Building a spaceship is not just a matter of technology, but involves many aspects. The larger the spacecraft, the more aspects are involved, not to mention the mass production of the "Explorer". The amount of resources consumed by tens of billions of "Explorers" requires a large amount of mineral resources.
A suitable galaxy, a planet with a lot of resources, minerals, energy, a planet with water resources... all the conditions must be met.
After Wu Heng returned to its original universe, Zhou Xiaozhi carried out a blanket screening of the surrounding galaxies and eliminated thousands of star systems.
"Boss, the RT278 galaxy best meets our requirements. Are you sure you want to go there?" Zhou Xiaozhi reported to Zhou Xinghui.
"Well, we found it. What's going on with the RT278 galaxy?" Zhou Xing asked Zhou Xiaozhi happily.
"The RT278 galaxy is a giant star system, 6,700 light-years away from us. The star mass is 67 times that of the sun. There are 172 planets. The sixteenth planet meets our requirements. It is located in the life adaptation zone and is the size of the Earth. 20 times, with a waterway ratio of 4:6, it has four satellites. The first satellite contains huge amounts of iron minerals, rich in potassium, phosphorus, rare earth elements, thorium, uranium and other resources. The second satellite is rich in iron and titanium. In addition to common elements, it is also rich in helium-3, cerium, rhenium, zinc... This meets the requirements of the Explorer project." Zhou Xiaozhi introduced in detail.
"There are water resources and are there any signs of intelligent civilization?" Zhou Xing asked worriedly.
"No, the planet is too large, has huge gravity, and can easily attract asteroids to collide... Due to the total environmental constraints, it is not suitable for the birth of intelligent civilization!" Zhou Xiaozhi looked at Zhou Xing and replied.
Zhou Xing nodded. If it were not for the use of environmental transformation technology, the birth of a planet would require the birth of an intelligent civilization. Many factors must be present at the same time.
First, a star of moderate size is needed. The planets must be in the right position in the star system, and there are gas giant planets on the periphery to sweep away the asteroids flying around. Then the satellite can stabilize the tilt of the earth's axis, bring tides and seasons, and become a complex element. Secondly, the earth's crust and oceans happen to contain all kinds of organic matter needed for the formation of life. Secondly, the planet also needs to be born at the right time and then become extinct at the right time to make room for higher life.
Intelligent civilization is developing very rapidly. According to Robin Hanson's "Great Filter" theory, the basic characteristics of civilization are the possession of resources and colonial expansion. According to the development speed of human civilization, it is possible to achieve a "civilization explosion" within the next thousand years. Expansion," when humanity will colonize the entire galaxy within tens of thousands of years.
Moreover, as long as this explosive expansion develops to a level that cannot be completely destroyed by a supernova explosion, humans will continue to expand indefinitely until they encounter another expanding advanced civilization.
There are no signs of intelligent civilization in this galaxy, which means that it is another desolate galaxy.
"Will the RT278 galaxy be our new home?" Tang Xin looked at the star cluster on the screen.
"Well, it is suitable for the Explorer project." Zhou Xing nodded, looked at Zhou Xiaozhi and ordered: "Xiaozhi, let's go there!"
"Okay, boss!" Zhou Xiaozhi responded. Immediately, the Wuheng turned the bow and prepared to continue traveling through the wormhole.
The vast universe and the galaxies occupied by intelligent civilization are nothing compared to them. There are desolate galaxies everywhere, and any suitable one can become a habitat.
After passing through the wormhole and flying for several hours, Wuheng arrived at its destination, a giant planet surrounded by four satellites.
The giant planet looks red and blue when you look at it. It means that there is an ocean on the planet, and the land is made of a lot of iron oxide. It is desolate without any green plants.
After Wu Heng entered the orbit of the giant planet, the lower belly hatch opened, and a large wave of transport spacecraft swarmed out.
Under the leadership of Zhou Xiaozhi, the vast project of the Explorer Project was launched on the giant planet. The robot army assembled energy stations, smelters, collected resources, established machinery manufacturing plants, and self-replicated... The scale of the project became larger and larger.
The Explorer project is the third time that Wuheng has started construction with nothing. It has accumulated a lot of experience. Everyone quickly got into work mode and completed various auxiliary tasks according to Zhou Xiaozhi's arrangements.
Wu Heng - In the command room, Zhou Xing sat in front of the command podium, his eyes fixed on the holographic screen, his brows furrowed.
Seeing the unpredictable nebula picture playing on the holographic screen, Tang Xin knew what Zhou Xing was doing.
Tang Xin held a porcelain bowl in both hands and placed it in front of Zhou Xing's table. She asked with a smile: "Xing, are you still thinking about the war that broke out in that galaxy?"
"Yes, the two competing civilizations are about the same strength. They should have mastered stellar weapons or black hole weapons." Zhou Xing nodded and sighed.
The rise of modern human civilization only took two to three hundred years. Compared with the tens of thousands and decades of other intelligent civilizations, it is too little time. Even with the assistance of a great scientist's auxiliary system, he cannot do it alone!
The development of civilization is the result of the joint efforts of a group of people, and top scientists can only play a leading role in certain fields.
For example, although Zhou Xing could speculate on the manufacturing ideas and methods of the weapons of this level displayed by these two civilizations, when it comes to actual production and manufacturing, there are still countless problems that need to be overcome.
"Okay! Drink this bowl of soup first, and then study it after you finish it." Tang Xin looked at Zhou Xing and gestured with a smile.
Zhou Xing nodded, quickly picked up the bowl, "gulu" a few times, and drank the soup in one gulp.
"Xing, how can we find a way back to Earth?" Tang Xin said with emotion as he looked at the unfamiliar galaxy outside the command ship.
The Wuheng was lost in other universes and lost contact with the earth. After so many years, the other side must be very sad!
Hearing this, Zhou Xing quickly stood up, put his arm around Tang Xin's shoulders, and said comfortingly: "Soon, once the explorers form a large scale, it will not take a few years to explore the wormhole returning to the earth."
"Huh? Really?" Tang Xin's eyes were filled with surprise. She thought it would be difficult to see her parents again in this life!
Zhou Xing smiled confidently, looked at Zhou Xiaozhi and ordered: "Xiaozhi, unfold the model diagram of the 'Cosmic Tree'."
"Okay, boss!" Zhou Xiaozhi responded, and immediately, a "tree"-shaped model composed of countless black balls appeared on the holographic screen.
"Is this what the 'Cosmic Tree' looks like?" Tang Xin looked at the holographic screen and asked in confusion.
"No! It's just an idea. The specific shape requires explorers to draw their models. Each black ball represents a universe, and the connected 'trunks' represent cosmic wormholes. Explorers will pass through these universes. The wormhole keeps advancing, just like medicine injected into the human body, spreading along the blood vessels, and eventually forming a structure diagram of the wormhole network in the universe. Using this kind of casting-net exploration, the wormhole returning to the earth will soon be found. Zhou Xing looked at Tang Xin and introduced with a smile.
"It would be great if it could be done. I miss home!" Tang Xin hugged Zhou Xing excitedly.
"Me too, the Discovery project will continue forever, and the chance of finding Xiaoyu is much higher." Zhou Xing lowered his head and whispered in Tang Xin's ear.
Hearing this, Tang Xin perked up and looked up at Zhou Xing with bright eyes: "Really? It would be great if we could find Xiaoyu to go home with us! My parents will be very happy."
Zhou Xing nodded solemnly. As time passed year after year, he also longed for his family to reunite soon.