This star is going to the moon

Chapter 435 Mobile Rogue Warrior! Inflatable Heat Shield Ensures Single Unit Can Escape Atmosphere! (4000 words)
The Chinese are quick to respond to natural disasters, while the Americans are quick to respond to military threats.

Of course, that's still the case, at least for now.

What will happen in the future... is hard to say.

However, not all branches of the military pay attention to this. After all, the US Air Force and Navy are the "bosses," and they won't be rolling around in the mud.

Areas like urban warfare and counterinsurgency operations, where heavy powered exoskeletons are well-suited for use, are the domain of the Army and Marine Corps.

Or rather, it's the job of a fourth-class Marine Corps member.

After all, no matter how heavily equipped a powered exoskeleton is, it can't compare to a tank, especially on the front lines.

And those former military officers who retired from the army and went on to lead... oh, lead company employees back into battle, think the same way.

"Look here, this video is very clear. There are mounting holes for armor plates on various parts of the frame of this heavy powered exoskeleton. The way they install bulletproof plates should be similar to the add-on armor of the Humvee."

(Additional armor in addition to the original metal plate)

"That's right, it should also adopt a modular armor design, which can be equipped with different levels of armor protection according to different threat levels and combat needs."

"That should be it. Just like now that it's on a disaster relief mission, the heavy bulletproof plates have been removed to increase its range and allow it to carry more disaster relief supplies."

"Its protection level is probably not comparable to that of an armored vehicle, or even a light armored vehicle. After all, its power output and carrying capacity are limited, so it is impossible to install thick bulletproof plates. At most, it is like the protection of a 'rogue warrior' with full-body bulletproof plates, which can withstand light gun fire and explosive fragments."

"Dude, the 'rogue warrior' in the game is already the best protection for infantry units. The reason it doesn't exist in reality is because full-body heavy armor is too heavy. But with the help of powered exoskeletons, it's a different story..."

(A "rogue warrior" in full heavy armor)
The "Rogue Warrior" is actually called the Fearless Warrior, and his full-body heavy armor is based on the clumsy and bulky bomb disposal suit.

However, compared to the bulky full-body bomb disposal suit, the Fearless Warrior's full-body heavy armor is more like a bulletproof vest set, and looks more imposing.

But this imposing figure has one problem: it weighs 50 kilograms!

If you add a series of combat equipment, the soldier's load will approach 100 kilograms!

Therefore, this fearless warrior is just a heavy armored unit in a shooting game and will not appear in the real army.

Full-body heavy bulletproof gear greatly restricts the wearer's mobility and flexibility.

In actual combat, soldiers need to select appropriate protective equipment based on the specific combat environment.

While full-body heavy ballistic protection offers strong protection, in most cases, soldiers need mobility and flexibility to better accomplish their missions.

Soldiers especially need to carry a lot of combat equipment, which can weigh at least 20 to 30 kilograms, making it quite a burden. Therefore, bulletproof equipment is basically just a bulletproof vest.

Furthermore, heat dissipation is a challenge when the entire body is covered by heavy bulletproof equipment.

Wearers generate a lot of heat during activities, and if they cannot dissipate it effectively, it may lead to heatstroke or other health problems.

To address this issue, some advanced bomb suits have incorporated liquid cooling systems, but this has increased the complexity and weight of the equipment.

If it were carried by human hands, it would definitely be unbearable, but with a powered exoskeleton, it would be a different story!

With the exoskeleton providing power, soldiers, once clad in heavy armor, become highly protected and highly mobile "humanoid armored vehicles."

Moreover, this armored vehicle is a small target; it can not only hide in corners, but also enter buildings and even climb stairs.

What they saw in the disaster relief videos was not just that, because they also witnessed the destructive power of heavy powered exoskeletons.

You can smash the wall down!
Although it was a crumbling wall after an earthquake, and not a reinforced concrete wall in a big city, breaking through a door would be a piece of cake for a heavy-duty powered exoskeleton.

Moreover, it can carry a heavy machine gun just like an ordinary soldier carries an assault rifle!

If a team of heavily armed, powered exoskeleton warriors were to parachute into a city and participate in urban warfare, then the "super short" endurance of one or two hours wouldn't seem to be a problem.

The reason why the street fighting was so drawn out was because "they could not be taken by force" and "the casualties were heavy".

Once a team of heavily armored powered exoskeleton warriors storms into the battlefield, if they can withstand the first wave of damage and then rush into the building that serves as a defensive fortification, then the battle can basically be declared over.

Thinking about this makes some people's teeth hurt.

"The Rogue Warrior is actually moving from the game into reality."

"Still the Mobile Rogue, even more mobile and with more firepower..."

(Similar image, the leg mechanical structure and armor are quite cool)
How is our powered exoskeleton project progressing?

"Lightweight powered exoskeletons have been tested on a small scale."

"Still testing? I remember there was a small-scale equipment test a few years ago, then it went silent. Then the Chinese started large-scale testing. Now the other side has Power Rogue Warriors, why are we still testing?"

"It's not the same company. It was Raytheon before, but this time it's Lockheed Martin."

"Why can't we concentrate our efforts and resources to develop a powered exoskeleton? Why do we have to try each company one by one?"

"Don't worry, Bob, our technology is still advanced; we're just looking for the most suitable..."

Just as the Americans were feeling distressed, another earthquake struck China the very next day.

This time it happened in Maduo, a high-altitude region, and the magnitude was a full 7.4!

Fortunately, the area is sparsely populated, and the epicenter was not in a densely populated area.

However, high altitudes also have their own problems, namely, the cold weather with rain and snow, so it is necessary to set up cotton tents and distribute cotton quilts and other cold-weather supplies as soon as possible.

Thus, the outside world once again witnessed the speed of disaster relief efforts by Laos and China.

In just half a day, hundreds of cotton tents were set up at the resettlement site.

While the children were still excited about not having to go to school, the People's Liberation Army set up a tent school for them.

In front of the reporters, he even asked them, "Kids, are you happy? Isn't it novel to have class in a tent?"

Child: "...Happy"

Reporter: "We saw the children's happy smiles..."

Whether the children are truly happy remains to be seen, but viewers who saw the video were definitely happy and laughed.

This can be considered a small moment of warmth and happiness amidst the disaster.

With the intervention of the People's Liberation Army and rescue forces from all walks of life, the situation in the disaster area is rapidly improving, allowing others to return to normal life. Of course, given the current trend towards space exploration, more people are beginning to pay attention to space information.

Some people went to the cinema to watch the newly released movie "Fast & Furious 9", while others paid attention to the Shenzhou-16 manned spacecraft.

It is said that Blue Star Aerospace will deliver a "Wooden Kite" class space shuttle to the space agency at the end of this year, so manned spacecraft are becoming increasingly rare.

The reason why space travel is still a topic in the "Fast and Furious" movies is because the protagonists of the currently popular ninth installment are no longer satisfied with racing cars on the ground, but have driven their cars directly into space!

[I thought the last movie was already pretty awesome, with cars, tanks, rocket vehicles, and even submarines launching torpedoes all at once on ice. I didn't expect this one to be even more awesome—they've gone into the sky!]

[This isn't just any ordinary trip to space; it's going into space, crashing a car into a satellite to save the world!]

[I'm speechless. How could that crappy car so easily carry people to space? Even Lu Yun diligently developed the "Wooden Kite" class space shuttle.]

[Exactly, compared to *Fast & Furious 9*, *The Wandering Earth* isn't even a science fiction film. For true science fiction, you have to watch *Fast & Furious 9*.]

[Haha, I didn't think too much about it when I watched it. I just thought the scenes were grand and impressive, and it was worth the ticket price.]

Indeed, the big scenes are quite exciting to watch.

This is probably why "Fast & Furious 9" prioritizes the Chinese market, releasing it a month earlier than in North America!

That shows they really value it.

[Based on box office predictions, the domestic market is expected to contribute around $2 million, while the global box office prediction for "Fast & Furious 9" seems to be only around $7 million.]

[Only $700 million? I remember $700 million and $800 million were both over $1 billion.]

Although this film featured grand-scale space scenes, its rating was only average.

[Perhaps the idea of ​​a car crashing into a satellite in space is too far-fetched; to stay informed about space exploration, we need to focus on real-world examples.]

Yes, the Shenzhou-16 manned spacecraft and the Long March 2F Y16 carrier rocket combination have been transported to the launch area, and it seems the launch is scheduled for the end of the month.

[The Shenzhou spacecraft is already at its sixteenth phase; it's definitely an old spacecraft that needs upgrading.]

Indeed, the first Shenzhou spacecraft was launched in 1999, so it's been 22 years now.

It's alright. Our aerospace technology is constantly advancing. The Shenzhou spacecraft is estimated to be retired next year, replaced by a better and cheaper space shuttle.

According to a progress report released by Bluestar Aerospace, the second mass-produced "Wooden Kite" class space shuttle will be delivered to the space agency by the end of this year.

[That's great! I love advanced technology. Aerospace technology still needs to continue developing. If it weren't for our "StarDou" space internet, how could we have so easily contacted the outside world to seek assistance and report the situation after this earthquake?]

Yes, in the past, when the signal was cut off due to natural disasters, it was extremely difficult to fix. Even if the repair team worked through the night, it would still take a very long time.

Yes, the earthquake-stricken areas were particularly bad; one was mountainous, and the other was a plateau, making it extremely difficult to lay internet cables.

Yes, this time we could just go over and put the "Starry Sky" receiver on the ground to restore the network. It was so convenient...

It feels like our country's technological development is accelerating so fast, I'm starting to feel like I can't keep up...

Haha, no need to follow along, just enjoy the convenience of technological advancements...

For ordinary people, technology is basically a black box, so all they need to know is what it is and what it can be used for.

Just as many people understand that the Shenzhou spacecraft will definitely be retired, they are unaware that the national team still needs to consider many other things.

That is the safety of the space station and the astronauts.

When China and Laos launch Shenzhou spacecraft, there is always a Shenzhou spacecraft with the next serial number and a manned rocket ready to be placed next to it. If there is a problem with the space station and the astronauts need to escape in an emergency, a spacecraft can be prepared on the ground to pick them up quickly.

However, things will be different once the "Willow" class space shuttle is put into use. Its docking port is different from most of the docking ports on the Tiangong space station; it can only dock with the single docking port on the space pier.

If something goes wrong here, even if a second space shuttle were to come to the rescue, it wouldn't be easy to get help.

Of course, the national team is already working on new space station modules. To meet future needs, the modules of the second phase of the Tiangong space station are much larger than those of the first phase.

First, there needs to be a square docking port with a diameter of 1.2 meters to dock with the space shuttle.

Secondly, with the large fairing with a diameter of 7 meters, the cabin can be made even larger.

But this all takes time.

And for a period of time, the national team will only have one space shuttle.

The national team now knows that the space shuttle is convenient and inexpensive to use, and is unwilling to let it dock on the space station and "idle" for half a year.

But once the space shuttle leaves the Tiangong space station, the astronauts will no longer have a means to return to Earth in an emergency.

At this time, the inflatable cargo return capsule test module that the national team had previously researched came in handy.

That is, the experiment that was conducted during the first test flight of the new generation of reusable manned spacecraft.

The new spacecraft carries a small inflatable shield. When it is put on board, it is only a small piece. After it is released and deployed, it will inflate and expand on its own to form an inflatable "heat shield" that can protect the objects behind it from the impact and heat during re-entry into the atmosphere.

(Inflatable heat shield)

Its function is similar to the heavy "heat insulation base" installed on manned spacecraft, but it is lighter and cheaper.

If the spacecraft's basic hardware is lighter, then it can naturally carry more things.

This isn't actually some kind of cutting-edge technology; research on it began in the 1970s, and it's known abroad as "inflatable reentry and descent technology."

Its purpose is to deploy a large heat shield using an inflatable structure, resulting in greater drag, a lower ballistic coefficient, and better ability to push aside the hot air layer in front, thus decelerating faster, experiencing less aerodynamic heating, and returning to the ground more economically and safely.

It also has advantages such as small launch and storage volume, light weight, and being much stronger than a parachute, thus enabling safe deployment and use at altitudes and speeds where a parachute would be unable to withstand the tearing.

The development of inflatable reentry and descent technology abroad is mainly aimed at future manned Mars missions. This is because the Martian atmosphere is very thin. While parachute deceleration is suitable for unmanned landers and rovers weighing a few hundred kilograms to two or three tons, it is ineffective for manned landers and habitats weighing tens of tons.

So they came up with the idea of ​​using an inflatable heat shield instead of a parachute and a rigid heat shield to slow the plane to a safe speed before using retro-rockets for a soft landing.

Besides applications on Mars and returning samples to the space station, it may also be used for astronauts' emergency escape and return to Earth.

This event is also recorded in the Gundam universe.

(Gundam uses an inflatable shield to enter the atmosphere)
(End of this chapter)