"Why did I name this engine 'Centaur'?

"I understand. Pen Fun Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 info" Xiao Ran nodded.

Why was this rocket engine named "Centaur"?

Because this rocket engine is aimed at the constellation Centauri, which is only 4.2 light-years away from Earth.

The constellation Centauri is the closest star system to the Solar System.

For astronomers looking for terrestrial planets, or habitable planets, this galaxy is currently the most promising place for mankind to find terrestrial planets and habitable planets.

Other galaxies are so far away from Earth that they can be counted on in just a few hundred years.

Therefore, in science fiction works, Centauri is often capitalized as an important target.

Yang Chen's goal was also aimed here.

He hoped that this rocket engine would one day be able to bring humans to Centauri, and out of this hope, Yang Chen named the engine "Centauri", that is, "the engine that guides humans to Centaur".

Even if there is a risk of a Trojan invasion in the future, space migration is an option if it is really impossible to fight the enemy. Possessing the ability to sail to the constellation Centauri is still a strategic event for resisting invasions.

As soon as Yang Chen said this, Xiao Ran also understood: "So you are not satisfied with the level of the existing engine." ”

"That's right. Yang Chen nodded: "To go to Centaur, the amount of thrust we need, 10,000 tons is far from enough." Because we had to carry enough fuel to be able to travel to and from Centaur. Perhaps the amount of fuel itself needs tens of thousands of tons or even hundreds of thousands of tons. Such a large number, with a thrust of 10,000 tons, is simply insignificant. Besides......"

He pointed to the engine on the test bench: "The current model can really only be used on Earth. To be exact, it can only be used on planets with atmospheres. Although the psionic engine technology can attract the ubiquitous spiritual power between heaven and earth as an energy source, spiritual power alone is not enough. In order for thrust to be formed, according to the law of conservation of momentum, the working fluid must be thrown in the opposite direction as a provider of momentum. ”

"This is something that the anti-gravity model can't do. Because the principle of the anti-gravity mode is to use the ubiquitous atmosphere as a working fluid, providing reverse momentum, and it itself is not jetting the working fluid. That's why engine nozzles can be so cold. And once in space, in the absence of working fluid in the outside world, you can only provide your own working fluid, and when the time comes, the thrust that can be provided is definitely not so great. ”

Xiao Ran nodded: "That is to say, in space, the propulsion method will still return to the traditional engine." ”

"That's pretty much it. The biggest advantage of the psionic engine is that in the psionic propulsion mode, the impulse that can be provided by the working fluid can be amplified through the amplification of the psionic particle matrix. In other words, with the same mass of working fluid, the psionic engine will gain a greater impulse as thrust than a conventional engine. Therefore, the amount of fuel we need will also be much lower than that of conventional engines. ”

"Isn't that good?" Hong Buqi and the others were all seriously listening and studying on the side, and when he heard this, he couldn't help but ask this question on behalf of the surrounding observers: "This means that our requirements for working quality are not so high, so the quality of the materials that need to be carried for space navigation does not need to be so big." So isn't it too demanding for real people?"

"No," Yang Chen shook his head and sighed lightly, "Centauri is too far away from us. What will happen at distances of up to 4.2 light-years is never something we can predict now. Therefore, we can only carry as many supplies as possible to avoid unexpected situations during the voyage. So, our thrust is still not enough, far from enough......"

Up to 10,000 tons of thrust is not enough, so how much is enough?

Someone asked the question seriously.

Yang Chen thought for a while: "In my opinion, no matter how high it is, it is not enough. Of course, considering the overall situation, basically the thrust of more than 200,000 tons is barely enough. ”

Hearing this, the people's expressions were gloomy.

The current 10,000 tons of thrust are almost unimaginable to them, and the standard of enough in Yang Chen's heart is twenty times that of the current one, and he doesn't know how to do it.

Don't look at the current research and development speed of this engine, it is because most of the technology is provided by Yang Chen, and the main computing power is also the reason why Yang Chen provides it, and it is not through traditional technology but through psionic technology. Otherwise, even if the world's best scientists are gathered, it may not be possible to succeed in a few decades, let alone their grass platform.

Some people may wonder, even if the Saturn V launch vehicle of the Americans in the sixties and seventies of the last century was able to reach 3,400 tons of thrust, then how difficult would it be to reach 10,000 tons?

But you must know that the American technology of the sixties and seventies of the last century is still unsurpassed by no one to this day. Forty or fifty years have passed, why is it that technology has not been able to surpass it? Of course, this is related to the fact that the United States no longer conducts moon landings, but it also shows how difficult it is to make technological progress.

Such a difficult technology is far from enough, and the more difficult technology is even more difficult to do.

Seeing that everyone's fighting spirit seemed to have been hit a bit, Yang Chen hurriedly cheered everyone up: "Everyone doesn't have to be afraid of difficulties. Our technology has only just begun, it is far from reaching the bottleneck, and in the foreseeable future, we will be able to quickly surpass this level and even exceed the level of 200,000 tons. It is precisely by rising to the challenge that human beings can continue to make the impossible possible through continuous efforts. Otherwise, how could humanity go from not being able to do anything three feet above the earth to now being able to send people to the moon and sending spacecraft to Mars, Pluto, and even the outer solar system? If we do it, no matter how difficult it is, it will not be difficult for us! Everyone, work hard!"

After the crowd was silent for a moment, it finally burst out and shouted: "That's right, we can do it! What gap is there that is greater than not being able to fly three feet above the earth and fly outside the solar system? Since human beings can surpass this gap, they will definitely be able to surpass the gap of 200,000 tons of thrust!"

The fighting spirit has finally been rekindled.

Xiao Ran and Wei Hua nodded with satisfaction. They are old experts, and when they were poor and engaged in research for nothing, they encountered no greater difficulties than this?

In fact, the following people are basically people with strong will, but they were frightened by too high goals before, otherwise, they would not lose their fighting spirit. Because of this, Yang Chen's encouragement can make them rekindle their fighting spirit, and it is not so easy to change to others.

After such a gap, the experiment continued.

This time, it's the engine mode used at the same time as psionic hybrid fusion.

This mode, named Space Mode, as the name suggests, can be used in space.

In fact, in addition to providing energy, another important function of the nuclear fusion engine is to provide working fluid. The fusion product will be ejected as a working fluid for the engine to the rear of the vehicle, providing a forward impulse to propel the vehicle through space.

Basically, this mode will also be the main mode of operation of the engine that is planned to fly to the Centauri spacecraft in the future.

After all, in space, especially in the meteorite belt, it is still not too difficult to replenish water. And as long as there is water, it can be decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen. Oxygen will be used to support the ship's life-sustaining system, and hydrogen will be converted into isotopes to fuel nuclear fusion, a technology that can be prophesied in psionic technology that can convert ordinary hydrogen into fusion fuels such as deuterium and tritium. Although there is no one now, it should be possible to develop it.

It's safer than carrying supplies from Earth to the stars.

The test of the space mode was not easy, and Yang Chen had to provide a space close to a vacuum as an environment that mimicked space. It's easier to do this if it's not through formations, and it's almost impossible to do it if you rely entirely on traditional technology -- although humans have the ability to create an approximate vacuum, it's really not easy to create a vacuum on a large scale, especially if it's large enough to test the engine data. Unless you go directly to space to do experiments, you won't have to worry about it, but in that case, the cost will be too high.

The formation will continuously extract the air in the experimental space, and at the same time prevent the outside air from entering, which only needs a relatively simple pumping and isolation array.

Half a day passed in this test, and on the whole, the data of the rocket engine basically met the design requirements. As for the specific situation that will be encountered in the application, it is not the current way of making a car behind closed doors, which can be tested. That has to be actually in space before it can be exposed.

"Is the Tianluo-1 satellite now manufactured?"

Yang Chen asked Wei Hua next to him.

"It's all done, just four hours ago, we had the last part of the fairing on the outside of the satellite enclosure installed. ”

"In other words, everything is ready now, and only the east wind is owed?"

"That's right!" Wei Hua showed anticipation and excitement on his face: "I'm looking forward to what kind of function this satellite will play." ”

What kind of features? It's going to be a lot more than you know.

Yang Chen said in his heart.

At least, Wei Hua knows nothing about the combat system of satellites. As a satellite expert, if there was any attempt to turn a satellite into an attack satellite, it would not have been able to hide from his eyes. Although he is not engaged in attacking satellites, he can still recognize the relevant things.

But the real combat system is completely a product of psionic technology, which Wei Hua can't recognize.

"That's good! Our launch vehicle has already been built, and we are waiting to install the rocket engine. Then, tonight, we will work overtime to load this engine and satellite on the rocket, and tomorrow, we will officially start the launch vehicle launch experiment!"

Yang Chen waved his hand and gave an order.

"Wait!" Wei Hua suddenly objected.