Chapter 89: Launch
The first thing carried out was still the satellite launch.
Accompanied by one giant rocket after another roaring into the sky, either exploding into a burst of fireworks in the sky or ultimately boring into the clouds and disappearing, a total of 18 rockets were consumed, and 4 satellites successfully achieved orbital insertion.
Professor Chen Yusheng’s face was somewhat heavy.
“Success rate is only 22.2%?”
Jiang Yang looked at him: “No problem. The experience you gained in this life, I can still bring to the next life.”
Professor Chen Yusheng shook his head: “It’s no use.
Using engineering methods, such as improving sampling inspection methods, increasing overall coordination, optimizing resource allocation, etc., we have already done everything to the extreme.
Without extending the time or innovating the technology, this success rate cannot be improved any further.”
“22.2% is enough; it’s already very good.”
Compared to the first rocket launch, the success rate had already tripled; this progress could not be called insignificant.
After completing the satellite launch, the group once again came to the astronaut restroom, where Jiang Yang saw those familiar figures again.
They were still sitting quietly in their seats, neatly arranged. However, unlike before, the middle seat in the first row was now empty.
Jiang Yang straightened his clothes, and his expression began to turn solemn.
This time, he did not stand by to listen, but walked over and sat in that empty seat.
In this life, I am one of the astronauts.
The general wearing the military uniform walked to the podium again.
His gaze, sharp as a hawk or falcon, swept one by one across the faces of the astronauts—not including Jiang Yang—before he slowly spoke.
“Everyone already knows about the apocalypse cycle.
The experiences from the previous life, through the intelligence brought by Comrade Jiang Yang, everyone is also aware of.
To be frank, I am very satisfied with everyone’s performance. Although the mission ultimately failed, I know that the reason was certainly not on your part.
In this life, you will once again represent the entire nation, the entire civilization, setting out to the moon to fight for a ray of hope for the continuation of our civilization.
Of course, the mission objective in this life is somewhat different.”
The general paused slightly, his voice suddenly becoming stern: “In this life, everyone has only one objective.
Protect Comrade Jiang Yang!
No matter the cost, you must ensure Comrade Jiang Yang’s safety, even at the expense of life, even if it means everyone is doomed to die—I want Comrade Jiang Yang to be the last one to die!
Only then can Comrade Jiang Yang bring back more intelligence, and our nation, our civilization, have hope!
Understood?”
“Understood!”
“Can you do it?”
“Swear to protect Comrade Jiang Yang to the death!”
Just dozens of people, yet the roar they emitted at this moment was like the clamor of mountains and seas.
The general stepped down from the podium, and Sun Changhe walked up.
“Thank you for your hard work, comrades.”
“Guarantee mission accomplished!”
Jiang Yang suddenly stood up, using the “about face” posture he had learned during university military training, now long out of practice, and turned around solemnly, facing the dozens of astronauts in front of him and on the screen, solemnly raising his hand in salute.
All the astronauts simultaneously raised their arms to return the salute to Jiang Yang.
He saw that at this moment, every astronaut’s gaze toward him was full of determination, full of fierce killing intent.
It seemed as if in the next moment, these dozens of astronauts, who were undoubtedly at the pinnacle of humanity in both professional skills and physical quality, would pounce forward and tear to shreds any factor that might threaten Jiang Yang.
Through mountains of knives and seas of fire, through barrages of bullets, there would not be the slightest hesitation.
At this moment, a strong sense of security welled up in Jiang Yang’s heart, instantly filling his limbs and body.
At this moment, even if asked to lead these astronauts to charge against thousands of troops, he would not feel the slightest fear.
“Now, the launch begins.
Jiang Yang, step forward!”
“Yes!”
Jiang Yang turned around again, saluted Sun Changhe, then turned and strode forward, just like the astronauts he had seen several times before, resolutely heading toward the launch pad.
Passing by Zhou Yu’s side, he caught in his peripheral vision that her eyes were already brimming with tears, her teeth clenched tightly, as if she wanted to say something to him, but ultimately did not speak.
Jiang Yang did not turn his head to look at her, nor did he pause, proceeding directly forward.
In this life, he would be the first to ride a rocket to space.
Because he was the core of the entire mission.
If the launch ultimately failed and he died, there would be no need for the subsequent astronauts to make this trip.
Riding the elevator downstairs, the shuttle car was already waiting at the door.
In just a few minutes, the shuttle car stopped in front of the launch tower.
Getting out of the car, Jiang Yang looked up at the enormous arrow body, dozens of stories tall with a diameter of over five meters. Even with his heart full of surging hot blood at this moment, he could not help but let out a somewhat inappropriate sigh.
“This thing is fucking huge…”
Viewing the Giant Spirit God II Rocket from afar and up close gave completely different impressions.
It was an almost irresistible, unopposable majesty that, from the first glance, naturally evoked awe in one’s heart and a sense of one’s own insignificance.
“I’m counting on you, buddy.”
Arriving under the launch tower, he took the elevator again and soon reached the top level.
Accompanied by two staff members, Jiang Yang followed the passage to the open hatch at the top of the rocket’s payload bay and stood ready.
The two staff members together lifted the parts of the mechanical spacesuit one by one, helping Jiang Yang put it on.
His body gradually grew heavy, and Jiang Yang gradually found it hard to stand, only able to grip the handrail tightly.
This was a full 100 kilograms of weight.
Finally suited up, Jiang Yang already found walking difficult, let alone crawling through the narrow hatch into the spaceship.
With the assistance of the two staff members, Jiang Yang finally crawled inside, but could only lie at the bottom of the spaceship, almost unable to move.
Saluting Jiang Yang, the two staff members exited the spaceship and carefully sealed the hatch.
At this moment, the cabin was separated from the outside world into two different realms.
Jiang Yang had seen the interior of the spaceship many times before through broadcasts. But experiencing it personally, this was the first time.
Compared to the massive rocket body, the spaceship interior was like another world.
Cramped and narrow, everywhere screens, everywhere monitors, everywhere switches, buttons, and flying wires—complex beyond measure, making one afraid to make any superfluous movements, lest they accidentally touch something.
Fortunately, Jiang Yang was currently immobile, so there was no worry of accidental contact.
“I feel good.”
“Good, countdown 10 seconds, 10, 9… 0, ignition!”
A sound like a tractor, but magnified many times over, instantly enveloped Jiang Yang. At the same time, it was as if a mountain peak suddenly pressed down, smashing the already immobile Jiang Yang firmly to the ground.
