Chapter 1697 High-standard transportation

One is born, the second is cooked.

After the first successful experience, Chen Chao's team became more and more proficient in the operating procedures.

However, the large number of fuel rods cannot be installed in a short period of time.

What's more, this job requires extremely high attention from operators and commanders. Even if Chen Chao wants to work overtime, the rules and regulations will not allow it.

Therefore, the work continued until the evening of the next day.

The last tungsten alloy uranium nitride fuel rod numbered "96" was accurately and steadily slid into the reserved hole at the edge of the XS-1 core body under the control of the robotic arm.

"Attitude locked! Pressure feedback normal! Inert gas injection complete!"

"A-7 welding arm in position! Welding process initiated!"

"..."

The blue arc silently lit up and went out on the monitoring screen for the last time.

Chen Chao looked at the lonely status icon at the bottom of the main screen, representing hole number 96.

The last green light finally lit up firmly, and the words "96-Ready" also appeared clearly.

Chen Chao used up all his strength and shouted loudly, even a little hoarsely:

"it is good!"

Like a spell that lifted a magic spell, the heavy air that had been suppressing it for forty-eight hours was cleared away in an instant.

Inside the control room, tense spines relaxed and suppressed gasps turned into exhalations of relief.

Several people clenched their fists, silently celebrating this historic moment.

All the fuel rods of the XS-1 space nuclear reactor are in place and melted into one with the core!

However, this is far from the final step.

"Stay alert at all posts! Initiate the core lifting procedure!"

After a brief moment of joy, Chen Chao's calm voice sounded again.

But the sense of calmness and control that comes with being relieved is completely different.

He quickly gave the order: "Prepare for hoisting! Target, Assembly Workshop No. 2!"

The huge single-beam overhead crane made a low humming sound on the track. Driven by the electro-hydraulic mechanism, the high-strength alloy sling firmly grasped the XS-1 core body that had just completed the "spark" implantation.

The heavy metal components moved smoothly along the preset dome tracks into the depths of the assembly plant.

At the same time, the huge isolation gate connected to the No. 2 assembly workshop separated by a wall slowly opened.

The main screen of the control room also switches accordingly.

Inside workshop No. 2, the scene suddenly became clear.

A larger, more complex white cylinder stood quietly in the center.

It is the main shell of the XS-529 space nuclear reactor manufactured by Aerospace Factory 1.

It has already completed the integration of all other key systems:

A thick shadow shield system encircling the core, absorbing and deflecting neutron flux; a sophisticated thermoelectric conversion array converting fission heat into electricity; a comprehensive supporting system responsible for temperature control, attitude maintenance, and command execution; and a radiation cooling system, currently in its retracted state and filled with highly efficient heat pipes, which will radiate away the enormous amount of waste heat in the vacuum...

At this moment, the petal-like protective cover on the top of this device, which represents the crystallization of mankind's cutting-edge deep space energy technology, has been completely opened, revealing the deep installation cavity in the center, whose shape perfectly matches the core body, and is quietly waiting for its "heart" to return to its position.

The overhead crane, carrying the heavy core body, slowly entered the monitoring field of view of Workshop No. 2, and then hovered precisely above the silver-white outer shell.

Normally, for such high-precision hanging installation tasks, there will be someone nearby to assist with positioning.

However, when the object to be lifted is a reactor that is already filled with nuclear fuel rods, this old method obviously does not work.

"The hoisting program has been activated, and the descent speed is set to one meter per minute."

Chen Chao's voice rang out over the communication channel. He practically glued himself to the main monitoring screen, staring intently at the image transmitted back by the high-magnification camera.

The circle of precise positioning pins at the bottom of the core and the corresponding guide grooves in the outer shell mounting cavity are approaching and aligning little by little.

These last few meters of distance determine the success or failure of all previous precision assembly.

The atmosphere in the control room, which had just relaxed, froze again, and all eyes were focused on the shrinking distance between the two.

Every centimeter of fall affects countless anxious hearts.

At the same time, a few hundred meters away from Workshop No. 2.

In the heavily guarded shipyard integrated command center, a huge curved screen also displays real-time images of the assembly workshop control room and workshop No. 2.

Among the crowd of people watching at the back were Peng Juexian, chief engineer of the XS-1 space nuclear reactor project, and Chang Haonan.

In fact, Chang Haonan originally wanted to go directly to the control room to personally witness the historic moment when the XS-1 completed the final assembly.

But his superiors have forbidden him from appearing in any danger zone classified as level 2 or above.

Therefore, Peng Juexian, who was worried, followed him personally and, on the grounds of "not putting extra pressure on the on-site operators", detained Chang Haonan in the command center far away from the workshop...

"I never expected that," Peng Juexian said with a hint of emotion, "from the project review to the completion of fuel rod packaging, it took less than a year..."

Chang Haonan smiled and said, "This should be a natural outcome..."

After all, the two of them had actually started researching and developing space reactors several years ago.

However, it was not until this year that the conditions for formally launching the project and entering production were met.

Later, Chang Haonan's gaze shifted from the main screen to Hu Shouzhi, deputy chief engineer of the "Beacon" project, who was standing on the other side of the control desk and closely monitoring the data of various project nodes.

"Boss Hu, how is the transport ship's arrival?"

Hu Shouzhi immediately looked up:

"After completing the transport mission of the Long March 22C Yao-3 rocket, the Yuanwang- space transport ship entered the No. dock of the Jinxi Shipyard as planned and began special adaptive modifications for the transport of nuclear devices."

"All hull reinforcement, radiation shielding enhancement, environmental monitoring system installation, and special mooring fixture installation have been completed. We are currently undergoing final safety procedure reviews and emergency drills. We expect to complete all pre-departure inspections within 48 hours and be ready to sail."

Having said this, he paused and added:

"If there are special requirements for the XS-1 packaging schedule, we can further coordinate with the shipyard and onboard personnel, theoretically shortening the preparation time to less than 24 hours."

Chang Haonan glanced at the time on the edge of the big screen and shook his head:

"That's not necessary... The XS-1 space nuclear reactor uses a non-external neutron source startup technology. While it still can't be stored in the atmosphere for a long time, a day or two won't be a big deal... As long as the launch window can catch up with the next round of solar particle events, it will be fine."

The launch of XS-1 is highly dependent on cosmic radiation sources, but the neutron intensity brought by the Earth's radiation belt and galactic cosmic rays is not enough to ensure a successful launch.

This requires the help of solar activity.

While the two were talking, the main screen of the command center showed that the lifting operation in Workshop No. 2 had come to an end.

More than two-thirds of the core body has been steadily sunk into the protective cavity of the silver-white shell, and the engagement of the positioning pins and guide grooves is extremely smooth.

The descent speed of the overhead crane also increased, from the initial one meter per minute to three meters per minute.

Soon, the originally taut alloy sling above the hook became noticeably loose and dropped down.

This indicates that the load-bearing base of the core body has been firmly placed on the shock-absorbing buffer bracket preset inside the outer shell and connected to the shadow shielding system.

"Optical alignment review of all reference points completed!"

"Mechanical detent pins confirm full engagement!"

"The buffer bracket pressure sensor readings are uniform and reach the preset value!"

Chen Chao's voice echoed clearly along the communication line in the assembly workshop control room and also echoed in the shipyard command center:

"Report to the Commander-in-Chief! The XS-1 core and the main shell are docked! All positioning reference points are aligned normally!"

"The core has been confirmed to be in place! Requesting final fixing and sealing!"

In the control room of the assembly plant, the tension that had been suppressed for two days finally turned into boiling joy, and applause and low cheers rang out again, even more enthusiastic than before.

In the command center, Peng Juexian, who had been wearing a tense face, finally showed a relieved smile and nodded slightly.

Hu Shouzhi and others also visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Only Chang Haonan, who was used to big scenes, did not show much excitement. He quickly cast his gaze to the other side of the command center, where stood Su Jian, the head of Jinxi Shipyard, and a burly middle-aged man in a blue uniform.

Captain of Yuanwang 22, Li Yingjun.

"Director Su," Chang Haonan walked over and said to Su Jian, "After the XS-1 is packaged, we will immediately conduct final sealing and environmental testing. We must dispatch Yuanwang 22 to the berth closest to the dedicated heavy cargo exit of Workshop No. 1 to minimize the open-air transportation time of the XS- module from the workshop to the dock and then hoisted onto the ship."

"Don't worry, Mr. Chang!" Su Jicheng responded immediately. "Berth No. 1 has been reserved, and the heavy-duty rail transport vehicle and the specially reinforced dock crane are on standby at all times. We will ensure that the modules are put on the track as soon as they leave the workshop, and the track will directly reach the berth, so they can be hoisted in one step!"

At this time, Li Yingjun interrupted: "But Academician Chang, I haven't received the confirmed sailing plan yet?"

Chang Haonan replied simply: "The Luzhou and Xingcheng destroyers will join the fleet in Bohai Bay and will only need to follow the orders of the naval fleet commander."

Captain Li Yingjun seemed quite surprised: "This..."

He had been carrying out space transport missions for four years and had never encountered a situation where two destroyers were needed to escort him.

"The XS-1 situation is special after all..." Chang Haonan glanced in the direction of the port. "Although the probability is low, we must avoid the possibility of a few countries resorting to desperate measures at the instigation of their opponents. We must ensure that there are no mistakes..."