Chapter 140 - 136 Hashim Launch_1

On February 29, Ma Yilong drove the XC4 for 4 hours and 22 minutes, of which 4 hours and 4 minutes were under autonomous driving mode. During this time, tests were conducted in various areas such as highways, wilderness, factories, and towns.

All of these were precisely recorded by satellites and summarized and downloaded to the terminals of Xin’an Company.

In order to provide Ma with a better user experience, Xin’an specially gave Ma’s XC4 twice the computational support to enhance AI performance.

After all, Ma was too high-profile and did not use a pseudonym rigorously, so he was quickly identified as a key car owner.

With the current level of technological development, Xin’an’s intelligent driving system could lead by about 5 to 6 years.

The subtle encouragement for users to use intelligent driving more often existed to collect as much data as possible, aiming to make the next generation of XW161 vehicle computers evolve to be more intelligent.

The already existing advantage, coupled with the ongoing data collection, would allow the cultivation of artificial intelligence to have a more advanced database, thus creating stronger AIs.

However, it was somewhat amusing to think that Ma hadn’t even driven his own roadster but was already using a rival’s XC4.

...

On March 4, at Qiongzhou Aerospace Launch Center.

A large group of people with white headscarves gathered underneath the erected New Yuan-2, bowing their heads and praying reverently.

On the launch pad, clergy from six different countries circled around the stout tail of the rocket, chanting while reaching into golden bottles and sprinkling holy water over the engine and the surface of the shell.

The surface of this New Yuan-2 was also out of the ordinary, covered with crooked, strange fonts and even golden prints.

In the end, the group of people in white robes and headscarves bowed to the ground, performing a multitude of complex rituals before they finally rested.

The clergy on the launch pad also stopped blessing. An elder closed his eyes for a moment before speaking solemnly,

"The Lord said, His dwelling shall be built upon the dawn’s rise."

The launch site personnel hiding on the side looked at the launch schedule—originally set for 8 o’clock the next morning. Could that be considered the dawn’s rise?

Beneath them rose a chorus of praises to Allah, and then Prince Swetan devoutly said to Lin Ju,

"The messenger of Allah said it’s best to launch at dawn tomorrow. How soon is dawn in Qiongzhou?"

Lin Ju had no idea, but fortunately, Director Huang of the Launch Management Bureau stepped in to answer,

"Around 6:20, I suppose."

Lin Ju also quickly promised, "Your Highness, how about we launch the Hila Space Station No.1 Cabin at 6:20 a.m. on March 5th?"

Swetan, "Thank you, Lin. But the children of Allah will not let a friend be disappointed. Every person at the launch site shall receive 1,000 US Dollars."

Lin Ju: ...

Director Huang: ...

Director Huang, "Rest assured, all personnel at the launch center will ensure the successful launch of the Hila Space Station No.1 Cabin. But this money..."

Swetan, "It is a blessing from Allah. You must accept it, otherwise, Allah would be angry."

Director Huang, "This... We respect your beliefs and can cooperate to an extent."

Initially, Abe secured a cabin for 500 million US Dollars each, and in combination with three other countries, purchased 5 XS-62 cabin segments to build the "Hila" space station.

As per the plan, the Hila Space Station would operate independently. Due to the opulence of these Saudi tycoons, the station, meant to house only four people, had a total volume of an astounding 3100 cubic meters!

Even if 20 people were to live in it, the per capita living space would be 150 cubic meters, excessively spacious.

Since the production capacity of the B-level Base is now fully deployed, 5 simple tourist cabin segments can be built simultaneously, three at a time. The last segment is expected to be launched in June, averaging one per month.

The first segment was christened the "Hashim," considered to be the dwelling of Mohammed in heaven, a residence for the deity.

Hence, they invited the most famous clergy from various countries to bless the space station and the rocket.

Initially, they wanted to sprinkle holy water on the cabin segments, but ultimately they were talked into sprinkling it on the rocket instead.

Sprinkling water on the rocket was just that, and although in theory, the space cabin segments are not that fragile, it’s still wise to be cautious.

Early the next day, the launch personnel barely slept, working in shifts to ensure alertness.

Fortunately, the Saudis’ 1,000 dollars truly invigorated everyone; they were energetic and the launch commenced precisely at 6:20 a.m.

At that moment, the sun had just risen, and the rocket’s strong exhaust plume almost matched the brightness of the sun. The crowd of headscarved worshippers prayed non-stop, seemingly ascending to heaven themselves.

In fact, it was almost so. In the world of Abe, their interpretation was that the "Hila" Space Station would serve as a place for Allah to meditate. Astronauts living there were essentially serving the Lord, residing in the same place as the deity.

With this rhetoric, the Hila Space Station had become another holy site in the hearts of Abe’s people. Maybe in the future, they’ll need to learn how to track its orbit so that they can perform dusk prayers to the passing space station.

The launch date for the last segment, Cabin No. 5, was already set: June 26th for a pilgrimage activity, just in time for the MSL brothers to watch the rocket launch...

Moreover, it was heard that Abe had increased the budget for the China Construction Bureau, which was building a launch site in Mukala, by 10% demanding the site to be completed around May so that on the first day of the Feast of the Sacrifice, June 28th, the Mecca Spaceship could take off from there, sending six Abe astronauts to the already assembled space station.

Cyber superstition, it seems.

But none of this had much to do with Lin Ju. Whether it was the Mecca Spaceship or the New Yuan rocket, there were no issues; air transport was fast enough, taking about 7 to 10 days to complete the launch preparations.

At 6:32 a.m., the Hashim, Hila Space Station No.1 Cabin, successfully entered a 400KM orbit.

Thus, in space, Tiangong, ISS, and Hila operated simultaneously, which sounded rather miraculous.

NACA found it miraculous; Russia found it miraculous; and all ISS member countries found it miraculous.

When they monitored Hashim’s entry into orbit, they then uncovered a grave issue: New Yuan Aeronautics meant business; they weren’t just making PPT presentations to deceive!

Previously, when Abe signed a cooperation plan directly worth 10 billion US Dollars with New Yuan, including the space station, spaceships, and launch sites, the aerospace agencies were not optimistic.

That amount of money, how could it be enough? It must have been Lin Ju deceiving people, or he would end up asking for additional investment later.

To their surprise, within less than two years, the first space station segment was constructed?

Envious of Abe’s possession of a cabin segment like the XS-62, ISS countries recognized it as a super segment weighing more than 40 tons and over 600 cubic meters in volume, with a docking port diameter capable of 2.5 meters X 2.5 meters!

So ISS made a decision that conformed to their ancestors’ wisdom: They invited the Hila Space Station to combine with the International Space Station for joint operation.