116: India: Great Xia Dynasty! We can do it too!

India.

Prime Minister's Office.

Old Immortal Dimo stared at the Great Xia Country's announcement on the screen.

His expression was a bit grim.

"Damn it! Great Xia Country beat us to it again?"

Thinking of their domestic manned spaceflight progress, he immediately flew into a rage.

"A bunch of good-for-nothings!"

"Our manned rocket has been under development for five years!"

"And we still haven't even broken through low Earth orbit?"

The secretary carefully explained, "Prime Minister, our aerospace technology developed late, so..."

"Shut up!" Old Immortal Dimo roared.

"So what if it developed late?"

"We have faith! We have the protection of sacred cows!"

"Notify them immediately!"

"In one week, we must conduct manned spaceflight!"

"We must fly out of Blue Star with people on board!!"

As for the consequences, he didn't care at all.

As long as they could fly out of Blue Star, they would win!

Upon hearing this, the secretary's face immediately fell: "Prime Minister, the time is too tight... there will be problems then..."

"I don't care!" Old Immortal Dimo's eyes were wild.

"Great Xia Country can build a space plane in a month, and we still can't achieve manned spaceflight after so long?"

"If you can't do it, all of you get out!"

The secretary dared not persuade him further and could only nod in agreement.

But his heart was filled with despair!

This wasn't catching up on progress; this was gambling with the lives of astronauts!

But there was no other way.

Old Immortal Dimo had gone mad!

...The next day.

Seven o'clock in the morning.

kunpeng space plane's maiden flight site.

The global live broadcast started on time.

Ten billion viewers instantly flooded into the live stream.

"They're here, they're here! Finally, the maiden flight!"

"I've been logged into this live stream since three in the morning, who's earlier than me?"

"I wonder if we'll get to see the real appearance of the moon's surface this time?"

"…"

Everyone was full of anticipation.

Seven fifty.

The silver kunpeng space plane slowly drove out of the hangar under the morning sun.

A 95-meter fuselage and a 75-meter wingspan.

Like a waking silver Kun, full of sci-fi flair.

The live stream instantly erupted:

"Holy moly! This is too cool! Even more outrageous than sci-fi movies!"

"This size, it feels like it could fit a whole building!"

"Look at the alloy coating on the fuselage, it glows blue in the sunlight, absolutely stunning!"

"…"

Xia Academy of Sciences dormitory.

Fatty Wang sat in front of the computer, eyes wide open.

He forgot to bite the bun in his hand.

"Holy moly!"

"This is the kunpeng space plane? Even more impressive than I imagined!"

He looked at the space plane on the screen, his fists unconsciously clenching.

"One day, I will also land on the moon!"

"I want to catch up to Old Lin!"

During this time, he learned more about Lin Chen's glorious deeds.

He admired Lin Chen even more.

As for why he didn't go find Lin Chen.

He also wanted to achieve something through his own efforts before seeking out Lin Chen!

Returning to the maiden flight site.

Eight o'clock sharp.

Li Jianguo walked onto the live broadcast stage.

He was wearing a dark Zhongshan suit, his hair neatly combed.

"Good morning, esteemed viewers!"

"Today is the most important day in the Great Xia Country's aerospace history."

"Our astronauts will embark on a manned lunar mission aboard the kunpeng space plane!"

"Thirty years ago, our astronauts entered space for the first time."

"Today, we want to tell the whole world!"

"Great Xia Country will set foot on the moon!"

As soon as his voice fell.

Thunderous applause erupted around the tarmac.

The live stream's bullet comments completely exploded:

"Dean Li spoke well! So inspiring!"

"I feel like tears are about to fall, the country is finally strong!"

" 'Great Xia Country will set foot on the moon', I can loop this sentence a hundred times!"

Li Jianguo raised his hand to quiet the applause and continued:

"There are 6 astronauts on this maiden flight."

"They will stay on the moon for two hours to complete soil sampling and environmental surveys."

"The entire process will be live-streamed, allowing the whole world to witness the power of the Great Xia Country!"

"Now, let's welcome the six astronauts!"

...The passage on one side of the tarmac opened.

Six astronauts, wearing newly developed special white spacesuits with the bright red national flag printed on their chests.

Walked out with neat steps.

Old Zhang, who was leading them, had red eyes.

He saluted the camera with a standard military salute:

"Please rest assured, Motherland! Please rest assured, people!"

"We will definitely complete the mission!"

The other astronauts also expressed their determination.

Every word was filled with passion.

The live stream audience watched with tears in their eyes:

"Old Zhang is almost fifty, and he's still working so hard, hats off to him!"

"Little Wang is so young! Only twenty-eight and already going to the moon, that's incredible!"

"Seeing the national flag on their chests, I instantly felt proud!"

"Go for it! We'll be waiting for your safe return!"

...Eight fifteen.

The astronauts boarded the Kunpeng one by one.

Old Zhang and the others began operating according to the emergency training from last night.

Soon, the kunpeng space plane system officially started.

Then it initiated self-check!

A moment later.

Self-check complete!

Old Zhang was instantly excited:

"Report, Kunpeng self-check complete!"

"Request for takeoff!"

Li Jianguo gave the order:

"Kunpeng, prepare for takeoff."

"I wish you a smooth journey!"

"Received!"

Old Zhang responded excitedly, then pressed the takeoff button!

The next second.

Three specially designed Anti-gravity Plasma Engines began to roar.

The fuselage slowly ascended.

5 meters!

10 meters!

50 meters!

...2000 meters!

At this point, the Kunpeng suddenly pitched up and then began to accelerate.

Mach 1!

Mach 5!

...Mach 10!

Mach 20!

Accelerating to Mach 20 in a short time.

It instantly broke through the clouds, disappearing from the live stream's view.

The live stream's bullet comments completely went wild:

"Holy moly! Anti-gravity takeoff again!"

"My heavens! This speed is too fast! It feels even faster than the white emperor aerospace fighter!"

"Wishing the Kunpeng a successful maiden flight! Wishing the astronauts a safe return!"

"So excited to see the moment the astronauts step onto the moon!"

...Command Center.

Li Jianguo came to Lin Chen's side, full of excitement:

"Little Lin, it's a success again this time."

"Mhm!" Lin Chen nodded: "It will definitely be a success!"

Li Jianguo smiled and nodded: "Yes! We'll witness history soon!"

...At the same time.

The kunpeng space plane had already broken through the atmosphere.

Arriving in near-Earth space.

It began to orbit Blue Star in low Earth orbit!

Little Wang gazed at the beautiful space outside and the lovely Blue Star, his eyes full of excitement.

"Is this Blue Star? It's too beautiful..."

Old Zhang chuckled beside him: "Hehe, beautiful, isn't it! I was the same the first time I saw Blue Star from space!"

Little Wang was still excited: "Now I'm even more curious about what the moon will be like? Will there really be Chang'e?"

Old Zhang smiled: "There definitely won't be Chang'e, but we can build the Guanghan Palace in the future!"

After speaking, his expression turned serious: "It's time to accelerate!"

Currently, they were still orbiting at Mach 20.

Mach 20 is only 6.8 kilometers per second.

It has not yet reached the first cosmic velocity of 7.9 kilometers per second.

To break free from Blue Star's gravitational pull, they need to reach the second cosmic velocity of 11.2 kilometers per second!

Therefore, they must accelerate to over Mach 40.

As the kunpeng space plane continued to accelerate.

Soon, the speed reached a terrifying Mach 40 or more!

After finding the correct direction for the moon.

Old Zhang and the others directly adjusted the flight direction of the kunpeng space plane.

The speed directly soared to a maximum of Mach 60!

Flying towards the moon.