Chapter 307 - 300 Time to Conduct Some Research_1

The Aerospace Development Committee received the news more than an hour later, and Lin Ju’s first reaction was, "How could it be such a coincidence?"

Due to the time difference, it was already past six in the morning on the 23rd in China.

Three days earlier, New Yuan No. 3 had delivered three radiating cabins to the Forward Space Station’s three axial compartment locations, and the Pioneer was scheduled to launch with the truss on the 24th for installation work.

With more than 20 hours to go before the launch, the Pioneer had already been mated with the New Yuan-2A modified rocket and could launch once it was fueled.

The Pioneer carrying out the rescue mission would be far more adept than the H1, especially with its 35-meter long and 8.4-meter wide supersize cargo bay.

The Dream Chaser’s dimensions are 9 meters in length and 7 meters in width; the Pioneer’s cargo bay could fit three Dream Chasers inside...

So, Lin Ju immediately issued a statement, and then the 20 astronauts of the H2M four-crew team started drawing lots to see which five would earn the title of space hero.

However, when the Aerospace Development Committee expressed goodwill to NACA, the latter seemed unimpressed, at least on the phone, they kept denying that the Dream Chaser couldn’t return, just "thank you for the concern from our peers."

In fact, they were far from as composed as they appeared to the public, engineers from Rom and Nevada Mountain Company frantically searched for the specific cause of the malfunction, otherwise, they couldn’t allow the Dream Chaser to re-enter the atmosphere.

And time was limited because there were 9! 9 astronauts on the Dream Chaser!

Oxygen and food were minor issues; emergency food could sustain normal activity for 7 days, and oxygen could last for 7 days, but 9 people crammed into a confined space would inevitably cause a lot of inconveniences.

Firstly, there were physiological issues -- there was literally no bathroom on the Dream Chaser, they could at most put up a piece of cloth and use a folding makeshift potty.

Secondly, there was the issue of cabin seal integrity; now all 9 astronauts dared not take off their face masks, otherwise if there was a sudden leak at the dock, it could be the most severe accident in the history of spaceflight, bar none.

hours after the Dream Chaser launched, ground control finally determined the cause of the malfunction.

Eamon grabbed the Rom engineer, sweating profusely, and demanded him to explain the exact situation.

"The hatch, the hatch isn’t jammed, it’s a mechanical part failure, likely a deformed connecting rod that’s preventing it from opening."

"Likely (maybe)? What do you mean likely?"

"No, it’s certain, that part is the issue, I can confirm it. The docking port didn’t withstand any force or high temperatures during launch, it couldn’t be that, it must be an internal issue."

Eamon: "Then why would that connecting rod you mentioned malfunction?"

"Because the Dream Chaser had to reduce weight under the premise of carrying 9 people, and the docking port also had to be compatible with three different types, we had to make improvements."

Eamon: "..."

Alright, the several types of docking ports on the International Space Station not only come in different sizes, but each size also has several types.

More than a decade ago, the ISS began developing compatible docking ports, which while convenient, naturally led to increased structural complexity.

The good news was that since there was no problem with the hatch sealing, at least there was no risk of the astronauts being burned during reentry.

But he was still not giving up, "Can’t we try to dock with the space station? The hatch isn’t broken."

"As long as it’s not opened, I can ensure the Dream Chaser is safe, but if we force it open... regardless of the possibility, the Dream Chaser can’t guarantee the safe return of the crew to the ground."

Eamon wanted to say more, but at that moment someone called out to him – it was an assistant from Boss Mansion and a secretary to Director Claire.

Both approached and said expressionlessly the decision of NACA:

"Eamon, bring our astronauts back."

...

"The Dream Chaser spacecraft landed safely at Kennedy Space Center, all 9 crew members are in good health with no injuries."

"NACA, Lockheed Martin, Nevada Mountain, and Raytheon Company formed an investigative committee, and during the investigation, the Dream Chaser will temporarily suspend manned flight missions."

"Stephen Bowen’s act of bravery saved the entire crew, it is reported that he has been committed to animal conservation work."

"The Aerospace Development Committee is highly concerned about the safety of manned flight and will implement a new generation of safety standards."

"..."

On the morning of October 22, America time, after more than 10 hours in space, the Dream Chaser spacecraft returned to Earth amidst peril.

After landing, the docking interface was breached with a cutter because all attempts to open it had failed; the cut-off part was promptly given to the investigative team to analyze the cause of the accident.

The Dream Chaser was immediately grounded, and construction of the follow-up two units also paused the docking interface section, obviously facing another delay.

Fortunately, the nine astronauts were safe and sound, though most had to change their diapers, as they dared not remove their spacesuits throughout the ordeal.

John immediately issued a boss order to thoroughly investigate the cause of the incident; having an issue on his first day in office was embarrassing enough, even though no one was hurt, but it also meant essentially losing face.

As a result, Boeing and SpaceX found fortune in misfortune, with the latter having just completed an unmanned test flight of the Manned Dragon Spacecraft the day before yesterday, already preparing for the crewed flight. The former’s Starliner, though slightly behind schedule, seemed more reliable than the Dream Chaser, due to its conventional technology?

But now, what NACA needs to worry about is what to do with the nine astronauts. The nine awaiting replacement in space have extended their stay by over 150 days; staying longer seems somewhat unreasonable.

Wait for the Dream Chaser? No, the next Dream Chaser mission will definitely be uncrewed.

But if they don’t wait, what options are currently viable?

The ISS reluctantly shifts its gaze from across the ocean back to Russia.

Russia: The Union Spaceship is reliable after all; the ways of the ancestors should not be abandoned!

The H2M crew, all prepped and eager for a hero’s welcome: Sighs.

...

"Sir Guo..."

"No, no, just call me Ye Changsi, or Old Ye. I’ve become twenty years younger."

"Then you can call me Lin... So, Old Ye, I wanted to ask..." Lin Ju was expectant yet a tad nervous.

"You participated in both the ’Egg’ and ’Star’ projects, so that configuration..."

Ye Changsi: "Heh heh, you’ll have to ask Old Yu and Chen, they’re still around. I’m just the errand boy."

"Don’t be so modest..."

Ending the sensitive topic, Lin Ju was in high spirits.

With two A+ Grade legendary scientists in charge of the base’s operation, he could almost do nothing and simply issue orders. Combined with the two men’s robust overall buff, the research capabilities of the base were rapidly improving.

After consultation, Ye Changsi was put in charge of two parts: Qingshan Base and the Laser Laboratory.

Both were highly confidential departments essential to New Yuan, which for Ye Changsi were as easy as picking off fruit. They were also fields he was interested in.

Before Ye Changsi woke up, he had undergone-systemic and sustained learning, virtually digesting the achievements of human advanced physics over several decades. At this point, he also had a role as a scientist at the forefront of contemporary human physics.

Having interacted with Lin Ju for a few days and broadly grasping the state of the base, he also formed his own plans. The freedom of a legendary A+ Grade scientist was also part of the compensation.

"Lin, did you see the news about EAST a few days ago?"

"Oh? The 80 million degrees ignition?"

Lin Ju quickly recalled that China’s own EAST superconducting tokamak device for controlled nuclear fusion had conducted an ignition at 50 million degrees Celsius recently and had just done another at 80 million degrees, though he didn’t pay much attention to it.

Controlled nuclear fusion? In the future, ignitions over a hundred million degrees had occurred, yet no breakthroughs seemed to have been made.

Ye Changsi: "I think we should start some controlled nuclear fusion research."