Chapter 100: New Era

On this day,

although the first operational test of the DT03 Electric Propulsion System was conducted on the surface,

key personnel including Qin Yu, heads of the Negentropy Research Institute’s Energy and Power Research Institute, leaders of other research teams, and core researchers stayed behind.

Even though the global volcanic eruption crisis had been resolved,

the surface environment still needed time before becoming entirely suitable for human life.

Temperatures across most of the surface hovered around fifty degrees Celsius.

The oxygen levels in the atmosphere also required time to recover.

The 236 Algae, severely affected before, now faced current atmospheric oxygen conditions where its growth rate couldn’t match its initial explosive proliferation phase.

According to the Geological Research Institute’s monitoring, the average oxygen content in the surface atmosphere had only returned to nine percent.

Moreover, even disregarding the oxygen levels, the atmosphere still contained significant amounts of toxic gases following the global eruptions.

These required the Negentropy Research Institute to find specific solutions.

Currently, the task primarily fell to the Geological Research Institute and Research Institute 011,

but clearly, more time was still needed.

However,

even within the Underground Refuge City, Qin Yu and other core researchers could still monitor the situation near the DT03 test site and observe the system’s data fluctuations via cameras and instruments.

Just as estimated long ago,

despite advancing to the DT03 stage, the Electric Propulsion System remained enormous.

In fact, it was even larger than the previous DT02 system.

The primary reason was that DT03 was no longer just an experimental setup, but a practical propulsion engine intended for use on an Electric Propulsion Spaceship.

The DT03 Electric Propulsion System wasn’t limited to just one engine.

The entire system, powered by a single Helium-3 Fusion Reactor, comprised sixty Electric Propulsion Engines.

For this test run, a ‘shell’ had been constructed around the entire DT03 system.

Lacking only an independent energy source and engine systems beyond the propulsion itself,

it essentially resembled a massive spaceship, or an electric propulsion transport platform.

Resting within the test facility, this giant DT03 system stood like a mountain made of precisely assembled alloy metal.

It was a visually striking and imposing sight.

The plan dictated that the combined thrust generated by the entire DT03 Electric Propulsion System must exceed its own gravitational weight on the surface.

In other words, not just individually,

but the overall Thrust-to-Weight Ratio of the complete DT03 system had to be greater than one.

That was the reason it had been designated DT03 by the Energy and Power Research Institute of the Negentropy Research Institute.

Although theoretical calculations suggested

this giant construct might barely manage a payload capacity exceeding 100 tons beyond its own mass,

and that building such an Electric Propulsion System might be less efficient than producing multiple reusable chemical rockets,

its significance and value remained immense.

Success would mark the true beginning of Electric Propulsion Spaceships for Human Civilization.

Furthermore, even if the construction cost far exceeded that of chemical rockets offering greater payload capacity per launch,

many inherent advantages of electric propulsion would still be demonstrated by the DT03 system.

“Director Qin, please give the order.”

Beside Qin Yu, Academician Cui Jiaguo, head of the Negentropy Research Institute’s Energy and Power Research Institute, also watched the feed from the test site. After a pause, he spoke to Qin Yu.

“Hmm.”

Qin Yu acknowledged.

“Begin.”

The entire DT03 Electric Propulsion System was an immensely complex entity. Under normal operation, it was controlled by its own Intelligent Program.

However, for this inaugural trial, the execution of the test sequence was managed by the Strong Artificial Intelligence.

After receiving Qin Yu’s explicit command,

the Strong Artificial Intelligence initiated the procedure.

The DT03 system had been pre-loaded with the propellant required for engine operation and the Helium-3 for the Helium-3 Fusion Reactor.

Within the Electric Propulsion System, the Helium-3 Fusion Reactor responded first. It powered up, producing energy to activate all sixty Electric Propulsion Engines within the DT03 complex.

Before the complete assembly of this DT03 system,

a single-engine test of the latest Electric Propulsion Engine prototype had already been successfully conducted during development by the Energy and Power Research Institute.

The core objective of this full-system operational test

was actually to attempt to generate enough thrust from the entire DT03 Electric Propulsion System to lift itself off the ground.

Given the sheer size and structural weight of the DT03 system, this tested both the stability of its individual subsystems

and the coordinated operation of its many systems working together into a unified whole.

The slightest misstep, under such enormous energy and thrust, could easily shred the entire structure apart.

“DT03 is initiated!”

the entire DT03 Electric Propulsion System awakened within moments.

Real-time feedback was relayed by the Strong Artificial Intelligence to Qin Yu and the assembled core researchers.

On the screens,

the entire structure could be seen starting to vibrate slightly.

The thrust generated by the whole system was now battling the Earth’s inherent gravitational pull.

For those with a deep understanding of the DT03’s complex structure, the scene must have been even more breathtaking.

Inside the DT03, energy was being released violently, yet contained steadily.

Like countless subtle forces cleverly directing a vast, raging torrent to its intended course.

Meanwhile, at the system’s base, while the sixty Electric Propulsion Engines unleashed immense force against gravity,

they maintained a remarkable degree of collective stability.

Forceful yet steady – these contradictory terms seemed to coexist upon the DT03 Electric Propulsion System.

Qin Yu glanced at the data streaming back from the monitors.

The thrust output from the DT03 system was rapidly increasing.

Overall system stability remained within the designed parameters.

Finally,

the thrust produced by the DT03 surpassed a critical threshold.

Now, even without looking at the data feeds, the image alone told the story.

Everyone could see… DT03 broke free from the earth’s hold and lifted off completely from the ground.

The massive jets fired by sixty Electric Propulsion Engines acted like pillars,

collectively raising the entire Electric Propulsion System and the shell encasing it.

In that instant,

the core Researchers on site felt their hearts jump into their throats.

Luckily, even if time seemed to pass slowly at that moment,

they saw right after that the DT03 Electric Propulsion System remained stable after leaving the ground.

Nearby,

data showed that the total Thrust-to-Weight Ratio of the DT03 Electric Propulsion System exceeded one.

“The first full-scale trial run of the DT03 Electric Propulsion System is completed. Now executing shutdown procedures.”

The Strong Artificial Intelligence gave feedback as planned.

After all, it was the DT03 Electric Propulsion System’s first full trial run,

and the Researchers at the Energy and Power Research Institute, when planning the test, did not dare let the DT03 Electric Propulsion System soar too high into the sky after liftoff.

Now, just after rising about ten meters from the test site,

the DT03 started the shutdown procedures, slowly reducing thrust and settling back down to the ground of the test site.

The moment the shutdown procedures truly finished,

the core Researchers on site erupted in loud cheers.

“…Not only will we return to the ground, but we will also conquer space!”

The success of the DT03 Electric Propulsion System was hugely important.

Even if the problems of volcanic ash and many pollutants in the atmosphere had partly been solved by now,

and if some vehicles within the atmosphere could already fly normally,

the DT03 Electric Propulsion System seemed a bit late for transport within the atmosphere.

But actually, this speed could be called a miracle—a miracle from Qin Yu’s Super Brain, and a miracle from all the brilliant Researchers working together at that time.

Also, at this point, the DT03 Electric Propulsion System could still be useful for transport within the atmosphere. Geological activity was still not very stable, so the DT03 could still handle some transport tasks there.

Of course, the DT03 was never born just for atmospheric transport.

More importantly, in space, Human Civilization now had a reliable way to travel back and forth on the Earth-Moon route, and even to other planets inside and outside the Solar System.

Further improvements to Electric Propulsion Technology would help meet the basic needs for Human Civilization to go to other planets and develop them.

Closer to home, the success of the DT03 Electric Propulsion System would remove all obstacles to Human Civilization heading to the Moon and developing its Lunar Surface on a large scale.

Human Civilization would be able to get more material resources from other planets.

For this reason, the Huaxin News Agency reported the news with an uplifting headline:

“…In the near future, Helium-3 from the Lunar Surface will be sent nonstop back to Earth to meet our energy needs. And Intelligent Machinery and industrial equipment from the ground will go to the Lunar Surface to speed up construction and expand its development…”

Beyond the report,

people who saw this news felt excited.

For those who had faced the Doomsday Crisis and were still in Underground Shelter Cities, working hard to get back to the surface,

this was the kind of good news they wanted to hear.

“…Just like the Senior Leader once said, nothing can crush us! We, returning from underground to the surface, will be even stronger!”

“Long live Human Civilization!”

“Once I get back to the ground, I want to visit the Lunar Surface too. I never managed to win that lottery for a Lunar Surface trip before, but now I won’t have to wait.”

“Damn it, could one little asteroid really wipe us out? It’ll just be a tiny blip in our civilization’s story!”

Amid the excitement,

people couldn’t help feeling a bit sad, thinking back to the Doomsday Crisis.

Later that year,

something else happened because of the success of the DT03 Electric Propulsion System.

After the first test run of the DT03 Electric Propulsion System,

the Energy and Power Research Institute did many more test runs, each one bolder than the last.

The DT03 Electric Propulsion System lifted off higher each time and moved farther from the test site.

Along the way, they collected a lot of data that showed the DT03 Electric Propulsion System was stable.

Then, that same year,

using the gradually reliable DT03 Electric Propulsion System,

the Negentropy Research Institute built the first electric propulsion ship using the DT03 for both power and propulsion.

For this first true Electric Propulsion Spaceship of Human Civilization, they asked for public ideas,

and it was finally named “New Era.”

This name meant it was a sign that Human Civilization’s propulsion technology had entered a new age,

and it marked Human Civilization starting a new chapter after the disaster.

The New Era ship,

after being finished and doing many test runs and voyages,

got its first real mission: to go from Earth to the Moon.

This first flight of the New Era ship was special.

A lot of people in Human Civilization paid attention to it.

On the way there,

the New Era carried no passengers, just some goods.

The ship ran using an Intelligent Program onboard and remote control by a Strong Artificial Intelligence.

With all eyes watching, Qin Yu gave a command, and the New Era ship on the ground started its DT03 Electric Propulsion Engine, broke free from the ground, and began rising slowly.

People saw it climb to the stratosphere, then smoothly enter near-Earth orbital space.

The whole thing went very smoothly.

Unlike many old chemical-fueled rockets, it didn’t orbit Earth first.

Once clear of Earth’s atmosphere, the New Era ship aimed straight for the Lunar Surface.

It kept speeding up the whole time.

In the end,

the whole trip took less than half a day, as it entered the orbit around the Moon,

and guided by the Lunar Base and a Space Station in Lunar Orbit, it lowered down and landed safely near the Lunar Base.

Even before the Doomsday Crisis, the Lunar Base was built like a small city,

but they hadn’t had time to make a port big enough for a huge ship like the New Era yet.

Still, it didn’t matter. People at the Lunar Base were already paying close attention to the New Era ship. After it landed safely,

they quickly drove over from the Lunar Base in moon rovers to meet it.

The door of the New Era ship opened, and a human-like robot stepped out.

This human-like robot was controlled from afar by Qin Yu.

He really wanted to join the New Era’s first flight to the Lunar Surface,

but others clearly still didn’t want Academician Qin Yu to take risks, so this was the way it had to be.

But the people at the Lunar Base clearly didn’t mind.

“Hello, Researcher Liu and everyone.”

“I’m Qin Yu.”

“I’m here to bring you home.”

Qin Yu’s voice came from the robot’s sound system.

It made the head of the Lunar Base and other Researchers, who had rushed to welcome the New Era ship, tear up.

“Thank you, thank you…”

By now, more than ten years had passed since the Asteroid 2801 Impact Crisis.

And the Researchers and workers who chose to stay on the Lunar Surface had been there for over ten years.

They had once seen huge parts of Earth’s surface destroyed instantly

and lost contact with the ground at times.

Even though the Lunar Base was like a small town, giving them enough space,

and they had Helium-3 Fusion Reactors and other power sources, so living long-term on the Lunar Surface was fine,

the small indoor farms could provide enough food for them.

With about a thousand people, they formed a small society there, not feeling too lonely.

After the most dangerous phase, they stayed linked with Earth.

But

this was not Earth, and their homes weren’t there.

Whenever they looked at their home planet, they felt emotions hard to explain.

The head of the Lunar Base reached out and shook the human-like robot’s hand.

Even over 300,000 kilometers away, Qin Yu’s hand met the Lunar Base person’s hand.