The sea is blue and the sky is blue. Although there is no soft white beach, there are also rugged black rocks.
In late autumn, you can still feel the afterglow of midsummer on this island at the southern tip of the motherland.
Even the wind that blows from the sea from time to time does not feel as desolate as inland.
"It feels like the temperature in the Dragon Tower is higher than the temperature in the Xichang base."
"I wonder if it's my imagination?"
Although it was already November, Geng Bo, wearing long sleeves and long trousers, still felt very hot.
While fanning himself with the hem of his coat, he couldn't help but compare the temperature in Longlou Town with Xichang.
Although Zhang Xingyang also wore a long-sleeved blue and white space uniform, he was not as afraid of the heat as Geng Bo.
Even the buttons on the collar were fastened tightly.
"The latitude where the Dragon Tower is located is lower than Xichang. It is already a tropical area."
"It's normal to be a little warmer."
In addition to Zhang Xingyang and Geng Bo, there were many people at the scene.
Including Sun Hongtao, the leader of the aerospace department, Li Ruian, the leader of the land department, local leaders, and the accompanying personnel they brought.
This time, Zhang Xingyang's identity when he came here was quite different from before.
In many times before, although Zhang Xingyang was actually responsible for many matters of the low-orbit satellite communication network, there was still a big boss like Chen Zhongyan in charge of it.
Since Chen Zhongyan recommended Zhang Xingyang to the country during his lifetime, he became the actual person in charge of the low-orbit satellite communication network.
Considering that Zhang Xingyang's age might not be enough to convince the public, the apparent supervisor became Sun Hongtao.
But everyone knows that it is impossible for Mr. Sun to manage the many details of the low-orbit satellite communication network project, and these tasks are basically left to Zhang Xingyang.
And this time, so many people came to the big island at the southern tip of the country to select a location for the new launch site of the low-orbit satellite communication network project.
The forty satellites in the first phase of the project are, after all, very small in number and only require two rockets to be launched.
So there is no real need to build a new launch site.
But the goal of the second phase of the project is to complete the construction of a domestic satellite communication network.
More than four thousand satellites need to be launched!
As for the more distant third phase of the project, more than 50,000 satellites will be deployed in space to cover the whole world!
Even the Hongyan rocket, which has a very powerful carrying capacity, can launch more than thirty satellites into space each time.
The second phase of the project will also require more than 130 launch missions to be completed.
If we continue to launch satellites from inland launch sites, it will only consume more fuel and transportation costs.
Maybe as high as billions!
This is also the reason why their group went all the way to Longlou, a small place that no one in the country knew before.
It is relatively close to the equator and located at 19 degrees north latitude. It can better utilize the inertial centrifugal force caused by the earth's rotation speed and save rocket fuel.
"Xiao Zhang, how do you think this place compares with the Sanya we visited before?"
At this time, Sun Hongtao came over and asked Zhang Xingyang what he thought of Longlou.
In fact, before coming to Longlou for inspection, Zhang Xingyang and his team had already inspected two other places, namely Sanya, which is also on the island, and Yangjiang, which is opposite the island.
Compared with the two places on the island, Yangjiang has a higher latitude, so it is the first site to be eliminated.
Right now, the only two places that are still on everyone’s list are Sanya and Wenchang Longlou.
"I am still more inclined to choose Wenchang as the location of our new generation launch site."
Zhang Xingyang first gave his own opinion.
"oh?"
"Tell me why."
Sun Hongtao was also a little curious at this time, what kind of advantages Wenchang would have in the eyes of professionals like Zhang Xingyang.
"The first is the transportation issue. Next to Wenchang is Qinglan Port, which is convenient for us to transport rockets."
"You also know that although the Hongyan rocket has made great progress in thrust compared to our previous rockets, the size of the corresponding rocket is also a lot larger."
The first thing Zhang Xingyang mentioned was the transportation problem of heavy rockets.
"Normal railway transportation, ordinary freight cars have no way of transporting it."
Because the average train carriage does not exceed three and a half meters, but the diameter of the Hongyan rocket is about four and a half meters.
"Usually, roads are more commonly used for transportation. Railway transportation also requires special carriages, and the cost is really too high."
"And if we use sea transportation, it will be much better than road transportation and rail transportation in terms of transportation safety and economy."
Because the satellite communication network project can be regarded as a commercial project from a certain perspective, the cost issue during the entire project process is something that everyone needs to focus on.
Even if the cost of each rocket transportation can be reduced by 1 million, the entire second phase of the low-orbit satellite communication network project can also save more than 100 million in cost.
Sun Hongtao also agrees with this point. After all, the entire project is too huge, so it would be good to save some.
"According to what you say, isn't Sanya better than here?" Sun Hongtao asked his own question.
Although Sun Hongtao is not from the aerospace system, he still knows some basic knowledge. Basically, when launching a rocket, the closer to the equator the better.
Sanya is further south than Wenchang in latitude.
If there are cost considerations, then from the perspective of fuel saving, choosing Sanya seems to be a better choice.
"Sanya is better if we look at it purely from a latitude perspective."
Zhang Xingyang also knew what Sun Hongtao was thinking about and began to analyze Sanya as a launch site in detail.
"But the current level of commercial development in Sanya is too high. If the rocket launch site is selected there, there may be many inconveniences."
On the eve of the 21st century, an island at the southern tip has also ushered in an era of large-scale development, and Sanya has also developed during this wave of development.
The priority for development is the tourism industry. Every day, many northerners come to Sanya to experience the happiness of blue sea and blue sky.
Therefore, if the rocket launch site is chosen here, if any accident occurs, it will cause great human and economic losses.
"But this is also a small part of the reason. The main reason is the location in the east and south of Sanya."
Zhang Xingyang then talked about Sanya’s terrain distribution issues.
"Sanya is a roundabout. There are many mountains and islands in the east and south."
"And our current rocket launch trajectories are basically launching towards the east or southeast."
"In comparison, the east and south of Wenchang are vast seas. The first-stage rocket can fall directly into the sea after separation, ensuring maximum safety."
The rocket debris falling into the sea brings more guarantees to the safety of people's lives and property. There will be no rocket debris falling into residential areas, causing casualties or property losses.
However, after Wenchang was built, coastal residents in Southeast Asia could often pick up gifts from heaven from the beach. The outer shell said "Long Guo Aerospace's high-strength aluminum alloy!"
Sun Hongtao had indeed not thought of this level before.
However, Zhang Xingyang had not finished speaking at this time, and then said:
"Similarly, the meteorological conditions here in Wenchang are slightly better, both in terms of wind speed and humidity."
Having said this, Zhang Xingyang felt his mouth was a little dry, swallowed, and then said:
“The last important reason is that land prices in Wenchang are cheaper!”
At this time, the real estate speculation craze on the entire island has just passed. Although the real estate bubble has burst, as an important tourist destination in Sanya, low prices are still not cheap.
Even if the entire launch site construction project involves land acquisition by the state, it will still cost a lot of money.
At this time, Wenchang was just a place with little need, and the cost of land acquisition was very low.
"So on the whole, it is a better choice to choose Wenchang as our new generation launch base."
After talking a lot, Zhang Xingyang finally concluded.
After hearing this, Sun Hongtao still did not express his views. Instead, he looked at the rolling waves not far away and remained silent for a while.
"Mr. Sun, it is said that the new generation launch base will belong to the Xichang Launch Center, right?" Zhang Xingyang also had a hint of gossip at this time.
This rumor has just appeared in the aerospace system not long ago, and no one is sure whether it is true or not.
After all, at this time, the location of the new generation launch base has not yet been determined, and the ownership issue is even less clear.
"Of course, this launch base will be inextricably linked to the Xichang launch base in all aspects, and it will be more convenient for Xichang to manage it."
Sun Hongtao did not act as the Riddler, but directly gave the answer.
At this time, Zhang Xingyang also remembered many rumors before the establishment of Xichang.
In the 1970s, the country actually considered building a space launch site on the island. However, the international environment was relatively complicated at that time. Considering the pressure on national defense, the launch site was eventually built in Xichang, which is safer.
"Then the Xichang Launch Base will be responsible for all the construction funds, right?" Zhang Xingyang asked another fatal question at this time.
Although the Rocket Research Institute and the Xichang Launch Base do not have a direct affiliation, almost every previous rocket launch was conducted at the Xichang Launch Site, and there is a deep brotherhood between the two.
So considering this possibility, Zhang Xingyang couldn't help but worry about the Xichang Launch Base.
After all, the construction of the launch site requires tens of billions of construction funds at least. The Xichang launch base itself cannot afford so much money even if it is drained.
"That's not true. The country will provide part, the local government will provide part, and finally the Xichang Launch Base will provide part."
Sun Hongtao did not give the worst answer in Zhang Xingyang's opinion.
But even so, Zhang Xingyang estimates that the portion that the Xichang Launch Base will bear will not be very low.
However, these were not things that Zhang Xingyang needed to bear, so he didn't pay much attention after asking.
I turned my head and shifted my gaze to the sea. Although it was November, the sea breeze blowing still gave people a refreshing feeling.
Zhang Xingyang felt the coolness on his body and couldn't help but think in his heart:
"Will the wind from the South China Sea blow into space with our rockets?"
(End of chapter)
