I ask you to build tractors, but you build rockets?

Hexagonal building.

In the AAF Air Force Intelligence Research Office, Michael Carey summoned NACA Director Claire again.

Kaili's face was more serious than ever before, giving Claire a bad feeling.

The intelligence analyst placed a stack of photos on the table and explained to Claire what happened:

"Three hours ago, an RC135 at the Okinawa base accidentally caught up with an H1 space shuttle as it entered orbit via air launch.

The external announcement of the Aviation Development Commission is very brief, but we took all of them, whether it is photos or videos. "

Claire picked up a photo, which showed the Lightning assembly just separated from the An-1250. He knew just from the color of the tail flame that the Lightning's engine must be liquid hydrogen fuel.

Since both the Aviation Development Commission and Xinyuan have not released any more information for the time being, they do not know the name of the Lightning at present, but only labeled it with an "H1X" designation.

"MAKS" Claire pondered for a moment and said a combination of letters.

“This is the former Alliance’s MAKS, multi-purpose aerospace program, which used large transport aircraft to air-launch space shuttles with external disposable fuel tanks, and the Chinese resurrected them.

Well...yes, they have a large enough transport aircraft, and the space shuttle is also ready. The H1X has been slightly modified, and that's it. "

Carey: "I know this, did you notice, H1X was launched in the Pacific Ocean."

Claire: "The An-1250 can take it anywhere, and it can freely choose the launch location, which is great."

Carey: "Obviously, the X37B is lagging behind again. I think air-launching from airplanes is cheaper and more convenient than rockets, right?"

Claire: "Of course, every large transport aircraft is a movable launch station. The maximum launch mass of the X37B is only about 10 tons. If the fuel tank is about 120 to 160 tons, then the C5 transport aircraft can launch it .

So, you want this? "

"H1X is unmanned," the intelligence analyst answered for Carey:

"We think this should be a civilian launch mission, but obviously China's X37B or something else can also be launched like this, either unmanned or manned. The size of the H1X has not changed much, and the launch mass is definitely 15 tons. above.

Do you remember the MiG 105? A real aerospace fighter is about the same size as the H1X but can carry people. The X37B does not have such potential, and the Dream Chaser is closer. "

Carey: "We hope to develop an unmanned space fighter larger than the X37B based on the Dream Chaser, and manned ones will also be carried out. The survivability and convenience of air launch are very much needed by the Air Force. Tell me, how long will this take?"

Claire thought for a while, holding the photos on the table and thinking carefully about how to use the existing equipment to develop Ami's MAKS.

The transport aircraft C5 is enough. The T-shaped tail is not as good as the H-shaped tail of the An-1250 and may be burned by the space shuttle tail flame, so it must be released after a while before igniting. This will waste a little speed, but it is not a big problem.

You have to ask Boeing about the modification of the C5, but it should be enough to carry a weight of less than 200 tons.

The fuel tank is easy to handle, and the technology of the old space shuttle is easy to deal with.

Finally, there’s the space shuttle. The Dream Chaser is a good weight, but it needs some modifications, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.

Claire finally raised a finger:

"In one year, we have developed the air-launched Dream Chaser system based on the C5. This is already very fast. This project requires the participation of Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Rocketdyne. The quotation... I think 10 billion The dollar gets it done.”

Carey: “Then let’s name it the Multi-purpose aerospace program (MSP). Damn it, we were so negative about the space shuttle before, but now we keep building various space shuttles.

NSTS, FATS plus MSP, the Air Force's funds will be drained by your space agency. "

Claire: "Abandoning the space shuttle may indeed be a mistake, but we are correcting these mistakes, aren't we? And NACA is busier than you think. The H2M Pioneer is launched tomorrow, but our SLS is still half a month away.

To be honest, the main force of MSP will be Boeing, and NACA has no more energy. "

…

"The secret weapon is exposed, the aerospace plane is coming!"

"The International Ocean Society's abandoned fuel tanks will cause serious pollution to the Pacific Ocean, causing heavy metal levels to exceed legal limits."

"A spokesman for the Hexagon expressed serious concerns about the space shuttle launch operation of An-1250 in the South Pacific Ocean."

"Xinyuan: Lightning is a commercial launch vehicle and does not have military purposes."

"The MAKS plan is resurrected. Will the MiG-105 be reborn in China?"

The Aerospace Development Commission’s response to the launch of the Lightning was mediocre and there was very little content in the announcement. However, Aramco obtained a large number of images and videos of RC135 and began to hype it wildly on the Internet.

They directly regarded the Lightning as a product of the Shenlong Project, and simulated the appearance of the Lightning being chased by the satellite and shot down by An-1250.

The Arab Air Force initiated an emergency bill in Congress and came up with the MSP plan to require benchmarking with the Lightning, which made the air launch system extremely popular.

Like the FATS plan, the mobile launch and low-cost advantages of the MSP plan instantly became the commanding heights of the future for the US military. Media everywhere envisioned various horrific scenes and cited the MAKS plan from the alliance period as evidence.

Xinyuan came out to refute the rumors and explained the purpose of the Lightning, but no one believed it, not even himself.

The outside world has labeled the Lightning as an aerospace plane. After all, the Lightning does not throw booster rockets and flies into space entirely under its own power. It can barely be regarded as an aerospace plane.

In addition to surprise, the domestic reaction is only pride. After all, the Lightning will be launched on the 27th, and the Pioneer will fly for the first time on the 30th. Two new space shuttles will fly for the first time in one month. It seems to be better than Aramco in the Cold War?

However, for other players, what they felt was a strong sense of tearing.

Yuri Borisov just got off the plane in Qiongzhou, and he will be invited to watch the Pioneer's first unmanned flight.

Naturally, there is a purpose for returning to China as the director of RKA. Compared with the last visit, Lucia's economic momentum has improved a lot. With the funds obtained from India, RKA has officially decided to start the manned moon landing project. Plan justification.

It is obviously unrealistic to compete with China and the United States, which are in love and fighting each other across the Pacific Ocean. Lucia is still more cautious now. She plans to spend a small amount of money to do big things, and save a little to be able to land on the moon at the same time as Europe.

The previous lunar base cooperation agreement with CASA was relatively general and hasty, but this time it is much more detailed. For example, it can be discussed which specific parts will be manufactured and launched by Lucia, so as to adjust the rocket development plan.

As soon as the result landed, he heard that the MAKS plan that the alliance had failed to achieve was actually realized by them, and Yuri suddenly felt panicked.

Those are all alliances, all our Lucia’s ideas!

Also following Yuri was former Soyuz rocket engine designer Yevgeny Miklin. The latter participated in the development of the main engine of the Energia rocket and MAKS, and his experience was even more profound.

There was a time when Lucia was able to carry out space programs so frequently and produce spacecrafts like sausages, but now it can't even afford the funds to replicate its previous achievements.

Miklin is 70 years old. He is now leading the demonstration of the development of Lucia's new generation of reusable rockets. However, the biggest problem is not the technology at all, but the completely unguaranteed funds.

How to catch up with the world's cutting-edge level with limited funds is a problem.

The state is a bit bad...sneak attack!