After seeing the design of the transport spacecraft, Jiang Chen almost laughed out loud.
These Russians just changed the rocket in the middle, lined up four rockets together, then removed the third-stage rocket. They placed the fuel tank at the bottom of the middle section of the spacecraft while the cargo was above. Although the overall layout surpassed the standards of the times, the power system still used the original chemical fuel engine.
The advantage of this cuboid aircraft was the longitudinal acceleration which could effectively alleviate the load on the aircraft’s outer casing during the acceleration phase. But at the same time, a problem also arose in which if the spacecraft wanted to turn a corner in space, it would be extremely difficult. It’d be like holding a toothpick, sticking to the wall, it’d be hard to break the toothpick, but it wouldn’t take much effort to break it by pinching the two ends.
It was no problem to turn through the speed difference of the four engines, but to change the steering more than 90 degrees, it’d likely require the gravity of the planet. Unless they added a small engine in the middle, but then the whole hull would be too bloated.
When it came to this engine, Jiang Chen still felt embarrassed. After all, he did scam the Russians. After the space elevator was built, the RM-320 chemical fuel engine no longer had a future. A high-energy storage battery, plus a palm-sized Cesium metal had a cruising radius equivalent to a traditional chemical fuel rocket with two small house-sized fuel tanks. The limitations of technology meant that the issues couldn’t be solved without simply improving the technology.
It was like a bronze knife. No matter how you improved the tempering and forging technique, you couldn’t compare it to a tool made out of steel.
“It’s not impossible to use a chemical fuel engine as an engine, but it can only be used as a short-term solution. At most, it will be eliminated in another 20 years. EmDrive (1) is the future of space development. It’s difficult to make giant strides, but we can start with electric propulsion… Don’t take notes; I’m just talking casually.” Jiang Chen looked at the big-nosed Russian taking out a notebook and starting to jot down notes before he felt embarrassment.
He really didn’t understand aerospace. His only role in Celestial Trade’s Space Department was to transport the documents from the apocalypse to the database of the modern world, and the departments managed the affairs of each department. No one knew who made these documents.
However, he still understood the general direction, so he just casually made a few comments. As for whether his comments really reflected the truth and could be scrutinized, he wasn’t sure himself.
Yuri touched the back of his head, feeling awkward. “I think what you said made sense. However, we’ve studied the principle of EmDrive from the Soviet era, but we still didn’t achieve anything. We have a prototype for electric propulsion, but the propulsion power is too low and can’t match the carrying capacity of chemical rockets.”
“If you really developed EmDrive, we would be learning from you.” Jiang Chen began joking with him because of the Russian’s easy-going character.
Yuri took out a piece of document and handed it to Jiang Chen.
“I wanted to ask—what do you think about this spacecraft? Can this dock at the port of Celestial City? If not, what are the specifications that don’t meet the requirement? Please be sure to tell us.”
Jiang Chen took the English densely-written documents and couldn’t understand a thing, then he returned them to Yuri.
“I can’t give you a reply now. You don’t have to give me the document; the scientists I brought are experts at this. Import the parameters of this aircraft onto the computer, and we will test this in the simulation program to see if you meet the standards.”
This time, he came to the Russian Aerospace Group to help them check whether the Oleg could stop at the port of Celestial Trade. This procedure was not to be underestimated. Not just any spacecraft could enter the Earth-Moon system. The speed of outer space was measured in kilometers per second. The loss would be in the billions. This matter must be taken seriously even for the safety of Celestial City.
However, this had nothing to do with Jiang Chen. He mainly came to show his presence. After all, it was a very special period. His real purpose of coming to Russia must be hidden.
However, Yuri didn’t think so. Jiang Chen’s argument that “the chemical rocket has no future” won him over. Some might say that even Jiang Chen, as an outsider, saw the problem. Did Yuri as an expert not understand?
This involved a problem with research schools.
EmDrives or propulsion engines. It was hard to say which one was wrong. Could concepts be “wrong” in research? Two research directions, one focusing on the present while one focused on the future. Adhering to the more efficient development of chemical fuel rockets, the RM-300 had doubled the thrust to the push value of Falcon 9 rockets. Going down this road, who could say which was better? Before the Flintlock mechanism was invited, guns weren’t superior to bows.
Yuri also had his own ideas in mind. He copied Jiang Chen’s statement not to make notes but to use his aura to persuade those who supported the RM-320, to convince his bosses who were more optimistic about propulsion engines.
Although Jiang Chen claimed he didn’t understand aerospace technology and that he only understood general directions, who would doubt his words? Many people regarded him as the founder of the second “Great Navigation Age” of human beings, comparing him to people like Columbus.
Not to mention the Russian Aerospace Group, which largely inherited the success of the old Soviet Union, but even the director of NASA would still take notes. This wasn’t about academic authority but more about the truth determined from experience. If people had opinions? Why didn’t they build a space elevator first then bring them up!
After copying several pages of notes, Yuri couldn’t stop smiling. He saw Jiang Chen to the door joyously and watched him disappear at the end of the horizon. Even Natasha looked at Jiang Chen a few more times. She couldn’t associate the word “scientist” with this man. However, he was able to make technical director Yuri take notes, which made her uncertain.
“You…what you said was true?”
“I was bullsh*tting. I had nothing to do say.” Jiang Chen smiled. “But while my understanding of basic theory is limited, there aren’t many people in the world who know the general direction better than me.”
As for why, there was no need to say.
Natasha nodded.
After a long silence, she suddenly said, “Can I discuss something with you?”
“What’s the matter? Let’s talk.” Jiang Chen looked at Natasha with some surprise. He thought she wouldn’t talk with him today. He didn’t expect her to not be angry so quickly and even adopt a negotiating tone which was so unlike her personality.
After hesitating for a moment, Natasha said, “Can you go by yourself… to the cocktail party tonight?”
(1) EmDrive is purported to generate thrust by reflecting microwaves internally in the device, in violation of the law of conservation of momentum and other laws of physics. (Source: Wikipedia)
