Four Feet Up (2): Ice Lantern

In December 2029, Rocket City, Sazhou, Bright Nation

For decades, the Bright Nation Space Administration had launched a vast number of spacecraft and probes. Their exploration targets had gradually shifted from visiting every planet in the Solar System to focusing on celestial bodies with greater potential for development and utilization, such as the Moon, Mars, and the asteroid belt.

As early as 2023, when the Lingguang probe was launched towards Lingshen Star, exploration plans for other asteroids in the asteroid belt were also proceeding concurrently.

After Lingguang unexpectedly burned up in August of this year, project members, including Daphne Braun, persuaded the Space Administration's higher-ups to modify a probe originally planned to visit other asteroids. Its target was reset to Lingshen Star, and the probe was named Lingguang II.

Acebe Company, led by Michael Max, subsequently adjusted and improved its new rockets to coordinate with Lingguang II's launch.

Michael claimed that his new rockets had greater thrust, allowing the Lingguang II probe to enter orbit more accurately and faster, and to achieve a higher initial velocity.

The launch site was crowded. A VIP lounge was specially set up on the second floor of the command center. Prince Harufa, accompanied by Irene, had traveled from afar to witness the marvels of space technology up close.

Unsurprisingly, the launch of Lingguang II was a complete success. After the probe entered orbit, Michael's mission was also successfully completed.

Daphne Braun was filled with anticipation for Lingguang II, happy as a child. Daphne excitedly approached Prince Harufa with Michael.

"Mr. Max, congratulations on the successful launch! This is my first time witnessing a rocket launch on-site. It's completely different from watching it on television; it's truly spectacular," Prince Harufa said.

Irene didn't know much about astronomy, but she was also shaken by the roar of the launch. She remembered the Enceladus spacecraft Michael had mentioned before and asked:

"Where is the Enceladus spacecraft you mentioned last time? Can we see its footage?"

Reminded by this, Prince Harufa also looked at Michael with curious eyes.

"The spacecraft has reached the Saturn System and is conducting an experiment above the Saturn Ring," Michael said, smiling as he looked at Daphne, Professor Braun's daughter, then continued, "Next month, the spacecraft will land on the surface of Enceladus to prepare for another experimental plan."

"What experiment? When will it begin?" Daphne recalled Martha telling her that Michael's experiment might damage the Saturn Ring.

"The experiment is scheduled to take place on August 22, 2030," Michael replied.

"Such a precise date? Is there anything special about that day?" Irene asked.

Daphne Braun's astronomical knowledge was very solid. Her colleagues commented that she had an automatic celestial sphere in her mind; input any point in time, and Daphne could quickly state the celestial positions of the major planets.

August 22, 2030, Daphne thought, that was a special astronomical alignment day. On that date, with the Sun at the center, Saturn would be in the four-hour direction of the celestial sphere, Regulus in the ten-hour direction, Jupiter in the sixteen-hour direction, and Earth in the twenty-two-hour direction.

This meant Jupiter and Saturn, and Regulus and Earth would be in opposition respectively. Daphne named this phenomenon "Four Feet Up."

Daphne had read a paper indicating that when Jupiter and Saturn are in opposition, solar activity intensifies, and disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions on Earth correspond.

The cycle of Jupiter and Saturn opposition is nearly twenty years. The last opposition was on March 11, 2011, when Fusheng Nation experienced a magnitude 9 earthquake.

Daphne did not know that her father, Professor Braun, had commissioned Michael to measure the angular velocities of different rings by scattering markers on the Saturn Ring, thereby completing an experiment to determine whether the law of universal gravitation or Nikola Tesla's theory of gravity was correct.

She knew even less that after the spacecraft landed on Enceladus's equator, Michael planned to launch a counterweight device towards the center of Saturn. The device and the spacecraft would be connected by a carbon fiber tube over 170,000 kilometers long.

It would straighten out directly above multiple Saturn Rings, absorbing the complete wavelength of superluminal waves. As it heated up, it would continuously absorb the water vapor from the melting ice blocks of the Saturn Ring below, condensing on its surface.

This exquisite structure, over 170,000 kilometers long, continuously increases its absorbed thermal energy and gathered water vapor in a causal loop. It's equivalent to the carbon fiber tubes becoming increasingly "thick," and the first superlight wave power station in human history will be built on the distant Enceladus.

This experimental power station will accumulate valuable construction experience for Michael's team, serving as a prelude to Michael's ambitious Mars terraforming plan.

Of course, convincing potential investors, like Prince Harufa before him, is equally important for Michael. After the Enceladus power station is completed, a portion of the thermal energy will be injected into the core beneath Enceladus's ice shell. The internal liquid water, heated, will erupt outwards as water vapor in the form of ice volcanoes.

Enceladus already has the highest reflectivity of all celestial bodies in the Solar System, with a geometric albedo as high as 138%. On August 22, 2030, when Saturn and Jupiter are in opposition, the superlight wave diffraction on the trailing side of Enceladus's orbit will be enhanced. Its ice volcanoes will erupt more violently, enveloping Enceladus in a larger mass of water vapor. Its extremely high reflectivity will make it appear like an "Ice Lantern" lit up in the Solar System at that time.

By then, Michael will invite his investors, including Prince Harufa, to observe the "Ice Lantern" using ordinary amateur astronomical telescopes. Since the powerful force of superlight waves can illuminate an ice moon, it can certainly reshape Mars in incredible ways.

Illuminating the "Ice Lantern" is one of the reasons Michael chose Enceladus to build the first superlight wave power station, serving as a "roadshow" for fundraising for the Mars terraforming project, which requires astronomical sums.

Michael and Daphne had a wonderful evening. Even on the drive back, the two couldn't stop talking excitedly.

Michael sat in the back seat of a Nikola-brand self-driving electric car produced by his company. He reached out and gently stroked Daphne's long golden hair, saying affectionately:

"You know? We spent just a few months debugging the rocket and coordinating the launch of the Lingguang II probe. In my heart, this is the most romantic gift I could give you."

Daphne felt delighted. After a moment's hesitation, she turned her head, looked into Michael's eyes, and said to him:

"Michael, you know me so well. Lingguang II is indeed the best gift for me. I have a gift for you too. I'm pregnant."

Michael was surprised and instinctively loosened his arm around Daphne, shouting happily:

"Wow, that's great! It looks like you'll be under my special protection starting today."

Daphne pursed her lips, her face unable to hide her happy smile. As if remembering something, she asked:

"Michael, Martha told me your Enceladus experimental plan might damage the Saturn Ring. Is that true?"

"My dear, I've signed a non-disclosure agreement, so I can't tell you the details of the experiment. Our team has conducted multiple computer simulations. The experiment has risks, but the probability of failure is very low. It should be fine."

"Michael, my stance is very clear. No one has the right to damage the Saturn Ring, no matter how low the risk is, not even a one percent or even one in ten thousand chance."

Daphne's phone vibrated. She opened it and saw a text message from Martha:

"Please forward this interview outline to Michael. Before any public reporting, I'd like to confirm a few questions with him."

Michael Max saw the interview outline Martha sent. It read: Is the purpose of the Enceladus spacecraft launched by your company to verify Nikola Tesla's theory of superlight waves?

Do you intend to construct a superlight wave power station in orbit above the Saturn Ring? After the heated parts of the Saturn Ring dissolve, is there a risk of collapse?

Michael withdrew his hand from Daphne's, crossed his arms over his chest, and leaned back against the seat with a stern expression.

"What is Martha talking about? Are you really going to do that so-called superlight wave experiment? And partially dissolve the Saturn Ring or even blow it up?" Daphne asked.

Michael sighed helplessly and said, "These reporters are truly everywhere. I must stop her reporting, otherwise, the related secrets will cause a huge uproar. It seems my experimental plan will have to be postponed."

Daphne didn't know what to say for a moment. She thought for a moment and asked:

"Then how will you reply to Martha?"

Michael pondered for a moment and composed a text message:

"Martha, hello! I promise you that the so-called experiment you mentioned will not proceed for the time being. Please be sure not to report it publicly. In return for your help, I promise to exclusively provide you with another experimental result involving the theory of gravity."

&

Poem of Collected Verses:

At first sight, the horizon forms a quadrangle, Song, Zhao Fan

The Rainbow Bridge winds across the long waves. Qing, Xuan Ye

Vast and grand, the common principles of things, Yuan, Liu Jiangsun

Water's reflection, starlight, strange and numerous. Tang, Zhou Tan