Great Country Academician

The electric propulsion system revealed by Xinghai Research Institute immediately became the focus of discussion at this bidding conference.

Whether it was the Long March 9 demonstrated by Aerospace Science and Technology of the two established aerospace groups, or the satellite capture and other technologies demonstrated by Aerospace Science and Industry, they were completely overwhelmed by the electric propulsion system at this moment.

The electric propulsion system has a thrust of up to 500 kN, which is 100,000 times that of the electric propulsion engine with the highest thrust today. As soon as this data came out, it immediately attracted everyone's attention and eyeballs.

However, the bidding conference will still continue.

After the completion of the technical demonstrations and exchanges between major aerospace companies, discussions on confidential projects such as the "Solicitation for Earth-Moon Cargo Transportation Plans for Lunar Exploration Projects" and "Solicitation for Temporary/Permanent Base Construction Plans on the Lunar Surface" began.

For major aerospace companies, whether they are established aerospace companies or new aerospace companies that are qualified to participate in this internal meeting, these confidential projects can be said to be the big cake in the subsequent aerospace field and are something that must be fought for.

Therefore, after the shock of the electric propulsion system, a new round of heated discussions entered the lecture hall.

"Seeing the electric propulsion system demonstrated by Academician Xu, one can't help but sigh that the waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead. The 500KN electric propulsion engine can be said to have a huge change in the future history of aerospace."

In the front row of the lecture hall, an old man in aerospace technology suddenly sighed with emotion during the discussion.

Hearing this, Xu Chuan glanced at the old gentleman with some confusion.

The speaker was one of the representatives of Aerospace Science and Technology participating in the bidding conference, Academician Qu Mingcheng.

Unlike Academician Zhu Senyuan, who specializes in researching liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen rocket engine technology, Academician Qu Mingcheng is the chief designer of the Long March rocket series. He is not only proficient in engine design, but also in the launch vehicle itself and aerospace engineering.

The famous Long March 5 and the heavy-lift launch vehicle Long March 9, which is still in the design and manufacturing process, are the representative works of this old man.

Xu Chuan didn't quite understand why the old man suddenly praised his aerospace engine.

However, he remained silent at this moment, guessing that he might have other words to say next, so he waited quietly.

Just as he expected, Academician Qu Mingcheng changed the topic and continued: "However, the development of any technology is inseparable from time. After the birth of a new technology, it cannot be matured and used directly in a day or two."

"It is undeniable that electric propulsion systems do have great potential in the future, but now, as NASA has started the competition in the aerospace field and we have taken the initiative to keep up with the pace of manned spaceflight and lunar exploration projects, I think funds are concentrated on With more mature chemical fuel rockets, it is more important to speed up our progress towards landing on the moon."

While talking, the old astronaut glanced at Xu Chuan and explained with a smile: "It's not that electric propulsion is not good enough. In my opinion, the electric propulsion system is very promising."

"Especially in the future era of interstellar navigation, electric propulsion will undoubtedly replace the current chemical fuel rocket and become the mainstream spacecraft power system."

"However, this technology has just been developed. Compared with mature chemical fuel propulsion systems, the risks are still greater. At this important juncture, I think it is better to proceed steadily."

After hearing the old gentleman's words, Xu Chuan naturally understood what he meant.

These words are not only addressed to him, but also to the many experts and professors in the aerospace field sitting here today, as well as the leaders of the space agency and science and technology circles.

It is undeniable that what the old academician Qu Mingcheng said does have some truth.

But to be honest, what prompted this old gentleman to say these words was not just a mature and stable chemical fuel launch vehicle.

There is also the huge cake and interests involved behind this bidding conference.

Whether it is the lunar exploration project's lunar cargo transportation plan, the temporary/permanent base construction plan on the lunar surface, or the lunar exploration project itself, it can be said to be a huge cake.

Let electric propulsion participate in sharing this cake, and there is no doubt that chemical fuel launch vehicles will have one less piece to eat.

But it is obviously unjustifiable to not use an obviously more advanced technology but to use older technology.

Glancing at the old gentleman, Xu Chuan smiled and said, "The development of science and technology is always moving forward. This is the trend of the times, and no one can stop it."

"Just like after the controllable nuclear fusion technology is completed, we are dismantling thermal power stations one by one to reduce power generation costs and reduce environmental pollution."

"The advantages of chemical fuel rockets are undeniable. Whether in fields such as payload or national defense, they are unmatched by electric propulsion systems."

After a pause, he continued: "But compared to fossil fuel rockets, the electric propulsion system also has great advantages in the aerospace field. Its superior specific impulse and endurance can prove its practicality."

"Now that we have achieved more advanced technology and overtaken the United States in a corner, there is no reason for us to put it down and not use it, but to use traditional chemical fuel rockets and follow the United States' stones. Continuing to follow in the footsteps of others.”

"Sometimes, the development that a little breakthrough spirit can bring us is absolutely huge."

Although he is a newcomer in the aerospace field, Xu Chuan is not afraid of conflict with this veteran astronaut.

Just as he said, in the field of electric propulsion, they have overtaken the United States in a corner. They have not put down more advanced technologies and not used them, but continue to develop behind others.

If we really want to do this, all the controllable nuclear fusion reactors that have been built will be dismantled.

He has never thought about using electric propulsion systems for all aerospace projects and lunar exploration projects, but if you dare to say that electric propulsion systems are excluded from this aerospace development, he will not be polite.

This is not how he divides the cake. Without the space agency project, will he continue to research the space shuttle with the little funds from the Xinghai Research Institute?

It's hard for a clever woman to make a meal without rice.

Although money is not very important to him, but without money, he would use air to pay salaries and bonuses to scientific researchers?

Seeing that the two were about to get into a fight, Comrade Wu Yuankang, the leader of the space agency who presided over the bidding meeting, coughed quickly and interjected to smooth things over.

"Ahem, let's have an exchange today; let's talk about these things when the project is tendered, let's talk about it later."

Wu Yuankang also has a big head. If these two get into a fight, it will be troublesome for him to adjust.

Although the space agency may have a great reputation, it is actually just a second-level agency, affiliated with the industry and information agencies.

In front of these two people, his status as director is really not enough.

Qu Mingcheng is the chief engineer of the Long March series of launch vehicles and one of the founders of China's aerospace field. Behind him are two established aerospace companies, namely Aerospace Science and Technology and Aerospace Science and Industry.

Needless to say, Xu Chuan's controllable nuclear fusion technology alone is enough to reflect his weight.

If he gets into a fight, not to mention the space agency, even the superiors of the space agency will not be able to break up the fight, and even the top bosses can only coax him.

However, from the perspective of the space agency, it is not only manned spaceflight and lunar exploration projects that he has to consider.

As we all know, the reason why aerospace engineering has always been valued by top countries such as the United States, China, Tsarist Russia, and Europe is not just the future of the aerospace field.

It is also used by aerospace technology in national defense, military and other fields.

For example, with the development of launch vehicles, especially solid-fuel chemical rockets, it can be said that with slight modifications, they can be used on various missiles. Even liquid-fuel rockets are partially used in heavy-duty long-range missiles such as the Dongfeng series.

Even because liquid fuel launch vehicles have the ability to shut down and re-ignite, their application prospects in the fields of national defense and missiles may be more important than solid fuel rockets.

For example, in certain situations that require mission interruption or multiple ignitions, liquid fuel rocket technology is very important.

The reason why the country is willing to spend money on rockets is largely due to the development of rocket technology. It not only improves the aerospace strength itself, but also strengthens the country's strategic strike capabilities.

As for the electric propulsion system, it is undeniable that electric propulsion is indeed very important in the development of the aerospace field and can be regarded as a major technological change.

But for applications in the national defense field, you can't always launch missiles with electric propulsion and small controllable nuclear fusion reactors.

In that case, if some unexpected situations occur, such as the missile not detonating or being intercepted, the loss to related technologies will be significant.

However, electric propulsion is not without development prospects in the field of national defense.

Whether it is the outer space mothership mentioned in previous high-level meetings, or it is installed in heavy bombers and other fields, it all plays an extremely important role.

It is impossible to talk about the development of electric propulsion system.

It's just that funds are limited after all, and the trade-offs are indeed a bit headache-inducing.

The second half of the bidding conference ended after the discussion of confidential projects such as "Solicitation for Earth-Moon Cargo Transportation Plans for Lunar Exploration Projects" and "Solicitation for Temporary/Permanent Base Construction Plans on the Lunar Surface" were completed.

Appearing from the lecture hall, Xu Chuan returned to the hotel.

He didn't take it to heart about the conflicts he had with the established aerospace group at the meeting today.

This is normal.

After all, as the country increases investment in the aerospace field, the cake in this field is now getting bigger and bigger.

As an old aerospace group, Aerospace Science and Technology is still quite strong. The Long March series of launch vehicle technologies can be ranked among the best in the world.

However, the habit of eating alone is not good when it comes to competition.

This is probably related to the fact that for a long time, there have not been many domestic competitors in the aerospace field.

Although Aerospace Science and Industry is also an established aerospace enterprise, their research and development direction is more towards the field of aerospace defense.

In a near-monopoly situation, the cake and benefits that can be eaten are undoubtedly greater.

Therefore, in this bidding conference, the old habit of aerospace science and technology may have been committed again, trying to monopolize this manned spaceflight and moon landing project.

Not to mention other things, just for the two projects discussed at this bidding conference, "Solicitation of Earth-Moon Cargo Transportation Plans for Lunar Exploration Projects" and "Solicitation of Temporary/Permanent Base Construction Plans on the Lunar Surface", the funds planned by the space agency are It exceeds 30 billion, with an average of 15 billion per project.

Putting it into China's aerospace field, the funding for this project is comparable to a whole year's aerospace investment in the past.

How is it possible that Aerospace Science and Technology doesn’t want to eat this cake?

Of course, not only Aerospace Technology wants to eat, but Xu Chuan also wants to eat.

The development of aerospace engines and space shuttles requires funding.

If he didn't need funds for development, he wouldn't bother paying attention to the old aerospace group.

If you have this time, wouldn’t you like to focus on building your own space shuttle and then sending people to the moon and Mars?

If conditions permit, he would be more willing to go to the moon and Mars himself.

Not to mention the various positions of the moon in mythology, just because it hangs on the sky every night and can be seen with the naked eye, and even when the weather is good, you can see the existence of the lunar sea, its charm is full.

Mars is even more involved in his follow-up transformation plan, and various surface and core detection data are extremely important to him.

What's more, putting aside all scientific research, this is the conquest of an alien planet!

Walking down-to-earth on an extraterrestrial planet, Xu Chuan dared to say that no boy could refuse such a temptation.

Neither can he!

After returning to the hotel and having dinner, just as Xu Chuan was about to go to the bathroom to take a shower, there was a knock on the door.

"Please come in."

After a casual reply, the door was opened, and his assistant Lu Ling walked in quickly from outside.

"Professor, Mr. Ma, the chairman of Penguin Group, came here specially from Shenzhen. He wants to meet with you and discuss the matters you asked the aerospace representatives to bring back."

In the room, after hearing the news, Xu Chuan glanced at her in surprise and said, "So fast? Invite him to come over. I'll be waiting in the study."

"OK."

Lu Ling responded and walked out quickly. After a while, under her guidance, the leader of the largest Internet company in the country walked into the room.

An extremely formal middle-aged man in a suit and ties walked through the presidential suite and walked into the hotel's study room.