A big country of aerospace with black technology

The success of the first sea launch means that subsequent rockets can not only be launched from several land launch sites, but also be launched in the South China Sea near the equator.

It is more based on economic considerations of launching rockets.

The floating launch platform itself has no power and can only be moved by tugboats.

In addition, there are basically no requirements for the environment, so it is easy to carry out launch work in different sea areas.

Corresponding to the launch is the recovery of the rocket.

After several years of exploration, the Rocket Research Institute has become fully proficient in the recovery of first-stage rockets.

As for the second-stage rocket, the recovery test was not completed due to various reasons.

The biggest problem is the recycling location.

Rockets are launched from west to east, making full use of the earth's rotation.

Even if the rocket is launched from the most westward launch site in China, the second-stage rocket has basically flown beyond the national border.

This brings great trouble to the recovery of the second-stage rocket.

There are only two ways to recover the second-stage rocket.

The first way is to add an autonomous return mechanism to the second-stage rocket and let it fly back on its own, just like when the first-stage rocket is recovered.

However, this method has a big problem, that is, the increase in flight distance will inevitably increase the fuel consumption of the second-stage rocket, which puts greater pressure on the rocket's propulsion system. For this reason, an additional level rocket thrust.

So, it's basically impossible.

The second method is to carry out maritime recovery work in the Pacific Ocean. After the second-stage rocket lands on the offshore platform, the second-stage rocket is transported back through a transport ship for secondary use.

Although this method is more technically demanding than onshore recycling, it is both more feasible and more economical than the first option.

"The scenery in the South China Sea is still as good as ever!" Qin Ming said happily while looking at the blue sea and sky.

The sea breeze from the South China Sea blows on the face, giving it a strong moist feeling.

The deep blue sea is also different from the scenery of Bohai Bay.

If the Bohai Sea is a quiet inlet surrounded by mountains, then the South China Sea is a vast ocean with big waves all the time.

The recycling platform looks like a large iron plate, floating quietly on the water.

At the four corners, the winch made a roaring sound, lowering the wrist-thick iron chains into the water.

There are huge iron anchors connected below, which will fix the floating platform within a small range of movement.

Just by looking at it, you can see that the offshore recovery platform is much simpler than the offshore launch platform.

The main part is a larger flat surface, which facilitates the smooth landing of the first-stage rocket during recovery.

"In fact, we can blow sand and reclaim the sea in the South China Sea in the future to build our space launch site close to the equator."

Zhang Xingyang lifted up his hair that had just been blown by the sea breeze, took a deep breath and said.

The southernmost latitude of the South China Sea is only a little over three degrees. For space launches, the conditions are not generally good.

However, limited by national power, the conditions for development of the southern end of the South China Sea are not yet mature.

Zhang Xingyang could only think about what it would be like to build a launch site near the equator in the future.

Whether it is a large sand blowing ship or other related technologies, they currently do not have it.

It will take at least ten years to develop these.

“If we can blow up a few islands in the South China Sea, that would be a good thing anyway.”

Said Han Zitao, a naval officer who accompanied everyone in the rocket recovery work.

"Even if we can't supply our fleet, it would be good to build a few airports."

The width of this sea area from north to south reaches more than 2,000 kilometers. Even the latest J-20 has a combat radius of only 2,200 kilometers.

It is still somewhat difficult to completely defend the southern border of the motherland.

Unless several airports can be built that can take off and land fighter jets.

Otherwise, this vast ocean would still seem undefended to others.

Everyone present basically knows this.

So after Han Zitao talked about it, many people fell into silence.

Only Zhang Xingyang knew more and had a better understanding of the future, so he still maintained a good attitude.

"In less than ten years, after our large cutter suction dredger is completed, we will be able to blow sand and reclaim the sea in the South China Sea and create several permanent maritime aircraft carriers."

Zhang Xingyang pointed to the distant islands, which only revealed a little bit of light green.

In fact, the construction of China's first large-scale cutter suction ship has already started on the slipway.

Although there is still a certain gap in sand dredging capabilities compared to the later Sky Whale, the first step has been taken, so the next step will be much smoother.

This is why Zhang Xingyang said that in less than ten years, large cutter suction ships can be seen blowing sand and reclamation in the South China Sea.

After several people continued chatting on this topic for a while, sirens buzzed on the ship.

As a reminder to everyone, the rocket launch is about to begin.

This rocket launch is a very common supplementary launch of a low-orbit communication satellite.

About 10% of satellites need to be replaced every year.

It is not only replenishing satellites that have reached the end of their lifespan, but also upgrading satellites that are relatively backward in technology.

A four-handed rocket took off from the Wenchang launch base. Nearly two minutes later, the first-stage rocket completed its mission.

After breaking away from the second-stage rocket, it began to fly towards the offshore recovery platform.

There is not much difference between sea flight procedures and land flight procedures.

The attitude engine constantly adjusts the rocket's attitude so that the rocket's trajectory can accurately fly to the offshore recovery platform.

During this process, there is actually very little that everyone on the command ship can do.

Only Qin Ming, who was responsible for the control system, constantly monitored the rocket landing procedure and positioned the offshore recovery platform during the process.

Ensure that the first-stage rocket can be aimed at the offshore recovery platform.

However, this positioning accuracy requirement does not need to be too high in comparison. It is enough to reach the decimeter level.

The rocket returned very quickly, and everyone could already see the cylindrical rocket with blue flames coming out of its tail.

When approaching the offshore recovery platform, the rocket's attitude adjustment engine began to increase the deflection angle, adjusting the rocket's attitude from a horizontal tilt to a vertical state.

Even though it is still hundreds of meters away from the sea, you can still see the high-pressure and high-speed gas ejected from the tilted rocket tail nozzle, blowing waves of more than half a meter high on the sea.

After a few dozen seconds, the platform responsible for the offshore recovery was affected by the waves and began to shake slightly.

"What is the inclination of the platform currently?"

After Zhang Xingyang saw the offshore platform shaking outside, he looked at Qin Ming who was still looking at the data in the cabin and asked.

"Floating between 0.008 degrees and 0.015 degrees!" Qin Ming said a number without looking back.

This number is still within everyone’s acceptance range.

Even if calculated based on the maximum value of 0.015 degrees, the length of the recovery platform is 90 meters, but there is a 2 cm floating.

This is acceptable data for offshore platforms. After all, it is impossible to achieve the level of no ups and downs at all.

In Zhang Xingyang's mind, when he got the angle data, he calculated this and naturally felt relieved.

The degree of automatic control of the rocket is still controlling the final attitude adjustment of the rocket.

At this time, the rocket had arrived above the offshore recovery platform, and the reverse thrust engine was running at half power, gradually reducing the speed of the rocket from tens of meters per second to several meters, and then to a speed of almost one meter per second.

When the first-stage rocket was still a few meters away from the platform deck, the steel legs on the outside of the first-stage rocket popped out with a bang.

These legs are very strong and can bear the impact of the rocket's weight and speed in an instant.

Of course, the legs are basically disposable products. After all, after bearing a huge impact, tiny cracks will appear in the internal structure.

After repeated use, the legs may break.

"Boom!"

With a muffled sound, the first-stage rocket landed hard in the center of the offshore recovery platform.

Although it does not completely overlap with the inner circle, it is still roughly centered and does not fall to one side.

If it falls to one side, there is actually a slight risk of the offshore recovery platform rolling over, because even a first-stage rocket that has run out of fuel weighs dozens of tons.

"The rocket landed successfully!"

Everyone present made their own excited sounds after seeing the rocket parked steadily on the offshore recovery platform.

Most people are actually prepared to fail in recycling for the first time.

The optional range for the rocket to land on the sea is too small. If the attitude adjustment engine deflects even a hundredth of a degree, it may deviate from the target.

Not to mention, the biggest difference between the offshore recovery platform and the land is that it is always subject to the sway of waves.

"Let's go see the rocket we recovered!"

Zhang Xingyang greeted everyone excitedly and boarded the offshore recycling platform together.

Different from launching a rocket at sea, the risk is much less when the rocket lands due to its slower speed and less internal fuel.

Therefore, the command ship stayed very close to the recovery platform.

The engineering ship equipped with lifting equipment and the cargo ship responsible for transporting the rocket took the lead in setting sail after the rocket came to a stop, cutting through waves and preparing to transfer and load the first-stage rocket.

However, the command ship was faster and was the first to arrive near the offshore recovery platform.

The hanging chain connected the two, and everyone on the ship was directed to follow the steel ladder to the large floating platform.

Standing on the platform, you can clearly feel that the ups and downs are much smaller than on the ship, and it is almost as stable as on land.

Although the rocket's engine had stalled, it still emitted heat that was difficult to get close to. Waves of heat mixed with the sea breeze and blew across everyone's faces.

People can clearly feel that they are losing water quickly.

Zhang Xingyang didn't care so much. After approaching the first-stage rocket, he lay down on the ground and observed the situation of the first-stage rocket with his own eyes.

Through observation, it can be seen that the most critical component of the first-stage rocket, the eleven YF-110 liquid oxygen and kerosene engines, has no obvious deformation visible to the naked eye.

However, the tail nozzle of one of the engines appeared unnaturally reddish, and it had obviously not cooled down yet.

Although this phenomenon was very weak, it still attracted Zhang Xingyang's attention.

Logically speaking, the high heat-resistant composite materials they use should not cause this situation.

This is true even if this first-stage rocket is a four-handed rocket.

After getting up from the ground, Zhang Xingyang first dusted off the dust and some water drops on his body.

He didn't tell anyone about this because it was obviously a problem with the material.

Of all the people present, no one was responsible for this aspect of work.

He didn't know if this was a problem that occurred during this use or if it was a problem during the first launch, but no one noticed it.

However, this is still a big problem.

Because, according to design requirements, the YF-110 liquid oxygen and kerosene rocket can be reused at least ten times.

After only five uses, something went wrong, which was a bit hard for Zhang Xingyang to accept.

"The rocket recovery was perfect and there were no problems with the main engine."

Zhang Xingyang stopped Han Zitao who wanted to lie down on the ground and take a look. Even if he looked at it, he couldn't see anything.

"Why don't you let me see it? I've never seen a rocket so close!"

Han Zitao complained a little, after all, if you look at it a little, the Rockets won't lose anything.

And this opportunity is relatively rare for him.

"What's so good about a rocket engine? It's just a big black tube." Zhang Xingyang said angrily.

"Hurry up and carry out hoisting and transfer!"

The engineering ship nearby has also arrived near the floating platform and can hoist the rocket.

After the four thick steel wire ropes were fixed on the rocket, the winch still slowly rotated to lift the rocket weighing dozens of tons from the offshore recovery platform.

Although the hoisting work seems to have no technical content, such a precision object still requires some operating experience to be able to steadily hoist it to the transport ship.

The ship responsible for transporting the first-stage rocket was just completed not long ago and was specially customized for rocket shipping.

It can well maintain the stability of the rocket in the cargo compartment and prevent it from being damaged due to transportation.

The crane's mechanical arm slowly rotated to transfer the first-stage rocket to the transport ship next to it.

Although it was not the first time for the workers standing on the transport ship to experience the scene of rocket transportation, it was still shocking to see a big guy tens of meters long and several meters thick appearing in front of them!

There was no danger, and the white-painted rocket safely entered the cargo hold of the transport ship.

It will travel hundreds of nautical miles and return to the rocket maintenance center at the Wenchang Launch Center.

Zhang Xingyang believes that after today, there will be more and more scenes like this!

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