The Light of Domestic Products: The whole world begs me to sell

Chapter 424 Determine the next direction

Hu Lai frowned, a little surprised.

All along, in his impression, domestic rocket engine technology is still very powerful.

Although commercial rockets are not good, the long march system carrier rockets of the national team for so many years have successfully sent various satellites, large and small, to the sky, and even the "Zhurong probe" was sent to Mars.

But did not expect.

Today, Pang Dalong suddenly told him that the main reason why "recyclable rocket technology" cannot be realized at present is because the performance of domestic rocket engines is not enough.

This... is really unexpected.

He looked at Pang Dalong and calmed down, ready to listen to Pang Panglong's introduction seriously.

"Old Pang, please explain carefully."

Pang Dalong took the teacup handed over by Director Zhang, and said without restraint:

"Boss, when it comes to rocket engines, we must first talk about the overall launch vehicle."

"Let me take our country's largest heavy-duty launch vehicle, the Long March [-], as an example."

"Currently, the Long March 25 has achieved a carrying capacity of 14 tons in low-Earth orbit and [-] tons in geosynchronous orbit. It sounds like twenty tons is not much, right? But what many people don't know is..."

"In order to achieve the carrying capacity of 25 tons, the take-off mass of the Long March 869 has reached an astonishing [-] tons!"

"In other words, when the Long March 25 rocket is ignited and launched, what it has to push is not only the payload of 800 tons, but also its own weight of more than [-] tons!"

More than 800 tons!

Hu Lai was a little surprised by Pang Dalong's first sentence.

Before that, he really didn't have a detailed understanding of the take-off quality of the launch vehicle. When Pang Dalong said this, he couldn't help nodding slightly.

"More than 800 tons, the required thrust is indeed a lot!"

"Yes."

Pang Dalong glanced at Hu Lai.

Seeing that Mr. Hu was very interested, he introduced it more diligently.

"Boss, we all know that from junior high school physics, when an object moves from rest to motion, the initial thrust must be the greatest."

"Especially for the Long March 870, which has a take-off mass of [-] tons and takes off vertically, it needs huge kinetic energy to start from a static state and continuously overcome the gravity of the earth to accelerate and do work."

"if……"

"I said that if you were to design the Long March [-], what kind of engine would you choose within the 'Karman line', that is, the distance from ignition at rest until it reaches the atmosphere?"

what kind of engine?

Facing Pang Dalong's question, Hu Lai thought for a while, then said hesitantly:

"Of course, install a high-thrust rocket engine on the Long March [-]. If one fails, just two. In short, provide enough power to let it fly first, so as to gain a certain speed and rush out of the atmosphere!"

As soon as the words fell, Pang Dalong immediately showed a smile on his face and said:
"That's right, boss!"

"Whether it is the former Soviet Union or the current us, this method has been adopted."

“长征五号上就是采用了两台60吨级高比冲的氢氧发动机‘YF-77’作为主推力，再加上8台120吨级高推力‘YF-100’液氧煤油发动机组成的四个推进器。”

"A total of two engines and four thrusters are bundled together to form a first-stage rocket, helping the Long March [-] to enter the 'Karman Line' smoothly!"

"Anyway, as soon as it enters the 'Karman Line', the first-stage rocket will separate, and the mission of the first-stage rocket will be completed!"

Hu Lai nodded.

But at this moment, Pang Dalong suddenly changed the topic and said:

"Of course!"

"If it is a normal launch, there is no problem with this combination. Anyway, as long as the rocket is sent to the 'Karman Line', the mission will be completed."

"However, when it comes to rocket recovery technology, such a combination becomes problematic."

Oh?
Hu Lai's expression brightened, waiting for Pang Dalong to continue.

"There are two main reasons."

"The first one: Boss, you just said that in order to cope with the take-off weight of more than 800 tons, it is necessary to use a high-thrust engine. It can be said that the bigger the better."

"but……"

"In the actual process, from the launch of the rocket to the completion of separation when the rocket reaches the 'Karman Line', the fuel in the entire first-stage rocket will basically be exhausted. At this time, the weight of the first-stage rocket is actually less than 10% of the original weight when it took off. %."

"That means an awkward question."

"The weight of the 'first-stage rocket' is greatly reduced, and the mass is too light. Once the engine is ignited and reversed, the high-thrust engine we use will have excess thrust. Even the minimum thrust of the engine will make the 'first-stage rocket' unable to fall." .”

Hu Lai was taken aback, and immediately understood what Pang Dalong meant.

If the self-weight of the fallen first-stage rocket is 10, and the thrust of the engine is also 10, then the gravity can just offset it, allowing the first-stage rocket to land smoothly.

If the self-weight of the rocket is 10, and the thrust of the engine is 12, then there is a chance to land and recover smoothly if the timing is right.

But if the self-weight of the rocket is 10, and the thrust of the engine is 20 or even 50, then the thrust of the engine will definitely make the rocket fly to the sky again.

That is to say, the best situation is to let the thrust of the engine be about the same as the downward potential energy of the rocket falling.

Then the problem comes...

If the engine thrust is reduced, how can the take-off weight of 870 tons go to the sky?

He shook his head, not expecting such a problem.

At this time, even Director Zhang couldn't help but frowned, and couldn't help but ask:

"So now that Mask's SpeacX company has solved this problem, how did they solve it?"

Pang Dalong took a sip of tea and moistened his throat.

"SpeacX's Falcon 9 uses their own developed 'Merlin engine'."

"Their thinking is different from ours. We used two YF-2 hydrogen-oxygen engines with large specific impulse to try our best to increase the speed, while they used nine Merlin engines connected in parallel."

"During the ascent, the nine engines were fully powered. When landing, the eight engines were turned off, and one engine was working. At the same time, the working small engine was throttled to reduce the thrust, which just offset the falling weight of the rocket, thereby achieving a smooth recovery."

Oh? !

Nine engines in parallel?
Hearing the explanation, Director Zhang couldn't help sighing.

"I have to say, SpeacX still has something."

After finishing speaking, he looked at Pang Dalong again, and said with a smile:

"But old Pang, this problem is not impossible to solve, right?"

"According to what you said, the self-weight of the first-stage rocket is too light, so it is enough to increase the self-weight. For example, add more fuel when recycling?"

"..."

Pang Dalong was silent for a while, and looked at Lao Zhang.

"Old Zhang, the astronauts have thought of everything you can think of."

"Actually, this is the second point I want to say. Compared with the first point, this is a problem that we need to face urgently."

"I just introduced that the Long March 77 uses two large hydrogen-oxygen engines YF-4, and the four thrusters are also equipped with eight 120-ton large kerosene engines YF-100."

"After these engines are added together, when our first-stage rocket returns to the ground, it is no longer a problem of lightness, but the weight will become very large, which also means that more fuel must be reserved for deceleration and recovery."

"But once more fuel is used for deceleration and recovery, in the end, the fuel allocated to the launch mission may not be enough to send the secondary rocket into space..."

Hearing this, Hu Lai completely understood.

To put it bluntly, for example, the Long March 869 has a maximum take-off mass of [-] tons. When the weight of the engine and other spare parts is fixed, there must be only so much fuel that can be carried.

Once part of the fuel carried is used for "rocket recovery technology", the fuel used for the secondary rocket will inevitably decrease, so how can a 25-ton payload be achieved? !
Obviously not.

At that time, it will not be a question of "rocket recyclable technology", but a question of whether a 25-ton payload can be sent to low-Earth orbit.

of course.

Another way to carry more fuel is to reduce the weight of the engine and other spare parts.

For example, if one engine is reduced by 5 tons, then 10 engines can reduce the weight by 50 tons, and can also carry 50 tons of fuel!

but!

How easy is it to reduce engine weight?
In addition, there is another way to improve the combustion efficiency of the engine.

but……

To put it simply, the engine's thermal efficiency and thrust-to-weight ratio are exactly Yan Kingdom's weaknesses!
Hu Lai exhaled lightly.

No need to ask him to know why SpeacX can achieve "rocket recyclable technology".

Undoubtedly, the "Merlin engine" of SpeacX must have lighter weight, higher thrust-to-weight ratio, and better fuel thermal efficiency!
Carrying the same amount of fuel, the "Merlin engine" can generate more thrust and a longer stroke, which can naturally save more fuel for "rocket recyclable technology"!
In the final analysis, there is still a gap in the engine!

After a long while, Hu Lai didn't continue to struggle with technical issues, and said:

"Old Pang, I basically understand the technical issues."

"Tell me about the progress and problems of our current 'recoverable rocket technology'."

Pang Dalong nodded and said:

"Boss, our rocket department has only started to tackle the 'rocket recyclable technology' in the last two years, and has already started various technical verifications, but the biggest problem is the engine problem I just mentioned."

"We still lack a medium-sized engine with high thrust-to-weight ratio, specific impulse and thrust balance."

Just as Hu Lai was about to speak, unexpectedly Pang Dalong changed the topic.

"but!"

"Boss, the 'SV-small liquid oxygen kerosene engine' you provided gave us a lot of design inspiration. In addition, we have attracted a large number of top rocket engine engineers in the world recently, and our research and development capabilities have been greatly enhanced. Relevant design models have already been developed.”

"I believe there will be progress soon!"

Hu came to swallow the words that were on his lips, and finally a smile appeared on his face.

In order to solve the problem of launching the "Tongtian Satellite" before, he deliberately spent 1000 million points to buy a not-so-leading "SV-small liquid oxygen kerosene engine" emergency.

The technology of this engine is not considered leading, and it does not have much sense of presence in the various advanced technologies purchased. I did not expect it to help the rocket department now.

Hearing Pang Dalong's unequivocal affirmation at this time, after thinking for a while, Hu Lai was not in a hurry to re-purchase a powerful rocket engine in the system to realize the "rocket recovery technology".

After all, the "Voyager Space Station" project is still early, and there is still time for the rocket department to conduct technical research and development.

After thinking about these things clearly, Hu Lai encouraged Pang Panglong a few more words, then thought about it, and told Pang Panglong that he was going to build a "traveler space station".

Pang Dalong didn't seem too excited after hearing this, but after a while of meditation, he said slowly:

"Boss, in fact, many companies abroad, especially Aramco, have proposed projects similar to 'space hotels', but so far all projects are still under consideration."

"Current space tourism is basically organized by SpeacX. Passengers take SpeacX's 'Dragon Spaceship' to enter the space station. It is aimed at billionaires."

"The plan you proposed is indeed possible, but we believe that if the concept of 24 'independent cabins' proposed by you can be turned into an independent space laboratory, I believe that more countries may pay the bill."

Oh?
Without waiting for Hu Lai to speak, Pang Dalong went on to say:

"Currently there are only two space stations in the world, one is the International Space Station, and the other is our Yan Country's space station."

"Actually, many countries hope to have their own space stations. As far as I know, many scientific experiments, such as dark matter, condensed matter, space breeding, biological vaccines, etc., need to be experimented in a space environment."

"Many countries or science and technology laboratories suffer from national strength, economic and other reasons, and there is no way to have their own space station laboratory. Even if a developed country like Neon Country can be approved to enter the space station, the time and projects are extremely limited! "

"That's why I said, if the 'Voyager Space Station' plan you proposed can really take shape, I believe that without space tourism, many countries and laboratories are begging to rent or purchase an independent space laboratory!"

"However... the initial cost may be very high."

It's really a word to wake up the dreamer!

After a moment of astonishment, Hu Lai smiled.

He has been limited to space tourism and space hotels before, but in fact...

Think about how many countries begged and licked to join the Yanguo space station after Yanguo created the space station?

South Korea, Neon Country, Daying and even Ami all proposed to cooperate in the Yanguo Space Station!

Thinking of this, the last trace of worry about commercialization in Hu Lai's heart disappeared!
The "Traveler Space Station" plan can only be implemented, then there will definitely be a very large market!

no doubt!

After considering the cause and effect clearly, Hu Lai was in a good mood, and after chatting for a while, today's conversation finally came to an end.

At this time, Hu Lai also determined the next main development direction.

In the future, his main energy will be on the "Voyager Space Station" program and the "Lunar Exploration Program"!
……

While Hu Lai was planning a new round of technology plans for Phoenix Group, the engine procurement contract between C919 and RR officially started.

After the C919, which was previously subject to GE engines, completely lifted the engine restrictions, its production capacity began to climb, and several aircraft were delivered to airlines every month.

There are more domestic C919 daily flights.

After the situation improved, Hu Lai did not take it lightly, and directly ordered Mr. Yu to set up a special after-sales team to serve airlines one-on-one, and seriously solve various problems faced by C919.

The corporate culture of the Phoenix Group was brought into COMAC, and soon, COMAC demonstrated its high efficiency and customer-oriented purpose, which are rarely seen in state-owned enterprises.

C919 has successfully gained a firm foothold, and within a few days, a piece of news from Neon Country came.

It was Feng Rong, who was in charge of investment, who brought the news.

the reason is simple.

"After the Phoenix Home Edition nanny robot was successfully launched globally, the research and development of the 'accompanying robot' project began internally."

"The current project is doing well, and there are many robot companies in Neon Country."

(End of this chapter)