Chapter 266 Training Begins

January 20, 2040.

Hainan Astronaut Training Center.

At seven in the morning, Zhang Pengfei, Engineer Li Wei, and Medical Monitor Wang Yanan stood before a massive simulation module, looking up at the silver-white giant.

This was a 1:1 model of the Space Elevator's Elevator Car, identical to the one on the platform. Three meters in diameter and five meters tall, it featured a silver-white hull, a circular hatch, and small portholes. It was mounted on a massive steel frame capable of simulating various attitudes the Elevator Car would experience while ascending along the cable.

"Want to go inside and take a look?" Chen Xueming asked with a smile as he stood nearby.

Zhang Pengfei nodded and was the first to climb in. Engineer Li Wei and Medical Monitor Wang Yanan followed behind him.

The interior was more spacious than expected. Six seats were arranged in two rows, each equipped with seatbelts, communication equipment, and life-support interfaces. Above the seats was an instrument panel displaying various data such as altitude, speed, time, and cabin environment. There were also several storage lockers on the cabin walls containing emergency equipment.

"This is much roomier than a spacecraft," Engineer Li Wei said, looking around. "A spacecraft gets incredibly cramped with just three people."

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan sat in one of the seats, buckled her seatbelt, and tested it out. "The seat is quite comfortable. For a seven-day journey, comfort is very important."

Zhang Pengfei stood before the instrument panel, studying the data. "Director Chen, what do we need to do during these seven days?"

Chen Xueming walked in and stood beside him. "The first three days are mainly for adaptation. The Elevator Car's ascent speed is very slow, only five meters per second, so you'll have plenty of time to observe out the window, record data, and interact with the equipment. After entering geosynchronous orbit during the final four days, there will be some scientific experiments and system tests."

He pointed to a red button on the instrument panel. "This is the emergency return button. At any time, pressing this will cause the Elevator Car to automatically detach from the cable and initiate the return procedure. The return trip takes about twelve hours, much faster than the ascent."

Engineer Li Wei leaned over to look. "We hope we never have to use this button."

Chen Xueming nodded. "I hope so too."

At nine in the morning, the first theoretical lesson began.

The classroom wasn't large, with only five people present—the three astronauts, Chen Xueming, and Zhao Gang. Lin Mo participated via video link, his face appearing on the large screen at the front of the classroom.

Chen Xueming stood in front of the whiteboard and began his explanation.

"The principle of the Space Elevator's Elevator Car is actually quite simple." He drew a vertical line on the whiteboard. "The cable is fixed, and the Elevator Car grips the cable via a clamping mechanism, ascending along it using electric power. The entire process requires no propellant or complex orbital calculations. It's just like..."

He thought for a moment and smiled.

"Like climbing a rope that's been stood upright."

Engineer Li Wei raised his hand. "Director Chen, this rope is thirty-six thousand kilometers long. Won't climbing it for seven days be exhausting?"

Chen Xueming laughed. "It's not tiring. The Elevator Car does the climbing; you just sit there."

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan asked, "What happens if there's a power outage?"

Chen Xueming pointed to another diagram on the whiteboard. "The Elevator Car has a backup power supply that can last for seventy-two hours. If power cannot be restored within seventy-two hours, the emergency return procedure can be initiated, allowing it to slide down automatically using gravity."

Zhang Pengfei asked, "What if the cable breaks?"

Chen Xueming was silent for a second before saying, "The cable won't break. The design safety factor is five, meaning it can withstand more than five times the actual load it carries. Furthermore, we have a real-time monitoring system; any minute damage will be detected in advance."

He looked at Zhang Pengfei and said seriously, "Commander Zhang, I can guarantee with my life that the cable is safe."

Zhang Pengfei nodded and asked no more.

At two in the afternoon, the emergency situation drills began.

Zhao Gang was in charge of this section.

He stood before the simulation module with a stern expression. "Everyone, the following training might be uncomfortable. But please remember, today's discomfort is for tomorrow's safety."

He opened a box containing various pieces of equipment.

"First subject: Depressurization handling. If a pressure leak occurs in the Elevator Car during ascent, the cabin pressure will drop rapidly. You need to put on your oxygen masks within thirty seconds while simultaneously checking for the leak and activating the emergency repressurization system."

He took out three oxygen masks and handed them to the three of them.

"Begin."

Zhang Pengfei was the first to put his on. His movements were very practiced, completing it in just a few seconds.

Engineer Li Wei followed closely behind, but his mask strap got stuck for a moment, making him five seconds slower.

Zhao Gang walked over and helped him adjust it. "Engineer Li, the strap needs to be fastened like this. Too loose and it falls off easily; too tight and it's uncomfortable. Find that balance."

Engineer Li Wei nodded and tried again. This time he was faster.

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan was the third; her movements were steady, neither fast nor slow, but every step was accurate.

Zhao Gang looked at them and nodded with satisfaction.

"Second subject: Emergency return. If an unrepairable fault occurs, you need to press the emergency button within thirty seconds while preparing for the return."

He pointed to that red button.

"Begin."

All three lunged for the button simultaneously. Zhang Pengfei was the fastest, Engineer Li Wei was second, and Medical Monitor Wang Yanan was third.

Zhao Gang frowned. "Medical Monitor Wang Yanan, you were slow."

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan panted, "Commander Zhao, I was just thinking, if there really is a fault, shouldn't we confirm the cause before pressing it?"

Zhao Gang looked at her, a flash of approval in his eyes.

"You're right to think that," he said. "But in a real emergency, you won't have time to think. The purpose of training is to make the body react faster than the brain."

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan nodded. "Understood. Let's do it again."

The second time, she was two seconds faster.

The third time, she was faster still.

When her time matched Engineer Li Wei's, Zhao Gang finally smiled.

"Good. Rest for ten minutes, then the next subject."

At six in the evening, it was time for psychological counseling.

Zhao Gang took the three of them to a quiet lounge, brewed some tea, and sat down.

"Is today's training tiring?" he asked.

Engineer Li Wei was the first to speak. "Tiring. But manageable."

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan nodded. "The intensity is a bit higher than I expected."

Zhang Pengfei didn't speak, just slowly sipped his tea.

Zhao Gang looked at him. "Commander Zhang, something on your mind?"

Zhang Pengfei was silent for a few seconds before saying, "I'm thinking about my daughter."

Zhao Gang was taken aback. "How old is she?"

"Eighteen, she's taking the Gaokao this year." Zhang Pengfei set down his teacup. "During our last call, she said she's under a lot of pressure and can't sleep. I wanted to comfort her, but I didn't know what to say."

Zhao Gang nodded and remained silent.

Engineer Li Wei spoke up from the side, "Brother Zhang, your daughter knows you're here, right?"

Zhang Pengfei nodded. "She knows. She said, 'Dad, go with a peaceful mind, I'll wait for you to come back.'"

As he said this, his eyes grew a bit red.

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan gently patted his arm. "Brother Zhang, she'll understand. Once she gets into university, you should bring her up here to see."

Zhang Pengfei was stunned. "Up here?"

Medical Monitor Wang Yanan smiled. "Yeah, once the Space Elevator is officially operational, ordinary people will be able to go up. You can take her for a ride then and let her see where you work."

Zhang Pengfei looked at her, silent for a few seconds, then smiled.

"Good idea."

Zhao Gang watched them, a smile touching the corners of his mouth as well.

At nine in the evening, Chen Xueming and Zhao Gang stood on the rooftop of the training center.

Above them were dense clusters of stars, and in the distance were the city lights.

"Brother Zhao," Chen Xueming suddenly asked, "do you think they can do it?"

Zhao Gang thought for a moment. "They can."

"Why so certain?"

Zhao Gang pointed to the distant night sky. "Because they know what they're doing. It's not blind bravery; it's facing risks with a clear head."

Chen Xueming nodded and said nothing.

Zhao Gang continued, "I've seen many brave people. Some are full of hot blood, charging in and never coming back. Others are deliberate, taking every step steadily. These three are the latter type."

Chen Xueming smiled. "That's good then."

The two stood in silence, watching the starry sky.

After a long time, Chen Xueming said, "Brother Zhao, thank you."

Zhao Gang turned his head to look at him. "For what?"

"For helping me train them."

Zhao Gang laughed. "Why so polite? This is my mission too."

In the distance, the lights of the simulation module were still on. The three of them were still inside, practicing over and over those procedures they might never need to use.

But they knew that the point of training was to turn those procedures into physical instinct.