Time passed.

As the end of the year draws closer, both pilots and engineers are nervously busy at their posts like clockwork gears.

As for Lu Zhou's side, the closer the whole project is to completion, all the work has been arranged, and there are fewer things that need to be busy for him, the project leader.

The design of the space shuttle is in charge of Hou Guang, who has participated in the 863 project, Xiao Ai can perfectly use the five-axis linkage CNC machine tool to process the required parts, and flexibly use various networked engineering equipment such as logistics vehicles and robotic arms to assemble, the entire Xiangrui space shuttle is moving from blueprint to reality at a speed visible to the naked eye.

As long as Lu Zhou can ensure the stability of the capital chain, the completion of this aircraft is almost a certainty.

Of course, it's not an easy thing to do.

Although Xiao Ai, who has a full set of processing equipment, has performed against the sky in the industrial field, there are still many things that Lu Zhou cannot produce. For example, the flight control system is purchased from Hangke Group. Another example is the surface coating, although it is designed by the Institute of Computational Materials, but the production is outsourced to a professional chemical company.

For example, a series of cutting-edge materials such as high-temperature surface insulation tiles, reinforced C-C composite materials on the leading edge of wings, and even special steels used in the main structure of aircraft are not ordinary goods. While ensuring that the material is relatively lightweight, it is also required to maintain a very high level of tensile strength, fracture toughness, corrosion resistance, and high temperature resistance.

Corresponding to its excellent performance is its outrageously complex processing process.

It is no exaggeration to say that its cost per square meter has even surpassed the housing prices in the center of Jinling City.

Because these things are not produced by Star Technology itself, but from the upstream suppliers of the industrial chain, a large part of the cost of the entire space shuttle is concentrated in these places, and the prices of various orders are often tens of millions or even hundreds of millions, and the entire Xiangrui is almost piled up with RMB.

Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to say that aerospace is to burn money.

However, compared to the Americans, Lu Zhou is still more comfortable.

Space Shuttle Columbia cost the U.S. government hundreds of billions of dollars from its service to its retirement, costing an average of $500 million per launch, and it always had all sorts of problems.

Lu Zhou, on the other hand, directly inherited the design of the 863 plan and improved it, eliminating a large amount of money that should have been invested in the field of research and development. Hall thruster is even more because of the scanning gun, and it didn't cost him a penny to reverse the technology.

Otherwise, he will have hollowed out his family, and he may not be able to build a frame from beginning to end.

Standing in the building of the Space Shuttle Assembly Center, looking up at the huge space shuttle and the five stout electric propulsion engines behind it, Nie Yun couldn't help but let out a sigh of emotion.

"Unbelievable."

Standing next to him, Lu Zhou smiled and asked, "Unbelievable what?" ”

Nie Yun: "It's unbelievable that you can really build this thing in two months." ”

Nie Han didn't speak, but the expression on her face was not much calmer than that of her brother.

Compared with Nie Yun, who drove a fighter jet, she was able to get more excitement from such a large large transport plane as a Y-20. If she was a little disappointed at first, she is now looking forward to the day of the test flight.

Reading the shock from the expressions on the faces of the brother and sister, Lu Zhou replied simply: "It's not just two months, the preparation for production began half a year ago, and if you trace back to the energy supply parts on its body, it started at the beginning of the year." ”

Nie Yunhan said: "I think this is scary enough......"

"Really?" After hearing this, he hesitated slightly, Lu Zhou glanced at the space shuttle, thought seriously for a moment, and then said, "I think that compared to the Yang Mills equation, this is relatively simple. ”

Nie Yun: "......"

Nie Han: "......"

In a sense, he seems to be the only one on earth who is qualified to make such a parable.

……

In fact, making such an analogy, it was not that Lu Zhou was bragging, but that he really thought so in his heart.

After completing the Yang Mills equation and creating the unified theory of strong electricity, he quickly calculated a theoretical model of an acoustic fusion device. Needless to say, the design and manufacture of the space shuttle was done by professionals, but if you think about it, he didn't put a lot of effort into it.

On the other side, under the leadership of Chief Engineer Hou Guang, a group of technicians are conducting a comprehensive inspection of the various parts on the assembled space shuttle. In order to eliminate accidents to the greatest extent, he divided the maintenance personnel into two groups, starting from two different positions in the nose and tail of the aircraft, and took 120 percent caution to deal with any suspected problem.

"Have you checked it?"

Technician: "It's been checked!" ”

Hou Guang: "What about the interface between the ionization chamber and the working fluid chamber?" There is also the hydraulic pump of the thermal circulation device, have you checked these key equipment? ”

The technician nodded affirmatively: "It's all checked!" Everything works! ”

Hou Guang: "Are you sure?" ”

Technician: "Sure!" ”

Hou Guang nodded: "Then check again!" ”

“…… Be! ”

Although repeated inspections are a very torturous thing, the technicians on site did not complain at all about the order to wait for the light.

The Space Shuttle is a massive, sophisticated piece of equipment that can safely send astronauts into outer space and bring them back safely only by ensuring that each of the more than 100,000 parts is working properly.

And any small omission, even if the screws are not tightened, can have extremely serious consequences.

Therefore, as a certain predecessor of Huaguo Aerospace Industry said, every launch success is almost a failure, and every launch failure is a little bit of success.

The overhaul lasted three days.

Finally, the day before New Year's Day, Hou Guang, who had completed all the inspection work, walked to Lu Zhou's side with the maintenance report that had been sorted out.

Taking the report from his hand and glancing at it, Lu Zhou asked.

"Ready?"

"It's ready!" Looking at Lu Zhou, Hou Guang said excitedly, "Now we only need to find a way to transport it to the launch base more than ten kilometers away, and then do the last maintenance, and then we can start arranging the launch plan!" ”

It is not an easy task to transport this big guy more than a dozen kilometers away.

Especially when you have to take into account confidentiality.

However, this is difficult for others, but it is not a big deal for Lu Zhou.

"That's easy to say."

Lu Zhou smiled and threw down the sentence.

Immediately after, I saw him take out his mobile phone from his pocket, walk to the side, and dial a familiar number.

"Captain Dai, there's something I have to trouble you."

.。 m.