Chapter 679 Funding Has Come Down!

The development history of the space shuttle can be said to have a long history.

Since the United States completed the Apollo program in the 1960s, it has focused its R&D efforts on space shuttles that can be launched multiple times and are easy to maintain. In this space race, the Soviet Union naturally followed closely behind, successively produced three space shuttles including the Buran and Little Bird, and achieved certain results.

Under such a background, Huaguo was naturally not to be outdone, and corresponding plans were followed closely.

For example, the original code-named 863-204 project, which is the so-called "Space-to-Earth Round-trip Transportation System", in the early stage of project bidding, domestic aerospace experts had a protracted debate over the "Space Shuttle". Even the voices supporting the space shuttle once gained the upper hand.

However, just when everything seemed to be settled, the report was sent to Mr. Qian who had retired to the second line at that time.

After Mr. Qian read the report, he only commented on it with nine words, and it was these short nine words that completely changed the almost certain technology route of the space shuttle, and also changed the development of Huaguo's aerospace industry. future look.

"The spacecraft case should also be reported to the central government."

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

The space shuttle is not as glamorous as it seems on the surface. Even two superpowers competing with each other can hardly support mankind's dream of traveling freely to and from space.

Taking the United States as an example, the design life of Columbia is 20 years/100 launches, but the total number of launches of all 5 space shuttles in use in the United States barely exceeds 100 times, and the cost of each launch and maintenance is also much higher Estimated value at the beginning of the design.

The situation in the Soviet Union was even worse. Three space shuttles were launched once respectively, but after the 1990s, they couldn’t even fly. One of the test planes was bought by Germany and placed in a museum.

Instead of making such a fuss, it is better to simply use rockets and study how to recover the second-stage rocket. The cost may not be much more expensive than mature space shuttle technology.

However, times are always changing.

If we look at the problem from the perspective of development, we can find a solution to any problem.

Space Shuttle Assembly Center.

Standing next to the industrial robot, Lu Zhou, wearing gloves, picked up a metal cylinder the size of a mineral water bottle from the plastic basket, weighed it in his hand, and then approached the port of the metal cylinder, along the The smooth metal surface was examined carefully.

"Why does it feel like it's grown two laps?"

On the screen of the CNC machine tool terminal next to it, a string of bubbles popped up.

Xiao Ai: 【Sorry master! This is already the smallest size that Xiao Ai can do...QAQ]

Lu Zhou: "Don't be like this, I didn't blame you...you have done a good job."

Xiao Ai: 【Really? 0.0】

"……Um"

Xiao Ai: 【Happy! φ(≧ω≦*)]

Lu Zhou: "..."

What he holds in his hand at this moment is the enlarged version of the Hall thruster on Wreckage 3, which is also the limit that this CNC machine tool can process.

It’s not that Lu Zhou didn’t try to let Xiao Ai make this thing smaller without sacrificing performance. However, starting from the current volume, every time the maximum diameter of the section is reduced by 1mm, not only the overall processing difficulty will be geometric growth, the stability of the propulsion unit will also be severely affected.

However, even if it is difficult to fully restore the technology on Wreckage 3, this imitation is quite awesome.

The engine port with a diameter of 1.32 meters can integrate about 200 Hall propulsion units. By pressurizing and rectifying the plasma xenon gas in the ionization chamber, it can eject a plasma plume accelerated to one thousandth of the speed of light backwards, thereby generating the maximum 200KN thrust.

The thrust of a single engine is 200KN, and the total of 5 engines is 1000KN.

Even with a full load of 50 tons, an acceleration of nearly 1G can be obtained in a gravity environment. Although the acceleration is faster than chemical rockets, the advantage in specific impulse allows it to send itself to low-earth orbit without carrying a heavy working fluid.

The only trouble now is that a 100MW fusion battery is probably only enough to meet the needs of 1 X-type Hall thruster.

If he wants to meet 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 must be increased to more than 500MW...preferably 1000MW," Lu Zhou thought while staring at the Hall propulsion unit in his hand, "the power management system also needs to be improved... …Speaking of which, is there a way to integrate the ionization chambers of the five engines? Or simply get a larger Hall thruster with more integrated propulsion units.”

Putting the Hall propulsion unit back into the plastic container and fixing it, Lu Zhou turned and left the workshop of the assembly center, went to an office in the main building next to it, and found Hou Guang, the technical director of the Space Shuttle Assembly Center of Xingkong Technology.

Speaking of Hou Guang, he is also a master.

As an old professor who had participated in the 863-204 project, although he was engaged in the design of the space shuttle with his mentor as an intern at that time, he still accumulated considerable research experience in this field. Later, he worked as a professor at Jinghang University and engaged in research in the field of aerospace.

Logically speaking, it is difficult to find such a talented person. However, after learning that the boss of the company is Lu Zhou, and Lu Zhou plans to build a space shuttle, he didn't even discuss the salary in detail, so he took it without saying a word. Starry Sky Technology's offer came all the way to Jinling the next day.

It has been more than a month since he took up the post of technical director.

Lu Zhou has always been very satisfied with his work.

After all, how to design this space shuttle is not his specialty. It is better to leave such professional matters to professionals.

"...I have carefully studied the design drawings of the space shuttle. Considering the size of the energy supply components and the electric propulsion system, more than 40% of the places have to be redesigned."

Lu Zhou: "What is the concept of more than 40%?"

Hou Guang thought for a while, and gave a clearer statement.

"Probably from the position of the wing to the rear, everything has to be redesigned."

Lu Zhou nodded.

"You are an expert in the space shuttle, so just follow what you say. In addition, based on your experience, I hope you and I can make a brief assessment of how much the entire project will cost?"

Hou Guang pondered for a while, then spoke.

"A conservative estimate of $1 billion ... Of course, until the new design comes out, no one can say how much it will cost."

$1 billion...

In terms of the cost of the space shuttle, this price is not expensive. After all, Columbia spent a total of 2.5 billion on Americans from research and development to construction, and it was 2.5 billion decades ago. It can be built for a billion dollars, which is largely due to the fact that most of the designs have been completed in the 1990s and before the millennium, and this assembly center can process most parts, only need to supply Basic raw materials will suffice.

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

The cost of 1 billion US dollars is really a bit beyond his budget.

Thinking of this, Lu Zhou couldn't help worrying about money.

Do you want to sell some shares of East Asia Electric Power?

Although it has not been listed on the market, it will definitely be sold if it is sold. After all, everyone can see the potential of this fusion industry giant in the future. However, the construction of the Fuxi pile in Daya Bay has just started, and the Southeast Asian power grid project has just completed the first phase. It is too bad to be out at this time.

How about borrowing money from the bank?

But this is for aerospace. This kind of project has a long investment cycle and no obvious profit expectation. How can it be so easy to get a loan.

Just when Lu Zhou was hesitating, there was a knock on the door suddenly.

Withdrawing his scattered thoughts, Lu Zhou looked towards the door and said.

"Please come in."

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

It seemed that she didn't expect Lu Zhou to be here. The secretary was slightly taken aback when she saw Lu Zhou, but soon a surprised expression appeared on her face.

"Professor Lu!"

Lu Zhou: "What's the matter?"

In an excited tone, she continued.

"The funding we applied for from the space agency some time ago has already been approved!"