Travel through the Qing Dynasty and become emperor

Chapter 483 Rocket Project
Kang Guangren also introduced: "This is Obert, a scientist from Germany. He was conscripted into the Austro-Hungarian Army during the World War and interrupted his studies, but he focused on the basic theoretical research of space navigation. He was engaged in rocket research at the Vienna Academy of Engineering, and later developed fuel pumps for liquid rockets at the University of Dresden, but his main interest was in solid rockets, and he was the absolute authority in German rocket research.”

"This is the American scientist Goddard, a famous American professor, engineer and inventor, and the main researcher of liquid rockets."

Kang Guangren said to the emperor: "These four scientists have one thing in common. They are all influenced by Jules Verne's novel "From the Earth to the Moon" and became obsessed with interstellar travel."

Guan Xuqing was very happy. The four people in front of him were hailed as the founders of the modern rocket industry by later generations. Kang Guangren lived up to expectations and invited all four of them to Beijing in one fell swoop. In the future, the aviation industry of the empire will develop rapidly. "I have admired the four names for a long time, and I have always wanted to meet you. I never thought that my wish would finally come true today."

The four bowed together and said, "Your Majesty, you are too polite. It is our lifetime honor to meet a great emperor like you."

Aubert said with a look of embarrassment: "Your Majesty really flattered me. In fact, I am not as you praised. During the Second German Empire, my situation in Germany was already relatively difficult. At that time, I felt The development of vehicles for space flight is no longer a speculation, and will soon become a reality. Only rockets can fly in space without air, and people can fly in space with this kind of aircraft and can guarantee safety. That year , I submitted a paper entitled "Rocket Flying to Interstellar Space" to Heidelberg University, but I did not expect that the paper was judged by the German scientific community at that time to be the most impractical and utopian work.

I was not reconciled, so I took my theoretical research results and traveled to all universities in Berlin and Munich, and sold my theory to the public, but unfortunately, I was not recognized by the scientific community, only the then General Secretary of the Ministry of War Little Moltke, the Chief of Staff, was intrigued by my work, received me, and offered me a vacant post at the War Department.After so many years, the army and the military obviously don’t like my theory. First, they don’t give money, and second, they don’t give assistants. In the eyes of others, I’m like a whimsical and grandstanding clown. Now that the Kaiser has stepped down, Hinden The one action of Bo Bao got me out of the military department.I had no choice but to go to Munich and work as a teacher in a local elementary school.At this time, Mr. Kang sent someone to find me and warmly invited me to develop in China. I have long known that you are a wise monarch. The Chinese Academy of Sciences has long been famous all over the world, but I never dreamed of this time. I am really surprised that I will be interviewed by you in person. "

American Goddard said with deep empathy: "Yes, my experience is very similar to that of Mr. Aubert. Except for the influence of Verne's great science fiction work on me, I have read Willow since I was 16 years old." I began to have a strong interest in space after reading the science fiction novel "Interstellar War" written by Ernes. When I looked up at the eastern sky, I suddenly thought how wonderful it would be if we could make an aircraft and fly to Mars! I imagined that Such a gadget can fly from the ground to the blue sky. From then on, I seemed to be a different person and set a goal in life. The difference from Mr. Oberth was that I became obsessed with liquid later Rocket research with fuel as power. The whole world knows that the original rocket was invented by the clever Chinese, but for more than 1000 years, people's interest in rockets has never seemed to increase. I hope to turn this dream into reality.

Initially, my energy was concentrated on solid-fuel powered rocket research, and I tested several miniature rockets, which were successful. I tried to promote this achievement to the United States and the military, but was rejected and ridiculed Because it is whimsical and stupid, and no company is willing to invest in my research.I often worked through the night and finally figured out how to make a rocket fly higher than anything else.But I was so exhausted and fell ill that I had to stop working and get medical treatment.After examination, I suffered from tuberculosis.The doctor said I only had two weeks to live and gave me long-term rest.But I really want to live, I can't die, I want to work.Two weeks later, I really wasn't dead, and I was back to work.Although the disease did not break me down, I began to doubt my original choice in the face of people's incomprehension.At this time, officials from the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology contacted me and invited me to China. I know that China is a magical country, where there are world science giants such as the Curie couple, Karl Benz, John Nolan, and even And the great Wright Brothers.It is you who made them realize their lifelong ideals, which is what every scientist dreams of, so I came here without hesitation, willing to use all my talents to serve His Majesty the Great Emperor for the rest of my life. "

Next, the Swiss scientist Laval and the Russian Tsiolkovsky also expressed the same wish.

Guan Xuqing said with emotion: "Yesterday's dream is today's hope and tomorrow's reality. A great invention will always face people's incomprehension in one way or another when it starts, but time will prove your greatness. If you If you are willing to stay in China, I am willing to provide you with all the conditions you need, if others don’t believe you, I will always believe in you!”

The four down-and-out scientists were all moved beyond words when they heard the words of the Chinese emperor.

Kang Guangren smiled and said: "His Majesty the emperor of our country is the most enlightened monarch in the world, and he respects science more than any other emperor. If you stay in China, you will realize your dreams like the Wright Brothers, because Our Emperor will give you a pair of wings to soar into the sky!"

"We are willing, Your Majesty, I sincerely wish to stay in China and serve you and China's scientific cause. This is our wish and our honor!" The four said in unison.

"Okay. That being the case, from now on, you will work in the Imperial Academy of Sciences, which is under the management of the Ministry of Science and Technology. The four of you will start to form a rocket research institute, and focus on the development of the rocket project. This plan will serve as the successor to the aircraft development plan. Afterwards, one of the most important scientific research projects of the empire, I will provide you with 200 million yuan of scientific research funding every year, if it is not enough, the Ministry of Science and Technology will add more at any time."

"Enough, enough, Your Majesty, this money is enough"

"Your Majesty, I don't think rocket technology is as insurmountable as people think. First, with the current level of scientific knowledge, it is possible to create a machine that can fly to the earth. The altitude above the atmosphere, of course we can call it a rocket or a space launcher. Second, after further improvement, this machine can reach such a speed that it can go unhindered into the ether space without returning to the earth, and even able to escape the gravitational pull of the earth. Thirdly, such a machine can be manufactured to carry people without endangering their safety. Fourthly, under certain conditions, it is beneficial to manufacture such a machine. Such conditions are expected It has developed and matured in decades. Fuel consumption, gas consumption speed, rocket speed, gravity during launch, flight duration and flight distance, etc., these relationships are the most basic factors in rocket design.” Oberth is full of his vision. confidence, but also urgently hope that the emperor can understand and support his idea.

"For a long time, like everyone else, I thought of rockets as a toy with little use. I have trouble recalling exactly how I started computing problems about rockets. For me, the first The seeds of a spaceflight idea were sown by Jules Verne's fantasy novels, and they formed a definite direction in my mind. I started it as a serious activity. During my studies, I At the age of [-], I suddenly thought of using centrifugal force. This made me extremely excited, thinking that I had discovered the way to interstellar space. At that time, I was so happy that I was crazy. Unable to fall asleep, I wandered the streets slowly, contemplating the grand significance of this discovery. But at dawn the next day, I finally realized that my reasoning was wrong.

Later, I mastered Newton's third law in the process of self-study.This seemingly simple principle of action and reaction suddenly dawned on me.I may give your majesty an example, if a port is made at the end of a barrel filled with a gas under high pressure, the gas will be ejected through the small port, and will act against the barrel, causing it to move in the opposite direction.This is a vivid description of the principle of rocket flight.In the second year, in my thesis "Free Space", I formally proposed the use of reaction devices as propulsion power for space travel tools. My qualitative explanation for this rocket power is: the theoretical basis of rocket motion is Newton's third law and The Law of Energy Conservation. " Tsiolkovsky's voice was full of fanatical religious passion, and he really needed to find someone who understood himself for a down-and-out scientist like them.

Next, Laval and Goddard also elaborated their views on the principle of rockets.

Guan Xuqing listened quietly, nodding from time to time in agreement.It wasn't until the four of them had finished speaking that they said: "What you all said is very reasonable. I can see that you all have in-depth research on rockets and aerospace. Of course, everyone understands the problem from a different angle, which may cause problems. There are some discrepancies in your views, but every scientific research leads to the same goal in the end. As long as you can gather your thoughts and use your common talents, the rocket project will definitely become a reality in a short time. The reason why I value this project is, It is because the rocket will open the empire's dream of conquering outer space. The rocket is just a breakthrough. When the rocket is developed in the future, we can install bombs on it and it will become a super weapon. We only need to sit on the ground and control it. Carry out precise strikes anywhere in the world. Installing instruments and equipment for manned experiments can become the best tool for space science research, and can even predict weather conditions and launch space probes. In short, I have You have high hopes and hope that you can use your ingenuity to realize this dream as soon as possible."

The four of them respectfully said together: "We will definitely do our best and devote all our talents to realize the aviation dream of the empire as soon as possible."

(End of this chapter)