Rebirth: Controlled Nuclear Fusion

Part 153：Rocket Propellant

One hundred kilometers west of Kyoto, in the Ling'an Mountain Range,
the lush landscape is dominated by towering pine and cypress trees.
A modest, low hill, seemingly no different from its neighboring peaks,
conceals within its core a vast hollow space, expansive enough to accommodate three football fields.
This is the secret development base for the Dragon Kingdom's rocket propulsion systems.
Within the heart of the base, in the grand hall, stand three colossal rocket engines,
yet the usually bustling scientists are nowhere to be found.
If one looks closely, on the eastern side of the hall, a steel door—about ten centimeters thick—remains tightly shut.
Behind it lies a passage. After walking fifty meters, another room awaits.
Though not particularly large, this space spans around 300 square meters.
Along the walls are dozens of intricate devices and instruments, each varying in size.
This is the control room for the rocket propulsion systems.
At present, all the research staff have gathered here, their faces etched with tension.
Standing at the forefront, Long Lao watches the main screen, which displays no discernible change.
"Chief Engineer Dragon, all preparations are complete. Please give the order."
A staff member in a white lab coat reports,
Long Lao inhales deeply, then issues the command,
"Prepare for ignition."
Upon hearing the order, the operators at the control panel immediately start the ignition countdown.
The room fills with the mechanical ticking of the countdown:
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.
"Ignite!"
At that moment, a massive plume of red-yellow flames erupts beneath the engine on the screen.
The flames shift from red-yellow to yellow-white, then finally to blue.
The intense heat from the flames boils the water below, sending thick steam rising into the air.
Gradually, the rocket engine lifts from its control cradle,
slowly floating in midair.
With a slight increase in fuel output, it could easily break through the mountaintop and soar into the sky!
But the experiment is not meant to send it flying.
Long Lao issues another command to the operators,
"Adjust fuel output to 50%."
The operators quickly reduce the fuel flow to 50%,
causing the rocket engine, which had been rising steadily, to now hover perfectly still in the air.
The scientists in the control room exchange glances,
a look of joy spreading across their faces—though no one dares to utter a word.
The experiment is far from over.
Long Lao proceeds to check the engine's various parameters.
"Fuel temperature?"
"1860°C!"
"Internal wall temperature?"
"980°C!"
"Fuel pipe pressure?"
"102 MPa!"
All readings remain within normal range.
After five minutes, the data stabilizes.
"Set fuel output to decrease by 3% per second."
The rocket engine slowly descends,
finally returning to the cradle with a gentle thud.
The flames transform from blue to yellow-white,
then fade back to red-yellow, eventually dying down.
The boiling water beneath the engine gradually calms,
and it is observed that two-thirds of the 200 cubic meters of water has evaporated.
Long Lao, his previously stern expression now relaxed, turns to his team,
his hands trembling with excitement.
"We have successfully developed a 500-ton rocket engine!"
With those words, the entire control room erupts in a chorus of cheers.
"We did it!"
"Haha! We succeeded!"
"This is incredible!"
The joy is overwhelming, impossible to put into words.
Five years of hard work have finally borne fruit: the 500-ton rocket engine!
Compared to the previous 300-ton model, this represents a 200-ton improvement.
And on a global scale, both the United States and Russia's top rocket propulsion systems max out at 500 tons.
Dragon Kingdom has now entered the elite ranks of space technology.
This marks a giant leap forward in the country's aerospace capabilities.
As the celebration continues, Long Lao suddenly grows pale.
His assistant, Professor Li, notices Long Lao clutching his abdomen and rushes to support him, helping him to a seat.
"Chief Engineer Dragon, are you alright?"
After a moment, the color slowly returns to his face.
"I'm fine. Just an old ailment," he replies.
"This mission is complete. You must go to the hospital for a check-up. I've been asking you for days."
Professor Li's voice is filled with concern.
"I'll go after we return. But don't worry," Long Lao reassures him.
"By the way, Xiao Li, please organize the report. I'll head to Kyoto to brief the higher-ups."
"But, your health—"
"Don't worry about me."
...
Kyoto.
Long Lao presents the data and reports to Leader One.
Leader One is taken aback, barely able to believe it.
In recent days, Dragon Kingdom's technological advancements have been nothing short of a bloom of brilliance,
with breakthroughs in lithium iron phosphate batteries, ITER magnet materials, and 1-nanometer chips. It feels almost like a dream.
And now, to his astonishment, Dragon Kingdom's aerospace sector has achieved a monumental breakthrough as well.
The rocket engine has reached the cutting edge of global standards.
Leader One convenes an emergency meeting of the nation's top leaders.
When the meeting concludes, they are filled with excitement, ready to announce to the world the great leap Dragon Kingdom has made in space exploration.
However, before they can make the announcement, the United States beats them to it.
[Professor Bai Yanlang of the United States, leading his team, has developed a 700-ton rocket engine!]
Upon seeing this, Long Lao feels a surge of fury rise within him,
and in his final moment, he spits blood and faints.