Spark

Chapter 422 LITV, Trap Technology?

"They want to engage in solid-liquid conversion engine technology?"

In Chengdu, in the office, Chen Nian asked in surprise.

"Yes, the project has been reported. They want Xinghuo to provide some technical support, but we don't need to solve the funds. The remaining funds of the TBCC engine project can cover it."

"Now their main problem is the shortage of manpower in various fields. The solid-liquid conversion engine sounds simple, but the modules involved are more complicated."

"From fuel, to structural design, to materials, thermal power, to electronic control system, the difficulty is even higher than that of aviation development."

"Just a solid-liquid conversion method requires the joint development of Lacy's departments including combustion, chemical engineering, and propulsion engineering. Among them, people from the Institute of Energy Materials are needed to deal with metal hydrogen and total nitrogen anions. The question of salt."

"How should I put it, they really think this thing is simple."

"Fortunately, they are still relatively cautious. The first-phase goal submitted so far is only to come up with the design scheme of the solid-liquid conversion system, rather than directly come up with an engine."

"Generally speaking, the difficulty is great, but if you squeeze it, it's not that you can't get it together."

"It depends on whether we give people to people or not - there are shortages of people in various fields at present, and it is really not easy to recruit them."

When it comes to the fields she is familiar with, Chen Guo's analysis has become more visible to the naked eye, and her tone even has a helpless and gratifying taste of "people who come here to see the children tossing around".

Noticing his expression, Chen Nian smiled knowingly, and then he said:

"Just dial when you need to. I'm still optimistic about this direction."

"Compared with the current liquid solution, the thrust provided by the solid-liquid conversion solution can be said to have spanned an order of magnitude. Even if recycling and reuse are not considered, the efficiency is also multiplied."

"Not to mention that their ultimate goal is solid-state + multiplexing, we should invest boldly for the future."

"I think so too."

Chen Guo nodded slightly, but then said:

"However, in this field, there is indeed a gap between us and other countries—especially the United States."

"The current situation is probably similar to when we launched the J-22."

"They already have fifth-generation machines, and we are still tossing about third-generation machines."

"It's not that easy to quickly close the gap."

"My idea is to see if we can recruit a group of people from overseas, or take advantage of the current wave of mergers and acquisitions to directly win one or two commercial rocket companies, receive their technology, and go to a higher level first."

"Currently there are bids, including SpaceX, blue origin, ULA, RL, and VSC, all of which are relatively good bids."

"SpaceX, ULA and RL have their own solid-liquid conversion technology laboratories, and SpaceX has already produced results. If we can win it, it will be a big help for us."

"The only problem is...they probably won't sell."

"Won't sell it? Because of NASA? How poor is NASA, and still hold on to the SpaceX card?"

Chen Nian asked suspiciously.

"Yes, and they seem to be planning to cover this card to the end."

"The latest news is that Musk is going to sell Tesla and devote himself to the development of SpaceX. He has reached a preliminary agreement with NASA, and SpaceX is going to undertake the US return to the moon plan."

"...That's right, I'm crazy about gambling."

Chen Nian said jokingly:

"If they lose the bet again this time, they will lose even the last bargaining chip. Speaking of which, if they want to accept it, it would be a good time to wait until the return to the moon plan fails."

"That's the problem, there's a paradox in it."

Chen Guo tapped on the table lightly, paused for a while to organize her words, and then continued:

"If we want to win SpaceX, we must do better than them technically, but if our technology is already better, it will lose the meaning of the acquisition."

"So, to break the paradox, we must either rely on technical means or commercial means."

"Musk is a businessman himself, and we're not completely out of luck -- especially if we can play Tesla as a hand."

"I understand what you mean."

Chen Nian frowned slightly.

The so-called playing Tesla as a hand, in fact, to put it bluntly, is nothing more than giving Musk enough funds through certain business means, keeping Tesla in his hands, and promising him a future Expected, in exchange for SpaceX's solid-liquid conversion technology from him.

Objectively speaking, the success rate of this strategy is indeed not low.

But who knows if what he is after is as simple as he said?

So, Chen Nian said:

"Two routes to go."

"Try to get technology from several other commercial rocket companies first, and I will give you a list of target technologies, including different technical directions for solid-liquid conversion engines."

"Of course, we have to accelerate ourselves."

In fact, the "self" that Chen Nian mentioned refers to himself.

He is very clear that the solid-liquid conversion engine technology is far from being as simple as it seems. After all, the source point consumption of this thing in the system has reached a large number of 500 points.

The original superconducting coil technology only cost him 560 points.

In other words, in the long run, the comprehensive benefits brought by this technology are comparable to those of superconducting coils in nuclear fusion technology.

And a high-yield technology must be difficult to implement.

That's why he didn't decide to solve the problem in the first place.

After the nuclear fusion technology is rolled out, there are too many technologies that belong to the future that need to be developed. Although the amount accumulated at the source point has become larger, it is still not enough compared to the broad future.

Save a little if you can.

But if it really comes to a time when there is no other way, the flowers should still be spent.

And Chen Guo on the opposite side also saw what he meant, and after thinking for a while, he opened his mouth and replied:

"I'll get in touch here first, and see the other party's feedback before we talk."

"If it really doesn't work, I'll find you again."

"As for Li Bingzhong, I'll call them first—maybe they can give us some surprises?"

"Maybe they don't need you to do anything, and we don't need us to get other people's technology, so they can solve it by themselves?"

"It would be great."

Chen Nian laughed, but behind the smile, he was not so optimistic.

In the history of the development of human science and technology, there are many important moments of "light flashes", but these important moments basically appear in the field of theoretical research. In fact, complex systems such as rocket engines and aeroengines have been ruled out in principle. Such an opportunity to "slap your head" and "think about it"——

But since the founding of China, some monsters have always appeared from time to time.

Who can assert that Li Bingzhong's team is not such a monster?

then let them go

SpaceX headquarters.

Musk is sitting on the sofa in the office, holding a bottle of iced sports drink in his hand. Compared with the man in suit and leather shoes opposite, the distinction between host and guest is particularly obvious.

But in fact, the status of the two must not be judged by appearance alone. During the entire conversation, Musk did not show any rebelliousness in front of Nelson.

On the contrary, his attitude was humble, even somewhat respectful.

Because he knew that the man in front of him was not just a business representative of "R\u0026F Group".

The so-called "Guinea Common Development Fund" behind him has long since developed into the largest white glove in the world. Backed by CICC, its business covers all areas where Chinese officials cannot or are inconvenient to intervene. In the ownership structure, there are actually shareholders who hold shares for them.

Although the proportion is not large, this terrible penetration also made Musk amazed.

Therefore, when this man found him, he immediately knew that something big was about to happen.

"Mr. Lu, I think you came to me this time, not simply as a shareholder to talk to me about SpaceX's future development plan?"

"While it's certainly a big deal for SpaceX to join the return to the moon program, our program is far from large compared to yours."

"To be honest, even if you completely ignore us and NASA's actions, I won't be surprised."

"After all, you do have such arrogant capital."

"So I guess, maybe you have something more important to discuss with me?"

"Let's cut to the chase, you know, I'm not good at guessing riddles."

Hearing his words, Lu Qing smiled slightly, and then he said:

"I'm just laying the groundwork for what we're going to talk about in accordance with the habits of Chinese people. This is a kind of business etiquette."

"Now, I really have prepared enough."

“Let’s get straight to the point—Mr. Musk, are you really going to sell Tesla?”

There was a smile of "I knew it so" on Musk's face. After a slight pause, he said:

"Yes, I have to sell Tesla to ensure the cash flow of the return to the moon plan."

"NASA is already desperately short of funds. It's no secret that in order to keep this program going, it must seek external blood transfusions."

"And it just so happens that Tesla is the best blood bank."

"To be honest, I am also very sad about this matter. After all, it is the company I have high hopes for. However, I have no other choice, right?"

Musk intentionally didn't speak clearly, he had already guessed the purpose of Lu Qing's coming here, so he didn't intend to speak up.

In such negotiations, whoever speaks first will fall into a natural disadvantage.

Logically speaking, Lu Qing is more urgent than himself, he should take the initiative to accept the move

And the facts were not as he expected. After hearing Musk's words, Lu Qing immediately answered and said:

"Maybe we have another way -- all you need is a sum of money, and we can provide that money."

"Of course you can."

Musk sighed in embarrassment and continued:

“But there’s a key paradox in this thing — you definitely don’t want SpaceX involved in returning to the moon, do you?”

"No."

Lu Qing shook his head and replied:

"We don't care."

"Whether it is NASA, SpaceX, or other organizations and institutions such as blue origin, ULA, if you think of going to the moon, we will not object."

"Even, we will provide you with some support."

"After all, the moon cannot be developed by one country, nor can the universe be explored by one country. We all hope that human beings can go further, don't we?"

"...Yes, but in your passage, maybe only the first sentence 'don't care' is true?"

As soon as Musk said this, the two looked at each other and smiled tacitly. After a short pause, Lu Qing continued:

"Okay. All in all, that's the answer to the question."

"Now, let's talk about business."

"We are willing to provide conditions that allow you to keep Tesla and have enough funds to participate in the return to the moon program."

"But the premise is that SpaceX must come up with some things to exchange with us."

"Rocket recovery technology?"

asked Musk.

This is the answer he already knew clearly in his heart-in fact, this is also the biggest bargaining chip in SpaceX's hands.

Everyone wants the technology, and the so-called "Guinea Joint Development Fund" is no exception.

That's the purpose of Lu Qing's coming here, right? ——

But what he didn't expect was that Lu Qing gave a completely different answer.

"No, we don't need rocket recovery technology."

"What we want is solid-liquid conversion engine technology."

After the words fell, a flash of lightning seemed to flash across Musk's mind.

Solid-liquid conversion engine?

Yes, this is what they should develop most!

Because they have the best solid fuel in the world in their hands!

Total nitrogen anion salt, metal hydrogen.

If the solid-liquid conversion of these two fuels can be realized, what is rocket recovery?

They can shoot and throw. After all, the payload that can be sent to space at one time may be ten times, or even more than ten times, that of the current rocket.

I never expected that this relatively marginal one among the many research directions of SpaceX could become the key to the era of the big universe.

Thinking of this, Musk immediately became interested.

"Are you going to engage in heavy next-generation rockets?"

"Does this still need to be asked?"

Lu Qing asked back.

There is really no need to ask, and even this cannot be a secret at all. There are only a few development directions for heavy rockets. As long as you are a practitioner, can you guess Huaxia's next plan?

Musk sighed softly, he vaguely felt that in the area of aerospace technology, the Chinese people's ambitions seemed to be greater than his own

"Okay. Then we have to have a good chat."

"It's rare to live in, I think you understand that too."

"So, you have to give me a condition that is enough to convince me."

"I can't make you an offer—but I can give you an offer you can't refuse."

Lu Qing replied calmly.

"How do you understand?"

"It's simple, we can give you a chance to keep both Tesla and SpaceX alive."

"Even if the plan to return to the moon fails, you can still live."

"Even someday, you're going to replace NASA—you know what I mean?"

Musk's expression became serious.

Reminiscent of the large-scale mergers and acquisitions during this period, he has actually seen the shadow of the future.