Nie Yun joked in a relaxed tone: "Isn't it because you can fly higher?"
"... We can't wait here endlessly. Maybe you can give me a more accurate time next time."
I remember the last time I came here was two or three months ago.
"... Activate the cargo bay!"
"...This is the Xiangrui, we have successfully entered orbit."
However, Carson also knew that his expectations were not even a luxury.
It’s the auspicious number!
While they were talking, the two of them had already arrived at the target area.
"It's the Auspicious Number! I saw it!"
And by that time, the little wish in his heart may not be a wish at all.
…
"The orbit height is normal and we are approaching the target area... Maybe we can go faster. If the situation is optimistic, we may be able to catch up with the test flight of Xiaguang."
Some time ago, he heard that Xingkong Technology was considering using the propulsion system of Xiangrui to develop an interplanetary electric propulsion spacecraft that could move quickly between the earth and the moon and back and forth.
Sure enough, as if to confirm his guess, the moment the needle pointed to the right point, there was a sudden burst of startling commotion in front of the console.
Looking in the direction the engineer was pointing, Director Carson's pupils instantly shrank to a point.
"Yukong successfully entered its intended orbit!"
"We made it!"
Nie Han: "Both...we are here!"
Sitting in the co-pilot's seat, Nie Han checked the data between the aircraft and the moon on the rangefinder, and spoke in a casual tone.
Nie Yun: "There is nothing to regret. We have other test missions. I guarantee you will be interested."
Appeared!
Director Carson curled his lips.
Director Carson, staring at the big screen on the console with hazy eyes and his hands behind his back, stood there for a long time. Suddenly he looked at his watch impatiently and said.
This is the best place to launch lunar satellites. Under the combined effects of the gravity of the earth, the sun and the moon, the core module operating in this orbit can maintain a mission of up to 36 months without the aid of a propulsion system. Stable operation.
Staring at the bumpy moon, Nie Yun, who was sitting in the driver's seat, had a smile on his face and a lot of thoughts in his heart.
Reaching out and pressing a button on the control panel, Nie Yun switched the flight mode from orbit mode to automatic cruise mode, and skillfully opened the door pressure measurement system.
A slight muffled sound floated up from the soles of the feet, and along with a slow shaking, the silver-white cylindrical spacecraft was thrown into the deep space behind it by the Xiangrui...
Back here again…
Hearing her words, Nie Yun smiled and said, "Don't think about it. The test pilots have already been decided. They are two young men from the aerospace brigade."
"The cargo bay was activated successfully!"
NASA needs an opponent hot on their heels, not a player half a step ahead of them. No matter which field they are in, they must be the best. This is not only an honor, but also a damn political correctness.
At least, withdraw from civilian launch missions.
Above the moon, there was a pitch-black night, and the icy silence was broken by faint arcs of light.
Nie Han sighed with a slight regret: "Really? That's really a pity."
"Opening the cargo bay!"
Satellite control center.
Nie Yun reached out and pressed the helmet, and spoke in a clear voice.
"receive!"
If this launch plan is successful, China will become the first country in the world to launch a space station in lunar orbit, and will also become the only country in the world with proven lunar orbit construction capabilities.
There is no reason why the Xiangrui, which has already succeeded in manned moon landing, cannot even do a simple thing like delivering a satellite.
"This is Xiangrui, we have arrived at the space station delivery orbit."
Such a beautiful scene, no matter how many times he saw it, could not help but fascinate him.
NASA.
Nie Han rolled his eyes: "I would rather fly the Xiangrui. I applied for this task because I was tired of driving a transport plane."
A bright silver space plane, like a silver shuttle coming from deep space, smoothly completed the orbit switch and slowly merged into the 127-minute orbit.
If this research can be successful, it may not be long before the Xiangrui is withdrawn from the stage of history.
"Copy that." Nie Han in the passenger seat exchanged a firm look. He reached out to release the safety brake of the cargo compartment, and then pressed the pop-up red button.
The only regret was that this time he could not stand on that gray land.
Since three days ago, the lens of NASA's lunar observation satellite has been locked on the exit of the earth-moon transfer orbit, waiting for the spacecraft that has left the synchronous orbit for a long time to appear in the lens again.
In front of the horseshoe-shaped console, a group of dark figures stood. Among them are NASA engineers, officials from the White House and Congress, and professionals from famous North American aerospace companies such as Space-X and Blue Space.
It is said that the Xiaguang has a double-wing design, and four of the five engines can control the jet direction at a large angle. This new type of aircraft will be able to complete the flight from the surface to orbit with lower working fluid loss and in a safer manner.
"... You can call the China Space Administration and ask them, maybe they will tell you."
Director Carson: "Please don't worry, my Mr. President, regardless of whether the situation is optimistic or not, we will see the results in two hours at most..."
If possible, he certainly hoped that the damn space plane would never appear. It would be best to be like a runaway comet, disappearing forever at the end of the earth-moon system...
When Bill came here, he glanced at Director Carson and continued with a subtle expression.
Not long after, the order from the ground command came.
"... If this is the case, we will need more accurate lunar surface altitude data to conduct accurate observations of their spacecraft."
Standing next to Director Carson, Bill, the director of the satellite control center, opened the folder in his hand and quickly reported to him.
A NASA engineer standing at the bottom of the screen suddenly pointed to somewhere on the screen and shouted uncontrollably.
All operations are done in one go, without any sloppiness.
If nothing else happens, today should be the time for the Xiangrui to reach the lunar orbit...
Three days ago, carrying the core module components of the Yuegong space station, the Huaguo Xiangrui lifted off again, successfully broke through the atmosphere and entered low-Earth orbit.
Looking at the four green words "Separation Successful" that popped up on the screen, Nie Yun said loudly with an excited voice.
The attention of almost all space agencies around the world is focused on this space plane orbiting the moon.
"... This is the ground command center. I am very happy to hear this news. Your flight mission has been half successful... Now please go to the designated airspace immediately and prepare for the next stage."
Nie Han: "What test flight mission?"
Nie Yun said with a smile: "Your main job is to drive transport aircraft... shuttle between the earth-lunar orbit and the geosynchronous orbit."
Bill, the director of the satellite control center, said his voice was slightly stagnant, and the smile on his face was slightly embarrassed. Standing not far from Director Carson, the president looked at his watch impatiently and spoke.
Everyone is staring at the same position, as if waiting for a result.
"According to our calculations and analysis, they have about ten minutes to reach the moon's orbit... Of course, we do not rule out the possibility that they did not use the traditional Earth-moon transfer orbit and entered the moon's orbit through other means."
After a brief pause, a noisy sound came from the communication channel.
This is obviously not good news for the United States.
"Haven't shown up yet?"
Such an aircraft is definitely more interesting to fly than the Xiangrui.
And with the help of the propulsion system, only a small amount of working fluid and energy is needed to maintain the space station in this peaceful orbit for decades...
After confirming the orbital parameters and restraining his excitement, Nie Yun took a deep breath, put his hand on the side of the helmet, and spoke in a steady and firm voice.
The atmosphere at the scene was quite depressing, and a pair of eyes converged into a single point on the big screen on the console.
If nothing else, their "Deep Space Gate" lunar orbital space station will have to wait until next year to launch the first component. Although the success of the Ares project has put them ahead of the Mars colonization plan, if this is the case Losing the moon seems to be a bit of a loss.
However, he believes that one day in the not too distant future, traveling to the moon will be as common as taking a flight across the ocean.
The flight path is gradually deviating from the 127-minute orbit and entering an elliptical orbit.