Scholar’s Advanced Technological System

Electric propulsion system heaven?

Heavenly?

Grass grip. Am I right?

Those sitting in the conference room, whether experts or business leaders, consciously rubbed their eyes. However, no matter how many times you rub your eyes, the data presented on the PPT does not change.

The expert from the space group who showed PPT earlier shook his head.

A representative of a private space company who has just received a penguin investment has a crying face.

While bragging on PPT is a basic operation, you bragging...

You don't write drafts!

As the strange silence ends, the voice of the discourse spreads like a tide.

“Unbelievable...”

“It's not incredible, it's simply impossible! I've never heard of a thrust system that can reach KN level! Even the latest AEPS propulsion system designed by Lockhart for NASA only doubled the thrust of the XR-5 Hall propulsion. ”

“ …… ”

When voices were heard from the floor, staff were prepared to maintain order in the room, but it was indeed stopped by the Ark.

Waiting quietly for the discourse to descend, the ark said in a relaxed tone.

“What questions can be asked? ”

Although it was not the time to ask questions, and the technical presentation did not allow time for the audience to ask questions, he knew that if he did not explain himself here, no one would probably listen to him.

Soon, someone raised their hand.

“I have questions. ”

Looking at the old man with his hands up, the ark nodded.

“Go ahead. ”

Standing up slowly from his seat, the old man stared at PPT for a while, then turned to the ark and said with caution.

“I've never heard of thrust reaching KN-level electrical propulsion systems, and I'd like to ask Professor Lu, are you sure you didn't write an extra letter? ”

The Ark laughed and said, "I can tell you for sure that I didn't write an extra letter. And we have proven through reliable experiments that its thrust can indeed reach the KN level. Of course, I admit that overcoming gravity by using the maximum thrust mode of operation can consume a lot of work, but it still saves at least 90% of the weight of fuel compared to conventional chemical rockets. ”

The old man shook his head and did it back.

Soon another expert from the space group pushed the glasses and stood up.

“500-1000MW small reactor… this is beyond my knowledge, and I haven't heard anything about this technology before, so I'm not commenting on it for now. But the question is, how do you plan to increase the jet speed to one thousandth of the speed of light? ”

The convertible power of an RD-170 rocket is 192 MW, most of which is used to propel liquid fuel carried by the rocket itself. If the total power of this electric propulsion system reaches a magnitude of 1000 MW, it is theoretically possible to actually load 50 tons into near-Earth orbit.

However…

Power alone is clearly not enough.

How to apply all this power to the quality of the work is the key to the problem.

As if it had been expected that someone would ask, the Ark laughed and switched to PPT.

“That's what I'm going to say. ”

Image toggle.

A cylindrical object in front of everyone.

Although the internal structure is not visible, the text listed next to it details its experimental parameters.

After seeing these parameters, however, the participants, who had not been able to calm down easily, were once again caught in a wave of surprise and enthusiasm.

“Hall propulsion unit? What the hell is this? ”

“I can't see what's so special about the design of this Hall propulsion unit, since it works so well, why not make it bigger, but integrate countless so-called propulsion units in the same engine? ”

“It's impossible! This is ridiculous! ”

Watching the situation move out of control, Director Lee, who presided over the meeting, was preparing to speak, but at that point an old man sitting in the front seat of the auditorium stood up.

“Let me say something. ”

Discussions in the lobby gradually subsided.

The man who rose was the chief engineer of Yuan Huanmin of Space Group and the head of Space Group's latest big thrust rocket project. After seeing the old gentleman, the vast majority of the people sitting here quieted down their voices.

The ark looked at the old man and saw that old man looking at him as well.

“I understand very well that Professor Lu, as an expert in the field of controllable fusion, has a unique interest in the technological route of electric rockets, and I acknowledge that controllable fusion has changed our lifestyle and that electric propulsion technology is a promising direction. ”

There was whispering in the auditorium.

A lot of people were misty when they heard that.

This script is not right...

Why is this big bull in the chemical rocket world following this guy's point of view?

Yet the Ark, which is also listening to this phrase, has nothing to be careless about.

Because he can clearly see the old man's eyes compared to the others under the stage.

And in that pupil, there's obviously a lot of suspicion.

Indeed, after a moment of pause, the old gentleman suddenly turned and spoke.

“Perhaps someday in the future, the electric propulsion system you propose will really change the face of the entire space industry, but I don't think it is now. ”

Ark: “Oh? Why?”

The old man smiled and said, “No technology can develop without a step-by-step process, and the birth of new technology is not mature in a day or two. It's like a quantum computer, obviously it already exists, but we're still focusing more on improving traditional supercomputers, not because quantum computers are bad, but because they're not good enough... Can you understand that? ”

Without waiting for the Ark to open its mouth, the old man continued: "It is too early to adopt electric propulsion technology, and we should concentrate our limited resources on chemical rockets, first completing the first step in carrying people to the moon, and then trying new technologies with so-called higher development ceilings. If we use what you call electric propulsion technology now, we'll have to take all the risks that new technology can bring. Can you guarantee that your electric propulsion system is really that reliable? In the event of an accident, even if we can't wait, can the space industry in our country wait? ”

The words of the old man were also endorsed by the vast majority of people.

Although the Ark was named General Advisor of Moon Climbing Engineering, it did not hold power in its hands after all. And there is a specialty in the art industry, like mountain separation, controllable fusion of bulls into the space field, not necessarily much higher than a newcomer, at least in the mind of the vast majority of practitioners.

And in the field of chemical powered rockets...

Obviously, this old gentleman is a little more prestigious.

But the ark is quite straightforward about it.

It's normal not to be liked.

After all, for those who have studied electrochemical rockets all their lives, it is not only too far-fetched, it is also difficult to accept them rationally.

In fact, the last time we received a structural diagram of the Hall Propulsion Unit from Wreck Three, the Ark was sceptical about whether this thing could really push the shuttle from the surface into near-Earth orbit. After all, according to published information, even NASA's most powerful electrical propulsion system could only lift an egg.

However, after completing the assembly of the Hall propulsion unit and the related tests, all the doubts in his mind dissipated.

I can't believe it's just an assertion based on common sense.

And the development of technology itself is a process of subversion of past common sense.

The Ark believed that after seeing that amazing scene, they would naturally understand the shock they had created at the time.

Even less effort is needed to explain it.

Faced with the chief engineer Yuan's questioning, Ark shrugged his shoulders and said without changing his face.

“As long as I can prove that this electrical propulsion system can deliver 50 tons of load into near-Earth orbit. ”

Mr Yuan said with a disgruntled smile.

“If you can do it, I'll eat this thermos. ”

“That's not necessary," the Ark laughed and sighed, "None of the people who said that to me have kept their promises. ”

Watching the topic of the meeting had already reached the insulation cup, Director Li, who presided over the meeting, coughed with a headache and played the roundabout.

“Friendly discussion… Today it is mainly the publication of tenders, which technical route to adopt, or depending on your tender materials. On our side, we will also conduct research in other departments, such as NASA, to select a suitable programme, taking into account the quotations and technical parameters of the various units. ”

In fact, Director Li is also very difficult.

Although the electric propulsion system was good, he was, for reasons of reason, more inclined to opt for the Space Group's chemical rocket launch programme.

This is not due to the exclusion of new technologies, but merely to practical considerations.

After all, space has always been linked to national defense, and the country's spending on rockets is largely due to the development of rocket technology, not only to space power itself, but also to the ability to strengthen the country's strategic strike capabilities.

The electric propulsion system is stronger and influenced by the limits of the quality of the work, the thrust is still not comparable to the chemical engine. Ballistic missiles do not have that advantage, even if they have a greater advantage on longer distances.

Moreover, they are unlikely to throw a controllable fusion device on a missile.

Controllable fusion miniaturization technology is important, but is electric propulsion technology equally important?

Maybe in the future, but not necessarily now...

Seeing the look on Director Li's face, Ark Zhou roughly guessed that most of the Bureau of Science and Technology was reluctant to invest in electric propulsion technology, only to hinder his face to make an inconvenient statement.

In fact, the Ark doesn't really care if other people look after their research, but what kind of money does it care...

This is tens of billions of dollars...

Even if years of savings were not exchanged for shares in East Asian electricity, it would not be affordable on its own.

What should we do?

Standing on the stage for a moment, Ark suddenly moved in his heart and looked up at the smiling Yuan Academician and said.

“Here's the deal. ”

“If you're so confident that I can't do it, we'll make a bet. ”