Super Dimension Technology Era

January 22nd.

Rocket assembly company in Tianjin.

This is the final assembly workshop responsible for the Chang-5 launch vehicle.

Changwu's chief engineer Chen Yao, chief designer Li Guoqing and others were busy when suddenly general manager Dong Xiande walked over to them with a happy face.

"Mr. Dong, is there any big news today? My son has married a wife? Or my wife has given birth to a second child?" Li Guoqing joked.

Regarding the unserious Li Guoqing, Dong Xiande burst out laughing: "Haha, it's a big happy event, but it's not just for me, it's for everyone."

Li Guoqing cajoled: "Is the organization planning to provide wives to singles in our company?"

"Haha..." A burst of laughter suddenly erupted in the dull assembly workshop.

Dong Xiande smiled and shook his head, laughing and scolding: "If you want to marry a wife, go on a blind date yourself."

After the joke, Li Guoqing put away his playful smile and said, "What's the good thing?"

"That person plans to deploy 24 medium-sized satellites in low-Earth orbit this year, each of which is about 7.5 tons." Dong Xiande replied in a low voice.

What? Li Guoqing couldn't react for a moment, and asked again uncertainly: "24?"

"Yes."

"My darling, is it too hasty to arrange 24 in a year?"

Dong Xiande added in a low voice: "I heard that next year's mission will be even heavier, so we are required to send these 24 satellites up this year."

"So urgent?" Li Guoqing frowned.

While Dong Xiande was excited, he also felt a heavy responsibility: "Yes! But the support is also much greater. I heard that the funds previously used to support the semiconductor industry will be invested in the aerospace field."

Semiconductors? Of course Li Guoqing knows how much money has been invested in semiconductors in China over the years. With Shenguang Instruments rebuilding Huaguo Semiconductor, domestic semiconductor companies have become self-sufficient and even have capital overflows.

Therefore, we are planning to invest up to 500 billion yuan in the aerospace field this year.

The reason why they are so eager for quick success and instant benefits is that firstly, the sense of crisis in Netherworld is increasing day by day, and secondly, cell chips will replace a large part of semiconductor chips.

Still investing heavily in semiconductor chips is just a waste of money.

Considering the layout of the three major satellite systems and the consideration of entering the interstellar era in the future, it is imperative to concentrate funds on investing in the aerospace field.

Although an investment of this scale may seem like a desperate move to outsiders, Netherworld Mansion's confidence is now rising.

Once biocomputers enter large-scale application, society as a whole will enter a new stage, and engineers and scientific researchers can be customized in batches.

Imagine 1.4 billion new humans. Even if only 20% of them are suitable to be engineers and scientists, there will still be more than 280 million engineers and scientists.

Moreover, these engineers and scientists can all reach the level of one hundred, and mankind will usher in great leaps and bounds of development.

Now G organization has become a stumbling block. If they don't eliminate the opponent, Huang Mingzhe and Nether Mansion will have trouble sleeping and eating.

The Diting satellite system is to search the "Paradise", the headquarters of the G organization hidden on Blue Star; the Silent satellite system is to suppress the outbreak of nuclear war; and the Phoenix satellite system is to eliminate the G organization and complete strategic deterrence.

These satellite systems all require the development of the aerospace field. Without the development of launch vehicles, large satellites or space stations cannot be deployed in outer space.

…

"What happy event are we talking about?" Chief Engineer Chen Yao came over from the workshop.

"That's it..." Li Guoqing explained what Dong Xiande said just now.

After listening to Li Guoqing's explanation, Chen Yao touched his smooth and mirror-like forehead and his receding hairline, secretly sighing that the remaining black hair might be gone forever.

But after taking a look at Li Guoqing, who was already in the Mediterranean Sea, Chen Yao felt somewhat better.

Dong Xiande quickly asked: "Old Chen, how is the progress of our Chang 5-D research and development work?"

Chen Yao, who was worried about his hairline, glanced at his watch and replied: "The progress is already very fast. In about five days, we will be able to conduct the first ground test."

Chang Wu-D type is a brand new version improved on the basis of Chang Wu-B and Chang Wu-C.

Although the payload has not increased much, the maximum payload in low-Earth orbit is about 37.2 tons and in synchronous orbit is about 21.8 tons.

But Chang 5-D has added a very important system, which is the recyclable launch vehicle that the Space Exploration Company has been working on in recent years.

Last year, SpaceX experimented with the first reusable launch vehicle.

However, the recyclable system of Changwu-D is more thorough. According to the original design, it can not only realize the first-level recycling of cores, but also realize the second-level recycling of cores.

And the recycling method is different from that of the Space Exploration Company’s Falcon rocket.

The core stage of the Chang 5-D is separated near the Kármán line (100 kilometers above sea level), and then adjusts the descent posture, gradually decelerating through the auxiliary engine during the descent.

Until it drops to about 30 kilometers above sea level, it unfolds its auxiliary flight wings, enters large drone mode, and flies directly back to the launch site or recovery site or offshore recovery platform ship.

Similarly, the core level 2 has a similar recovery method, but the core level 2 has two additional stages: low-Earth orbit orbiting and atmospheric entry.

If the primary and secondary cores of Chang 5-D are successfully recovered, the launch cost can be reduced by about 90%.

After all, the fuel of the launch vehicle is very cheap (relatively speaking), and with domestic electricity prices falling every year, the fuel cost of a Chang 5 launch is about 1.2 million.

The real cost is actually the core level one and the core level two. The engines, electronic control systems, maintenance equipment, fuel storage tanks, etc. inside are all worth their weight in gold.

The current launch cost of the Chang 5-C is 580 million yuan per launch, while the launch cost of the Chang 5-D that is being tested is about 60 million yuan.

If it can be reused 10 times, the cost can be reduced to about 50 million; if it can be reused 20 times, the cost can be reduced to about 35 million; if it can be reused more than 30 times, the cost will be as low as about 20 million.

However, the recyclable rocket is not without its shortcomings. Originally, according to the design parameters of the Chang 5-D, as a disposable launch vehicle, the payload in low-Earth orbit can be increased to about 55 tons.

However, in order to achieve the recyclability of the first and second levels of the core, nearly 17.8 tons of payload were sacrificed.

There are gains and losses, and this is the price to pay for reusable launch vehicles.

…

Dong Xiande thought for a while and said: "Old Chen, you arrange the test as soon as possible. I will go to the satellite assembly company and arrange for personnel to go to Shanmei."

"It's a matter of duty." Chen Yao nodded.

Dong Xiande, who was about to leave, suddenly stopped, turned around and said, "By the way, two groups of new researchers and engineers will come in March, and the number will be about 500."

"500 people?" Chen Yao was surprised, and Li Guoqing on the side also looked strange.

Adding 500 researchers and engineers at once? Where can we find so many researchers and engineers in China?

When I have time, I am a researcher and engineer in the aerospace field. Most of them in China are concentrated in aerospace science and industry.

"It's not a student soldier, is it?" Li Guoqing asked in a cold sweat.

Dong Xiande spread his hands helplessly: "300 are college graduates, and 200 have transferred from the army."

"Oh my God..." Li Guoqing covered his forehead and smiled bitterly.

It turned out that the so-called researchers and engineers were a bunch of novices, and Li Guoqing and Chen Yao suddenly felt their scalps go numb.

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