Chapter 401 Deep Drilling Sampling

Fang Xu pondered for a moment, then reached out and opened the public communication channel on the console.

"Attention all exploration teams."

"Based on our comprehensive considerations, the hematite you discovered is very likely to come from Photomons."

"However, this is just an inference based on current information."

"I need you to conduct a deep drilling sampling operation immediately."

"And send the drilling sampling results to [Earth]."

"Repeat, carry out deep drilling sampling work immediately, this task has the highest priority!"

After speaking, Fang Xu cut off the communication, then turned to look at Feng Yuanliang beside him.

"Now, just wait patiently for the drilling results of these exploration teams."

Feng Yuanliang nodded slightly and murmured in a low voice: "I hope this is the result."

If the actual drilling results don’t match the predictions, that’s all the fun!

…

Dawn Star.

Inside the planetary landing vehicle, the atmosphere was extremely solemn.

"Ding dong."

A crisp reminder sounded in the cabin, and a line of faint text slowly appeared in front of everyone's eyes.

[Current outside wind speed: 20km/h]

A flash of disappointment flashed in Hong Fan's eyes.

Not the information he wanted to see.

Although wind speed information is also critical, at present, the mystery of hematite is the focus of all team members.

"Captain Hong, do you think there will be something on this planet..."

Bruno's voice came from behind Hong Fan.

Before Hong Fan could answer, a noisy sound of electricity sounded in the communication channel.

Because of the short distance, the signal is not greatly affected by interference. The fleet still uses the simplest electromagnetic wave communication to communicate with the surface.

In less than a second, the sound of current decayed rapidly, and Fang Xu's voice came out from the communication channel.

"…from Lumione."

"..."

Communication ends.

It was so quiet inside the planetary landing vehicle that Hong Fan could even hear the beating of his own heart.

"...boiled."

I don't know who it was, but let out a slight "sigh".

Like a signal, this "sigh" instantly ignited the atmosphere in the planetary lander.

"It took a long time, but it was a false alarm, right?"

"Don't talk about Xing De, come to steal, come to deceive me, an old comrade who is more than a hundred years old!"

"..."

Listening to the complaints around him, Hong Fan couldn't help but smile bitterly and shake his head.

He also didn't expect that the answer turned out to be the moon above his head.

Although he wanted to complain in his heart, as the captain, he could only suppress the impulse in his heart.

He even needs to pour cold water on teammates who let their guard down.

"Ahem!" He coughed lightly, suppressing the complaints in the cabin, "Please be quiet."

"Didn't you hear what Academician Fang said just now?"

"As of now, these are just speculations, and there is no conclusive evidence to prove this speculation."

Under Hong Fan's basin of cold water, the "hot" atmosphere in the planetary lander gradually cooled down.

"Do we need to conduct drilling sampling now?" Xia Wanyi's voice came from the side.

Hong Fan's expression suddenly became serious.

"Of course." He nodded, "This is the highest priority task."

"It's just...a matter of selection."

"Deep drilling sampling requires at least two people to complete."

The atmosphere inside the planetary landing vehicle was once again stagnant.

People cherish their lives.

"I'm in charge of the drilling rod part." As the captain, Hong Fan naturally took the lead and said, "But I need someone to help me start the drilling machine."

"I'll go." Andrew grinned, "Captain Hong, I'm familiar with this stuff."

Hong Fan: "..."

The bad memories came flooding back!

When searching for life on Mars, Andrew was in charge of controlling the drill!

And he is naturally responsible for that part of the drilling rod.

Although a little dirty and tired, the drilling rod is the most important part of the entire drilling work.

Before the People's Federation was established, Hong Fan did not dare to let Andrew and others touch such important components.

Of course, after the People's Federation was established and the construction of Mars City was completed, this combination was still the same.

There is no other reason than that I am familiar with it.

"OK."

Hong Fan didn't say much. He said hello and got up and walked towards the cabin behind the planetary landing vehicle.

…

More than ten minutes later.

The hatch of the planetary landing vehicle opened again.

Hong Fan and Andrew, who were fully armed, walked out carrying simple drilling equipment.

The feeling of his feet stepping on the fine yellow sand raised Hong Fan's vigilance to the highest point.

He glanced at the planetary landing vehicle behind him.

On the roof of the car, the muzzles of two small laser cannons flashed with a slight blue light.

Through the car window, Xia Wanyi gave him an OK gesture.

Hong Fan breathed a sigh of relief, and his tense muscles relaxed a lot.

He randomly selected an area, squatted down, and assembled the drilling rod bit by bit.

Different from the drilling equipment used on Mars, the current deep drilling equipment has completed several "evolutions".

While the body is lighter, the drilling efficiency is also greatly improved.

"Team Hong, what is the depth of the first drilling?"

Andrew asked in the team communication channel.

Hong Fan pondered for a moment: "The command center did not specify specific requirements."

"Let's try the depth of one meter first. If there are any problems, we can lengthen the drill rod."

Andrew nodded, lowered his head and started to operate the drilling machine beside him.

…

A few minutes later.

The drilling equipment was assembled.

At Hong Fan's signal, Andrew carefully pressed the drilling button.

The drilling rod rotated rapidly and quickly sank into the ground at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Looking at the data in front of him, a trace of surprise flashed across Andrew's face.

"Captain Hong."

"The resistance to the drilling rod is very small."

Looking at the drilling rod that had already sunk 50 centimeters into the ground, Hong Fan asked with a serious expression: "What is the preliminary judgment of the material?"

At this time, the drilling rod was still rapidly deepening.

"It is likely that it is fine gravel compacted by gravity."

As soon as the voice fell, the speed of the drilling rod sinking rapidly decreased.

Andrew's eyes moved slightly: "We should have hit rocks now."

"...Wait, that's not right!"

Looking at the prompt on the monitor, Andrew's voice suddenly became excited: "Not just rocks! There is also elemental iron ore!"

"Captain Hong! In addition to the nearby rock walls, there may be a lot of metallic iron in the underground in the form of a single element!"

Hong Fan's eyes also showed a little joy.

In the early days of infrastructure construction, humans had an extremely huge demand for iron ore.

If this piece of iron ore in the form of a single element is a rich mine, it is undoubtedly great news for the current human civilization!

"Drip! Drop! Drop!"

The drilling equipment gradually stopped running and issued a short reminder sound.