Chapter 124 - 120 CZ-9_1

The successful recovery of CZ-6 has made China’s National Space Administration the third institution in the world to master the technology of vertical rocket recovery, securing a bronze medal.

Not only was the 8th Institute weeping with joy at the celebration, but other rocket teams also let out a sigh of relief.

Because this at least proves that the reusable rockets they are developing are not just a pipe dream; there is indeed a solid foundation.

Then the 6th Institute also brought good news. After developing the YF130, they will obtain high-pressure combustion chamber technology. The thrust of a single YF482 combustion chamber is 240 tons, and the 6th Institute will be confident to develop a single combustion chamber with a thrust level of 360 tons, the YF135, after the YF130.

The estimated thrust of the YF135 is about 360 tons, three times that of the YF100, and because it is a single combustion chamber, it is reusable. It is expected to be developed successfully by 2018.

With recovery control technology in place and engines on the way, the administration immediately planned its own giant rocket, CZ-9:

CZ-9 is expected to use an 11-meter-diameter rocket body with a bare configuration. The first stage is fitted with 29 YF135 engines arranged in a 16+10+3 layout. The liftoff thrust is 10,788 tons, the liftoff mass is 8,500 tons, LEO payload capacity is 380 tons, and lunar transfer orbit payload capacity is 150 tons.

In terms of diameter and engine layout, CZ-9 is identical to New Yuan No. 3. The latter is simply equipped with 19 engines of 380-ton-class K380, resulting in a total thrust of 7,500 tons.

CZ-9 plans to use three core stage engines for deceleration adjustments upon recovery, still with an 11-meter diameter. This is clearly another challenge, but the administration has set a longer timeframe for the development of CZ-9, by which time the control systems should be able to solve these problems.

The administration feels that a reusable CZ-9 is almost the limit for chemical rockets; going further is unnecessary as that’s what aero-space planes are meant for.

That’s right, the aero-space plane program has also accelerated due to the resource tilt towards space exploration triggered by the Moon landing. It has not been abandoned due to rocket recovery.

The reason is simple: it’s a plan left by Sir Qian, and for the great sage and mentor of the aerospace community, the government chooses to believe unconditionally.

...

New Yuan Power Affiliated Specialized School... No, it’s Southern Aeronautical and Astronautical University now.

The sign was in their hands after the Aerospace Institute was established, and Professors Zhou and Zhao returned from space. The nearly seventy-year-old principal personally helped replace the early-prepared gilded sign.

The surrounding colleges all said he had deviated from the original intention of a public school and became a lapdog for New Yuan, but Principal Jiang wanted to say: What’s wrong with being a dog?

During the summer vacation, the university began to expand its construction, planning to triple its area within a year and add about 20 majors, with the teaching staff also doubling.

The expansion was a must. The exceptionally talented staff on secondment were all locked in at the B-level Base, and most of the pretty capable others were occupied with research tasks initiated by New Yuan. It was imperative to expand enrollment.

At this moment, Lin Ju was touring the university with great interest. There had been many changes here, far too many compared to before.

First of all, the school gate was rather extravagant. The buildings on both sides had been flattened and replaced with two 1:1 scale steel models of the New Yuan-2 rocket... visible from kilometers away.

How should I put it? To say it’s flashy but indeed high tech, yet looking at it, it’s genuinely flashy.

Behind the school gate, there was a huge park with a pond and greenery. Outside of it were ring-shaped shrubs and trees. The old banyan tree in the middle had been removed and replaced with a tilting H1 Progress model.

But that was not the most extravagant part. Their newly built teaching building was in the shape of a ring-shaped spacecraft, preparing to eventually relocate the Aerospace Institute there.

What others might think, Lin Ju did not know, but Mr. Lin was very happy.

Tong Peiqiang, Vice-Principal Tong, led Lin Ju to the Aerospace Institute’s teaching building, proudly showing off the students in class:

"Mr. Lin, we’ve gathered the best students here. As long as it’s an engineering specialty, those with good grades have been transferred here from other colleges. In the future, this will be the cradle of aerospace talent.

"Among over two thousand students, there should be at least a thousand promising ones, right?"

Lin Ju looked at the students in the classroom who were attending a class. It was December, and the weather was already cold, yet there was no air conditioning in the classroom.

Perhaps noticing Lin Ju frowning, Tong Peiqiang immediately said:

"There is central heating. The school’s budget is significant, and the cost is not an issue. It’s just that the air conditioning in this building is being cleaned today, so it’s not on."

Lin Ju looked up and indeed saw the air conditioning on the ceiling.

But he just nodded, and as he watched these energetic university students, he suddenly had an idea.

"Director Tong, I feel that modern university students are paying less and less attention to physical education. We need to start some activities to enhance their physical fitness."

Tong Peiqiang couldn’t figure out why Lin Ju suddenly brought this up, but his intuition told him that Lin Ju must have something in mind:

"We’ve always placed great emphasis on physical education and outdoor activities. The weight of physical education credits is significant, and we’re actively organizing extracurricular sports for the students."

Lin Ju nodded, then said something Tong Peiqiang did not expect:

"Why don’t we have them learn to fly airplanes, just the basic propeller trainers produced by our company."

Tong Peiqiang & the other school leaders: ?!

Isn’t your New Yuan Aeronautics taking quite the wild approach here? Is this the kind of activity you’re running?

The crowd listened in stunned silence, but Lin Ju continued on his own:

"Since this is the Aerospace Institute, how can students not know how to fly airplanes? As long as they’re physically fit and their vision is fine with glasses, they can join. Xinyuan will provide each trainee with 80 hours of free flight time.

These 80 hours will be actual flight time. Xinyuan will cover food, accommodation, travel, and flying school fees. There are no additional requirements; interested students just need to sign up, and we can arrange a time for them to come directly to our base to fly. After all, this sky belongs to Xinyuan, no need for permission to fly."

"..."

"Um, can the faculty and staff participate?"

After a while, Tong Peiqiang managed to ask:

"Those with a cooperative relationship with Xinyuan can have 200 hours of free time. After that, the cost per hour of flight ... fuel cost 450, maintenance fee 150, 600 yuan per hour. Xinyuan will subsidize 200, so let’s just calculate it at 400 per hour; for others ... there may be plans to open to the public, but it’s not certain yet."

Xinyuan Company has several liquid oxygen kerosene rockets under its name and has large contracts with many oil companies. Purchasing gasoline is naturally at a very low discount price, but of course, they will charge the market price to the public. The actual cost of flying per hour is less than 400 yuan.

The Colored Cloud Initial Teaching Machine is a piston engine aircraft, rugged and durable, and it hardly needs any maintenance. It can naturally be offered at a lower price to insiders.

Even if it’s free, it wouldn’t be a big deal; it’s just a few billion yuan in expenses. But what they gain in return is a large group of prospective engineers, the kind with good physical condition who are space-ready.

"This... I, I think it’s possible." Director Tong originally wanted to say he’d discuss it and get back, but what came out was an agreement. After all, it wasn’t a bad thing.

Lin Ju’s idea was clear to him, but he was eager to strengthen the relationship. If graduates from the Aerospace Institute all went to work for Xinyuan, the connection would become even stronger.