Chapter 91: Phase Two Project
The successful official launch of Star Transport One did not give Xinghai Aerospace Base any rest time.
As soon as the rocket body recovery was completed, it was transported back to the base for inspection and maintenance work.
Because time was too tight, the second launch vehicle was still under construction.
At this time, this Star Transport One took on most of the upcoming launch tasks. This was also the reason Fan Ren strongly demanded the use of recovery technology.
If they had to wait for a new rocket to be built every time, completing the lunar mining project would truly take until the year of the monkey and the month of the horse.
Moreover, the consumed funds would multiply.
Fan Ren sat in the office, looking at the busy workshop in the distance, listening to Zeng Yingying’s report in his ear.
“According to the plan, the inspection and maintenance work on Star Transport One will be completed today, after which it will be reassembled for preparations before the next round of launch.
In the next phase, the plan is to rendezvous with Immortal Palace Space and three astronauts, then head to Earth-Moon Orbit, proceeding first to the Moon.
At the same time, barring any accidents, Star Transport Two will also complete assembly in the same period and can enter the mission launch phase.
The plan is for Star Transport Two to carry the Lunar Orbit Command Headquarters, heading to the Moon together with Star Transport One carrying the first batch of three astronauts.”
After Zeng Yingying finished speaking, she stood quietly to the side.
“How long until the remaining three Star Transport Series Rockets are completed?”
Fan Ren sat down and asked a question that had been troubling him greatly lately.
Two spaceships had to handle the Earth-Moon trips and also manage material transportation, with no chance for rotation. Even using recovery technology, after each launch and recovery, it took about 15 days for transportation, inspection, and maintenance before the next round of launch preparations could begin.
A round trip took at least 20 days.
This was still the fastest speed achievable under Great Xia’s current world-leading industrialization scale.
Too slow. To fully cover every transportation link and save the lengthy recovery inspection cycle, five Star Transport Series Rockets was the minimum number.
Zeng Yingying hurriedly said: “The Ministry of Industry is already operating at full capacity. The project expected to take five months can now be guaranteed to finish two months ahead of schedule.”
Fan Ren nodded. Although for him, he wished he could launch five rockets at once, reality made it impossible. This speed was already astonishing to everyone.
Seeing no reaction from Fan Ren, Zeng Yingying took out another document.
“Phase Two engineering plan to be completed in six months.
Step one: After the three astronauts rendezvous with Star Transport Two, fly to Lunar Synchronous Orbit for Command Headquarters construction work.
Step two: The returning Star Transport One and numbers three, four, and five are responsible for transporting lunar landers, mining exploration equipment, base building materials, life systems, and other supplies. Expected to complete the basic construction of the Lunar Base within five months.
Step three: After completing the above work, Star Transport Two will transport 15 astronauts to the Lunar Base in batches for a small-scale semi-automated mining plan.
The plan is expected to be completed in six months, at which time Phase Three mining scale expansion project will begin.”
“Soon.”
After hearing this, Fan Ren couldn’t help but sigh. In just about half a year more, he could obtain the first batch of ordinary crystal stones from the Moon.
At that time, he could truly start research and development on the controllable nuclear fusion project.
“Yes, Chief Li has been rushing between various rocket construction factories every day to ensure our progress here, wishing he could watch them every moment, afraid they would slack off.”
As Zeng Yingying said this, a smile appeared on her face.
“Don’t speak carelessly. Chief Li and I made a military pledge before Elder Ye. This project is not only hugely beneficial to Xinghai, but also extremely important to Great Xia, involving future industrial level upgrades. How could he not be anxious?”
Thinking of Chief Li’s somewhat fanatical expression when talking about the many uses of tri-titanium alloy, Fan Ren also laughed.
“Oh right, General Manager Jin asked me to ask you, no plans to go to Mars next?”
As Zeng Yingying said this, her sweet pretty face looked at Fan Ren with a mischievous gaze.
“Haha, Mars for now, no. Too far. Just complete our set goals one by one for now. Elder Ye’s steady slow-walk strategy is actually very correct. Xinghai is a private company, no need to consider investors’ attitudes. Walking each step steadily is the most important.”
After Fan Ren said this, he fell somewhat silent.
During university, Mark’s Spitz Company was also a great company he admired.
Even more so later, when the other party proposed the ‘Mars Project’, he felt admiration for Mark.
Unfortunately, he later discovered that this guy was actually using this highly popular topic to boost the company’s stock price, with not the slightest actual support for the plan.
The other’s image plummeted in his eyes as a result.
But now, whether to stabilize the stock price or because Mark still had an unextinguished dream in his heart, this plan had finally entered the implementation process.
Zeng Yingying watched him standing there lost in thought, and that face, which was not particularly handsome and only passable, now somehow fascinated her.
Fan Ren suddenly turned around and, seeing her like this, awkwardly touched the tip of his nose.
“Report to Chief Li, I want to meet with President Mark and see if we can reach some cooperation projects.”
A shy flush passed over Zeng Yingying’s pretty face, her charming eyes looking around embarrassedly.
Seeing this, how could Fan Ren not understand the girl’s thoughts.
After hesitating a bit, he smiled and walked two steps forward to stand before Zeng Yingying.
“Is your family still making you go on blind dates?”
“Ah? No, no!”
Zeng Yingying was startled and quickly looked up, jumping in fright at Fan Ren who was right in front of her eyes, and she vehemently denied it in her mouth.
Fan Ren looked at her teasingly without speaking, his gaze gradually becoming gentle.
Four years had passed since he had “picked up” this girl in front of him.
Over these four years, Zeng Yingying had taken care of his daily life, and in the early days, she had also handled Xinghai’s logistics management.
During the busiest times, she would go days and nights without proper rest along with Fan Ren and a group of researchers, just making do with rest right in the company office.
Later, after the chip laboratory was established, she followed him eagerly to the laboratory, continuing to manage his daily life and handling some miscellaneous secretary work.
There had been no women appearing around Fan Ren; Zeng Yingying was the only one who had always stayed by his side and knew everything about his life inside out.
To say he had not the slightest thought would be completely unrealistic.
It was just that earlier, because Xu Min and the other were dormmates, he had never thought in that direction.
But now, Zeng Yingying had long since moved out of that shared dormitory in Linhai.
The somewhat awkward thoughts from before had also gradually faded.
And now, the admiration Zeng Yingying had increasingly shown toward him, he had all seen in his eyes.
Fan Ren smiled slightly, no longer hesitating, and reached out to gently pull her into his arms.
“Since you’re not going on a blind date, then you’ll settle for me.”
With the beauty in his arms, for the first time in his life, he truly embraced a woman.
