219: Chapter 219 Freshwater Supply Base of the Lunar Base

Chu Ge gathered about 30 research experts from the Astrophysics Research Group and the Planetary Resource Development Group of the Research Department for a meeting.

The meeting was arranged in a small conference room on the aerospace carrier; most attendees didn't know the agenda, except for a few in Yan Tianhao's group who had a general idea.

Before the meeting, Chu Ge had Yan Tianhao move a watermelon-sized block of ice onto the center of the oval table in the conference room.

Everyone looked at each other and the steaming block of ice, somewhat confused about the situation.

Chu Ge looked at the block of ice; it was as clean as a diamond.

Unlike ice on Earth, it had very few mirror-like faceted surfaces; it was mostly distributed in cotton-like crystals, and the entire block was currently emitting white vapor, radiating a chill.

"[Soul Blade] discovered an ancient lunar ice layer in the Antarctic region, and this is a sample cut from it."

"The entire ice layer is very large. I called you here to discuss whether it's possible to build a freshwater plant around it."

As soon as Chu Ge finished speaking, several elderly scholars immediately showed surprised expressions, their gazes refocusing on the steaming sample.

"Scientists have long suspected the existence of ice layers at the lunar poles, but it was always detected by instruments and never confirmed on-site."

"This is a major discovery. If this block of ice is sent back to Earth, it will certainly cause a sensation; its scientific research value is immense..."

Chu Ge waited for the veteran expert to finish, smiled, and then waved his hand.

"This is just the beginning. There will be many more strange things like this in the future. We aren't considering its scientific value; I'd like to say a few more words to the experts here."

"Regarding the exploration of planetary resources, I hope everyone will only consider their practical value in the future; let our colleagues back on Earth handle the rest. We will definitely have the transport engineering ships take some samples back, what do you think?"

Chu Ge's words immediately gained everyone's approval.

The experts on the aerospace carrier weren't here to study the origin or history of a certain substance, but rather to analyze the properties of materials and use them to develop new technologies.

"Academician Chu, is the research report for this block of ice out? We need to formulate the relevant process flow based on it."

A middle-aged expert wearing glasses asked.

"Turn on your information terminals. I've set the report to sharing mode so you can access it at any time."

After Chu Ge finished speaking, he took off the miniature data terminal on his left arm and began to operate it.

Every crew member and expert on the aerospace carrier had one of these devices.

It contained a lot of information and real-time data: from personal vital signs and environmental information to research data, work logs, and more.

The crew could even use it to exchange data and tasks with the aerospace carrier's "Tianzhi" central control center.

The difference lay in their varying levels of authorization.

The data terminal could be folded into a miniature size, roughly the size of a modern mobile phone.

It could also be unfolded into a small computer, with an overall appearance similar to current foldable screen phones.

Communication was one of its basic functions, but it focused more on office work and information acquisition.

Of course, its communication was limited to a local area; all data terminals formed a large local area network.

Expert colleagues could exchange data and conduct academic discussions here.

This data terminal was developed specifically for the Interstellar Fleet by Huawei, China's largest telecommunications company; it was distributed for free, and the technology used was the most advanced.

Chu Ge thought it was quite useful.

After Chu Ge finished speaking, the attending research experts took out their data terminals one after another, unfolded them, and began studying the ice layer research report.

"Based on the report, building a freshwater treatment plant is perfectly feasible; the difficulty might lie in the supply pipeline."

"A distance of 26 kilometers is neither close nor far, but the lunar South Pole is a special place; the outside temperature stays below minus 200 degrees year-round."

"Unlike other parts of the moon, where the temperature can reach over 120 degrees under direct sunlight during the day."

Academician Huang was the first to speak. Although he didn't understand water treatment processes, he figured they wouldn't be too difficult; how to transport it had become the key.

"Is it possible to establish a supply pipeline underground? Surely the temperature underground wouldn't be this low?"

Academician Huang continued to suggest.

"That's unlikely. Setting aside the issue of the workload, the heat capacity and thermal conductivity of lunar surface materials are very low."

"Our radio satellites have measured before that temperatures deeper in the lunar soil rarely change."

"Although the moon has a core, the scientific community still hasn't reached a consensus on whether this core is currently in a solid or fluid state."

"Even if its core is hot, because of the low thermal conductivity, the heat would dissipate before even reaching the lunar crust; there's no point in discussing anything further down."

Professor Li Jingyi, who specialized in lunar research, immediately countered.

Chu Ge nodded after hearing this. Regardless of other factors, the fatal flaw of the workload being too large caused this suggestion to be immediately passed over.

"Establish a lunar transport fleet?" a young scientist nearby suggested.

Chu Ge lowered his head in thought; his intention was to solve the water resource problem once and for all.

If they established a transport fleet here, it wouldn't be fundamentally different from transporting water from Earth.

"The fleet's original plan was that if there were no water resources on the moon, we would prepare to dispatch two transport ships specifically for the task of transporting freshwater."

"Once the base is built, the consumption of water resources will be very large; conservatively estimated, both transport ships would have to operate at full capacity."

Chu Ge added for everyone.

Everyone nodded after hearing this. Other supplies were manageable, but freshwater was indeed troublesome; yet humans, industrial production, and scientific experiments couldn't do without it.

"But since ancient ice layers have been discovered on the moon, I've considered building a freshwater treatment plant here."

"A transport pipeline must be equipped, as fleet transport efficiency is too low. My idea is to build the freshwater treatment plant within the radiation range of the Lunar Base."

"Only a primary processing plant needs to be established in the ice layer area. The transport pipeline would be changed from a water supply pipe to a conveyor track for solid ice blocks. I wonder if there are any difficulties in executing this plan?"

Chu Ge simply threw out his idea, which he had spent half the previous day thinking about.

It wasn't impossible to build a freshwater pipeline, but that would require specialized constant-temperature pipe materials; the cost and difficulty would be significant.

An ice transport track was relatively simpler. Once the ice blocks were transported to the Lunar Base, they would be processed directly, and the finished product would be sent to various nodes through the pipeline network within the base.

"Academician Chu, I think it's feasible. The conveyor track doesn't need to be too complex; something like the hopper cars of coal trains in coal-fired power plants would work."

"Driven by electricity, the track foundation might be a bit troublesome, but regardless of the supply mode, building this 26-kilometer stretch is unavoidable."