Chapter 49: Giant Spirit God Ii
Jiang Yang did not voice the question in his mind.
A person who appeared to also belong to the administrative management sequence asked this question. Clearly, he did not understand it very well either.
Gu Changshan said: “Report to the Commander, the reason is that delivering conventional payloads to the Moon, such as satellites, landers, etc., requires considering the deceleration issue.
As such, the previous flight speed cannot be too fast, otherwise there will not be enough fuel for deceleration.
Missiles do not need to consider this issue. They not only do not need to decelerate, but also do not need to consider orbital insertion. They only need to keep accelerating and use all fuel for speed increase.”
Jiang Yang nodded lightly and understood in his heart.
Missile modification requires five days. From launch on Earth to impact on the Moon requires one day, so that is six days total.
With four days of surplus remaining, they now have much more room for maneuver and can use it to do some other things.
Sun Changhe looked at Lu Zhaoming: “Professor Lu, what is your assessment result?”
Lu Zhaoming took a deep breath, his expression full of seriousness: “To achieve the highest level of detection under the current technology level, we need to send the following payloads to the Moon in total:
First, lunar satellites.
We need optical detection satellites with sufficient precision, with resolution at least at the 0.1-meter level, and also capable of stereoscopic mapping.
In addition, infrared detection satellites are needed to detect temperature anomalies in the area;
Radiation measurement satellites are needed to measure the radiation conditions in the area overall, as well as for gravity map mapping and other aspects of detection.
In comprehensive judgment, three are needed.
Second, impactors.
We need an object with a certain mass to impact the area in Mare Tranquillitatis, creating artificial moonquakes, and use seismic waves to confirm relevant conditions in the lunar underground.
This item is relatively simple. Whether by simply modifying the payload of an intercontinental ballistic missile launch or by controlling existing lunar satellites for controlled precise impact, the demand can be met.
Third, and the most important and most difficult item, lunar rovers.”
Lu Zhaoming’s expression became even more serious: “We need at least ten lunar rovers operating simultaneously in that area to conduct on-site measurements of all physical data in the area and to receive seismic wave data triggered by the impactor.
The reason so many are needed is that lunar rovers have limited mobility, but the area to be detected is too vast.
Ten lunar rovers is the minimum standard. If possible, the more the better.
Lunar rovers plus satellites, using both approaches together, can collect the data as completely as possible and confirm the source of high-energy neutrinos in the area.”
Hearing the conditions listed by Lu Zhaoming, Jiang Yang fell silent.
Just as Gu Changshan had said before, launching a nuclear bomb or an impactor to directly impact the Moon takes only one day, but launching lunar satellites requires at least four or five days—not even counting the time consumed for prior modifications.
It can be foreseen that the time consumed to launch lunar rovers to the Moon will only be longer.
The reason is simple: lunar rovers require more deceleration than satellites, and they also need a descent buffering phase, which is more complex.
But the number of lunar rovers needed is the highest.
Sun Changhe said: “Are people from the Aerospace Department here?”
“Chen Yusheng reporting to you.”
He was a sturdy middle-aged man who clearly paid great attention to physical exercise.
“You do not need to be responsible for the impactor and intercontinental missile matters.
What you need to be responsible for is the manufacturing, launch, and landing tasks for at least three lunar satellites and ten lunar rovers.
Can this mission be accomplished with our existing aerospace launch capability? How much time is needed?”
Chen Yusheng was silent for a moment before saying: “Report to the Commander, we have just completed the statistics and inventory of our existing aerospace launch power.
For launching payloads to the Moon, we currently have only one rocket capable of the task: the Giant Spirit God II Heavy Launch Vehicle.
However, for tasks like lunar exploration, the required rockets are always manufactured on demand according to the plan. Normally, we do not have reserves of this type of rocket on hand.
At the same time, multi-satellite launches like those for Earth orbit satellites are not feasible in lunar missions.
Three lunar satellites and ten lunar rovers—each one requires a Giant Spirit God II rocket. Thus, at minimum, thirteen rockets are needed.
Under normal circumstances, the manufacturing cycle for one Giant Spirit God II Heavy Launch Vehicle is 16 months. For the corresponding payloads, such as satellites and lunar rovers, even with mature design plans, the construction cycle is over half a year.
Completing production of 13 Giant Spirit God II rockets within five days… is completely infeasible.”
Sun Changhe asked: “Can modifications be made based on existing rockets, or even missiles?”
There are now many types of rockets and missiles, with frequent launches, so there must be considerable rocket reserves.
Not only state-led rocket launches, but also many commercial rocket launches.
Chen Yusheng shook his head: “Rocket launches follow the principle of special tools for special purposes. Each type of rocket corresponds to a specific launch mission, such as low-Earth orbit satellites, cargo spaceships, geosynchronous satellites, navigation satellites, etc.
Among them, lunar launch vehicles are the most precise, the most difficult, and the highest quality type. Other rockets cannot undertake this mission through modification. It’s just like… no matter how an electric tricycle for agricultural use is modified, it cannot outperform a race car on a professional track.”
Jiang Yang interjected: “What about other nations? Do they have rocket reserves?”
He still clearly remembered that in the previous cycle, just one intercontinental missile had made them obediently hand over their major scientific device temporarily.
Could he draw in the power of other nations this time as well?
Chen Yusheng said gravely: “Report to Commander Jiang, according to existing intelligence and information, other nations are currently in a similar situation to ours.
The fastest progress currently is M Nation’s lunar exploration plan, expected to launch in 7 months, but according to what we know, the rocket is still at the drawing stage and has not entered actual production.
And even if modifying existing rockets or restarting production, foreign aerospace power probably cannot be mobilized.
Manufacturing and launching spacecraft, especially emergency launch missions in a short time, require extremely high organizational capacity. Aside from our nation, no other country in the world… possesses the corresponding organizational capability.
This matter can only rely on us ourselves; no other nation can provide us with any help.”
Jiang Yang nodded silently.
If there were a year or even two years, it would still be possible to integrate the scientific research, design, and production power of the entire Earth through military deterrence.
But with only a short few days, that is out of the question.
