This star is going to the moon

Chapter 164: A new generation of confidence, a linear gas plug engine test run

Since realizing that Lu Yun has an important position in the aerospace field, not only did Ma Yilong set up an observation group for Lu Yun Information, but other powerful aerospace companies also did so.

Therefore, Lu Yun’s live broadcast was followed by a large number of “friendly competitors”.

When Lu Yun said, "The Kite space shuttle will make its maiden flight in the middle of next year," not to mention the reactions of other companies, the head of Lockheed Martin's aerospace department almost jumped up with excitement!

"Hurry up and write the report so we can ask Congress for money!"

Although Lockheed Martin and Boeing have formed a "United Launch Alliance" to provide important launch services to the US government and important customers, there is also a lot of competition between them.

Especially since Boeing is leading the development of the SLS rocket and the "Starliner" spacecraft that competes with Ma Yilong's "Dragon spacecraft", Lockheed Martin is so envious that its teeth are about to break.

Although Boeing has assigned it a lot of business, it is not as good as having the dominant business. How much money has Boeing asked Congress for with the SLS rocket and the Starliner spacecraft? They are clearly two gooses that lay golden eggs!

Originally, Lockheed Martin also had a new golden goose, the "VentureStar" that was intended to succeed the space shuttle.

That is, an unmanned single-stage orbital reusable space launch vehicle that launches vertically and returns horizontally.

Of course, it was impossible to build such a huge aircraft with a take-off mass of thousands of tons at the beginning, so Lockheed Martin's famous "Skunk Works" first built a small X-33 verification aircraft.

As a result, by 13, due to many difficult-to-overcome technical difficulties, NASA canceled the X-33 project, which had already cost $ billion.

What a pity for Lockheed Martin!

Unexpectedly, more than ten years later, the opportunity came again!
"Blue Star Aerospace simply stole our technology and developed a space shuttle. This shows how mature our aerospace technology is!"

"If Congress could invest $20 billion, we could have the X-33 flying within a year!"

"If we invest $40 billion, we can turn the X-33 into a space shuttle within two years!"

Of course, having said that, the supervisor actually didn't know whether it would succeed or not. After all, he was not a technical expert, let alone the technical expert who was developing the X-33 at the time.

But everyone is doing it anyway. Boeing has been asking Congress for money again and again, but the SLS rocket has not yet made its maiden flight.

Anyway, just get the money first!

Lu Yun didn't know that he was being treated as a "cash cow" by his "friendly competitors". After they finished talking about this issue, the screen cut to the rocket launch site, and then they looked at the barrage feedback.

"This science education campaign was very successful. Most people have already understood the situation. We shouldn't pay attention to sarcastic comments like this, this, and this. The more sarcastic they are, the more it means we're doing the right thing."

Listening to Lu Yun's confident words, the middle-aged Mr. Zhong sighed, "I envy the confidence of your generation of young people. Back then, too many of us lacked confidence, so many of us stayed in the US after studying abroad and contributed to it."

"The reason why the United States has such strong aerospace capabilities now is due to the contributions of many Chinese engineers."

Lu Yun smiled and said, "Don't worry, President Zhong, young people will become more and more confident in the future!"

"People like us, the post-90s generation, have actually experienced huge changes in the times, but many of us still can't adapt to the changes and lack confidence."

"As for the younger children today, they've known for as long as they can remember that their country's economy has been the world's second-strongest. We have the independently operated Tiangong space station, where astronauts rotate on a permanent basis. And militarily, we have two aircraft carrier fleets, the Type 055 destroyer, and stealth fighter jets. It's impossible for them not to be confident."

President Zhong laughed when he heard this: "Haha, that's right, the new generation must be more confident..."

As they were chatting, the manned rocket carrying the Shenzhou XII spacecraft entered the countdown, and they immediately returned to their seats to wait for launch.

The Shenzhou XII lived up to expectations and took off safely with the astronauts at 9:22 a.m. CCTV resumed live broadcast at 3 p.m., showing the docking of the spacecraft with the space station.

But Lu Yun is gone, and has been replaced by two new experts.

(Virtual image)

"We saw that the Shenzhou XII spacecraft had docked with the space station, docking at the lower docking port of the Tianhe core module."

"Well, it's the bottom. It's easier to understand this way. It forms a rather strange 'T' structure..."

Hearing the expert's words, the comments section burst into laughter. [This isn't a "T" structure, it's clearly a "baton" structure.]

[Yes, yes, yes, I think it looks like a baton with a handle too!]

[Hahaha, that's it. I wonder if our Baton Space Station can elbow down the International Space Station?]

[Isn't that too rough? Our space station has a robotic arm, right? Could we install a pair of scissors and use them to cut the solar panels on the International Space Station?]

[No, we are a peace-loving country. We must be responsible and cannot act like bandits like the Americans.]

[That's right, that's right. Look, the astronauts have entered the space station. Is it my imagination? Our space station is really advanced!]

[It's not an illusion. Our space station is advanced, and the layout is very new. It's not like the mess inside the International Space Station.]

The International Space Station is indeed too old. It's said to be leaking. It might be scrapped when it re-enters the atmosphere.

Nie Haisheng was the first to enter the space station. Haha, he's already flown into Tiangong-2, becoming the first astronaut to have entered three types of space stations!

[Awesome! I want to be an astronaut too. Floating in space feels so cool!]

[You don't have the chance to become an astronaut. Why not wait for Lu Yun's Kite space shuttle and buy a ticket to travel into space?]

【By the way, why didn’t Ro-Woon come to the live broadcast this afternoon? 】

Of course, I went to the engine test center next to the company's intelligent manufacturing base.

The linear aeroplane piston engine of the Kite is about to undergo a semi-system test.

Looking at the "square" rocket engine on the modified test bench, which was different from the previous one, Lu Yun was excited.

"How are the preparations going?"

Test Drive Supervisor: "Don't worry, Mr. Lu, there's absolutely no problem. We can start anytime!"

"Okay, let's get started!"

"Yes!"

Lu Yun stood next to the deputy general manager of the engine department and noticed that he was a little nervous. He patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Engineer Zhao, you were very confident before, why are you nervous now?"

Engineer Zhao said helplessly, "It's you, Mr. Lu, who has once again confirmed the date for the Muyuan's maiden flight, and you announced it live on CCTV. And this engine is the heart of the Muyuan. How can I not be nervous?"

Lu Yun laughed even more happily when he heard this: "Haha, it seems that I am still putting pressure on you. But don't worry, I know the engine I designed, there will definitely be no problem!"

As they talked, several people walked towards the control center. Looking at the engine through the camera was a different perspective.

The test supervisor said, "Mr. Lu, shall we start the test?"

"start!"

"Understood," the test supervisor signaled to the operator, "Ignite it."

“明白，5、4、3、2、1，点火！”

"boom--"

The "square" engine suddenly spewed out blue flames, pouring down the ramp of the engine and suddenly hitting the diversion channel pool below!

(Net map)
As the violent steam rose up, Lu Yun heard the roar of the engine and knew that the engine was successful!
This sound is just right!

(End of this chapter)