Chapter 750 Lunar Orbit Construction Committee

The American BFR rocket is launched!

Lu Zhou, who was eating, opened his mouth, silently put his chopsticks on the lunch box, and changed his right hand to hold the phone.

"S... shot? When?"

"Just last night! NASA issued an announcement, and we also confirmed through satellite radar that the BFR rocket is leaving the boundary of low-Earth orbit, and it was also broadcast on the news... How long have you not been online?"

"It was just yesterday... I spent almost the whole night preparing for the meeting, but I didn't pay attention to the news." Lu Zhou stretched out his hand and pinched the center of his eyebrows, leaning on the chair, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Is the launcher a car?" Is it a crew ship? Or just a cargo ship."

"It's just a cargo spacecraft, equipped with life support units completed by Space-x, Blue Origin and other aerospace companies!" Speaking of this, Director Li said with some headaches, "How is the Tinder plan going? Now what is going on? Are you looking a little brighter?"

Lu Zhou: "It's still in its infancy...what's the matter?"

At present, the Tinder Project is mainly in charge of several scientific research institutions such as Huaguo Agricultural University and the Institute of Biotechnology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Starry Sky Technology is not responsible for many projects.

Some time ago, Lu Zhou contacted the project leader, Professor Hu Yang. At present, the construction of the entire biosphere a has just been completed, and no personnel and equipment have been moved in. It will have to wait until the end of the month at the earliest to get on the right track. Have to wait.

There was silence on the phone for a while.

About ten seconds later, Director Li lowered his voice and said.

"I said if, if you are given another 2 billion funding, do you think we have the conditions to build a similar artificial biosphere and throw it on Mars?"

Although the tone was soliciting, there was obviously a hint of seriousness in the tone. Obviously, this was not only Director Li's own proposal, but it also had some meaning from the high-level central government.

After hearing Director Li's words, Lu Zhou almost choked on his saliva.

Two billion funds?

Although he wants it very much, is this thing a problem that can be solved with money?

Also get one to go to Mars, you think I'm Tinker Bell...

Without any hesitation, Lu Zhou said immediately.

"Don't even think about it, our technology has not yet developed to that point. The Americans have come to this point because of the accumulation of more than half a century. Now we can send people to the moon. It's not bad. Step by step The way you walk seems to be more important than anything else.”

Although he said it had nothing to do with him, after hearing the news, Lu Zhou still felt a sense of urgency.

It seems that the successful manned moon landing of the Xiangrui has indeed given the Americans a lot of excitement.

Otherwise, not to mention launching the life support unit so soon, I am afraid that it will take a year and a half just to go to Congress.

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a while, and finally there was a sigh.

"Well, I also know it's not realistic... How long will it take for our lunar orbital space station project to start."

Lu Zhou thought for a while and said: "At the end of this month at the earliest, we can send the core module of the 'Moon Palace' up first. If the core module is running stably, the launch mission of the node module and the working module will also be put on the schedule as soon as possible... ...The specific launch plan depends on how far the Aerospace Corporation is going."

The "Moon Palace" core module is the core component of the entire lunar orbital space station, which can provide power supply, propulsion, navigation, communication, attitude control, temperature control, pressurized microclimate and other functions. The two domestic aerospace giants completed the design and successfully tested it at the beginning of this year.

In addition to the above basic functions, the outside of this core module is equipped with docking devices for four spacecraft, which can be docked with other work, experiment, and node modules.

The core module mainly relies on solar energy to provide energy, and the excess energy is stored by large lithium-sulfur batteries.

Although it was also proposed to use small-scale controllable fusion devices as the core functional unit, considering the heat dissipation, cost, maintenance difficulty and technical confidentiality and other factors, this plan was finally abandoned, and the traditional and cheap solar energy was still adopted. Powers the entire space station.

Director Li was slightly surprised: "Is it possible at the end of the month?"

Lu Zhou said in a firm tone, "It will be available at the end of the month."

Although the new Earth-Moon transfer orbit transportation system is still being upgraded, this does not prevent Xingkong Technology from using the original spacecraft to make do with it.

Director Li: "Alright then, I will let the Air Science Group complete the final test as soon as possible, and send the core module to the Jinling Launch Center... By the way, there is one more thing I need to ask for your opinion."

Lu Zhou: "What's the matter?"

Director Li on the other end of the phone cleared his throat and spoke solemnly.

"...In order to facilitate the construction of the lunar orbital space station and the follow-up development of lunar resources, the high-level central government has discussed and decided to set up a lunar orbital construction committee to coordinate and manage various funds for lunar resource development projects, and to supervise the construction of public works and Decision-making is made by the formulation of supporting policies. The organization is directly under the central management, and the post of chairman is appointed by the elders' house, and it is the official department at the level."

Lu Zhou: "Well...and then?"

"In addition to the chairmanship, the Lunar Orbit Construction Committee also has a chief designer..."

Speaking of this, Director Li paused for a moment, and then continued: "After the discussion at the meeting, the central government has decided that you will be the chief designer!"

Lu Zhou: "...?"

Although he has no reason to object to this arrangement...

But is this also called asking for opinions?

...

The next launch mission of Xiangrui is scheduled for the end of the month. In order to demonstrate China's determination to win this space race, the central government attaches great importance to this launch plan, and almost gave the green light all the way in terms of policy.

At the same time, with the establishment of the Lunar Orbit Construction Committee, nominally the entire Lunar Orbit Space Station program is no longer aimed at the space agency or the Bureau of Science and Technology, but directly at the Elderly House.

This scene is just like when the controllable fusion experimental reactor was planned.

All kinds of signs showed that Huaguo was going to be serious this time.

But what is more interesting is that although the news of the establishment of the Lunar Orbit Construction Committee caused a shock in the domestic aerospace industry, it did not attract the attention of foreign media. Even after the relevant news was announced, there was not even a splash.

After all, the news that Huaguo intends to build a space station in lunar orbit has spread a long time ago, and the international community generally holds a negative view on this, believing that this is an impossible project.

Even with the most advanced electric propulsion technology, from the point of view of cost, it is still a big deal in terms of China's limited earth-moon transfer orbit carrying capacity to deliver more than 500 tons of material to the lunar orbit. Something out of the Arabian Nights.

Not to mention, Huaguo has no experience in building large orbital space stations at all.

Even with the evil Professor Lu around, it would be too difficult to do it!

Not only the international community thinks so, but also the domestic aerospace industry.

It is indeed a remarkable thing to promote the manned moon landing project with one hand, but then start preparing to build a space station in lunar orbit, which is really a bit ambitious.

There are even more radicals who believe that the promising future of Huaguo's aerospace industry is being led into a ditch by the inflated Professor Lu.

The original news of the establishment of the Lunar Orbit Construction Committee made many astronauts excited for a while, but after seeing the candidates for the position of chief designer on the committee list, at least one-third of the people seemed to be beaten. Frost's eggplant wilted down.

This is the end...

Totally hopeless.