Chapter 848

Chapter 848: The Blooming of the Spaceport

While the latest group of astronauts reveled in their excitement, the launch site at the satellite launch center had returned to tranquility.

It would take several hours before personnel dressed in protective gear entered the launch site for cleanup.

During this time, traces of highly toxic rocket propellant might still linger at the launch site.

The launch vehicle had crossed multiple latitudes, ascending to an incredible height.

In just a short while, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center successfully completed the launch procedure again, sending a massive capsule into its designated orbit in outer space.

In the vacuum of space, where there is no air to carry sound, not a single sound could be heard. The thunderous noise within the atmosphere diminished as altitude increased and the air grew thinner.

Under the monitoring of ground crews and space satellites, a capsule, having just abandoned its nose fairing, began to enter low Earth orbit. The boundary between dark and light in the atmosphere revealed that beyond the brightness lay an endless darkness.

The capsule’s exterior split open into two petals, peeling back like a molting creature, revealing an inner compartment that opened into eight gaps running from head to tail, widening with each moment.

Like flowers blossoming, the inner layer of the capsule suddenly opened, exposing components intended for the spaceport.

The blooming flowers instantaneously bore fruitful results; a slight flicker of light at the bottom of the flower cup signaled the gentle departure of the petals from the central fruit.

The flowers and buds slowly fell towards Earth, soon to vaporize into a wisp of blue smoke in the atmosphere, completing their mission while shedding weight, accelerating as a faint blue halo illuminated the bottom of the capsule. A small plasma engine released weak thrust, sufficient enough to propel the heavy components to a higher orbit.

In the low Earth orbit area, approximately 800 kilometers above the ground, a nascent spaceport began to take shape. Though it appeared skeletal, multiple orbital capsule components gradually assembled into a massive structure.

The unfinished spaceport constantly sparkled with lights as individuals observed, revealing many different types of intelligent robots busily working.

Unlike a space station formed of complete capsules like a train, the massive spaceport could only achieve its assembly in bits and pieces within outer space.

From the moment the first cargo capsule launched, the assembly process never ceased; nearly every group of cargo capsules transported two to three intelligent engineering robots, tirelessly working according to pre-established procedures under ground control supervision.

Nearby, solar photovoltaic arrays spread like feathers, providing energy for the intelligent machines and lighting systems at the construction site.

Although low Earth orbit still possessed some gravity to automatically clear dangerous space debris, as humanity explored further into space, risks had increased. Typically, after finishing a segment, it became necessary to spray rapidly expanding foam material on critical points to guard against unknown space debris.

Regardless, the construction site of the spaceport inevitably lost at least one robot each time, and the initially sprayed hardened foam had already suffered numerous scars, necessitating a second application.

In space, even a speck of dust could achieve a fire rate comparable to that of an electromagnetic railgun. Upon collision, it could instantly convert terrifying kinetic energy into thermal energy, effortlessly vaporizing weak components.

Internally, the plan aimed to establish a vast activity space to facilitate a self-sufficient ecological environment, easing the pressure of resupply from the ground.

The spacious living quarters would not only accommodate more astronauts for living and research but also could eventually take on the role of a supply center, laying a solid foundation for future explorations into even farther reaches of space.

The under-construction spaceport also reserved possibilities for future development, potentially expanding into a space smelting plant, machining factory, and giant space dry dock to prepare for the manufacturing of large spacecraft.

Newly arrived components adjusted their speeds under the control of the micro plasma engines, ensuring they matched the same orbital speed of the constructing spaceport as they slowly approached, beginning to integrate into the installation system.

Weak illumination lit up several areas inside the components. Three bug-like multi-limbed engineering robots crawled out, connecting formally to satellites. After establishing contact with the main portion of the spaceport, they swiftly joined the busy construction team.

Every cubic space within the cargo capsules was fully utilized, packed tightly. Upon release, not only were there the shells but also a multitude of integrated spare parts, far exceeding initial appearances.

…

“The no-fly zone is lifted! Prepare for takeoff!”

Upon receiving clearance from the tower, the ground crew at the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group shouted toward Lin Mo and two other pilots, who were lounging under the wing of the Y-8 transport aircraft.

“There are still three hours until sunset.”

Lin Mo glanced at his watch, noting that the clearing time was about ten minutes earlier than anticipated.

After the gold giant dragon was trapped within Longinus’s spear, the watch, evolved from the entity, merely functioned based on preset mechanisms, displaying the time accurately.

“Let’s go! We need to get back early! Aim to reach the Quzhou base before sunset.”

Cao Yueyang patted his backside and stood up from the concrete ground. The weather in Chengdu was no less oppressive than the famous "Four Furnaces" of China, particularly with no trees in sight at the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group airport.

The pilots, waiting for the no-fly zone to be lifted, had declined offers to enjoy the comfort of the air-conditioned room with cold drinks.

“Let’s go; I’m about to doze off!” Major Chen Jun stretched and stood up as well.

With the assistance of the ground crew, the three of them climbed into the J-10B fighter jets, and almost simultaneously, the roar of the AL-31FN engines erupted from the rear, drawing in massive amounts of air through the DSI air intake below the cockpit, rapidly converting it into high-temperature, expanding airflow.

The domestically produced WS-10 engines used in the J-10 were not as mature and reliable as the WS-15X engines mounted on the J-14 and J-20, so Lin Mo and his team still operated the version equipped with Russian AL-31FN engines.

The four engines of the Y-8 transport aircraft also roared to life, briefly warming up before it initially taxied to the runway. As it accelerated, the three J-10B fighter jets started moving in succession.

Each pilot of the three fighter jets was a top-notch fighter pilot, well-trained in standard pilot training, enabling them to find synergy effortlessly. The three jets formed a triangular attack formation, almost simultaneously rushing onto the runway while maintaining their formation as they took off.

“Now we commence escort! Lead is Colonel Cao, left wing is Little Lin, right wing is Major Chen. Cruising speed is 550 kilometers, maintaining altitude at 8500 meters!”

Colonel Cao Yueyang’s voice echoed through the headsets of the two fighter jets behind him.

“Little Lin received!”

“I, Major Chen, also received!”

This was simply a mutual reminder to accommodate the transport aircraft. In reality, the three-aircraft team needed no changes, and using their surnames as flight codes was more discreet.

The J-10B fighter jet can reach a maximum speed of Mach 2, yet considering the bulkier, slower Y-8 transport aircraft, they had to maintain a lower speed and altitude, keeping a safe distance while escorting the Y-8 from the side rear.

Despite the empty space under the wings of the three fighter jets, the belly of each jet housed a fully stocked 23mm caliber cannon, prepared for any emergency.

The standard flight formation composed of one transport aircraft and three fighter jets was currently taking a route through the inland waterways of China.

Unlike Japan, which lacks depth and significant strategic defense forces, China boasts one of the world’s leading air defenses. Even when facing sudden situations, it was difficult to stage a "Chengdu HOT."

Any attackers wishing to escape unharmed from the presence of three top domestic pilots had nearly no chance.

Although they were designed as third-generation fighter jets, the avionics systems, radar, and onboard equipment of the J-10B met fourth-generation standards, particularly the structure and performance metrics, which referenced the F-22’s "Gemini" standards.

To ensure reliable operation of an inherently unstable fighter jet, continuous automatic fine-tuning of the aerodynamic control surfaces was necessary. This complex task was nearly impossible solely through human operation; thus, developing unstable fighter jets required advancing fly-by-wire control technology, allowing onboard computers to manage intricate coordination. The flight control capabilities of the J-10B demonstrated excellent performance.

Even though Lin Mo had become accustomed to piloting the "Red Eagle" and "Monstrous," he felt no unfamiliarity when he once again operated the J-10 fighter jet. Instead, he experienced a comforting sense of familiarity that matched his operational habits.

Through the nuanced feedback from the control stick, he could feel that the B version was even more responsive than the A version, allowing him to almost relive the sensations from when he piloted the modified J-10A.