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Chapter 194: The Americans Return to Space, I’ll Take a

Flight (part 2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

This made their progress seem rather lackluster.

“Teacher, when did 1 say the project was finished?” Tang Rui had a bewildered look on his face after hearing the question.

“So, what kind of satellite did you send into space today?”

“That was a technology verification satellite, it’s a prototype. I haven’t even started making the actual combat satellite yet,” Tang Rui hurriedly explained.

What kind of combat satellite was this? It was referred to as the first generation of combat satellites only because of the current technical limitations.

But this did not mean Tang Rui was satisfied.

Just a laser weapon, and they dare call it a combat satellite with such little firepower?

Could a fishing boat with a water cannon be considered a warship then?

What a joke.

“Verification technology, eh? That’s not bad,” Professor Yu nodded upon hearing this.

That seemed more reasonable.

After all, Tang Rui had an aerospace plane. Sending up a prototype satellite for technical verification was still quite logical.

Being able to commute between the ground and Earth’s orbit anytime was indeed advantageous.

The tolerance for error was now exceptionally high.

Any technology that was undecided upon or deemed too risky for use could simply be sent up for a trial.

If it worked, then it could be installed. If not, then it would be abandoned.

In the end, it was just a bit of wasted fuel.

But when compared to the expense of an entire aerospace project, the cost of fuel was hardly worth mentioning.

Tang Rui accompanied Professor Yu on a tour of the Space Command Center, chatting for a while.

Originally, the Space Command Center was supposed to take over the control of the satellite, especially a combat satellite.

No matter how trustworthy the situation was, oversight was necessary.

However, after chatting with Tang Rui, Professor Yu decided to let the matter go. A prototype technology verification satellite didn’t necessitate oversight, especially since Tang Rui said he would retrieve the satellite in two days.

When the time came, the back-and-forth would be enough of a hassle.

And so, after a tour around the Space Command Center, a chat, and a meal with Professor Yu, Tang Rui piloted his fighter jet back to the company.

Tang Rui then went home.

The meeting on the American side had just concluded.

Experts from NASA and the military, along with the think tank, had analyzed the current situation.

In so many words, the message was clear.

The space program had to be restarted.

Congress was quick to act this time, approving over 60 billion U.S. dollars to reboot the space program.

The initiative was dubbed a ‘restart,’ yet in essence, it was a major operational ramp-up.

The Americans had never truly given up on space exploration; there just hadn’t been enough funds previously.

Plus, NASA was too much of a money pit.

A coffee machine listed at 450,000 U.S. dollars.

The U.S. government had no choice but to support private companies.

Otherwise, even if they could print money, they couldn’t keep up with NASA’s spending rate.

But now there was no choice. The pressure was too much.

Back then, even the Soviets hadn’t put this much pressure on America.

If they didn’t reboot the space program, once space dominance was lost, America’s good days would be over.

That night, the American spokesperson stated that they intended to return to space.

The moon landing was put back on the agenda.

This time, it wasn’t a joke.

The Americans had the foundation. As long as the funding was in place, returning to space really wasn’t a big deal.

This included several space projects that had been in development.

This time, they were given sufficient funds.

The progress of several projects suddenly began to skyrocket.

The next day, after waking up, Tang Rui saw the news online.

Hmm?

America was heading back to space. It seemed like this time they were serious, not joking around.

However, he didn’t take it seriously.

China was not the Soviet Union. In the aerospace sector, they’d carved out their own niche.

Even if Tang Rui didn’t have his cheats, we wouldn’t be scared.

Now, with Tang Rui and this cheat in existence, there was even less to worry about, come what may.

The solar system was so vast.

Could you really stop someone from reaching for the heavens?

There wasn’t much discussion on the internet about America’s return to space. China’s own netizens were just watching the spectacle.

After seeing this news, most people around the world didn’t take it seriously at all.

Because space was not something small countries could play with.

Forget small countries, rven among the five great powers, currently only two could afford to engage in it, and the remaining three…

One was half-dead; they had the technology but no funding.

The other two lacked the technology, or rather, their technology was incomplete. They had some money, but not much.

If they wanted to make a move in the space domain, they really didn’t have the strength.

However, not all countries were indifferent.

India, too, for instance, wanted to ascend to the skies, and their space program had its own sharp practices.

After seeing this message, Tang Rui’s mouth twitched.

India was quite remarkable.

You’d say they didn’t have the technology, but they actually had some substance.

You’d say they had substance, but what exactly had they achieved with it?

After breakfast and catching up on the news.

Tang Rui returned to his laboratory to continue his research on his liquid rocket engine. This was a project that had to be completed.

Don’t ask why.

What man wouldn’t yearn for a powerful launch?

Since he had the capability, why not build one?

Even if it wouldn’t be used.

Even just having it on display at home would be a source of joy.

In the following week, Tang Rui went on a grind, working on his rocket engine in the laboratory. The progress was very smooth. In just two more days, the rocket engine would be completed.

But that night.

While Tang Rui was assembling the main body of the rocket, he received a message from Red Lotus that America was planning to launch a satellite..