You promised to build cars, so why did you go into the military industry?

Just as Li Ran was humming a little tune and riding her electric scooter back to the office, Guo Shuyan called.

Li Ran parked the car on the side of the road and answered the phone.

"Mr. Li, do you remember Sichuan University, where we conducted campus recruitment before?"

Several professors from Sichuan University would like to meet with you.

We are currently in the conference room on the second floor.

"Okay, wait 5 minutes, I'll be right there."

After hanging up the phone, Li Ran drove while pondering:

"There are quite a few alumni from Sichuan University in the company. For events like the fall recruitment, you can just contact Xue Mingyu. But why did he specifically come to see me...? Could it be...?"

"Begging for alms?"

"satellite!"

As Li Ran and one of the professors finished speaking, an awkward atmosphere began to fill the meeting room.

"Mr. Li, this is a very clever way of asking for donations," said an elderly professor with slightly gray hair and glasses with a smile. "Although we came here to ask your company to launch a satellite, the funds we can come up with are really limited, so calling it asking for donations isn't entirely wrong."

Li Ran waved his hand somewhat awkwardly:

"I was being presumptuous, please don't take offense."

May I ask how you all are addressed?

The old professor who had just tried to ease the tension began to introduce himself:

"My name is Lu Xiangwen. I am a first-level professor in the field of aerospace engineering and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering at Sichuan University."

He then pointed to a middle-aged man with a resolute expression and said:

"This is Professor Zhao Feng, a Level 2 Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the School of Life Sciences, Sichuan University. He is a recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, a Distinguished Professor of the Ministry of Education's 'Changjiang Scholars Program,' and an academic leader in the field of biosphere ecology."

He has long been committed to research on global change and ecosystem response, as well as biogeochemical cycles, within the first-level discipline of ecology, and has led the construction of a high-altitude ecological research station at Sichuan University.

Then, pointing to the last person, a middle-aged man in a black suit and wearing glasses, he said:

"This is Professor Qiu Cunming, a second-level professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, a recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, and the academic leader of advanced materials forming technology."

As the academic leader in materials processing engineering, his team primarily focuses on metal additive manufacturing (3D printing) and special energy field-assisted processing.

Li Ran was somewhat surprised, not expecting that the amiable middle-aged man in front of him was actually a first-level professor and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering!

Moreover, a scholar with the title of "Outstanding Young Scientist" and a scholar with both the titles of "Outstanding Young Scientist" and "Changjiang Scholar" visited!

If I remember correctly, after 2019, a candidate can only undertake one national science and technology talent program at the same level and cannot apply for a program at a lower level.

This means that you can only choose one between the "Outstanding Young Scientists" and the "Changjiang Scholars" awards.

And this Professor Zhao Feng actually...

It seems that this is a reserve team that Sichuan University is using to compete for academician status.

But isn't it a bit too much of a show of force to bring such a powerful lineup to United Industries?

Li Ran guessed that the area outside his factory was under martial law.

"Academician Lu! Professor Zhao! Professor Qiu!" Li Ran shook hands with the three in turn, "I apologize for the neglect."

"It's alright, it's alright." Lu Xiangwen waved his hand. "I've come this time to ask for your help."

"I will do my best in everything I can," Li Ran promised.

At Lu Xiangwen's prompting, Zhao Feng opened his laptop and began demonstrating to Li Ran.

"We need to deploy a 5.5-ton space biosphere at an altitude of 400 km in low Earth orbit to conduct scientific research and provide design basis for future lunar/Mars base BLSS systems..."

"???"

Something's not right. Li Ran felt something was very wrong.

Tiangong-1 already has the capability for long-term astronaut stays, so is there still a need to build this kind of... wonder?

Li Ran then raised her question.

In response to Li Ran's question, Zhao Feng replied as follows:

"Tiangong-1 does have the capability to allow astronauts to stay for extended periods, but it has significant limitations. It still relies on regular resupply from the ground and cannot operate independently."

Such a biosphere module is not in competition with the space station; rather, they are complementary and pave the way for the next generation of space technology, the "bioregenerative life support system."

If Biosphere 1 operates well, there is a high probability that it will dock with Tiangong-2 and form a permanent composite spacecraft.

Li Ran understood.

It seems like they're paving the way for the future.

This kind of foresight—thinking one step ahead, considering two steps ahead, and planning three steps ahead—is truly admirable.

Then, a concept image popped up.

The biosphere section is cylindrical in shape.

The main structure has a diameter of 3.5 meters and a height of 7.5 meters. There is a conical docking mechanism on the top to facilitate subsequent docking of the modules. The overall mass is less than or equal to 5.5 tons.

Upon seeing these basic data points, Li Ran rested his chin on his hand and looked at Zhao Feng:

"Professor Zhao, you really know the parameters of our United One rocket like the back of your hand. The design specifications of this section have almost reached the maximum value within the allowable range. I admire you."

By the way, when I watched the Tiangong live broadcast last time, I remembered that the internal diameter of this docking mechanism was more than 2 meters.

Are the standards we're using consistent?

Zhao Feng confirmed Li Ran's question:

"The docking mechanism has an outer diameter of 3.2 meters and an internal channel diameter of 2.8 meters. This is the current unified standard in China."

Next, Zhao Feng showed a diagram of the internal structure.

From top to bottom, the structural compartments are as follows: top equipment compartment, plant cultivation compartment, animal/microorganism compartment, life support and environmental control compartment, and bottom service compartment.

The projected on-orbit lifespan is five to ten years, with resupply every three years...

Soon, Li Ran finished reading most of the content that could be shown to the public.

After standing there thinking for a while, Li Ran realized that, based on his knowledge, it seemed that United One was fully capable of launching the Biosphere One module.

But since he wasn't a professional, Li Ran looked at Lu Xiangwen:

"Academician Lu, my initial assessment is that the Joint One satellite can be sent up, but I don't know how this project is classified."

As you know, I'm not an expert on rockets. If possible, I'd like to have Wang Bing and others come to the conference room for discussion.

"At this stage, the security level falls under the category of 'top secret.' As a company with military qualifications and a partner in the mission, the Joint Industry Director at this level is aware of this."

After receiving an affirmative reply, Li Ran went out and called Guo Shuyan, asking her to invite Wang Bing, Zhou Rui, and eight others to the conference room immediately.

Fifteen minutes later, everyone had arrived.

With Li Ran's introduction, everyone got to know each other to some extent.

Lu Xiangwen looked curiously at Zhou Rui, the youngest and most educated manager in the crowd.

Seemingly noticing Lu Xiangwen's doubts, Li Ran began to boast:

"Zhou Rui is a supervisor we just hired yesterday. Don't let his young age fool you; his professional skills are on par with Su Qing and others."

Lu Xiangwen nodded, outwardly noncommittal, but inwardly he had already decided to investigate this Supervisor Zhou when he got back.

Because Wang Bing and the other eight people being interviewed had extremely high professional competence, Zhao Feng spoke very quickly this time.

Li Ran, who was standing aside watching the commotion, found that what he could understand just now had become somewhat unfamiliar.

Lu Xiangwen, who was drinking tea nearby, found it quite amusing to see Li Ran staring blankly with wide eyes, and waved for Li Ran to come over:

"Looking at your resume, you graduated from Jiangnan Normal University, right? I think you studied machining?"

Li Ran nodded. That was indeed the case in the original. Otherwise, they wouldn't have thought of opening a factory and doing it themselves.

"So, how about it? Interested in pursuing a PhD with this old man?"

"what?"