Before Hong Qiming could react to Lü Yongchang's words, Cao Liangcai, standing beside him, could not help exclaiming.
"Ten Hall Thruster Units?"
"Didn't we agree earlier that five thruster units would be enough?!"
"Hm?" Hong Qiming narrowed his eyes slightly and gave Lü Yongchang a strange look.
"Yongchang, you can't make claims like that lightly. If the Head Councillor blames us later, I won't be able to cover for you!"
Lü Yongchang shook his head with a wry smile and hurried to explain.
"Our original plan was indeed to install five Hall Thruster Units."
"Although fifty tons of thrust doesn't compare to large airliners like the Boeing 747, it's already enough for the smaller Aerospace Plane."
"In fact, it's more than enough."
The confusion in Hong Qiming's eyes deepened. "Then why...?"
After a moment's thought, Lü Yongchang said, "In the original design, the first-generation Aerospace Plane had a maximum flight altitude of under 2,000 kilometers, which puts it in low Earth orbit."
"Later, I thought it over carefully. Since we're building an Aerospace Plane, why not make the best one we can right away?"
"We might as well double the number of Hall Thruster Units and enlarge the airframe a little."
"Although that may make manufacturing slightly more difficult, it will give the first-generation Aerospace Plane a massive boost in performance!"
"According to the calculations, this Aerospace Plane will be able to take off directly from the ground and fly to the moon."
"The fuel it carries will be enough for two round trips between Earth and the moon!"
Hong Qiming sucked in a sharp breath!
Good grief!
What had he just heard?!
Take off directly for the moon? And make two round trips?!
Seeing Academician Cao Liangcai's wide eyes beside him, Hong Qiming suddenly felt the situation slipping out