UGB Chapter 164 Launch Successful
Chapter 164 Launch Successful
The night sky in Jiuquan is free of light pollution. The stars are densely packed across the sky, more than Zuo Cheng has ever seen in Hangzhou.
Zuo Cheng stood on the launch site's viewing platform, gazing up at the launch tower standing silently in the darkness in the distance. The Long March 2C carrier rocket, like a drawn sword, its white body gleaming under the lights of the launch tower. At the top of the rocket, inside the fairing, were ten verification satellites from 402 Technology. Each satellite weighed 1050 kilograms, totaling over ten tons. This weight would soon be propelled by the rocket into space, 36,000 kilometers away.
He was surrounded by people. Yu Ying was to his left, wrapped in a military overcoat, her scarf covering half her face. Li Guodong was to his right, his hands in his jacket pockets, his chin slightly raised, staring intently at the tower. Further away were Qiu Pei and Wei Jia, while Shen Yiming stood on the outermost edge, clutching a bottle of mineral water. Han Lu was further back, her phone glued to her hand, constantly monitoring media activity.
The temperature was minus three degrees Celsius. The wind from the Gobi Desert blew in from the north, cutting like knives on the face. But no one felt cold.
"Two hours to go." The commander's voice came over the loudspeaker, calm and precise.
Zuo Cheng glanced at his phone. The signal was weak, but he could still barely receive the message Han Lu had sent earlier: 23 media outlets across the country were broadcasting live, and the number of online viewers had exceeded eight million.
Eight million people are watching this Gobi Desert.
"Are you nervous?" Yu Ying's muffled voice came from behind the scarf.
Zuo Cheng thought for a moment: "I'm not nervous. We've waited too long."
"One hour countdown. Begin propellant loading."
The atmosphere on the viewing platform visibly tensed. Some people started rubbing their hands, while others kept checking their watches. Zuo Cheng noticed that Li Guodong's shoulders were slightly tense; this was the first time he had seen such nervousness in Li Guodong. Even when he was in charge of the overall design of launch vehicles in the aerospace system, this old man had never shown any fear before a launch.
But this time is different. These ten satellites are not just aerospace engineering projects; they represent the first step for 402 Technology from the laboratory to space, and are what Li Guodong most wanted to prove after leaving the system.
"Thirty minutes to go. Evacuate."
The work platform in the distance began to slowly retract, and technicians left the launch area along the evacuation route. The lights on the launch tower were switched off one by one, leaving only a few aviation obstruction lights flashing in the darkness.
The entire Gobi Desert fell silent.
Zuo Cheng could hear the wind, the breathing of the people around him, and even the beating of his own heart.
"Fifteen minutes."
Yu Ying quietly took Zuo Cheng's hand in hers. Her fingers were cold.
Five minutes.
The sound from the radio became exceptionally clear.
"Three, two, one. Ignition."
In an instant, the whole world lit up.
The Long March 2C's engine ignited in a fraction of a second, orange-red flames shooting from the rocket's base like a suddenly erupting volcano. A tremendous roar swept over everything, not just audible, but felt throughout the entire body; the ground began to tremble, and even the railings on the viewing platform shook. The power was immense. It wasn't sound, nor light, but something deeper, a vibration emanating from the depths of the earth, resonating in every bone. Zuo Cheng felt his chest vibrate in unison with that frequency, his heartbeat merging with the rocket's rhythm.
The rocket slowly lifted off the launch pad. One second, two seconds, three seconds. The speed increased, and the orange-red flame, like a giant torch, burned a large hole in the Gobi Desert night sky. The trail of the flame stretched a dazzling orange-red ribbon across the night sky, extending towards the horizon, becoming thinner and longer.
"Level 1 normal."
"Flight proceeding normally."
"Telemetry signal is normal."
The broadcast kept blaring reports from the commanders, each word crisp and clear.
The rocket soared higher and higher, its orange-red flame becoming a bright spot, then a point of light in the night sky. Finally, even the point of light disappeared, leaving only a slowly spreading contrail fading into the darkness.
"Level 1 separation. Confirmed."
Some people in the crowd applauded. Zuo Cheng didn't applaud; his gaze remained fixed on the direction that was no longer visible.
"Second stage ignition. Confirmed."
"Flight proceeding normally."
Li Guodong's shoulders finally relaxed.
"Satellite and launch vehicle separated. Confirmed. All ten satellites are in orbit."
A cheer erupted from the viewing platform. Qiu Pei and Wei Jia hugged each other; tears were streaming down Wei Jia's face, but she didn't wipe them away, letting them freeze into two bright streaks in the cold wind. Shen Yiming crushed the mineral water bottle, but he seemed completely unaware of it. Liu Wei stood in the back row, calling Chen Hao, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear: "Success! On track! All ten are on track!" The faint cheers coming from Chen Hao's end could be heard even through the phone.
Zuo Cheng didn't cheer. He simply stood there, head tilted back, gazing at the now-silent night sky. Cheers rose and fell around him; some laughed, some shouted, but it all seemed veiled by a layer of water.
Yu Ying released his hand and looked up at the sky. Her eyes were a little red.
"Where is it?" she asked.
"Thirty-six thousand kilometers," Zuo Cheng said. "Geostationary orbit."
Ten verification satellites are deploying their solar panels at that altitude. Each panel, once deployed, covers an area of fifty square meters, resembling ten butterflies spreading their wings simultaneously in space. Ground control stations will check the status of each satellite one by one over the next few hours. If all goes well, the first batch of telemetry data will be available tomorrow morning.
But at this moment, Zuo Cheng didn't need data to tell him the results. The rocket launch was successful, the satellite-rocket separation was successful, and the satellite entered orbit. These were things he had witnessed firsthand; no verification was needed.
"Let's go." Zuo Cheng turned around. "Let's go back and wait for the data."
Li Guodong followed behind him, pausing when they reached the exit of the viewing platform. The old man glanced back at the launch tower, but nothing could be seen in the darkness.
"Twenty-three years," Li Guodong said in a low voice.
Zuo Cheng heard this, but didn't respond. Some things don't need a reply.
The convoy drove back along the Gobi Desert highway, endless darkness stretching out the car windows. Zuo Cheng sat in the car, watching messages flood his phone. Han Lu sent a message: Trending #1, twelve million viewers online.
Twelve million people witnessed this moment.
Zuo Cheng turned off his phone and closed his eyes. In the darkness, he seemed to see ten satellites silently spreading their wings in space 36,000 kilometers away, facing the eternal sunlight.
This is the furthest step he has ever taken in his life.
But this won't be the last step.