Cutting-edge technology: I handed myself over

Chapter 86: Unmanned Near-Space Two-Way Cargo Payload Container

"Communication device No. 1 has been activated, and the communication signal is stable."

"Communication device No. 2 has been activated, and the communication signal is stable."

"..."

As reports came in one after another, the large screen in front of the control room gradually lit up with real-time images.

The footage shows one after another identical 50-ton class, standardized, unmanned near-space bidirectional cargo payload bays.

Unlike the self-destructing magnetically driven space payload delivery module that was test-launched three days ago, the unmanned near-space dual-purpose cargo payload module has a fully symmetrical, blunt-nosed, four-sided conical, and convergent configuration.

Full symmetry means that the payload compartment is completely symmetrical front to back and left to right, with the center of gravity absolutely centered.

This design ensures that the payload compartment is subjected to uniform force without uneven loading during ultra-high overload ejection, resulting in a relatively stable flight trajectory and preventing deviation, tumbling, or loss of control.

Blunt-nosed rectification refers to the payload compartment not having a sharp, pointed tip like a typical cone; instead, its top is rounded and smoothed for rectification.

In this way, the payload compartment will not accumulate heat or generate localized high temperatures due to high-speed friction, and problems such as tip tearing and shock wave overload explosion will be completely avoided during high-speed flight.

The four-sided cone refers to a cargo compartment whose main body is a square cone structure with four regular sides that are neither circular nor irregular in shape, and have a regular structure and uniform stress distribution.

The so-called convergent configuration refers to the payload compartment gradually narrowing from the bottom upwards.

This design, with its compact top, wide bottom, and overall streamlined inward curve, allows the payload compartment to have extremely low wind resistance and prevents turbulence.

The entire payload compartment is an integrated enclosed shell with no sharp edges, exposed engines, antennas, or other external mechanical components.

The outer shell of the cabin is made of E-carbon steel cast in one piece. The structure is dense and seamless with sufficient structural strength. It can withstand high-intensity radiation, impacts from high-speed flying microparticles, and alternating extreme high and low temperatures in space for a long time. It can also withstand the high-temperature ablation and wear generated during multiple entry and exit from the atmosphere.

The top of the cabin features a high-precision coaxial docking and locking interface, along with a hidden attitude sensing device and an integrated tablet communication window.

Miniature, slit-type concealed attitude control nozzles are installed at the locations of the four ridges of the cabin.

When at rest, the nozzles are completely closed and hidden. Only when performing a mission will the payload bay start jetting. It can autonomously perform fine-tuning of its attitude in the air, trajectory correction, and return flight trajectory correction, achieving precise control of the unmanned autonomous attitude.

The large curvature circular arc blunt bottom structure at the bottom of the cabin is the most critical shape design of the payload cabin. It can increase the heat-receiving area of ​​the payload cabin during atmospheric reentry, disperse the concentrated high-temperature heat, and significantly reduce ablation loss and flight overload pressure during high-speed return. It is perfectly adapted to the space-skimming jump reentry flight mode.

The principle behind this flight method is similar to skipping stones on water: when the payload capsule returns to Earth at high speed, it does not plunge directly into the atmosphere in one go, but first cuts into the upper layer of the atmosphere at a shallow depth, and then uses the aerodynamic lift of the atmosphere to glide and jump out of the atmosphere again.

After the payload capsule has glided and decelerated in the air, it will smoothly re-enter the atmosphere to complete the landing.

In other aspects, the payload compartment has a maximum bottom cross-section of 8 meters × 8 meters, a top docking end cross-section of 3.2 meters × 3.2 meters, a total height of 9.2 meters, and a rated net load of 50 tons. It is a small-item material transportation equipment exclusively for military industry and a core lightweight transportation capacity for the turnover of materials between Earth, Moon, and near space.

"Report: All communication devices are activated and none are missing."

"Attention all units: Connect the unmanned near-space two-way cargo payload bay and confirm the quantity and coordinates."

"The No. 1 unmanned near-space bidirectional cargo payload compartment has been successfully connected and confirmed to have arrived at the designated coordinates."

"The No. 2 unmanned near-space bidirectional cargo payload compartment has been successfully connected and confirmed to have arrived at the designated coordinates."

"..."

As the reports of success continued, everyone gradually grew more tense, and their expressions became increasingly serious.

Until it is confirmed that all unmanned near-space two-way cargo payload bays can successfully connect and reach their designated coordinates, anything is possible.

For example: "Number 173 near-space bidirectional cargo payload compartment has been successfully connected, but has not yet reached the designated coordinate position."

Upon hearing that No. 173 had deviated from its course, the chief designer in charge of the project, Mr. Zhang, immediately became so nervous that his palms were sweating: if a chain reaction occurred, it would be a huge problem!

However, things weren't as bad as Mr. Zhang had imagined.

Because, after reporting the situation of 173, the person immediately continued to report: "The unmanned near-space bidirectional cargo payload compartment of 174 has been successfully connected and confirmed to have arrived at the designated coordinate position."

"Phew~"

Old Zhang breathed a slight sigh of relief, his heart, which had just been raised, calmed down a little, and he said quietly with relief, "Fortunately, it was just an individual deviation from the course; it didn't affect the other payload compartments."

"Old Zhang, do you have to be so nervous?"

"You're such a grown man, why are you so nervous about such a small thing? Old Zhang, you're not up to it."

"..."

Amidst everyone's teasing, Old Zhang's heart rate gradually returned to a safe level. He then retorted with a smile, "Keep laughing. Let's see if you can still be laughing this happily when the projects you're in charge of start up."

"..."

Seventeen minutes later, the status of the last Kinyu bidirectional cargo payload bay was confirmed: "Kinyu No. 5000 bidirectional cargo payload bay has been successfully connected, but has not yet reached the designated coordinate position."

"Phew~"

After hearing about the situation of the last Jinyu dual-purpose cargo cargo bay, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.

Although it wasn't just cargo compartments 173 and 5000 that experienced yaw, nearly a hundred other cargo compartments also experienced yaw.

Fortunately, these veerged payload bays did not affect other payload bays, and the worst-case scenario—a chain reaction that would have resulted in a large number of payload bays going missing or crashing—was avoided.

In the worst-case scenario, the assembly of Project No. 1 would have to be suspended.

Unfortunately, Tianguan-1 currently lacks compatible spare parts.

If parts are missing, then we have no choice but to re-manufacture and re-deliver them.

The entire process, from launch by the electromagnetic sled to arrival in the L1 airspace, takes 12 hours.

Even with precise arrival at the designated coordinates, it can take anywhere from a dozen minutes to several hours.

As a result, Tianguan-1 had to suspend assembly and wait for all parts to be in place before it could resume assembly.

"Attention all units, manual track adjustment to begin."

"...Payment compartment No. 173 has arrived at the designated coordinates."

"Payment compartment No. 356 has arrived at the designated coordinates."

"..."

After manual intervention, all payload compartments finally reached their designated coordinates.

Subsequently, the person in charge of the launch matrix immediately ordered: "Attention all units, begin connecting all engineering harps and setting up dedicated engineering networks."