167: Wangshu can not only transport equipment, but also deliver nuclear bombs to the top of your head?

“So, it still comes down to this: a wangshu single-stage-to-orbit vehicle can be rebuilt, but if you’re gone, you’re truly gone!”

“Think about how many resources and how much effort Longguo has expended behind the scenes to cultivate you!”

“If you were truly gone, wouldn’t all that investment have been for naught?”

“Just think about it yourselves…”

“How worthless!”

Lin Qi paused, looking at the male and female astronauts in front of him, and said, “In other words, if a crisis truly arises, you can directly bail out.”

“Don’t worry about what’s on the ground.”

“After all, the route for our maiden flight has already been surveyed below, and it’s almost entirely primeval jungle or vast Gobi Desert.”

“The probability of being killed by a crash is even lower than winning the lottery!”

“You don’t need to worry.”

“Yes!” The two astronauts nodded.

As astronauts who had been with Lin Qi for more than half a year, Nie Shanhai and Wang Lan clearly understood Lin Qi’s temperament.

For Lin Qi, the fighter jets, which pilots value most, are not as important as the pilots themselves.

Because fighter jets can be produced and improved again, but finding pilots, especially experienced ones, would require a significant cost.

The cost-effectiveness is simply too low.

“Hmm, and…”

Suddenly!

Just as Lin Qi thought for a moment, seemingly about to say something, the two astronauts in front of him suddenly widened their eyes.

As if they had seen something that shocked their worldview!

Seeing this?

Lin Qi was a little curious.

He also turned his head to look behind him.

But the next moment…

“Elder Qian?”

“Commander?!”

“Why have you all come?”

Looking at the Old Man and others who were standing in the final assembly workshop, staring wide-eyed at the wangshu single-stage-to-orbit vehicle in front of them, Lin Qi, along with Shen Wanyue and the astronauts, quickly walked towards the Old Man and the others.

Hearing Lin Qi’s voice?

The Old Man and Elder Qian then turned around, and the Old Man said with a smile, “Of course we had to rush over for something like this!”

“And Elder Qian was the one who said so!”

“If Elder Qian attaches such importance to it, wouldn’t we regret it for the rest of our lives if we didn’t come?”

“That’s right!” The General followed up, saying, “This is something that can change an era and revolutionize human aviation and aerospace. We absolutely must come!”

“But Chief Engineer Lin, this… is this the vehicle that will make its maiden flight tomorrow?”

“It’s so big?”

“And…”

“Isn’t this just an airplane?”

“It can fly near the Karman Line and even has such a large carrying capacity. Are you sure this isn’t a joke?”

“Of course not!” Lin Qi smiled as he looked at the General, then turned and pointed to the wangshu single-stage-to-orbit vehicle, saying:

“Although the cost of a single Wangshu flight is very expensive, if it can be mass-produced, the price can be brought down.”

“However…”

“This kind of thing is a strategic asset and is not suitable for large-scale manufacturing.”

“Firstly, it’s too expensive to manufacture; secondly, the maintenance cost is too high; and thirdly, the supporting infrastructure needs to be upgraded.”

“All of this combined…”

“The money invested would be countless!”

“And to be honest, the wangshu single-stage-to-orbit vehicle has just been built, and the entire project is still in its initial stages.”

“Later, with improvements and upgrades, especially if we develop a more powerful and economical power source…”

“Flight costs will be significantly reduced.”

“That will be the best time.”

“This… is also true!” Hearing Lin Qi’s words, everyone, including the General, couldn’t help but nod.

Just as Lin Qi said, this thing is terrifyingly expensive; just this one unit cost soared to 1.5 billion US dollars!

You should know, this was US dollars from before the millennium, and it was in the hundreds of millions.

It’s truly painful to even talk about.

“But then again…”

Suddenly!

Before everyone could react, they heard Lin Qi say with a smile, “If the situation is urgent, this thing can transport more than just equipment and personnel.”

“Things like nuclear weapons are also possible.”

Everyone: “!!!”

Lin Qi’s voice wasn’t loud, but to everyone present, it was no less than a magnitude 10 earthquake!

Think about what the report said previously: the wangshu single-stage-to-orbit vehicle’s 145-ton carrying capacity near the Karman Line.

Then think about the explosive energy and destructive effects of improved nuclear weapons today…

“Ahem, Chief Engineer Lin, please don’t say any more, this is simply too tempting!”

General Wang looked helpless.

Although he was the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, this did not mean that he disliked dropping nuclear bombs from planes.

Especially after seeing that the wangshu single-stage-to-orbit vehicle could orbit the Blue Star for a long time above the Karman Line, General Wang wished he could switch military branches right now.

And directly serve in the Air Force!

But wishing is one thing.

Reality is another.

This feeling of powerlessness, of clearly seeing it, knowing it, even being able to imagine and foresee it, but not being able to obtain it right now…

It still tugged at his heart!

He nearly broke down on the spot!

“It’s alright, it’s alright, Old Wang, you don’t need to rush now. After all, Chief Engineer Lin also said that the cost will definitely come down later.”

Seeing the helplessness on everyone’s faces, the Old Man smiled and waved his hand, then started chatting with the two astronauts beside Lin Qi.

Seeing this?

Lin Qi looked at Elder Qian and said, “Thank you, Elder Qian. If it weren’t for your help back then, the wangshu single-stage-to-orbit vehicle wouldn’t have been built by now!”

Elder Qian waved his hand, “What are you talking about? I only have this much ability. If I didn’t help you with something like this, when would I ever help?”

“Moreover, I only provided theoretical calculations. The true application of it in practice is still your and your team’s credit.”

“It has little to do with me!”

“Elder Qian, aren’t you joking?” Lin Qi quickly said, “As the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. If it weren’t for your calculations, how could the subsequent engineering practice have unfolded?”

“If we had just done it recklessly, wouldn’t that have been a waste of funds and effort, a complete mess?”

Elder Qian smiled.

He certainly knew what Lin Qi was talking about.

After all, theoretical calculation is the source; if the theory cannot pass, then let alone applying it in the real world.

“Alright, alright, why don’t you take us inside the wangshu single-stage-to-orbit vehicle to have a look! I’m really curious what good stuff you’ve packed inside it?”

“Eh? That’s a good suggestion, Elder Qian. Chief Engineer Lin, shall we go in and have a look? To be honest, I’ve never been inside such an advanced aircraft cabin before!”

Before Elder Qian could finish speaking, the Generals beside him immediately became excited, like roosters getting a shot of adrenaline, and gathered around Lin Qi, speaking to him.

It wasn’t just them; even the Old Man next to them couldn’t help but turn around, looking at Lin Qi with hopeful expressions.

Seeing this?

Lin Qi shrugged, “Then let’s go!”

“You can also help check for any hidden dangers as we go through.”

“Although the wangshu single-stage-to-orbit vehicle has already been cross-checked by three different teams more than a dozen times, more checks are always good.”