Chapter 265 - 258 Lightning_2

Before Qingshan Base was fully operational, Lin Ju’s main task was theoretical work. However, the theoretical designs were already so systematically detailed that there was virtually nothing left to research or amend.

NAPE itself represented the pinnacle of SSTO propulsion technology in that world line, with an original design so refined that any modifications would have been superfluous—manufacturing according to plan sufficed.

As for the other nuclear batteries for probes and nuclear reactors for spacecraft, they were minor items. Over the past few months, he had been mostly idle.

"Elder Wang, has Institute 194 ever researched space nuclear propulsion technologies in addition to naval nuclear power?"

Wang Lu shook his head:

"In our past understanding, the design and principles of nuclear thermal engines were rather simple and significantly different from the main power-generating reactors. Moreover, the cost-effectiveness of space nuclear thermal propulsion was not very high, so... at least Institute 194 hasn’t.

But NAPE is very advanced. The use of liquid metal reactors on ships is also cutting-edge technology, though not as safe as traditional pressurized water reactors. However, it indeed saves a lot of space.

Cheng Nankai, it is our great loss that you did not come to work in the country earlier."

Cheng Nankai: "..."

He silently shifted his gaze toward Lin Ju, who was standing with a group of leaders in the distance, thinking to himself that if he had returned to the country earlier, he would probably be teaching at a university—system technology was truly formidable!

...

"ES-6: Ion-gas spike joint propulsion test, eleventh engine test!"

On the engine test stand of B-level Base, a flat-nozzled engine was powered up, and a faint blue glow from extreme pressure was visible within the nozzle.

The valve of the tank storing liquid methane opened, and the liquid methane first entered a high-temperature and high-pressure environment before being directed into the engine, where it was ionized by the heat.

Afterward, clusters of charged methane molecules, agitated by their thermal energy, were accelerated by an electric field to eject at high speed from one of the 400 miniature nozzles, converging along the wedge-shaped interior surface of the flat nozzle and producing a deep blue tail flame that shot out swiftly behind it.

The charged particle clusters from hundreds of nozzles collided at incredibly high speeds, and the sharp roar could be heard even through the thick protective glass.

In the control room next to it, Guo Shen and Xie Liaofu watched the current surging as the ES-6 test unit ramped up its power, silently counting in their hearts.

About 7 or 8 seconds later, when the output thrust reached 5.5 tons, the piercing scream of the engine suddenly weakened, and the captivating blue tail flame gradually subsided.

On the control console, the power supply system continuously warned of current overload and insufficient power.

Guo Shen checked his timer and saw exactly 74 seconds—three seconds longer than the last test.

The ES-6 ion-plug nozzle engine, created as a test unit to validate the propulsion part of NAPE, weighed over 5 tons with a maximum thrust of only about 6 tons.

Lacking the reactor section, the originally assigned nuclear thermal and high-temperature ionization tasks could only be addressed through conventional means, leading to ES-6’s enormous energy consumption and performance that couldn’t compare to NAPE.

The test stand’s electrical system, not specifically modified, couldn’t last long before overheating and cutting out. Eleven engine tests had never lasted more than 90 seconds, but fortunately, data collection was nearly complete, confirming that the path was correct.

The mission of ES-6 was accomplished. With the construction of Qingshan Base complete, all of NAPE’s R&D work would be transferred there, without further concerns about electric power—and the next prototype would be a direct NAPE sample.

Xie Liaofu: "Well, now we can finally free up the test stand. The gas spike team stays behind; take some time to finalize the rear half of the TP-25 ’Lushan’ engine. One month should be enough and shouldn’t affect NAPE."

Guo Shen quickly replied, "Don’t worry, TP-25 is not that difficult. Manufacturing will be quick."

TP-25, the "Lushan" engine, designed for the confirmed low-cost, reusable aero-space plane, integrates ramjet, turbofan, and gas spike engines to optimize weight reduction while delivering 25 tons of thrust.

The 10 TP-25s on the Cloud Ascend project would not exist independently but would have interconnected pipelines to improve performance and reduce weight, with a total mass not exceeding 15 tons.

With the gas spike operational, a total thrust of 250 tons would be sufficient to send Cloud Ascend into low Earth orbit.

Thanks to the pre-existing data from NAPE, the development process of the TP-25 was relatively stress-free, and the original design was already finalized. We could finish the mass production version prototype before January.

The more troublesome issue was the design of the aircraft body. The dead weight entering orbit, including the 15 tons for the engines, was 35 tons for the empty body and 10 tons of fuel, with a total payload capacity for passengers and cargo not to exceed 5 tons. The design for 20 passengers had already reached the maximum compromise under the limits of safety redundancy.

The takeoff weight was 200 tons, while the body weight could not exceed 35 tons, which was an extremely limiting figure, requiring unprecedented demands on design and materials, necessitating revolutionary innovation.

Meeting this requirement for purely atmospheric flight was not that difficult, but if including the traversal of the atmosphere, perhaps even H2’s new generation of heat shield tile technology wasn’t enough. The solution needed to be lighter, simpler, and cheaper.

Xie Liaofu touched his hair and felt he might be seeing signs of a premature return to the early balding of his past life.

Tomorrow H2’s regular version, the H2M spaceplane, would leave the factory, and then the H1W "Spiral" program was also about to make its maiden flight, bringing Xie Liaofu not just excitement but also a busier work schedule.

Under his supervision, B-level Base expanded by more than four hundred people, which were quickly divided among the various project teams without causing the slightest ripple.

This was certainly not due to a redundancy of personnel at the base, but rather that there were too many places in need of manpower; Qingshan Base also anticipated a need for a thousand people just to reach the initial goal of full operation.

With the powerhouse that was New Yuan under his control, he felt even more powerful than during his time at the Union.

As for the real boss, Lin Ju? It seemed he spent more time in the Capital than at his own base.

But now the boss was exceptionally in the base, and he was accompanied by several people from the Aerospace Bureau.

...

November 8th, 11 AM, more than ten hours before the American election results would come out, which would likely be tallied by early morning Capital time.

At C-level Base, in accordance with Xie Liaofu’s "Spiral" plan, the unmanned H1W spaceplane, resurrected on H1 by New Yuan, officially left the factory.

The H1W, similar to the Union’s former MAKS program, had its highly tilted nose to accommodate the shuttle-shaped fuel tank, with a narrowed front end. With a nearly identical takeoff weight, it was almost a perfect replica of the MAKS of yesteryear.

The only difference was that MAKS had used two engines, whereas the H1W used only one, a supersized thrust H240 upgraded engine: the H300.

The bell-shaped nozzle of the H300 had been optimized, maintaining high efficiency from its activation at an altitude of over ten thousand meters until the vehicle reached orbit.

The combined weight of the fuel tank and H1W did not exceed 322 tons, and the H300 was capable of a maximum 112% thrust output at launch. It also offered a wide range of thrust modulation, always maintaining a low thrust-to-weight ratio to minimize overload and vibration, making it very tolerant of sensitive components of the satellites being transported.

Since H1W was an unmanned design created solely for payload, its testing process was rather simple. Apart from computer simulations, it did not undergo multiple real-world aerodynamic tests, unlike the H2 aerodynamic test prototype, which had been flown for several months on the great prairie.

The H1W being loaded and shipped out now employed second-generation heat shield technology, appearing dull gray overall because the broadened temperature requirements allowed for a significant reduction in mass.

However, on its tail fin, a bright purple lightning symbol was exceptionally conspicuous.

"Lightning" was the name Xie Liaofu had given it, also in honor of the "Lightning" design bureau. Regardless, the H1W was indeed following the path of MAKS, even though the latter had not succeeded.

Lightning Number would be directly transported to New Yuan Airport, from there ferried by the Il-76 to Joan, and then combined with the fuel tank and An-1250, and launched over the open sea.

This was one of the advantages of an airborne mobile launch system: the freedom to select the recovery area and to lower the latitude as much as possible, saving up to 5% of the fuel which, translated to payload mass, could mean an extra hundred kilograms or more, a considerable achievement.

The "Spiral" plan was relatively secret since it was not considered a major project at New Yuan and was also a special launch scheme that Xie Liaofu had temporarily prepared for deep space probes, remaining unknown in specifics without deliberate publicity.

Only when the strangely shaped Lightning Number was loaded onto an aircraft would people realize that New Yuan had embarked on a new research endeavor.

Meanwhile, B-level Base was bustling with activity.

Two out of the first batch of three H1M airframes had their final equipment installation completed ahead of schedule and were officially towed out of the hangar.