While the debate over hypersonic weapons continues on the other side of the world.
At the Xichang launch site, the latest batch of low-orbit communication satellites are preparing for launch.
Although it has arrived in late autumn and early winter, Xichang, as a tropical plateau monsoon climate area, still maintains a temperature of less than 20 degrees.
The evergreen broad-leaved trees on both sides of the road rustled in the gentle wind, and Zhang Xingyang and Zhong Zixin took a leisurely walk.
"The weight of this batch of communication satellites has dropped by almost ten kilograms. It seems that you have worked hard."
Zhang Xingyang was already the actual person in charge of the entire low-orbit satellite communication network project at this time, so what he said now can be regarded as a compliment to the entire staff of the 101 Satellite Research Institute led by Zhong Zixin.
“The main thing is to use a new generation of composite materials that are stronger but lighter in weight, reducing the weight of many major structural parts.”
Zhong Zixin smiled and said:
"This is mainly thanks to you. If it weren't for your introduction, we wouldn't know that domestic composite materials are already so powerful."
On the original generation of low-orbit communication satellites, the main structural parts were still made of high-strength alloys that are relatively common in the aerospace field.
Although the performance is excellent in all aspects, it is not satisfactory in terms of weight.
So after learning about this situation later, Zhang Xingyang introduced the 701 Material Factory to the 101 Satellite Research Institute.
The composite materials that 701 Materials Factory can now prepare are no longer the ones we just started with.
The materials laboratory that Su Xiao is responsible for constantly produces new material formulas, which are then taken to Factory 703 for mass production.
Zhong Zixin and the others are applying one of them on satellites, a new generation of composite materials that are specially improved for various complex situations in the space environment for a long time.
"Everyone is here to make this project better, and there are no words of gratitude."
Zhang Xingyang was still very humble and did not really take other people's gratitude seriously.
"By the way, our satellite communication system played a lot of role when we were fighting floods in August."
One moment he was talking about satellites, and the next moment Zhang Xingyang talked about fighting the floods in August this year.
"The superiors gave a collective credit to the units involved in the entire project."
"The certificate of award will be sent to you at the end of the month."
Speaking of this matter, Zhong Zixin also expressed emotion:
"Fighting floods was an unforgettable experience."
Compared with the Rocket Research Institute located in the southwest, the 101 Satellite Research Institute located in Jiangcheng made Zhong Zixin's deep impression of this matter almost engraved in the deepest part of his mind.
In July 1998, our mother river, the Yangtze River, suffered the most serious flood since the founding of the People's Republic of China.
The vast yellow soup spreads in the heart of the country.
At that time, Jiangcheng, where the 101 Satellite Research Institute was located, was also on the front line of flood control.
The floods not only washed away roads, farmland, and houses, but the extremely important ground communication system was also washed away by the floods.
At the critical moment, the country issued an emergency order requiring the entire satellite communication system to undergo an emergency orbit change.
From the original coverage of East China, it moved to the sky above the disaster area.
Provide sufficient communication bandwidth for flood fighting and rescue work so that the entire flood fighting command system can operate smoothly.
"You worked really hard back then." Zhang Xingyang patted Zhong Zixin on the shoulder and said.
Although satellites in space have their own fuel and can change orbits, their service life will be greatly reduced. However, in such an emergency situation at that time, no one could care so much.
After all, if you waste one more second, there may be problems with one of the embankments.
When the satellite successfully moved to the central China area where heavy rains are the most severe and water flow is the largest, the technical team led by Zhong Zixin and others.
In order to allow the entire command system to smoothly connect to the satellite communication system, they worked almost day and night on the front line of flood control.
Because at that time the entire command system was right next to the embankment, almost built on the water's edge!
"It's all what we should do, it's just our job."
Zhong Zixin is not too proud, after all, these achievements actually belong to everyone.
It's just that they are special and are on the front line of fighting floods.
Those who provide guidance for satellite orbit changes and issue various work instructions in various places are all contributors to this matter.
When Zhang Xingyang first proposed the low-orbit satellite communication network, he considered its use as an emergency communication system in various emergency disaster events.
This flood relief work also demonstrates the capabilities of low-orbit satellite communication networks in this regard.
"It's a pity that the service life of communication satellites will be reduced by at least 20% after undergoing orbit changes."
Although it turns out that there are no problems with the satellite communication network, the decline in service life still gives Zhang Xingyang some headaches.
After all, at this time, he was not only the department head of the launch vehicle part of the entire project, but the actual person in charge of the entire project.
The content that needs to be considered goes far beyond the original work content.
The reduced service life of the first phase of satellites means that the launch of the second phase of communication satellites must be advanced.
This affects the whole body, and the planning time of the entire project needs to be adjusted.
In the original plan, the first phase of communication satellites was used for three years. However, under current circumstances, the service life may be only two and a half years.
If the second-phase satellite launch is still carried out according to the original construction schedule, there will be a satellite gap period of several months before the second-phase satellite is launched.
Therefore, it is almost certain that the second-phase communication satellite will be launched ahead of schedule.
This has put greater pressure on the 101 Satellite Research Institute, which originally planned to upgrade the communication satellites during the second phase of the project.
"Director Zhong, regarding the construction of the second phase of the project, we conducted an expert demonstration last week."
At a crossroads, Zhang Xingyang stopped and turned around.
"You didn't come at that time. It was your deputy director who came. I don't know if he made it clear to you."
When Zhong Zixin was in charge of the research work on a relatively key technology node and had no time to participate, they could only ask their deputy director to participate.
"He told me." Zhong Zixin also frowned when he mentioned this matter: "The second phase of the project must be completed three months in advance."
"Yes, three months is the shortest time that can be achieved without delaying the construction of the communication system."
Zhang Xingyang was very serious, no longer as gentle as before.
"The biggest problem now is whether the new generation of communication satellites that you originally studied for the second phase of the project can still be completed as scheduled?"
This issue is very critical and is directly related to the performance of the second-phase satellite communication network.
Because in the past few years, the number of domestic mobile communication users has almost doubled every year.
When the first phase of communication satellite design work was carried out, the number of domestic mobile communication users was only 13.8 million.
As of this year, the number of mobile communication users has exceeded 30 million!
Therefore, when carrying out the second phase of the construction project, the performance of the communication satellite also needs to be upgraded accordingly.
The number of simultaneous users of a single satellite will be upgraded from the original 400,000 users to 800,000 households.
"Actually, other aspects of upgrading and transformation work are relatively simple and can be completed quickly."
Zhong Zixin looked at the setting sun falling between the mountains in the distance and said:
"The upgrade work on the satellite platform will be completed by the end of this year if no unexpected circumstances occur."
"But the most troublesome thing now is the problem of communication equipment."
"The progress at the Communications Research Institute is not very satisfactory. According to the original plan, the research and development work will not be completed until the second half of next year."
"After they complete the research and development, we still need a little time to do the integration work."
"Time is almost rushing to the year after next."
Such a long time has far exceeded Zhang Xingyang's current plan.
It can even be said that they were unable to complete even the original planning schedule on time!
"What is the situation at the Communications Research Institute? Why is the research and development progress so slow?"
Zhang Xingyang also frowned at this time and said somewhat incomprehensibly.
After all, the Communications Research Institute has fallen out of business not once or twice. The last time the first batch of communications satellites were developed, they were overweight due to communications equipment.
This time, another overdue issue occurred, which made Zhang Xingyang even more dissatisfied with the Institute of Communications.
Zhong Zixin glanced at Zhang Xingyang and pursed his lips, wondering if he should say it.
After a while, he made up his mind and said:
"Dean Zhang, I wonder if you have heard some rumors about the Institute of Communications?"
Zhang Xingyang has never been interested in these gossips, so he doesn't know what he wants to ask at this time.
Seeing the confused look on Zhang Xingyang's face, Zhong Zixin understood. Zhang Xingyang definitely didn't pay attention to this on weekdays.
"Dean Zhang, you may not be very clear. Even for a research institute like ours, which has many projects, the conditions are not that good in all aspects."
"Not to mention those research institutes with poor conditions."
At this time, Zhang Xingyang somewhat understood what Zhong Zixin wanted to say.
"The Institute of Communications is a model here, especially in recent years, there have been many powerful researchers in the Institute of Communications."
"They all couldn't stand the treatment that was almost unchanged for thousands of years in the research institute, so they all went south to the Special Economic Zone to make money."
After saying this, Zhong Zixin breathed a sigh of relief.
I originally thought that Zhang Xingyang would have an expression of confusion or dissatisfaction on his face, but I found that there was no change in Zhang Xingyang's expression.
At first, Zhang Xingyang thought it was some other problem, but after Zhong Zixin finished speaking, he realized that it was just a matter of treatment.
In fact, this was something Zhang Xingyang subconsciously ignored. After all, the Rocket Research Institute has no longer been in a stage of financial constraints.
Various welfare benefits for staff have never been left behind.
This made Zhang Xingyang subconsciously assume that other families' situations were the same as his own.
But that's not the case. At this time, the days of various research institutes are not very easy.
And at this time, in the special zone, professional and technical personnel from the Communications Research Institute are very valuable.
After all, this was an era when the Internet was just emerging, and programmers with good skills were almost rare.
It's hard not to feel moved when you look at those former classmates who can earn almost a year's salary in one month in the special zone.
"The salary issue is not a big problem." Zhang Xingyang said:
"As long as it doesn't involve issues of principle, it's okay!"
Since Zhang Xingyang, as the person in charge of the entire project, said so, Zhong Zixin couldn't say anything else.
——
The Communications Research Institute and the 101 Satellite Research Institute are both located in Jiangcheng.
This is also the reason why Zhong Zixin was able to get so much gossip about the Communications Research Institute.
Zhang Xingyang stood at the entrance of the research institute and looked at the low building in front of him and the signs with a lot of paint falling off on both sides of the door.
Before coming here, I thought that the situation of the Institute of Communications might be poor, but I didn’t expect that even this kind of facade would be bad.
You can imagine the situation inside!
Although the Communications Research Institute is not very good now, it still has everything it should have.
For example, the security personnel guarding the gate.
Because Zhang Xingyang was wearing regular clothes this time, and he did not show any documents or letters of introduction that could identify him.
So after staying at the door for a while, he attracted the attention of the security personnel who were still in the security booth.
In any case, the Communications Research Institute also has a certain level of confidentiality, and outsiders are not allowed to enter without legitimate reasons.
Looking at the increasingly alert eyes of the security guards, Zhang Xingyang didn't want to cause any trouble.
So he walked into the security booth and handed over his ID.
"Is your director in the office now?" Zhang Xingyang asked after collecting the ID that the other party handed back.
"The director is out for business, but the deputy director is at the office now. How about I take you there?"
After confirming the identity of the other party, the security personnel did not dare to neglect him.
"Well, it just so happens that I don't know the way."
Zhang Xingyang didn't refuse too much. When he came to a strange place, it would be nice to have someone to guide him.
The deputy director's office is not far away, just a few steps away.
After thanking the security personnel who led him, Zhang Xingyang opened the office door.
Jiang Hanshu, who was still immersed in work, raised his head and looked at the person in front of him, and found that he didn't recognize him.
Out of politeness, Zhang Xingyang introduced himself:
"Hello, I am Zhang Xingyang."
"Currently responsible for the second phase of the satellite communications project."
Although Jiang Hanshu has never actually met Zhang Xingyang, he still heard it mentioned by the director, and the current key project of the institute is the research and development of communication equipment on communication satellites.
Therefore, he did not doubt Zhang Xingyang's identity too much. He stood up naturally, shook hands with Zhang Xingyang and said:
"Hello, I am Jiang Hanshu, deputy director of the Institute of Communications."
Zhang Xingyang didn't have much time to come to Jiangcheng this time, it was just a drop-in, so he didn't talk nonsense with Jiang Hanshu.
Instead, he said straight to the point: "Director Jiang, I heard that the Communications Research Institute is currently short of manpower, resulting in slow progress in the development of communications equipment."
"Is this true?"
Although Jiang Hanshu, after learning about Zhang Xingyang's identity, had already guessed that he might have come to investigate.
But I didn't expect the other party to be so direct, without beating around the bush at all.
For a moment, Jiang Hanshu fell into silence, not knowing how to answer.
"I'm not here to make trouble for you." Zhang Xingyang first explained the purpose of his visit: "On the contrary, I'm here to solve your problem."
"Problems with communication equipment have seriously hindered the construction progress of the second phase of the project."
"So if you have any problems, just ask them directly and I will solve them for you."
Jiang Hanshu also came to his senses at this time, so he also said: "You have also seen our situation. The biggest problem now is lack of money!"
Although there was no lack of funding for them when developing communication equipment.
But it is impossible to afford such a research institute with just such a project.
"How much is the difference? Write a budget report. As long as it's not too exaggerated, I can solve it for you."
Zhang Xingyang made a direct promise, but he also knew that he was only treating the symptoms and not the root cause.
In order to truly solve the problems of the Communications Research Institute, we still need to cultivate their self-hematopoietic ability.
Jiang Hanshu didn't show any excitement when he heard that the budget could be increased.
Instead, he smiled bitterly and said, "Even if we solve the money problem, we still don't have enough manpower to carry out research and development work."
"Just go and recruit if there is no one. From major universities and institutes, if you need anything, make a list for me."
"I'll find a solution for you!"
When Zhang Xingyang said this, he felt very aggressive:
"I have only one request, and that is to complete the research and development of the equipment before June next year!"
"Can it be done?!"
Jiang Hanshu did not expect that Zhang Xingyang could solve these two problems that had been bothering them for several years.
At this time, he still couldn't believe it and asked aloud: "Director Zhang, is everything you said true?"
"If everything can be solved, we will be able to complete the research and development work next May."
This is really not Jiang Hanshu's bragging. In fact, at this time, domestic communication technology is not very backward compared with other technical fields.
What their research institute lacks now is just personnel and money.
"Of course, the money and people problems can be solved for you within this month." Zhang Xingyang said.
"However, you'd better try to find some other solutions. It's difficult to go far in the long run just relying on state funding."
Jiang Hanshu is also very helpless. They also know that it would be best if they can make money from the market, but there is really nothing they can do!
"We also tried to make some market-oriented products, but the sales were not very good."
Seeing that their current situation was even worse than that of the Rocket Research Institute, Zhang Xingyang couldn't help but want to give them some advice:
"That's because you haven't found what the market needs."
"For example, after we build the satellite communication system."
"Domestic mobile phones must be equipped with satellite communication modules, otherwise they will not be integrated into the entire system."
“There are great business opportunities here!”
Jiang Hanshu was not a fool, and he quickly reacted: "You mean to ask us to make a terminal module for satellite communications?"
"But we don't have the miniaturization technology."
Zhang Xingyang stood up at this time and walked towards the door: "If you don't have any, just find a way to develop it. The road is made step by step!"
(End of chapter)
