The Start Of Technology Live Broadcast To Build Rockets

Chapter 32 Manned Dragon spacecraft and Starship

Du Xingyu doesn't have time to reply to these many private messages, because the Xingzhou aerospace plane is about to be test-fired!

The first launch will be unmanned and is expected to stay in space for 48 hours before returning to the ground.

After returning, it will be inspected and, if all goes well, a second launch will be carried out.

The second launch is the crucial part. This time, two astronauts will take the Xingzhou to space and fly around the earth in low-Earth orbit to detect and collect various data.

The launch location is still at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

This is a secret launch, and no one except the core members of the space agency and Shining Star Company knows about it!

In the ground command center, Du Xingyu looked at the computer quietly. It showed that all the data were within the standard value. He seemed very calm.

But many people couldn't calm down. This was the first time they had participated in such an important and cash-rich aerospace scientific research mission.

"I'm so excited!" Wang Wei and Lu Liang whispered to each other, "We haven't even graduated from graduate school, and yet we are participating in such a task. No one else has such a resume!"

"Yes, last time I launched a rocket with Du Xingyu in the school square. This time we are going to do it for real, and it is an aerospace plane!" Lu Liang has always been calmer than Wang Wei, but this is the first time he has participated in a mission of this level, and he is in a different mood. Unable to calm down.

"Attention, there are still thirty seconds." Du Xingyu read into the microphone.

"Ten, nine, eight...three, two, one, ignite!" Following his order, the aerospace plane's engine began to start.

Some aerospace planes cannot take off on their own and must rely on rockets to help them fly into space. But the Starship has a three-in-one engine unit and can fly out of space independently.

Now it's take-off. The first thing to operate is the air turbine. The power it generates allows the aerospace plane to fly into the blue sky!

"The flight speed is close to the speed of sound!"

"The speed reaches six times the speed of sound, start the ramjet engine unit and continue to accelerate!"

"The air is thin and we are about to fly out of the atmosphere. Start the rocket engine and start the space navigation mode!"

In the command center, Du Xingyu has been tracking the status of the Xingzhou in real time.

"The Starship has entered low-Earth orbit."

The Starship entered low-Earth orbit safely and safely, and everyone celebrated.

Du Xingyu said: "Thank you for your hard work, everyone is on duty now. If there is any accident, we will notify you at any time. In forty-seven hours, we will prepare to recover the Xingzhou!"

"Yes!" Everyone began to take turns on duty, observing the status of the Starship 24 hours a day.

Xingzhou is flying silently in low-Earth orbit, and the scientific research instruments it carries are constantly transmitting data back to the ground.

Forty-eight hours have passed, and the Starship is still flying steadily. According to the established plan, the ground gave it the order to land.

This is the third time Du Xingyu has participated in the recovery of aerospace equipment, and he completed the task with ease.

"Except for some wear and tear on the heat-insulating coating of the Xingzhou, everything is in good condition! It can carry out its mission again!" the inspection personnel reported.

"Okay." Du Xingyu said, "Repair the thermal insulation coating and prepare to carry humans into space!"

"start work!"

The team was busy again. A week later, three days before the launch of the SpaceX Manned Dragon spacecraft, Starship carried out its second launch in a low-key manner.

This time, there are two brave astronauts on board the Xingzhou. They will drive the Xingzhou into space and stay in space for a full week to test the performance of the Xingzhou spacecraft and its relationship with space flight. data.

No one outside knows about all this.

Their focus has been on the launch of SpaceX's new Falcon rocket. In order to show its strength, SpaceX's launch of Falcon 9 and Manned Dragon spacecraft this time will also be broadcast live on TV and online!

Audiences around the world can watch in real time! In order to promote it, they also specially invited media from various countries to broadcast it.

At 15:20 local time in the United States, almost 3:20 am China time, the Manned Dragon spacecraft carrying two American astronauts and a dinosaur doll was ready to take off.

The new Falcon 9 rocket is already sitting on the launch pad, and media reporters are talking to astronaut Bob Behnken.

Bob Behnken is the commander of this operation. He has conducted six spacewalks and has rich experience.

"Mr. Behnken, what do you want to say about the launch of the Crew Dragon spacecraft?" the reporter asked.

Bob Behnken replied: "I think this launch is of great significance. This is the first time in the history of the United States that a private company has sent astronauts into space, not the space agency!"

"This shows the development of commercial aerospace technology in the United States. Believe me, I will successfully complete the mission! And you, every free American, will have the opportunity to wear the same space suit as me and walk in space! "

Bob Behnken's speech excited the audience, and countless Americans cheered and celebrated in front of the TV.

During the live broadcast, American netizens were also extremely excited.

"Well done Bob! I wish you success!"

"SpaceX is great! It will fulfill my dream of going into space!"

"Falcon 9 and the Crew Dragon spacecraft are both top-notch in the world!"

"Haha, our country's aerospace technology ranks first in the world!"

"This is much more powerful than China's previous rockets. Can rockets allow people to walk in space?"

…

In China, some netizens stayed in front of their computers and watched the live broadcast.

When they saw the Falcon 9 successfully ignited and took off, a large number of viewers also used words such as "666" and "Niu Beer".

At the same time, some people are lamenting: "It would be great if SpaceX was a company in our country!"

"When can we do this?"

"Du Xingyu won't live broadcast anymore, it's boring! I'm going to bed, I'll watch it again tomorrow when I wake up!"

In the United States, in the command center for the launch of the Manned Dragon spacecraft, Musk's face was red. Everyone could see that he was very happy!

"At 2 minutes and 30 seconds, the first-stage rocket separated and was successfully recovered!"

"At 9 minutes and 28 seconds, the second-stage rocket separated and was successfully recovered!"

"At 12 minutes and 00 seconds, the Manned Dragon spacecraft separated from the secondary rocket body and entered space!"

"This is astronaut Bob. The spacecraft separated successfully. We will dock with the International Space Station in nineteen hours!" Bob Behnken's voice came from the communicator.

"Congratulations to you! Congratulations to us too!" Musk shouted.

The good news kept coming, and Musk told his subordinates: "Champagne, open the champagne for me!"

He opened the champagne and danced excitedly. He could already imagine how much praise SpaceX would receive when the Crew Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station!

Stock prices are skyrocketing, orders are skyrocketing, state support... all of this seems to be at your fingertips!

"Haha, this time I will finally surpass China's Du Xingyu!" Musk hummed happily. He decided not to sleep until the Crew Dragon spacecraft docked with the International Space Station!

At this time, in the outer space of the earth, except for the Manned Dragon spacecraft, the spacecraft is sailing. The Xingzhou, carrying Chinese astronauts, is also sailing.

"Reports indicate that we have entered low-Earth orbit and will arrive near the International Space Station in about nineteen hours." Astronaut Tian Qinghui reported aboard the Xingzhou.

"Nineteen hours?" The ground command center calculated that at this time, it is likely to encounter the Manned Dragon spacecraft.

However, both spacecraft are flying in low-Earth orbit and will definitely encounter each other.

"If we meet, let's meet!" Du Xingyu is still happy to see the success. The Xingzhou aerospace plane has been successfully launched, and there is no need to keep it secret. If they meet, they will take the opportunity to announce it and save advertising fees.

Thanks for the tip from 15~34.

(End of chapter)