Chapter 60: No Failure
For such a giant rocket, a little fuel leakage before launch is acceptable, harmless, and also difficult to avoid.
Precisely because of this, the fuel loading work is always carried out on the eve of the launch.
Those extremely low-temperature liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, after leaking out, instantly drop the surrounding temperature to extremely low levels, and the moisture in the air rapidly condenses, forming this mist.
The loading work will end in half an hour. At that time, more than 80% of the volume inside this giant rocket will be occupied by fuel.
That’s right, although this rocket is so huge and its total mass exceeds 1000 tons, eighty percent is fuel, more than ten percent is the rocket’s own equipment, and only less than 3% of the mass and space can be allocated to the effective payload, namely that lunar detection satellite.
This seems inefficient, but it is already the limit of what current human technology can achieve.
Fuel loading complete. Several kilometers away, the second and third rockets are also ready and have entered the queued state.
Similarly several kilometers away in another direction, inside a building, Gu Changshan and other military representatives, Chen Yusheng and other aerospace leading figures, Lu Zhaoming and other scientific community representatives, as well as Jiang Yang and Zhou Yu, are all here.
Gazing into the distance at that giant launch pad, watching the numerous rockets that have also been erected in other directions, standing like spears pointing straight at the sky, Jiang Yang’s heart was full of awe.
In less than five days, completing from scratch the series of production and transportation tasks for so many rockets—before this, no matter who it was, they would only think it was a pipe dream.
But now, we have done it, really done it.
“Preparation work complete, ready for launch.”
Under everyone’s gaze, Chen Yusheng, this aerospace department leading figure, nodded solemnly and said, “Launch.”
“Yes.”
This instruction was quickly transmitted to the command room downstairs.
Hundreds of staff members stared tensely at the screen, monitoring the rocket’s status. At the control console, the on-site commander had begun the countdown.
“3, 2, 1, 0… Ignition!”
Intense flames jetted out from the rocket’s tail. The next moment, in the water storage pool, thousands of tons of water were instantly boiled by the scorching heat, rapidly evaporating, forming large clouds of white mist while carrying away the heat to avoid damage to the launch platform facilities.
Gazing at that giant rocket and the billowing heat, Jiang Yang murmured in his heart, “Carry the hope of us uncovering the truth of the apocalypse to the moon…”
He knew that the next moment, this giant rocket would break free from the launch pad and soar into the sky, from then on with the sky high for birds to fly and the sea vast for fish to leap.
But… after a delay of several seconds, the flames at the rocket’s tail slowly weakened and eventually disappeared.
The giant rocket remained stationary in place, unmoving.
“Rocket No. 1 launch failed. We have urgently cut off the fuel supply.”
A trace of gloom flashed in Jiang Yang’s heart.
The on-site commander’s voice continued: “Immediately follow the contingency plan: recover the liquid hydrogen and kerosene, release the liquid oxygen on site.”
“Yes.”
“Rocket No. 2 prepare.”
“Yes.”
Hundreds of tons of extremely low-temperature liquid oxygen surged out through the outlets, directly released into the atmosphere.
Countless water vapors instantly condensed, and a “cloud of mist” appeared out of thin air at the launch site, then slowly dispersed under the breeze.
At this moment, the temperature in the surrounding hundreds of meters area directly dropped by more than ten degrees Celsius.
The highly dangerous kerosene and liquid hydrogen were quickly recovered through pipes to the fuel warehouse.
This rocket’s mass rapidly decreased. In just ten minutes, it dropped from a peak of over 1000 tons back to more than 200 tons.
The giant launch platform began moving along the tracks, eventually arriving several hundred meters away.
Several giant cranes worked together to lift this rocket off the launch platform, then directly placed it on the ground full of weeds and rubble, just like discarding trash.
Just a moment ago it was the center of everyone’s attention; now, this rocket costing at least tens of billions and embodying the efforts of countless outstanding workers and engineers, had become unwanted waste.
People didn’t even have the interest to detect the cause of the failure and repair it.
The movable launch platform carrying the second rocket had already been transferred to the front of the launch pad.
The water pool, half evaporated by the rocket’s tail flames, was refilled, and payload installation and fuel loading work began again.
“As long as it doesn’t explode on the launch pad and damage the launch site, it doesn’t count as a failure.”
Chen Yusheng, this lunar exploration project head, murmured, as if comforting himself or explaining to the others.
…
On the other side of Earth, international online conference room.
“Good!”
“Hahahaha!”
The representatives from various countries who were full of solemnity at the last meeting were now jubilant.
Although they still hadn’t figured out the purpose of their industrial mobilization, only vaguely knowing it might be related to rockets, that’s why this meeting live broadcasted that nation’s rocket launch situation. Although this seemed unrelated to their side and posed no threat, seeing those damn yellow-skinned monkeys face failure was always a pleasurable thing.
“Damn it, when faced with our questioning and pressure before, that nation just brushed us off with ‘normal industrial task.’
Now the launch failed, huh? Serves them right!”
Intelligence Chief Daniel burst into the conference room with a grim face.
“This is the second on-site image captured by the satellite.”
Vice Speaker Locke glanced at it, and his expression suddenly changed, as if he had seen a ghost.
His body even began to tremble slightly uncontrollably.
He saw that in just half an hour, that launch site had suddenly sprouted more than a dozen giant rockets of the same specifications and model.
“Ten… more than a dozen rockets?”
“Yes, Mr. Locke.”
Daniel’s voice was full of dryness: “What they are doing is not a single rocket launch, but at least a dozen.
Moreover, the number of similar launch sites is not one, but five.
Five launch sites, each with more than a dozen rockets erected.
At the same time, the satellite also captured a large number of large trucks heading to different launch sites, with cargo that highly resembles this model of rocket.
The total number of rockets already counted has reached 180, and it’s still rapidly increasing.
And, according to intelligence just received, we have ample reason to believe that these at least 180 giant rockets were all produced during the previous five days of industrial mobilization…”
Locke’s breathing became rapid, his voice full of difficulty: “You’re saying, in five days, they produced and manufactured at least 180 giant rockets?”
“Yes, sir.”
“The previous launch failure was just the first rocket, and there are still 179 after that?”
“At least 179.”
Locke seemed to have all his strength instantly drained, leaning weakly back on the chair.
He seemed to see a giant, a giant with unmatched power.
Himself and the nation he was proud of behind him were like ants before this giant.
——
Got up today and saw the monthly tickets over 1600, the Author is stunned.
Thank you for the enthusiasm of all Reader Lords, the Author bows in thanks here!!!
According to the previous agreement of adding one chapter for every 500 monthly tickets, the Author now owes one chapter. Rest assured, Reader Lords, the Author has noted it in the little notebook and will fulfill it upon going on shelves!!
Also continuing to ask for monthly tickets!!
