Chapter 122: On-Orbit Assembly

"Blue Sky Express, mission accomplished" became Wang Hao's new catchphrase, and this guy even secretly designed a logo for himself.

A cartoon truck driver carrying a rocket was printed on his T-shirt, strutting around the research institute.

"Haozi, can you be more low-key?" Li Yang looked at Wang Hao's flashy T-shirt and said helplessly.

"After that shout of yours during the last live broadcast, 'Blue Sky Express' has been registered with the Space Administration; every time Chief Engineer Qi sees me, he has something to say but stops."

"What are you afraid of?" Wang Hao didn't care at all.

"It's so down-to-earth! It sounds better than those 'Long Sky' or 'Fast Boat' names, right? This is our people-friendly route!"

Jokes aside, everyone's eyes were fixed on the next mission.

The launch of "Blue Sky-2."

The core payload of this mission was the core module of the "Heavenly Clerk" robotic arm.

The goal was to verify its autonomous on-orbit assembly and operation capabilities in a space environment.

This time, the attention was even higher.

Not only were domestic media waiting in full battle array, but several internationally renowned aerospace information agencies and professional forums had also locked onto the live broadcast signal of this mission through public channels.

Many people wanted to see if that "biomimetic tentacle," which was rumored to be god-like, was truly worthy of its name.

On launch day, "Blue Sky-2" continued to perform steadily.

It precisely sent the special cargo bay containing the "Heavenly Clerk" arm's basic module into the predetermined orbit, successfully docking with the small experimental platform launched earlier.

The real performance started now.

The live broadcast signal switched to the external camera of the experimental platform.

Only then did the cargo bay door open slowly, and a metal base that looked a bit "crude" was pushed out.

This was the starting point of "Heavenly Clerk."

A "root node" that integrated power, control, and basic joints.

"Start." Li Yang gave the command softly at the ground control center, while the actual operation was taken over by the "Torch Dragon" system.

Under the gaze of countless eyes around the world, the quiet metal base suddenly "came alive."

A slender and flexible "main tentacle" (first-generation engineering prototype) reached out from the base, like a newborn vine, precisely grabbing the next joint module waiting to be assembled in the cargo bay.

"Click." A crisp locking sound came through the audio system.

The first joint module was docked perfectly with the base.

Immediately after, the second, the third... the "Heavenly Clerk" arm was like a metal giant python possessing self-consciousness, and also like a master of building blocks.

Continuously "taking out" new modules from the cargo bay and connecting them to the constantly extending body.

The movements were smooth, precise, and efficient.

Without direct human intervention, it was completely autonomously decided and controlled by the "Torch Dragon" based on preset programs and real-time sensor data.

It wound at times, pinched lightly at others, and even used the micro-tool head at the end to perform simple screw tightening operations.

"My god... it's growing itself!" A comment in English was instantly flooded in the live chat room of an international aerospace forum.

"Is this really a robotic arm? Not some kind of alien creature?"

"This smoothness... how far ahead are their AI and control systems?"

In the live broadcast screen, the "Heavenly Clerk" arm had expanded from the initial basic unit of less than one meter into a multi-functional operation platform about four meters long, with seven joints and changeable forms.

It even autonomously performed a "reset" test, disassembling the last few modules and reassembling them to demonstrate its maintenance and reconfiguration capabilities.

"This thing... can it perform surgery on itself?" Wang Hao was dumbfounded in the control center.

Although he understood the principle, seeing it with his own eyes still felt incredible.

Li Yang's eyes flashed with pride: "The advantages of modular design and biomimetic drive lie here."

"Theoretically, as long as there is enough energy and modules, it can expand infinitely, adapting to various complex on-orbit missions."

Only then did the "Torch Dragon" control the initially formed "Heavenly Clerk" arm, slowly approaching an old discarded weather satellite from another country that was drifting in a nearby orbit.

(Already obtained permission from relevant parties and reported to international agencies, as a non-cooperative target demonstration object)

This was an action that tested technology to the extreme.

The target satellite was in a state of slow, uncontrolled tumbling, and its surface structure was complex, making it almost impossible for traditional rigid robotic arms to approach safely.

But the "Heavenly Clerk" arm demonstrated its terrifying advantages.

Like a nimble snake, it easily synchronized with the tumbling rhythm of the target satellite, and the flexible structure effectively absorbed the micro-impact upon contact.

The sensor array at the end scanned the satellite surface rapidly.

Then, it chose a non-critical part and used the micro high-resolution camera at the "fingertip" to perform clear imaging at a millimeter distance.

One could even see the peeling paint and tiny meteorite impact craters on it due to years of disrepair!

The whole process was smooth and flowing, without the slightest delay, full of elegant ease and absolute control.

Professionals in the global aerospace industry watching this scene through public videos all felt varying degrees of impact.

This was not just demonstrating a new piece of equipment; this was announcing the emergence of a brand-new on-orbit service model—intelligent, flexible, autonomous, and safe.

"They... defined the standard for the next generation of space robotic arms." The Chief Technology Officer of a European aerospace agency pointed to the frozen live broadcast screen during an internal meeting.

Saying heavily, "We must re-evaluate our technical route."

After the live broadcast ended, the Longyin control center was once again drowned in cheers.

The complete success of this mission meant that Longyin had truly planted a solid pillar in the space field.

Feng Yan looked at the "Heavenly Clerk" arm dancing slowly against the backdrop of the starry sky on the screen.

He knew that from today on, there was an incomparably nimble "Dragon Claw" belonging to Longyin in space.

Just then, Chen Guang walked quickly to his side and whispered: "Brother Feng, 'Torch Dragon' just captured a segment of abnormal near-earth orbit signal flickering during the mission interval, pattern analysis..."

"Has a 73% similarity to the encrypted features of a certain foreign spy network monitored before."

"The signal source seems to be on the edge of the airspace we just demonstrated."

The smile on Feng Yan's face faded slightly, and his gaze sharpened.

It seems that this wonderful "solo performance" didn't just have spectators on the surface.

"Continue monitoring, stay vigilant." He ordered in a low voice.

"It seems that some people are even more 'concerned' about our progress than we imagined." ===== CHAPTER 123 =====