Great Country Academician

"Half a year, this is impossible! Time is too tight!"

Hearing Xu Chuan say that he would complete manned spaceflight and moon landing within half a year, Chang Huaxiang frowned and immediately advised.

"We don't have to rush to the moon before the United States. We just have to go at our own pace."

"Not to mention whether the design, manufacturing and assembly of the space shuttle can be completed within half a year, the space safety testing alone will take time to complete. Too much time is a big problem for the safety of space activities."

"It's better for us to be steady and go step by step."

Xu Chuan shook his head gently, stood up and walked behind his desk. He found a data planning document that had been prepared and a confidentiality agreement from the drawer, and handed it to Academician Chang Huaxiang.

"Academician Chang, please sign here first, and then look at this document. It contains some confidential results of Xinghai Research Institute."

"You take a look first."

To realize our own manned spaceflight and lunar landing projects before NASA returns to the moon is not only his view, but also the meaning above.

Although the above did not explicitly call him to tell him, through Wen Yuanhang's suggestion, the senior management also asked from the side whether he was sure to do this.

After all, if it can complete manned spaceflight and moon landing before NASA, it will be a huge blow to the aerospace power on the West Coast in the aerospace field and even its international influence.

If you have the chance, this is definitely not to be missed.

Of course, the above meaning is the same as that of Academician Chang.

Everything must be based on safety and stability, but it would be better if we could complete manned spaceflight and moon landing before NASA on the basis of safety and stability.

As for himself, he has never thought about risking the safety of astronauts.

Although it is indeed very difficult and time-intensive to complete the design, manufacturing and assembly of the space shuttle and the arrangements for manned spaceflight and moon landing in about half a year, it is not impossible to achieve.

Especially after the aerospace engine completed a supercomputer simulation test a few days ago, the relevant data gave Xu Chuan and the Aerospace Research Institute great confidence.

Because compared with the extremely weak propulsion capabilities of traditional Hall thrusters and thermoelectric propulsion systems, aerospace engines with fusion reactors as their energy core have thrust that is not weaker than that of turbojet engines.

Hearing this, Chang Huaxiang glanced at him in surprise. After browsing the confidential documents and seeing that there were no problems, he signed his name directly.

Then, he took the planning document and started reading it.

Looking at the data and information on the planning document, his pupils suddenly condensed and his breathing became somewhat rapid.

"The output power is 170MW. Are you sure the decimal point is correct?"

Looking at the data on the planning document, Chang Huaxiang couldn't help but take a deep breath, then suppressed the shock in his heart and quickly looked at Xu Chuan, with an expression on his face full of disbelief.

Xu Chuan smiled and nodded, saying: "Some time ago, there was a big breakthrough in the miniaturization of controllable nuclear fusion technology. Judging from the current experimental data, Xinghai Research Institute has been able to miniaturize the fusion reactor. down to the size of a mid-sized SUV."

After a pause, he continued: "The output power of 170MW is currently a relatively conservative estimate based on the current Huaxing fusion reactor. I personally estimate that it should be able to be higher."

"Of course, the specific data will not be known until subsequent testing."

170MW, of course, is not the current Huaxing stellarator experimental reactor, but a calculation based on the data of the Huaxing fusion device for the small reactor being produced and assembled.

Although Academician Chang Huaxiang is surprised, this output power is not high when compared to a controllable nuclear fusion reactor. It can even be said to be very low.

Compared with the ultra-large Daybreak fusion reactor that can provide functions for the entire Sujiang Province, the power of Huaxing is less than a fraction of it. Even conventional thermal power plants and most medium-sized pure power plants can basically reach this number.

However, the tokamak device is naturally superior to the stellarator in terms of power generation and power. The fusion temperature and size of the Dawn fusion reactor, as well as the consumption of deuterium and tritium raw materials, also far exceed that of the Huaxing fusion device.

It's normal for the two to be so different.

But that’s not how the two count.

The miniaturized controllable nuclear fusion reactor is not fixed on the top to provide power to industry, commerce, civilian and other fields.

Its research and development purpose itself is to install it on aircraft carriers, space shuttles and other equipment.

Take the Ford-class aircraft carrier of the United States as a representative example. Its power system uses two A1B reactors from the Bettis Nuclear Power Laboratory, with a total power of up to 320,000 horsepower. It is also equipped with a 13,500V power transmission and distribution system with a power supply capacity of 200,000 kilowatts.

200,000 kilowatts, converted to 200 megawatts (MW).

Although 200MW sounds larger than 170MW, you must know that the size, importance and other parameters of the two are not at the same level.

Although Xu Chuan did not know the specific weight of the two A1B reactors of the Betis Nuclear Power Laboratory + supporting steam generators + power transmission and distribution system, he calculated from the conventional power generation system that it was at least more than 3,000 tons.

And what about miniaturized controllable nuclear fusion reactors?

Judging from the current data, even with the matching magnetic fluid generator set, its weight will not exceed 30 tons.

There is a hundred times difference in weight and size.

There is no doubt that the advantages of miniaturized fusion reactors in terms of volume, weight, energy density, etc. have surpassed the fission reactors used on the world's mainstream nuclear-powered aircraft carriers by more than one street.

"Incredible!"

Chang Huaxiang was stunned for a long time before spitting out four words from his mouth.

Various emotions such as surprise, shock, and doubt were intertwined on his face. Even in his seventies and after more than seventy years of ups and downs, he was still shocked by this achievement.

Miniaturization of controllable fusion!

This technology that he had never thought of before has actually been completed?

But how is this possible?

You must know that it has only been a little over a year since the Dawn Fusion Reactor was completed.

In one year, Xinghai Research Institute, no, it should be said that the person in front of me has completed a breakthrough in miniaturization. How did he do it?

He had never heard of such news before coming here.

After taking a few deep breaths of cold air, Chang Huaxiang suppressed his desire to ask how he did it and the shock in his heart. After thinking for a while, he spoke.

"If there is a breakthrough in miniaturized and controllable nuclear fusion technology, maybe we can change our thinking and use electricity for propulsion."

As he spoke, he suddenly froze for a moment. After a moment, he suddenly looked up at Xu Chuan and asked tentatively: "As for the structure of the space shuttle, have you completely abandoned the traditional fossil fuel system and switched to an electric propulsion system?" ?”

Although he came at the invitation to develop a space shuttle, Xu Chuan did not introduce the Xinghai Research Institute's space route during the phone call.

In the previous chat, Xu Chuan only discussed the feasibility of the space shuttle with him, and did not talk about breakthroughs in miniaturized controllable nuclear fusion technology and things related to electric propulsion. Naturally, he did not think of it.

After seeing the planning documents, he suddenly realized whether the space shuttle route taken by Xinghai Research Institute was different from the traditional hydrogen-oxygen fuel space shuttle in the United States.

Xu Chuan nodded and smiled: "I originally planned to talk to Academician Chang about this on the phone, but you heard that I needed help developing the space shuttle, so you agreed in a hurry and hung up the phone. , so I didn’t have time to tell you the relevant news.”

"Xinghai Research Institute is indeed not planning to follow the traditional fossil fuel route in its development of the space shuttle. The breakthrough in controllable nuclear fusion miniaturization technology has made it possible for electric propulsion to be realized."

"In fact, Xinghai Aerospace Research Institute is already manufacturing related electric propulsion systems."

I simply chatted with Academician Chang about some information that I had not had time to talk about before. He did not hide some technical achievements, including the theory and simulation data of aerospace engines.

After all, only in this way can we make better relevant judgments.

Opposite the sofa, Chang Huaxiang was stunned again, with a shocked expression on his face, and even a hint of numbness.

After a while, he raised his head, looked at Xu Chuan and said: "A thrust of a thousand niu?! Have you achieved this level of electric propulsion technology?"

Xu Chuan smiled and said: "This is just theoretical and supercomputer simulation data. Whether it can actually meet this standard will need to be tested in the future."

Chang Huaxiang quickly asked: "What's your estimate? How many kilonewtons of thrust can this aerospace engine achieve?"

Xu Chuan thought for a while and said: "Theoretically, with the support of the supporting small fusion reactor, the thrust of this new aerospace engine can reach about three hundred to four hundred KN."

"Three hundred, four hundred.KN"

Chang Huaxiang's mind was completely numb. He looked at Xu Chuan blankly and asked in a dull tone: "You have completed the small fusion reactor and electric propulsion system, so what do you want from me? Are you specifically showing off these results? ?”

To be honest, he didn't know how to describe his mood and the thoughts in his mind at this moment.

KN-level thrust, coupled with a small controllable nuclear fusion reactor, is enough to send a space shuttle from the ground to space.

With these two technologies, he does not need his help. Just find a talent in the aerospace field to build a space shuttle.

However, what he couldn't understand was how on earth this was done?

You must know that before today, the most powerful and most powerful electric propulsion system in the world was the X3 thruster of the US NASA Space Agency.

It adopts a three-channel design, with a maximum power of 102kw and a maximum thrust of 5.4N.

5.4N, which is much stronger than traditional millinewton-level electric propulsion systems or Hall thrusters.

But Qianniu, it can only be said that this is no longer a power system of the same order of magnitude.

Although by aerospace engine standards, the thrust of 300KN is not very large, there are even many turbojet engines in the aviation system that can achieve this.

For example, the Trent 900 aeroengine used on the Airbus A380 passenger aircraft has a thrust of about 350KN.

The thrust of the GE9X aero engine used on the Boeing 777X passenger aircraft is even as high as over 600KN.

But these are all turbojet, turbojet!

The electric propulsion reached KN level thrust. He couldn't help but suspect that the young scholar in front of him was lying to him, but he couldn't think of any reason for him to do so.

Hearing Academician Chang Huaxiang's stunned words, Xu Chuan smiled and said: "Small fusion reactors and aerospace engines are only part of the space shuttle. Xinghai Research Institute currently lacks a suitable person to support this overall situation."

"We do not have enough experience or manpower to complete the design and manufacturing of space shuttles, the planning of manned spaceflight and moon landings."

"I can lead people to solve technical problems, but the coordination of the aerospace field is not something I can handle."

Chang Huaxiang recovered from the shock and numbness and murmured: "No wonder you said half a year before."

Taking a deep breath, he looked at Xu Chuan and said firmly: "If the small nuclear fusion reactor and aerospace engine can meet the standards you planned, give me enough people, I am sure that in half a year, no, three Lead people to complete the design of the space shuttle within the month!"

From the previous two years to the current three months, I have to say that the time shortened is simply unimaginable.

But it's not impossible to do.

Because compared to the traditional American space shuttle, the power system established with a small controllable nuclear fusion reactor + aerospace engine system has far less high requirements for spacecraft.

The traditional American space shuttle uses external solid thrusters and orbiters as propulsion methods, and uses liquid hydrogen and oxygen fuel as energy.

The advantage is that the heat generated by the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen is extremely high, which can explode into a huge thrust, sending a spacecraft of hundreds of tons or even thousands of tons into space at extremely high acceleration.

But the advantages are also disadvantages.

Extremely high acceleration not only places extremely high demands on the physical fitness of astronauts, but also causes great damage to the space shuttle itself, especially the external insulation and other materials.

The direct cause of the Columbia space shuttle crash was that after the space shuttle was launched, the heat insulation tiles that fell off the surface of the external fuel tank hit the left wing of the space shuttle and formed a hole.

In terms of acceleration, electric propulsion will be outshined by liquid hydrogen and oxygen propulsion, but with the fusion reactor as the energy supply, the super endurance of this new space shuttle is not comparable to that of the traditional American space shuttle.

It can complete lift-off and high-altitude merger at a relatively slow speed, which means that its requirements for spacecraft and even astronauts will not be so high.

In particular, the insulation materials and safety protection and other related components around the spacecraft have been reduced by more than one or two orders of magnitude.

Even after the technology matures, ordinary people without training will be able to take this new type of space shuttle to space.

Writer's words