117: Arrive on the moon in 6 hours!

Ground Command Center.

The moment the kunpeng space plane accelerated to Mach 60!

The entire Command Center fell into a deathly silence.

The next second.

Deafening cheers erupted.

"Mach 60, it really reached Mach 60!"

"Great! We really did it!"

"Chief Designer Lin, we succeeded!"

"Chief Designer Lin is awesome! Great Xia Country is awesome!"

Some slammed tables, others embraced and cried.

Even Li Jianguo, who was always composed, was so excited that his eyes welled up with tears.

He looked at Lin Chen beside him, his voice choked: "Little Lin, we are getting closer and closer to the Moon!"

Lin Chen nodded, his gaze fixed on the kunpeng on the screen.

"It's not over yet."

"Next, is the real test."

It was easy to accelerate to Mach 60.

But successfully landing on the Moon would still present significant challenges.

First, before reaching lunar orbit, it had to slow down to a speed that could be captured by the Moon's gravity.

Otherwise, it would fly past the Moon and into deep space.

This also required precise control of the deceleration process.

However, Lin Chen was very confident in the kunpeng.

Landing on the Moon was inevitable!

...On the other side.

In the live stream.

The audience was completely boiling.

"Holy crap! Mach 60? Is it going to fly into space?!"

"The distance from Blue Star to the Moon is about 380,000 kilometers. Does that mean it can get there in six hours?"

"Eagle Country took three days to land on the Moon before! We've cut it down to six hours?"

"This isn't a space plane, it's a starship!"

"Great Xia Country is awesome! I'm proud! I'm honored!"

Someone specifically did the math.

And flooded the comments: "380,000 kilometers ÷ Mach 60 ≈ 6 hours! It really only takes six hours!"

As soon as this comment appeared.

It was instantly pushed to the very front.

Immediately after, the entire screen was filled with the words "6 hours."

Global audiences were stunned into silence by this speed.

Eagle Country NASA Headquarters.

In the conference room.

Durutt stared at the speed data on the screen, his face filled with disbelief.

"Mach 60... How is this possible?"

"Our starship's maximum speed is only Mach 20!"

The expert next to him pulled up the kunpeng's flight trajectory map, his voice trembling:

"Director, look!"

"Its flight trajectory perfectly matches the optimal orbit!"

"Not a single deviation! This navigation system is at least ten years more advanced than ours!"

Another expert's eyes were full of shock:

"And the anti-gravity engine!"

"This technology, which the whole world couldn't solve, they actually broke through!"

"We are falling further and further behind!"

Durutt's heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Half a year ago.

In terms of space technology, Great Xia Country was only on par with their Eagle Country.

Perhaps even lagging in some aspects.

But in just half a year.

Great Xia Country had taken a commanding lead.

What exactly happened in Great Xia Country during this period?

Could it be that Great Xia Country discovered some alien technology after exploring the Far Side of the Moon?

It seems that next time the starship lands on the Moon, they must also go to the Far Side of the Moon to find out!

Durutt secretly speculated in his heart.

He looked up at the silent experts and patiently said:

"Everyone, the more this happens, the harder we must try to catch up!"

"We cannot always lag behind Great Xia Country!"

"As long as we work hard enough, one day we will catch up to Great Xia Country!"

As soon as his voice fell.

Those technical experts showed no reaction at all.

This maiden flight of the kunpeng space plane.

Completely shattered all their confidence!

Catch up to Great Xia Country?

Is it really possible?

Even if Great Xia Country stopped developing.

With their current technology, they probably couldn't catch up in decades.

And decades later.

Who knows what terrifying state Great Xia Country would be in?

Many experts even had the idea of immigrating to Great Xia Country.

They also wanted to see how many secrets Great Xia Country was still hiding!

Durutt saw the experts' silence and felt helpless.

He didn't say anything more.

He continued to stare at the flight trajectory of the kunpeng space plane!

...Meanwhile.

European Union Space Agency.

Looking at the flight data of the kunpeng space plane.

A group of scientists also fell silent.

After a long while, the person in charge, Marco, sighed:

"Alas! I was thinking of cooperating with Great Xia Country before!"

"Now it seems! It was just wishful thinking on our part!"

The Gaul Chicken scientist next to him gave a bitter smile:

"Yes! Who would have thought that Great Xia Country would break through so quickly in the space field!"

"A speed of Mach 60! It completely defies physical common sense!"

The John Bull scientist said in a deep voice:

"I suggest that we still let the higher-ups contact Great Xia Country."

"If we can secure cooperation with Great Xia Country."

"Then we can save a lot of time and money."

"Otherwise! We will lose the resources of space and the Moon!"

To this, all the scientists nodded in agreement.

Once Great Xia Country successfully lands on the Moon.

They would certainly build Moon Bases and mine lunar resources.

At that time, they could only stare helplessly!

...India Space Agency.

Old Immortal Dimo had originally come to check on their manned spaceflight progress.

When he saw the kunpeng space plane reach Mach 60 and fly towards the Moon.

He felt completely unwell!

He looked at the scientists and asked in a deep voice: "Can we reach this speed?"

The surrounding scientists fell silent!

Old Immortal Dimo instantly understood and cursed angrily:

"Are you all useless?"

"Great Xia Country can do it, why can't you?"

"I don't care what method you use, manned spaceflight must happen in a week!"

"Even if it costs the lives of the astronauts, you must fly out of Blue Star!"

The scientists' faces were pale, and no one dared to refute.

But their hearts were filled with despair: This isn't a Moon landing, this is a suicide mission!

...Desert Region.

Several kings from wealthy nations gathered together, sitting in a luxurious palace.

Watching the live broadcast, their eyes were full of envy.

King Sat put down his golden goblet, his tone urgent:

"Immediately contact Great Xia Country!"

"We are willing to invest one hundred billion US dollars!"

"We only ask to cooperate with them and participate in the lunar project!"

King Aqu nodded: "I'll invest too! We want to build a base on the Moon!"

"Great Xia Country's technology is too terrifying! Cooperating with them is the wise choice!"

They had previously hesitated whether to cooperate with Eagle Country.

Now, seeing the kunpeng's performance, they instantly sided with Great Xia Country.

Money was nothing to them.

Catching the express train of the space age was the most important thing.

Even if they couldn't cooperate on a project.

They still wanted to get a naming opportunity.

That way, they too would be considered to have successfully landed on the Moon!

The entire Blue Star world was deeply shocked by the speed of the kunpeng space plane.

Only Sakura Country was the most distressed!

Seeing Great Xia Country achieve another breakthrough, they felt worse than eating a dead fly.

Gong Cirou was once again furiously incompetent.

He frantically urged Dr. Kawashima to speed up the mass production of 'Destruction Bacteria'!

...