The universe is vast.

Not only to say that the universe is big, but also to emphasize the emptiness of the universe.

Within the universe, there is a large vacuum.

Although these cosmic spaces are not very empty from a quantum point of view.

But above the macroscopic, the matter here is really thin.

This also leads to the fact that when conducting deep space voyages, the issue of material replenishment has to be considered.

At present, almost all deep space probes are propelled by working fluids.

It relies on the reaction force when the working fluid is ejected to propel the spacecraft to fly.

In fact, in this era, almost all the power machinery used is propelled by working fluid.

However, this method has great drawbacks in the process of deep space navigation.

That is, the working fluid propulsion, which needs to carry a lot of working fluid, and the working fluid will further increase the mass of the spacecraft.

And without working fluid, there is no such drawback.

Since no working fluid is required, a significant amount of mass can be saved in terms of fuel.

"We are currently more optimistic about the advancement of solar sails."

Zhou Xuan of the Institute of Deep Space Exploration talked eloquently on the stage.

This is the venue for a symposium on the future of space navigation.

It is mainly for future exploration of the outer planets of the solar system.

"The sun's rays are already faint beyond Jupiter's orbit."

"How are you going to solve this problem?"

Zhang Xingyang was a little curious, had they thought about this problem.

Solar sails mainly use sunlight shining on a huge canvas to produce light pressure to propel spacecraft.

It's like those traditional sailboats, sailing through space.

However, there is a problem, that is, there must be strong enough sunlight to be able to support such a sail.

"We don't plan to use solar sail technology outside of Jupiter's orbit, we intend to use this technology primarily within the asteroid belt."

"Within the asteroid belt, the intensity of the sun's rays is enough to generate enough thrust to propel the light sails forward."

Zhou Xuan obviously came prepared, even if Zhang Xingyang raised a question, he didn't panic at all.

"Beyond the orbit of Jupiter, we intend to employ laser sail technology."

The laser sail, which looks similar to the solar sail, derives the main thrust from that huge canvas.

But the source of thrust is not the same.

Laser sails, as the name suggests, derive thrust from lasers.

The laser device on the propulsion sail constantly irradiates the canvas to generate thrust.

As for the power source of the laser device, it mainly comes from the internal nuclear battery.

Of course, such a laser propulsion device is a product of the compromises that have to be made in this era.

In later generations, there was a more advanced laser propulsion infrastructure.

It was a super-high-power laser emitting device built in the asteroid belt.

It is capable of shining a laser light on a laser sail on a spacecraft sailing in the outer solar system through precise interstellar positioning.

Because the density of matter in the universe is quite low, it does not weaken as quickly as it does on the surface of planets.

So this way of sailing is actually very economical.

Of course, in times of danger, these ultra-high-power laser emitters are also a solar system defense line, capable of burning out troubled interstellar pirates, or small meteorites found by probes scattered throughout the solar system.

This can also be regarded as an important embodiment of infrastructure construction in the interstellar era.

"Laser sails, we can use wires to weave into a mesh to reflect the laser to generate thrust, so that it can be lighter than the reflective film of a solar sail, and it can also generate more thrust."

Zhou Xuan briefly introduced their technical route prediction about laser sails.

In fact, it can also be seen that the Institute of Deep Space Exploration itself is actually more inclined to use laser sail schemes.

But in reality, not everyone likes work-free propulsion.

In this world, some people like it, and some people don't like it.

"I'm sorry, I don't agree with the non-working fluid propulsion plan that Director Zhou just introduced."

After Zhou Xuan finished speaking, Geng Bo raised his hand to signal that he wanted to speak.

Zhang Xingyang nodded and agreed with him to start speaking.

As the host of this meeting, Zhang Xingyang himself has no bias towards any technical route.

In his eyes, both routes have their own shortcomings.

"First of all, let's talk about the solar sail."

Geng Bo began to express his opinion.

"Just now, Director Zhou also admitted his shortcomings, his dependence on the sun is too great, and he can only be used in the inner solar system."

"That's why I don't approve of the solar sail solution, in the inner solar system, because of the distance, we can use the working fluid propulsion solution."

Most of the people present are working within the space system.

Geng Bo just started a little, and everyone understood what he meant.

In the inner solar system, because the distance is not very far.

The use of working fluid propulsion is actually advantageous in terms of speed and cost.

Moreover, at present, there are actually a lot of technologies in China in terms of working fluid propulsion, and it is relatively simple to develop.

"And in the outer solar system, there are still big problems with the use of laser sail propulsion schemes."

"The most important of them all is the laser installation!"

Geng Bo's words directly hit the little content that Zhou Xuan had just avoided.

Laser device is one of the few scientific research fields in China that is at the international first-class level.

However, even at the world's leading level, it is not possible to miniaturize high-power lasers.

And for the spacecraft to carry such a device, the weight is significantly increased.

Then the so-called work-less propulsion to reduce weight has actually become impossible.

Zhang Xingyang knows that this is the helplessness of this era.

More than 100 years later, after the completion of the space infrastructure.

With the asteroid belt high-power laser device group, no one will still be entangled in the problem of laser sails.

"Then you can solve this problem by using working fluid propulsion?"

At this time, Zhou Xuan's temper also came up a little.

Ignoring the discipline of the venue, he quarreled with Geng Bo directly without consent.

"Quiet!"

Zhang Xingyang slapped the table and forced the two people above to calm down.

"We're sitting here today just to discuss possible deep space navigation options for the future."

"It's not, it's about dividing each plan into a winner!"

Zhang Xingyang's words are a bit of a big board each.

But he doesn't have a good way to do it, in fact, in the future era of more and more frequent deep space exploration.

There are more such quarrels, and they are more intense.

Behind this, it is not only about the technical route.

It is even more a competition of interests.

Geng Bo himself is in the Rocket Research Institute, so he must be more inclined to work fluid propulsion.

Zhang Xingyang has no good solution to this problem.

After all, he himself holds the position of director of the Rocket Research Institute.

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(End of chapter)