NASA's Space Launch System, SLS, sounds too much like a plan to counter the Candledragon 2 rocket.

Not only ESG partners, but others will feel the same way when they see SLS's plan in the news.

In the first stage, a super-heavy launch vehicle with a capacity of 100-130 tons in low-earth orbit will be provided for future manned spacecraft.

In the second stage, on this basis, the capacity will be developed to provide 30%-50% of the cargo hold-type load tasks. If you convert it, it is 169 tons, and even the maximum is 195 tons.

The 132.5-ton low-earth orbit capacity of the Candle Dragon 2 is really obvious.

NASA wants to restore the glory of Saturn V and go further.

What made Gu Song feel that the Great Commander was anxious was not only the early approval and release of the SLS plan, but also the continued implementation and strengthening of the constellation plan that would have been fetal. In addition, there is the skyrocketing funding of NASA.

According to the information at the SLS press conference, NASA will plan at least $10 billion a year for SLS.

This has caused the world to be terrified.

This number is more than 3 times more than what Gu Song remembers!

With so much money, the time schedule is naturally much tighter than before, full of confrontational flavors.

One review exclaimed that NASA funding as a percentage of the budget has increased dramatically.

In recent years, due to the stimulation of Huaguo and Flint Aerospace, NASA funding has been climbing year by year, and after the 09 Huaguo Parade, the budget in 2010 has exceeded 1%, reaching a huge 35 billion US dollars.

But looking at the current situation, the proportion of NASA's funding next year must be 2% or even higher.

Do you really want to go back a few decades to a time when it accounted for almost 5 percent?

……

As if to provide evidence for this plan, SpaceX's Falcon 9 embarked on its first official Dragon spacecraft cargo replenishment mission.

Target: International Space Station.

No, now, it should be called Battlestar Ouranos.

If the Dragon spaceship can complete the supply, it will fill the supply gap of the Progress series cargo ship after the withdrawal of the Northern Bear Country.

But this time, in addition to the Dragon spacecraft, which will deliver a batch of cargo to Ouranos, the more important task will be completed by the Space Shuttle Endeavour.

This time, the task was to transport and install the laser orbital mirror array on Ouranos.

If the mission is completed, then Ouranos will have a long-range means of attack.

On Cape Canaveral, a variety of shots are aimed at the space shuttle that is quietly preparing to launch.

And on another launch pad in the launch array, the Falcon 9 is also on standby.

The funds are sufficient, and the personnel and materials are fully guaranteed. The people of NASA are full of confidence in this mission, which is why they are so high-profile, and according to the requirements of the commander-in-chief, a large number of media have been invited to broadcast live and interview.

Either time, watching the launch of the space shuttle is emotionally stirring.

Therefore, even in China, under the deliberate exaggeration of some media, many people have been aroused.

What represents the return of the most cutting-edge forces of human science and technology......

The SLS program is huge, and the star era is in sight......

Our big shuttle will fly for another 100 years......

The voice is not as loud as it was a few years ago, and the fans are not as many as before, but after all, it is because of this high-profile launch that a group of people are excited.

The space shuttle Endeavour took off first, and in just a few minutes, it reached low-earth orbit and began to adjust its attitude around the Earth, chasing Ouranos and preparing for docking.

On the ground, the Falcon 9 was launched.

The scene was spectacular, exquisite and ecstatic.

……

In the Oval Office, the mood of the Grand Commander is actually not beautiful.

Deploying this set of laser technology to Ouranos is actually limited in real deterrence, and he also knows this.

Compared to the adversary's ability to unknowingly cause their satellites to lose contact for an accurate 60 seconds, the deployment of the laser orbital scope is like a child wielding a toy water gun.

Who knows what's inside that flintstone station, which has gradually become round?

According to preliminary estimates, 10,000 tons of materials have been piled up in it from last summer to now.

What is that?

Not to mention the glorious space city in the future, even at this stage, the tonnage of Ouranos has been opened by an order of magnitude compared to the other party.

What is not a child?

Although the flint space station, judging from the photographed situation at present, it is harmless to humans and animals. There are no special functional parts on the outside except for solar panels, just getting closer and closer to a saucer.

A saucer with a diameter of more than 100 meters!

Like the situation in Huaguo, there are also many sci-fi fans on Aramco's side, who fanatically wonder if Flint Aerospace has mastered any alien technology, but is actually building flying saucers in space.

Just as Hua Guo's exquisite felt that the launch of the space shuttle was very emotional, they also felt that the flint space city was extremely emotional.

"There won't be a problem with docking, right?" the Grand Commander asked his scientific advisor.

"It's all mature technology, so there shouldn't be a problem. ”

The Grand Commander nodded: "Then let's start discussing the research and development plan of cutting-edge strategic equipment." Ladies and gentlemen, with such a large budget from both houses, we will have to initially change the current passive situation next year. ”

The uniformed general said: "Compared with research and development, a lot of new equipment lacks a real testing ground. ”

The Grand Commander glanced at him: "That's right, their new aircraft carrier technology is very backward, their fighters are also backward in terms of comprehensive strength, and the payload part of their hypersonic glide vehicle does not have the ability to maneuver at ultra-high sonic speed, but what about the future? Give them a few more years, who knows what will happen? Quantum Supercomputing Center, didn't your advisor remind you, what catalytic effect will it bring?"

The general said solemnly: "I'm just saying that the stimulating effect brought by the imaginary enemy is not comparable to the stimulating effect brought by the real enemy and the real battlefield." ”

"There will be a plan for this!" the Grand Commander glanced at him again, "Now, according to the future changes in the situation, determine some future equipment that must be invested in research and development!"

This little meeting finally got to the point.

"Quantum Communication ......"

"Electromagnetic Cannon ......"

"Space-based anti-missile ......"

"Aerospace Aircraft ......"

All of a sudden, the room was lively.

As the discussion progressed, the Grand Commander's mood also inexplicably improved.

After all, now, there is still an absolute advantage in the balance of forces.

After all, all kinds of future scientific and technological research actually have some pre-existing results, but because there has been no opponent for so many years, there is no need to continue to spend national strength.

Now that we have momentum, strong national strength and sufficient financial support, as long as we get through the difficult period of these two years, we may be able to usher in a technological blowout like Huaguo in recent years.

The scale, perhaps even bigger than theirs!

Not to mention these next-generation technologies in the near future, even in the present, there are many options to try to upgrade conventional forces.

Not to mention the entire generation difference, 0.5 generation difference is also something that will make the other party feel very uncomfortable.

When it comes to budget distribution for the coming year, the discussion is not something that can be done in a day.

Endeavour and Falcon 9 have both successfully entered orbit.

Unlike the satellite docking used by Flint Aerospace for testing at that time, the docking with Ouranos was much more cautious.

There has never been a precedent for rapid docking, and it has to go through more than 30 circles of orbit around the earth, and the orbit has been corrected again and again, and finally the fine docking can be achieved.

In this regard, even the current construction of the Flintstone Space City will not be sloppy.

As the three-day defense budget discussion draws to a close, the good news of the successful docking has finally arrived.

The installation of laser orbital mirrors in space is about to begin.

In a pleasant atmosphere, the meeting finally confirmed the results and officially ended. The Grand Commander smiled and encouraged, "This is a good start, gentlemen, please, for Amriken!"

The result was agreed, and the general smiled: "For Amriken!"

In the midst of an atmosphere full of pride, there was a knock on the office door, and the voice was urgent.

"Come in. ”

Howard pushed the door in, his face ugly.

The Grand Commander had a bad premonition, but still calmly asked, "What happened?"

He took out a folder from his bag, and when he opened it, there were two photos and a few pieces of paper.

"Ten minutes ago, we took pictures based on the results of orbital predictions, Ouranos. ”

The Grand Commander looked at the unfamiliar flying machine in the photo, and his heart accelerated a little: "This ...... What is it?"

Howard looked at the defense chiefs and generals who came over to look at the photos, and said astringently: "The take-off of a plane was monitored from Flint Island...... Yes, judging by the feedback data from the radar, just an airplane. And then...... The plane quickly broke through the speed of sound, broke through the Kármán line, and went to space ......"

This characteristic...... It's all too familiar. In these two days, it was also a topic of discussion, and it was considered something to be developed in a time frame of 10 to 15 years.

So now...... What does that mean?

In the face of their incredulous eyes and expressions, Howard took a deep breath and said, "It's an aerospace plane, no doubt! We've been trying our best to track its orbit and mobilize a lot of monitoring equipment." I suspect that it was deliberately made for us to monitor, because after going into space, it swaggered to change orbits and catch up with Ouranos. That's why we contacted Ouranos urgently, and then we had these two photos. ”

The Grand Commander opened his mouth to speak, but found that he had lost his voice. He cleared his throat before asking, "What now?"

"Heading home!"

"Are you still monitoring?"

Howard nodded: "The communication channel is ready, you can pick it up immediately." ”

So on the TV in the Oval Office, the monitoring data from that side quickly appeared.

That little bright spot is on the way back.

On this planet, there are only four groups of people who are watching the return of this small highlight.

In addition to the command center of Flint Island and the tracking and control center of Yanjing, it is Howard's group of people, as well as a group of people from ESA.

The mission of Ouranos is not a secret to ESA.

The big guy flying slowly below Ouranos is no secret to ESA.

The plane that suddenly appeared was heading back in the direction of Flintstone Island.

"It's crazy, it's crazy......" In ESA's monitoring and control hall, there was an irrepressible whisper in the silence. They did not pay attention to its take-off at the first time, but they confirmed that no launch vehicles from Huaguo or Flint Space were launched in the past two days.

In addition to NASA and SpaceX.

But looking at the state of Ouranos just now, this will be them?

So...... This is crazy.

A real aerospace plane, on test flight!

Remember the mobile version URL: