Chapter 272: Entering Earth Orbit
“No warning at all
No concerns either
You just appeared in my world like this”
Originally thought today would just be an ordinary Christmas.
People who had originally refused dates, refused meals, refused the various activities launched by malls, set their alarm clocks for 7 o’clock, and prepared to get up early to watch the moon landing live broadcast, had gradually fallen into despair over the past half month.
Cursing Americans online for being too bad, praying on Apollo Technology’s official channels for the astronauts to recover quickly, everyone no longer held expectations for the Christmas offensive to continue.
Despite various rumors on the internet, most people knew that these rumors were as unreliable as the past lithography machine’s “just listen to Dragon’s Roar.”
Like China Aerospace sending astronauts, or China Aerospace’s astronauts undergoing emergency training, which is as unreliable as pulling Japan’s 14nm lithography machine to make 3nm chips.
There were even more outrageous news, like Ran Shen personally going into action and undergoing emergency training.
What? Has China produced Superman too?
The latter was considered the most outrageous rumor on the internet recently.
Then at 9 a.m. this morning, Apollo Technology’s official live broadcast room suddenly went live.
Right away, it was Buzz Aldrin, Lin Ran, and an unfamiliar face, all wearing spacesuits, looking fully prepared, as if about to execute the mission.
“Good morning, audience friends. I’m Apollo Technology anchor Xiao Wang. As before, I will provide full commentary for this Apollo Technology moon landing journey today.”
Apollo Technology’s anchor is also a Jiaotong University student. As a comprehensive university, Jiaotong University has a broadcasting and hosting major, and this major only recruits graduate students, not undergraduates.
To serve as an anchor for Apollo Technology’s aerospace live commentary, one naturally has to be the best of the best.
However, the voice was secondary. Just this image, combined with the voice, made people who accidentally clicked in, thinking it was a denunciation or a press conference to curse Americans for being inhumane, suddenly perk up.
Isn’t it? Still doing the moon landing? How did Brother Ran get into the spaceship?
The moon landing simulation test was also fully live broadcasted, so the audience was very familiar with this lunar module.
“Everyone, you didn’t see wrong. The ones executing this mission are precisely our Apollo Technology Chairman Mister Lin Ran, former Apollo moon landing astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and Apollo Technology reserve astronaut Mister Wei Xuhang.
This moon landing will be commanded personally by Mister Lin Ran as commander to complete the mission.”
Xiao Wang’s voice was sweet, but the bullet screen exploded:
“????”
The entire screen was full of question marks.
The most outrageous rumor turned out to be true?
This level of outrageousness is like your wife giving birth in the delivery room, and the baby walking out on its own asking if you want to protect the doctor or the nurse.
The sound from the live broadcast room:
“Countdown entering the final 10 seconds!
10…9…8…
Ignition sequence starting…
5…4…3…2…1…
Ignition!
Saturn V successfully lifts off! China’s first manned moon landing mission officially begins!
The rocket is breaking through the atmosphere at an astonishing speed, carrying Apollo Technology’s hopes and dreams.”
The serious expressions of the three astronauts all told the audience in the live broadcast room that this was no joke.
“Ding ling ling”
Xu Xian was a bit impatient, “Calling on a big Saturday morning, really annoying. Brother Ran’s moon landing being delayed was frustrating enough.”
He picked up the phone, and the familiar voice on the other end: “Holy crap, holy crap, hurry and watch the live broadcast! Bilibili Apollo Technology’s official live room, Brother Ran is personally going to the moon!”
Xu Xian felt his brain crash after hearing it, “Huh?”
He took the iPhone away from his ear, looked at the screen, no mistake, it was a call from their mutual high school classmate: “Today is Christmas, not April Fool’s.” Xu Xian corrected.
The voice on the other end was very urgent: “I’m not kidding you, just check the Bilibili live room. Everyone in our group is @-ing you, and since you didn’t show up, I called to yell at you to get up quick and not miss this key moment. Alright, gotta go, I’m continuing to watch the live broadcast.”
Without giving him time to react, the high school classmate on the other end hung up.
Xu Xian finally sat up straight, but the phone rang again.
For a full ten minutes or so, the phone didn’t stop ringing. Their mutual high school classmates all called to express astonishment and emphasize again that he must watch the live broadcast.
During this process, Xu Xian already had AirPods in his ears and was scrolling Weibo hot searches.
The top Weibo hot search was: “Lin Ran moon landing”
Clicking in, it was CCTV official’s 9 a.m. special program clip:
“According to this station’s latest news, the Apollo moon landing originally scheduled for December 25 is still proceeding as planned. The astronauts executing this mission include Lin Ran and Buzz Aldrin, three in total. They are expected to arrive at lunar orbit on December 28, three days from now, enter the lunar module for separation and execute the moon landing mission on December 29, four days from now. We wish the astronauts all the best in advance.
Subsequently until the moon landing is completed, this station will conduct full tracking live broadcast through special programs, and other programs will make corresponding adjustments based on the live broadcast content.”
Almost all notable media accounts posted clips of this CCTV news.
“????”
Clicking into the hot search, the top-liked comment under the video was question marks.
Scrolling from top to bottom, a massive number of question marks filled the comment section.
Xu Xian scrolled for a while before seeing discussions about the matter:
“I want to know if this was a spur-of-the-moment decision or long-prepared? If long-prepared, then Ran Shen is still within human scope. If spur-of-the-moment, is Ran Shen even human?”
“Not to mention Americans couldn’t think of it, even we couldn’t!”
“CCTV isn’t acting anymore, directly calling it Apollo moon landing. I estimate the higher-ups are pissed too. I just wanted to land on the moon, and you pull this stunt. Previously we even considered leaving some face for Americans, not calling the F-1 engine F-1, changing it to Moon-1.
Now since you’re shameless and stabbing me, I’m going to slap your face!”
“So looking forward to it, never anticipated like this before. For the next five days, I have zero interest in going to work.”
After scrolling Weibo for a while, Xu Xian’s mood finally calmed down.
After he calmed down, he saw Li Yiqing sitting up on the bed across from his dorm, having just finished scrolling his phone, with a shocked expression. After eye contact, Li Yiqing couldn’t hold back:
“What rare species is Ran Shen exactly.”
Xu Xian said with a bitter smile: “I don’t know either. We weren’t together for our four college years.”
Li Yiqing said: “Holy crap, the first Chinese person to land on the moon, that’s too awesome. Just thinking about it feels so satisfying.
This year to the moon, next year to win Fields, the year after start massive moon base infrastructure. I feel even power fantasy novels couldn’t write this plot.”
Xu Xian waved his hand: “Power fantasy? Qidian’s top student power fantasies only know to write competitions and papers, papers and competitions. Winning a Fields feels like clearing a level in a fantasy novel. For Brother Ran, winning a Fields is just the beginning?
I’ve already prepared myself to hug Brother Ran’s thigh. Originally thought of staying in academia, but now it seems my talent isn’t enough. Better turn properly to applied fields.
I’ll hug Brother Ran’s thigh. At Brother Ran’s pace, maybe within ten years I can also take a trip to walk on the moon.”
Xu Xian had already started fantasizing: “Best if before I get married, I go to the moon to propose to my girlfriend!”
Li Yiqing rolled his eyes to the sky: “Wait, do you even have a girlfriend? Already proposing! Diagnosed as dead otaku male, from playing Genshin Impact.”
The news spread instantly, and slowly videos shot by local Wenchang self-media started coming out one after another.
The rocket base erupted in dazzling flames, F-1 engines igniting simultaneously, emitting deafening roars.
Saturn V gradually accelerated, dragging huge smoke and flame trails toward the sky.
Related videos were uploaded all over short video platforms like Douyin.
Wenchang locals could capture the acceleration moment, the entire Hainan Island could capture the liftoff footage.
At the same time, Bilibili official timely released the launch video they shot on site.
Apollo Technology’s Christmas offensive still proceeded as planned.
This led to no one caring today whether it was Christmas or not. Everyone’s attention was focused on China’s first moon landing, and that Lin Ran himself was going up.
Inside the spaceship, the astronauts were pressed into their seats by strong gravitational acceleration, vibrations making the entire cabin tremble slightly.
Lin Ran stared closely at the dashboard, confirming the rocket trajectory.
Wei Xuhang reported: “Acceleration normal, altitude 5 kilometers, continuing to rise.
Professor, all parameters within expected range, liquid oxygen pressure stable.”
At 9:31, Apollo Technology’s official live broadcast room showed user count breaking ten million, and from the backend, viewership was still rising straight up.
Almost all groups were discussing this.
Groups that originally with more males discussed either imperial maps or appreciations the most, now no one appreciating, no one posting imperial maps, everyone turning into aerospace experts.
“Saturn V is passing through maximum dynamic pressure point, rocket structure bearing huge air resistance.
Currently, our Wenchang control center is closely monitoring the entire process to ensure everything is normal.”
Inside the spaceship, the rocket shook slightly, astronauts feeling the huge pressure of air on the rocket.
Wei Xuhang stared at the speed readings: “Through Max Q, structure intact.”
Buzz Aldrin laughed: “This thing is as solid as when I went up back then!”
Wei Xuhang thought to himself: “The simulator during training was nowhere near this thrilling.”
T+1 min 23 sec through maximum dynamic pressure, i.e., Max Q.
After this step, Lin Ran asked: “Buzz, how do you feel?”
Buzz Aldrin laughed: “Professor, no need to worry about me. It’s just Max Q, I feel great!”
T+2 min 44 sec, in the live room: “Stage one separation! Our Saturn V’s first stage has exhausted fuel, successfully separated!
Stage two S-II’s five J-2 engines about to ignite, continuing propulsion!”
Apollo Technology didn’t leave any face for America either, directly calling names, no acting involved. We specialize in one-hand replication! And specifically replicating what you can’t make.
Inside the spaceship, stage one separation brought brief weightlessness, astronauts’ bodies leaning slightly forward, as if floating on the seats.
Immediately after, stage two engines ignited, new thrust pressing them back into seats again, vibrations slightly milder than stage one.
Wei Xuhang reported: “Stage two ignition confirmed, thrust stable.”
Lin Ran nodded: “Trajectory good, altitude about 60 kilometers.”
Wei Xuhang continued reporting: “Liquid hydrogen supply normal.”
Lin Ran said: “Continue monitoring.”
Entering T+9 min 15 sec, at this point the live room no longer had real-time footage of Saturn V, only Apollo Technology’s produced simulation animation.
But Apollo Technology’s official live room anchor’s voice became more high-pitched:
“Stage two separation! Stage two completes its mission, stage three’s J-2 engine about to ignite, this is the final step to enter Earth orbit!”
Inside the spaceship, stage two separation brought brief weightlessness again, Lin Ran reminded: “Prepare for stage three ignition.”
S-IVB engine started immediately, thrust steady, spaceship continuing to accelerate.
Wei Xuhang reported: “Stage three burn normal, speed approaching 7.8 km/s.”
Lin Ran glanced through the porthole at Earth’s arc gradually appearing, sighing: “So beautiful.”
Buzz Aldrin added: “Of course beautiful. The moon I’ve always yearned for is even more beautiful.
That’s a beauty not found on Earth!”
9:41:35, i.e., T+11 min 45 sec, the live room anchor said: “Successfully entered orbit! Saturn V has sent ‘Ben Yue Hao’ into Earth parking orbit at about 185 km altitude!”
From the live broadcast start, Apollo Technology’s official live room had constant rewards.
After forty minutes, the live room viewer count had broken thirty million.
At Bilibili headquarters, almost all Shanghai telecom and mobile engineers came, all assembled, just to ensure today’s live broadcast goes smoothly, no matter how much traffic, hold it up.
Everyone privately sighed that today was even more exaggerated than Double Eleven.
The live room’s reward count had already broken one hundred million, half an hour rewards exceeding 100 million.
Bilibili even specially issued an official announcement to celebrate:
A celebratory poster with “Bilibili live single room one-hour total reward amount breaks 100 million.”
Inside the spaceship, S-IVB engine shutdown, spaceship entered orbit, astronauts feeling continuous weightlessness, bodies gently floating under seatbelt constraints.
Lin Ran reported via communicator: “Control center, Ben Yue Hao has entered orbit, all systems normal.”
Ground response: “Ben Yue Hao, received.”
Wei Xuhang removed his visor, smiling: “Professor, Doctor, we’re in space!”
Buzz Aldrin gazed at Earth outside the porthole, murmuring: “This view is worth all the effort.”
Ground control center, engineers erupted in enthusiastic applause.
“Today, China Aerospace writes a new chapter.
Saturn V has successfully sent three astronauts into Earth orbit. They will conduct system checks here, preparing for the subsequent lunar transfer orbit ignition.
Audience friends, this is a great moment belonging to all humanity! We will continue to bring you the latest reports.” CCTV official’s live broadcast was much more formal.
But CCTV didn’t open rewards, could only watch Chinese citizens wildly spending in the Bilibili live room.
Apollo Technology’s launch to Earth orbit entry video was also synchronously released on their Bilibili official account.
Netizens below commented enthusiastically:
“First reward given to Ran Shen’s moon landing!”
“Bilibili couldn’t explode my gold coins, Ran Shen did it. Ran Shen truly is the god of exploding gold coins!”
“First time captaining, Ran Shen must come back safe!”
“I said early bird gets the worm, getting up early really has benefits. If I’d known it would launch as planned, I shouldn’t have canceled my Hainan flight ticket and hotel! The only regret is not being on site to see Saturn V launch.”
“I said before all that hemming and hawing, hiding what? Should’ve just openly said we’re using Saturn V. I bet Ran Shen always wanted to explode it. Anyway, as long as you do the moon landing, to Americans it’s overstepping, especially after Russians disintegrated, Americans never went up again. As soon as you have that thought, prepare to be targeted.
So shouldn’t have left face for Americans from the start. Good that it’s changed now. I gotta check Reddit’s Space section to see if the rednecks have exploded.”
These were some hot comments. The highest liked was still the simplest four words: “Safe journey!”
9:41:35, T+11 min 45 sec, S-IVB engine shutdown.
Ben Yue Hao entered Earth parking orbit at about 185 km altitude.
Astronauts felt continuous weightlessness, bodies gently floating under seatbelt constraints.
Lin Ran first unbuckled his seatbelt, slowly floating to the porthole, gazing at Earth, sighing: “This view is way more shocking than in the simulator.”
Buzz Aldrin also unbuckled, eyes full of emotion: “Professor, I saw the same view back then.
This scene still often appears in my dreams.”
Wei Xuhang carefully floated to the control panel, checking life support system: “Oxygen normal, temperature normal…”
Lin Ran clapped: “Alright, time to admire the scenery is over. Start system checks. TLI can’t have any errors.”
Wei Xuhang hadn’t even fully appreciated Earth’s beauty before returning to his seat to check the propulsion system.
His job was to confirm service module engine and fuel status: “Propulsion system ready, fuel pressure normal.”
Then verify life support system, ensuring oxygen, temperature, and humidity within safe range: “Life support system all green.”
Lin Ran focused on the navigation system, calibrating spaceship attitude via star tracker: “Navigation calibration complete, orbital parameters as expected.”
In Yanjing’s CCTV studio,
“Audience friends, now Apollo Technology’s three astronauts are doing final preparations in Earth orbit. In about 2 hours 44 minutes after launch, they will ignite engines to accelerate the spaceship to 10.8 km per second, thereby escaping Earth orbit for subsequent trans-lunar injection.
We are honored to interview the astronauts doing checks in Earth orbit in this way.
This interview will be represented by Professor Lin Ran for the three astronauts. Next is the remote connection. Please wait a moment.”
After a moment of black screen, Lin Ran’s face appeared on the left side of CCTV live footage.
The moment Lin Ran appeared, the female host’s eyes were practically sparkling:
“Professor Lin, hello.”
“Hello, host.”
“Congratulations to Apollo Technology for smoothly entering Earth orbit, giving this moon landing journey a good start.
I’d like to ask how you’re feeling right now?”
Lin Ran said: “Feeling great. Being able to do what you want in life is truly happiness.”
