In the general command room of the Aerospace Research Institute, when Xu Chuan sat in the center to complete the final assembly and construction of the space shuttle and prepare for the first flight.

On the other side, on the Atlantic coast, NASA Washington Command Center.

Busy crowds rushed through the building, and as the main person responsible for the restart of the Artemis project, NASA controlled every aspect of this vast project.

In an office in the headquarters building, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is busy with his work, flipping through one document after another and giving approvals and instructions.

As a huge project that unites Space-X, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin and other commercial space companies, as well as many national space agencies, it is difficult to smoothly promote continuous and sustainable development.

Fortunately, if it weren't for the fact that the other side was pressing forward step by step in the international situation, the old men in the Congress would not have set their sights and focus on the aerospace field, let alone approved such a huge plan.

And NASA has been quite nourishing for more than a year because of the restart + upgrade of the Artemis program.

Of course, what Bill can imagine is how hard the international situation will hit them if they lose to that country in the space race again.

And he, the head of NASA's space agency, probably can't sit down anymore.

However, he does not think that NASA will lose the competition in the space field to others, which is the confidence brought by decades of leadership in the space field, and it is also the glory engraved in the bones as a space power.

The first country to land on the moon, the first manned space shuttle, the first traveler satellite to fly the farthest distance from the Earth.

In this field, they have too many honors and medals, and they also have an incomparably strong foundation.

In fact, nearly a year has passed since the relaunch of the Artemis program, and they have preliminarily completed preparations for a manned landing on the moon.

From Space-X's BFR heavy-lift launch vehicle, to Blue Origin's orbital spacecraft, and Lockheed Martin's Orion multipurpose spacecraft, the core equipment for a manned landing on the moon in 2023 is ready.

If the rest of the work goes well enough, they are expected to embark on the first and crucial step of the Artemis program around July of this year, sending astronauts to the moon and back to the moon.

Although it has been postponed a lot from the date promised at the original press conference, isn't it normal for a complex project such as scientific research and aerospace to be delayed?

In the office, Bill Nelson is in a happy mood to deal with the work at hand, and despite his busy schedule, this kind of life without worrying about money is so wonderful.

At this moment, there was a knock at the door of the office, and a female secretary in professional attire walked in quickly.

"Mr. Director, someone is looking for you outside."

Bill Nelson, who was working on the work, stopped his pen and looked up.

"Who?"

"The staff on the CIA side have verified their identities." The secretary said quickly.

"Guys from the CIA?" Bill Nelson frowned slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Please let them in."

Before he could finish speaking, the door of the office was pushed open again.

Two middle-aged men dressed in low-key and plain black clothes walked in quickly, and Bill Nelson frowned when he saw the two who broke in.

One of the people who came was familiar to him, a close confidant of the CIA director, who had dealt with the White House twice for work reasons.

"I'm sorry, Director Bill, the situation is urgent, we need to confirm the situation faster."

Yuul Hubert showed his ID to Bill Nelson and then looked at the female assistant standing aside.

Bill Nelson nodded, glanced at his assistant, and motioned for her to go out first.

"What happened?"

Because of the relationship of acquaintance, Bill Nelson simply asked directly.

Yul Hubert said quickly: "There are two things that need to be confirmed and investigated with NASA. ”

"The first thing is that NASA sold a batch of materials and equipment to a company called Blue Arrow Aerospace in China four and a half months ago, in November 2022, including some necessary equipment and money for the space shuttle, such as deep space exploration equipment and star trackers, and we need accurate lists and reporting documents."

Hearing this, Bill Nelson frowned slightly, and said: "There is no problem with the sale of this batch of equipment and materials, it is legal and compliant, if you need the list and report documents, I can only give you the relevant approval documents." ”

Yuul Hubert didn't talk nonsense, quickly handed over what the other party needed, and continued: "According to our investigation, this batch of materials and equipment finally flowed from the private Blue Arrow Space Company to the Xinghai Research Institute, and the Xinghai Research Institute is currently assembling and manufacturing the space shuttle, which is very likely to pose a serious threat to our space race." ”

Hearing this, Bill Nelson leaned back in his chair indifferently, tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest twice, and said with a smile: "What does it matter?" Space shuttle? We have long abandoned the product, will they pick it up and follow in the footsteps of the past? ”

"As for the threat."

After a pause, he continued: "I don't think the Xinghai Research Institute can pose any threat to our development in the aerospace field, even if it is led by the famous Professor Xu. ”

"You must know that aerospace is a completely different field from nuclear fusion and mathematics."

Seeing Director Bill Nelson's nonchalant look, Yul Hubert didn't say anything, he quickly took out a file bag from his chest, opened it, took a report file from it and handed it over.

"This is the information we obtained after our investigation, the Xinghai Research Institute is developing an electric propulsion system, and it is very likely that their space shuttle technology will not use traditional chemical fuel rocket propulsion, and use a new electric propulsion system as a power source."

Hearing this, Bill Nelson looked at the other party in surprise and interrupted his statement.

"Electric propulsion? Are you sure you're right? ”

Yul Hubert nodded, and said with a serious face: "That's right. ”

"Huh~."

Confirming the information, Bill Nelson's eyes showed a hint of disdain and mockery, and he spoke: "Electric propulsion + space shuttle? I don't know if your intelligence gathering has been fooled or if the other party has gone mad. ”

As he spoke, he glanced at Yul Hubert and teased, "But I personally think it's more like the former." ”

As the director of the most advanced space agency on the planet, he is all too familiar with the development of the space field and related technologies.

Although he does not dare to say that he has a complete understanding of every technology, no one knows better than him about the development direction and development trend of the aerospace field, those things in the general direction of science and technology, theoretical future, etc.

Electric propulsion? Space shuttle?

Don't be funny, NASA is currently the world's most powerful single electric propulsion engine, and their X3 thruster has set the highest thrust in history at 5.4 N, which still holds the world record for the largest.

And this data is only enough to send an egg to the sky.

Standing across from his desk, Yul Hubert continued to ask with a blank face, "Can't electric propulsion do it?" ”

Bill Nelson shook his head and replied without hesitation: "The world's largest single electric propulsion engine is the X3 thruster we developed, and its thrust is only 5.4 N. ”

"A space shuttle can easily propelle tens or even hundreds of tons, and to propel such a huge weight in the atmosphere, its thrust needs to reach at least tens of KN, and if it leaves the surface, it even needs hundreds of KN or more."

"Are they going to integrate tens of thousands of X3 thrusters to provide thrust to the space shuttle? That's a bit too much. ”

After a pause, he looked at Yul Hubert and grinned, "Moreover, even if they develop an electric propulsion engine with more thrust and find a way to solve the thrust problem, energy supply is still a problem that cannot be solved." ”

"Although the power consumption of a single electric propulsion engine is not large and can be solved by solar panels, the power required by tens of thousands of electric propulsion engines is enough for you to use for a lifetime."

"Although the efficiency of electric propulsion is high, the energy required to propel a space shuttle of tens of tons cannot be solved at all."

"If the other side is really going to use the electric propulsion system, it is probably also thinking that it can save some fuel for the space shuttle itself in outer space."

"After all, you and I are well aware that they are still a huge flaw in the weight load of chemical-fueled launch vehicles, and in order to achieve a manned landing on the moon, we must first solve this problem."

"Maybe they just got the electric propulsion they got to save fuel for the Earth-Moon voyage? In outer space, electric propulsion to propel a space shuttle of several tens of tons is also feasible. ”

As he spoke, Bill Nelson couldn't help but laugh.

This set of assumptions, combined with his previous understanding of the other party's aerospace technology and the country's R&D personnel, may really be like this.

However, Yul Hubert, who was standing opposite, did not relax after hearing this ridiculous explanation, and his face became more solemn.

He quickly asked, "According to you, if the energy problem is solved, electric propulsion is possible?" ”

Bill Nelson was stunned for a moment, a little confused, he frowned slightly and said, "I don't understand what you mean, what is the problem of energy can be solved?" ”

Yul Hubert motioned to the other party to look at the report on the table, and explained by the way: "According to intelligence, a few days ago, the other party's aircraft carrier No. 03 launched is very likely to use a controllable nuclear fusion reactor as an energy supply system. ”

"Through our investigation of the Xinghai Research Institute, they have been developing miniaturized and controllable nuclear fusion technology, and there is reliable information that the other party may have made a certain breakthrough in this technology, and it is very likely that it will be applied to the space shuttle in the future."

"It can't be!"

Hearing the news, Bill Nelson, who was lying on the back of the chair, was stunned, shouted in surprise, and then quickly sat up straight, and touched the report document handed over by the other party from the table.

Flipping through the document report in his hand, his brow furrowed rapidly, and his breathing suddenly became a little heavier.

Although the analysis in his mind told him that the probability of realizing these technologies on the intelligence in his hand was less than 1 in 10,000 or even 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,0

In case the other party really achieves the combination of ultra-large electric propulsion + small fusion reactor

Even if this technology is not mature for the time being, the development of the aerospace field may usher in a earth-shaking change.

PS: There is still a chapter later, before 12 o'clock, ask for a monthly ticket, and there is still a change after the promise, I wish you all a happy New Year's Day!