97: Venus

Although the industrial and trade network of Human Civilization spans the entire Solar System, with busy shipping lanes acting like glowing spiderwebs connecting Earth, the Moon, and various resource points, the vast majority of these converge in two regions: the Asteroid Belt, full of opportunities and dangers, and the Saturn system, with its beautiful rings.

They are the hotbeds of resources, the sources of wealth that countless mining companies and prospectors dream of.

By contrast, human manned landing exploration of extraterrestrial planets seems to have fallen into an embarrassing stagnation over the past twenty years; humanity's footsteps have remained halted at Mars.

This is not due to a lack of technology, but rather a consideration of cost-effectiveness.

After twenty years of uninterrupted exploration and construction, this red neighbor, Mars, has long lost the veil of mystery it once held in the eyes of humanity.

Geologists, much like flipping through an old, well-worn book, have basically mapped out the trajectory of every mineral vein and the composition of every atmospheric layer on Mars.

The conclusion is disappointing yet realistic: overall, Mars is a barren planet with a composition similar to Earth, but one that is thoroughly "dead."

The atmosphere here is so thin it could almost be called a vacuum; there is no magnetic field to block cosmic radiation, nor does any liquid water exist in a natural state.

As for signs of life?

Those primitive bacteria and single-celled organisms discovered on Mars might be priceless treasures to paleontologists, allowing them to add a few expensive extraterrestrial specimens to the collection lists of human collectors, but for a civilization yearning to find a second home, they are worthless.

For these primitive life forms to naturally evolve into the biological forms of modern Earth, the time required would likely be calculated in units of "billions of years."

Thus, the fate of Mars was sealed; it did not become the habitable paradise of human dreams, but instead turned into a massive planetary-scale factory.

In order to protect Earth's increasingly fragile yet precious natural ecological environment, the Earth Council passed a series of strict environmental protection acts.

A large number of high-energy-consuming, high-pollution heavy industrial facilities, as well as those dangerous industries that might generate debris and trash difficult to clean up if placed in space orbit, were all moved to Mars.

Today, the surface of Mars is covered with giant smelters and chemical bases spewing exhaust gases.

The red dust storms are mixed with industrial soot; this place has become the "excretion zone" and "boiler room" of Human Civilization.

Although it is important, it is by no means beautiful.

"We are going here, and here."

A few days after the Faleim Central Council meeting concluded, Lei Wen, in his capacity as the Director of the Interstellar Affairs Bureau, submitted an exploration plan codenamed "Gemini" to the Earth Council.

The goal of the plan pointed directly at two celestial bodies in the Solar System that have vastly different environments but are both full of attraction—Venus and Europa.

This plan met almost no resistance at the Earth Council's closed-door meeting and was passed unanimously.

After all, the current Lei Wen, his will, to some extent, represents the direction of the future.

The first step of the plan is to conduct a manned landing exploration of Venus, which is known as Earth's twin sister.

Undertaking this arduous task is the latest generation of deep-space scientific research ship, the 【Ship Name】, which was jointly designed by the Nikola Group and Paradox Technology and only entered service at the lunar starport a few months ago.

...

October, 2055.

The Moon, Guanghan Palace Starport.

The 【Ship Name】 was quietly docked at a low-gravity berth, its streamlined hull reflecting a cold, silver-gray luster under the starlight.

Although this medium-sized starship, with a total length of about 300 meters, does not have the magnificent volume of a military warship, it is the culmination of humanity's current technological prowess.

It is equipped with the latest anti-gravity engines and an eighth-generation ion thruster hybrid propulsion system, capable of freely switching flight modes between the atmosphere and space.

More importantly, to cope with the hellish extreme environment of Venus, its outer armor uses a special alloy of the highest strength and is equipped with a high-power, multi-layered strong magnetic field shield.

"This is practically a flying fortress."

Dr. Li Mingyu, standing in front of the porthole, sighed. He is the youngest authority on planetary geology at the Earth Science Research Center and the Chief Science Officer for this Venus exploration mission.

The fifty crew members accompanying the mission were all elites selected through layers of screening from the Earth Science Research Center, the highest palace of human science located in Xiamen.

Among them are atmospheric physicists, geologists, outer space biologists, and even a few engineers specializing in extreme environment engineering.

"Everyone, are you ready?"

The captain's voice rang out through the ship via the broadcast; he is a former astronaut from Russia with extensive experience in space travel.

"Target: Venus, set sail!"

With the activation of the anti-gravity engines, the 【Ship Name】 lifted off from the berth with agility. Subsequently, the ion thrusters erupted with a deep blue light, pushing the ship toward the brightest celestial body in the inner Solar System.

Because Venus is closer to Earth than Mars, and with the aid of the new engines, this journey took less than two weeks.

When the 【Ship Name】 arrived in Venus's orbit, the planet—wrapped in a yellow-white atmosphere so thick that nothing inside could be seen—presented itself before everyone in a breathtaking, heart-palpitating manner.

Venus, named by Westerners after Venus, the goddess of love and beauty in Roman mythology, was called Taibai or Chang Geng in ancient China.

In the blurred field of view of telescopes, it was once the most beautiful place of human fantasy regarding extraterrestrial life, because its size, mass, and gravity are strikingly similar to Earth, earning it the title of Earth's twin sister.

However, with the first visit by human probes in the 1960s and 1970s, all beautiful fantasies were shattered in an instant.

Beneath the veil, it is not a paradise, but a hell.

"The atmospheric pressure is 92 bar, equivalent to the water pressure at a depth of 900 meters in Earth's oceans," Dr. Li Mingyu said at the briefing on the bridge, pointing to the data on the screen that made people frown.

"The average surface temperature is 462 degrees Celsius, enough to melt lead. The atmosphere is mainly composed of carbon dioxide, along with layers of sulfuric acid clouds tens of kilometers thick."

"This is where we are going."

He looked at the dazzlingly bright planet outside the window, the light of challenge flickering in his eyes.

"Prepare to enter the atmosphere!"

With the order given, the 【Ship Name】 adjusted its posture and pierced into the thick atmosphere of Venus like a red-hot blade.

Although there was the cushioning of the anti-gravity devices, the ship still experienced violent vibrations.

This entry was different from any previous return to Earth's atmosphere.

The atmosphere of Venus is simply too dense.

The electromagnetic shield on the ship's outer layer erupted with dazzling light during the violent friction with atmospheric molecules, and outside the shield was a world rolling with murky yellow-brown colors.

"Altitude 80 kilometers, entering the upper layer of the sulfuric acid clouds!"

This is the only slightly "gentle" area in Venus's atmosphere.

The air pressure and temperature here are similar to Earth's surface; if humans want to build a colony on Venus, this is the best choice—and possibly the only choice—for building anti-gravity floating cities.

Through the porthole, the crew saw a spectacular scene.

All around was an endless sea of pale yellow clouds. These clouds are not made of water vapor, but are deadly toxic mists composed of high-concentration sulfuric acid droplets.

Sunlight here is scattered into golden light filling the sky, revealing a fatal murderous intent within the beauty.

"Shield readings dropped by 3%, sulfuric acid is corroding the outer hull armor!"

"Maintain descent speed, we are passing through it!"

The 【Ship Name】 continued to dive. As the altitude decreased, the surrounding light began to darken rapidly, and the originally bright golden-yellow gradually turned into a depressing dark red.

Because the thick atmosphere blocks the vast majority of sunlight, the surface of Venus is a world of eternal dimness.

"Altitude 30 kilometers, air pressure rising sharply! Current external pressure is 30 atmospheres, temperature 220 degrees Celsius!"

At this moment, it was as if the ship was not flying in the air, but diving through some kind of viscous liquid.

The anti-gravity engines emitted a low roar, resisting the heavy shackles of this planet.

"Turn on the boundary-penetrating searchlights!"

Several beams of strong light pierced through the murky darkness, illuminating the world below that had never been witnessed by human eyes before.

When the 【Ship Name】 finally hovered at a low altitude of only 500 meters from the surface, what presented itself before everyone was a painting that truly belonged to purgatory.

There is no water, no greenery, and not a trace of life here.

The land presents a hue interwoven with scorched black and dark red; massive shield volcanoes tower in the distance, and solidified lava flows meander across the land like huge scars.

The ground is covered with rocks flattened by the high pressure, which image analysis suggests might be a type of basalt.

The air is severely distorted due to the extreme heat, making all the scenery look bizarre and strange, as if viewed through a funhouse mirror.

Here, carbon dioxide is no longer a simple gas; under such high temperature and pressure, it has entered a state known as a supercritical fluid.

It fills the entire space like a gas, and possesses solubility like a liquid.

This supercritical carbon dioxide fluid flows slowly on the surface of Venus, not only capable of transferring immense heat but even capable of eroding rocks like a water current.

"This must be the ultimate form of a runaway greenhouse effect," Dr. Li Mingyu murmured while looking at this apocalyptic scene.

"If humanity does not cherish Earth, perhaps this will be our future."

"Prepare to release the landing probes and collection robots."

In such an extreme environment, even wearing the most advanced exoskeleton armor, it is impossible for humans to walk directly out of the hatch.

The hatch on the belly of the 【Ship Name】 opened, and several hexapedal exploration robots, specially made by Paradox Technology and using high-temperature and high-pressure resistant materials, were deployed onto the ground.

"Begin collecting rock and atmospheric samples."

"Deploy seismometers and heat flow probes."

"Activate deep geological radar."

One instruction after another was executed in an orderly manner.

Although the environment is harsh, Venus's geological activity is extremely active, which is a huge treasure trove for studying the history of planetary evolution.

Moreover, scientists have always suspected that in the early stages of Venus's evolution, it might have possessed a vast ocean and a suitable climate, just like Earth.

Perhaps during that short golden age, the spark of life had also been born here?

The exploration work lasted for three full days.

During these three days, the 【Ship Name】 was like a lonely boat struggling to survive in this pressure cooker, constantly enduring the trials of high temperature, high pressure, and strong acid.

The electromagnetic shield generator was running at a high load. Although the hull was protected by the shield, it still frequently emitted teeth-gritting sounds of metal fatigue in this extreme environment.

"Alarm! Shield generator overheating! Cooling system efficiency dropping!"

"Our time is up," the captain decisively issued the order to retreat.

"If we stay any longer, our safety cannot be guaranteed."

"Sample collection complete, all robots have been recovered."

"All ship systems ready, maximum power output, break through the atmosphere!"

Soon, the massive hull of the 【Ship Name】 shook violently, and the anti-gravity engines and ion thrusters erupted with their strongest thrust simultaneously.

Like a flying fish leaping out of the water, it broke through the layers of sulfuric acid cloud seas, broke through the suffocating gravity and pressure, and flew rapidly toward the long-missed clear starry sky above.

When the ship finally rushed out of Venus's atmosphere and was bathed in the brilliant sunlight once again, everyone breathed a long sigh of relief.

They brought back precious samples and data, and also brought back a deeper awe for the universe.

Although the exploration of Venus was thrilling, it proved that humanity's current technology is already sufficient to conquer most of the harsh, extreme environments in the Solar System.

Lei Wen, in his office at the Interstellar Affairs General Bureau, saw the data and reports sent back by the 【Ship Name】, and a satisfied smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Very good."

Next, he shifted his gaze to a more distant target on the Star Map.

Jupiter's moon—Europa.

That is, Europa.

It is an ice-covered world, but beneath that thick ice shell, there is very likely a deep, liquid saltwater ocean.

It is considered the place in the Solar System, other than Earth, most likely to harbor life.

"white flower, have the 【Ship Name】 refitted for three months, then continue the journey," Lei Wen issued a new order.

"After completing the exploration of Europa, we should be able to identify the shortcomings of our existing research ships based on the exploration process; our next-generation research ship should have the capability to travel to other star systems."

"Yes, Father. Command received; the relevant plan is being perfected."