Vol 4 Chapter 683: The first step

After a month of closed work at Luhu Military Base, Fang Yuan and others' work was finally completed.
That night, the first solar furnace ignition test was conducted.
When the ion jet engine of the solar furnace gushed out the long flame tail, everyone opened their eyes and mouths.
Everyone was excited. After a busy month of work, the assembly of the solar furnace was finally completed.
Human beings have lifted their legs as they fly into the universe.
The more stable and solid this step is, the more significant it is to mankind.
In the future, the flame tail of such an engine will shine in the starry sky and take humans to deep space.
Today’s ignition ceremony is just to test the completion of the solar furnace assembly, not a test flight.
From the completion of the solar furnace assembly to the actual test flight, much work needs to be done.
However, the work of Fang Yuan and others has been completed, and the next step is the work of the Military Academy of Sciences, Weapons Research Institute, and the controllable nuclear fusion research team.
In addition, the avionics system and other technical teams should also join in, continue to work, and improve the spacecraft step by step.
"The ignition ceremony is over. You can go home tomorrow. You go back tomorrow and tell your mother that I will go back a few days later." Fang Zhenguo arranged family tasks for Fang Yuan in the afternoon.
At night, everyone gathered in the workshop canteen.
"Professor, have our work been completed? We can go home tomorrow after receiving the order, but the spacecraft has not yet tested." Eve wanted to test the flight.
"The assembly of the solar furnace has been completed, but the test flight is not so fast. It is necessary to test the performance of the solar furnace on the spacecraft to check whether there are hidden dangers. It will take a period of testing before the formal test flight." Yang Yuping explained.
"Yes, think about it. This is the first manned spacecraft equipped with a solar furnace engine and the goal is to fly to the universe. Before this, there has never been a spacecraft like this. Everything has to be touched by rocks. River, so there is still a lot to test. Don't worry, you will see the day when the Shenzhou spacecraft flies to the stars." Wang Jiuliang took the conversation and added.
"I really want to take part in the test flight." Yifennunu said.
"Don't worry, you will be called after the test flight." Yang Yuping cheerfully comforted.
Niu Dazhi has always had a question. After holding back for a long time, he asked: "Professor, I have watched this spacecraft for several days, and I feel a little strange in shape."
"Why is it weird?" Yang Yuping didn't understand what he meant, but he asked patiently and prepared to answer.
"It's a bit like an airplane, but it's a bit like a rocket. I don't think it can fly." Niu Dazhi finally said the question in his heart.
Eve immediately held his forehead, very speechless.
It may be because of the frequent exchanges, Eve realized that he could understand Niu Dazhi's doubts, rolled his eyes, and said loudly, "Because Shenzhou takes off vertically!"
"Take off vertically?"
"Yes, it takes off vertically, just like a rocket." Yang Yuping confirmed this.
The students in the military research class couldn't help laughing: "So you have been here for so many days, and you don't even know that the Shenzhou was designed for vertical take-off?"
"No one told me, don't you know it's weird?" Niu Dazhi spread his hands.
He scratched his scalp and asked strangely: "Why do you want to take off vertically? Isn't it good to take off horizontally? So many planes take off horizontally, so horizontal take-off technology should be better. Moreover, vertical take-off, people sitting Inside, isn't it uncomfortable?"
Han Youwei pursed her mouth and explained to her help: "There is actually a reason for designing a vertical take-off, because the goal of the Shenzhou is to fly out of the earth and sail in the universe, so we must consider the possibility of landing on other planets in the future.
"In the universe, not every planet has air. An important condition for horizontal takeoff is air. If there is no air, horizontal takeoff cannot be achieved.
"Therefore, to move toward the universe, level take-off is an inevitable development trend."
Niu Dazhi laughed and said, "It turns out to be like this. Just say that there is no air, and I will understand. What a simple thing."
"You know something." Eve still didn't forget to slap him.
Wang Jiuliang went on to add: "In fact, at the beginning of the Shenzhou design, the engine rotation design was originally considered. However, that requires higher technical requirements and the technology is not stable enough. In contrast, fixed engines and vertical takeoffs , Is the most reliable design."
"The first-generation spacecraft should be down-to-earth, step by step, and don't have to do those bells and whistles." Fang Zhenguo's tone of voice was as if he had just communicated with the theater headquarters.
"When will the test fly? When can we see?" Eve asked immediately.
"According to the work schedule, the test flight time is not too far, don't worry." Yang Yuping did not say the specific time.
Because there is still a high level of security regarding the development and construction of the Shenzhou, the specific time for the test flight cannot be said in advance.
In fact, Yang Yuping also inferred the approximate test flight time from the work schedule.
Fang Yuan glanced at Fang Zhenguo sideways, and asked, "The headquarters will let us go back now. Don't you worry about the news of the Shenzhou ship leaking out?"
This time there were more people participating in the construction of the Shenzhou. The previous month was a closed work, and no information was leaked out.
However, once so many people go home, it is difficult to guarantee whether the news will leak out.
It's not that some of these people leaked information, or someone took advantage of this opportunity to leak information, and it would be very difficult to trace it.
Fang Zhenguo was not worried at all, and replied: "Since the headquarters let you go back, it means that you are not worried about this."
Fang Yuan understood what was going on right away.
Since the headquarters is not worried about information leakage, it means to lower the security level.
Fang Yuan guessed that there is a high probability that the headquarters will release part of the Shenzhou information.
This is nothing strange.
In fact, the news about China's spacecraft research and development has long been reported by foreign media.
Of course, those reports are catch-ups, without any substance.
However, everyone who has a little knowledge of science knows that the development of spacecraft must already be underway.
Because the existence of the solar furnace is the key to civilization leading to the universe.
Now that you have the key, it is impossible not to take this step.
Therefore, since China has built the solar furnace, it is imperative to study spacecraft.
The crowd drank some wine, celebrated, and agreed to meet again when the Shenzhou test flight.
Then, they went home the next day.
Coming out of the closed military base and returning to the city, the figure of Shenzhou echoed in his mind, and there was a lot of emotion in his heart.