Chapter 269: Enhanced, Superconducting Particle

Hyperdrive

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

After ending the communication, Tang Rui instructed Red Lotus to present the model of the large spacecraft that Feng Yuanxing and his team had recently designed.

They had finished the design a few days prior.

At that time, he was preoccupied and didn’t pay much attention to it.

Now that he was free, he decided to examine the design model to evaluate its quality.

Swipe!

As the model of the spaceship appeared, Tang Rui was left speechless.

Impressive.

I copied the 300i design.

And you replicated the 890,1 see.

But truth be told, the design of this spaceship is truly stunning.

Tang Rui reviewed the specifications designed by Feng Yuanxing’s team: the spaceship measured 120 meters in length, 36 meters in width, and 28 meters in height.

The specifications were satisfactory; they didn’t simply replicate the original spaceship’s parameters.

The exterior remained largely unchanged.

But the interior had undergone significant modifications; amenities like swimming pools, dance halls, entertainment areas, and sky gardens…

All of these were eliminated.

Tang Rui’s initial task for them was to design a civilian manned spacecraft for Earth-Moon travel.

Therefore, they transformed the interior into high-end business-class cabins, each a separate isolation chamber, equipped with its own emergency life support system.

In case of any incident on the spaceship, the passengers in these chambers could survive for 12 hours using the emergency life support system.

This design served as a safety precaution.

Besides the passenger cabins, there were other areas like meeting rooms, lounges, dining areas, observation sections, and storage spaces.

The entertainment facilities were minimal, at most providing access to Earth’s network.

Tang Rui found no significant issues with the interior design.

However, according to Feng Yuanxing’s design, the total weight of the spaceship was 625 tons, with a maximum loaded takeoff weight of 1200 tons. This design was indeed ambitious.

It was feasible to build, but the engine issue required further research and development.

Nuclear-powered rocket engines.

Tang Rui had no intention of continuing with those, as they were too complex and cumbersome to use.

“It’s time to upgrade and enhance the electric propulsion engine.”

In the era of interstellar exploration, not having an electric propulsion engine would be unthinkable.

Always depending on nuclear-powered rockets wasn’t the best solution.

However, to develop a propulsion system with kilonewton or even ton-level thrust, he needed to delve deeper into the underlying theory.

“Red Lotus, bring me the components for the electric propulsion engine.” Tang Rui intended to personally construct an electric propulsion engine. “Understood, master.”

Red Lotus quickly set the components of the electric propulsion engine on Tang Rui’s workbench.

The electric propulsion engine was relatively simple in concept.

This simplicity was not just in terms of manufacturing; it also extended to maintenance, which was much easier than current engines and rocket motors with tens of thousands of parts. The only downside was insufficient thrust. In just over half an hour, Tang Rui built an electric propulsion engine, but its thrust was a mere 0.8 newtons.

Enhance!

Enhance!

Enhance again!

He unhesitatingly clicked on the enhance button, opting for consecutive enhancements.

A faint golden light flickered.

The enhancement of the electric propulsion engine was complete.

The engine’s size expanded from an original diameter of 5 centimeters to 20 centimeters. Its internal structure grew more complex, now including an air intake grille.

[Item: Superconducting Particle Transition Injection Engine] [Experience: 0/55000]

[Enhancement: Superconducting Particle Transition System]

[Attributes: Thrust increased by 180%, specific impulse enhanced by 160% speed boosted by 120%]

[Origin Points: 726.52]

After reviewing the data on the system panel, Tang Rui directed Red Lotus “Document the blueprint, store it in the dedicated database, and then display the internal structure model and the program code.”

“Right away, master.”

Red Lotus immediately showed the model of the engine and the source code for the engine control program.

Tang Rui meticulously examined the structure of the internal equipment exploring the function of each component.

Compared to the electric propulsion engine he initially created, the system-enhanced electric propulsion engine had some notable’additions, such as the air intake grille.

Logically, this component shouldn’t be part of an electric propulsion engine since it doesn’t require air.

However, after the system enhancement, it indeed possessed this feature.

What did this imply?

It meant that the electric propulsion engine could now be utilized within the Earth’s atmosphere.

“Red Lotus, take this engine for testing.”

“Certainly, master. Should we conduct the test in space?”

“No need, a ground test will suffice.”

“Understood.”

Red Lotus, controlling a robot, proceeded with the engine test.

Meanwhile, Tang Rui began scrutinizing the system’s program code, focusing particularly on its algorithms.

By dinnertime, he had largely deciphered the principles behind the electric propulsion engine.

Fundamentally, the working mechanism of the system-enhanced electric propulsion engine still relied on the Hall effect, with no theoretical divergence. But practically, the technological difference between the two was substantial. The key factor was superconductivity.

The robust magnetic confinement and powerful ion thrust of the superconducting magnetic field were beyond the capabilities of the current electric magnetic fields.

Not to mention, this also involved quantum tunneling and quantum transition effects.

Of course, the main challenge lay in superconductivity.

Once the superconducting coils were resolved, and the confinement magnetic field’s strength reached 160T, any physics graduate student could construct this propulsion device.

In essence, as long as he could produce room-temperature superconducting materials, manufacturing an electric propulsion engine would pose no challenge.

“Master, the test results are in.”

“What’s the thrust like?”

“The maximum thrust is 10 tons, and the minimum is 1 newton.”

“That powerful? Display the test data.”

“Immediately, master.”

Tang Rui examined the data Red Lotus recorded during the test. Indeed, the electric propulsion engine started with a thrust of 1 newton and could steadily increase to a thrust of 10 tons. Even with increased energy supply…

Was this energy supply realistic?

It was only then that Tang Rui noticed the energy supply data, which he had previously overlooked.

too gigawatts?

This power level was no laughing matter.

It equated to 10 gigawatts per 1 ton of thrust.

If equipped with twenty such electric propulsion engines, even relocating a nuclear reactor onto the spaceship wouldn’t suffice for power generation. Not just any small nuclear reactor.

Even a large terrestrial nuclear reactor wouldn’t provide enough power.

“Red Lotus, analyze the superconducting alloy, then document the formula and process.”

Tang Rui inhaled deeply and instructed.

“As you wish, master.”

Developing superconducting materials was imperative.

Not just superconducting materials, but also controlled nuclear fusion.

Without a nuclear fusion reactor, using an electric propulsion engine was out of the question.

The two were interdependent; without sufficient energy, it was futile.

Fortunately, he already had materials resistant to neutron radiation, suitable for the inner walls of a nuclear fusion reactor.

With room-temperature superconducting materials for magnetic confinement, the remaining challenges would be more manageable.

Whether it was developing tokamaks or stellarators, both were feasible options.

He also had an ample supply of deuterium and tritium.

Reflecting on this, Tang Rui realized that he had already assembled all the necessary components for controlled nuclear fusion, ready to commence at any moment..