launch rocket

Days passed by, and in the blink of an eye, two years had already gone by. During this period, Xiao Yu's robot army had expanded to over ten thousand units, and the number of blast furnaces had increased to ten, complemented by foundries, precision machining factories, and more.

Naturally, all these facilities were constructed within the base. After two years, the base, which spans a square kilometer, was beginning to take shape, though still in its early stages of construction. Xiao Yu had prioritized the building of several key factories.

The landscape of Titan's Dodu region had transformed dramatically over these two years.

Xiao Yu's industrial zone now covered several square kilometers, where bright lights illuminated a forest of blast furnaces. Countless robots of various models busied themselves, moving tirelessly within the district.

Xiao Yu was the mastermind behind this massive industrial complex. The data relayed by over ten thousand robots and millions of sensors installed in various equipment were flawlessly received by Xiao Yu, without a hint of omission. The moment the data was received, Xiao Yu would instantly issue the next work instruction. In essence, Xiao Yu could handle millions of tasks simultaneously, without the slightest error. Such efficiency was something only Xiao Yu could achieve.

This was the power born from the fusion of man and machine.

"Hmm, sensor number 13 in sector B is reporting high temperatures? Alright, issue a command to controller 65 to enhance the cooling system..."

"Sensor number 3050 in sector D isn't receiving data... Damn, it's broken again. Robot 970, take spare parts and replace it immediately."

A continuous stream of chaotic yet colossal information poured into Xiao Yu's brain, where his computing systems meticulously arranged everything in perfect order.

Observing the soaring computing power utilization reaching 95%, Xiao Yu sighed in frustration, "Even though the central computer's computing power far surpasses its Earthly counterparts, it's still not quite enough... Let's move the development of a new computer up the agenda."

Xiao Yu couldn't allow the computer's usage to reach 100%, as that would mean it was operating at full capacity, potentially leading to unprocessed information and causing catastrophic accidents.

Moreover, some computing power always needed to be reserved for unforeseen emergencies.

"Reduce production speed by ten percent, and halt the construction of new equipment. This should free up about eleven percent of computing power. Hmm, redirect all of it to the development of the new computer."

After pondering for a moment, Xiao Yu made up his mind.

Beyond the limitation of computing power, Xiao Yu noticed another issue.

With the increase in factory types and the growing production demands, Xiao Yu gradually realized that the current iron mine could no longer meet his needs.

It wasn't an issue of reserves. In fact, the mine's reserves were so vast that even with a thousand years of extraction, Xiao Yu wouldn't exhaust it. The primary concern was the limited variety of elements.

The mine was predominantly rich in iron, followed by copper, aluminum, and gold, but industrially essential metals, such as rare earth elements—like the lanthanides—were in short supply. While this wasn't an issue during the initial construction phase, the scarcity of these elements, combined with the limits of computing power, had become the two biggest constraints on Xiao Yu's development.

Xiao Yu resolved, "The new computer can't be completed in the short term, so let's tackle this problem first."

Xiao Yu reviewed all the technology previously collected for helicopter construction, incorporating recent technological advancements, and after considering Titan's unique environment, finally built a helicopter after a month of work.

The construction of this helicopter occupied another two months of Xiao Yu's time.

In the factory, a jet-black helicopter, resembling an inverted bowl, stood—a creation Xiao Yu dubbed "Fengshen No. 1."

This helicopter's appearance was markedly different from those on Earth, bearing a closer resemblance to a flying saucer. This was because Xiao Yu had made a breakthrough in technology, eliminating the need for rotors to generate power. Moreover, the hemispherical shape allowed for maximum space with minimal material.

After completing a final series of tests, Xiao Yu felt a surge of excitement. "Alright then, let's take off, Fengshen No. 1!"

From the bottom of Fengshen No. 1, several jet ports suddenly spewed pale blue flames, and under the powerful thrust, the helicopter, weighing hundreds of tons, gradually ascended, eventually soaring through the factory's open skylight.

With a single command from Xiao Yu, a nearby steering nozzle emitted a jet of fire, propelling Fengshen No. 1 swiftly into the distance until it vanished from sight.

Equipped with the latest mineral detection equipment, Fengshen No. 1 embarked on its mission to locate new mineral resources for Xiao Yu.

Fengshen No. 1 could achieve speeds up to three times the speed of sound and was far more agile than any aircraft on Earth. For instance, it could hover mid-air, take off and land vertically, and fly at extremely high speeds close to the ground—capabilities far beyond any Earthly counterpart.

Analyzing the data transmitted by Fengshen No. 1, Xiao Yu began his assessment.

"Hmm, there's an aluminum mine 80 kilometers away, but the reserves are too low and the depth too great—no mining value. Discard..."

"A tungsten mine here? The location's not bad, though the reserves are somewhat lacking. Alright, I'll send some robots to survey the site in due time."

Xiao Yu piloted Fengshen No. 1, maintaining an altitude of approximately 300 meters above Titan's surface, expanding the exploration radius from his position in a spiral pattern.

When the exploration radius reached 500 kilometers, Xiao Yu had to halt further exploration. This was because the distance had reached the limit of effective communication. Beyond this point, Fengshen No. 1 would dip below the horizon, as Titan's round shape would block the signal, causing Xiao Yu to lose control over Fengshen No. 1. Without Xiao Yu's control, the helicopter would inevitably crash.

Moreover, Xiao Yu couldn't transfer his operations to Fengshen No. 1's computer. The reason was simple: the helicopter's onboard computer lacked sufficient computing power, and the data generated by the entire base under construction would cause it to crash instantly, leading to Xiao Yu's demise.

After much deliberation, Xiao Yu let out a wail, "Damn it, just for this lousy helicopter, I have to build a satellite? No, one isn't enough—based on Titan's mass and size, I'd need at least twelve satellites to achieve seamless signal coverage. Twelve satellites!"

The sheer magnitude of this task left Xiao Yu with a severe headache. If he were to proceed with construction, it would mean postponing the development of the new computer. Additionally, Xiao Yu couldn't allow these satellites to serve merely as simple navigation and communication tools; they would need to include functions like observing Saturn, its moons, and even the Sun. This would further increase the computing demands.

"Sigh, whatever, it has to be done sooner or later, so I might as well do it perfectly and get it over with in one go." After some thought, Xiao Yu reluctantly decided to delay the new computer project once again, reducing the base construction rate by another ten percent, and fully committing to the construction of satellites and launch rockets.

This time, Xiao Yu intended to undertake a major endeavor. On Earth, nations with advanced technology might launch two or more satellites with a single rocket, known as multiple satellite launch technology. This is a highly sophisticated and expensive technology, beyond the reach of most countries.

However, Xiao Yu planned to take it a step further by launching twelve satellites with a single rocket.

Yes, you heard that right—twelve satellites with one rocket!

Xiao Yu's decision was driven by the need to conserve construction resources. After all, rockets are colossal structures and single-use items. If he were to launch twelve separate times, Xiao Yu's current metal production, particularly rare metals, would plummet to poverty levels. By launching once, although the rocket would consume more resources, the overall savings would be substantial.

However, launching twelve satellites with one rocket would also be a challenge for Xiao Yu. He had never attempted such a feat before.

Were it not for Titan's lower gravity, reduced launch height, and lower required speeds compared to Earth, Xiao Yu wouldn't have dared to attempt such an endeavor.

This time, it took Xiao Yu a full two months to complete the construction of the rocket and satellites.

In the massive factory, a towering ten-meter-high rocket stood vertically. Indeed, compared to the typical forty to fifty-meter-high rockets on Earth, this ten-meter rocket was relatively small.

On Earth, rockets are generally forty to fifty meters high because they are typically three-stage rockets, necessary to provide the thrust required to send satellites into orbit hundreds of kilometers above the planet.

But things were different for Xiao Yu. Titan's low gravity and orbital altitude meant lower demands on the rocket, allowing Xiao Yu to use a single-stage rocket.

In fact, if it weren't for the need to launch twelve satellites simultaneously, Xiao Yu could have reduced the rocket's height to just seven meters.