Chapter 257 Space Station Assembly

July 1, 2039.

Hainan Wenchang Space Launch Center.

At four in the morning, Lin Mo stood on the viewing platform, looking at the massive launch tower in the distance. Moonlight spilled over the white body of the rocket, giving off a cold, sharp luster. That was the Long March 9 super-heavy launch vehicle, over a hundred meters tall with a liftoff thrust exceeding five thousand tons—the most powerful transport tool in human history.

Inside its fairing was the first core module of the sky ladder project space station.

"Senior Brother," Li Xiao whispered as she stood beside him, "are you nervous?"

Lin Mo thought for a moment. "Nervous. But more than that, I'm expectant."

Li Xiao smiled. "Me too."

One hour until launch.

The viewing platform was already crowded—executives from the Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Academicians from the Academy of Engineering, scientists and engineers involved in the project, and reporters who had rushed in from all over the country. But Lin Mo stood in the front row, with only Li Xiao and Zhao Gang by his side.

Chen Xueming was on the platform, watching simultaneously via video link.

The phone rang. It was a message from Chen Xueming:

"Old Lin, let me know when the launch is successful. I'm keeping an eye on the cable here and don't dare to step away."

Lin Mo replied:

"Okay."

Time passed minute by minute.

At 4:50, the countdown began.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven..."

Lin Mo clenched his fists.

"Three, two, one, ignition!"

A massive roar tore through the silence of the night. Orange-red flames erupted from the base of the rocket as thick smoke billowed, and the entire launch tower trembled. Then, that colossal rocket body slowly ascended, faster and faster, trailing a long plume of exhaust as it pierced the night sky and charged toward the heavens.

Enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted on the viewing platform.

Lin Mo tilted his head back, watching that ball of fire rise higher and higher, growing smaller and smaller until it finally became a point of light and disappeared into the clouds.

He pulled out his phone and sent a message to Chen Xueming:

"It's a success."

Three seconds later, Chen Xueming replied:

"Good. I'll be waiting for you."

At nine in the morning, the core module entered its planned orbit.

On the large screen at the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center, that tiny point of light was slowly traveling in geostationary orbit. At an altitude of 36,000 kilometers and a speed of three kilometers per second, it was perfectly synchronized with the Earth's rotation.

This was the space station core module furthest from Earth in human history.

chief designer Engineer Zhang stood before the screen, his voice trembling slightly. "Orbital parameters are normal, solar panels have deployed normally, and communication links are normal. The core module is in good condition."

A round of cheering erupted in the control center.

Lin Mo stood in the corner, watching the people hugging, shaking hands, and weeping. He did not join them, but simply watched quietly.

Li Xiao walked to his side and whispered, "Senior Brother, aren't you happy?"

Lin Mo shook his head. "I am. But this is only the beginning."

Li Xiao nodded and didn't say anything else.

Yes, this was only the beginning.

The core module was up, but there were still laboratory modules, node modules, docking modules, living modules... over a dozen modules, requiring dozens of launches and six months for astronauts to assemble them in space.

The real test was still to come.

At three in the afternoon, the first group of astronauts ascended in a manned spacecraft.

This mission had three astronauts—Commander Zhang Pengfei, forty-five years old, on his third trip to space; Engineer Li Wei, thirty-eight years old, a space station assembly expert; and Medical Monitor Wang Yanan, thirty-five years old, female, responsible for the astronauts' health security.

They would work on this orbit 36,000 kilometers from Earth for a full six months.

Before the launch, Lin Mo had one last video call with Zhang Pengfei.

"Commander Zhang," Lin Mo said, "I'm counting on you."

Zhang Pengfei smiled. "Chief Designer Lin, rest assured. We will definitely build the space station well."

Lin Mo nodded and didn't say more.

On the screen, Zhang Pengfei turned and walked toward the spacecraft, with Engineer Li Wei and Medical Monitor Wang Yanan following behind. The three of them wore white spacesuits, their steps firm, like three warriors heading to a battlefield.

The moment the rocket ignited and ascended, Lin Mo kept his head tilted up, watching that plume of exhaust cut through the sky.

Until it disappeared into the clouds.

A week later, the space station assembly officially began.

First mission: Docking the core module with the laboratory module.

The two spacecraft slowly approached each other in space, their relative speed only a few centimeters per second. On the ground, the engineers in the control center stared at the data on the screens, not daring to breathe.

"Distance: fifty meters."

"Thirty meters."

"Ten meters."

"Five meters."

"Contact!"

On the screen, the docking mechanisms of the two modules locked together precisely. Twelve latches tightened simultaneously, and the airtightness test was completed instantly—everything was normal.

Earth-shaking cheers erupted in the control center.

Zhang Pengfei's voice came from space: "Ground, docking complete. Laboratory module is in good condition."

The Commander-in-Chief's voice was a bit choked up: "Copy that, good work."

Lin Mo stood before the screen, looking at those two connected modules, and let out a long breath.

The first mission was complete.

Fifteen more to go.

Three months later, the space station began to take shape.

The core module, laboratory module, node module, living module, airlock module... seven modules were connected together, forming a massive T-shaped structure. The solar panels were deployed like two giant wings, quietly rotating in space.

The astronauts began their daily eight-hour extravehicular activities.

Engineer Li Wei and Medical Monitor Wang Yanan wore extravehicular spacesuits, floating in space with tools in hand, installing equipment bit by bit. Zhang Pengfei operated the robotic arm from inside the cabin to coordinate with their work.

This was the most complex space assembly project in human history.

Every extravehicular activity was a life-and-death test. Cosmic rays, micrometeoroids, equipment failures, human error... any small problem could lead to a major disaster.

But for three months, they hadn't made a single mistake.

Lin Mo had a video call with the astronauts once a week. Every time, he would ask the same question: "Do you need any help?"

Every time, the answer was the same: "No need. Everything is fine."

But Lin Mo knew that wasn't true.

He had seen Engineer Li Wei's logs, which said: "Five and a half hours of extravehicular work today. When I came back, my glove was worn through, almost causing decompression. I didn't dare tell the ground; I was afraid they'd worry."

He had also seen Medical Monitor Wang Yanan's logs: "Brother Zhang had insomnia yesterday and only fell asleep after taking sleeping pills. He said he missed his daughter. She's taking the college entrance exam this year, and he can't go back."

He knew even better that Zhang Pengfei only slept five hours a day, spending all his time checking equipment and practicing emergency plans.

But they never said anything.

Reporting only the good news and none of the bad.

Day 157, the space station assembly was complete.

The final module—the docking module—was successfully installed. Seventeen modules, forty-two launches, one hundred and fifty-seven days of space operations, and over three hundred days and nights of ground support.

All complete.

Zhang Pengfei floated in front of the space station's observation window, looking down at that blue planet. From 36,000 kilometers away, Earth was like a blue gemstone suspended in the black curtain of the sky.

"Ground," his voice was a bit raspy, "space station assembly complete. Awaiting further instructions."

In the control center, no one spoke.

After a long time, the Commander-in-Chief finally spoke: "Copy that. Good work. Welcome home."

Zhang Pengfei was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Ground, I would like to apply to stay a bit longer."

The Commander-in-Chief was stunned for a moment: "Why?"

Zhang Pengfei looked at the Earth outside the window: "I want to look a bit more."

In the control center, many people's eyes turned red.

Lin Mo stood in the corner, also watching that image on the screen. That small space station was quietly rotating in the blackness of space, its solar panels reflecting the sun's light like a man-made star.

36,000 kilometers away, the home of humanity was waiting.