Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

"President Qin, it was my suggestion."

Just then, someone at the next table spoke up.

The meal had turned into a meeting, with everyone talking as they ate. Before they knew it, more than an hour had passed, and the food was getting cold.

The people at the next table had been listening to President Qin the whole time. Now, hearing President Qin mention this, Old Chen was very excited and didn't expect President Qin to be looking for him.

"Old Chen? You're here too? Why are you sitting over there? Come, sit over here!" Qin Yang greeted him excitedly.

Old Chen, born in 1916, was admitted to the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tsinghua University in 1934. Later, he transferred to the Department of Physics. In the Department of Physics, there was a course in astronomy. Looking at Old Chen's experience, it's clear that he was an all-rounder in science and engineering, capable of both theoretical and practical research.

The East had researched satellite navigation and positioning systems in the 1970s, and Old Chen had participated in it. However, due to various reasons, the research ultimately came to nothing. But Old Chen didn't give up. He knew that if the East wanted to develop a satellite positioning system, it couldn't follow in the footsteps of the West; it had to take its own unique path.

What was unique about it? Of course, it was affordability. Only affordability would make it possible to continue.

A global positioning system requires twenty to thirty satellites in outer space. Just the manufacturing and launching of these satellites would cost a fortune, and the later maintenance would also be a huge expense. If it were like the old Soviets, whose satellites only lasted half a year and required constant launching of satellites to form a network, the expense would be even more terrifying.

How to reduce expenses? That would be to reduce the number of satellites!

However, fewer satellites would mean that users couldn't always have at least three satellites above their heads! After all, unless they were geostationary satellites, the satellites' orbital period around the Earth was short, and the Earth's rotation period was long. The two were not synchronized. A near-Earth satellite could orbit the Earth in 84 minutes. Without enough satellites, how could user access be guaranteed?

Therefore, geostationary satellites were needed. However, launching geostationary satellites was quite expensive. It would be best to reduce the number. After some research, he finally concluded that two geostationary satellites would be enough!

This was his brand new theory. However, it wasn't easy to get this theory accepted. Even many people in the country didn't recognize it. Now, President Qin had actually brought it up. How could he not be happy?

"President Qin, do you know about my two-satellite positioning plan?" Old Chen sat down and asked excitedly.

"Yes, Old Chen, I think your two-satellite positioning plan is very good. It can allow our country to quickly develop its own satellite navigation system," Qin Yang said. "We'll solve the problem of having something first, and then talk about improvements."

"President Qin, this project also costs money," Old Chen said. "Currently, the country doesn't have the funds to conduct this research."

President Qin was very interested. What would happen next? Would President Qin invest in it?

"We can apply to the country and ask for funding. If the country doesn't support this project, then our Factory 960 will fund it. After it's done, we'll do the commercial operation. When that time comes, if the military wants to use our system, they'll have to pay," Qin Yang said.

Old Liu smiled beside him: "President Qin, you're asking our military to pay, aren't you? The military really doesn't have money. If we had money, we'd build a few more warships. You guys do it first, and we'll talk about it after you've done it."

If it were an American GPS satellite, the signals it emitted could be received all over the world. Although pseudo-random codes were introduced to reduce accuracy, it could still be widely used. This was like television broadcasting; as long as you had a television, you could receive the signal.

However, the two-satellite method was different. This required ground stations to solve the calculations. If you didn't pay, you couldn't use it. Therefore, Qin Yang wasn't afraid that the military was trying to be a freeloader now.

"Okay, we'll talk about the military after we've developed it. When that time comes, we'll definitely give the military the most favorable price."

Most people shook their heads and didn't support Old Chen's two-satellite positioning plan. On the one hand, it was technology, and on the other hand, it was the market. Now, after President Qin said this, his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Good, President Qin, you're really amazing. You can even think of this. It seems that this project will be easier to promote," Old Liu said. "By the way, President Qin, does this project have a name?"

Qin Yang thought for a moment: "How about calling it Beidou Navigation?"

Currently, domestic satellite navigation is still in the theoretical stage. The PPT hasn't even been written yet, let alone a name.

The system developed by the East must have Eastern elements. The name Beidou (Big Dipper) has existed since ancient times, guiding countless people on their way home. 'Last night the Dipper turned north, this morning the year begins in the east' is also a famous line from a famous poet.

Now, using this name as the name of the East's satellite navigation system is of course the most appropriate.

"Good, let's call it the Beidou Navigation System. Our East must also have its own satellite navigation system. Our navy sails on the ocean, guided by Beidou!" After Old Liu finished speaking, he raised his glass: "Come, let us toast to the East's own navigation system!"