Chapter 566 - 554: Quick Small Steps

Nevada Air Force Test Base.

Under the scorching sun, Dr. Freeman stood on the lawn, watching a black aircraft being towed out of the hangar not far away—it was the renowned SR71 "Blackbird" reconnaissance aircraft.

Although the SR71 made a bold mark in history, it only delivered 32 aircraft to the Air Force during its operational life, which is not a large number.

In 1998, the Air Force retired all active "Blackbirds," but these cutting-edge aircraft of the time weren’t all sent to the boneyard to be dismantled—most were properly stored in good condition.

Over two months ago, the Air Force required all these planes to be reactivated, and some of them were to re-enter active service.

The pressure on the Pacific Fleet is not light, not to mention the H-10, which had just given the entire Western Pacific a severe show of force, and the first JH-9 fighter-bombers converted from the C810 are gradually being delivered to the naval aviation and starting to appear in frontline patrols.

These "part-time" fighter-bombers, modified from commercial airliners, have quite impressive performance, flying faster, higher, and further than their civilian counterparts, often toying with their opponents at speeds above Mach 2.8.

Of course, what really gives the Pacific Fleet a headache is not the high speed, but the powerful jamming capabilities possessed by the electronic warfare models of the JH-9, which, combined with their high-altitude, high-speed characteristics, act with impunity.

Only the "Blackbird" can combat this threat. Although it can’t carry weapons, it can at least catch up. Currently, in the Far East, only the F-22 in Alaska has a reasonable chance of intercepting the JH-9.

Inside the Nevada Air Force Base, there are more than a dozen Blackbirds undergoing maintenance, and related crew members are also being retrained, although two of them have been requisitioned by NACA.

While the SSTO plan was set to use a combination of the J58+ conventional rocket engine + boosters, NACA quietly launched the more advanced "LASRE" program.

"LASRE" might be more accurately described as a revival, as NACA had seriously considered the problem of aerospace planes back in the 1990s.

For the Cloud Ascend project, NACA mainly considered two critical success factors: a lightweight yet sturdy airframe, and an engine with an extremely high specific impulse peak.

The airframe would depend on materials science for solutions, but NACA had something to say about the engine.

After a series of tragic accidents with the Space Shuttle, NACA realized its limitations and began planning to build a more advanced single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) aerospace plane, and at the time, they considered the air spike engine as a critical technology.

Through constant effort, Rockdain eventually produced an air spike engine prototype named "LASRE," which led to the development of Lockheed’s Skunk Factory’s X-33 "VentureStar" suborbital vehicle.

The X-33, a reusable vehicle with a lift body layout and the "LASRE" air spike engine, only had the capability to fly to suborbital space. But if it succeeded, a true single-stage-to-orbit aerospace plane would not be far off.

However, limited by the technology of the time, although "LASRE" was mounted on the SR71 for multiple flight tests, it never underwent airborne hot firing.

As a result, the X-33 demonstrator, which even completed 90% of its component assembly on the ground, was eventually canceled along with the program, ending in 2001, and even the Edwards Air Force Base, where the tests took place, was closed.

The "SSTO" plan shown to Congress was meant to quickly address the feasibility issue. Robert’s goal was to perform the first test flight by the end of 2018, but the reactivated "LASRE" program is NACA’s true vision of an aerospace plane.

"LASRE" will compete directly with the Cloud Ascend project, using a lift body layout and a combined cycle-air spike engine that can fly to space without any boosters—a true aerospace plane expected to complete its first flight by 2020.

Luckily, the demonstrator and experimental results from those days were well preserved, and over two months later, NACA had basically restarted the entire program, vigorously pursuing research efforts.

A few days ago, Rockdain inspected and repaired an air spike engine, which then exploded during testing, damaging the test stand and seriously injuring two workers...

This caused Dr. Freeman, who was preparing to collaborate, to have a sudden sinking feeling. But today it seemed Rockdain was undeterred; a SR71 equipped with an air spike engine took off smoothly from the runway and was busily proceeding to the next test phase.

NACA official O’Reilly, who was responsible for overseeing the "LASRE" project, pointed at the taking-off Blackbird and said firmly:

"We’re no strangers to the air spike engine. It won’t take a year to have a reliable model for rockets or vehicles."

Freeman: "I’ve studied its structure a bit, and it seems to require very high-grade materials, particularly for the nozzle area."

O’Reilly nodded without hesitation: "Indeed, especially in terms of temperature. We couldn’t do it 20 years ago, but now we have many options."

Freeman: "Can it withstand the gas temperature coming out of the reactor core?"

After these words, O’Reilly’s expression solidified. He had thought Freeman had come to watch the excitement because they were both working on research in Nevada. He never expected Freeman to actually consider combining this crazy thing with a nuclear engine.

O’Reilly’s face immediately grew much more serious:

"Doctor, if you plan to spray radioactive gas all over the atmosphere, I’m afraid we’d be bombed by the IAEA."

"..."

"It’s in the atmosphere, but not here."

Freeman looked for a position in the sky and pointing in one direction, said:

"Mars, and the Moon. If we want to simplify the Ares project as much as possible, nuclear power is a great option."

...

Cape Canaveral.

The first SL-X rocket had been fueled, and the white fog caused by the low temperature moved in the direction of the wind like a fluttering flag.

The Kennedy Space Center had been expanding since half a year ago and now had built the LC-39C heavy launch pad, but the SL-X was still launching from LC-39A.

This launch’s official code name was "Origin," which was also Blue Origin’s name for their newly improved lander.

After several months of major improvements, the initial "Blue Moon" had many differences, with the engine upgraded to the improved BE-7A, but still retaining the most original mechanical control system.

Before the Artemis II mission, no one thought the mechanical operation backup would ever be used, but Victor proved with his actions that the human brain is still very reliable under extreme conditions.

Unlike the last time when additional refueling was needed, this launch’s "Origin" weighed 44 tons and had a sizeable cargo hold added, greatly enhancing its practicality.

But the corresponding fueling unit was also ready. If "Origin" succeeded in one unmanned landing mission, it would take another Heavy Falcon to the Moon to prepare for Artemis III’s manned lunar landing again.

Robert, somewhat anxious, looked at the somewhat incongruous SL-X, praying for a successful launch.

The SL-X rocket’s first and second stages, obtained through transplanting the ICPS second stage, looked completely mismatched; the top was the traditional rocket’s ivory color, while the bottom was stainless steel. However, the ice on the first stage’s surface made it appear white as well.

"ten, nine, eight... peripheral engines start, lift off!"

The 33 liquid oxygen and methane engines began to ignite from the outside in, but unlike at Musk’s Starship launch site, they didn’t create a spectacular cloud of fog. The Kennedy Space Center’s flame trench directed most of the exhaust gas to the side and didn’t obscure the rocket itself.

This time, the ICPS second stage and payload weighed less than the Starship Spacecraft, so the rocket’s rate of ascent was quite good, and it began to rise rapidly after ignition.

"MAX-Q"

"B11 separation!"

When the booster flames were hard to see with the naked eye, the boosters separated successfully. The throttling program for the first stage was adjusted to suit deep space mission requirements, working longer but still completing the task reliably.

Seeing the separation footage captured by the camera next to the second stage engine, Robert yanked off the headset he was wearing.

Although United Mining was rushing towards the Moon at sprinting speed, at least NACA was also starting to move at a quick trot.