is correct. At this stage, relying on our own strength, we definitely cannot support such a huge project.
So at this stage, we are still focusing on some projects that are suitable for current development. Whether it is a manned space project or a launch vehicle development project, there are great market development prospects.
As for other projects, such as lunar scientific research stations, lunar cities, Mars exploration, and deep space exploration projects, they can be postponed. However, the relevant pre-research work must continue and cannot be suspended directly just because of the postponement. This is definitely not possible.
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Therefore, we still have to focus on both aspects. On the one hand, we will focus on the development of key projects at this stage, and on the other hand, we will focus on the pre-research work of various future projects, so as to lay a good foundation for the official launch in the future."