Chapter 159: Technical Issues_1

Bo Xiangdong continued, "Speaking of which, controllable genetic modification is the technology we've been dreaming of."

"If we could reach this technological level, we could completely eliminate human defects and evolve in the direction we desire."

"Only at this level could we complete the process of artificial evolution."

Jiang Yu asked, "So where is the difficulty with this technology?"

"Control!" Bo Xiangdong said, "Actually, our application of genetic technologies is still most adept at the first stage."

"Take hybrid rice, for example; it is the epitome of this stage."

"Starting from the second stage, the technology is no longer controllable."

"As for chimeras, we've only touched on a bit of the method. It's not the case that any species' genes can be combined, and currently, this technology still has significant limitations."

"The technology given by the Trisolarans is amazing because it's controllable, but the control is in the hands of the Trisolarans!"

Jiang Yu suddenly realized, "The first-stage experiments you conducted earlier were an attempt to reach a 'pseudo-fourth stage' level of genetic technology through trial and error to complete artificial evolution?"

Bo Xiangdong smiled helplessly, "That's right, but alas, my idea was too naive. As you've seen, people can even grow wings, and there seem to be endless possibilities in our genes."

"With this trial-and-error method, it might take hundreds of years to fully master controllable genetic modification."

"That's why I decided to switch to researching chimeras. This technology has better controllability, and its practical applications will be very long-term."

"Currently, my team has mastered the most advanced chimera technology in the world. Within ten years, there should be significant breakthroughs."

"But we are still far from artificial evolution because it's hard to combine human genes with those of other organisms."

Jiang Yu asked again, "Animal cells dividing into plant cells, which stage of technology does that belong to?"

"There isn't a concept for that yet," Bo Xiangdong said contentedly after eating and drinking, taking a sip of tea, "But it's something to ponder."

"At the fourth stage, humans could explore their own genetic potential to become stronger."

"But it has certain limitations, and it can only stabilize genes through reproduction."

"Utilizing the experiments in Mongolia, the Trisolarans must have grasped the threshold of the fifth stage."

"At this stage, it should be possible to find ways to combine animal genes, like chicken genes with centipede genes, so a chicken could grow dozens of legs."

Hearing this, both Jiang Yu and Di Fengyi felt a bit uneasy.

Bo Xiangdong laughed, "Genetic technologies are both an exploration and a desecration of life!"

"Wanting to strengthen oneself is a necessary stage to go through."

Then he added, "The discovery by the biological team should belong to the sixth stage.

"I don't have much concept of this stage either, but it's very likely that it could already induce a qualitative change in oneself!"

Jiang Yu sighed deeply, "That's too far off!"

He paused before continuing, "Communicate more with the biological team. Previously, your team was out in the open, and theirs was in the shadows. Now the biological team must also work in secret.

"Although your goals may differ, your purpose is the same."

Bo Xiangdong nodded.

Jiang Yu then asked, "Additionally, are you confident in creating something to counter the 'Genetic Missile'?"

Bo Xiangdong pondered for a moment before saying, "It's worth a try. The only instance of a 'Genetic Missile' being used in battle was a few years ago when ETO attacked the Wallfacer, Logic.

"I have reviewed the Genetic Missile technology in the Poison Apple Project. It's just a castrated version of technology, incomplete in theory, and the Trisolarans did not provide ETO with the key operations."

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"Three years ago, the ETO's attack on Logic must have been instigated by the Trisolarans, we really have to guard against this move."

Jiang Yu lit a cigarette and remained silent for a long time. The Trisolarans had clearly written in the 'Poison Apple Project' that they would use 'Genetic Missiles' to attack those who had undergone Genetic Modification.

Although Jiang Yu was disappointed in those who used Trisolaran technology, he couldn't let the Trisolarans succeed just like that.

...

The PDC meeting was still ongoing, and Jiang Yu never expected these politicians to be so good at beating around the bush.

Moreover, after discussing for half a day, they still hadn't come up with a clear plan.

Before the commencement of the 'Project Zero', all seven permanent member countries of the PDC had plans to land on Mars.

In this regard, America took the lead, boasting since the beginning of this century that they would set foot on Mars by the middle of the century.

Logically, America should have had a detailed plan by now, so the representatives of the PDC countries asked America to disclose their Mars plan.

Initially, Washington was reluctant to disclose it easily, but finally, under opposition from other countries and media pressure, Washington agreed to disclose their plan to all PDC member countries.

However, after meticulous scrutiny by scientists from various countries, it was found that Washington's plan had many flaws.

Later, it was revealed by insiders at the American Space Agency that this plan hadn't even entered the verification phase.

This news made everyone both laugh and cry; the treasure that Washington had guarded so closely could at best be used as a reference.

The agenda finally moved on to the next stage, with scientists from various countries beginning to discuss developing a comprehensive plan based on America's Mars project.

At the onset of this work, it was immediately discovered that the American Space Agency's plan had not solved two key problems of traveling to Mars:

Firstly, the design of a reliable planetary spaceship and secondly, the supply and fuel issues for the spaceship and astronauts.

Astronauts would have to spend at least six months on the spaceship, and it was determined after initial validation that the Hibernation System couldn't be transferred to the spaceship for the time being.

The primary reason was that the Hibernation System was too cumbersome; although there is no resistance in space, each additional kilogram of weight increases the burden on the Mars mission, and a hibernation system weighing tons would be a burden for the Mars spaceship.

The key issue is that the recovery period after waking up is too long and is poorly suited to space missions.

The supplies for the astronauts' activities on Mars could be delivered in advance, but for the six-month journey, sufficient supplies needed to be carried along.

Furthermore, fuel for the spaceship was a significant problem. The Moon is only 380,000 kilometers from Earth, and one can reach the Moon by gliding through space after accelerating from Earth's low Earth orbit.

But during the Mars mission, it would be too late to wait for Mars to reach its perigee to Earth; the landing would have to take place when Mars is over 90 million kilometers away from Earth.

The distance is so great that an acceleration has to be made during the trip.

Not only that, but a corresponding deceleration must be carried out when approaching Mars to enter the Mars orbit, otherwise, it's very easy to miss Mars altogether.

Since the hibernation system could not yet be used in space, everyone pinned their hopes on controlled nuclear fusion systems.

With a continuous power Supply, bringing along some extra supplies, and building a larger spaceship, the difficult problems could be solved.

And research into controllable nuclear fusion technology is on the verge of success, but it still falls just short of the final step.

Ding Yi estimated that it would not be until early next year before controllable nuclear fusion technology becomes a reality.

But that's just having the technology; there's still a long way to go before its application phase.

At least within the next ten years, nuclear fusion technology will not be able to drive the large engines on Martian spaceships.

Spacecraft engines are incredibly huge—take the engines of China's Long March 9 rocket, for example. The engines of the first stage rocket, responsible for breaking free from Earth's gravity, are each the height of a two-story building!

Even the engines used in the third stage rocket in space are over three meters tall.

Nuclear fusion engines will definitely be smaller, and their structure and operational principles are entirely different from those of rocket engines, but these are not things that can be designed in a short period of time.

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