"My goal is a true aerospace plane, a new type of aircraft that can perform both aviation and space functions, a highly integrated aircraft with 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. The 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 an airport like an airplane, becoming a means of transportation that can freely travel between heaven and earth.
I hope we can catch up and surpass this figure!"
"It's feasible. Space planes will be one of the key weapons in the 21st century's struggle for air and space supremacy among nations. Forerunners like Bald Eagle, Bear, and Hans are all researching space planes, but no one has actually succeeded. Most proposals still rely on disposable launch vehicles, similar to the old space shuttle concept!"
Previously, aviation and aerospace were two distinct technological fields, with aircraft and spacecraft operating within and outside the atmosphere, respectively. Air transportation systems were reusable, while space transportation systems were generally not. However, the space plane could achieve full reusability and significantly reduce space transportation costs. Elder Cheng nodded in approval of 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 was now very confident in Wu Tong, a student who had already surpassed his teacher. All he could do now was to assist Wu Tong in every project for the rest of his life. Wu Tong was capable of making and issuing all the decisions, and even he, the teacher, was expected to follow his lead.
Lu Xiao is known as a walking database; his opening words are filled with detailed, documentary exposition. "Across the sea, they developed a space shuttle. That space shuttle was arguably the world's first reusable space vehicle capable of traveling between Earth and outer space.
It consists of an orbiter, an external tank, and solid boosters. Each orbiter is expected to be reusable 100 times, capable of delivering up to 29.5 tons of payload into a low-Earth orbit of 185 to 1,110 kilometers, and returning 14.5 tons of payload to Earth. 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 stop, and perform tasks such as personnel and cargo transportation, space experiments, satellite launch, maintenance and recovery.
In early 1981, after ten years of research and development, the Columbia was finally successfully 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 circling the earth 36 times, the space shuttle landed safely.
Named after the first American ship to circumnavigate the Earth in the early 18th century, Columbia flew four more times before the next space shuttle, Challenger, was built. It was lost on its return to Earth in 2003.
"They then developed a second space shuttle: the STS Challenger C. It was completed in 1982 and consisted of an orbiter, solid-fuel rocket boosters, and an external combustion tank. It was a winged spaceplane used to transport astronauts and equipment between space and Earth. It also ended in tragedy, but the experience of its ten round trips still holds lessons for us!"
As a scientific research pioneer, Haidui is not ignorant. Even though they are currently ahead in some areas because of Wu Tong, no one underestimates their background and scientific achievements. Even if they fail, there are things they can learn from them, and at the same time, they can help them avoid some wrong paths. All of this is valuable!
"They had the third, fourth, and fifth shuttles, and the Discovery shuttle made its maiden flight in August 1984, for a total of 21 flights, more than any other space shuttle.
The Atlantis space shuttle weighed 77.7 tons and made 16 flights between October 1985 and March 1996. On July 8, 1996, Atlantis made its last flight.
The Endeavour was designed to replace the Challenger, which was destroyed in an explosion in 1986. It made its first flight on May 7, 1993, and was responsible for many of the missions involved in building the International Space Station. It is also one of the space shuttles still in use!
"Although the design of these space shuttles has achieved reusability, their takeoff still requires the participation of boosters, just 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 orbital spacecraft. 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 they need to overcome and solve in their preliminary research.
The next step for the space plane could be aerospace fighters, or even future starships. This was the field he was looking forward to, and the one he hoped to advance hand in hand with Wu Tong. Lu Xiao's deep eyes shone brightly, filled with an eagerness to conquer the stars and the sea. It could be said that this was once his ultimate research and development goal!
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... these are the main sub-projects at the moment. Professor, you'll still be focusing on the materials area. Regarding the exterior design and avionics system, Mr. Lu, thank you for your continued hard work. I'll personally lead the energy and propulsion teams. Let's strive to complete all the research and development as quickly as possible!"
"Aerospace fighters are a new endeavor, and they inevitably place extraordinary demands on materials, airframe design, energy sources, and propulsion. The requirements for materials to resist friction, high temperatures, and overloads are greatly increased, significantly increasing the aircraft's altitude, speed, agility, and range! I'll conduct multiple tests to determine if the fighter materials we've previously developed are suitable and how to further upgrade them!"
Mr. Cheng did not hesitate and immediately made effective arrangements for the areas he was responsible for.
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