Vol 6 Chapter 2928: Current status of the Lunar Express Earth-Moon transfer spacecraft

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The node module on the Lunar Express Earth-Moon transfer spacecraft is different from the node module on the space station. It is not the traditional spherical structure, but the long tube structure that is biased towards the West. There are three docking ports, respectively. At the very front, and on both sides of the middle.

The port at the front end is used to dock with the land lifter, while the ports on both sides are used to dock with manned and cargo spacecraft.

In addition, there is a large-sized hatch on the node cabin, which can be used to walk out of the cabin, overhaul and maintain the entire Lunar Express ground-to-moon transfer spacecraft, and can also be used to transport and transfer some large-sized cargo.

The middle section is the crew cabin, which is relatively thick, with a diameter of eight meters, which is considered to be the thickest section in all spacecraft.

As the name suggests, the crew compartment is used to hold people. Of course, it can also be used to transport materials, but it is first used to hold people. Therefore, the crew cabin can be regarded as a large dormitory with complete living facilities. In addition to the sleeping compartment surrounded by a structure similar to the roulette in a revolver, there are toilets, kitchenettes and other facilities.

After all, the personnel will live in it for four or five days, so the living environment must be better.

At the end is the resource propulsion compartment, which not only provides various required resources for the entire Lunar Express, but also undertakes the power part of the entire spacecraft. In essence, it is actually a propulsion rocket that can work many times for a long time.

Although it seems relatively simple, this resource propulsion module undertakes the round-trip work of the entire Moon Express Earth-Moon transfer spacecraft between the Earth and the Moon.

And because this Lunar Express Earth-Moon transfer spacecraft has been operating between the Earth and the Moon for a long time, the requirements for this resource propulsion module are very high.

Looking at the photos on the big screen, Wu Hao couldn't help showing a smile, and then asked Yu Chengwu: "The development work is progressing very fast. When is the first flight expected?"

Hearing Wu Hao's question, Yu Chengwu couldn't help but wryly smiled, then shook his head at Wu Hao and said, "I really can't guarantee this to you now, because it depends on the specific development progress and a series of follow-up testing work. Because the working environment of this Lunar Express Earth-Moon transfer spacecraft is relatively harsh, we have very high technical requirements for it.

And this project is very bold, it can be said that it is groundbreaking, and there is no experience to follow, so it is very difficult. To be honest, we don't have much confidence.

But if all goes well, we expect to be able to make the first flight next winter, or the following summer.

At that time, we will launch the Lunar Express Earth-Moon transfer spacecraft, and then let it switch back and forth between the Earth-Moon orbit to verify its reliability. Docking and undocking of the spacecraft, and docking and undocking of the landing ascender in lunar orbit.

The whole process may last for several months or even years, and the Lunar Express Earth-Moon transfer spacecraft, including the entire system, is operating normally without any problems before it can be delivered for use. "

So complicated! Hearing Yu Chengwu's introduction, Zhang Jun couldn't help frowning.

He originally thought that it could be used with people on the first flight, but he didn't expect that it would take months or even years of verification. It seems that he thought it was simple.

Seeing Zhang Jun frowning, Zhou Xiangming quickly explained: "This is mainly because there is no precedent, let alone reference, everything has to be explored. Therefore, for the safety of personnel, we must fully verify the security of the entire system before we dare to invest in it with confidence." Useful for manning."

Seeing that Zhang Jun's brows were slightly stretched, Zhou Xiangming continued: "There is a distance of 380,000 kilometers between the earth and the moon, and this Lunar Express Earth-Moon transfer spacecraft is equivalent to a bridge, or a ferry, between the two.

It is not a one-off, but long-term, which has very strict requirements on the overall reliability of the Lunar Express Earth-Moon transfer spacecraft.

Otherwise, once there is a problem during the flight, it will be catastrophic.

In addition, the Lunar Express does not go straight between the earth and the moon, it needs to constantly change different orbits.

Let's briefly introduce the process of how to transport a group of astronauts from the earth to the lunar scientific research station, so that leaders can understand.

First of all, we need to give instructions to the Lunar Express Earth-Moon transfer spacecraft flying around the earth, so that it can continuously lower its orbital altitude, so as to prepare for the next docking with the manned spacecraft.

Immediately, we will start to let these astronauts board the manned spacecraft, and then launch it into space to dock with the Lunar Express Earth-Moon transfer spacecraft that is lowered into orbit. The engine at the tail of the resource propulsion module on the spacecraft was ignited, and began to push the Lunar Express Earth-Moon transfer spacecraft up to the orbit, and gradually transferred to the Earth-Moon transfer orbit. UU Reading www. uukanshu.com

And after several orbit corrections during this transfer process, it finally arrived at the moon. At this time, it is necessary to brake and slow down, so that the Lunar Express ground-to-moon transfer spacecraft can enter the lunar orbit, and then fly around the moon.

Then gradually lower the orbit. At this time, the astronauts in the Lunar Express need to transfer to the landing ascender and wait for the opportunity to release the landing ascender to land on the moon.

If the landing ascender is not docked, it needs to be docked with instruments such as landing that ascended from the moon first, and then transfer personnel, and the return journey is the same as landing on the moon.

Because this Moon Express ground-to-moon transfer spacecraft needs to constantly change orbits, it consumes a lot of fuel. Therefore, before each mission, we still need to launch a cargo spacecraft or a special fuel spacecraft to resupply and fuel the Lunar Express Earth-Moon transfer spacecraft.

Only in this way can the Earth-Moon transfer spacecraft of the Lunar Express be able to maintain its voyage in space. "

In other words, we have to launch two spacecraft for a mission to the moon. Zhang Jun said.

Yes. Zhou Xiangming nodded.

Zhang Jun thought for a moment, then turned to Wu Hao and said, "Looking at it this way, it's much more complicated than a spaceship that lands directly on the moon."

Wu Hao nodded with a smile when he heard the words: "From the perspective of the mission, it is indeed much more complicated."

Hearing what Wu Hao said, Zhou Xiangming couldn't help but said: "Although our entire task process is relatively complicated, it can greatly save costs.

Although those moon landing spacecraft seem relatively simple and straightforward, the cost is too high, and nothing will be lost after one launch. And ours can basically be reused, and the cost can be controlled to a relatively low range, which is suitable for long-term operation. "

(end of this chapter)

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