This star is going to the moon

Chapter 386 Ma Yilong: "As long as the Super Falcon rocket succeeds, everything will be alright!"

Human space exploration has been developing for quite some time, but the cost of space launches has remained high.

Fortunately, the number of launches was not high in the early stages, so cost was not the biggest problem.

The biggest problem is the lack of technology; we can't even go to space if we want to.

However, when human technological development encounters obstacles and begins to seek technological breakthroughs in the cosmic environment, cost becomes a major obstacle to human technological progress.

In order to save costs, engineers came up with all sorts of ways.

For example, equipment tests that require astronauts to operate 10 times in manned space missions can be moved to cargo space missions in batches.

Simply put, it involves breaking down complex equipment into ten modules, testing one module per cargo mission, and then combining the overall data after ten launches for analysis.

Despite the increased number of space launches, the cost has still decreased.

After all, cargo space launches are much cheaper than manned space launches.

The only problem is that the timeline has been greatly extended after the manned experiments, which could originally be completed in a short time, were split into ten unmanned experiments.

If a problem occurs in any step, such as a problem with the equipment or the rocket, the experiment may be interrupted, require waiting, have its timeline extended, or even be aborted.

Even with the development of automation and intelligent technologies, which can now combine ten tasks into five, the problems of long duration and high risks remain.

But now a fully reusable space shuttle has emerged, and its operating costs are basically maintenance and fuel, which is much cheaper than the previous manned spaceflight costs.

While not as expensive as the partially reused "Wanhu" rocket used only for cargo transport, it is enough for some institutions and companies to reconsider using manpower to complete complex space experiments in one go.

In fact, having astronauts operate the equipment directly in the past was not only expensive, but also quite troublesome.

After all, astronauts are on the space station, and some organizations and companies don't have the qualifications to send their equipment to the space station.

Even if they do get in, astronauts stay on the space station for months at a time. After the astronauts complete their experiments and tests, the relevant units and companies can only get the data immediately and cannot retrieve their experimental equipment in a short period of time.

They might not even be able to retrieve the experimental equipment.

Because the downlink capability of manned spacecraft is too limited and too precious, a capacity of only a few dozen kilograms cannot carry much.

Of course, the US had an advantage in this regard because it possessed the Space Shuttle, but the US eventually lost its Space Shuttle.

Now, the Chinese possess a space shuttle that is more advanced than the Space Shuttle, while the Americans only have manned spacecraft.

The two sides have been switched!
After the successful test flight of the "Wooden Kite" class space shuttle, many organizations and companies began to consider this matter.

Now, several organizations and companies have proactively contacted Bluestar Aerospace to begin carefully discussing the feasibility of these missions.

If the experiment only requires a weightless environment and a "small amount" of radiation, the astronauts can operate the equipment directly in the cabin, and one person can operate several pieces of equipment.

If the experiment requires a weightless environment and a "large" radiation environment, the equipment can be installed in an airlock.

When an exposure experiment is required, the space shuttle can automatically open the outer hatch and protective shell, directly putting the airlock into a vacuum state.

If astronauts need to operate experimental equipment in this state, BlueStar Space needs to install a robotic arm in the airlock, and the astronauts will remotely operate it from inside the sealed cabin.

Because space shuttles are an undisputed new invention, their functions beyond simply carrying people and cargo require the participation and expansion of various parties.

For example, the classic statement: "XX is just a 'so-and-so' game designer, what does he know about 'so-and-so' games?"

To explore multiple gameplay options for a certain game, a large number of players are needed, and there will always be some exceptionally talented players who can develop new or unusual gameplay.

Finally, everyone exclaimed in surprise, "You guys really lost money selling this game for 298!"

While China and the US were holding extensive discussions about the wider application of new technologies, the US was also promoting its superiority to the world. On the 9th, the advanced prototype of the 9-meter-diameter "Super Falcon" second-stage rocket stood on a makeshift launch pad undergoing final checks before its test flight, while Elon Musk monitored various data from a distant command center.

After confirming that the data was correct, he turned his attention to the advanced prototype of the 9-meter-diameter "Super Falcon" second-stage rocket standing in the distance.

Compared to the initial prototype, which resembled a "stainless steel water tower," the advanced prototype now looks like a true "Super Falcon" second-stage rocket.

(Net map)
It is 50 meters high and 9 meters in diameter, with a bullet-shaped design and four movable wing surfaces.

If you stack it with the 70-meter-tall first-stage rocket, it will look as if the "Super Falcon" rocket has been successfully developed.

Of course, it is still only an advanced prototype. Not only is the internal structure not perfect, but the external reentry surface is not covered with a whole black heat insulation tile.

Furthermore, only three test engines were installed, instead of the full set of six.

"almost!"

Elon Musk muttered to himself, "My Super Falcon rocket is almost complete."

"As long as the Super Falcon rocket succeeds, everything will be alright."

"At that time, even someone like Lu Yun... will still be my follower!"

Ma Yilong is a very proud person, and has even become arrogant in recent years.

After all, there are very few people who can achieve what he has at his age.

However, his mood has been less than good since the beginning of this year, or rather, since the successful maiden flight of the "Wooden Kite" space shuttle in the middle of the year.

To others, his Tesla company is worth hundreds of billions of dollars, so it doesn't matter if SpaceX's valuation is surpassed by BlueStar's.

After all, it's only a matter of a few hundred billion dollars.

However, Elon Musk believes that his SpaceX aerospace company is far more powerful than Tesla.

Others thought his "Mars colonization" plan was just a gimmick, but it was actually his true goal.

Ma Yilong possesses many admirable qualities of an idealist.

Of course, he is now a proud and arrogant idealist.

If he wasn't an arrogant and conceited idealist, how could he have truly believed in his previous life that he could successfully implement reforms within the empire?

How could anyone really believe they had a good relationship with that unreliable president?

In this life, Ma Yilong naturally knows nothing of his previous life, let alone what will happen in the future.

He knew that if he could build this unprecedented 9-meter diameter fully recoverable rocket as soon as possible, then Lu Yun would have no chance of winning against him in the aerospace field!
After all, Lu Yun is currently busy with the Long March 10 rocket and China's manned space program, and simply doesn't have time to work on his 10.6-meter diameter "Starship" rocket.

Ma Yilong needs to build the "Super Falcon" as soon as possible. That way, even if Lu Yun builds the "Starship" later, it will be like the relationship between the "Falcon 9" rocket and the "Wan Hu" rocket...

Lu Yun has always been a follower of Ma Yilong!
"Boss, the data is fine, we can proceed with refueling."

While Ma Yilong was thinking about these things, the staff reported.

"Well, let's get started."

"Okay, BOSS..."

At this moment, Elon Musk's assistant came over to remind him: "Boss, the National Space Station Committee's press conference is about to move to the segment about the 'Artemis Program' for returning to the moon. You mentioned earlier that you should watch this segment..."

(End of this chapter)