Siheyuan: I eat melons while doing scientific research

Chapter 1321 Can this thing run? (5k)

The successful return of the satellite gave the comrades a new idea: perhaps... maybe we could bring the polar bear's returnable satellite technology back to its original form?
When Gao Zhendong received the call from the leader of the National Defense Industry Committee, he was a little stunned, mainly because the first thing the leader said was something he never expected.

"From your personal perspective, what are your thoughts on manned spaceflight right now?"

Gao Zhendong was completely dumbfounded. What did he think? He had no idea.

He genuinely has no interest in manned spaceflight.

"Boss, you shouldn't be asking me about this, right? This is a big deal. Don't be fooled by the fact that the things we send into the air aren't very heavy; they're ridiculously expensive."

It costs money. That's why Gao Zhendong doesn't have any ideas about manned spaceflight for the time being. It's too expensive, and there are too many other places where money is needed right now.

"Whether or not we should ask you about this is none of your business. We ask similar questions to all our colleagues. This matter came up rather suddenly, and we didn't plan to hold a meeting. Let's see what everyone's opinions are before deciding on the next step."

Gao Zhendong pondered for a moment, then said very solemnly, "From my personal perspective, I do not agree with starting manned spaceflight right now. This matter is still too heavy for us at the moment. Moreover, the benefits are not significant at the moment."

"Not much profit?"

Gao Zhendong said: "Yes, the benefits are not great. The first and most obvious benefit is the national prestige and political benefits, but we know that the first country to successfully achieve manned spaceflight was the United States, and the second was the United States. Therefore, even if we achieve manned spaceflight, we will only be third, which is not very significant."

"Is it possible that if we don't do it, we'll become the fourth or fifth?" the leader of the National Defense Industry Committee asked.

If this were mentioned, Gao Zhendong would be wide awake. Impossible, absolutely impossible!

In fact, even when he traveled through time, there were only three countries in the world that had independently developed manned spacecraft. After all, the ancient polar bear and the later Russian bear were essentially the same entity and could not be counted separately. Apart from these three, all the others were just riding on his coattails.

The prestige of being among the top three permanent members of the UN Security Council is no exaggeration. That's why Gao Zhendong is in no hurry about being third. There's no need to rush. Give them a few decades, and we'll still be in third place.

However, he couldn't very well tell his boss that he knew about this in his past life, so he gave a serious analysis.

"Boss, I think manned spaceflight is very difficult and requires a lot of resources. Apart from the US and China, who are willing to invest heavily in this because of Cold War competition, we are the only ones who have a chance. So I personally think there's no rush. France and the US are not up to the task."

Even a country as wealthy as Citibank trembles when it comes to space exploration. The Saturn V rocket used for the Apollo moon landing weighed as much as a destroyer and cost as much as an aircraft carrier. It was truly a case of even the richest family having no surplus funds.

As for how the massive design documents for such a large object mysteriously disappeared without a trace, that's another story altogether.

To put it bluntly, such a huge amount of data would take several days to burn, so how did it just disappear? Perhaps it's true that the world is a giant makeshift operation.

"You look down on them that much? Hahaha." The leader laughed.

"Hehehe, I really look down on them, especially the British. After the colonial system was completely dismantled, these two countries simply did not have the resources to support a full-scale attack and maintain their advanced status in all fields. They could only make choices and focus, trying to retain some areas of advantage. The nature of manned spaceflight determines that they will definitely not exert their efforts in this direction. Especially the British, to put it bluntly, they are slowly losing even the ability and determination to maintain basic dignity."

Gao Zhendong spoke eloquently, based on facts from the next few decades, and he spoke of it without a hint of embarrassment.

As for whether John Bull could somehow rise from the dead in this slightly altered world, Gao Zhendong wasn't worried at all. They were already dead, and these salted fish could never come back to life, just like the cod in fish and chips.

"Hmm...you mean, this third place will be ours sooner or later, so why don't we set our sights on the future and take it when the time is right?"

"Yes, so I think we don't need to rush into things in terms of image and political benefits. As for technological gains, I personally think that pursuing manned spaceflight at this time is not a good option. To put it bluntly, we don't currently have that many scientific research goals and operational needs that require people to conduct operational experiments in space. Simply sending people into space for the sake of sending people into space is not very meaningful at the current stage."

The research needs cannot support the resource consumption of manned spaceflight, making this endeavor seem somewhat aimless. This is another reason why Gao Zhendong currently has little interest in manned spaceflight.

There's not that much to do. If it's just about sending someone up there to be seen by the whole world, then it's meaningless. Why waste the money?

Gao Zhendong's words made the leader think for a long time.

"Yes, you have a point. We should consider this matter from the perspective of the national economy and with a responsible attitude towards the people's money."

The leadership was well aware of Gao Zhendong's ever-present rational thinking and his habit of "saving where possible." Comrade Zhendong had his own judgment on whether or not money should be spent, and he always maintained this vigilance. Regardless of whether the outcome was right or wrong, at least his direction was correct.

"I think we should focus our energy on the research, development, and application of satellites now. This will contribute more to our space program and better serve the national economy and people's livelihood. If we really have to do something big, then we might as well..."

"Then what is it not as good as?"

"Then why not just send a probe to the moon to prove that we have the capability to explore it?" Gao Zhendong said with a smile.

Digging up the soil is not an option for now, but sending a probe up to take some pictures is not out of the question.

"The moon? Isn't that even more expensive?" The leader laughed at Gao Zhendong's words; this matter was even more expensive than manned spaceflight.

Gao Zhendong also laughed; the leaders certainly didn't know as much about this as he did.

"No, no, no. If we divide lunar exploration into three phases—orbiting, landing, and returning—the 'orbiting' phase simply involves sending a probe to the moon for a brief orbit, taking some photos. The technical difficulty isn't particularly high, and it's certainly not as expensive as manned spaceflight. Essentially, it's just a transfer of orbit, and we have the technology for that. The rocket capacity needed to send a small probe to the moon isn't very large either; at least compared to current satellite launch capabilities, it's not by much of a magnitude. So, all things considered, the technology and funding required for lunar orbiting are more realistic. Manned spaceflight is different. Putting aside everything else, a complete life support system to ensure the safe return of personnel is incredibly expensive."

In Gao Zhendong's view, security is the most important thing. Of course, the US and China, caught up in the Cold War, would certainly disagree with this statement.

"That's interesting. Circling the moon, landing on the moon, and returning—you've thought through the three steps of lunar exploration very clearly and divided them very precisely. It seems you must have thought about this a lot in your spare time."

The leader praised Gao Zhendong's clear thinking, and because of this, Gao Zhendong's suggestions, which were made after careful consideration, are even more valuable.

Whether or not we will pursue lunar orbit is another matter, but manned spaceflight is certainly something that deserves serious consideration.

"Well, given our current situation where even towing a return capsule back to base in the desert is fraught with difficulties, some things really can't be rushed." The leader couldn't help but sigh as he recalled the difficult journey the return capsule had taken home today.

Gao Zhendong was stunned when he heard this: "Huh? There's such a thing?"

For him, his impression of satellite recovery was based on what he saw on TV and the internet: a parachute opening in the sky and an SUV speeding to the scene. He never really thought there would be any problems with this.

"Ah, here's what happened..." The leader casually recounted the situation: "...Not to mention the sand, we got stuck twice more when we returned to the base near the swamp."

Gao Zhendong laughed when he heard this. He really did have a solution to this problem, and the effect would be immediate. It would definitely not take much time to solve the problem.

This thing appeared in the 1970s, mainly because the white bear had a wild imagination. As for the technical difficulty, it wasn't that great. Gao Zhendong didn't even need to go through the system; he just had to say what he remembered.

"Boss, find a factory that makes special vehicles and come to me. I'll definitely solve it perfectly for you." These kinds of things aren't produced in large quantities, so it's unnecessary for Beijing Automobile Factory to get involved. It would only divert their energy and resources.

Gao Zhendong's words surprised and delighted the leader. He was surprised because the kid's reaction was too quick; he had a solution as soon as he finished speaking.

Although he was always very resourceful, this speed was still astonishing. Almost as soon as he finished speaking, the man started asking for the factory. There was no extra time for him to think, except for the time he was speaking.

The good news is that since Gao Zhendong dared to ask, he probably really has a way to solve this problem. No matter how much time he spends, he has never failed when it comes to solving problems once he has asked.

Although it was a small matter, a big event is built up from many small things. The leader reacted quickly and immediately found a suitable one.

"So, the Zhanyang Heavy Machinery Plant, newly established in Qianyang on the third front, happens to be doing this. Their technical director is currently in Beijing reporting on the construction progress, so I'll have them come to you." This is roughly the level of something Gao Zhendong would casually do to help out; the leader was quite relaxed about it.

Upon hearing this, Gao Zhendong suddenly remembered. He knew this factory; the things they made were quite strange and unusual in the eyes of ordinary people. In his previous life, when he went to the mountains for fun, he even saw their articulated tracked off-road vehicle test vehicle running on the road for testing.

From the perspective of professional fields and development trends, it is indeed suitable.

After the leader finished making the arrangements, he suddenly laughed: "Everyone says you're from the mountains of Guizhou, and it seems it's true. Zhanyang Heavy Machinery has just been built, and you've already arranged new jobs for them all."

The comrades from Zhanyang Heavy Machinery arrived very quickly. They were in Beijing reporting on their work when the National Defense Industry Committee just notified them, and they arrived at the Third Branch Factory in less than an hour.

"Chief Engineer, this is the 17th Ministry of Machine Building, right? Why did you call us here?"

"We've come to learn from their experience! The comrades in the committee said they're developing a new type of special vehicle, so we've come here to learn the technology."

"No, is it really necessary to learn this technology from the comrades of the 17th Ministry of Machine Building? Our specialties are completely different."

"You're here because I told you to, so just come and learn properly. As for why, you'll find out when the time comes."

Upon entering the Third Factory, the numerous procedures along the way made the comrades realize something was different. This was far more stringent than the regulations and processes of their own factory. Something was wrong; something was amiss here.

When they saw Gao Zhendong, something seemed even more off. This man wasn't very old, but the strict procedures they went through along the way didn't seem to match his age.

"Hello comrades, my surname is Gao, and I am the chief engineer of this factory," Gao Zhendong introduced himself.

"Hello, Chief Engineer Gao." The chief engineer of Zhanyang Heavy Machinery introduced Gao Zhendong to two technical colleagues.

After they were seated, Gao Zhendong didn't say much else: "We're here today with a mission. Have the comrades from the National Defense Commission briefed you on the basic details of the mission?"

"They introduced that they wanted to research a vehicle that could run in river networks, swamps, sandy areas, muddy areas, and snowy areas, and that it also needed to have a certain load-bearing capacity."

When this requirement was mentioned, the chief engineer of Zhanyang Heavy Machinery frowned.

This requirement is simply outrageous. Amphibious is one thing, but swamps, snowfields, and muddy terrain are extremely difficult to handle, and it also requires that it be able to run and carry heavy loads.

This guy's desire for everything makes him even harder to deal with than the comrades in the army.

"Yes, that's the situation. Do you guys have any ideas?" Although he was handling it himself, Gao Zhendong still wanted to hear his comrades' opinions.

"I have thought about the idea, but I don't think they are reliable. That's why I came to ask you for advice."

The comrades from Zhanyang Heavy Machinery weren't just bragging; they had genuinely considered it, but hadn't really figured it out.

"...Hovercrafts have questionable reliability and durability in such complex environments. So after much thought, we decided to modularize certain parts of the vehicle for on-the-fly replacement. Although it will take some conversion time, at least it will solve the problem..."

Gao Zhendong shook his head: "No, the comrades who use this should be able to use it directly and seamlessly in these different terrains without conversion. Otherwise, it will be impossible to use in complex terrains such as glaciers, permafrost, and Gobi Desert."

"Then we really have no choice." This car's requirements are just too unreasonable.

Gao Zhendong laughed, a hearty laugh. He wasn't laughing at his comrades, but at Bai Xiong's wildly imaginative idea. After all, if Bai Xiong hadn't been so imaginative, he probably wouldn't have even thought of that method himself.

"Here's a way, I'll teach you, you see..."

Gao Zhendong grabbed a piece of paper and started drawing on it.

The comrades were dumbfounded when they saw the monster drawn by Gao Zhendong.

Can this thing be considered a car? Can this thing even run?
In fact, this thing can actually run, and it doesn't run too slowly. It has two 70-horsepower engines, reaching speeds of 65 km/h on land and 16 km/h on water.

"You should recognize the spiral on the outside of these two pontoons, right? It's the Archimedes' spiral, an ancient device used for pumping water. Actually, I just changed the pumping action into pushing the car body in a certain direction," Gao Zhendong said with a smile.

Comrades aren't stupid. The principle behind this is extremely simple, so simple that once the window paper is pierced, everyone can understand it completely.

"Chief Engineer Gao, your idea is too far-fetched."

"Amazing! As long as these two tubes are empty, there is enough buoyancy to enable them to run on the aforementioned terrain."

"When two cylinders turn in opposite directions, they can drive the car forward in a certain direction. If they turn in the opposite directions, it will move backward."

"Turning can be achieved by the difference in rotational speed between the two cylinders."

"Not only that, if two tubes turn in the same direction, this vehicle can also move sideways!!!" This vehicle can run in four directions, which is its special skill.

Despite its odd shape, this vehicle is incredibly useful in swamps, mud, snow, and water. Polar Bear has been using it for many years.

Gao Zhendong laughed and said, "Of course, the only problem is that this car might not be very comfortable to ride in."

When have those guys from the White Bear gang ever considered whether they're comfortable or not?

"As long as it works, this is amazing! However, this vehicle may have some problems running on hard surfaces, as the road surface and the pontoon will be worn out."

Gao Zhendong nodded: "Yes, these two tubes are made of aluminum alloy, which makes them very abrasive to the road surface, and they are not very wear-resistant themselves. So my suggestion is that when you absolutely need to cross a long paved road, find a vehicle to tow them over."

This is also the polar bear's solution—simple and direct.

Well, Chief Engineer Gao's idea was brilliant, but when put into practice, it was truly subpar. The comrades suddenly felt they'd strayed to another extreme.

But the comrades looked at the car and the more they looked at it, the more wonderful it seemed.

"We'll get back to work immediately!" The details don't need Chief Engineer Gao's time to worry about; they'll handle them themselves. Actually, the most ingenious part of this car is its structure and operating principles; everything else is relatively easy to manage, and the comrades are confident they can solve it.

When the comrades from Zhanyang Heavy Machinery returned to the National Defense Industry Committee's guesthouse, the curious leaders of the committee asked them to show them Gao Zhendong's design drawings. They were completely baffled by Gao Zhendong's drawings.

Stunned and speechless, that's all there is to it.

"This thing... it's absolutely amazing!"

To be honest, although it looks ugly at first glance, it gradually becomes more pleasing to the eye after a few more looks.

Most importantly, this thing really does solve the problem!
(End of this chapter)