Chapter 88: The Commander’s Charm
“Ignition successful!”
“Radar tracking normal, rocket attitude stable.”
“Telemetry signal continuously tracking, all parameters normal.”
In the sky, the silver-white Star-2 pierced straight into the clouds, its massive body even breaking through the cloud layer to form a huge pit when it rushed in.
Fan Ren couldn’t help but stand up and come to the windowsill.
Immediately after, the rocket disappeared from the big screen again.
“Telemetry signal tracking.”
“Telemetry report, parameters normal. Rocket altitude 15 kilometers.”
Chief Engineer Yin also stood up, a flush appearing on his elderly face at this moment.
This stage of the rocket’s ascent was the most dangerous moment.
To break through Earth’s gravity, the rocket weighing thousands of tons needed unimaginable thrust, which was also why rockets mostly used multi-stage launch methods.
Just the fuel consumed within the atmosphere was a huge number.
Although this rocket belonged to Xinghai, much of its original technology came from the Great Xia Aerospace Department.
Previously, human rockets had a low Earth orbit effective payload of 67 tons, but after adopting a series of technologies provided by Xinghai, the effective payload was elevated to the 80-ton class in a single launch.
Moreover, the rocket body was reduced in weight to an astonishing 1000-ton level, 400 tons less than the latest heavy-lift rocket Hunter Nine from the Spitz Company in the United States.
This is the weight
Once the launch succeeds, this will be a huge boost for Great Xia Aerospace.
Although the onboard recovery technology has not yet undergone actual testing, the use of stable high-temperature-resistant graphene chips makes the rocket’s central computing power far exceed that of the previously used silicon-based chips, giving it a great advantage in calculating rocket attitude maintenance.
Yin Shangjin couldn’t help but daydream; once successful, it would drastically reduce the cost of Earth-to-orbit launch vehicles.
The promotion of any science and technology, once the cost is high, will inevitably face great difficulties.
Why are Spitz Company’s rocket launches booked solid? It’s because they have the world’s leading reusability technology right now, which enables short-cycle, low-cost launches.
“Altitude 100 kilometers, first stage rocket separation preparation!”
The big screen switched, and the footage from the camera mounted on the rocket body came through.
At this time, the Earth below the rocket has taken on a semicircular shape, with a layer of glow diffusing around the periphery. At an altitude of 100 kilometers, it is already in the thermosphere of the atmosphere, where oxygen density is extremely low. At this point, most of the fuel in the first level rocket has been consumed, and the remainder is for use during recovery operations.
Fan Ren could clearly see the rocket body tremble slightly, and immediately after, the first-stage rocket below the camera began to slowly detach.
The large screen instantly split into several split screens.
“Separation successful, second level rocket ignition.”
“Ignition successful, remote sensing signal normal.”
On the split screen, at the engine nozzle on the tail of the second level rocket body, an orange-yellow flame tail suddenly burst into combustion, accelerating the rocket body—which had already begun to slow down—once again, darting toward the dark depths of space.
“First-stage rocket fallback, altitude 95 kilometers, system connects to rocket body attitude management.”
The commander’s calm and composed report voice continuously echoed through the hall. He was like a conductor of an orchestra, controlling the rhythm of hundreds of engineers on site, giving General Manager Fan a sense of elegance.
“Altitude 50 kilometers, remote sensing signal normal, predetermined return orbit normal.”
Fan Ren noticed something and turned to look.
Chief Engineer Yin’s face showed an abnormal redness, and he hurriedly stepped forward to support Chief Engineer Yin.
“Chief Engineer, you’re still telling me to relax, but now you’re even more worried than I am. Come sit down and take it easy. I believe our Xinghai’s graphene chip won’t have any problems.”
Fan Ren reached out, pulled a few tissues from the side, and gently wiped away the fine beads of sweat seeping from Chief Engineer Yin’s forehead.
“I’m really getting old, huh? You’ve made me a laughingstock.”
Chief Engineer Yin calmed his emotions a bit, but his gaze kept turning to the big screen from time to time, murmuring to himself.
Fan Ren sat down beside him, knowing that at this moment, words of comfort would not have much effect, so he could only quietly accompany the elderly person.
“I have confidence in you; it’s just that it is too important to Great Xia.”
A low murmur came from Chief Engineer beside him. Fan Ren nodded and said softly: “Almost there, 20 kilometers already. See, I told you there’s no problem. The hull attitude is no worse than Spitz Company’s, right?”
“No problem, no problem, much better! 10 kilometers, engine ignition successful!”
In Chief Engineer Yin’s gaze, the silver-white rocket’s body was slightly grayish at this moment, due to the scorch marks from the high temperature generated by friction between the rocket body and the atmosphere during reentry.
These are all normal phenomena.
“5 kilometers, rocket body attitude normal, support frame deployed, preparing to land.”
“Reverse propulsion engine started successfully, landing!”
In the screen, the lower half of the rocket tail suddenly burst into fierce impact flames, and immediately after, the massive first level rocket steadily landed in the center of the cross marking below.
Fan Ren abruptly stood up, his excited expression no less intense than Chief Engineer Yin’s had been moments before.
“Landing successful! Recovery team prepare to enter the field. Second Level rocket altitude 300 kilometers, remote sensing signal normal.”
The commander’s calm and composed voice resounded through the hall again; he was not interrupted by the good news of the successful recovery.
Fan Ren’s gaze fell on this young engineer, the delight in his eyes impossible to conceal.
“General Manager Fan, to be honest, I’m a bit reluctant to let go of these little treasures. You know, without you, they would all be interns recruited by Aerospace City this year.”
Chief Engineer Yin was similarly drawn to this young commander, his tone turning sour.
Fan Ren chuckled naively and said, “Just watch, sir. Xinghai won’t bury any talented engineer. Besides, once Phase Two of the project begins, the launch cycle will be greatly shortened. That’s when he’ll really shine.”
“Impressive. Although our Aerospace City completed a series of technological explorations for Earth-Moon travel, it’s you newcomers who are truly implementing it. Without your full-hearted investment, General Manager Fan, I wouldn’t even know if I could see the day before I close my eyes when Great Xia’s astronauts step onto the Moon.”
Fan Ren gently patted the elderly person’s back and comforted him, “Just keep watching for us. That day isn’t far off. If you’re willing to retire then, come to Xinghai and help me keep an eye on these young lads.”
On the big screen, the remaining short section of the Star-1 still bravely flew toward deep space, its speed even higher than before separation.
“Rocket has reached the predetermined 400-kilometer Low Earth Orbit, preparing for separation.”
“Separation successful. Recovery process initiated. Spaceship propulsion system activated. Continuing forward.”
In the camera of the Level 2 rocket, the detached hull gradually tilted, while the gradually receding spaceship cabin had a faint blue light igniting at its tail, continuing toward the dark deep space.
Soon, the rocket’s descent speed gradually increased. Upon reaching 200-kilometer Low Earth Orbit, the high-temperature plasma glow produced by the hull’s friction with the atmosphere was clearly captured by the camera.
But to everyone’s surprise, this phenomenon did not cause signal loss due to the plasma blackout effect. The footage continued to transmit steadily back to the remote sensing center and then to the Command Center.
“Blackout phenomenon neutralized. Remote sensing signal normal. Hull speed 32 Mach.”
Fan Ren smugly raised his chin toward Chief Engineer Yin and said, “See? That’s the role of carbon nanotubes. The blackout problem won’t exist anymore. This is our technology following Spitz Company.”
Chief Engineer Yin smiled exceptionally happily, fully sharing Fan Ren’s pride.
After the rocket passed through the atmosphere, with precise commands from the commander, the return engines ignited one after another, heading toward the predetermined return point.
“Altitude 5 kilometers. Landing gear deployed. Preparing to land.”
“Successful landing! Recovery team entering the field.”
The young commander stood at the front of the hall and slowly turned around.
“I declare that the Star-1 Launch Vehicle test flight has been a complete success! Congratulations to everyone!”
In Fan Ren’s eyes, at this moment, this young commander seemed to radiate boundless light.
