Research starts with PhD students

Chapter 234 Another missile? Another malfunction? I really hope it's just a coincidence!
The missile interception altitude that Bob mentioned is indeed enough for the Information Administration to take seriously.

More than 120 kilometers has exceeded the internationally default airspace range of 100 kilometers.

The airspace of a country is the space 100 kilometers above the ground. Everything below 100 kilometers is under the jurisdiction of the country on the ground, and there is no jurisdiction beyond 100 kilometers.

Today's space technology is very advanced. Satellite altitudes can easily reach hundreds or thousands of kilometers, and commercial satellites can reach as high as 26,000 kilometers. Satellite orbits naturally will not involve a country's airspace rights.

More than 100 kilometers, the altitude is already high enough.

At this altitude of missile flight, only a few countries have the ability to intercept, and they are all the most advanced air defense missiles in the military field, including but not limited to the high-numbered Hongqi series, GMD land-based mid-course missiles, Standard 3block2A, Arrow-3, etc.

"An interceptor missile with a range of more than 120 kilometers must be taken seriously. But they may be testing a new type of anti-missile weapon!"

Josh Abbott stood behind Bob and said, "Are you sure there were no interceptors?"

"Not sure yet."

Bob operated the computer and browsed through several pictures in succession, saying, "I just checked the main image, and it's not there."

"Let's look for it together!"

Abbott sat down next to him and asked a few people around him to look for it together.

As they searched, they said, "From the images, it looks like a malfunction. There was no explosion."

"That thick smoke, isn't it an explosion?"

"Thick smoke and explosions are different. You can tell from the spectrum and understand a little from the images. These images clearly only show smoke."

"Is it really a malfunction? Not some anti-aircraft missile experiment?"

They searched as they talked, but still found nothing.

In the end, they could only unanimously conclude, "It must be a malfunction."

"Don't you think it's strange that a medium-range missile malfunctioned when it reached an altitude of more than 100 kilometers?"

"Why launch this missile? What are they testing? They clearly have more terrifying missile technology..."

"Anyway, this is what the data shows right now. Maybe there was an interceptor missile... or maybe it missed the target?"

"The anti-aircraft missile missed the target, and then the control of the medium-range missile malfunctioned in space?"

“That seems to make sense…”

The data obtained by the Space Information Center did not contain any information related to air defense missiles.

The so-called air defense missiles are just speculation.

The Information Management Bureau still reported the news, but the relevant content would definitely not attract attention because it was just a missile that was damaged in mid-air.

This seemed to have become a piece of public opinion for the Space Information Center and even for the United States, because there was nothing to keep secret.

The next day, the news was even pushed to the media, "In the northwest sky, a medium-range missile malfunctioned at an altitude of 120 kilometers..."

"The missile emitted thick smoke and destroyed itself!"

When the news broke, many people started discussing, "Will this happen to them too? I thought it was only in India."

“It’s rare!”

"Maybe there are many that have not been exposed because their experiments are confidential. It was just captured on camera this time."

"What kind of medium-range missile are you?"

"I guess it's just a routine experiment? Maybe it's to test the missile's ability to self-destruct at high altitude?"

There were some discussions in the international community, but the opinions did not spread too widely because there was really nothing to say.

If the incident happened in India, there might be more ridicule, but if it happened in China, it would not be a big deal because the country has the most advanced intercontinental missiles in the world.

Compared to an intercontinental missile, what is a medium-range missile?

Maybe it was just an unconventional experiment, or just some kind of drill, or some other reason. In short, it doesn't sound interesting.

The higher authorities in China who knew the news began to pay attention to international public opinion.

Some decision-makers from higher-level departments also said a few words in response, "It finally came out."

"Although the information is not accurate and it is probably just regarded as a self-destruction or malfunction, it also means that the experiment can be accurately discovered."

"There is no other way. There are satellites everywhere in space. Even commercial satellites have very high accuracy, not to mention military satellites."

"As long as we conduct experiments in space, it is impossible to maintain complete confidentiality."

"Let's proceed with the experiment as normal."

There is no way.

As long as relevant experiments are conducted, they will definitely be discovered. The same is true in reverse. They can also discover other movements in the sky.

The United States has a global space monitoring system.

In this regard, we are still ahead of the domestic market.

Therefore, as long as relevant experiments are conducted, they will definitely be discovered, and it is only a matter of time to infer the specific content of the experiments.

However, testing must be done.

A brand-new weapon technology can only be discovered and improved through repeated experiments. Only when it is perfect enough can it be manufactured and put into service.

Besides, getting discovered isn’t a big deal.

If you master more advanced military technology, you must let others know, otherwise it will become meaningless.

This is the current international situation. China possesses the most advanced intercontinental missile technology, so why should it make it public?
Why is launch deterrence necessary?

This is a deterrent.

Given the military technology that modern humans possess, a world war is simply impossible, and if it were to break out, humanity would likely face a catastrophic disaster.

Therefore, external deterrence is even more important. Only with sufficient deterrence can the opponent be timid and thus ensure greater security.

……

Source Point Theory Research Center, second floor of the main building of the center.

Zhang Shuo and Gao Xiaoming were also discussing the news about medium-range missiles in the international media. They were aware of the experiments of Tong Zhiguo's team and knew that the military had developed ground weapons using experimental technology.

The first thing they thought of was a weapons test, and after seeing the leaked images, they were 100% sure it was a weapons test.

The thick smoke from the missiles is very similar to the 'corrosion' of the ground by the ion nuclear force field.

Gao Xiaoming asked quietly, "It should be a test of that kind of weapon, at an altitude of more than 120 kilometers..."

He pursed his lips and shook his head, and asked curiously, "What do you think the coverage height is?"

The research and development of military weapons is based on the experiments of Tong Zhiguo's team, but it is uncertain to what extent the developed weapons apply technology.

They didn't have accurate information.

"Probably a few hundred kilometers."

Zhang Shuo joked, "In theory, the range can directly cover the moon, but in reality, of course it cannot supply such high energy, and the energy of the ion group will be dissipated during the emission process, so it will be over in just a few seconds." "A few seconds, how far is that?" Gao Xiaoming asked again.

Zhang Shuo shook his head in a lecherous manner and didn't say anything more on the topic.

He had an estimate in his mind.

Theoretically, the initial velocity of an ion cluster can reach one tenth of the speed of light, but because the higher the acceleration, the greater the energy required, so a few hundredths of the speed of light is enough.

Even if it is one thousandth of the speed of light, it is still 300 kilometers per second.

Generally speaking, taking into account the attenuation in the atmosphere, the energy of the ion cluster can be maintained for four to five seconds.

It only takes one second at most to travel from the launch port on the ground to an altitude of 120 kilometers. In the process of breaking out of the atmosphere, the ion cluster will also slow down. However, unlike physical matter, the resistance strength of the atmosphere is not high, so it is good enough if the speed can be reduced by half.

Therefore, the strike range of weapons tested on the ground can cover a minimum altitude of 1000 kilometers.

Zhang Shuo did not continue discussing this topic with Gao Xiaoming, but instead talked about the theoretical and technical issues of nuclear force.

This was also the purpose of Gao Xiaoming's visit. He hoped to know more detailed information and also hoped to get guidance from Zhang Shuo.

For example, basic experimental direction.

Zhang Shuo also gave some advice, "Your research needs to involve a lot of basic experiments, and it is best to start with low-temperature, low-activity single-element ions."

"Let's start with lithium. Actually, I think lithium-based materials are also acceptable. The disadvantage is that the energy release efficiency is not high. In addition, the particles are very active, so the problem of controlling the internal energy balance needs to be solved."

"It would be even better if we could find a more suitable single-element substance."

"Personally, I think it is not recommended to experiment with elements with numbers higher than iron, because the energy intensity released will be very high and control will be more difficult."

……

After Zhang Shuo talked with Gao Xiaoming, he gave him some basic theoretical information.

These are all related to the study of electromagnetic force and strong force.

In reality, however, theoretical data are not very helpful for experiments. Taking them back can only help scholars in the project team to better understand the theory, which may help them determine the direction of the experiment. Of course, the prerequisite is that they have a deep understanding of the theory.

After Gao Xiaoming left, Zhang Shuo received some news related to weapons experiments. The military experimental team sent some data.

These are the experimental data.

The data are so densely packed together that it is impossible to understand them. Only Zhang Shuo can understand the information and connect it with theoretical research.

These experimental data can help him understand the impact of the special force field generated by the interference of electromagnetic force with strong force on matter and even particles.

The military department also consulted Zhang Shuo specifically on weapons testing issues, mainly asking about the deviation problem of ion cluster acceleration.

This involves the precision of the trajectory of the ion cluster.

The ion cluster is accelerated inside the device. Because the acceleration takes place in a circular accelerator, which is a circular trajectory, when the speed is too fast, the particles will collide with the accelerator pipe.

As the trajectory of the ion group constantly changes and enters the reaction port, the trajectory adjustment will also be affected by the pipeline, which will affect the accuracy of the launch moment.

Even if the trajectory deviates only a little, and you may even subconsciously think it can be ignored, the situation will be different when you travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers away.

The accuracy of the trajectory not only involves the problem of the pipeline, but also involves the changes in the ion cluster caused by the impact, and even the changes in the field force.

After Zhang Shuo understood the problem, he made a calculation based on the experimental data.

Because the problem involved many factors, he even created a C-level difficulty task and spent three days in the office. He finally completed all the calculations and gave the military a set of adjustable ranges for stable trajectory control.

This solves the problem of weapon accuracy.

After solving the problem, Zhang Shuo destroyed all related calculation contents and then re-invested in theoretical research.

……

The work Zhang Shuo does silently has a great impact.

The military weapons team modified the equipment based on the data and then began to prepare for the second test. In fact, the second test was not started until a few months later. It mainly involved the stability of the trajectory. In other words, they were not sure whether the emitted ion group could accurately hit the target at a given height.

Now with the trajectory control data provided by Zhang Shuo, we can simply make minor corrections to the equipment and then proceed to the next test.

This test was conducted about a month after the last one, and the target was changed to missiles at an altitude of 500 kilometers.

500 kilometers is already in outer space, and the height can be said to be a qualitative improvement.

This altitude belongs to the mid-course anti-missile interception technology, which is also the most advanced anti-missile interception technology. Because the initial and middle stages of the missile launch are still within the country's own territory, it is generally impossible to intercept it.

If interception is carried out in the terminal stage, the missile's speed has already reached several Machs or more, which is technically very difficult and may also have a great impact on the ground.

Therefore, for long-range missiles, the best position for interception is the middle stage of flight in outer space.

If this test can be completed, the new weapon technology will have surpassed the most advanced anti-missile weapon technology mastered in the country.

Testing is, of course, very important.

When the interception altitude was raised to over 500 kilometers, even higher-level decision-makers began to be concerned about testing issues, which also brought considerable pressure to the weapons development team.

In the tense atmosphere, the moment of testing finally arrived.

The missile has been launched.

When the altitude reached 100 kilometers, the missile had been locked by radar, and at the same time, the ground test weapons began to start and predict.

This process needs to be very fast.

If an anti-missile attack is really launched, there will not be much preparation time. At the same time, the acceleration time of the ion group in the ring device is limited, and the speed cannot be increased too high.

After several minutes of preparation, accompanied by a 'launch' command, the ion cluster was successfully launched.

Many testers closed their eyes tightly, and some even put their hands on their chests and prayed.

It didn't take long before a shout came from the command center, "Success!"

"The target has been successfully hit and has been shot down..."

"Hula~~~"

The command center suddenly became boiling.

The other side of the earth.

Andrew Hochul, an employee of the Information Management Bureau at the Space Information Center, was suddenly stunned when he stared at an instantly transmitted picture.

"Oh, God!"

He took a deep breath, stood up and shouted, "Come and see, you will never guess what happened!"

Several people nearby gathered around.

Josh Abbott also walked over. When he was halfway there, he heard Hochul shout, "It seems to be another medium-range missile, 517 kilometers altitude, northwest 109xx area, suspected malfunction, a lot of smoke is coming out."

"It's falling fast...exactly the same as last time."

"I hope it's just a coincidence!"

(End of this chapter)