Chapter 249: Burning No. 1
“How is that possible?
Can an 8-ton payload achieve such stability?
The test’s thrust output showed no abnormal fluctuations at all, and this was under the condition of multiple YF-102 engines working together.
Including the attitude control precision deviation during the rocket’s acceleration phase and orbit insertion phase, which was even less than 0.01 degrees.”
Pony kept praising it, “This requires a very deep understanding of the stress distribution and anti-vibration performance design in key parts to achieve.”
Lin Ran complimented a couple of times: “Pony, what you said hits the nail on the head. The biggest difficulty with this rocket is actually the risk brought by multiple engines. Compared to other companies’ four engines in parallel, the difficulty of seven in parallel is not a simple increment.
But this is just a practice work for our Apollo Technology. Its payload is not enough to support moon landing, and ultimately we still need to build rockets with greater payload capacity.”
At this time, there were already private aerospace companies working on four YF-101 engines in parallel as first stage rocket power, trying to increase the payload capacity of rocket launch.
Pony became very interested upon hearing this, “Professor Lin, can you tell us in detail about your moon landing program?”
Lin Ran thought for a moment: “Pony, do you know about the Apollo Moon Landing?”
Pony nodded: “Of course. When I was a kid, my favorite thing at the bookstore was to find books related to the Apollo Moon Landing to read.
Including our WeChat login interface, which is an astronaut standing on the Moon looking at Earth from afar.
Regarding the Apollo Moon Landing, I won’t say how deeply I understand it, but for general content, I can definitely talk about it with ease.”
Lin Ran said: “Exactly, our moon landing program is based on the Apollo Moon Landing, with modifications.
Currently, we are communicating with China Aerospace, asking China Aerospace to jointly develop the F-1 and J-1 engines with us based on existing information.
This is also the biggest difficulty currently constraining the moon landing.
After all, on the production and manufacturing end, China Aerospace still has the best batch of technical workers domestically, the most complete mechanisms, and the greatest production capacity.
For the rest, we can handle it ourselves.”
Pony was very surprised: “Are you really going to use the Apollo Moon Landing scheme from so many years ago for the moon landing?”
Lin Ran explained: “Outsiders will think it’s backward, primitive, and such, but to me, this is actually the most reliable way.
The Apollo Moon Landing technical proposal is very mature, with plenty of information available.
Going through the entire Apollo Moon Landing process is a complete training process for a company, tempering everything from employees to organizational structure.
Including the technology accumulated during the process, much of which can be reused later.”
Lin Ran thought for a moment, then said: “Let me put it this way, Pony. If I just wanted to found an aerospace agency aimed at profit-oriented operation, there would be no need at all to replicate the Apollo Moon Landing.
But if the company I want to found is a great enterprise, one targeting the sea of stars, an enterprise to help humanity leave Earth and head to the universe, then going through the Apollo Moon Landing once lets the employees know that nothing is impossible.
Walking this path is extremely necessary.
At least our starting goal is to leave Earth and enter the universe.
Even if the Moon is just the closest, insignificant satellite to Earth in the universe.
We still want to be the first institution in the 21st century to land on the Moon.”
After Lin Ran finished speaking, Pony couldn’t help but start applauding: “Professor Lin, that was said perfectly.
The genes of a company are determined by the founder.
Your words have already let me see a great enterprise that can rival SpaceX being born.”
Lin Ran didn’t say that our goal has never been SpaceX.
Pony continued, “Professor Lin, Tencent has invested in many aerospace-related companies in the past, like Moon Express which wants to send drones to the Moon, World View committed to cheapening space travel, Argentina’s Satellogic focused on satellite imagery, Planetary Resources researching asteroid mining, and so on.
At the 2014 WE Conference, World View sent our penguin doll into space.
Today here, I’ve never had such an impulse, hoping to immediately approve an investment for you.
Tell me, from what I know, Mr. Aldrin invested 30 million US Dollars and took 49% shares from you. I offer 120 million US Dollars, dilute the shares in one round, as Series A financing. What do you think?”
Pony said 120 million US Dollars as lightly as drinking water.
Lin Ran shook his head: “No, Pony, we don’t need investment for now.”
Pony was a bit puzzled: “Professor Lin, you have about 500 million RMB now, and the 1.2 billion from Bilibili side can only be received after completion.
Calculated by milestones, at least half, that is 600 million, can only be received after the moon landing.
Even adding it all up, it’s just 1.7 billion RMB, which is too far from your moon landing goal.
I can provide 120 million US Dollars in ammunition this time. Anyway, your business is mainly domestic, 1 billion RMB, and according to the exchange rate, I’ll float a bit more to make it round.
Subsequently the same, when the money burns out, as long as the progress meets my expectations, I will have continuous money to invest.”
Lin Ran shook his head: “Pony, replicating the Apollo Moon Landing once, 1.7 billion is enough.”
This time Pony was truly shocked.
No matter how much technology develops, no matter how explosive China’s productivity is, 1.7 billion for moon landing sounds like a joke no matter how you hear it.
“Because all the details of the Apollo Moon Landing are clear in my mind, just one step away from replicating them step by step.
Like this, Pony, this month, we will carry out the Burning No. 1 launch at the Jiuquan Launch Center. At that time, I invite you to come with me to watch on site. Do you have time?
Saying that, of course I lack money, but talking investment is not now, but after the moon landing. By then, whether Tencent or other investment companies, they will have an accurate valuation for me.”
Pony keenly caught that Lin Ran said “I” instead of “our company.”
Having been around the world for so many years, this was the first time he saw such an interesting character:
“Then it’s a deal, see you there.
But like this, Bilibili can’t have exclusive investment, Tencent must join too, we’ll do a co-branding, I’ll put up 500 million from my side.” Pony continued.
Lin Ran was speechless: “Pony, you’re taking advantage of me.
I state first, if what you want is our moon landing game co-branding, then 500 million is definitely not enough.
If you’re just like Bilibili, wanting naming rights, wanting the brand logo to appear in the process, 500 million is more than enough.
You make moon landing co-branding skins, make Mr. Aldrin hero characters, specially release a character in Honor of Kings to sell.
In QQ Speed, make a moon landing edition rocket car.
In QQ, make a set of moon landing background skins.
Tencent just makes money too easily. If it’s this kind of sponsorship, 500 million is a bargain price.”
Pony smiled awkwardly: “Then like this, we also have WeChat Channels, same sponsorship as Bilibili.
Also entry plus naming plus documentary playback rights, packaged for 300 million total, and I’ll add to their 1.2 billion on Bilibili.
I’ll add to 1.5 billion for you, as three-party cooperation, milestone-based staggered payments.”
Lin Ran actually thought it wasn’t much, thought Pony made a profit again, but couldn’t resist needing to develop now. With this 1.5 billion, the money problem is solved once and for all.
“Good, a deal.” Lin Ran reached out and shook hands with Pony.
After Pony’s involvement, Bilibili’s side approval and process went much faster, almost like lightning, completing the contract signing before March.
Apollo Technology, Lin Ran, and Mr. Aldrin also officially entered Bilibili as newcomers.
Their entry self-introduction quickly broke a million under Bilibili’s recommendation flow.
And the cooperation between Bilibili and Apollo Technology officially began.
“China’s self-developed Burning No. 1 Rocket
Adopts multi-engine design, low Earth orbit payload capacity up to 8 tons.”
Before the rocket launch, Apollo Technology’s promotional video quietly went live on Bilibili.
The sensation this promotional video caused on Bilibili was even less than on Zhihu.
“Director Bi, Tim, this is a rare opportunity Bilibili fought for you. You will go to the Jiuquan launch base for half a month of filming, and we’ve also arranged an interview with Professor Lin for you.
Hope you can produce interesting programs. Do you two have time to participate?” The Bilibili executive in charge of liaising with top UP masters found Bilibili’s two top 100 UP masters, Tim and Director Bi.
This was Bilibili’s top choice.
Tim and Director Bi could explain the significance of this matter and the technical advantages of Burning No. 1 clearly enough.
Additionally, they have sufficient appeal among the young crowd.
If they don’t go, it will be the turn of lower-priority UP masters.
Tim nodded: “I’m very interested. Apollo Technology, just the name shows ambition, a private aerospace enterprise targeting moon landing. It’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”
Tim was willing to go, so Director Bi was even more willing. As a current PhD student in Tsinghua University’s chemical engineering department, going to see a rocket launch in person was extremely attractive.
The Bilibili executive continued: “Also, Lao Fanqie will go too. You can go together or separately. After arriving in Jiuquan, Bilibili staff will be there waiting for you.”
After all, Bilibili had an entire documentary filming team in Jiuquan.
Tim said, “Good, I have his contact info, I’ll contact him.”
Director Bi smiled: “I’m not very familiar, might have to trouble Tim.”
“General Manager Li, can you reveal what’s different about this launch compared to other rocket launches?” Director Bi asked. “This will help with our topics and advance preparations.”
“The Burning No. 1 made by Professor Lin has very large payload capacity, far exceeding any private institution rockets you’ve heard of or in development on the market. You can use that as the entry point.
Also, General Manager Ma from Tencent will be on site watching the launch, but whether you can interview him depends on your skills.”
“What about Mr. Aldrin?” Director Bi asked. “Didn’t Mr. Aldrin also register a Bilibili account and enter Bilibili?”
The executive surnamed Li said: “I’m not sure, it depends on how you perform on site.
These are uncertain factors.
In our cooperation with Apollo Technology, the documentary part includes Mr. Aldrin doing interviews, but UP masters are not included in the contract. That depends on your own luck and social skills.”
Pony arrived in Jiuquan even earlier than the UP masters.
Saying that, Pony’s interest in astronomy is absolutely real.
Promotion is promotion, promotion might be to build a persona.
After human society entered the self-media era, a bunch of big shots package themselves on social media, building personas.
Some hobbies they promote might be completely fabricated.
Like Xiaomi Auto’s President Xia, saying on Douyin that he loves cars the most, goes to the track every week, then trashes Xiaomi, later exposed as building a persona.
But Pony’s love for astronomy and the universe is genuine.
On the eve of the 2014 Chang’e-3 launch, Pony went to the Laki viewing platform at Xichang Satellite Launch Center to watch the launch on site.
And sitting next to him was Zhou Hongyi.
(December 2, 2014, 1 AM, Xichang Satellite Launch Center Laki viewing platform)
At that time, the 3Q war hadn’t even ended.
To catch a glimpse of Chang’e Flying to the Moon, Pony held his nose and came. If not truly passionate, he could completely refuse such an invitation.
This time was the same, arriving early in Jiuquan.
“Professor Lin, I’ve visited many commercial aerospace agencies’ built or under-construction rockets, and yours is the largest volume I’ve seen.” Pony was very amazed.
Lin Ran said: “What they want to build are rockets to send satellites to orbit, with payload capacity not even needing one ton.
While what we’re launching is a medium rocket with 8-ton payload, so the volume has to be larger.
In the future, for moon landing, we’ll need Saturn V with 140-ton payload, and that volume will be even more enormous beyond addition.”
Expectation appeared in Pony’s eyes.
Pony took a step forward, approaching the rocket model, pointing at the huge body and asking: “Professor Lin, can you explain why your rocket can achieve such large payload? Specifically, how do you solve the multi-engine parallel technology problem?”
Lin Ran nodded, walked to the rocket model, pointed to the first stage part, and began explaining.
His voice was steady and clear, with a profound understanding of technology: “Our rocket uses 7 YF-102 engines as the first stage, 1 YF-102 as the second stage.
This multi-engine parallel design is key to achieving large payload capacity.”
He paused, turned to Pony, and added, “A single YF-102’s thrust is already impressive, and the 7 parallel in the first stage provides enough power to send an 8-ton heavy payload into orbit.”
Pony listened intently, his brows slightly furrowed, as if thinking about something.
He couldn’t help but follow up: “Parallel so many engines, won’t it affect the rocket’s stability? How do you ensure the rocket’s stability during launch and flight?”
Lin Ran smiled confidently: “Stability is indeed a major challenge in multi-engine parallel design. For this, we took multiple measures.”
He gestured at the rocket base, “First, we designed an advanced control system that can monitor each engine’s thrust in real time and make adjustments within milliseconds to ensure overall thrust balance.
Second, the engines’ installation uses high-precision symmetric layout, with errors controlled at the micron level, minimizing the impact of thrust asymmetry to the maximum extent.”
He stopped, pointed to the nozzle on the model, and continued, “Additionally, we developed a new thrust vector control technology, dynamically adjusting the nozzle direction to correct the rocket’s attitude at any time during flight, ensuring it always flies along the predetermined trajectory.”
Pony frowned, because what Lin Ran said wasn’t much different from what he knew.
To be precise, everyone knows to do it this way.
Doing it this way solves the problem.
But knowing the theory and actually pulling it off are two different things.
He quickly calmed down and praised: “This sounds truly too precise!”
Actually, he thought, still need to see the actual launch effect.
Then Pony walked a circle around the model, looked up at the streamlined body, but had to admit that just from the design itself, Burning No. 1 was indeed designed very beautifully.
Every streamline seemed to tell him that it should be designed this way here.
Any casual change would destroy its overall beauty.
Pony asked again: “What other innovations do you have technically?”
Lin Ran pointed to the rocket’s shell: “Besides the control system and engine layout, we put a lot of effort into materials and aerodynamics design.
We used China Aerospace’s latest lightweight high-strength composite materials to reduce the rocket’s weight and enhance structural stability.
Pony, with the additional funds you gave me, this gave me more confidence when placing orders.”
He lightly knocked the model’s surface, as if showing its toughness, “At the same time, the rocket’s streamlined design underwent multiple simulation tests, optimizing aerodynamic performance and reducing flight drag.
Most importantly, we created a new fluid mechanics simulation calculation method that achieves good simulation effects without relying on wind tunnels.
These improvements give our rocket significant enhancements in efficiency and performance.”
Pony nodded and said softly: “That’s truly amazing, Professor. I’m absolutely reassured about your model design ability.”
Lin Ran said: “We believe that only through continuous innovation and breakthrough can we go further in the aerospace field.
In the future, we also plan to develop even larger rockets, paving the way for humanity’s moon landing and deep space exploration.”
Aspiration flickered in Pony’s eyes, as if he already saw that magnificent future, and he said wistfully: “I look forward to that day arriving.
Professor Lin, if you really complete the moon landing, I will definitely have a big gift for you.”
Lin Ran asked: “30% shares of Apollo Technology?”
Pony was somewhat surprised: “How do you know?”
“You bought back 30% shares from Buzz with 30 million US Dollars, I heard Buzz tell me.” Lin Ran said, “He has to ensure that even after selling the shares, he will land on the Moon.
Only after I guaranteed him would he sell.
Otherwise Buzz wouldn’t sell.
Because those shares are actually mine too.”
Now Pony understood.
Mr. Aldrin invested to get a moon landing ticket.
Equivalent to buying a ticket with 30 million US Dollars.
“Also yours?” Pony asked puzzled.
Lin Ran said: “Yeah, if I send him to the Moon, he will transfer all shares in his hands to me.
So aren’t they mine too?”
