Chapter 288 Plasma Engine

The system's exchange interface unfolded before Lin Mo.

[Plasma Propulsion System (Complete Technology Package)]

[Includes: Magnetic Confinement Plasma Generator, High-Power RF Ionization Chamber, Magnetic Nozzle Design, Power Management System, Thermal Control Subsystem]

[research points consumed: 8000]

[Exchange now?]

Lin Mo's finger hovered above the confirmation button, pausing for two seconds.

8000 points—this was the most expensive exchange in the system's history. From Room-Temperature Superconductivity to the space elevator, no other technology had required so many research points. But the Plasma Engine was worth the price—it directly determined whether humanity could reach Mars within a reasonable timeframe.

He clicked confirm.

[Exchange successful]

[research points balance: 550 (8550-8000)]

[Technology package unpacked, file size: 47.3GB]

[Estimated digestion time: 72 hours]

Rows of technical parameters popped up on the screen, and Lin Mo's gaze quickly swept over them:

Propellant: Xenon/Argon (dual-mode optional)

Specific Impulse: 4500 seconds (ten times that of chemical rockets)

Thrust: 50N (laboratory) → 5000N (engineering prototype)

Power Requirement: 200kW (startup) → 10MW (full power)

Theoretical Max Speed: 120km/s

Earth-Mars Travel Time: 85-120 days (depending on orbital window)

Lin Mo stared at the line "85-120 days," tapping his finger lightly on the desktop twice.

Chemical rockets take eight to nine months to reach Mars, exposing astronauts to deep space for too long. Radiation, muscle atrophy, psychological issues—each is a fatal risk. Three months, this time window is enough to control the risks within an acceptable range.

He closed the system interface, opened his work document, and began to digest the 47.3GB of technical data page by page.

Three days later, Lin Mo convened all the heads of the aerospace department.

The meeting was held in the large conference room of the Aerospace Propulsion Technology Research Institute, with a giant timetable for the "Expedition Plan" hanging on the wall. Not many people attended, but they were all key figures—the chief designer of propulsion from the Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, experts from the Materials Institute, researchers from the Plasma Physics Research Institute, plus Chen Xueming and Li Xiao, totaling fewer than twenty people.

"Today, we're only discussing one thing." Lin Mo turned on the projector. "The Plasma Engine."

A cross-sectional diagram appeared on the screen, its complex internal structure making everyone present gasp.

"This is the complete technology package I exchanged from the system." Lin Mo got straight to the point. "A specific impulse of 4500 seconds, shortening the Earth-Mars travel time to within three months."

The conference room was silent for three seconds.

Then it erupted.

"4500 seconds? Our Hall thruster is only 1500 seconds!"

"What about power requirements? Starting at 200 kilowatts, can the spacecraft's energy system keep up?"

"Magnetic confinement plasma—how is this temperature controlled? Can the materials withstand it?"

Lin Mo raised his hand, waiting for the noise to subside.

"One by one." He looked at the chief designer of propulsion. "The power issue has been solved by the Nuclear Fusion reactor. The improved model of the tokamak-3 can provide a stable output of 20MW, enough to drive the engine at full power."

"What about materials?" The materials expert raised his hand. "Plasma temperatures are millions of degrees; what material can withstand that?"

Lin Mo switched to the next slide: "Magnetic confinement. The plasma doesn't touch any solid wall; it's confined by a magnetic field. The inner wall of the magnetic nozzle uses a special ceramic coating. The system provided this formula, and we can produce it by modifying our Carbon Nanotubes factory."

The materials expert leaned in to look, his brows slowly relaxing. "This formula... the thermal conductivity and thermal shock resistance are both excellent. Theoretically feasible."

Chen Xueming had been silent, staring at the cross-sectional diagram for a long time, then suddenly spoke: "Old Lin, what is the thrust-to-weight ratio of this engine?"

Lin Mo looked at him.

"I know the specific impulse is high and travel time is short," Chen Xueming said, "but the thrust-to-weight ratio determines whether the spacecraft can take off from the ground. If it can only ignite in space, then we'll have to use chemical rockets to send the spacecraft into space—the payload will be greatly reduced."

This question hit the nail on the head.

Lin Mo nodded: "The thrust-to-weight ratio is 0.3, so it cannot be used on the ground. The spacecraft will need segmented launches—chemical rockets will send the engine and fuel tank into low Earth orbit, where they will be assembled, and then the Plasma Engine will ignite and fly towards Mars."

"That means at least three launches," Chen Xueming calculated quickly. "The engine itself, the fuel tank, the crew capsule, plus spares, possibly four to five launches."

"Four launches," Lin Mo said. "I've calculated it. After the space elevator is built, launch costs have dropped to five hundred dollars per kilogram. The total cost of four launches is within budget."

Chen Xueming leaned back in his chair, saying no more.

Li Xiao then spoke: "President Lin, for orbital calculations, I need the thrust curve data of the Plasma Engine. The specific impulse and thrust output under different operating conditions directly affect the choice of flight windows and orbital design."

Lin Mo handed her a document: "This is the complete performance parameter table. Go over it, and give me a preliminary orbital plan by the beginning of next month."

"Okay." Li Xiao looked down at the data, her eyes growing brighter. "If it can truly achieve a speed of 120km/s, the Earth-Mars flight window can expand from two months to four months—this is crucial."

The meeting lasted a full six hours.

People from the Plasma Physics Research Institute immediately took on the design task for the magnetic confinement system, materials experts rushed back to their labs overnight to verify the ceramic coating formula, and the chief designer of propulsion began organizing his team to digest the power management system blueprints.

It was already four in the afternoon when the meeting adjourned. Lin Mo didn't leave; he sat in the conference room, a stack of blueprints spread out before him.

Chen Xueming also stayed.

"Old Lin." He walked over and sat opposite Lin Mo. "When can this engine be built?"

Lin Mo looked up: "With the cooperation of the aerospace department, one year at the fastest."

"One year." Chen Xueming repeated. "And then?"

"Then it will be installed on an unmanned probe for a test flight to Mars," Lin Mo said. "To verify the engine's reliability, measure the radiation environment around Mars, and determine the landing site."

Chen Xueming was silent for a moment: "What about my mecha Mars exploration plan then?"

"Proceed in parallel." Lin Mo looked at him. "Engine development and mecha modification will happen simultaneously. By the time the unmanned probe sends back data, your plan should be finalized."

Chen Xueming nodded, stood up, and prepared to leave.

"Xueming." Lin Mo called out to him.

"Hmm?"

"That question just now—the thrust-to-weight ratio." Lin Mo said, "You asked very well. You were the first person in the entire conference room to think of that."

Chen Xueming was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "It's nothing, I build mechas, so I'm sensitive to thrust-to-weight ratios."

"Not just sensitive." Lin Mo said seriously, "You're thinking like a chief designer. Not just focusing on your own small area, but looking at the feasibility of the entire system."

Chen Xueming opened his mouth but said nothing.

"Deputy Chief Designer." Lin Mo lowered his head and continued looking at the blueprints. "You're becoming more and more settled in this position."

Chen Xueming stood at the door, silent for a long time.

"Old Lin, you really are something." He finally said, "Even your compliments make people uncomfortable."

Lin Mo didn't look up, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.

Chen Xueming left.

In the following days, the entire Aerospace Propulsion Technology Research Institute entered a "Plasma Engine Grand Battle" mode.

Although the blueprints Lin Mo exchanged from the system were complete, there were countless hurdles to overcome in transforming laboratory data into an engineering prototype. The winding precision of the magnetic confinement coils required extremely high accuracy, with errors not exceeding 0.01 millimeters; the power input of the RF ionization chamber needed precise matching, otherwise the plasma would not stabilize; the power management system had to seamlessly switch between 200kW and 10MW, with control logic so complex that Li Xiao's team took two months to write the code.

The biggest challenge was the materials.

The inner wall coating of the magnetic nozzle needed to withstand extreme thermal shock and particle bombardment. Although the formula provided by the system was theoretically feasible, practical preparation continuously ran into problems. The first batch of trial coatings peeled off after only 47 seconds during testing.

Materials experts stayed up for three consecutive nights, adjusting over a dozen process parameters, and finally, on the 17th trial, produced a qualified product—it operated continuously for 8 hours, and the coating remained as good as new.

That night, the materials expert slept the entire night in the lab, waking up to find Lin Mo's jacket covering him.

Three months later, the first Plasma Engine engineering prototype was assembled.

It wasn't large, only two meters long and one meter in diameter, looking like a silvery-white metal tube, its surface covered with dense sensor interfaces and coolant lines. But inside it, a magnetic field was confining plasma at temperatures of millions of degrees, ejecting an ion beam that could rush into space at a speed of 120 kilometers per second.

On the day of the test, Lin Mo was personally present.

In the huge vacuum chamber, the engine was fixed to the test stand. Everyone retreated to the control room, and the heavy radiation-shielding door closed.

"Ready," reported the test team leader.

Lin Mo glanced at the parameters on the screen and nodded.

"Ignite."

Current poured into the magnetic confinement coils, and xenon gas was injected into the ionization chamber. On the control room screen, data cascaded down.

Plasma formed. Stabilized. Ejected.

Deep within the vacuum chamber, a pale blue beam of light illuminated, the glow of ionized xenon ions accelerating in the magnetic field.

"Thrust stable. Specific impulse met. Temperature normal. All parameters within design range."

The test lasted 72 hours.

The engine ran continuously for three days and three nights without any malfunctions.

At the 72nd hour, the test team leader announced: "Plasma Engine prototype continuous operation test passed. All indicators meet design requirements."

Applause erupted in the control room.

Lin Mo stood behind the crowd, looking at the pale blue light beam on the screen.

Three months.

From blueprints to prototype, from theory to reality, it only took three months.

He knew this wasn't because he was so capable, but because behind him stood the entire industrial system of China—aerospace technology, material science, energy systems, control engineering, every link built by countless people's sweat and wisdom.

The system gave him the blueprints, but it was people who turned those blueprints into reality.

It was the red-eyed engineers behind him, the materials experts who repeatedly experimented in the lab, and the workers who polished every single part in the workshop.

Chen Xueming walked over and stood beside him, looking at the blue light beam on the screen.

"Old Lin."

"Hmm?"

"This light." Chen Xueming pointed at the vacuum chamber. "One day, it will take us to Mars."

Lin Mo said nothing.

He just looked at the blue light for a long time.