In the 90s, with the vigorous development of the electronics industry and the growing pursuit of entertainment life.

The television industry began to develop rapidly, and one of the basic requirements for many young men and women to get married these years is to have a color TV.

And as the number of people using TV increases, the sales of another thing are also increasing rapidly: satellite TV receivers.

That is, a satellite pot like a cauldron.

It is capable of receiving television signals from satellites in geosynchronous orbit and sending back digitally coded and compressed television signals from the ground.

The signal is processed by an IF AGC amplification and demodulator, as well as an image signal processor.

The output is a signal that can be played on the TV.

Because the satellite pot is able to receive many different TV segments, and basically there is no additional charge after purchasing the satellite cooker.

So in both urban and rural areas of the country, there are a lot of them.

Not only in China, but also in a large number of regions in the world to broadcast TV programs.

This raises the problem that the number of communication satellites is insufficient, along with the increased demand for satellite television.

It has seriously hindered the development of satellite television.

So over the years, the number of communication satellites dedicated to image voice transmission services has increased.

The two satellites to be launched this time are the Ma Buhai satellite and the Asia-Pacific 2R satellite developed by Laura Space Systems for Southeast Asia and Xiangjiang.

Both of these satellites are large satellites with ultra-high power and heavy weight, unlike those simulated satellites that only have a few hundred kilograms when they are experimented.

Their orbit is a geostationary orbit above the equator, and each one weighs more than 3,700 kilograms.

If the Changsanyi rocket is used for launch, then only one satellite can be launched at a time.

Because the SSTO orbit of the long three-B rocket (supersynchronous transfer orbit, see the words of the writer for details. The carrying capacity is only about 4 tons, and there is almost no margin after carrying a satellite.

Therefore, if you want to save the launch cost, then you can only use the Hongyan rocket with a larger thrust and an SSTO orbital carrying capacity of almost 8.5 tons.

The total launch offer for the two satellites is as high as $110 million.

This is still based on the fact that they are willing to use the new rocket, and if the Changsanyi rocket is used for launch, the price of each satellite is expected to be around $65 million.

The adoption of the new rocket is equivalent to each satellite, which can save $10 million in launch costs.

In this regard, whether it is the Southeast Asian company behind the Ma Buhai satellite or the Asia-Pacific communication company behind the Asia-Pacific 2R, they are very happy to see.

After all, no capitalist would not like to reduce costs.

The initial cost of the Hongyan-1 rocket is about 48 million national dollars, which is actually less than 6 million US dollars when converted into US dollars.

After deducting the cost of personnel, fuel, and the start of the launch process, it will not exceed $10 million in any case.

It can be said that the overall profit of launching these two satellites is about 100 million US dollars.

Of course, this money needs to be divided by many departments, and it is also the domestic currency that is in hand.

Compared with other research institutions in China that are now hungry and full, this income can be regarded as rich.

——

Xichang base, launch site.

The Hongyan rocket, which has completed the load loading work, is quietly waiting on the launch pad.

This launch is the first time that the Hongyan rocket has carried out the launch of a real satellite.

Therefore, Zhang Xingyang still attaches great importance to it and personally presides over the launch of the Hongyan rocket.

Because the size and weight of the two satellites are not small, the fairing of the Hongyan rocket this time looks larger than that of a normal rocket.

Therefore, he also received a relatively close nickname, "Big-headed Goose".

"How's the preparation at the satellite recovery site?"

Zhang Xingyang spoke to Geng Bo, who was guarding the recovery site, through a special telephone in the control center of the launch site.

This launch mission is not only the first commercial launch mission of Hongyan rocket, but also the first attempt to recover the rocket.

"It's all set, now it's waiting for you to get started."

The electrical signal was transmitted to the recycling yard through a long special cable, and the signal quality had deteriorated, but Geng Bo could still hear Zhang Xingyang's crisp voice clearly.

Putting down the phone, Zhang Xingyang looked at his watch, there were still a few minutes left before the launch time.

Zhang Xingyang calmly supported the console with his hands, recalling the technical details of the Hongyan rocket.

Time flies, the launch is scheduled.

The Hongyan rocket rose from the Xichang launch site, like a long arrow flying into the sky.

In the control center, Zhang Xingyang listened to the reports of the detection radar stations in various places, and watched the countdown time on the big screen.

Because the orbit to be hit this time is SSTO, which is much higher than the usual orbit, the separation time of the first-stage rocket is also slightly later.

If it is a low-orbit satellite launch mission, the separation time of the first and second stages of the Hongyan rocket is about 160 seconds, and this time it lasted until 170 seconds before the separation of the first and second stages was completed.

After the announcer, the first stage of the rocket was successfully separated.

Zhang Xingyang's whole person became energetic.

The next step is the most important verification link in this launch mission, the actual recovery of the rocket.

"The second ignition of the first-stage rocket was successful!"

Because the first-stage rocket has to turn around, it needs to be ignited twice and rely on the four rudders on the first-stage rocket to adjust the direction of the rocket.

During the process of returning, there is no need to struggle to break free from the gravitational pull of the earth, so it is only necessary to turn on several engines of the propulsion system in turn.

The pale blue flame at the tail of the first-stage rocket changes regularly, slowly pushing the first-stage rocket towards the recovery field.

"The first stage rocket turned successfully!"

"The two-stage rocket was successfully separated!"

Good news came one after another in terms of satellite launches and rocket recovery.

In the control center, everyone was working with a little excitement.

Compared to the launch work of the satellite, the return speed of rocket recovery is faster.

"The fairing was detached successfully!"

"The first-stage rocket is 100 kilometers closer to the recovery site!"

Now Zhang Xingyang has basically seen that the launch of the two satellites has been successful.

So the mind is more on rocket recovery.

Just when everyone thought that the first rocket recovery would be a success.

Bad news, from the rocket recycling yard.

Some problems arose with the first actual recovery of the Hongyan rocket.

During the landing of the first stage rocket, it is not known whether it was due to insufficient fuel or a failure of the propulsion system.

When it was still more than ten meters above the ground, the propulsion system was shut down prematurely.

SSTO (Hypersynchronous Transfer Orbit) refers to a class of transfer orbits with an apogee greater than 36000 km of an ordinary GTO. The advantage of SSTO is that it can save the fuel required for the spacecraft to change orbit to GEO in order to extend the life of the spacecraft. The disadvantage is that the launch vehicle needs to provide higher speed to the spacecraft, so the carrying capacity is reduced, and the position accuracy is also affected somewhat.

(End of chapter)