Chapter 269 Manned Test
January 28, 2040.
5:00 AM, Equatorial Pacific Ocean, Space Elevator Platform.
On the eastern horizon, a smear of orange-red was spreading. The sea surface was as calm as a mirror, reflecting the gradually brightening sky. The lights on the platform flickered off one by one to welcome the arrival of a new day.
Chen Xueming had been standing in front of the Elevator Car for a full twenty minutes.
The silver-white hull shimmered with a soft luster in the morning light. The hatch was wide open, and inside, three astronauts were performing final checks. Zhang Pengfei sat in the pilot's seat, verifying the data on the instrument panel item by item. Engineer Li Wei was checking the communication equipment while speaking in low tones with Medical Monitor Wang Yanan.
Everything was calm.
But Chen Xueming's palms were drenched in sweat.
"Director Chen." Wang Lei's voice came from behind him. He held a cup of hot coffee and carefully handed it over, "Have some."
Chen Xueming took the coffee and took a sip. It was bitter and very refreshing.
"Are they nervous?" Wang Lei asked softly.
Chen Xueming shook his head: "I can't tell."
Wang Lei looked at the three people in the cabin, his eyes full of admiration: "They're truly incredible."
Chen Xueming nodded: "Yeah."
6:00 AM, the global live broadcast began.
Over a dozen camera positions were set up on the platform, filming the Elevator Car and that invisible cable from different angles. The footage was transmitted to all parts of the world via satellite, watched by billions of people simultaneously.
In Beijing, countless citizens gathered in squares, staring at large screens.
In New York, the giant screens at Times Square also switched to the live broadcast.
In London, people watched on their phones while on the subway.
In Tokyo, office workers secretly opened their computers.
In Moscow, an elderly couple sat in front of the television, tightly holding each other's hands.
The commentator's voice spread across the world in various languages:
"Friends in the audience, this is the live broadcast site for the manned testing of the sky ladder project. Three Chinese astronauts are about to board the Elevator Car and travel along the 36,000-kilometer-long cable to the geostationary orbit Space Station. This is a feat never before seen in human history..."
On the platform, Chen Xueming checked his watch. 6:15 AM.
He walked to the hatch and looked at the three people inside.
"Are you ready?"
Zhang Pengfei stood up, walked to the hatch, and reached out his hand.
"Ready."
Chen Xueming gripped his hand and gave it a firm squeeze.
Then Engineer Li Wei came over and shook his hand.
Then Medical Monitor Wang Yanan came over and shook his hand.
All three looked at him, their gazes calm and determined.
Chen Xueming wanted to say something, but nothing came out. He simply nodded and took a step back.
The hatch slowly closed.
7:00 AM sharp.
"Elevator Car self-check complete," Zhang Pengfei's voice came through the comms, steady and clear.
"Cable clamping mechanism unlocked," Engineer Li Wei reported.
"Power system activated," Medical Monitor Wang Yanan reported.
Chen Xueming stood before the command console, staring at the data on the screen. Lin Mo was watching simultaneously via video link from the base, with Li Xiao sitting beside him and Zhao Gang standing behind him.
The eyes of the entire world were focused on this invisible cable.
Chen Xueming took a deep breath.
"Begin ascent."
The numbers on the screen began to jump. The Elevator Car rose slowly along the cable, its speed gradually increasing from zero to five meters per second. Ten meters, fifty meters, a hundred meters... it rose higher and higher, the platform beneath it growing smaller and smaller.
"Altitude: one thousand meters."
"Five thousand meters."
"Ten thousand meters."
Xiao Zhou's voice echoed in the command center; every number felt like a hammer striking people's hearts.
Lin Mo stared at the screen, his palms soaked in sweat.
Li Xiao whispered from the side, "Senior, your palms are sweating."
Lin Mo didn't speak, just kept staring at the screen.
8:00 AM, altitude: fifty thousand meters.
The Elevator Car passed through the stratosphere, and the sky outside the window had changed from azure to deep purple. Below, the clouds spread out into a white ocean that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Inside the cabin, the three astronauts were recording data according to plan.
Zhang Pengfei looked out the window and said softly, "It's so beautiful."
Engineer Li Wei leaned toward the window: "It's even more beautiful than seeing it from the Space Station. Because you can see the whole Earth."
Medical Monitor Wang Yanan recorded physiological data nearby: "My heart rate is a bit fast, but within the normal range."
On the ground, the command center was silent. Everyone stared at the screens, at those constantly jumping numbers.
"Altitude: sixty thousand meters."
"Seventy thousand meters."
"Eighty thousand meters."
"Ninety thousand meters."
"One hundred thousand meters!"
A burst of cheering erupted in the command center. The Karman line, the start of space—they had crossed it.
Chen Xueming didn't cheer; he just stared at the screen, at that point of light that continued to rise.
One hundred kilometers was only the beginning.
2:00 PM, altitude: ten thousand kilometers.
The Elevator Car had already entered space. Outside the window, the Earth had become a massive blue sphere suspended in the black canopy of heaven. Stars twinkled in the distance, bright and clear.
Inside the cabin, the three astronauts had unbuckled their seatbelts and were floating in the zero-gravity environment. They conducted various scientific experiments according to plan, recording data and occasionally waving at the camera.
On the ground, Lin Mo finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Senior," Li Xiao whispered, "it's already ten thousand kilometers, everything is normal."
Lin Mo nodded, but his eyes didn't leave the screen.
"Keep watching."
5:00 PM, altitude: twenty thousand kilometers.
The Elevator Car had surpassed the orbits of the vast majority of satellites. Outside the window, the Earth grew smaller, and the starry sky grew denser.
Zhang Pengfei said to the camera: "Ground, everything is normal here. We feel good."
Engineer Li Wei chimed in from the side: "Just a bit hungry. When can we eat Master Liu's braised pork?"
Medical Monitor Wang Yanan smiled: "We'll let you eat your fill when we get back."
On the ground, Chen Xueming finally showed a smile.
He turned his head and looked at Lin Mo on the screen.
"Old Lin, looks like there are no problems."
Lin Mo also smiled.
"It's still early. There's still sixteen thousand kilometers to go."
8:00 PM, altitude: thirty thousand kilometers.
The Elevator Car was approaching geostationary orbit. Outside the window, the Earth had become a blue disc occupying a third of the sky. The stars were packed densely, like crushed diamonds scattered on black velvet.
Zhang Pengfei looked out the window and remained silent for a long time.
Then he said to the camera: "Ground, I'd like to say a few words."
Chen Xueming: "Go ahead."
Zhang Pengfei took a deep breath.
"Daughter, Daddy is watching you from space. You have to do your best."
In the command center, many people's eyes turned red.
Engineer Li Wei said softly beside him, "Brother Zhang, your daughter must be watching."
Medical Monitor Wang Yanan nodded: "The whole world is watching."
11:00 PM, altitude: thirty-six thousand kilometers.
The Elevator Car arrived at the predetermined position.
Outside the window, the Space Station was not far away, its silver-white hull glittering in the sunlight. That invisible cable extended from beneath them, connecting Earth and space.
"Ground, we've arrived." Zhang Pengfei's voice was somewhat emotional.
Chen Xueming stared at the numbers on the screen—36,000 kilometers, precise and unerring.
He let out a long, deep breath.
Then he smiled.
"Welcome to the Space Station."
A thunderous cheer erupted in the command center. Xiao Zhou jumped up from his seat, hugging the colleague next to him while laughing and crying at the same time. Technicians embraced each other; some knelt on the ground, while others shouted to the heavens.
On the platform, workers set off the fireworks they had prepared long ago—red, green, and gold blooming in the night sky.
Lin Mo smiled on the screen, and as he smiled, his eyes turned red.
Li Xiao wiped away tears beside him: "Senior, they succeeded."
Zhao Gang stood behind them without speaking, but the corners of his mouth were trembling slightly.
Chen Xueming sat in his chair, looking at the point of light on the screen that had reached its destination, and tears slid down.
Thirty-six thousand kilometers.
Over seven hours.
They did it.