Chapter 691 Let's Make a Bet

Electric propulsion system in heaven?

God?

Hold the grass, am I right?

The people sitting in the meeting, whether they were experts or heads of enterprises, all subconsciously rubbed their eyes. However, no matter how many times I rubbed my eyes, the data presented on the PPT did not change.

The expert from the Aerospace Group who showed the PPT earlier shook his head.

The representative of a private aerospace company that just got Penguin's investment was even more dumbfounded at the moment.

Although bragging on PPT is a basic operation, but you bragging...

It’s too undrafted!

After the eerie silence ended, the voice of discussion spread like a tide.

"incredible……"

"It's not unbelievable, it's impossible! I've never heard of an electric propulsion system with a thrust that can reach the KN level! Even the latest AEPS electric propulsion system designed by Rocketdyne for NASA is nothing more than the XR-5 The thrust of the Hall thrusters is just doubled."

"..."

Hearing the voices of discussion in the audience, the staff prepared to maintain order in the venue, but they were indeed stopped by Lu Zhou.

Waiting quietly for the discussion to subside, Lu Zhou said in a relaxed tone.

"Any questions you can ask."

Although it is not the time to ask questions, and this technology demonstration does not allow time for the audience to ask questions, he knows that if he does not explain here, probably no one will listen to him.

Soon, someone raised their hand.

"I have a question."

Looking at the old man who raised his hand, Lu Zhou nodded.

"Speaking."

Standing up slowly from the seat, the old man stared at the PPT for a while, then looked at Lu Zhou, and spoke cautiously.

"I've never heard of an electric propulsion system with a thrust that can reach the KN level. I want to ask Professor Lu, are you sure you didn't write an extra letter?"

Lu Zhou smiled and said, "I can tell you with certainty that I didn't write an extra letter. And we have proved through reliable experiments that its thrust can indeed reach the KN level. Of course, I admit that using the maximum thrust The operating mode to overcome gravity will consume a lot of working fluid, but compared with traditional chemical rockets, it still saves at least 90% of the weight of fuel."

The old man shook his head and went back.

Soon, another expert from the Aerospace Group pushed his glasses and stood up.

“Small reactors of 500-1000MW… this is beyond my knowledge, and I haven’t heard any rumors about this technology before, so I won’t comment here. But the question is, how do you plan to use the jet flow The speed increased to one thousandth of the speed of light?"

The converted power of an RD-170 rocket is 192MW, and most of this power is used to propel the liquid fuel carried by the rocket itself. If the total power of this electric propulsion system can reach the order of 1000MW, theoretically, it may be possible to send a load of 50 tons to low-Earth orbit.

However……

Power alone is obviously not enough.

How to apply all these powers to the working medium is the key to the problem.

As if expecting someone to ask such a question, Lu Zhou smiled and switched to the PPT.

"That's what I'm going to say next."

Picture switching.

A cylindrical object appeared in front of everyone.

Although the internal structure cannot be seen, the text listed next to it is a detailed description of its experimental parameters.

However, after seeing these parameters, the participants who had finally calmed down once again fell into a wave of surprise and heated discussions.

"Hall propulsion unit? What is this?"

"I don't see anything 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?"

"That's impossible! It's ridiculous!"

Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, Director Li who presided over the meeting was about to speak, but at this moment, an old man sitting in the front row of the auditorium stood up.

"Let me say a few words."

The discussion in the auditorium gradually subsided.

The person who got up was Yuan Huanmin, the chief engineer of Aerospace Corporation, and also the person in charge of the latest large-thrust rocket project of Aerospace Corporation. After seeing this old gentleman, most of the people sitting here calmed down the voices of discussion.

Lu Zhou looked at the old man, only to see that the old man was also looking at him.

"I understand that Professor Lu, as an expert in the field of controllable fusion, has a soft spot for the technical route of electric rockets. I admit that controllable fusion has changed our way of life, and I also admit that electric propulsion technology is a very important science. potential direction."

There were whispers in the auditorium.

After hearing this sentence, many people are at a loss.

This script is not right...

Why is this big guy in the field of chemical rockets also supporting this guy's point of view?

However, Lu Zhou, who was also listening to this sentence, did not take it lightly.

Because compared to other people in the audience, he could clearly see the old man's eyes.

And in those pupils, there are obviously doubts in the majority.

Sure enough, after a short pause, the old gentleman suddenly changed the subject and spoke.

"Maybe one day in the future, the electric propulsion system you proposed will really change the face of the entire aerospace industry, but I don't think it is now."

Lu Zhou: "Oh? Why?"

The old man smiled and said: "The development of any technology is inseparable from a gradual process. The birth of a new technology cannot be matured in a day or two. It is like quantum computers, which already exist, but we still Putting more energy into improving traditional supercomputers, not because quantum computers are bad, but because they're not good enough... I mean, do you understand?"

Before Lu Zhou could speak, the old man continued: "It is still too early to adopt electric propulsion technology. We should concentrate our limited resources on chemical rockets, complete the first step of manned moon landing, and then try the so-called development limit. Higher new technology. If we adopt the electric propulsion technology you mentioned now, we have to bear all the risks that all new technologies may bring. Can you guarantee that your electric propulsion system is really so reliable? If there is If there is an accident, even if we can afford to wait, can our country's aerospace industry afford to wait?"

This sentence of the old gentleman has also been recognized by the vast majority of people.

Although Lu Zhou was named as the general adviser of the moon landing project, he did not hold real power in his hands after all. Moreover, there are specializations in the technology industry, and the interlacing is like a mountain. When a master of controllable fusion comes to the aerospace field, his voice may not be much higher than that of a newcomer, at least in the hearts of most practitioners.

And in the field of chemical rockets...

Obviously, this old gentleman is more prestigious.

However, Lu Zhou was quite calm about this.

It's normal not to be favored.

After all, for those who have studied electrochemical rockets all their lives, it is not only too unbelievable, but also unacceptable in terms of emotion and reason.

In fact, when the structural diagram of the Hall propulsion unit was retrieved from Wreckage 3, Lu Zhou was full of doubts about whether this thing could really push the space shuttle from the surface to low-earth orbit. After all, according to the published information, See, even NASA's most powerful electric propulsion system can only lift an egg.

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

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

The development of science and technology itself is a process of subverting the past common sense.

Lu Zhou believed that after seeing that astonishing scene, they would naturally understand the shock they had at that time.

Even, there is no need to spend more words to explain.

Facing the question from Chief Engineer Yuan, Lu Zhou shrugged and said without any change in expression.

"As long as I can prove that this electric propulsion system can send a load of 50 tons to low-Earth orbit."

Academician Yuan said with a smile instead of anger.

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

"That's unnecessary," Lu Zhou smiled and said with a sigh, "No one who has said this to me has ever fulfilled his promise."

Seeing that the topic of the meeting had already turned to the thermos, Director Li, who presided over the meeting, suddenly coughed with a headache and smoothed things over.

"Everyone has a friendly discussion... Today is mainly to announce the bidding documents. The specific technical route to be adopted depends on your bidding materials. On the other hand, our Science and Technology Bureau will also conduct research with other departments such as the Space Administration, and refer to the quotations of various units. and technical parameters to choose a suitable solution.”

In fact, Director Li is also very embarrassed.

Although the electric propulsion system is good, but out of reason, he is still more inclined to choose the chemical rocket launch plan of the Aerospace Corporation.

This is not out of rejection of new technologies, but simply out of practical considerations.

After all, aerospace has always been linked to national defense. The reason why the country is willing to spend money on rockets is largely due to the development of rocket technology, which not only improves the aerospace strength itself, but also strengthens the country's strategic strike capabilities.

No matter how powerful the electric propulsion system is, affected by the limit of the quality of the working medium, the thrust is still not as good as that of the chemical engine. Even with a greater advantage on longer range scales, ballistic missiles do not have that advantage.

What's more, it is impossible for them to put a controllable fusion device on the missile and throw it out.

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

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

Seeing the expression on Director Li's face, Lu Zhou roughly guessed that the Bureau of Science and Industry was probably not willing to invest money in electric propulsion technology, but it was inconvenient to express his opinion because of his own face.

In fact, Lu Zhou doesn't really care whether other people are optimistic about his research, but why does money care...

This is tens of billions of funds...

Even if he didn't exchange his savings for several years into shares of East Asia Electric Power, Lu Zhou couldn't afford it on his own.

What should I do?

Standing on the stage and pondering for a moment, Lu Zhou suddenly felt moved. He looked up at Academician Yuan who was smiling all over his face, and said.

"How about this."

"Since you are so confident, if you are sure that I can't do it, let's make a bet."