The Immortal Warrior: From Reverse Engineering to Forging Swords for the Country

Chapter 259: Skipping Stones in Space

Chen Kainan said: "Comrade Zhipeng, I still have to thank you for laying a solid foundation for our aerospace industry in the past few years..."

Zhang Zhipeng waved his hand and said, "I just did something insignificant."

Chen Kainan shook his head: "You are too modest."

"You helped us develop high-thrust rocket engines, solved the blackout communication problem, and achieved aerospace-grade communications. The rapid development of our work in recent years is inseparable from your help."

Guo Zaijie said with a smile: "Comrade Zhipeng has done so many great things that aerospace engineering is just a small matter in his eyes, right? Haha!"

Zhang Zhipeng waved his hands and said, "I can't take all the credit for myself, haha! I did make a small contribution, but the aerospace industry is developing so well now, mainly because of the hundreds of thousands of aerospace workers!"

"Comrade Kainan, let me ask you, when do we plan to start the lunar exploration project?"

Chen Kainan smiled and said, "We have also formulated a plan for the lunar exploration project."

"But the situation now is: we have to complete the first manned space flight first, right?"

"If this matter cannot be resolved, the lunar exploration project will be in great trouble."

Zhang Zhipeng asked: "Shouldn't you be almost ready for manned space flight?"

Chen Kainan said: "But manned space flight is a big deal after all! We must ensure that everything goes well before we can do it, right?"

"We are worried that we may not have done something well and that it may lead to an accident."

Zhang Zhipeng nodded and said, "Aerospace engineering should be more meticulous."

Chen Kainan said: "So, now we hope you can come over and check it out."

"See if we have missed anything."

Chen Kainan’s words reminded Zhang Zhipeng of what happened during the first manned moon landing in his previous life.

When the rocket carrying the manned spacecraft was rising rapidly and astronaut Yang Liwei was experiencing huge overload, low-frequency resonance began to occur between the spacecraft and the rocket.

This low-frequency resonance can easily cause the human internal organs to vibrate simultaneously, resulting in serious damage to the internal organs and even death.

That's no joke.

Fortunately, Chinese astronauts generally train hard and are strong enough, so Yang Liwei was able to escape.

Zhang Zhipeng felt that perhaps this matter could be resolved.

We talked all the way until we arrived at the headquarters of the Aerospace Science and Technology Company.

According to Chen Kainan's idea, he should first settle Zhang Zhipeng in the unit's guesthouse to let him have a rest, then pick up Zhang Zhipeng in the evening and arrange work for him the next day.

But after Zhang Zhipeng arrived at the place, he immediately asked to see their manned spacecraft and space rocket first.

Chen Kainan smiled and said, "Comrade Zhipeng, it doesn't matter if you have a little more time, right?"

"How can you start working right after arriving?"

Zhang Zhipeng said: "I just want to understand the specific situation first."

"Only after understanding the situation can we better solve the problem, right?"

Guo Zaijie shrugged and said, "Comrade Zhipeng is just a workaholic. I think you should just satisfy him."

Only then did Chen Kainan take Zhang Zhipeng to learn about the current technological developments in their manned space flight.

Let’s look at the technical information first. There is really a lot of technical information of all kinds.

For ordinary people, it takes a long time to read all the information.

But for Zhang Zhipeng, who is familiar with all aspects of aerospace technology, he only needs to grasp the main issues to understand them.

Zhang Zhipeng asked Chen Kainan while looking at the information.

It only took him more than an hour to finish reading the scientific research materials.

After reading it, he nodded and said, "Comrade Kainan, you have done a very solid job."

"All aspects of the problem were solved very well, the work was done in detail, and the testing was done very well."

Chen Kainan breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "Thank you Comrade Zhipeng for your affirmation. With your recognition, I feel much more relaxed."

Zhang Zhipeng said: "However, I still found a few minor problems that I think should be paid attention to."

Chen Kainan quickly took out his notebook and pen and said, "You tell me, I'll write it down."

Zhang Zhipeng began to talk about the problems he found.

He spoke very slowly so that Chen Kainan could take notes.

Zhang Zhipeng finally talked about the problem of low-frequency vibration between the spacecraft and the rocket.

He said: "Pay attention to the vibration frequency of the spacecraft and the rocket, and do not let them align with each other."

"If the two vibrations are at the same frequency and resonate, it will cause a fatal crisis to the astronauts on the spacecraft."

"After all, it's really uncomfortable to endure the fatal low-frequency resonance under high-intensity overload."

Chen Kainan was very surprised when he heard what Zhang Zhipeng said.

Because he and all the technical staff really haven't thought about this matter.

“What you said is indeed a problem.”

"Then we still have to pay attention to see if this situation will happen."

Chen Kainan said to Zhang Zhipeng.

Zhang Zhipeng said: "This is a major event that can pose a fatal threat to astronauts. We must take it seriously. Now, let's go to the test workshop and take a look."

Several people went to the test workshop together.

All technical personnel are also in place.

So, everyone started to simulate and test the situation that Zhang Zhipeng mentioned.

After such a test, they soon discovered that there was indeed a low-frequency resonance between the spacecraft and the rocket body.

We are all professionals, so we naturally know that if this kind of low-frequency resonance occurs in space, it may really cost the astronauts their lives!

"Comrade Zhipeng, thank you so much. You just came here and helped us solve a potential major risk!" said Chen Kainan.

Zhang Zhipeng waved his hand and said, "You're welcome. Everything is for safety!"

"In fact, the occurrence of this low-frequency resonance is also very easy to solve!"

Zhang Zhipeng then explained his solution.

In fact, all you need to do is adjust the flow rate in the liquid-related components of the spacecraft, change the frequency of liquid flow in the pipeline, and offset it from the inherent vibration frequency of the rocket, and the problem can be avoided.

The staff made modifications on site according to Zhang Zhipeng's requirements.

The modification is not complicated, but it is time-consuming.

It took two or three hours to complete the modification.

After further testing, it was found that the problem of low-frequency resonance had been solved.

The second problem that Zhang Zhipeng helped solve was the deceleration of the spacecraft's return capsule when it reentered the atmosphere.

When a spacecraft re-enters the atmosphere, its fastest speed can reach at least the first cosmic velocity and at most the second cosmic velocity.

If this return speed cannot be reduced, the safety of the spacecraft cannot be guaranteed.

Therefore, in order for the return capsule to land safely, the speed must be reduced quickly.

In fact, scientists at the Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation are already working hard to study and solve this problem.

Moreover, this problem has been preliminarily solved.

However, the speed still has not dropped to a reasonable range.

If a manned spacecraft returns, the speed must be reduced from the first cosmic speed to several hundred meters per second.

When it is about ten kilometers away from the ground, it needs to be further reduced to a few meters per second.

This requires the parachute to be deployed.

However, my country is currently unable to independently produce aramid fibers used to manufacture special parachutes.

This has become a bottleneck problem.

After Zhang Zhipeng understood the current situation clearly, he then began to tackle the problem of slowing down the spacecraft during its return.

The first thing that came to his mind was the technique of skipping stones on the water that he had seen in his previous life when my country's lunar exploration spacecraft returned to Earth.

This so-called "skipping stones" is actually to increase the altitude of the return capsule through flight control after entering the atmosphere.

Let the return capsule glide in space for a while.

This will consume some of the energy of the return capsule and reduce the landing speed.

At the same time, it can also extend the flight range and accurately select the landing area.

The simple explanation is: when the return capsule is about to enter the atmosphere at the first cosmic speed, its own engine ignites to lift it into the air again.

In this way, by the time it lands again, its speed has dropped to several hundred meters per second.

In this way, the ablation condition will be alleviated and safety will be guaranteed.

This landing mode is the so-called "semi-ballistic jumping flight".

Because its principle and the whole process are very similar to skipping stones, it is also called "space skipping stones."

This matter sounds simple, but it is quite difficult to implement.

A control program needs to be set up and the landing trajectory needs to be designed.

This is a very complicated problem. With the help of the system, Zhang Zhipeng finally redesigned a spacecraft return capsule after several days of exploration.

Afterwards, he devoted himself to the research of aramid cloth.

Aramid fiber was invented by Ami in the 1960s.

This is a flexible polymer with good mechanical properties, and it is also very flame retardant and heat resistant.

It has very good thermal stability. Even at a certain high temperature, it will not melt but will carbonize.

This thing is also very tough and durable.

Therefore, since its invention, aramid fiber has been regarded as a strategic material, and its production technology has always been in the hands of the country.

Although China has conducted long-term research, it has not yet been able to mass-produce aramid fibers, and the quality of similar products produced is not top-notch.

After learning about the current situation of aramid fiber production in China, Zhang Zhipeng sighed.

He thought to himself that there seemed to be many advanced technologies that needed to be further broken through.

If you cannot produce independently, it will be easy to be strangled, just like now, even though the country urgently needs manned space flight, there is nowhere to buy it.

Currently available internationally are only low-end finished products of aramid fibers.

You can't buy the highest quality aerospace-grade aramid fiber no matter how much money you spend.

This problem must be solved immediately.

Zhang Zhipeng asked people to find the current domestic aramid fiber products and all types of products imported from abroad.

He began to conduct in-depth research in the laboratory.

After studying for two or three days, Zhang Zhipeng began to try to conduct experimental production using raw materials in the laboratory.

At first, the aramid fibers he produced in the lab had very mediocre performance.

However, as he explored more deeply, he soon grasped the essence of this chemical fiber.

In his laboratory he produced aramid fibers of the highest quality.

After testing, the aramid fiber he made can withstand temperatures up to 600 degrees!
Moreover, its strength is so high that even the sharpest knife cannot cut it.

It is also acid and alkali resistant and it is also insulating.

Even after washing it a hundred times, its original performance can still be maintained at more than 90%, and its anti-aging ability is amazing.

After comprehensive testing of the aramid cloth developed by Zhang Zhipeng and comparing it with the description of similar foreign products, he believes that the aramid cloth he developed is far superior to those produced abroad.

Chen Kainan and others were very excited.

Because the uses of this aramid cloth are really too great.

In the future, if large-scale production can be achieved domestically, the bottleneck problem will be completely solved.

Upon hearing the news that Zhang Zhipeng had solved a new problem of high-performance material, Guo Zaijie rushed over as soon as possible.

"Haha! Comrade Zhipeng, I didn't expect that you would finally be able to make a breakthrough with this material."

"You know, we have organized technical research many times before."

"In the end, we still haven't been able to completely solve this problem!"

Guo Zaijie held Zhang Zhipeng's hand tightly and said.

Zhang Zhipeng said: "I just tried it casually, but I didn't expect it to work."

Guo Zaijie shook his head and said, "You're going to drive people crazy with that, haha!"

"Comrade Zhipeng, can this technology for producing aramid fiber be transferred to the country?"

"You know, it's very important to us."

"Of course, if you are willing to organize production, there is no problem."

Zhang Zhipeng smiled and said, "Leave it to the country. This kind of high-performance aramid fiber can only be used in aerospace and military fields."

It is still too troublesome to organize production by ourselves.

Zhang Zhipeng didn't want to get involved in this mess.

Besides, in his eyes now, money and interests are actually meaningless, right?

Guo Zaijie said: "Okay, okay!"

He glanced at Chen Kainan and said, "Comrade Kainan, then you will be in charge of organizing the production."

“I hope we can complete mass production as soon as possible!”

"Well! We have made a breakthrough in the manned spacecraft's return technology this time. I think we should hurry up and make preparations to conduct the third spacecraft return experiment!"

“We strive to be able to successfully and safely implement a precise return.”

"We must also hurry up and implement our manned space flight."

Chen Kainan was very excited. He puffed out his chest and said, "Comrade Zaijie, don't worry!"

"I promise to be able to test the spacecraft return experiment again in early 2001!"

"If everything goes perfectly in the test, then we can start preparing for real manned space flight!"

Zhang Zhipeng stood aside, just smiling and saying nothing.

He is proud that he can help solve key problems in manned space flight.

Guo Zaijie then asked Chen Kainan: "Have we recently submitted an application to participate in the construction of the International Space Station?"

Chen Kainan nodded and said, "Yes, we just submitted the application a few days ago."

"After all, we are latecomers in the field of aerospace. It is necessary for us to participate and learn some experience!"

Zhang Zhipeng frowned. The idea of building an international space station was initiated by several countries in the early 90s, and the leader was naturally China.

But we are also one of the important participants.

Everybody sat together happily, finalized the plans, and allocated the expenses and tasks to be shared by each country.

But then, somehow, we were excluded.

Of course we didn't take it seriously. If it doesn't work, we can just do it ourselves. It's no big deal.

The International Space Station began formal construction in the late 90s, but recently it seems to have encountered the problem of funding shortage again.

It is said that the money originally planned was not enough and the overspending was very serious.

It was only at this time that we were remembered again, and the relevant parties hoped that we could join in.

So China submitted another application.

Zhang Zhipeng thought that perhaps this application should not be submitted again.

Because it is obvious that there will be new disturbances.

There is absolutely no need to wade into muddy waters.

"Comrade Zhipeng, when we applied, you were working on aramid fiber in the laboratory, so I didn't tell you about this." Chen Kainan said to Zhang Zhipeng.

Obviously, Chen Kainan thought Zhang Zhipeng was a little unhappy.

Zhang Zhipeng smiled and said, "Do it yourself and you will have enough food and clothing!"

"I think that when we participate in international affairs, we must strive to take the lead!"

"We can no longer follow others like we did before."

"Let's not even talk about whether or not we can participate in the International Space Station project. Just being ordered around like this makes me uncomfortable."

Guo Zaijie sighed and said, "There's nothing we can do. We still don't have much influence right now, so sometimes, we can only compromise for now."

"A real man can bend and stretch. I think Comrade Zhipeng, you shouldn't care about these things."

Zhang Zhipeng said: "My idea is: self-reliance and complete autonomy, this is what we need to do."

"I think it's time to build our own space station."

Chen Kainan smiled and said, "Building our own space station is also on the agenda. Comrade Zhipeng, have you forgotten the 100-year plan for scientific and technological development that you led?"

"Our own development is proceeding in an orderly manner."

"At the same time, we should also take an active role in international affairs, right?"

Zhang Zhipeng suddenly realized that he might be too obsessed with appearances.

"Yeah! You're right."

"Haha, I almost forgot that struggle is actually an art."

……

Washington, December 2000, 12.

Christmas is coming soon.

The city is already in a festive mood.

Nelson is the head of NASA.

He convened this meeting for the construction of the International Space Station.

16 partners gathered together, but the atmosphere was a bit dull.