Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

More than 30 minutes later.

The conference room of the Xia State National Space Research Institute.

Urged on by Cao Liangcai, all the researchers in the institute quickly took their seats.

Lu Yongchang stood in front of the conference table, his gaze sweeping over everyone with a serious expression, before reaching out to turn on the projector.

"Everyone, I'm sure you've all received the notification from your superiors."

"The Long March 10 heavy-lift carrier rocket project will be halted from now on."

Although everyone present had received the news last night, at this moment, each researcher still showed a hint of sadness and reluctance on their face.

With a research period of five years, it is no exaggeration to say that the Long March 10 heavy-lift carrier rocket project is like a child carefully nurtured by these researchers!

"I also do research, and I understand how you all feel."

"However, I'm sure you're all well aware of Xia Kingdom's current predicament!"

Sensing the heavy atmosphere in the meeting room, Lü Yongchang took a deep breath and then clicked the left mouse button: "Xia Kingdom needs a more effective way to promote its development!"

The projector's changing lights attracted everyone's attention.

Electric Propulsion Technology

"Electric propulsion?!"

"This...this is impossible!"

In just a moment, the meeting room became noisy.

A series of doubts then reached Lü Yongchang's ears.

Cao Liangcai, the director of the research institute, changed his expression slightly and looked at Lü Yongchang, who remained calm, with a puzzled look.

"Cough cough..."

Seeing that the discussions in the conference room were getting louder and louder, Cao Liangcai had no choice but to stand up and cough lightly.

"Professor Lü, the electric propulsion system you mentioned, are you referring to Hall thrusters?"

Lü Yongchang nodded slightly, a smile appearing in his eyes: "What? Academician Cao has research in this area?"

Cao Liangcai's pupils suddenly contracted!

Hall thrusters... It really is a Hall thruster!

He shook his head with a wry smile: "Professor Lü, if you want to use Hall thrusters to replace chemical fuel rockets... I advise you to give up now."

A hint of doubt flickered in Lü Yongchang's eyes: "What do you mean by that?"

Cao Liangcai sighed softly: "Professor Lü, you must be interested in the specific impulse of the Hall thruster, right?"

Lu Yongchang's expression hardened slightly, then he nodded.

Upon seeing this scene, the bitterness in Cao Liangcai's eyes intensified!

"Our institute conducted research on the Hall thruster project a long time ago."

"Initially, we were all very confident in it, and many academicians even believed that the Hall thruster was the most perfect propulsion system!"

Unfortunately, reality is always much crueler than imagination.

"In the laboratory, the maximum thrust of a Hall thruster is about 200 millinewtons."

At this point, Cao Liangcai sighed deeply again.

"Professor Lü, what can 200 millinewtons do?"

"Within the atmosphere, it can probably only move a few sheets of A4 paper, right?"

"Given this, do you think Hall thrusters can still replace traditional chemical rockets?"

Faced with Cao Liangcai's questioning, Lü Yongchang chuckled and said calmly, "Academician Cao, don't be in such a hurry."

"It's not too late to make a judgment after I've finished speaking."

As he spoke, Lü Yongchang gently pressed the mouse again.

"Academician Cao, could you please tell me the power output of the Hall thruster that was originally installed in the research institute?"

Cao Liangcai stared blankly at the completely black cylinder on the projection screen for a moment.

What is this thing?

With his limited knowledge, he couldn't even recognize the object in the picture?!

Upon hearing Lü Yongchang's question, he instinctively replied, "Around 20 kilowatts."

Lü Yongchang understood.

The next moment, a mysterious smile appeared on Lü Yongchang's face: "What if I told you I could increase the power to over 1000 megawatts?"

Cao Liangcai gasped sharply.

Even someone as seasoned as him couldn't contain his shock and jumped up from the chair next to the conference table!

"What did you say?!"

"1000 megawatts?!"

A faint smile appeared on Lü Yongchang's lips, and he nodded slightly.

Cao Liangcai's pupils trembled slightly. He swallowed hard and asked in a hoarse voice, "Professor Lü, do you know what 1000 megawatts means?"

"You don't actually want Pangu One to power it, do you?!"

At this point, Cao Liangcai's heart stirred slightly.

A crazy idea slowly emerged in his mind.

Could it be that……

He suddenly turned his head to look at the projection screen next to him!

"Pangu One is unlikely," Lü Yongchang nodded with a smile, and continued, "However, miniaturized fusion reactors do exist."

"What?!"

"Holy crap?!"

"What the hell?!"

In an instant, several gasps rang out in the conference room.

Ignoring the "noise," Lü Yongchang straightened his expression and pointed to the projection screen: "Let me introduce it to you."

"The latest achievement of Xia Guo's No. 1 Laboratory: Fusion Reactor Miniaturization Technology."

"What you see before you is the core of a small fusion reactor, equivalent to the reactor in Pangu 1."

"Two meters high, one meter in diameter!"

"..."

After he finished speaking, the meeting room fell silent.

Cao Liangcai stood blankly by the conference table, his hands trembling slightly with excitement.

"Professor Lü... is what you're saying true?"

It wasn't that he didn't trust Lü Yongchang's words.

This is all so unbelievable!

The Pangu One fusion reactor was just unveiled not long ago.

Just over a month later, fusion reactor miniaturization technology was presented to him?!

Cao Liangcai even reached out and pinched his own thigh hard!

Ouch! That hurts!

"Of course it's true!" Lu Yongchang's expression turned serious. "Yesterday, witnessed by Speaker Li, the first ignition test of the small fusion reactor was a complete success!"

"Although the supporting power generation equipment is not yet finalized, I can guarantee that the small fusion reactor technology will be fully mature within a month!"

Cao Liangcai took a deep breath.

I have to say, he was tempted!

1000 megawatts of power!

Even with the simplest and most direct multiplier conversion, the Hall thruster using a small fusion reactor can still generate a full 1 ton of thrust!

"What about the issues of heat generation and energy loss?"

Cao Liangcai's heart stirred slightly as he recalled a very important question.

Ordinary wires cannot withstand the powerful current of a small fusion reactor!

Lü Yongchang chuckled and clicked the mouse again.

"What about room-temperature superconducting coils?"

"What?!" Cao Liangcai's eyes widened in shock. "Xia Country already has room-temperature superconductor technology?!"

"Otherwise, Academician Cao, how do you think we built Pangu-1?"

Lü Yongchang chuckled and asked in return.

Because of confidentiality agreements, most researchers are unaware of the advanced technologies contained within Pangu One.