1novels #392 - Towards the sea of stars
#392 - Towards the sea of stars
This endeavor was no small matter. Ren Zhong spent over half a year working diligently in both worlds, finally setting the most critical research areas of the 'Qin' project on the right track. Judging from the progress, there shouldn't be major issues in becoming the first nuclear submarine to be launched in the *Bright Sword* world.
According to the current plan, achieving trial voyages by the end of '53 should be feasible. Even if some subsystems might require further debugging and optimization, being able to achieve sea trials ahead of the rogue eagle's *Nautilus* would be a huge accomplishment.
When our Qin-class 'Big Black Fish' completes the world's first nuclear-powered voyage, even if it looks almost exactly like the rogue eagle's *Skate*-class submarine, we'll be the first to come out, making it the genuine article among nuclear submarines!
This is a major event to vindicate the poverty and backwardness of East Asia in the *Bright Sword* world; we must pull it off, even if it means selling everything we have.
Moreover, Ren Zhong doesn't plan to keep it a secret. The first voyage after the sea trial will be a global free voyage! He'll even pop his head out for a selfie from time to time!
With its excellent diving depth and almost unlimited underwater cruising capabilities, Ren Zhong doesn't believe the current world can detect the traces of the Qin-class 'Big Black Fish'.
Currently, East Asia doesn't have many hard assets to threaten the rogue eagle. If the Qin-class 'Big Black Fish' can circumnavigate the globe, going from Hawaii, the Gulf of Alaska, the Arctic to the Atlantic, then Bermuda, the Gulf of Guinea, the Cape of Good Hope, and finally enter the Indian Ocean, circling the Arabian Sea, the Maldives, the Strait of Malacca, and returning to its home port, leaving a 'I was here' mark everywhere, once the photos of such a global voyage are released, those in the know will understand!
The world is so big, I want to go wherever I want. That's the true style of a great power.
At this stage, for Ren Zhong, the place where he can achieve free navigation is not only the ocean, but also the more vast sky.
Of course, Ren Zhong hasn't forgotten the real sea of stars.
In fact, since the liberation, a very important subject for the Communications Research Center has been to carry out research on the principles and prototypes of space satellite communication technology.
Based on the C-band and Ku-band communication technology that Ren Zhong imported from the main world, after more than two years of hard work, they completed the research on the core technology and prototypes of ground stations and simulated space transponders.
Of course, some technologies cannot be completed by the *Bright Sword* world itself for the time being. For example, the solar panels used for power supply are flexible and expandable panels made from monocrystalline silicon solar wafers imported by Ren Zhong from the main world.
It's not that the *Bright Sword* world doesn't have solar technology now. In fact, monocrystalline silicon solar energy was invented as early as 1940. However, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the first-generation solar monocrystalline silicon developed by the *Bright Sword* world's technology is too low, with a photoelectric efficiency of only about 6%.
This technology has been applied for a patent. But it is far from practical solar energy. Therefore, Ren Zhong used the patented technology obtained from the main world to apply for a complete solar energy industry chain core patent collection in the *Bright Sword* world. In this way, from the perspective of patent protection, Ren Zhong basically registered all the core technologies of later solar cells neatly.
Monocrystalline silicon and polycrystalline silicon manufacturing technology, battery wafer manufacturing technology, battery module processing technology.
From a technical preparation perspective, by 1950, the ground-based simulation tests of almost the entire satellite technology had been fully tested and completed. Several satellite products were ready, waiting for the successful development of the launch vehicle to launch the satellites into space.
After completing the Dongfeng-1, 2, and 3, the technology accumulated by the Rocket Research Center could basically support development towards the sky.
Therefore, Ren Zhong imported the *Soyuz* rocket technology from the main world. The first-generation Changzheng-1, developed with reference to the *Soyuz* launch vehicle, took a lot of time for the project research team to overcome the research on nitric acid АК-27И and kerosene ТМ-185 propellants. However, due to the outbreak of the Korean War.
The mission to advance into space was postponed. It was unclear when the entire war could end. In order to offset the rogue eagle's massive iron torrent, facing the war, the project team had to shift from aiming at space exploration to prioritizing the solution of the 'Peace Messenger' that could travel across continents!
Even though Ren Zhong felt that the army could solve all problems, in the face of the rogue eagle's comprehensive advantages in the sea, land, and air, before the J-5A and Dragon Tank II had emerged to gain an advantage.
What the higher-ups hoped for most was not to travel to space, but to face the situation on the Korean Peninsula and prepare an asymmetric strike capability that could be used in times of crisis.
The most urgent and needed was to successfully research the strategic fifth-generation Dongfeng Express, carrying a peace warhead with a range of at least 8,000 kilometers, a new type of strategic missile that could threaten the rogue eagle's west coast. In this way, after setting up missile silos in the northeast corner, it could directly strike most areas of the rogue eagle's west coast.
Of course, for the higher-ups, the sixth-generation Dongfeng Express, which Ren Zhong initially drew as a pie, was of greater strategic significance and was what they wanted most. A big guy with a range of at least 12,000 kilometers, capable of carrying a peace warhead, was the real peacekeeper!
Because above this range, it can completely cover all the major cities on the east and west coasts of the rogue eagle.
With such a trump card, we can truly speak loudly without worrying that no one will listen.
From a strategic point of view, the Dongfeng Express, which undertakes the global mission of reaching its destination, has a higher priority than the Big Black Fish!
Therefore, Professor Qian's entire project team's resources were invested in this work.
Now, Professor Qian's team has finally completed the first goal, realizing the fifth-generation Dongfeng Express. According to different payloads and propellant loading, it can now achieve strikes of 8,000 to 10,000 kilometers through fixed silos. The warhead's yield now ranges from 500,000 tons to 3 million tons, covering most of the rogue eagle's territory.
Of course, choosing a 10,000-kilometer-range warhead would make it half the size, basically only able to carry a small warhead of about one ton, which is a yield of 500,000 tons. Of course, relative to the first peace warhead, this power is already an order of magnitude greater, and it is definitely a pain that no city can bear!
However, the Korean War ended unexpectedly quickly, and the signing of the armistice agreement, as well as the army's and air force's brilliant performance, suddenly caused the strategic significance of this big killer to lose too much. After all, being able to fiercely rub the rogue eagle's coalition forces in the air and on the ground greatly reduced the rogue eagle's threat to the country.
We didn't even have time to play this trump card, and the rogue eagle recognized defeat and signed a peace agreement.
Without the risk of the country being affected by the war, Ren Zhong divided Professor Qian's team into two parts. One part continued to improve the research on the intercontinental Peace Messenger. Next, they not only had to hit far, but also needed to be smaller, preferably capable of mobile operations!
Therefore, Professor Qian and his team's latest task is to switch from intercontinental missiles to launch vehicles for launching satellites, sending the satellites that have long been prepared into the sky.
Although the core technologies are similar, and there is a lot of common technical accumulation in rocket engine design, propellants, and even positioning methods, launch vehicles and intercontinental missiles still have their own characteristics.
Generally speaking, carrier rockets are thicker and larger, and there are differences in aerodynamics. However, with the high-performance computer simulation provided by Ren Zhong, these things are not difficult for Professor Qian and his team. After several months of design modifications, they quickly transformed an intercontinental missile into a newly designed Long March-1 carrier rocket!
Jiuquan.
This is the best place in Dongda to launch satellites.
Here, the terrain is flat, sparsely populated, dry with little rain, and there are about 300 days a year suitable for launch tests, making it an ideal place to launch spacecraft.
With the experience of the main world, Ren Zhong did not hesitate to choose this place to build the first satellite launch center.
Not only is the geographical location superior, but it is also a first-class place in terms of confidentiality.
Of course, Ren Zhong did not give up on the second satellite launch center in Taiyuan. After completing the first satellite center, the requisition and construction of the second center also began.
According to the plan, the first satellite launch center will naturally focus on launching highly confidential satellites.
The second satellite center will focus on civilian launches.
The positioning was determined from the beginning.
After all, the current aerospace industry is mostly located in the north. From the perspective of transportation conditions and production cooperation, the northern base is also more suitable for the development of the entire industrial chain.
On this day, Ren Zhong also came to Jiuquan, the first satellite base.
The launch of the first communication test satellite, Dongfang-1, by the Long March-1 carrier rocket was scheduled for October 1st, also the National Day of the Bright Sword world.
Early this morning, everyone in the base was very excited.
Professor Qian and Ren Zhong sat in the middle of the command room.
"Professor Qian, today is the day your own daughter is leaving the cabinet and heading for the sea of stars. Are you nervous?" Ren Zhong asked Professor Qian next to him with a smile.
"This is also the first rocket in the entire Blue Star to head into space, and the first human test satellite."
"Mr. Ren, frankly speaking, I am a little nervous, but not much," Professor Qian looked relaxed and joked.
"Before this launch, we have already carried out a live-fire test from the vast desert to the Pacific Ocean, verifying the basic propellant efficiency and overall design controllability. From a technical level, we have completed the mastery of the entire technology."
"We even produced five sets of similar products in one go. If needed, we can directly inject fuel. Even if the first launch fails, we can quickly find the problem and carry out the second and third launches."
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"In short, before the Great Black Fish is launched, our global positioning system will definitely be ready for it. This is thanks to Mr. Ren providing us with sufficient reference materials and sufficient funding. Our current scientific research work is the most relaxed and dynamic in the entire Blue Star. If we were to research in the previous way, we would have to go through prototype design, theoretical verification, prototype testing again, and then slowly through the first round of testing, the second round of testing, and then mass production. Don't even think about it in less than five years."
"Now we can decide the quantity of production according to the maturity of the technology. Although there is a certain waste of resources, it undoubtedly greatly improves the efficiency of research and development. For a backward country like ours, this is our opportunity to catch up with the world."
"On behalf of all the researchers at the Rocket Research Center, I sincerely thank Mr. Ren for providing us with such a unique and well-off research environment in the world." Towards the end, Professor Qian sincerely took this opportunity to express his feelings.
"Professor Qian, you are too polite," Ren Zhong shook his head. These are really selfless and dedicated people. In the main world, only in special fields of historical time and space can one often see such a group of people silently dedicating themselves.
"The work is all done by you. No one has ever complained about so many achievements, and even needs to remain anonymous. Each of you is an unsung hero. If anyone should be thanked, it should be me thanking you, and the people thanking you. We can open the door to the world so quickly. You are indispensable heroes."
"After completing the satellite launch mission, I will suggest a certain degree of declassification of the Rocket Research Center's confidentiality level. At least in terms of personal life, our scientists cannot be limited to working in the mountains for a long time. The Aviation Research Institute established in Beijing allows everyone to rotate there for at least half a year to work and live. At least the family should be placed in Beijing, so as not to delay the next generation."
Professor Qian was stunned, his eyes a little moist. He didn't expect Mr. Ren to think so much for the members of their project team, and at the same time, he also shouldered more responsibilities.
You must know that every member of their project team is a walking secret of great importance.
However, as the person in charge of the project team, Professor Qian knows that without a normal life, the lives of his team members are extremely incomplete. Therefore, Professor Qian couldn't think of a reason to refuse Ren Zhong's plan, and there were no words to express it.
A scholar dies for his confidant. With such a leader, only working harder can repay one or two.
In fact, this was the most important reason for Ren Zhong's visit to the site. He hoped to personally tell Professor Qian this good news, so that Professor Qian could bring the greatest happiness to the team members at the celebration banquet!
The launch process was uneventful, and the first test satellite was successfully put into orbit without any surprises.
As a satellite whose main function is positioning and communication, in order to indicate the existence of the satellite, a special shortwave transmission function was added to this test satellite, which is to broadcast the national anthem to the entire Asian region at 8:00 am every day, and The Internationale at 8:00 pm!
When the media overwhelmingly released the news of the successful launch of the first human satellite in the Bright Sword world, coupled with the two songs that can be received regularly via radio, the public opinion exploded!
Reuters: "The Oriental Dragon has opened the window to the world."
Eagle Union: "The first step for mankind to conquer space."
Han Tong: "This time it is the victory of us Orientals."
Kyodo News: "Dongda's ambition and space strategy."
Ren Zhong didn't care about these. After the first successful launch, he would then choose opportunities to launch all five satellites according to the distribution of the satellites in the sky.
In order to achieve accurate positioning within a global range, a complete navigation system typically requires at least 4 satellites. This is because by using 4 satellites, the three-dimensional coordinates (longitude, latitude, and altitude) of any point on Earth can be calculated. This configuration ensures that signals from at least 4 satellites can be received at any location and at any time in the world, thereby achieving accurate calculation of the position 1.
Although theoretically 3 satellites can be used for positioning, in practical applications, in order to achieve real-time positioning and provide more accurate services, 4 or more satellites are required. This is because determining the position of a spatial point requires three-dimensional coordinates, and by measuring the distance from the receiver to at least 4 satellites, the precise position of the receiver can be calculated. In addition, using the 4th satellite can also determine the time parameter, thereby correcting the receiver clock error and further improving the positioning accuracy.
Ren Zhong prepared a total of 5 satellites for the Great Black Fish's global positioning and communication system, but he prepared for the risk of one of them failing, and at least the first generation of satellite communication and positioning can be achieved under the condition of 4 satellite networking.
Of course, if all five are successful, the Great Black Fish's receiving signal conditions will be even better.
This time, luck was very good, and all 5 satellites were successfully launched into orbit.
In this way, the first generation of Dongfang satellite network was formed.
Not only can it carry out military communications, but it even integrates and reserves a bandwidth for a TV live broadcast channel. Theoretically, it can realize TV live broadcast function between any two points on the earth through satellite antennas!
Taking the first step towards the sea of stars is very solid!