Pang Xuelin didn't care about Liu Xuesong's coldness.

The most important reason why he went to observe the first launch of the 921 rocket this time was that the 921 rocket was equipped with a 4:1 scaled demonstrator of the aerospace aircraft used in the future electromagnetic space launch system.

Although it is a 10:1 scale verification aircraft, in fact, this aerospace aircraft has complete electronic equipment, power system and space life support system, with a total mass of 40 tons, plus nearly 10 tons of fuel carried by the aerospace aircraft, this miniature version of the aerospace aircraft can be used to perform various missions in outer space.

As for the 921 rocket, it can be considered the Chinese version of the Heavy Falcon.

The rocket adopts a three-and-a-half-stage CBC configuration, consisting of a core first-stage rocket and two boosters, a total of 21 YF-100K pump swing liquid oxygen kerosene engines constitute a take-off stage, which can produce 2,700 tons of thrust, the maximum take-off weight of the rocket is about 2,200 tons, the core two stages are two YF-100K high-altitude liquid oxygen kerosene engines, and the core three stages are three YF-75D hydrogen-oxygen engines, which can reach an orbital speed of 10.9 km/s (about Mach 32) when performing lunar orbit missions.

This is a national heavyweight for the manned landing on the moon, because of the manned nature of this type of rocket and the fact that it was proposed and promoted by the Manned Space Engineering Office, it was named "921 rocket" with the code name of the manned space project 921.

Although the Long March 9 project was launched with the establishment of the electromagnetic catapult space launch system, the 921 rocket was retained.

As long as the electromagnetic catapult space launch system is successful, then this rocket is likely to become the swan song of China's chemically powered rockets.

"Professor Pang, Lao Liu is a bit stubborn, but he doesn't have any bad intentions, don't mind."

Pang Xuelin and Tao Yongchang sat in a car, and as soon as they got in the car, Tao Yongchang hurriedly said.

When he greeted Pang Xuelin just now, Liu Xuesong's performance was not enthusiastic, and he was even faintly resistant.

Although Liu Xuesong is a big bull in the field of launch vehicles, Pang Xuelin is an iconic figure in China's current academic circles, and Tao Yongchang naturally does not want Pang Xuelin to have a bad impression of Liu Xuesong.

Pang Xuelin smiled and said: "General Tao, don't worry, it's normal for Academician Liu to have opinions about me, after all, the electromagnetic catapult space launch system can be regarded as robbing the job of the launch vehicle, I just watched it this time, and I won't make it difficult for you to do it in the middle." ”

"That's good."

Tao Yongchang suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

Haikou to Wenchang is only more than 60 kilometers, and it takes less than an hour to drive.

When he arrived at the Wenchang Cosmodrome, Pang Xuelin first rested in the hotel where he was staying, and in the afternoon, accompanied by Tao Yongchang, he visited the Wenchang Cosmodrome.

The closer to the equator and the lower the latitude, the greater the centrifugal phenomenon caused by the inertial inertia, the lower the energy consumption required, and the faster the speed that can be achieved with the same fuel.

The geographical latitudes of the Jiuquan, Taiyuan and Xichang launch centers are 41°N, 38°N and 28°N, respectively. The geographical latitude of Wenchang is 19°, which is lower than that of the other three launch sites.

Hainan Island is the lowest land latitude in China and the closest to the equator, so it has become the best location for building a space launch site.

It is estimated that the same rocket launched in Wenchang, the carrying capacity can be increased by 7% ~ 15%, the same type of rocket launched in Wenchang can increase the payload of the launch vehicle by more than 300 kg, and the saved satellite fuel can also improve the accuracy of spacecraft into orbit and extend the service life of spacecraft by 1~2 years.

As early as the 70s of the last century, China planned to build a space launch site on Hainan Island, but because China was facing a more complex international situation, for national defense and security reasons, China had to set up the space launch site in a more secrecy and safe inland area.

After entering the 21 st century, the international situation has changed, and in order to adapt to the sustainable development of China's aerospace industry and meet the needs of the launch of a new generation of carrier rockets and new spacecraft, China has officially started the construction of the Wenchang Space Launch Center.

In 2014, the Wenchang Space Launch Center was officially completed, becoming the most advanced space launch center in China, mainly used to launch the Long March 5 series and Long March 7 series of launch vehicles.

The new generation of 921 rockets was also placed at the Wenchang Space Launch Center.

The reason why I chose this place is simple.

Whether it is a 921 rocket or a Long March 5 series rocket, the diameter of the core stage has reached five meters.

In China's land transportation, the maximum width of the tunnel through which goods pass is 3.35 meters.

As a result, 3.35 meters has become the standard diameter of the core stages of the Long March 2, 3 and 4 launch vehicles.

It was not until the Wenchang Space Launch Center was completed that the launch vehicle could reach Wenchang directly by sea, and China's launch vehicle broke through the 3.35-meter diameter limit.

Under the launch tower of the space center, Tao Yongchang is accompanying Pang Xuelin to visit the behemoth, which will be launched tomorrow.

"This is the 921 rocket!"

Under the towering launch tower, Pang Xuelin looked up at the super rocket with a height of 90 meters in front of him.

On the white arrow body, the words "China's aerospace" are particularly eye-catching.

The 921 rocket adopts the CBC configuration of the main core stage and the diameter of the two boosters are up to five meters, the take-off thrust of the main core stage of the light pole is 840 tons, and the total take-off thrust of the three CBC modules is 2520 tons.

The aerospace plane with a refueling mass of more than fifty tons was located right on top of the rocket, which was completely covered by a fairing.

"Professor Pang, if the test of this 4:1 aerospace aircraft is successful, then we will officially carry out the research and development of the electromagnetic catapult version of the aerospace aircraft, do you think we can really succeed?"

Pang Xuelin looked at the towering 921 rocket and smiled: "General Tao, don't worry, I'm here!" ”

Tao Yongchang and Pang Xuelin looked at each other for a while, then they laughed and said, "Professor Pang, I believe you will not let us down." ”

After visiting the launch tower, Pang Xuelin went to meet the staff involved in the launch mission.

Most of these astronauts are under the age of 35, and when they saw Pang Xuelin, they surrounded Pang Xuelin as if they had seen a big star.

Compared with the high-level leaders in the aerospace industry, they only have pure worship for Pang Xuelin.

There are even people who take a small notebook to ask Pang Xuelin for an autograph.

That evening, Tao Yongchang also arranged a lively dinner to welcome Pang Xuelin's arrival.

Because it was a mission, everyone used drinks instead of alcohol at the banquet.

Liu Xuesong just chatted with Pang Xuelin when he clinked glasses, and most of the time he was relatively cold, Pang Xuelin didn't care much, and talked to other people by himself.