Could you please click on the top right corner of the old manFollowIt not only facilitates your discussion and sharing, but also brings you a different sense of participation. Thank you for your support!Article | Center of the Last CenturyEditor | Last Century CenterprefaceWith the successful docking of China's Shenzhou 16 spacecraft with the Tiangong Space Station, China's aerospace industry has taken another step forward

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Article | Center of the Last Century

Editor | Last Century Center

preface

With the successful docking of China's Shenzhou 16 spacecraft with the Tiangong Space Station, China's aerospace industry has taken another step forward.

Even Rocket Crocodile Musk couldn't help but exclaim:China's aerospace technology is really strong.

But what's surprising is that before that, as a veteran newspaper, the New York Times publicly claimed:

The cost of China's Tiangong Space Station is only $8 billion, while the cost of the International Space Station in the United States is $100 billion,So the Tiangong Space Station is a tofu residue project.

As soon as this statement was made, there was a great uproar in public opinion. You know, the New York Times is very popular in the worldInfluentialof

So is what The New York Times is saying true? The cost of China's Tiangong Space Station is lower, is it really a tofu residue project?

The Construction History of the International Space Station

In the 1980s, under the leadership of President Reagan, the United States first proposed a grand idea. The US government hopes to unite the efforts of multiple countries, including China and Japan, to jointly build a massive international space station.

According to the plan, this space station will have several standard football field sized internal spaces that can accommodate up to six astronauts for long-term living and work inside.

However, this plan seemed distant at the time. Because countries around the world, which have just passed the oil crisis, are still in a difficult period of recovery in their domestic economies and cannot raise huge funds for station construction in a short period of time.

In addition, due to the lack of precedents, it was difficult for countries to predict the potential scientific research value and returns of space stations. Therefore, at that time, the international community reacted coldly to the United States' initiative and held a wait-and-see attitude.

Until the early 1990s, the situation changed. The United States has reached space cooperation with Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the two countries have announced the joint launch of the International Space Station construction plan. This laid the foundation for the International Space Station.

During the 20-year construction process, the space station has gone through four important stages. In the first stage, the United States and Russia took the lead in launching the first two core component modules of the space station, marking the beginning of the formation of the space station framework.

The second stage is a critical period for the rapid growth of the space station, with the United States and Russia accelerating the launch of various experimental and residential modules, and the size of the space station rapidly expanding.

In the third stage, new members such as the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency also began launching their own experimental modules, laying the foundation for scientists from various countries to enter space stations for research in the future.

Finally, with the joint efforts of all member states, the space station was finally fully completed and officially entered the operational phase in 2011.

At present, the space station located in the Earth's low orbit has a total weight of 423000 kilograms, equivalent to the total weight of six subway cars.

From the overall length of the space station's axis, it is almost as long as a standard football field and has an area close to the size of a football field. Internally, it can provide work and living space for six astronauts.

The construction investment of the space station has exceeded the expectations of various countries. The United States alone has invested over 130 billion US dollars, which is higher than the initial estimate of 50 billion US dollars.

Russia has also invested over $10 billion. Experts estimate that considering future maintenance costs, the total cost of the space station may exceed $200 billion.

Why is the cost so huge

The International Space Station needs to be built and maintained at a cost of $200 billion, with the United States, as the leading country, bearing important responsibilities. The high cost ultimately stems from systemic corruption and low efficiency.

At the beginning of the project, American scientists were overly optimistic that future technological advancements could significantly reduce costs. However, the progress of space station technology over the past two decades has been very limited, far from predictions.

The space station is an unprecedented and massive system, unable to learn from previous experiences, and there is inevitably deviation in cost budgeting. Inconsistent standards among different countries also increase coordination costs.

More importantly, the entire social system in the United States is plagued by pervasive corruption. The space station is just the tip of the iceberg. Every year, hundreds of billions of military expenses are spent, most of which go to the pockets of high-ranking officials and military enterprises, and less than half go to soldiers.

Once the aircraft carrier formation is launched, it can burn hundreds of millions of dollars in a day, but its improvement in actual combat effectiveness is limited. The cost of stationed in Iraq is even more astronomical, and even the big end knows where to go.

This is only the tip of the known iceberg of corruption, and it can be imagined that the real situation is even worse.

During the construction and maintenance process of the space station, it is also difficult to escape misfortune. The frequent occurrence of various malfunctions is like a microcosm of the corruption phenomenon in American society.

Accidents such as cracks in the cabin walls, equipment being infected with viruses, and large gas leaks are common. The failure rate of modules in the United States far exceeds that of countries such as Russia, Europe, and Japan. Repairs and updates require significant financial expenditures.

There is no other reason, and the selection mechanism in the United States destined that space station construction would only become a satiety project for the wealthy. The recruitment and selection of astronauts are deeply influenced by racial and class biases, valuing bloodline over talent.

In contrast, China's aerospace system is clean and efficient. The investment efficiency of space stations is ten times that of the United States. From scientific research to manufacturing, from design to operation, the process is standardized, rational, and pragmatic, ensuring good quality at all levels.

The equipment has almost zero aging faults, in stark contrast to the United States. This fully demonstrates the scientific and progressiveness nature of our political system.

China Tiangong Space Station

Although the overall cost of the construction of the Chinese space station is lower than that of the International Space Station, it is based on independent innovative technology and lean engineering methods, ensuring a high cost-effectiveness.

In terms of structural design, the Chinese space station adopts a modular and lightweight scheme, consisting only of a core module and two experimental modules, which is significantly reduced compared to the International Space Station.

This not only saves material and transportation costs, but also facilitates maintenance and operation. The core module is mainly responsible for the control and operation of the space station, while the two experimental modules are used for various scientific experiments. This simple structural layout greatly reduces the weight of the space station, and each compartment only needs to be transported separately once to be assembled in place, without the need for multiple assemblies like the International Space Station.

In terms of power supply, the Chinese space station uses high-efficiency triple junction gallium arsenide solar cells, with a conversion efficiency of about 30%, far exceeding that of silicon based batteries.

The battery panel is also made of radiation resistant and lightweight materials to ensure performance and safety. Triple junction gallium arsenide materials have a wider spectral response range and can more effectively utilize the solar spectrum. In addition, the battery panel adopts a flexible design that can be folded and stored, greatly saving effective space.

In terms of space station control, China's independently developed Hall electric thrusters have replaced fuel thrusters, requiring only a small amount of propellant to maintain space station operation, requiring only one replenishment per year.

This significantly reduces operating costs. Hall electric thrusters use ionized gas to generate thrust, without the need to carry fuel, and only require a small amount of electrical energy during operation. This is much more labor-saving than fuel propulsion.

In terms of materials, China's space station widely uses nanotechnology and new materials to improve equipment performance and lifespan.

Solar panels use special materials that are resistant to thermal shock and particle impact, ensuring reliability. These materials have undergone rigorous testing and are able to adapt to various harsh conditions in the space environment.

The management of China's space station project is also more centralized, and the use of funds is more flexible and efficient. China relies on independent innovation technology to achieve low-cost and cost-effective space stations, without relying on imports or foreign aid.

This fully demonstrates the progress and achievements of China's aerospace industry. Unlike the International Space Station, the Chinese space station is completely developed by China, with independent and controllable technology, avoiding various obstacles to cross-border cooperation.

In terms of the design concept of space stations, China places greater emphasis on lightweight and high efficiency. Every design detail pursues lightweight, energy-saving, durable, and reliable.

The structure, materials, energy, and control system of the space station all reflect this idea. This enables China to build a highly cost-effective space station with limited investment. This concept originates from the innovative spirit of Chinese aerospace engineers and the traditional virtues of diligence, thrift, and thrift.

The China Space Station project has fully mobilized the strength of relevant domestic enterprises, research institutes, and universities. China has independently developed all key technologies for space stations, forming a complete industrial chain.

This not only reduces project costs, but also enables China to achieve sustainable development in the field of space stations. It can be foreseen that the successful operation of China's space station will have a profound impact on the country's technological progress and economic development.

epilogue

The reason why The New York Times is making a big fuss about cost,It is impossible to see China's breakthroughs in space technology.

In the future, with the aging of the International Space Station equipment, it is likely that only Tiangong will be left in space. At that time, the New York Times recalled this statement and didn't know what it would taste like.

Faced with doubts, China has proven the quality and performance of space stations through practical actions, which is the best way to counter rumors.

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