At night, in a villa at the foot of the Purple Mountain.

After sorting out the data calculations and quantization reports that were perfected at NTU during the day, the mobile phone rang in the study.

Connected the phone, it was the assistant Qin Yue who called.

"Professor, the video call platform has been set up, and the entry link has been sent to you, and you can enter it at any time. NASA's Director Bill Nelson has entered the video room. ”

In the mobile phone, Qin Yue's voice was transmitted clearly and steadily.

Xu Chuan's video call with the director of NASA's space agency is not a simple prestige video or FaceTime video call.

There are simply too many steps to prepare for and deal with for this kind of formal communication.

After all, the cooperation between NASA and Xinghai Research Institute, although it is only two companies, involves too much scope and influence.

Under normal circumstances, the video room would definitely be a quarrel between a group of people 'spitting and splashing'.

However, for Xu Chuan, although the Xinghai Research Institute is not his private research institute, it is similar, and he has the ability and qualification to make full decisions.

As for NASA, since Bill Nelson appeared alone, it also means that he has convinced the bureau and even the lawmakers on Lao Yeshan's side that he has the ability to communicate alone.

"Okay, I see."

Nodding, Xu Chuan hung up the phone, clicked on the link sent by Qin Yue, and entered the video call room.

In the video room, which has been prepared for a long time, the kings of the aerospace field of two huge countries ushered in the first meeting of the two sides.

That's right, this is the first 'video' meeting between Xu Chuan and Bill Nelson.

Although the Xinghai Research Institute and NASA have dealt with the lunar rescue operation before, the two have not met as much as they do now.

However, for the two people who stand at the pinnacle of their respective countries' aerospace fields, no matter how much they wish for each other to fall in the mainland, there is still work on the surface.

Xu Chuan connected to the video room, and Director Bill Nelson on the other end said hello with a smile on his face.

"Hello Professor Xu, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Xu Chuan also nodded with a smile and said hello: "Hello Director Nelson." ”

"Hello, Professor Xu, you and I are very clear about the content of today's video conference, so I will not waste time here. Let's get straight to it. ”

Straight to the point, Bill Nelson gets straight to the point.

"Of course."

Xu Chuan nodded, he didn't have that much time to waste on nonsense with Bill Nelson.

"Okay, next, on behalf of NASA, I will apply to the Xinghai Research Institute to use the Xinghai Space Shuttle to carry a group of space telescope repair engineers and related equipment to the L2 two Lagrange points to carry out mirror restoration work on the damaged Webb Space Telescope."

"The engineers related to the restoration work and the equipment that needs to be transported are now uploaded to the video call room again, and Professor Xu can upload and download it for viewing."

The number of engineers needed to repair the Webb Space Telescope and the related parts and equipment have been sent long before today's meeting, and Xu Chuan has also seen it.

But since Bill Nelson said so, he definitely needs to download and browse again.

After briefly flipping through the documents that had not changed, Xu Chuan nodded and said, "No problem, Director Pilson, I can read the relevant cooperation documents." ”

"I'm happy to contribute to the restoration of the Webb telescope, the jewel of astrophysics, but there is still a lot of communication about the number of restoration engineers."

After a slight pause, he continued: "There are too many places for six people, and there is a limit to the number of crew and residence modules on the space shuttle, and we can't afford to send so many engineers to L2 Lagrange together. ”

"After leaving behind the pilot, medical staff and related staff, Xinghai can provide the position of up to two engineers."

With a wave of his hand, Xu Chuan directly cut off more than half of the number of engineers on the list provided by the other party.

On the other side of the video call, after hearing this, Director Bill Nelson's face darkened, and he blurted out a retort: "This is impossible, two engineers simply can't complete the repair work of the Webb telescope in space, and six engineers are already the lowest number accurately calculated by TRW Space." ”

Xu Chuan shook his head and said with a smile: "I'm sorry, Mr. Director Nelson, the number of six engineers is too much, and it has indeed exceeded the limit that the Xinghai space shuttle can carry." ”

For Xinghai, it is generally best to limit the number of people on a long space mission to less than twelve.

Because a long-term space mission has a huge pressure on the space shuttle's life support system, circulation system, material supply and other aspects.

Of course, this number can be increased in an emergency, but it is not an emergency right now, and there is no need to take this risk.

Therefore, if we take a cooperative ride this time, it is most appropriate for the Xinghai with twelve people to go to the L2 Lagrange point to complete the restoration work of the Webb telescope.

But this number of people must be controlled, considering some things that have been communicated with Academician Chang Huaxiang before, if the number of NASA engineers reaches six, it will cause a certain degree of risk to the safety of the Xinghai space shuttle.

After all, there are too many people, even if the other party has no intention of hijacking the plane, it is difficult to control some small actions in outer space.

So in terms of numbers, the controversy is definitely there, he wants to compress, and Bill Nelson naturally wants to fight for the maximum number.

In the video conference room, the two quarreled, and both sides were a little angry.

Xu Chuan patted the desk in front of him vigorously: "Director Nelson, you have to make it clear that you are asking me now, not that I must cooperate with you!" If you don't agree, build your own space shuttle! ”

In a word, I almost didn't give Bill Nelson on the other side of the video a cerebral hemorrhage.

After taking a few deep breaths, he relented and said, "It is impossible for two engineers to complete the repair of the Webb telescope, and at least four people need to cooperate with each other to complete the adjustment. ”

Looking at Director Bill Nelson, who had taken a step back, Xu Chuan thought for a while and thought of another way.

"How about NASA that can train our astronauts and have our astronauts do the auxiliary work?"

To be honest, four engineers boarded the ship, which was already in their bottom line.

Xinghai can carry twelve astronauts, eight to four, and can do a good job of inspection in advance, and its own astronauts and security guards can carry weapons, which also makes such an accident as hijacking happen, Xu Chuan feels that he deserves it.

However, the compression still has to be compressed, after all, there are three people, there are many people, there may always be accidents.

Hearing this, Bill Nelson on the other side of the video had a black line at the end and directly refused: "It's impossible, don't dream, how can the training of engineers be so easy." ”

Train their astronauts? What the hell is this suggestion? It's better to refuse to cooperate outright.

Xu Chuan smashed his mouth, a little regretful.

If NASA can agree to this. Forget it, NASA can't be this kind of mental retardation either.

This is equivalent to cultivating talents for opponents, no one can do this kind of thing, and Bill Nelson is not a comrade, how can he agree to such an outrageous thing.

He was about to agree, and the next moment the FBI was afraid that he would burst into his house.

On the other side, Director Nelson took a deep breath and said, "Professor Xu, there is an old saying in China called opening the skylight and speaking brightly. The restoration of the Webb telescope required at least four engineers at the same time, which could not have been narrowed down. ”

"As for training your astronauts or something, do you think it's necessary to say that? You and I are not stupid. Four engineers, supporting maintenance equipment and installations, this is the bottom line. If you don't agree, just cancel the cooperation. ”

Bill Nelson couldn't bear it anymore, threw out his final bottom line, and then looked at Xu Chuan through a video call.

It was the toughest scholar and researcher he had ever met.

No matter how he tried to repair the Webb telescope, no matter how much he knew about it, and even 'The Webb telescope is the treasure of all mankind, can you bear to watch it be damaged in space?' This kind of thing is said, and the other party just refuses to let go of his consent.

In the study, Xu Chuan tapped his fingers on the log desk and thought for a while.

Four people, this is probably the bottom line of NASA. No matter how low it is, no matter what the angle, Pilson probably won't agree.

After thinking for a while, Xu Chuan put a smile on his face and said, "Yes, I agree to the transportation conditions of the four engineers, so let's talk about the remuneration next." ”

On the other side of the video, hearing Xu Chuan agree, Bill Nelson also had a smile on his face.

Don't look at him staring at Xu Chuan with gritted teeth a second ago, eager to eat his appearance. But the next second, when he heard that his requirements were met, he turned his face faster than he turned a book.

Nodding with a smile, Bill Nelson spoke: "Of course, since there is cooperation, there is naturally a reward. How about two million meters? I think that's a very reasonable pay. ”

Hearing this, it was Xu Chuan's turn to have a black line on his face, and he couldn't help but speak: "Reasonable? If you think 2 million meters is a reasonable price, I think the cooperation can also be canceled. ”

Two million meters of gold, what about sending beggars?

The Xinghai took those rich people on a space trip, one person is 20 million meters of gold, and a few can carry five members at a time, which is 100 million.

And this is still an ordinary low-earth orbit space trip, and he can earn 100 million at a time.

Bill Nelson didn't care at all, and cheekily continued: "NASA's funding is limited, and two million meters of gold is already a lot, enough for ordinary people to have food and clothing for a lifetime. If Professor Xu thinks it's too little, I can add it to two and a half million. ”

Xu Chuan retorted: "Space travel in low earth orbit is 20 million meters of gold at a time, and the voyage of the Xinghai has been scheduled for next year, do you think I am short of 2.5 million meters of gold?" ”

The corners of Nelson's mouth twitched, and he was speechless for a moment.

Shet, he almost forgot that this guy was not short of money at all, and the Star Ocean could earn 20 million in one space trip, which was ten times the amount he paid.

In the study, Xu Chuan knocked on the table and said, "Director Nelson, don't mention the remuneration of two million meters, I will only feel ridiculous when I say it." ”

"As for the remuneration for the restoration of the Webb telescope, I think it should be up to me to mention. After all, this is an exclusive deal, and no other spacecraft can do this except Xinghai. ”

Hearing this, Bill Nelson suddenly felt a little bad in his heart.

Sure enough, Xu Chuan immediately spoke: "Money is of little value to me, and I think exclusive trading is naturally more worthy of some other skills." ”

After a pause, he continued: "What about the mirror manufacturing technology of the outer space telescope? ”

When the words fell, Bill Nelson directly refused: "This is impossible! ”

"Professor Xu, your request is too outrageous, if this is the case, I don't think our cooperation will be able to start at all."

One of the core technologies of the Webb telescope is the manufacture of mirrors.

It involves too many fields, such as ultra-smooth surface processing technology, mirror temperature resistance process, surface coating process and so on.

Not to mention the rest, an ultra-smooth surface processing process alone is worth a lot.

Take the Webb telescope, for example, which has a primary lens diameter of 6.5 meters, a light collection area of 25.4 square meters, and consists of 18 identical hexagonal lenses.

These lenses are so flat that if you enlarge each lens to 10 million square kilometers, or as large as the whole of Europe, the surface of the lens will not fluctuate by more than 10 centimeters.

Such a smooth surface is designed not only with ultra-high-precision polishing technology, but also with high-quality optical materials, high-performance polishing equipment, and so on.

Any one of them, take out more than two million meters of gold, let alone two million, that is, 200 million meters of gold, or even 20 billion meters of gold, it is impossible to buy ultra-smooth surface processing technology.

After all, there are so many areas where ultra-smooth surface processing is available beyond telescopes.

Not to mention the others, the core one is the lithography machine.

Why are top-notch lithography machines so hard to manufacture?

Optical technology is one of the cores.

If this were the terms of the deal, he would rather the Webb telescope rot in space than take the cooperation.

Seeing Nelson's categorical refusal, Xu Chuan also smashed his mouth.

He also knew that his 'reward' was too outrageous, and it was impossible for the other party to agree, but it was always right to try, what if there was hope?

And what Mr. Lu said is good, people's temperament always likes to reconcile and compromise, for example, you say, this house is too dark, you must open a window here, everyone must not allow it. But if you advocate tearing down the roof, they will reconcile and be willing to open the windows.

So, before making an 'outrageous' request, make an 'even more outrageous' request, and the former may be able to facilitate it?