Chapter 767 Second Generation Space Shuttle!

The upgrade of the high-brightness LH-LHC hadron collider has been officially completed, with a collision performance of up to 35Tev energy level, verification of the strong-electric unified theory, and exploration of dark matter and inert neutrinos.

As soon as the relevant news came out, it set off a heated discussion in the entire physics community.

On the internationally renowned physics forum PhysicsForums, a wave of discussion has been set off.

[The upgrade of LHC is completed! The collision experiment at the 35Tev energy level is about to start! ]

[Incredible, this time CERN actually completed the upgrade construction smoothly as expected, and they even completed it a month ahead of schedule. When did the Europeans become so efficient? ]

[Of course it is efficient. You know, there is a Chinese CRHPC catching up behind LH-LHC (squinting smile), and I heard that CRHPC is also about to be completed. ]

[Great, 35Tev energy level experiment, I wonder what new discoveries this time will make! Excited.JPG]

[New discoveries should probably be put on the back burner. After the first round of collision tests, we should first verify Professor Xu's theory of strong-electric unification and search for dark matter.]

[If I remember correctly, the clues to the theory of strong-electric unification and dark matter are all the research results of Professor Xu. Combined with the fact that China and CERN broke up and built CRHPC independently, it seems that CERN is stealing other people's research results.]

[There is not much meaning in talking about these in theoretical physics. Whoever detects it will share it with the whole world. And does the high-energy physics community need the consent of the person to verify this theory? There is no such rule.]

[How can it be meaningless? It can improve reputation, attract talents, and improve technology.]

[CRPHC was originally built independently by China and CERN after the breakup. Since it was an open competition, China must have thought about detecting dark matter and verifying the theory of strong-electric unification.]

[What the above person said makes sense, but since it was an open competition, would CERN leave the results to CRHPC without verification? 】

【Speaking of which, when will CRHPC be completed? How high can the collision energy level be? 】

On the PhysicsForums International Physics Forum, there are many discussions on this topic, but most of them focus on two aspects.

On the one hand, what new discoveries can the upgraded LH-LHC high-luminosity collider bring to theoretical physicists.

On the other hand, it is the competition between China and CERN.

The era of two large particle colliders competing with each other has never happened in the entire physics community, which has attracted the interest and discussion of many physicists.

On major Internet platforms, CERN's news reports have also aroused discussions among many people.

Especially on Twitter, Facebook and other websites, it has attracted the attention of many Western netizens, but unlike the physics community, these netizens' attention is not on LH-LHC itself.

【God! The largest particle collider in history, LH-LHC, is completed! 】

【They once used the collider to create a small black hole underground at the border between France and Switzerland! Now they have built a bigger collider, which is several times more powerful than the LHC. It is very likely to create a black hole inside the collider, which will devour our Earth! ]

[WTF? Collider black hole? What the hell? ]

[This is true! The energy level of 35Tev is three times more powerful than the previous collider! They will destroy the entire Earth, and we must stop them! ]

[What the hell, what are you talking about? Colliders are just equipment for scientific research, how can they create disasters? Moreover, let alone a collider with an energy level of 35Tev, even a collider with an energy level of 350Tev cannot destroy the Earth. ]

[But how do you explain the endless disasters when the LHC is running? Earthquakes, floods, typhoons, giant lightning, and even various anomalies are born when the LHC is running. I dare not imagine what will happen when the crazier LH-LHC collider is started! ]

[The century-long eruption of Mount Fuji? (squinting smile)]

[CERN must stop the experiment, otherwise the spirit of the Earth will not spare them. 】

Just as CERN's high-luminosity collider attracted the world's attention, on the other side, Jinling.

In the Xiashu Space Base, Xu Chuan was standing in an extremely spacious factory building, looking up at a huge space shuttle that was still under construction in front of him.

Second-generation space shuttle!

Based on the first-generation Xinghai, the shape and structure of the second-generation space shuttle have undergone tremendous changes.

If the appearance of the first-generation Xinghai looks like the space shuttles manufactured by the United States and the Soviet Union in the last century, then the second-generation space shuttle has added a lot of science fiction colors on this basis.

Its wings are wider and thicker than the first-generation space shuttle, and the overall look is somewhat similar to the "manta ray" in the ocean.

Standing next to Xu Chuan, Academician Chang Huaxiang, who is responsible for the design and manufacture of the second-generation space shuttle, was full of pride in his eyes.

He looked at the second-generation space shuttle in front of him, which looked much larger than the first-generation Xinghai, and proudly introduced it: "This is our second-generation space shuttle."

"The aircraft is 66.47 meters long, with a wingspan of 65.81 meters and a height of 17.44 meters. Theoretically speaking, if the take-off weight can exceed 1,000 tons in the atmosphere, the maximum atmospheric breakthrough weight is 168.44 tons, and the maximum atmospheric breakthrough weight of the materials it can carry is 87.55 tons. The internal cargo space is approximately 550 cubic meters.”

I have to say that this is indeed a huge breakthrough.

With the length of the aircraft shortened by several meters, the performance of this second-generation space shuttle has increased by nearly one-third in the first generation.

It may not sound like much, but for a large equipment like the space shuttle, it can be said to be a quite exaggerated value.

Although the payload after breaking through the atmosphere has not increased much, the internal cargo space is much larger.

The first generation Xinghai only has about 330 cubic meters, while the second generation has increased to 550 cubic meters. Rounding off, it is almost double.

This means that when transporting supplies on interstellar voyages, the payload of the second-generation space shuttle is far greater than that of the first-generation space shuttle.

Of course, this is also related to the huge change in the shape of the second-generation space shuttle.

The shape of the first-generation space shuttle is similar to that of a traditional civil aviation aircraft, while the second-generation space shuttle has the ability to take off and land vertically on the moon and Mars at least because Xu Chuan proposed that its wings are designed to be wider and stronger.

A design similar to the shape of a 'manta ray' not only allows the wings to bear greater weight, but also expands the space inside the space shuttle.

The increase in space means that the size of the miniaturized stellarator fusion reactor can be made larger, which not only provides more sufficient energy, but also greatly increases the usable space.

Listening to Academician Chang Huaxiang's introduction, Xu Chuan walked under the second-generation space shuttle with great interest, looking up at the miniaturized aerospace engines deployed under the 'manta ray'-shaped wings.

Unlike the more than 20-meter-long main power aerospace engine deployed at the tail, the aerospace engine deployed under the 'manta'-shaped wings is much smaller in size.

But there are more of them. Three miniaturized aerospace engines are deployed on each wing. The main engines and air compressors are connected through deformed superconducting materials and titanium alloy pipes to distribute the propulsion medium.

These six miniaturized aerospace engines can individually adjust their output energy levels and adjust the power to a certain extent with different amplitudes.

Seeing Xu Chuan's eyes falling on the engine on the wing, Academician Chang Huaxiang walked over and his eyes also fell on the wing. He chuckled and explained:

"There are three small aerospace engines deployed on each side of the second-generation space shuttle's wings, each of which can provide 45.29KN of thrust at maximum power."

"In other words, six small engines can provide a total thrust of about 270KN."

"Of course, this is a comprehensive judgment based on individual test data of small engines. The complete experiment of the specific second-generation aircraft has not yet been tested, and there is no data on the specific situation."

"However, judging from the calculations, there will be a certain amount of interference between these small engines during operation, which will reduce some thrust."

"So overall, six small engines can provide approximately 230-250KN of thrust at full power."

"This data will definitely not be able to support its vertical take-off and landing on the earth, but on Mars and the moon, where the gravity is only one-third and one-sixth of the earth, it is theoretically enough to support its vertical take-off and landing. ”

Xu Chuan nodded and said with a smile: "It's very good. Let's go in and have a look."

Judging from the current performance and data reported by Academician Chang Huaxiang, this second-generation space shuttle has met his previous requirements.

Although he did not use twin-engine simulated tilt-rotor aircraft to achieve vertical take-off and landing functions as he initially proposed, the series connection of multiple small engines has certain advantages in some fields.

For example, in the event of an engine failure or problem, multiple engines can ensure the safety of the space shuttle itself during takeoff and landing to the greatest extent.

Through the tall gangway, Xu Chuan and Chang Huaxiang walked into the interior of the second-generation space shuttle.

Compared with the first-generation Xinghai, because the second-generation space shuttle has a larger internal space, it also has more crew rooms, with the total number of deployments reaching nine.

In addition, a special "exercise area" is deployed on the second-generation aircraft and equipped with a variety of fitness equipment and equipment such as space bicycles, space treadmills and resistance exercise devices for astronauts' daily exercise.

From a design perspective, in order to ensure the most comfortable and superior survival for astronauts, this second-generation space shuttle can carry more than 18 astronauts for "long-term" and "large-scale" space activities.

If it is a short-term low-Earth orbit or earth-moon transfer, this number can exceed 40.

On the basis that the Soviet Union and the United States could only carry single-digit astronauts before, the number of astronauts that the second-generation space shuttle can carry is simply incredible.

Even compared to the first-generation Xinghai, the number of astronauts that the second-generation aircraft can carry has increased by more than 60%.

After briefly experiencing the functional configurations such as the exercise room, lounge, and washroom on the second-generation aircraft, Xu Chuan nodded with satisfaction.

Compared with the first-generation Xinghai, an important purpose of the second-generation aircraft is to land on the moon and Mars and serve as a temporary frontline scientific research base.

Therefore, the configuration of various functional rooms is much more complete than that of the first-generation Xinghai.

It can be said that the designers and engineers of the Aerospace Research Institute have considered all kinds of problems that may be encountered on the surface of the moon and Mars.

For example, the second-generation aircraft has considered countermeasures for moonquakes and Martian storms.

For example, in the energy system, in addition to the miniaturized fusion reactor, there is another lithium-sulfur battery function system in an emergency.

It can maintain the minimum power living needs of the second-generation aircraft and nine astronauts for a week when the small reactor is completely damaged and cannot provide any energy.

And this time, theoretically, is enough for them to arrange another space shuttle to rescue between the earth and the moon.

In addition, if long-distance voyages are required, such as missions to Mars.

Then the second-generation aircraft will also carry a certain number of solar panels to deal with emergencies.

It can be said that in this era, except for the inability to achieve artificial gravity, almost all other situations that can be considered for astronauts and scientific research work have been fully considered by the Aerospace Research Institute.

"How long will it take for the second-generation aircraft to be completed, and when can the first round of flight tests of the second-generation aircraft be carried out?"

In the cockpit, Xu Chuan looked outside through the thick tempered glass and asked Academician Chang Huaxiang beside him.

Academician Chang Huaxiang quickly replied: "From the current assembly situation, this second-generation aircraft will probably be completed around August this year. If there are no unexpected circumstances, the first round of flight tests will start on August 7, which is the day of the beginning of autumn."

Knowing that the person in front of him is more enthusiastic about traditional festivals, the Institute of Aerospace Research finally decided to set the first round of flight tests on August 7, which is the beginning of autumn after discussion.

Sure enough, after hearing this answer, Xu Chuan also smiled.

"It's a good day, so let's do it."

"By the way."

As if he remembered something, he looked at Academician Chang Huaxiang and asked: "Has the name of the second-generation aircraft been decided?"

Chang Huaxiang smiled and said: "Not yet, the one in the plan design book is just a code name, and the specific name has not been chosen yet. Isn't it waiting for you?"

How could the naming of such a matter be bypassed by the person in front of him?

If nothing unexpected happens, the name of the second-generation aircraft will be named by him, just like the Xinghai.

Looking at the vast blue sky outside the cockpit window, Xu Chuan thought seriously for a while, and said with a smile: "Why not call it 'Hanhai'? The vast blue sky, the vast sea of ​​stars, never-ending."

"Hanhai, the vast blue sky, the vast sea of ​​stars, what a good name."

Academician Chang Huaxiang muttered twice, nodded with a smile, and said: "In this case, then Hanhai is its name! In subsequent reports and documents, it will be unified as Hanhai."

Xu Chuan nodded with a smile and said: "Thank you for your hard work, Academician Chang."

Chang Huaxiang grinned and said: "Hard work?"

"No, no, no! To be able to see the development from Xinghai to Hanhai with your own eyes, to be able to see our aerospace industry surpass the United States, can be the ultimate dream of any aerospace worker."

"This is the best era! It is also the era when dreams begin!"

PS: Soliciting the name of the second-generation aircraft, Hanhai is just a random name I picked (name + meaning)