I built an armada.

Since Su Dingping had already done everything he could, all that was left was to leave it to fate.

No matter what decision the higher authorities make, Su Dingping will not have any complaints.

He knew that even if the plan didn't pass today, it would definitely be implemented in the future.

The only difference is when.

……

When the news of the approval of the "South Heavenly Gate" plan was delivered to Su Dingping's confidential office through top-secret channels, it was late at night.

The document lay quietly on the large desk, the prominent top-secret label on the cover and the bold characters "South Heavenly Gate Project" gleaming with a cold luster under the desk lamp.

Su Dingping did not open it immediately.

He stood by the window, gazing at the sparse lights of the research and development center outside, and the faint outline of the city in the distance.

A month-long series of meetings.

All the endless arguments, rebuttals, compromises, and further arguments have, at this moment, been transformed into this document.

This document is only a few pages long, but the meaning behind it is of paramount importance.

There was neither the expected excitement and elation, nor the feeling of relief and exhaustion.

Instead, an unprecedented stillness enveloped him, like the deep sea.

This composure stemmed from his clear understanding of the sheer scale of the plan itself.

This is not just the task of a single research institute, but an unprecedented expedition to the stars and the sea, launched with the full strength of the nation and spanning decades!

If successful, this plan will reshape the fate of the nation!
Its failure... No, this plan can only succeed, it cannot fail!

He opened the document, skipping over the grand visions and long-term goals, and focused directly on the approved "Phase One".

The first phase of the Nantianmen Project was surprisingly simple.

Its full name is "Near Earth Orbit Resource Acquisition and Space Station Technology Verification".

The core mission is quite clear and extremely pragmatic.

In fact, the first phase of the project is somewhat similar to the Starlink project of a private company in the Eagle Tribe in my previous life.

This phase is expected to launch at least 10,000 multi-functional satellites into low Earth orbit within the next three years, based on the principles of low cost, high reliability, and rapid deployment, to build a global communication, remote sensing, navigation enhancement, and space situational awareness network.

That's right, not one hundred, not one thousand, but a full ten thousand.

In fact, from Su Dingping's perspective, this number is still slightly too small.

After all, low Earth orbit resources are limited, and theoretically can only accommodate 6 to 8 satellites.

The problem is that good locations are limited, and the earlier you launch, the sooner you can secure more high-quality orbital resources.

Based on Su Dingping's understanding of the shameless scoundrels of the Eagle Tribe, once they discover the Dragon Summer Tribe's actions, they will definitely launch the relevant plans as soon as possible.

Under such intense competitive pressure, 10,000 units is indeed not a large quantity.

However, considering that the technology and costs related to the Longxia tribe are still relatively high, this number is a reasonable range.

Of course, the plan states at least 10,000 satellites. If the technology is mature and funding is sufficient, launching more is not impossible.

The goal of this phase is not only to occupy valuable orbital and frequency band resources, but also to develop the capability for large-scale, high-frequency, and low-cost space launches.

This will also serve to verify key technologies such as mass production of satellites, on-orbit management, and network-based collaborative control.

At the same time, key technologies for the space station must be verified during satellite launch.

In fact, the Longxia tribe had planned to launch a space station construction project exclusively for the tribe in the next few years.

Su Dingping naturally wanted to take over this project as well.

The space base station to be built at Nantianmen in the future will be located in a higher orbit.

That is an outpost for exploring Earth, the Moon, and even Mars and more distant planets in the future.

Its technological requirements far exceed those of ordinary space stations.

However, there are some commonalities in the technology between ordinary space stations and such space base stations.

Therefore, building a space station exclusively for the Longxia tribe is also a way to accumulate technology for building future space base stations.

This opportunity provides a good chance to validate the various technologies required for the future "Nantianmen" large-scale rail complex.

These include 23 core technologies in five major categories: long-term on-orbit residence and life support, on-orbit assembly and maintenance of large structures, key technologies for space solar power stations, prototype of nuclear-powered space tugboats, and closed-loop ecological regeneration systems.

Accumulate knowledge and experience practically to seize opportunities.

This is the core of the first phase of the entire Nantianmen Project, the "Dad" character.

Su Dingping's gaze fell on the list of members of the project leadership team.

Among the list of names, his attention was drawn to Guo Xueyun.

His previous performance in the project was so outstanding that it was only natural for him to be included in the overall plan.

So far, not many people in the project team know the full picture of the plan.

Only a few people knew about the South Heavenly Gate Project; most people only knew the name of the South Heavenly Gate Project.

Guo Xueyun was no exception.

Some ordinary researchers don't even know what the Nantianmen Project is!

Su Dingping pressed the internal communication button: "Notify the core members of the 'South Heaven Gate' project leadership team that the first plenary implementation meeting will be held at eight o'clock tomorrow morning in the first conference room."

The atmosphere at the first implementation meeting was somewhat somber.

The large screen displays various orbital parameter tables and a densely packed map of mission nodes.

After some internal discussions within the project team, most of the members who participated in this meeting had gained a certain understanding of the Nantianmen Project.

Guo Xueyun was the first to speak.

"Orbits and frequency bands are scarce resources and are subject to the international principle of 'first come, first served'."

“The Eagle Tribe has already begun deploying satellites in low Earth orbit, and Europe has similar plans. Therefore, theoretically speaking, we have fallen behind, but the gap is not insurmountable.”

That's right, even in this day and age, the Eagle Tribe has already begun to seize satellite resources.

However, strictly speaking, this statement is not accurate.

As of now, the Eagle Tribe has not yet developed the awareness to seize near-Earth satellite orbit resources.

They simply followed the original plan and pace, launching the missile step by step.

The Eagle Tribe's technological development was indeed far ahead of the Dragon Summer Tribe's. Although the Dragon Summer Tribe had launched satellites as early as the last century, the number of satellites launched was not large due to limitations in national strength and technology.

In terms of sheer numbers, they can't compare to the Eagle Tribe.

Guo Xueyun pulled up a dynamic orbit simulation diagram, where the light spots representing satellites from various countries were already densely packed in the near-Earth orbit.

"But we also have our advantages."

Guo Xueyun points to the chart.

"First, we have the advantage of being a latecomer. We can learn from the experience of our predecessors, optimize the constellation configuration, and achieve better coverage and redundancy with fewer satellites."

"Secondly, cost control. We must take a different path from the Eagle Tribe's 'massive number of cheap satellites'. Our satellites must be 'small but sophisticated, multifunctional, and long-lasting'!"

"We need to reduce the cost per satellite, while also increasing its reliability and functional density."

Finally, a rapid response!

Guo Xueyun paused.

"Our rocket launch capabilities must keep up. We need not only large rockets, but also reusable small and medium-sized launch vehicles to enable rapid network replenishment and emergency launches."

Considering that the Eagle Tribe has not yet developed the awareness to seize near-Earth orbit resources, Guo Xueyun's proposed plan is somewhat radical.

Adopting the design concept of "general platform + modular payload", two or three standard satellite platforms will be created.

By replacing different payload modules, such as communication, remote sensing, navigation enhancement, and space surveillance, satellite networks with different functions can be quickly formed.

At the same time, we must unite with top domestic microelectronics and new materials companies, delegate some R&D tasks to private enterprises, and do our best to tackle key technologies such as miniaturized high-performance computing units for spaceborne applications, new high-efficiency energy systems, and most importantly, low-cost, high-precision attitude and orbit control components.

This will not only greatly save research and development time and costs, but also promote the further development of private enterprises and industries.

This is also a good thing for the entire Longxia tribe!
"Our goal is to establish a stable production capacity of no less than 30 satellites per month and a routine rapid launch capacity of no less than 4 times per month within 18 months of the first launch!"

"We plan to establish our satellite network in the critical orbital layer within three years!"

After Guo Xueyun finished speaking, the other project teams also shared their views.

Overall, however, the plans of other project teams were somewhat conservative.

Before Su Dingping's time travel, the Longxia tribe could only launch a maximum of three hundred satellites a year.

If Guo Xueyun's vision were to be realized, the Longxia tribe would have reached the level of later generations 10 years, or even more, ahead of schedule.

This plan was undeniably radical, yet it received unanimous approval from everyone present.

After some discussion and deliberation, everyone present unanimously decided to proceed with research and development based on this goal.

Su Dingping added, "Our plan is not just about securing positions, but more about training our troops."

"Through this plan, we aim to establish a low-cost, highly reliable industrial system covering the entire process from satellite design, manufacturing, testing, launch, orbit insertion, operation and maintenance to final deorbiting!"

"This system forms the foundation for our future supply chain and engineering management in building the 'South Heaven Gate'."

Su Dingping's gaze swept over the crowd.

"Gentlemen, I know our plan puts a lot of pressure on you, but we have no other choice."

"All research tasks of all project teams must be completed with high quality and quantity. They can be completed ahead of schedule, but they absolutely cannot be delayed!"

The crowd met his gaze without the slightest hesitation.

"understand!"

One of the leaders even stood up and spoke confidently: "I have coordinated with the two major groups, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, as well as leading institutions such as the Microsatellite Innovation Research Institute and the Ice and Snow University of Technology!"

"If all goes well, we expect to form the 'Quick Response Satellite Innovation Consortium' within a month."

"This means that our production line and supply chain optimization are proceeding simultaneously. According to our plan, the first verification satellite will be completed within six months and launched within nine months!"

Su Dingping nodded with great satisfaction.

"good very good!"

Next, the group discussed the rocket's carrying capacity.

Representatives from the space transportation system reported on the progress of the heavy transport rocket's reusable variant and the development timeline for a new solid/liquid hybrid small fast-response launch vehicle.

Its key objective is to form a rapid launch capability network that combines high, medium, and low-end technologies to cover different payload requirements.

"Alright, meeting adjourned! All units return to their posts!"

As the person in charge, Su Dingping was mainly responsible for overseeing the overall project team.

Of course, his own research tasks are also quite heavy.

In addition to his own research projects, he also provides research support to other project teams when he has spare time.

There's nothing we can do about it; he's just such an all-around talent!
……

Six months after the project was launched, the first verification satellite was named "Kaituo-1".

At the satellite launch center, "Kaituo-1" was successfully sent into its predetermined orbit by a sea-launched solid rocket.

The satellite is not heavy, weighing only 180 kilograms, but it integrates a Ka-band communication transponder, a medium-resolution multispectral camera, and a space debris monitoring sensor.

It can be said that although it is small, it has all the vital organs.

The launch went smoothly, and after entering orbit, Pioneer 1 perfectly performed all its designed functions.

This also means that the Nantianmen Project has taken a solid first step!
However, the road to launch was not smooth.

The second and third satellites launched subsequently encountered significant problems due to factors such as incomplete deployment of the solar panels.

Of course, this minor flaw does not affect the use of the satellite.

However, due to various problems, the satellite's expected lifespan was shortened considerably compared to the original plan.

Without a doubt, the project team could no longer continue to launch despite the various problems; they had to take a break.

The Longxia tribe is not the Eagle tribe, so there is no possibility of them making do with what they have!
They are pursuing not only quantity, but also quality!
After all, what they want is not just to seize and preemptively occupy low-orbit resources, but also to ensure that these satellites can be used normally!

Launching a bunch of space junk just to seize low-orbit resources is a wasteful practice that is not in the style of the Longxia tribe.

At the accident analysis meeting, Su Dingping criticized without reservation:

"The failure exposed the shortcomings in our industrialization process!"

"This is not a technical issue at all. We have no technical problems whatsoever. This is purely a quality management issue, a supply chain consistency control issue!"

"The era of meticulously crafting satellites like works of art is over. What we need are mass-produced industrial products that are reliable!"

Now that a problem has arisen, it's essential to make proper adjustments. (End of Chapter)