Chapter 312 It Can’t Be Faster
The nuclear-powered version of H2, also known as H2N (N stands for atomic power), has a wide range of uses.
The first is the envisioned round trip between the Earth and the Moon. At the beginning, because the NAPE super-high target base was not confident that it could be completed on schedule, H2N was the backup of the XN90 spacecraft and could be launched directly from the Earth to perform the lunar mission.
The second is to assist in the construction of the Progress space station, just like H2M. In this mission, it can play the same role as H2M except for the different power.
The third is the envisioned unmanned transportation tool within the solar system.
The maximum takeoff mass of H2N on the ground is 135 tons. In fact, if it continues to load cargo or attach an external payload cabin in space, it can reach a mass of 180 to 300 tons. If it is propelled by three A100s, it only needs 50 tons of fuel to go to Mars.
This also means that it can fly to many planets such as Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, etc. If it does not carry people when performing these missions, it can send more than 20 tons of payload (probe) there and fly back.
Since it can enter the atmosphere, it can also complete the most complete renovation on Earth, and continue to serve after adding fuel in low-Earth orbit.
For example, in the future Mars cargo transportation mission, the cargo can be launched by small and medium-sized cheap launch methods, and then H2N can consume a little fuel to transport it back and forth, which is much more economical than large rockets.
Especially flying in a vacuum does not affect the most fatal body structure of the space shuttle at all, and the life is extremely long.
Three A100s can provide 30 tons of sufficient thrust. If the mass at the time of departure is 200 tons, the window period between Mars and the Earth can be completely ignored. The longest round-trip time is no more than 200 days, and the shortest is about 120 days. It can be called "Mars Logistics Express", consuming about 25 to 50 tons of fuel and transporting up to 100 tons of cargo.
50 tons of liquid hydrogen is about 5 million yuan. If liquid hydrogen can be mass-produced on the moon, the price of sending them into space is also very cheap. H2N space flight does not require much body maintenance, and the cost-effectiveness is scary.
Of course, this kind of high-intensity service can only be carried out after rigorous testing, and nuclear power technology is also extremely difficult for Xinyuan.
Both A100 and NAPE belong to future technologies. Even if they can be produced now, they still require a lot of technical research and development, and the cost and output cannot reach the level they should have in the era when they were designed.
Many advanced processing methods are not available in this era. Although compliant parts have been produced through semi-manual manufacturing and increased costs, whether they can achieve the required reliability also requires long-term testing.
This also shows the limitations of the base: as the technology mastered is more advanced, even if the processing level of the base is among the most advanced in the world, it will still feel difficult.
So even now, Qingshan Base has begun the trial production of NAPE prototypes and dare not guarantee that it will be completed smoothly before the expected time.
However, Lin Ju is not impatient, because even with Xinyuan's traditional aerospace technology level, it is enough to lead the world for many years.
For example, the new generation of manned spacecraft and lander used in the Long March 10 lunar mission are at the same level as the SLS program technology level, and in terms of technical route, they are still in the Apollo program period.
The naming of the new generation of manned spacecraft has also been collected. According to the historical origins of the Shuguang Project and online voting, it was finally decided to name it "Shuguang" spacecraft to echo the Shuguang Project.
The cost of the Shuguang spacecraft is similar to that of the Shenzhou spacecraft, but the number of crew members and the degree of technological advancement have increased significantly. It can also be reused and has been confirmed as the successor of the Shenzhou spacecraft.
The Shuguang spacecraft currently has two models, A and B. The A model is the initial model, which can carry 3-4 astronauts to the moon, and can also be slightly modified to 7 seats to undertake near-earth round-trip missions.
The B model is the near-earth multi-manned version originally envisioned, which can carry 11 passengers. The service module has also been greatly reduced and is designed for near-earth round-trip missions, reducing the cost of a single person launch to about 20 million.
Two A models have been built through acceptance, and the progress of the B model is also very fast, and it is expected to pass acceptance this year.
If nothing unexpected happens, the Shuguang-2 (the Shuguang-1 is the first manned spacecraft) spacecraft used by the Long March 10 Yao-2 rocket will continue to serve after being re-prepared until its life is exhausted.
…
“Faster, faster, can you do it?”
Ken Hills, the head of Boeing’s SLS system, shook his head firmly as Claire looked at him with a hint of pleading, and then explained softly:
“Mr. Director, Boeing has already done its best for SLS. We also need to ensure the FATS program and other aerospace projects at almost the same time. We told you before that 8 months for the second SLS rocket is really the limit, and it can’t be faster.”
The current NACA is not the same as before. Although it still maintains its absolute leadership in space, most of the manufacturing capabilities are still in the hands of the old military-industrial complex. The main contractor of the SLS rocket is Boeing.
When the Long March 10 Yao 2 rocket was erected in Qiongzhou, Claire couldn’t believe it.
6 months, a super rocket every 6 months!
And according to the disclosed launch mission, this time it will also verify the lander and ascender. Except for the lack of manned space, it is almost a high-fidelity preview of the moon landing mission.
That is to say, if the director of CASA is bolder, or is willing to take more risks, then the astronauts of the next rocket will not have to fly around the moon, but can directly land on the moon, after all, the prerequisites are fully mature!
When is 6 months later? The second SLS will be built at that time!
What will happen if the Artemis plan loses to the Dawn plan? What if a plan that started subsystem development 10 years ago and can be traced back to 14 years ago loses to a plan that started two years ago? What will happen if Ami, who has successfully landed on the moon 5 times, loses the first place to return to the moon?
Claire felt that her throat was clamped by a big red hand and she couldn't breathe, and frantically looked for ways to speed up the moon landing plan.
The heavy falcon that sends the lander can be directly modified with the existing heavy falcon, and it will definitely be before August, no problem.
Lander… The lander is not a big problem. Blue Origin in this world line has received the US dollars from Congress and the strong support of NACA. Finally, it did not become a pigeon in the original world line. The ground prototype test of the "Blue Moon" lander was completed last month. According to the original plan, it is still in time for finalization this year, and it is not impossible to accelerate ahead of schedule.
What about the Orion spacecraft? Although it sounds risky to land on the moon for the first time with people, after all, they are all mature technologies. It is impossible that it is not as good as the Dawn spacecraft, right? This is not a problem.
In the end, there is only one thing to be solved: the second SLS rocket.
At the beginning, Boeing said that the manufacturing cycle of the second launch was 8 months, which was also a bit exaggerated by the manufacturer for face. 8 months is actually quite tight and difficult to achieve. So when Claire hoped to advance it, Boeing gave a firm denial. They themselves are still very clear.
But NACA dare not gamble. The second Long March 10 took 6 months to manufacture. Will the third launch only take 5 months or even 4 months? With the Chinese people's desperate overtime, there will be a crazy gathering of labor, but it is really possible?