Chapter 474: Space Plane
"My goal is to create a true space plane, a new type of aircraft that can perform both aviation and space functions, a highly integrated aircraft with both aviation and space technologies. I hope it will push space development to a new stage!
It can take off horizontally like an ordinary airplane. According to current international data, it can fly in the atmosphere at a hypersonic speed of 16,000 to 30,000 kilometers per hour. Its flight speed at an altitude of 30 to 100 kilometers is 12 to 25 times the speed of sound. It can also directly accelerate into the Earth's orbit and become a spacecraft. After returning to the atmosphere, it can land at the airport like an airplane and become a means of transportation that can travel freely between heaven and earth.
I hope we can catch up and surpass this data!"
"It is feasible. The space plane will be one of the key weapons for countries around the world to compete for air and space supremacy in the 21st century. The Bald Eagle, the Bear, Hans and others who are at the forefront are all researching the space plane, but no one has actually succeeded. Most plans still rely on disposable launch vehicles to take off, similar to the old-fashioned space shuttle concept!
Before this, aviation and aerospace were two different technical fields, with aircraft and spacecraft operating in and out of the atmosphere respectively. The aviation transportation system was reusable, while the space transportation system was generally not reusable. The space plane can achieve the goal of full reusability and significantly reduce the cost of space transportation. "Mr. Cheng nodded, agreeing with this decision.
In order to conquer the divine beast Jinwu, it was a normal decision for Wu Tong to want to get involved in this field.
He is now relieved about Wu Tong, a student who has already surpassed his teacher. Now, all he can do is to assist Wu Tong in every project during his lifetime. Wu Tong is capable of making all the decisions, including his teacher, who has to obey!
Lu Xiao is known as a walking database. As soon as he opens his mouth, he gives a detailed documentary explanation. "Over the sea, a space shuttle was developed. That space shuttle can be said to be the world's first reusable space vehicle that can travel between the ground and space.
It consists of an orbiter, an external tank and solid boosters. It is expected that each orbiter can be reused 100 times, each time sending up to 29.5 tons of payload into a 185 to 1110 km low-Earth orbit and bringing 14.5 tons of payload back to the ground. The space shuttle is 56.14 meters long and 23.34 meters high.
The orbital spacecraft can carry three to seven people and fly in orbit for 7 to 30 days. It can enter a low-inclination orbit or a high-inclination orbit, and can conduct round-trips, docking and berthing, and perform tasks such as personnel and cargo transportation, space experiments, and satellite launch, maintenance and recovery.
In early 1981, after ten years of research and development, Columbia was finally built. It was the first space shuttle used to transport astronauts and equipment between space and the ground.
According to the information, the mission of its first flight was just to test its orbital flight and landing capabilities. After flying in space for 54 hours and orbiting the earth for 36 times, the space shuttle landed safely.
Named after the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe in the early 1700s, Columbia flew four more times before the next shuttle, Challenger, was built. It crashed on its return to Earth in 2003.
"Then they developed the second space shuttle: STS Challenger C), which was completed in 1982. It consisted of an orbiter, solid-fuel rocket boosters and an external combustion tank. It was a winged space shuttle used to transport astronauts and equipment between space and the ground. But it still ended in tragedy, but we can still learn from its experience of ten round trips!"
As the front-runners in scientific research, Hai Duan is not an ignorant person. Even though they are one step ahead in some aspects because of Wu Tong, no one underestimates their background and scientific research achievements. Even if they fail, there are things they can learn from them. At the same time, it also helps them eliminate some wrong directions. They are all valuable!
“After that, they had the third, fourth, and fifth shuttles. The Discovery shuttle made its first flight in August 1984, and flew a total of 21 times, more than any other shuttle.
The Atlantis space shuttle weighs 77.7 tons and made 16 flights between October 1985 and March 1996. On July 8, 1996, Atlantis made its last flight.
Endeavour was used to replace the Challenger which was destroyed in the explosion in 1986. It made its first flight on May 7, 1992. Many of its missions were to build the International Space Station. It is also one of the space shuttles still in use!"
"Although these space shuttles are designed to be reusable, their takeoff still requires the participation of boosters like rockets. The only difference is that these boosters can be recovered and repaired before being reused! At the same time, the external fuel tank containing the propellant used by the space shuttle's main engine cannot be recycled! And they need the assistance of an orbital vehicle. Fundamentally speaking, similar to reusable rockets, the flight cost is quite high, and they have not deviated from the embodiment of fixed-launch rockets!" These are the key points that need to be overcome and solved in their preliminary research.
The aerospace plane could be an aerospace fighter or a future starship. This was the field he was looking forward to, and the field he was looking forward to working hand in hand with Wu Tong. Lu Xiao's deep eyes were bright, and he was eager to conquer the sea of stars. It could be said that this was once his ultimate goal of research and development!
Wu Tong's direction is to conquer the miniaturization of controlled nuclear fusion. They will have enough power sources to support the aerospace plane to go to more distant places without the need for external fuel tanks, and the speed can be achieved beyond expectations.
"Energy, materials, exterior design, avionics system design, propulsion system design... At present, it is roughly divided into these sub-projects. Teacher, you still focus on the materials field, and the exterior design and avionics system. Mr. Lu, thank you for your hard work. I will personally lead the energy and propulsion teams. Let's strive to complete all the research and development as soon as possible!"
"The aerospace fighter is a new attempt, which inevitably has extraordinary requirements for materials, body design, energy, and propulsion. The requirements for materials to resist friction, high temperature, and overload have greatly increased, which greatly improves the aircraft's flight altitude, speed, flexibility, and flight distance! I will do multiple tests to see if the fighter materials developed previously can be applied and how to better upgrade them!"
Mr. Cheng did not hesitate and immediately made effective arrangements for the area he was responsible for.
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