#614 - Chapter 614: Thruster Selection

"Then let's use a nuclear-powered engine," Dongfang Chen replied.

"Okay, which type of thruster would you like to use?" Xiao Lin continued to ask.

Thrusters are used in conjunction with power engines.

Different power engines can be matched with different thrusters.

Power engines that use nuclear energy as their working energy can use particle thrusters, electromagnetic thrusters, and warp thrusters.

Particle thrusters mainly obtain a reverse kinetic energy by ejecting high-energy particles outwards. The core principle is the law of conservation of momentum.

Electromagnetic thrusters generate a high-density magnetic field through electrical energy, and use magnetic energy to achieve forward thrust. The core principle is to convert electromagnetic energy into kinetic energy.

Warp thrusters form a distorted space, allowing the spacecraft to obtain higher potential energy, and then convert potential energy into kinetic energy to achieve forward thrust. The core principle is to convert electromagnetic energy into potential energy, and then convert potential energy into kinetic energy.

The three types of thrusters have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Particle thrusters have a lower threshold for use and have almost no requirements for the energy density of the power engine.

The disadvantage is that the acceleration ability is weak. For large mass spacecraft, it is very difficult to obtain sufficient acceleration.

Especially when entering near-solar orbit, it is difficult for particle thrusters to overcome the gravitational acceleration of the sun.

Another point is that the principle of particle thrusters is the conservation of momentum, which requires storing highly compressed helium particle rods on the spacecraft. Only by accelerating the helium particles with electromagnetic energy and ejecting them in the opposite direction can kinetic energy be obtained.

That is to say, if the helium particle rods are used up, the particle thruster cannot be used.

This is like you are standing on a flat cart with no resistance at all, and there is a pile of small iron balls in the cart.

Without the help of external objects, how can the flat cart be moved?

Of course, by throwing small iron balls outwards.

If you throw an iron ball to the south, the flat cart will gain a kinetic energy to the north. In this way, the flat cart can move.

If you want the flat cart to maintain sufficient acceleration, you have to throw iron balls desperately.

This is the working principle of particle thrusters.

If the small iron balls in the flat cart are used up, the flat cart will lose control.

It can be seen that the disadvantages of particle thrusters are very obvious.

So Dongfang Chen decisively passed this option.

Electromagnetic thrusters consist of two parts: a magnetic field exciter and a magnetic force receiver. The magnetic field exciter forms a vortex-shaped closed magnetic field through a changing current. When the magnetic field lines pass through the magnetic force receiver, it obtains an instantaneous acceleration in the direction of the magnetic field.

The advantage is that the spacecraft can obtain higher acceleration and has strong maneuverability.

The disadvantages are:

1. The thruster is large and takes up space.

2. The shape of the spacecraft is highly demanding and cannot be designed arbitrarily.

3. The electromagnetic coils can only be placed on the outside of the spacecraft, which is less safe. Once the outer shell is damaged, the power system will be the first to be damaged.

4. The magnetic field lines are all closed, and a strong reverse magnetic field will be generated around the spacecraft. This means that it can only be used in open space, and the usage scenarios are limited.

The advantages of warp thrusters are similar to those of electromagnetic thrusters, that is, they have large thrust and strong maneuverability.

The disadvantage is also that the usage scenarios are limited.

However, the good thing is that it does not generate a magnetic field, and the area around the spacecraft is not so dangerous.

The produced spacecraft must be parked in the space station, so electromagnetic thrusters are very troublesome to use.

Now the only option is warp thrusters.

"Warp thrusters," Dongfang Chen said.

"Okay, is there a limit to the type of spacecraft to be produced?" Xiao Lin continued to ask.

"Let's make them all cargo ships," Dongfang Chen said.

Nuclear-powered spacecraft have poor combat capabilities, and Dongfang Chen believes that there is no need to design them as warships.

Their only mission is to travel back and forth between Blue Star and the sun, transporting vibration crystals back and forth.

"Okay, what about the size of the spacecraft?"

"Miniature."

Miniature spacecraft are unmanned spacecraft, and the size can be as large as a car.

"Okay. Commander, the settings are complete, and the second-level ring module is being built. Estimated completion time: 3 days," Xiao Lin said.

"Wait, so many?" Dongfang Chen was taken aback when he saw the full capacity of the second-level ring module.

After all six ring modules in the second level are completed, they can accommodate 18,000 miniature space transport spacecraft.

"Commander, if you think the capacity is too large, you can set the functions of the six ring modules separately," Xiao Lin said.

"Let it be!" Dongfang Chen thought about it and decided to leave it as it is.

It's good to have more miniature space spacecraft.

After all, the distance between Blue Star and the sun is far, and the cycle of the spacecraft going back and forth is long. In addition, the failure rate of electric-powered spacecraft is high, so having more of them can reduce the risk.