Military Technology

Is it possible for this 'Oasis 2' inflatable inflatable space experiment module to dock with our space station during its orbit? Zou Huanyi, who has been looking at the model of the 'Oasis 2' expandable inflatable space experimental capsule, came up with this idea.

After hearing this idea, everyone was stunned for a moment, and then started talking. But while they were discussing, everyone's eyes were also looking at Qin Xinghe.

Everyone knows that the biggest problem with this idea lies with the aerospace authorities. As for Wu Hao and the others, if they have such a good opportunity, they will definitely not refuse it.

For Wu Hao, docking with the space station is what they have always hoped for, but there has been no response from the aerospace authorities, which also made this plan come to nothing.

Originally he had given up hope, but unexpectedly Zou Huanyi brought it up again.

Hearing Zou Huanyi suddenly propose such an idea, and feeling the eyes of everyone. Qin Xinghe smiled bitterly and then shook his head.

"There are risks in any spacecraft docking in orbit, let alone this experimental 'Oasis 2' inflatable inflatable space experimental capsule. It uses many new technologies. The docking includes Whether it will have an impact on our space station or even bring danger in the future, none of us know this now.

Regarding this idea, Xiao Wu and others have actually applied to us several times. However, the bureau currently has quite different opinions on this idea, and it is currently difficult to establish a unified consensus.

I think it’s better to let Xiao Wu and the others handle this aspect first. It won’t be too late to proceed when the technology is really mature. "

Although Qin Xinghe said this, everyone knew the implication of his words. This was obviously a polite rejection. Although what Qin Xinghe said made sense, everyone still felt sorry that such a good idea died.

Zou Huanyi sighed and said nothing more. This idea came to him on a whim. Since the two parties have been in contact before and have come to a conclusion, he shouldn't insist on it anymore. Especially in front of so many people, it would be very disrespectful to speak out again.

Actually, it doesn’t matter. There will be many opportunities for cooperation in the future. Besides, the effect of docking with our manned spacecraft is the same. Wu Hao smiled and helped Qin Xinghe, and then changed the subject and said: "Everyone, please come here. The one we are showing here is a deep space probe that we designed independently."

Oh, after hearing Wu Hao's introduction, everyone gathered around the platform and looked at the strange-looking deep space probe model hanging above the platform.

This deep space probe model has a rather peculiar shape. It is different from the solar edge deep space probe released by our country earlier, as well as the umbrella-shaped appearance of the boundary probe in movies and TV series.

The deep space probe suspended in mid-air above the booth also consists of two parts, connected by a long truss support rod in the middle.

At the front end of the truss, it is mainly its energy system, navigation control system, and various detection equipment and instruments.

The first is the energy system, which is the most important part of a deep space probe. Because the flight distance is relatively long, the sunlight received is relatively weak, so the efficiency of solar cell sail panels alone must be somewhat low. Most of the deep space detectors that have been launched in the world are driven by nuclear batteries. To put it bluntly, they are powered by radioactive isotope thermoelectric cells, which use the low temperature in the universe and the high temperature of radioactive isotopes to form a high and low temperature difference. Generate electrical energy.

This kind of nuclear battery has the advantage that it is relatively stable and has a relatively long working time. The disadvantages are that it is technically difficult, costly and involves radiation. But in the universe, this radiation is nothing. As for the high cost, for such a large project, this cost is nothing. What really stymies prosecutions in various countries is this technology. At present, the cutting-edge technology in this area is mastered by Laomi, and it is strictly blocked and controlled. The delicacies stick to themselves and are prohibited from being exported. Although our country has also conquered this technology, it just started late, and there is definitely a certain gap compared to Lao Mi.

Although Wu Hao and the others are also equipped with isotope thermoelectric cells on the 'Wangshu' intelligent lunar surface patrol and exploration vehicle, the main technology comes from scientific research institutes within the aerospace system. Although Wu Hao and the others have improved on the original technology. . However, the performance improvement brought by such improvements is still relatively limited.

The main function of the isotope thermoelectric battery on the "Wangshu" intelligent lunar surface patrol and exploration vehicle is not to directly start and supply the operation of the entire vehicle, but to serve as a backup power supply and emergency power. In addition, the continuous heating of radioisotope batteries can also play a role in insulating the instruments and equipment on the "Wangshu" intelligent lunar surface patrol and exploration vehicle during the long lunar night.

Therefore, it is still a little difficult to directly drive such a deep space probe according to their current technology.

However, in the face of complex space environments, a stable and long-term power supply system is necessary, and isotope thermoelectric batteries are the best choice. Therefore, two isotope thermoelectric cells were designed and installed at the top of the deep space probe.

Similar to the function of the isotope thermoelectric battery on the 'Wangshu' intelligent lunar surface patrol and exploration vehicle, the main function of these two thermoelectric batteries is to provide long-term stable power output to ensure that after the main power supply system fails, the detector It can also rely on these two isotope thermoelectric batteries to maintain normal operation.

In order to make up for the insufficient performance of these two isotope thermoelectric cells, researchers equipped the deep space probe with a huge solar sail.

Solar sail technology is actually not new, as this technology was proposed as early as the 1970s.

As the name suggests, the solar sail is similar to the sail of a sailboat. It uses the sun to blow the solar sail and then propels the entire detector to fly forward.

Of course, the light pressure generated by sunlight is used here. However, because the light pressure generated by sunlight exerts very little thrust on the spacecraft and the existence of air resistance, the spacecraft cannot take off from the ground.

But in space where there is no air resistance, this small thrust can still provide an acceleration of about 10e-5 to 10e-3g for a solar sail with sufficient sail area.

The solar sail designed by scientific researchers for their deep space probe is very huge. It reaches nearly 800 square meters when fully expanded. It is considered a giant in space. What kind of concept is this? When expanded, it is equivalent to the size of almost two basketball courts.