Zhou Yu presided over the convening of the Spark Science and Technology Committee.

This meeting is the highest decision-making meeting of Xinghuo Technology, which is responsible for formulating the major technological development direction of Xinghuo Technology.

Zhou Yu saw that the invited relevant scientists had arrived at the meeting.

He introduced the agenda of today's meeting and said loudly: "The main purpose of our meeting today is to help Xinghuo Space Company choose the main spacecraft for a period of time in the future.

If the plan is chosen correctly, the future development of Xinghuo Aerospace Company will be less detours, and we will have more funds to invest in the research and development of other projects.

After several rounds of screening, we have formed two main spacecraft programs, and I would like to invite Qin Yuanshan and Li Qihua to introduce the two spacecraft programs. ”

After the breakthrough of particle electric propulsion engine and high-altitude anti-gravity technology. Gradually, two options with different emphases were summarized.

The advantages and disadvantages of these two spacecraft are very obvious, and Zhou Yu cannot rashly choose one of them.

He decided to convene a science and technology committee, so that many scientists could discuss which plan was more beneficial to the company's development from multiple perspectives.

Qin Yuanshan nodded to everyone, and he began to introduce: "We have considered the design scheme of two spacecraft in total, and the spacecraft I am talking about is mainly based on particle electric propulsion engines.

It uses a particle electric propulsion engine as the main power, and anti-gravity technology only plays an auxiliary role.

Anti-gravity technology only facilitates the take-off of the spacecraft and prevents the particle electric propulsion engine from falling due to accidents. ”

Qin Yuanshan began to show a 3D model of the spacecraft, which is a space shuttle with a length of more than 100 meters.

There is one particle electric propulsion engine at each end of the wing and the tail of the fuselage, and a total of three particle electric propulsion engines are used as the power of the space shuttle.

Qin Yuanshan proudly introduced: "This is the space shuttle we designed, it has three particle electric propulsion engines as power, which can carry 1,200 tons of materials.

The space shuttle has a protected cockpit that can also transport astronauts.

The space shuttle fuselage is made of high-density materials, which are extremely strong, and even a meteorite impact the size of a pig will not affect the structure of the space shuttle fuselage.

The thrust of the particle electric propulsion engine is sufficient, and the space shuttle does not need to consider too complex aerodynamic shapes.

Our company's current technical processing capacity can quickly process the space shuttle. ”

After Qin Yuanshan introduced the space shuttle, Li Qihua came to the stage and introduced another plan to the scientists.

"This solution is based on anti-gravity technology, supplemented by particle electric propulsion engines.

It is a huge platform that can carry up to 550,000 tons of supplies and transport it into space. I named it the Space Elevator. ”

Li Qihua also showed a 3D model of the space elevator at the same time.

The space elevator covers several hectares, and it is a huge iron box.

There are particle electric propulsion engines at all four corners of the space elevator, which use anti-gravity technology to levitate in the air and move upwards through the power of the particle electric propulsion engine.

When the space elevator reaches its designated location, the anti-gravity device shuts down, allowing the Earth's gravity to recapture the space elevator, which rotates around the Earth at the designated location.

When the space elevator descends, the anti-gravity device switches the direction of gravity, allowing the Earth's gravity to increase the traction of the space elevator, and it will gradually land on the Earth.

After the two of them introduced the space shuttle and the space elevator.

Zhou Yu asked the scientists participating in the meeting: "The approximate performance of these two spacecraft has been introduced, and you can analyze the advantages and disadvantages of these two spacecraft from your own perspective."

Liu Jing was the first to speak: "From the perspective of mechanical design, the space shuttle is simpler.

But with the machining strength of our Xinghuo Technology, the space shuttle and the space elevator are not difficult for us.

We are confident that we can process enough reliable aerospace equipment. ”

Feng Yunde then said: "I just carefully analyzed the materials used in the two spacecraft, the space shuttle and the space elevator.

They all choose the proven technology of our Materials Research Institute.

The material for the Space Shuttle is much easier to produce, it is cheaper, and it can be manufactured on a large scale through a nuclear plant.

The yield of some materials in the space elevator is a bit low, but as long as we continue to invest in scientific research on this material, I believe that we will also find a way to break through this material process. ”

Yu Zhenfeng frowned and said: "I don't support the space shuttle and the space elevator, the current mass projector, that is the better choice."

I see that these two solutions are well designed, but the only problem that is not taken into account is the issue of energy supply.

The particle battery adopts the method of electron layer compression energy storage, and there is no new breakthrough in battery theory, and it is already the most efficient and convenient energy storage method.

Particle batteries perform very well on low-energy devices, but if they want to be used in space launch vehicles, it really depends on their energy density.

If I had to choose one of these two options, I would recommend the Space Shuttle.

As long as the shuttle sacrifices one-third of its payload to load particle batteries, it can still operate normally.

If the space elevator does not make a breakthrough in the technology of small nuclear power plants, it will be far away. ”

While Yu Zhenfeng spoke, he showed the changes in the gravitational parameters and energy consumption ratio during the ascent of space through smart devices.

Its energy consumption does not grow linearly, but on an exponential growth curve.

Zhou Yu saw the growth formula of the space elevator, and he asked in surprise: "Old Yu, why is there such a big difference between the formula you used and the formula we calculated."

Yu Zhenfeng explained with a smile: "Mr. Zhou, the space elevator is no longer a small-mass object, it belongs to a large-mass object.

The gravitational phenomenon generated by other celestial bodies in the space elevator cannot be ignored either.

At a low altitude of less than 50,000 meters, it can be idealized by an effect of 99.9999% on the Earth's gravitational pull at that time.

Once the space elevator breaks through 50,000 meters, the gravitational influence of other stars such as the Sun and the Moon on it will break through the 1% tipping point.

This requires a change in other formulas, and the energy consumption of anti-gravity technology equipment needs to overcome several gravitational influences at the same time, and the energy consumption will increase exponentially. ”

Li Qihua carefully inspected Yu Zhenfeng's formula, and he said with some frustration: "It was indeed my mistake, and there was a problem with substituting the formula."

Anti-gravity devices are affected by a variety of smaller gravitational forces, and the energy consumption is substituted into the formula according to multiplication, but I didn't expect it to increase exponentially. ”

The situation discovered by Yu Zhenfeng almost pronounced a death sentence on the space elevator, and this method can only be sealed until the energy problem is solved.

It is not possible to use superconducting cables to supply power to space elevators, which is completely unlikely.

Zhou Yu immediately decided: "In small-scale and multi-frequency transportation, the role of the space shuttle is greater.

The space elevator project is now mothballed, waiting for the energy supply problem to be resolved in unsealing.

Spark Space chose the Space Shuttle as its new launch vehicle. ”

Zhou Yu actually prefers the space shuttle in his heart, but he can't hastily decide on the direction of major development because of his own preferences.

The space shuttle is more capable at this stage, it does not need to set up a special take-off site, it uses anti-gravity technology to float in the air, and the particle electric propulsion engine ignites and takes off.

The shuttle can also fly back and forth between different stars, something that a space elevator can't do.