novelsite Chapter 84 Warp Drive Experiment, Target Proxima Centauri
Chapter 84 Warp Drive Experiment, Target Proxima Centauri
Chapter 84 Warp Drive Experiment, Target Proxima Centauri
Since the curvature device was tested more than a year ago, it is still in operation.
The fact that it has been running continuously for more than a year without any problems indicates that the curvature device has been successfully put into practical use.
However, a warp drive alone is not enough; a drive unit must also be added to form a warp engine.
After six months of installation and testing, the curvature engine is about to be put into operation.
As Fang Heng arrived at the command center, everyone stood up and saluted.
"Alright, I'm just here to observe. Everyone, let's proceed with the experiment according to the plan."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After taking his seat at the back, Fang Heng picked up the documents on the table and began to review the plan.
The destination of this warp drive experiment was none other than the Proxima Centauri galaxy, located 4.2 light-years away.
As the closest star system to our solar system, this location is neither too far nor too close, which perfectly meets our needs.
The plan also states that, in order to ensure the smooth implementation of the plan, a pioneering fleet was sent here in the early stages to establish an observation station, so that the arrival of the spaceships at their destination could be observed as soon as possible.
Seeing this, Fang Heng realized that he had been here for more than eight years. According to the original plan, he was to return to the main world in 10 years, but now there was only a little over a year left.
Although I spent so long in the Elysium world, I gained a great deal.
Putting aside everything else, just look at the warships now; they're no longer the few small ones we had before.
Over seven years, they amassed a fleet of 40 warships, and in the past year and a half, many more warships have left the shipyard and joined the fleet.
Recently, the military underwent reforms and its warships were reorganized into several fleets.
First and foremost is the core of the Royal Guard, which forms a fleet with the HMS Retribution: one core HMS Retribution, five destroyers, and fifteen frigates.
These warships were all equipped with secondary teleportation devices and were traveling with Fang Heng. When they left this place, they would also go back with him.
The reason there are only these warships is that the special materials for building secondary teleportation devices are not available here, and there are actually not many in the main world either. Therefore, the number of warships that can travel together with the Punisher is growing slowly.
Therefore, it can be predicted that in the future, as long as the new worlds captured are like the solar system, the number of traversable warships that can be obtained will not be many.
Besides these warships, the remaining warships, along with the newly launched ones, form two fleets.
These are the Imperial First Fleet and the Imperial Second Fleet, each with the same configuration: 3 aircraft carriers, 5 battleships, 10 cruisers, 20 destroyers, and 50 frigates.
Due to the current level of industrial manufacturing, cruisers and above are still not in production, so we can only build a fleet using destroyers for now.
The Empire currently has two fleets, each with 5 destroyers and 15 frigates.
In a year and a half, the interstellar shipyard on Neptune also produced another 10 destroyers and 30 frigates.
This warp drive experiment also has a new aspect: traveling to Proxima Centauri to search for new materials.
Materials science is a very important discipline in the development of science and technology, and the emergence of new materials will inevitably lead to new breakthroughs in materials science.
After the Royal Guard and the First and Second Fleets were formed, there were still 5 destroyers and 20 frigates that were not incorporated into the fleet. These warships were all used to form the Expeditionary Fleet to travel to other star systems.
The mission of these pioneering fleets was simple: to establish navigational beacons and pioneering bases in these new star systems, awaiting the arrival of the Imperial colonization fleet.
The pioneering fleet was also very simple in composition, consisting of 1 destroyer, 3 frigates, and 5 transport ships, for a total of 9 spaceships.
The remaining five escort ships, together with the original escort ships of Elysium, formed the Earth Defense Force, responsible for maintaining stability on Earth's side. Regaining his composure, Fang Heng looked towards the command center; the experiment was about to begin.
"Preparing to initiate the first warp engine experiment, confirming that the beacon is functioning correctly."
"Report: Beacon communication is stable, echo is normal."
"Very good. Notify the test spacecraft to begin the experiment."
"Yes."
With the order given, the test spacecraft, which was waiting in orbit around Pluto, began to move.
The command center at this time also displayed the scene inside the test spacecraft.
"Command accepted. Activate energy core."
"Energy core activated, power supply commencing."
"The curvature device has switched from standby mode to operating mode."
"Report: The curvature of space around the spacecraft is changing; the current curvature is 30 light-years."
"Order monitoring, drive engine reporting status."
"The drive engine is in normal condition and is currently in standby mode, awaiting activation."
As a series of reports came into the command hall, everyone was completely focused.
"Report: Current spatial curvature is 100 light-years."
"Alright, command center, this is test spacecraft number one. The current space curvature has reached 100 light-years. Requesting activation of the drive engine."
"Test spacecraft number one, this is the command center. You are authorized to start the drive engines. Please proceed with caution."
"Test spacecraft number one received."
"Start the drive engine."
As the command was issued, the drive engine was also activated.
However, the spaceship has not yet left, because the gravity brake is still in place, which allows the spaceship to maintain its current state. Once the gravity brake is released, the spaceship will instantly enter a warp state.
"Navigation confirmed. Release gravity brakes."
The next moment, with a flash of light, the No. 1 test spaceship vanished from its spot.
At the command center, everyone was excited to see the first test spacecraft disappear. Now, they just had to wait for news from the target location.
The first experimental spacecraft is currently equipped with a 100-times-light-speed engine, meaning it would only take 15 days to travel from Pluto to Proxima Centauri.
Although it wasn't an instantaneous journey, crossing a distance of 4 light-years in half a month is already a significant technological breakthrough.
It's important to know that even with its current Retribution ship, which uses a warp drive that travels at 10 times the speed of light, it would still take 146 days, nearly 5 months, to reach Proxima Centauri.
Seeing that the experiment was over, Fang Heng did not wait there any longer and got up to return to the Bliss Space.
Current communication technology is not yet able to contact a spacecraft that has entered warp drive mode, so the No. 1 test spacecraft is currently out of contact and will only be able to re-establish contact after reaching its destination.
During this time, Fang Heng wouldn't just wait around idly; the results of the subsequent experiments would naturally be reported by someone.
Time passed slowly, and soon half a month had gone by.
At this time, a pioneering base has been completed on Proxima Centauri, and there are space beacons with flashing lights in the surrounding space.
At this moment, the command center and the Proxima Centauri exploration base were filled with people, because today was the day when the first experimental spacecraft would exit warp drive and enter Proxima Centauri.
On the screen, time was slowly counting down. As the countdown ended, a beam of light appeared in the universe on Proxima Centauri's side.
The next moment, a spaceship appeared in the spot instantly; it was the first test spaceship.
"Command center, this is Experimental Spaceship No. 1. Our unit has exited warp drive and is determining its position."
"Number One, immediately conduct a spacecraft self-check. We can see you. You have arrived at Proxima Centauri."
"Command center, the spacecraft has completed its self-check and everything is normal, except that the energy consumption is a bit high. After the warp drive just now, the spacecraft's energy reserves are less than 50%."
"Alright, all the data has been recorded. Now, Number One, after you refuel, prepare for warp drive again. The target is the Neptune base. The coordinates have been sent. Be ready to receive them."
"Yes, command center."
Soon, the No. 1 test spacecraft was fully fueled, and after the new coordinates were entered, the warp drive was restarted.
With a streak of light flashing by, the spaceship disappeared once again from Proxima Centauri.
At that moment, everyone in the command center cheered and celebrated.
The experiment has been successful; now we just need to wait for the first experimental spacecraft to return.
Once the spacecraft returns, in addition to the crew inside needing to be inspected, the experimental spacecraft will also be dismantled for a thorough and detailed inspection.
Warp drive is unlike ordinary navigation because the space gravity is distorted. Therefore, once an accident occurs, the ship will be destroyed and everyone on board will perish. There will be no survivors. So for safety, destructive inspections must be carried out.
In any case, for the current empire, the factories and resources to build these things are very abundant. They can be dismantled and rebuilt very quickly. Another half month passed, and the same scene as before at Proxima Centauri appeared in the sky above the Neptune base. A streak of light flashed, and the first test spaceship appeared near Neptune's orbit.
"Report to command center: Test spacecraft No. 1 has safely arrived at the target location. The spacecraft has completed its self-check and everything is normal."
"Alright, dock the first test spacecraft in Starport B1. We'll be waiting for you there."
"Yes, experimental spacecraft number one is docking."
After the spacecraft docked, staff quickly boarded and took all the crew members away to a medical center for examination.
Several engineering spacecraft flew over and began to tow the test spacecraft to the dock for further analysis and disassembly.
A month later, Fang Heng received a detailed report and nodded in satisfaction after reading it.
The experimental data this time was perfect; everything went exactly as predicted by the model.
However, these researchers will be busy for the next year. This new generation of warp drive will be installed first on Fang Heng's personal guard fleet. Except for the Punishment, all other warships will be equipped with this new warp drive.