Regarding Chang'e-5's "mining plan", in fact, Chen Nian didn't think too much about it.

His request was simple: after the first moon landing, he would retrieve enough helium-3 to complete the fusion miniaturization experiment.

This is not an easy task, knowing that there are between 10 and 20 helium-3 atoms per cubic meter of lunar soil.

To meet the standard of fusion, in fact, it is not as easy as ordinary people think.

——

But speaking of which, once again, the experience of a past life comes into play.

Because Chen Nian knows that helium-3 on the moon is not evenly distributed.

In fact, in the lunar soil samples retrieved by Chang'e-5 in the previous generation, we have found a special ilmenite enriched with helium-3, called "helium-3 foam".

With the help of mechanical grinding, the extraction of helium-3 from foam is extremely simple.

The ilmenite alone on the surface of the moon has millions of tons, and the corresponding helium-3 reserves have reached a staggering 260,000 tons.

100 tons of helium-3 power generation is enough for all mankind to use for a year, and these 260,000 tons are enough for humans to build large-scale outposts on the moon

At that time, as the "lunar industrial system" matures, the difficulty of transporting helium-3 raw materials will drop sharply, thus further accelerating the progress of the human energy revolution.

However, the most urgent task now is to find a way to make Chang'e-5 bigger and bigger.

Otherwise, it probably won't fit that many devices.

This point will be handed over to Li Bingzhong's team.

It's time for their TBCC project to evolve to the next stage.

At the same time, Chang'an, Li Bingzhong's office.

At present, the progress of the Long March 9 project is relatively smooth, after the use of new rocket engines is determined, it is expected that the LEO carrying capacity can reach 190 tons, the GTO carrying capacity is about 22 tons, and if the Earth-Moon engineering modification is carried out, the TLI carrying capacity of the Long March 9B can reach 80 tons."

"Compared to the 118 tons of LEO and 43 tons of TLI of Apollo 11 back then, our efficiency is higher."

"Of course, this is mainly due to the blessing of TBCC technology, but objectively speaking, our engines have not yet fully realized the potential of new fuels."

"The thrust provided by the current kerosene-liquid oxygen scheme is far from the effect of the metallic hydrogen-total nitrogen anion salt scheme in the experiment, and there is at least a three- to four-fold gap in terms of comprehensive carrying capacity."

"In other words, if we can fully replace the new fuel engine, we can even do three rockets with one rocket."

"It's a tempting prospect. But why are the superiors just not optimistic? ”

Rowan said suspiciously while looking at the several plans that were beaten back in front of him.

Li Bingzhong, who was opposite, shook his head and replied:

"You only see the advantages now, not the disadvantages."

"According to the current design scheme, metallic hydrogen fuel can only take the route of solid-state scheme, and solid-state scheme has natural shortcomings."

"We don't think about the specific impulse problem because there is a new fuel, but how to solve the thrust control problem? How to solve the problem of repeated ignition? How to solve the problem of recycling and filling? ”

"A solid-state rocket is a cannon battle, and when it is finished, it will be gone, and it is appropriate to use it as a propulsion plan for intercontinental missiles, but the problem is that what we are doing is a space vehicle."

"It's not a one-shot deal, you send something to the moon, you always have to fly back again, how to stabilize the ignition of a solid-state rocket, it's also a big trouble."

"We now have a great advantage, and instead of pursuing a breakthrough, it is better to seek stability and make a liquid plan first."

"After all, the current carrying capacity of the Long March 9 is actually quite sufficient."

Hearing this, Rowan couldn't help but sigh.

"But no matter what, it's always a bit of a pity-—— what if we can solve the recycling problem? The other problems are actually not a problem at all. ”

"I didn't say that I wouldn't do it, aren't the Kuaizhou project and the Long March 11 project a solid-state solution? Recently, there is a hyperbolic project of military-civilian integration, and the direction is still towards the solid-state re-flight. ”

"However, the hyperbola seems to be a three-solid and one-liquid solution, which is still far from the ideal solution in your mind."

"The gap is too big, the low-profile version is not counted, it can only be regarded as a castrated version."

Speaking of this, Rowan reluctantly closed the report in his hand, and seemed to have accepted this "imperfect plan" in his heart.

But only a few seconds later, he suddenly asked again:

"Say, should we try harder?"

"Now the superiors are temporarily reluctant to take the metal hydrogen route, which is nothing more than a cost-effective problem."

"But no matter what, this step always has to be taken."

"Just as it takes trial and error to do business, we also need trial and error when we engage in R&D."

"The result is the same for the loss now and the loss for the future."

"Wouldn't it be a resource saving for the future if we could wade through the muddy waters now?"

Hearing his words, Li Bingzhong couldn't help but be stunned.

I have to say that this idea is quite strange

But the problem is that when you communicate with your superiors, you can't just take an "idea" in a daze, and you have to come up with a feasible plan.

At the same time, the programme must include a foreseeable long-term benefit that is greater than the benefits of continuing to use the kerosene-liquid oxygen programme.

Judging from the current situation, these two conditions are really not so easy to achieve.

But what's the harm in trying?

Anyway, after the TBCC project is over, the project team has plenty of funds and can allocate a part of it to try some new directions.

As Rowan said, trial and error.

Thinking of this, Li Bingzhong decisively said:

"It's not impossible, we can do it."

"However, even if you want to do it, you have to have a charter, and you can't pounce on it all at once."

"My suggestion is that we choose a relatively small direction, achieve a technological breakthrough first, and show the results to our superiors."

"If you can get through, keep going."

"In this way, whether it is our project team or superiors, the pressure will be relatively small."

"As for what direction to choose."

Li Bingzhong frowned.

In fact, the technical difficulties faced by metal hydrogen fuel engines are much more than those of kerosene-liquid oxygen engines, such as high-strength, high-toughness, high-temperature resistant shell technology, high drug-to-weight ratio combustion chamber technology, nozzle punch-to-mass ratio technology, solid-state multi-stage ignition technology, and thrust control technology.

Basically every single one of them, requires a lot of time and effort to try and test.

Moreover, the difficulty of each one is not low, and which one to choose cannot be done once and for all.

"Why don't we try solid-liquid conversion technology?"

Rowan interjected and asked.

"This is the core problem we are facing now, the problem of high-temperature resistant materials can be solved by the Institute of Materials, the nozzle and combustion chamber technology has been accumulated before, and the field of multi-stage ignition and thrust control is biased towards solid fuels, if the solid-liquid conversion can be realized, these two problems do not need to be considered."

"If you can do this, the obstacles of metal-hydrogen fuel engines will be basically removed."

Li Bingzhong nodded slowly and said thoughtfully:

"That's right, there is a lot of thought in this direction - metallic hydrogen fuel itself actually has the natural advantage of solid-liquid conversion."

He immediately slapped the table and said:

"Then go in this direction! You tell you to go down and pull a project team out. ”

"As long as we can get this done, our path will be much easier in the future."

"22 tons of GTO? Let's get 220 tons out! ”

On the other side of the sea, NASA headquarters.

TODAY'S OFFICE OF DIRECTOR NELSON HAS A NOT-SO-STRANGE, BUT DEFINITELY UNCOMMON GUEST, AND HE IS THE FOUNDER OF SPACEX, ELON MUSK.

He sat across from Nelson with a big grin, seemingly uninterested in any of the topics that the powerful man in front of him had to say, just silently sipping his coffee, his eyes wandering over the layout of the office, not knowing what was going on in his head.

Nelson was also helpless about his performance, and after chatting about the topic of financial support for the next quarter, he finally couldn't bear to interrupt the topic, looked at Musk and said:

"Elon, I want you to give me a little basic respect."

"You know, at least half of the credit for your company's growth to this point should go to NASA."

"IF IT WEREN'T FOR OUR CAPITAL INJECTION AT THIS CRITICAL TIME, SPACEX WOULD HAVE COLLAPSED IN 2008."

"Now that you can sit here, it can even be said that it is a mercy of the federal government."

"Even if you think I'm talking about boring-—— I think so myself, at least you should be a little more serious!"

Hearing his words, Musk finally came to his senses.

He spread his hands and replied with an innocent face:

"Nelson, you know, I've always thought of you as my closest companion and one of my best friends in life."

"My attitude is not to you, but to the whole of NASA, to Congress."

"What's so nice about this kind of boring report anyway, we already know that the budget for the next quarter will be significantly reduced, and all practitioners, including our company, will enter a cold winter."

"In that case, do you still expect me to have a good face?"

"I'm not in the mood to listen to your big plans, or to go with you to 'taoguang and recuperate'—that's what that says, right?"

"Now all I'm thinking about is how to sell a few more electric cars, catch up with the new energy outlet created by Huaxia, and maintain the basic operation of SpaceX."

"I'll be straight to the point, unless you can convince Congress to invest more in me, otherwise, we don't need to meet at all."

"Do you think I don't want to?"

Nelson's tone became a little hurried, in fact, he was more worried about the state of SpaceX than Musk.

You know, betting on this commercial company was his idea from the beginning, and it would have been quite good.

Significant progress has been made in heavy-duty liquid rocket technology, and the development of rocket recovery technology is also going well, and a bright future is just around the corner, but at this juncture, the flow of funds is cut off.

What was originally a mundane test has become a luxury, not to mention the further development of heavy rockets, and even rocket recovery tests that have progressed to the launch stage have been forced to stop.

If it continues to develop in this direction, not only will SpaceX's prospects be worrisome, but it will obviously be impossible to maintain its position in NASA.

So, he was desperate to find an opportunity to turn the desperate situation around.

And this is also the purpose of his appointment with Musk today.

Thinking of this, he exhaled heavily, then regained his composure and continued to speak:

"Elon, it's not like we don't have a chance."

"What I talked to you about before was all routine."

"But now, what I'm going to tell you will definitely be the most important decision you'll ever make in your life."

"Is it more important than me buying a Tesla?"

Musk said a little jokingly.

While he has never admitted in public that "Tesla was not created by him," he does not shy away from it in front of his friends.

"Much more important than that."

Nelson paused deliberately for a moment before continuing, after making sure that Musk's curiosity had been aroused:

"Because, I need you to sell Tesla."

"Sell Tesla? What are you kidding me?! ”

Musk's expression changed suddenly, and he suddenly got up and said.

"Calm down, calm down."

Nelson hurriedly comforted:

"It's not a mandatory requirement – and of course, it has nothing to do with the recent wave of mergers and acquisitions."

"I'm just giving you a choice, and a potential possibility."

"What if I said that selling your Tesla would allow you to land on the moon?"

As soon as these words came out, Musk's movements stopped instantly.

He was a smart man, so he naturally understood the meaning of Nelson's words at the first time.

"A return to the moon project? Can you give it to me? ”

Nelson nodded, and replied:

"Funding is difficult and we are looking for an outsourcing partner."

"There are a lot of competing companies at the moment, but I don't trust them."

"If you can provide enough money and enough cash flow, I think SpaceX will be the best choice."

The best option

Musk silently repeated these words in his mind.

Yes, SpaceX would certainly be the best option.

There are sufficient technical reserves, long-term cooperation experience, and more importantly, SpaceX's research direction is very consistent with NASA's public return to the moon.

Low cost, large load, reuse

In fact, before Nelson opened his mouth, he had considered this project, but the problem was that the project was too large and too costly, and he simply couldn't come up with that much money.

But now, Nelson offers a more aggressive strategy.

Sell Tesla, all in the moon.

Is it worth it?

At this time, Nelson was still following the rules.

"If you think about it, times have changed."

"The biggest growth point in the future can't be electric vehicles - Huaxia people have superconducting technology, they will do it better and faster than you, and the cost is lower, and you can only die a slow death in the competition with them."

"In that case, why not give yourself a different direction?"

"Let's go to space, it's still a blue ocean that no one has explored."

"As long as the return to the moon program can be successful, everything you want to do in the future will no longer be difficult."

"Starlink, Mars Survey, Deep Space Exploration. Don't you really want to give it a try? ”

"I think."

Musk replied without hesitation.

"But the problem is, it's just too risky."

"Do you have less adventures in your life?"

Nelson's tone was extremely seductive, and at the moment he was like a mermaid sitting on a reef to lure the crew into the water.

Musk also knows this but has to say it. He was willing to take the risk.

"Are you sure I'll get the re-entry to the moon?"

"One hundred percent."

Nelson affirmed.

"Good!"

Musk held out his hand.

Then, the two of them clasped hands tightly.

Nelson's eyes flashed with a hint of joy.

Whether Musk succeeds or not, at least, he will not fail before he retires

(End of chapter)