Scholar’s Advanced Technological System

The history of the space shuttle is, arguably, long overdue.

Since the completion of the Apollo programme in the United States in the 1960s, research and development efforts have focused on "multiple launches, simple maintenance” of space shuttles. In this space race, the Soviet Union naturally followed suit, producing three spacecraft, such as the Snowstorm and the Bird, and achieving some results.

Against this backdrop, China naturally does not want to lag behind, and the corresponding plans follow suit.

For example, the original project, 863-204, the so-called "system of transport from/to heaven”, was the subject of a long-standing debate among domestic space experts in the early stages of bidding for the project. Even the voices supporting the shuttle once took the upper hand.

However, at a time when everything seemed dusty, the report was sent to Mr. Qian, who had then retired from the second line.

After reading the report, Mr. Qian noted only nine words on it, which is exactly nine words, completely changing the technical route of the space shuttle, which has almost been nailed on the board, and also changing the future of China's space industry.

“The case of the spacecraft should also be reported to the Central Committee. ”

Looking back now, it was undoubtedly right to make such a trade-off at that time.

The shuttle is not as bright as it looks on the surface, and even two super-Powers with more “power to raise the nation" will not be able to sustain humanity's dream of freedom of movement to and from the sky.

In the United States, for example, the Columbia was designed to last 20 years and 100 launches, but the combined number of launches of all five operational space shuttles in the United States barely exceeded 100, and the cost of each launch and maintenance was significantly higher than originally estimated.

The Soviet Union was even worse, with three space shuttles launched once each, which could not fly after the 1990s, and one of the test machines was bought by Germany and placed in a museum.

Instead of this kind of tossing, it's not necessarily much more expensive than mature spacecraft technology to simply use rockets and study how to recover a secondary rocket.

Yet times are always changing.

If you look at a problem from a development perspective, any problem can find a way to solve it.

Space Shuttle Assembly Center.

Standing next to the industrial robot, the gloved ark picked up a metal cylinder the size of a mineral water bottle from the plastic basket, weighed it in his hand, and approached the port of the metal cylinder, carefully detailing it along the glossy metal surface.

“How does it feel to be two full laps? ”

A series of bubbles pops up on the CNC machine terminal screen next to it.

Em: [I'm sorry, master! This is the smallest Em can do... QAQ]

Ark: “Come on, I don't blame you... you've done a great job. ”

Em: [Really? 0.0]

“… hmm”

Xiao Ai: [Happy! φ (≥ ω ≤ *) ♪]

Ark: “…”

Holding it in his hand at this moment is an enlarged version of the Hall thruster on Wreck 3, and the limit that this CNC machine can process.

It's not that the Ark didn't try to make Em do it smaller without sacrificing performance, but starting with the current volume, the maximum cross-sectional diameter shrinks by 1mm, not only will the overall machining difficulty grow geometrically, but the stability of the propulsion unit will also be seriously affected.

However, even if it is difficult to completely restore the technology on Wreck III, this replica is quite bogus.

An engine port of 1.32 metres in diameter integrates approximately 200 hall propulsion units, which, by pressurizing and rectifying the plasma xenon in the ionization chamber, can eject backwards a plasma plume accelerating to one thousandth of a light speed, producing thrust of up to 200KN.

The thrust of a single engine is 200KN, and five engines together are 1000KN.

Even at a full load of 50 tons, an acceleration of nearly 1G can be achieved in a gravitational environment. Although it is faster than a chemical rocket in acceleration, its advantage over punch allows it to put itself into near-Earth orbit without having to carry a heavy workload.

The only trouble now is that a 100MW fusion battery will probably only meet the needs of an X-hole thruster.

To satisfy the energy consumption of this Hall thruster, he must further upgrade the power of the fusion battery.

“It seems that the power of the fusion battery has to be raised to over 500MW… preferably 1000MW,” said Ark, staring at the Hall propulsion unit in hand, "and the power management system has to be improved… is there any way to integrate the ionization chambers of the five engines? Or simply get a bigger, more integrated Hall thruster. ”

The Hall propulsion unit was returned to the plastic container and secured, and the ark turned away from the assembly center's factory and came to an office next to the main building, where the technical director of the Startech Space Shuttle assembly center was found.

Speaking of this weather, he's also a cowman.

As an old professor who had been involved in the 863-204 project, he had accumulated considerable research experience in the field, although he had followed his mentor in the design of the space shuttle as an intern. He later became a professor at the University of Beijing Aeronautics and engaged in research in the field of space.

In theory, such a bull man was difficult to dig, but after learning that the company always had an ark, and that the ark was planning to build a space shuttle, he didn't even talk about the treatment, so he took the offer of star science and technology without saying anything, and the next day he arrived all the way to Jinling.

More than a month has elapsed since the day he took up his position as Technical Director.

The Ark has always been satisfied with his work.

After all, it is not his specialty to design this shuttle. It is better to leave this professional matter to professional personnel.

“… the blueprints for the shuttle have been carefully studied and, given the size of the powered components and the electrical propulsion system, more than 40 per cent of the space needs to be redesigned. ”

Ark: “What concept is more than 40%? ”

Weishuang thought for a while and gave a clearer statement.

“It has to be redesigned, probably backwards from the wing position. ”

The ark nodded.

“You're an expert on the shuttle, just do as you say. In addition, based on your experience, I would like you and I to briefly assess how much the entire project will cost. ”

The sun sank for a while and said.

“Conservatively estimated at $1 billion… Of course, no one can say exactly how much it will cost until a new design solution comes out. ”

$1 billion…

In terms of the cost of the shuttle, that's not a very expensive price. After all, Columbia cost 2.5 billion Americans from R&D to construction, and it was 2.5 billion decades ago. Built with $1 billion, and largely cheap designs that had already been completed between the 1990s and the millennium, this assembly center is capable of processing the vast majority of parts, simply by supplying basic raw materials.

However, although it is ready to burn money...

The cost of that billion dollars is actually a little over his budget.

Thinking about it, the Ark couldn't help but be sad about the money.

Want to sell some shares of East Asian electricity?

Although it is not listed, it will certainly not be sold, after all, one can see the potential of this fusion industry giant in the future. However, now that the Volkswagen heap in Daya Bay is only starting, and the Southeast Asian power grid project is just finishing, it is too bad to get out at this time.

Why don't we borrow money from the bank?

But this is space. It's a long investment cycle, and you can't see projects with obvious profitability expectations. It's not that easy to lend.

Just as the ark hesitated, the door suddenly heard a knock.

He retracted his divergent thoughts, and the ark looked at the door and opened its mouth.

“Come in. ”

The door was pushed open and only the secretary of the assembly center's factory manager's office appeared at the door.

It seemed unexpected that the ark was here, and the secretary glanced slightly after seeing the ark, but soon she had a surprise look on her face.

“Professor Lu! ”

Ark: “What is it? ”

In an exciting tone, she continued.

“The funds we applied to NASA for some time ago have been approved! ”