Rebirth 09: Synthetic Male God

Chapter 1050: Eye of Artemis Launched
Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida, East Coast.

Today is the launch day of the "Eye of Artemis".

This is a historic moment, at least for Ami.

As early as the end of the last century, during the Bush administration, the "Return to the Moon Plan" was proposed, requiring Americans to return to the moon they had conquered around the year 2000.

The entire plan will include the development of a series of new spacecraft, launch vehicles and related hardware, which will be extremely costly.

Unfortunately, this project was not advanced in the end and became just a slogan.

At the beginning of the 2013th century, the plan was proposed again during the Bush administration, and NASA renamed it the "Constellation Project" with the goal of allowing Americans to return to the moon in 2016 and reach Mars in .

The entire plan will include the development of a series of new spacecraft, launch vehicles and related hardware, which will be extremely costly.

More than ten years after the project was implemented, the "Constellation Project" that cost tens of billions of dollars was terminated due to the failure to complete a series of equipment such as the Orion manned spacecraft and the Ares rocket, and the first launch was postponed more than 20 times.

But soon, a few years later, NASA once again launched the "Return to the Moon Plan 3.0", renamed "Artemis Project", with the goal of sending astronauts safely to the moon and returning before 2024, and establishing a normalized lunar residence mechanism to pave the way for future manned landing missions on Mars.

Originally, NASA carried out publicity and promotion at its own pace. No, it was research and development. However, with the step-by-step development of China's aerospace industry and the stunning rise of Taiyi Tiangong, the situation has changed greatly. NASA had to split the "Artemis Project" again and added a subsidiary project "Eye of Artemis":
An unmanned lunar exploration program to demonstrate the country's strength.

This is why today is important.

This is the first and only time in more than 20 years, a generation, that the United States will actually launch a rocket to the moon.

If there is no postponement.

Although it was not astronauts and mountain bikes that were sent up there, the unmanned probe is not simple either.

At this time, the Kennedy Space Center gathered aerospace talents from all over the United States to escort this launch.

The rocket providing the launch service is not the legendary "Space Launch System SLS (a rocket model)" developed specifically for the "Artemis Project", because the test time of this rocket has been postponed all the way to 2022.

Therefore, NASA adopted the most conservative "Atlas series", which has been launched more than 500 times and is the least likely to go wrong.

For this special era, NASA's biggest requirement for the "Eye of Artemis" is to avoid mistakes.
The halo of American space travel has been shattered, but it is better to keep the residue in your pocket than flush it down the toilet.

Recently, rumors have been rife that the unconventional new boss "Art" is planning to sign a general T-order to reorganize the entire aerospace sector to face the competition from the global aerospace craze, and wants to send a specialist to check the funding issues of the past 20 years because he is dissatisfied with NASA for messing up everything.

Therefore, this battle is extremely important to NASA, and no problems can occur again.

In the slightly dim command center, Hansen stood straight among the crowd, staring at the screen in front of him.

"Atlas 5" has completed vertical assembly and started fuel injection, with one hour left until the launch window.

Hansen was lost in thought as he looked at the rocket. Although the "Astronauts Series" had been iterated five times, the logo and LOGO had not changed.
When he was a teenager, he decided to study aerospace after watching a rocket launch in the Texas desert. He is indeed the "God of the Universe".

Now he is 75, and the images before his eyes are somewhat overlapping.
It took him a moment to realize that there was indeed an overlap, and his vision began to blur, with double images and inexplicable spots of light.

Taking a deep breath, he pressed his eyes a few times, and when he opened them again, the condition had disappeared.

Behind him, a fat middle-aged man with curly hair suddenly said, "Hansen, do you think it will be postponed today?"

At NASA, no matter what you send, delays are common.

Many projects were pushed back dozens or even twenty times, and finally were simply abandoned.

Hansen shook his head: "Probably not. All test results are normal."

The middle-aged natural curly man said: "I thought you would look forward to the postponement. After all, the new director is pushing this project too hard. Everyone can see it."

Hansen cracked his knuckles. "If there is a problem, I will be the first to call a halt. No matter how tight the time is, a delay is better than failure. But there is no sign of this at the moment."

The middle-aged curly man said: "What's the point of doing 'unmanned lunar exploration' in our current era? Taiyi Tiangong has already planned to build a factory on it, and there may be 'Made in the moon' in the future."

"There is still their 'spacecraft' floating in orbit. If I may use this term, I don't think it makes any difference. We can only send a small vehicle up there, and we can't even bring back lunar soil."

Hansen's eyes were unfocused again, but his tone was firm. He knew that he had to stabilize the confidence of others at this time.

"We always have to have a beginning. The path of science is one step at a time, and any step cannot be missed."

"Maybe we are not advanced now, but without our actions, what will the latecomers do? Just like the opponents. They faced a situation very similar to ours 20 years ago, an opponent so far away that they could hardly see it, but they did not give up."

"If 20 years ago, Chinese astronauts had completely given up on space travel because they thought the spacecraft was too far away from us, they wouldn't have surpassed us now."

Ziranjuan smiled, agreeing with the statement.

After a while, Hansen suddenly asked, "So why do you wear lipstick?"

Ziranjuan coughed dryly and said, "You know the recent trend. The new director is more welcoming to L**T people. And since I announced that I was gay, I have received many benefits in various aspects."

Finally, he added in a low voice: "But my orientation has not changed. I am just a homosexual whose biological gender is male and psychological gender is female, but I happen to like women. You don't have to worry about Hansen."

Hansen pursed his lips, agreeing with the statement.

Reports came one after another from the command center. This is the largest space launch center in the United States. Although this generation of astronauts is not so familiar with scientific research missions that break through the boundaries, they launch many commercial satellites on a regular basis, so everything is currently in order.

An hour passed quickly, the fuel was injected, and the launch window came. Many senior officials came to the command room at some point.

Among them were those wearing J-shirts, those wearing suits, and several senators, powerful figures, and even two WH advisers.

Obviously, no matter how much regret the "Eye of Artemis" has, it still stirs the hearts of Americans today.
After the end of the "Tech Expo" across the country, this is the first response from the US technology sector. Even if it is not loud, it cannot be shouted halfway because of the phlegm.
Six in the morning, New York time.

Everything is ready, and a low voice came from the communication channel.
"All stations, this is launch control. We are go for launch."

The protective cover on the red launch button was flipped open.

The commander exchanged glances with the person in charge, Hansen, and took a deep breath.

“Countdown commencingThreeTwoOne”

"Engine start!"

Following the commander's order, the operator pressed the red button.

At the Kennedy Space Center, a violent flame appeared on Launch Pad 3.

After a brief pause, the rocket began to rise rapidly!
"Lift off!"

At 6:02 New York time, Atlas 5, carrying the Eye of Artemis, ignited successfully and left the launch pad.

However, for aerospace, this is just the beginning!
.17 seconds after takeoff!
"Atlas 5" began its programmed turn and adjusted its direction.

.50 seconds after takeoff!
Kennedy Base could no longer capture images of Atlas 5. Without the artificial "mimetic command system" of Tai Tian, ​​they could only rely on a large number of sensors and telemetry data.

.140 seconds after takeoff!
The "Atlas V" booster separated successfully and the first-stage rocket ignited successfully.

230 seconds after takeoff.

The speed of "Atlas 5" began to approach the first cosmic speed, and it also left the atmosphere.

However, God does not favor America, at least not its astronauts.

Just when it is time to separate the fairing and expose the payload compartment to orbit.
The command failed.
"Failed? What do you mean?!"

"I don't know! No feedback! The cowling won't open."

"Activate the backup plan and try to delay the opening."

".Invalid backup plan still invalid"

The fairing of "Atlas 5" is separated by peeling, that is, it splits from the middle. Generally, it is completed by 22 explosive bolts, which have to open synchronously within a few milliseconds. But if the main command fails, you can try another way, opening them one by one in a certain direction. Although it increases the risk, it is better than being completely locked.

Now, both solutions have failed.
For a moment, the command center was in a panic.

However, soon, a voice that was not as deep but unusually calm sounded.

"Execute instruction 134B!"

Hansen crossed his chest with one hand and supported his chin with the other. His eyes were much calmer than his figure.

The commander did not dare to ask what 134B was. He flipped through the manual like crazy. The Space God had been in service since the s, and it had accumulated too much content.

The instructions they commonly use now are all four-digit numbers, damn 134B!

Hansen simply pulled the commander and his chair back, and his skinny arms unexpectedly burst out with remarkable strength. Then he started a series of operations on the computer.

After a while.
Sensors show that the fairing has separated successfully.
This shocking reversal made everyone want to cheer, but they received another piece of bad news almost at the same time.

Sensors show that the payload bay has been hit.
The roller coaster-like development of the situation made the command center silent, with only Hansen's heavy breathing as the only sound.
"Hansen. How did you do it? What happened?"

Hansen exhaled a trembling breath and said, "Detonating Cord: There is a circle of detonating cord structure under the fairing of the Cosmic God series, which is used to disassemble the rocket on the ground in case of complete launch failure."

".In extreme cases, it can be used as an 'overhead' fairing jettisoning method"

The so-called "over-the-top" method is an old method that is different from the most common "peel-off" method today.

If "peel-off" is like opening a "pistachio", splitting the fairing into two.

Then the "over-the-top" method is to pull off the pen cap, which is to take the entire fairing off from the top.

However, this method has been eliminated by the mainstream, and naturally has its disadvantages, that is, it is difficult to control at high speeds, and the fairing separation process is likely to damage the "payload".

Hansen looked at the feedback instruction of "payload compartment collision" and felt his heart bleeding. As a precision instrument, it was hard to say whether this would cause any impact.

But after all, now was not the time to show hesitation. He quickly calmed down, stood up straight again, and said loudly:
"Keep reporting telemetry, everyone. Our work is not done yet."

----

In another corner of the earth, Zhou Rui watched the launch through NASA's official website.

Of course, he certainly didn't know so many details. To be precise, the scene ended about three minutes after takeoff.

At least he didn't notice any problems during the launch.

About half an hour later, NASA announced that the launch was a complete success. However, at the subsequent press conference, Hansen Doyle, the "founder of the Apollo program" who had confronted him across the air, did not look very good.

Well, whether in terms of mood or health, this is not something he needs to worry about.

There is a thirteen-hour time difference between the two sides. It was already 11 o'clock at night in Shanghai. The four old comrades had already gone back. Han Rongze and Li Huihua were taken back to their home in Xu Pu by car, while Zhou Weigang and Yao Peili were next door.

Han Zinyin and Li Wenqian were taking a shower and locked the door.

Zhou Rui put down his phone, stretched, and silently opened the system. All three task bars were in an unfinished state.

"Entry task [Time Management Master], current progress (98/100)."

"Entry mission [Eugenics and good parenting], current progress (44/100)."

"Entry Mission [Crisis Intuition], Current Progress (92/100)"

Let’s talk about the first one first.

Good news, the progress bar is moving.

Bad news, the progress bar didn't move completely.
More than ten days after returning from the Hi-Tech Expo, he had only accomplished one thing.

This was a risky move on his part. He discovered that after moving to three places within 24 hours, such as the office in the Smart Building, Tong Xin's apartment, and Jiang Wan Hanlin's bedroom, the system finally recognized that he was a "time management master" to some extent and gave him a point.

This fully demonstrates that without a good physique, you can't be a master of time management.

I'm not tired, but I feel a little bit of psychological pressure. Zhou Rui is very busy. He has to take care of this and other things besides work. He also has to take care of Ziyin and the others' emotions and not make himself look like he's on drugs.
It's not good to be impatient as soon as the green light comes on.

So don't be impatient about this. Wait until you have the chance to take action. There's no need to create discord just to speed up progress.

As for the second task [Eugenics], it is also closely related to this. It is a new task that Zhou Rui gets after obtaining [Explosive Power].

He has already figured out the acquisition mechanism.
There is only hard work but no harvest. Give a little at a time, whether actively or passively.

He gained 44 points in ten days. Needless to say, that’s how strong he is, right?
It has basically reached the average level of the Internet.

As for the last one, [Crisis Intuition], I had originally planned to complete this task quickly after returning to Shanghai, but due to lack of time, I temporarily stopped at (92/100).

He was just shooting bullets, he didn't have time to dodge bullets
After checking the progress of the task, Zhou Rui said that he didn't like the feeling of having progress but not completing it.
As he walked towards the bathroom, he pulled out a special lighter from his pocket.

Han Zinyin and Li Wenqian's laughter and chatter could still be vaguely heard from inside. It was obvious that they thought they were safe today as long as they locked the door.

With a light press of the lighter, a thin metal wire popped out. It only took Zhou Rui one second to open this simple indoor door lock.

Sorry, door locks may keep out thieves, but they can't keep out [Agents].

No one can stop me from gaining experience today!

(End of this chapter)