Technological power starts with upgrading lenses

As time goes by, the three-month test launch time set by Kang Chi is getting closer and closer.

Whether it is Pangu Base, Datang Heavy Industry, or the newly established Daming Deep Space Industrial Park, everyone is keeping up with the clockwork gears and completing every task assigned step by step.

Of course, whether it is building a space shuttle or a rocket, it is an extremely large and complex project. No matter how awesome Kangchi is, it cannot be completed by its own companies alone. There are hundreds of partner companies in the entire project. .

Some of them are responsible for the design and manufacturing of a certain module, some are responsible for writing control programs, and some are responsible for providing key materials. The number of people directly or indirectly involved in the manufacturing project is at least 100,000.

For example, China Airlines Composite Materials Company, which had obtained the T1200 carbon fiber composite technology license from Kangchi, quickly shut down its production line after receiving a very large order from Daming Deep Space, and the Elder Yuan personally ordered them to give priority to supply. There was smoke.

Standing in the Ming Dynasty Deep Space Assembly Center, watching the engineers, led by Kang Chi, install the final shell of the huge booster for the fifth time, Yan Hui was both excited and worried.

Naturally, I was excited because they actually built this booster that was covered in black technology in less than three months.

The reason for the anxiety is that this is already the fifth debugging and installation carried out by Kangchi with his team.

And according to the plan, there will be a test launch in a few days, but in fact they have not even ignited the most important engine...

"It's so urgent...is it really okay?"

"Don't worry." Kang Chi, who led the engineer to complete the final assembly work, gave him a bright smile, "This time it's 100% done!"

Although Kang Chi finally saw the system pop-up window, his face was confident and relaxed, which made everyone feel at ease. However, no matter how you look at it, this test launch seems very hasty and risky. Even if they trust Kang Chi again, they still feel There is no way to completely dispel the concerns...

Especially after thinking about the cost of this thing, it became even more difficult for Yan Hui to treat it calmly.

It is said that China spent about 3 billion US dollars to build the Endeavor space shuttle, which is almost 21 billion RMB.

Although the thing in front of them only cost 12 billion RMB, it is just a booster!

Two boosters like this need to be installed on the Qingtian. The cost of just two boosters is higher than that of the Endeavor.

If you add more expensive orbiters...

My scalp feels numb just thinking about it.

Moreover, this cost budget is almost the actual manufacturing cost, and does not include Kangchi’s ‘research and development costs’.

Because Kangchi’s R\u0026D costs are really difficult to quantify.

Maybe what he can do in a few minutes, other people's R\u0026D teams of hundreds of people can't do in decades...

Anyway, no matter how you calculate it, the booster in front of you is already the most expensive thing that Yan Hui has participated in manufacturing since he was born.

It ranges from the engine fuel tank to every wire and screw. The materials and craftsmanship used are all the best and most expensive in China.

It is no exaggeration to say that the completed Qingtian in the future will definitely be a product that can represent China’s current highest industrial level, and there is no such thing as a lithography machine, a fusion reactor, or even a nuclear-powered drone aircraft carrier that is about to be launched. It's technically comprehensive.

If this booster test fails...

The loss is not just 12 billion, it is also a huge blow to the Qingtian Project, and it also represents a waste of a lot of precious human and material resources.

"Are you sure you won't check again?"

"Well, I'm pretty sure that through these five inspections, all the problems have been eliminated."

"But……"

"No buts." Kang Chi interrupted Yan Hui directly, and then waved to Chen Hai who was not far away, "Brother Hai, I've got it done here, I'll trouble you next."

Chen Hai immediately nodded and said: "Promise to complete the mission!"

After saying that, he took out the walkie-talkie: "Attention all departments, transportation can begin!"

At the same time, in Texas, Country M, the Boca Chica Starship Base.

This is one of SpaceX’s five launch sites and it is also SpaceX’s first private launch site. All facilities in the entire base are tailor-made for Falcon and Starship. The launch pad can be used for both launch and boost. Use the device to recycle chopsticks.

At this time, a familiar huge rocket was standing quietly on the seaside launch pad. The silver-white metal shell reflected the afterglow of the setting sun. The engineers above were preparing it for launch.

However, the expressions of these people were relatively relaxed, and there was no trace of tension at all.

After all, SpaceX is world-famous for its high-frequency launches.

In 2022, SpaceX only launched 61 times a year, an average of once every 6 days. By 2024, this number had been directly shortened to 2.8.

Now, a SpaceX rocket takes off almost every day, but the Boca Chica Starship Base is only responsible for about one-third, and the vast majority are Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy rockets and Starships. Launch experiments account for less than 10% and 1%.

Even so, the launch frequency of once every three days has made engineers here take rocket launches as accustomed as eating and drinking.

But this is just the mentality of ordinary engineers. For the core engineers who are actually responsible for this launch mission, this launch mission is actually not simple.

Because what was launched this time was a serious starship (BFR),

It's just that what's on board is not a Mars landing module, but a large deep space probe from Little Days.

"...In March this year, the second unmanned BFR we launched to Mars had some problems when it landed on Mars, causing the spacecraft to crash unexpectedly..."

Musk stood at the foot of the huge starship, looked around at the audience and reporters, and continued:

"Although that is indeed a regrettable thing, in the past four months we have readjusted the power system of the landing module according to the Martian environment to ensure that we can successfully build the first pilot base on Mars..."

"It's just that we changed our plan temporarily. This time the destination is not Mars, but the Mystery Star. I have to say that the Chinese gave it a good name."

"The Mystery Star, just like its name, has puzzled and surprised countless scientists. Even six-year-old children are full of curiosity about this mysterious asteroid, but they don't know what the Chinese Space Administration's considerations are. He has been reluctant to announce the true situation of the Mystery Star..."

"I personally think this is more regrettable than the last BFR accidental crash, because it not only means that humans need to spend more resources to explore the mysterious star, but also a symbol of opacity and even confrontation in scientific research!"

The audience in the audience immediately booed, obviously dissatisfied with the "selfish" behavior of China National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

"But it's not a big problem. Since they won't tell us, let's go and see with our own eyes!"

"Yes, let's go and see for ourselves!"

"Let them see what a starship is and what a true aerospace power is!"

"Starship! Starship! Starship!"

"..."

Before Musk could finish his words, the audience burst into applause, and the live broadcast room was filled with criticisms of the Chinese Space Agency...