Chapter 408: Two-Stage Rocket

In the northwest wilderness, within the core area of the code-named "Eastern Base," Li Mingyuan stood in the newly completed design center hall, looking around at the busy figures, a sense of satisfaction welling up in his heart. Since the "Changkong No. 1" project was officially launched three months ago, this barren Gobi Desert had undergone earth-shaking changes.

Thousands of workers were building the launch site, Assembly Workshop, test center, and living quarters day and night; a modern aerospace city was rising from the desert. What made Li Mingyuan most proud was that the entire process was being carried out completely outside the world's Radar—strict anti-reconnaissance systems were deployed around the base, all material transport was completed via disguised military trucks, and even the workers' families were told they were building a "large-scale water conservancy project."

"Chief Engineer Li, the Rocket Engine test area is finished; we can conduct the first ignition experiment next week." The project's deputy chief engineer, Wang Gang, hurried over to report.

Li Mingyuan nodded: "Very good. Prepare the emergency plan in advance; the first test must be foolproof."

"Also, the processing equipment in Workshop No. 3 has been debugged, and we can start producing the core components of the Guidance System."

"Perfect!" Li Mingyuan patted Wang Gang on the shoulder, "Notify the team; we will hold the first full meeting of the Technical Backbone tonight. It is time to go over the entire rocket plan."

At eight o'clock in the evening, inside the base's conference center, more than fifty top experts from various professional groups gathered together. Li Mingyuan stood in front of the huge design drawing, his expression firm and focused.

"Everyone, today we officially confirm the overall technical plan for 'Changkong No. 1'." He pointed to the rocket blueprints with a laser pointer, "This will be a two-and-a-half-stage liquid rocket, with a total height of 28.7 meters, a liftoff weight of 76 tons, a maximum thrust of 90 tons, and it will be able to send a 200-kilogram payload into a 550-kilometer low Earth orbit."

"The first stage uses four YF-1 Engines, burning a liquid oxygen-kerosene propellant combination, with 18 tons of thrust each, for a total thrust of 72 tons." Li Mingyuan explained the parameters and working principles of each system in detail, his tone revealing a strange confidence, as if he had already seen the scene of this rocket soaring into the sky with his own eyes.

"The second stage uses one YF-2 Engine, with 10 tons of thrust, using cryogenic liquid oxygen and refined kerosene to provide orbital maneuvering capability. The half-stage consists of two solid boosters, each providing 9 tons of thrust, used for additional acceleration during the liftoff phase."

An old professor from the propulsion systems group couldn't help but interject: "Chief Engineer Li, has the turbopump design for the YF-1 and YF-2 Engines been solved? That is a world-class problem."

Li Mingyuan smiled slightly: "Not only solved, but we have also found a way to simplify manufacturing." He walked to the whiteboard and quickly drew a complex mechanical structure diagram, "Traditional designs require hundreds of precision parts, and the fault tolerance is extremely low. But we are using integral casting plus CNC precision machining to reduce the number of parts by 60%, while simultaneously increasing reliability. This is the huge advantage of our CNC technology."

The old professor's eyes widened, and he was speechless for a long time. This line of thinking was simply revolutionary in the rocket engine design of the time, completely subverting traditional concepts.

Li Mingyuan continued to present the detailed plans for the Guidance System, structural design, electrical systems, and separation mechanisms, each one integrating the advanced concepts from his "past life" memories with currently achievable technical means. Especially for the Guidance System, he proposed a high-precision gyro platform manufactured based on CNC technology, with precision three times higher than traditional mechanical machining, yet at half the cost.

"Finally, regarding the schedule," Li Mingyuan concluded, "complete the design of all subsystems within three months, complete testing of key components within six months, complete the integration of the entire rocket within nine months, and attempt the first launch within one year."

"One year?" Professor Wu, the head of the structure group, stood up in surprise, "Chief Engineer Li, according to conventional rocket development processes, this would take at least three to five years!"

Li Mingyuan smiled mysteriously: "Professor Wu, we are not taking the conventional route. First, we are adopting a parallel development model, with multiple systems advancing simultaneously; second, we have significantly simplified the verification process, focusing our energy on key node testing; third, and most importantly, we have the manufacturing revolution brought about by CNC technology. Please believe me, one year, we can do it."

After the meeting ended, Li Mingyuan did not return directly to his dormitory, but instead came to the most secret small building at the base—a special R&D room code-named "Thinking Center." Only Li Mingyuan had permission to enter here, not even Minister Zhang.

He carefully locked the door and turned on the lights, revealing the behemoth in the center of the room—a machine that was being assembled.

"My treasure," Li Mingyuan whispered to himself, while skillfully taking out a set of tools to continue the work left unfinished last night, "If they knew what I was building, I'm afraid they would be scared silly on the spot."

This machine was Li Mingyuan's most secret plan—or more accurately, a third-generation personal Computer based entirely on Integrated Circuit Technology.

Li Mingyuan carefully soldered the circuit board, his thoughts racing. Rockets and satellites were important, but he knew deeply that what truly determined a country's technological strength was computing power. Aerospace, weapons, scientific research, industrial control—all cutting-edge fields could not do without powerful computing support. And this Computer would be the secret weapon for Long Country to overtake on a curve.

"With just three more months," he muttered to himself, "I will be able to complete the assembly of the core processing unit. Then, rocket trajectory calculations and satellite data processing will all become incredibly simple."

Li Mingyuan knew that the existence of this Computer must be kept absolutely secret, even more confidential than the rocket project. The Star-Spangled Country and Beijixiong Guo had not yet realized the full power of the digital age; if they knew that Long Country had already mastered Transistor computing technology, it would surely trigger a comprehensive technological encirclement.

It was not until three in the morning that Li Mingyuan reluctantly left the "Thinking Center" and returned to his dormitory for a short rest. Tomorrow, there was still an entire rocket empire waiting for him to build.

……

At the same time, deep in the Nevada Desert of the Star-Spangled Country, the "Puluomixiusi" base was brightly lit. Ever since the commander ordered the acceleration of the "Sky Eye" project, activities here had not stopped.

Doctor Feng Bulaide rubbed his temples wearily; the documents on his desk were piled as high as a small mountain. As the general director of the "Sky Eye" project, he had almost not left the base for the past two months.

"Doctor, the latest Engine test report." A young engineer put down a stack of documents, "The thrust parameters are 3% higher than expected, but there are still problems with the Combustion Chamber temperature control."

Bulaide nodded: "Continue to optimize the cooling system; we cannot take risks. There is no room for failure in this project."