Rebirth: Starting from Lighting Up the Tech Tree

Chapter 165 Transmission Test

On the third day after the satellite entered orbit, the first verification satellite completed all on-orbit tests.

The solar panels deployed normally, generating 98.6% of the designed power. The attitude control system operated stably, with a three-axis pointing accuracy better than 0.01 degrees. The onboard computer started successfully, and Shen Yiming's adaptive beam optimization algorithm ran normally with a response time of 3.7 seconds.

After reviewing the telemetry report, Li Guodong simply said four words: "It can be transmitted now."

Zuo Cheng nodded. He was sitting in the temporary command center of the Dunhuang ground station. The ground receiving array had completed its initial installation and debugging. Five hundred microwave receiving antennas were neatly arranged on the Gobi Desert, like a field of silver sunflowers, each precisely aligned with the geostationary orbit position 36,000 kilometers away.

"First transmission test," Zuo Cheng said to Wei Jia, "When can we begin?"

Wei Jia pulled up the weather data and glanced at it: "The best weather window is from 2 PM to 5 PM today. Cloud cover is less than 5%, wind speed is less than three meters per second, and the atmospheric turbulence index is in the green zone."

"Then let's start at 2:30," Zuo Cheng decided.

The news was relayed through Han Lu. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation dispatched a technical observation team led by a deputy chief engineer, and the National Development and Reform Commission's Energy Department also sent representatives. Several professors from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tsinghua University came specifically to witness the results firsthand, as they were among the earliest participants in the space photovoltaic demonstration project. Including media reporters, the temporary command center was packed with over thirty people, some of whom had to stand at the entrance.

2:30.

"Request to begin microwave transmission," Li Guodong said into the microphone from his console.

The ground control station confirmed: "Satellite status is normal, transmission channel is ready."

"start."

The moment the command was issued, a set of data appeared on the large screen in the command center. The microwave transmission power began to climb, the frequency was locked at 5.8 GHz, the beamforming algorithm was activated, and the satellite antenna was aimed at the Dunhuang ground station.

Three seconds later, the first antenna of the ground receiving array detected the signal.

Signal strength: 0.7 milliwatts per square centimeter. Within safe limits.

"Received normally," the operator reported.

The data on the screen is fluctuating. The real-time reading of energy conversion efficiency climbs from zero: 72%, 74%, 76%.

The command center was so quiet you could hear someone breathing.

78%. The number paused for a moment.

Zuo Cheng stared at the screen.

79.1%. 79.8%. 80%.

The success rate exceeded 80%. The simulation data was validated in real-world testing.

"Current efficiency is 80.3%." Wei Jia's voice was steady, but Zuo Cheng noticed that her fingers were trembling slightly.

The data is still rising. 80.3%, 80.7%, 81.2%.

"The onboard AI is optimizing the beam direction based on real-time meteorological data," Shen Yiming whispered beside him. "The atmospheric correction data transmitted from the ground is working."

81.2%, 81.8%, 82.3%.

"82%!" someone couldn't help but say.

82.3%, 82.7%, 83.1%.

The rate of data accumulation is slowing, but it hasn't stopped. Wei Jia's atmospheric correction database is continuously pushing updates to the satellite, while Shen Yiming's algorithm is constantly calculating the optimal solution in space. The two systems form a closed loop, one above the other, like two people in a relay race.

83.1%, 83.5%, 83.9%.

"The ground station's weather sensors detected a weak updraft," Wei Jia said, staring at the data. "The turbulence index has risen slightly, but it's still within a manageable range."

83.9%, 84.2%, 84.6%.

Then the data started to fluctuate. It jumped from 84.6% to 84.1%, then back to 84.8%, and then to 84.3%.

"Atmospheric disturbances," Wei Jia said. "This is normal; the satellite is adjusting automatically."

Sure enough, the data stabilized after a few seconds: 84.8%, 85.1%, 85.4%.

85%. Another key milestone. Someone in the command center was taking a deep breath.

85.4%, 85.7%, 85.9%.

86.1%.

"86%." For the first time, Li Guodong's voice showed some fluctuation.

The data fluctuated between 86% and 86.5% for nearly a minute. Wei Jia explained that this was because the satellite was switching versions of atmospheric correction data, and there would be brief fluctuations when the old and new data were being exchanged.

New data loading complete. 86.5%, 86.8%, 87.0%.

"87%." This time, it was Qiu Pei who shouted it out.

87.0%, 87.1%, 87.2%.

Then the numbers on the screen froze.

87.3%.

The entire command center seemed to be paused. After two seconds of silence, someone started clapping. Then came cheers, hugs, and the sound of people slapping each other on the back.

87.3%. World record.

The previous record for the highest efficiency in microwave wireless power transmission was 76.4%, set by Japan's JAXA in 2015. However, that was a ground test with a transmission distance of only 55 meters.

402 Technology has just achieved an energy transfer efficiency of 87.3% at a distance of 36,000 kilometers from Earth to geostationary orbit. This distance is 650,000 times that of the JAXA experiment.

They're not on the same level. They're two completely different worlds.

Li Guodong stood up and walked to the screen, looking at it for a long time. Then he turned around and looked at Zuo Cheng.

"The 80.2% figure from the simulation model is a conservative estimate," said Li Guodong, his voice slightly hoarse. "The actual combat data exceeded all expectations. The incremental performance of the combination of spaceborne AI and atmospheric correction closed loop is far greater than I anticipated."

Zuo Cheng didn't speak. He glanced down at his phone; the system panel was slightly warm in his pocket. The progress bar for the space photovoltaic branch was much brighter than yesterday.

Han Lu had already rushed out of the command center and was talking to reporters from three media outlets in the corridor, her voice distorted with excitement. On her phone screen, the trending search term had changed from "402 satellite successfully launched" to "402 microwave transmission efficiency of 87.3% breaks world record".

Wei Jia sat at the control panel, checking the data over and over again. Shen Yiming stood behind her; neither of them spoke, but both wore expressions of disbelief.

Yu Ying walked over and stood next to Zuo Cheng.

"Kongkong," Zuo Cheng called her softly.

"Um."

"We did it."

Yu Ying didn't answer. She simply rested her head on Zuo Cheng's shoulder, staring at the frozen number on the screen.

87.3%.

Ten satellites 36,000 kilometers away are converting solar energy into microwave beams with unprecedented efficiency in human history, transmitting them through the atmosphere and precisely projecting them onto the silver antenna array in the Gobi Desert near Dunhuang.

Outside the window, the sun was setting, casting golden light across the Gobi Desert. In the distance, the antenna array shimmered in the sunset, like a breathing silver ocean.

This is not the end. This is the beginning.