Chapter 548 Blizzard

There are only two types of vehicles that can carry people into space: spacecraft and space shuttle.

A spacecraft is a disposable means of transportation, just like a satellite. It is at the top of a carrier rocket. During takeoff, the carrier rocket falls off piece by piece and is discarded after burning out. When it reaches space, only one section is left. When it returns, only the return capsule descends to the ground by parachute. The other parts will either act as a satellite in space, operating alone for a period of time and then crashing, or they will directly crash into the atmosphere.

The space shuttle looks like a triangular-wing airplane. When it takes off, it enters the space on the main fuel tank or the side of the rocket. When it returns, the entire space shuttle comes back together. In this way, the carrying capacity of the space shuttle is quite large. It can carry seven to ten people at a time. Unlike a spaceship, three people are crowded enough. Moreover, the cargo hold at the back of the space shuttle has a carrying capacity of about 20 tons. It can not only launch these payloads into space, but also bring them back from space!

For example, capturing a satellite in space and putting it into one's cargo hold is a method unique to the space shuttle. The Hubble Space Telescope was later repaired in this way.

Therefore, from a technical point of view, the space shuttle is a more suitable means of exploring space. It can be reused, carry a large number of people, and accomplish many things that spacecraft cannot accomplish.

After the Apollo moon landing program was completed, the United States made the space shuttle one of their priorities and had already completed its first flight, leaving the Soviet Union behind.

However, the Soviet Union far surpassed the United States in space station technology. The Soviet Union launched several Salyut space stations in one go, and the new generation of Mir space station was also under planning.

At the same time, the Soviet Union's space shuttle program was also in full swing. Although lagging behind the United States, the Soviet Union was catching up!

At this time, Andrei, a senior general of the Soviet military, a favorite of Andropov, and the youngest member of the ZJ Committee, came to the Molnia Federation, a newly established department dedicated to the development of space shuttles!

In fact, when it comes to the space shuttle program, the Soviet Union did not start late. As early as the 1960s, the Mikoyan Design Bureau designed a reusable small spacecraft Helix, which was launched by a supersonic aircraft and powered by its own bundled rocket. Later, due to various reasons, the plan was shelved. Later, in 1976, when the Soviet Union learned that the Americans were carrying out the space shuttle plan, it decided to develop a similar spacecraft as a response to this threat. This is certainly a threat! In the eyes of the Soviets, the cargo compartment of the space shuttle can easily be filled with nuclear warheads and then launched from space to the ground!

Some technical personnel from the Mikoyan Design Bureau who were engaged in the Spiral Project, as well as some engineers from the Molnia, Myasishchev and other design bureaus were also transferred. The corresponding project was called the Buran Project, and the space shuttle was also called the Buran Space Shuttle.

Andrei, who came from later generations, certainly knew the tragic fate of the Buran space shuttle. After successfully completing its first flight, the Soviet Union collapsed. After that, the Buran could only stay in the hangar, which was finally destroyed by a storm. The Buran was officially removed from the list. Its miserable life is also a true portrayal of the disappearance of the Soviet Red Empire.

Now that I am here, I can't let this happen again!

In fact, Andre was clear about the advantages and disadvantages of space shuttles and spacecraft. When the space shuttle was designed, it looked very advanced. Unfortunately, it did not reach its service life and had to be retired due to various accidents. In later generations, after the retirement of the US space shuttle, the United States faced the embarrassing situation of having no space shuttle, while Russia's Soyuz spacecraft has been flying. Without the Soyuz spacecraft, there would be no International Space Station.

After careful discussion, China of later generations finally took the path of spacecraft and has successfully achieved the great feat of manned space flight.

The US space shuttle was ultimately proven to be useless, and what about the Soviet Union's? Would it be an extremely wasteful plan that ultimately achieved nothing? Andre did not consider these things. Success is achieved after countless failures.

Besides, this is a huge part of Star Wars!

"General Andre, welcome to Mornia." Andre and his party were greeted by an energetic old man whose forehead had turned a little gray, but whose expression was very good.

"Comrade Logino-Loginsky?" Andrei asked.

This old comrade is already over sixty years old. In other departments, he can retire at this age, as the lifetime tenure system for cadres has been thoroughly rectified. However, in the field of technology, the older one is, the more experience he has. Just like the man in front of him, Comrade Logino, he has been conducting research on winged space vehicles. Yes, he is the person in charge of the Spiral Project and is now also the person in charge of the Buran Project!

"General, do you still recognize me?" Logino was very surprised.

"Yes, Comrade Logino, you have made outstanding contributions to our aviation industry, and now you are still using your wisdom and talents on the front line. I admire you very much."

Logino's face was full of joy when he said this: "General Andrei, comrades, please come to the conference room. I will give you a detailed introduction to the progress of our blizzard plan."

"The Buran we designed uses an enlarged triangular wing structure. At the same time, in order to simplify the structure, the Buran has no main propulsion engine, only two small engines for adjusting the orbital attitude. It is launched by the heavy-lift carrier rocket Energia. This is the biggest difference from the American space shuttle. It can be said that the American space shuttle is hung on the main fuel tank, while our Buran is hung on the carrier rocket. During takeoff, it can be regarded as the payload of the Energia rocket. I think our design has greater advantages."

Slides were shown one after another. Now, the appearance design of the space shuttle has actually been completed. This introduction was specially given to Andre because it was his first time to visit.

When the last slide was played, Andre was stunned. On the slide, he saw five small planes placed like revolvers in the cargo hold of the space shuttle!

"Sorry, the last one was put in the wrong place," Logino said.

"What's the last one?" Andre asked, with surprise in his words.

"This is my idea. I'll use the Buran space shuttle as the carrier, install a rotating bracket inside, put five space fighters in it, and fire it like a revolver!"