Chapter 754 - 727: Tacit Understanding

Three days after Lin Ju got married, on August 1st, the first 055-class ship began sea trials, preparing for delivery to the navy.

That same afternoon, representatives initiated a proposal to clearly define the classification of "space shuttle" type spacecraft and proposed establishing domestic review standards for nuclear-powered vehicles.

The next day, a proposal titled "On Expanding the Scope of Applications for Aero-Space Planes and Strengthening Space Launch Capabilities" was submitted, requesting to continue increasing the service number of aero-space planes.

This included a demand to purchase no fewer than 25 Cloud Ascend series and its modified aero-space planes within three years, to have at least eight serviceable nuclear-powered aero-space planes/shuttles, with half of all models to be handed over to the Air Force, and a total budget of 200 billion yuan.

After the submission of this proposal and the heated discussions it sparked, rumors quickly spread that the Central government intended to launch another reform of the military, shifting the construction center of the future to space, to build an integrated offense and defense system in space, and for the first time, officially declared the establishment of the Space Force.

In the week that followed, as people discussed this massive aero-space plane plan and content about the Space Force, America also suddenly dropped major news:

On August 10th, the Pentagon submitted a bill to Congress, calling for the reorganization of the Space Force, established in February (originally in June in the original timeline), as an independent military branch but more akin to a space operations force, with a part of the Air Force to be merged into it.

The bill also claimed that the Space Force is the focus of the future, demanding that it be made the center of future construction, and it was submitted alongside a plan to purchase 10 "Super Starships."

The "Super Starship" referred to the newly designed nuclear-powered interstellar spacecraft, for which the Pentagon was now proposing to place an order for 10 units, aimed at future deep space exploration and forming a scientific research fleet.

It also mentioned the SSTO aero-space planes that were being developed, with an enormous order of 55 units called out at once.

The two great powers, one after the other, showed tremendous enthusiasm for the Space Force, leaving the whole world somewhat puzzled.

In mid-August, the French representative stated after a United Nations meeting that the existence of the "Space Force" contravened the principle of demilitarizing space and hoped that the relevant parties would not continue to escalate the military presence in space.

After this statement, Russia and the UK quickly expressed their agreement. However, the "relevant parties" did not offer any response.

Almost in parallel, Endeavour completed its first unmanned lunar mission, round-tripping in only 75 hours, doubling the speed of past missions.

In late August, the proposal to expand aero-space plane production was approved, and almost at the same time, America’s Space Force reform proposal was also approved, with Congress beginning to discuss the specific numbers for acquiring "Super Starships" and SSTOs.

The entire month of August passed in what could be described as a tacit race for attention on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, during which United Mining quietly carried out nine launch missions to the Moon, delivering the remaining three segments to Yushu Base, thus all six segments of Yushu Base were now in place, total weight exceeding 150 tons, making it the largest manned habitat on the Moon.

Expansion of the U-Tu space station was thus completed, the operational mass exceeding 300 tons, with the remaining launch missions being for equipment and supplies, preparing for the third detonation plan in September.

The third detonation plan was set to use a 15-megaton hydrogen bomb, all of which were old models of the country’s second-generation warheads, making the deployment and detonation process quite simple, scheduled for September 9th.

On September 1st, NACA launched the second "Origin" lander to the Gateway space station and announced a manned lunar mission for mid to late September:

The next mission would be carried out jointly by Artemis VII and Artemis VIII, with all six members undertaking lunar activities.

Artemis VII would launch from the Kennedy Space Center, and Artemis VIII from the Starship launch pad in Boca Chica, with a launch interval of less than 12 hours.

The reason for sending so many people is due to the breakthrough in two technologies:

NACA unveiled its first "Pioneer I" type passive-fit "Exoskeleton Space Suit," replacing the previous "potato" suits;

Bigelow Company announced the creation of a practical permanent inflatable habitat module; at the same time, they introduced versions for use on space stations and on the Moon’s surface.

This kind of inflatable habitat module, once inflated, takes on a fixed shape, with the supporting gas reacting with other reagents to solidify into a foam-like substance, forming a permanent support around the module walls.

When compressed, its volume isn’t too large; the "Origin" lander could just fit one, and the first lunar inflatable module could provide a space of 12 square meters, becoming Columbus Camp’s first functional module.

...

On September 4, the assembly passed the environmental standards for nuclear-powered Space Shuttle exhaust, and on the same day, NPAE’s "Mount Everest" joint engine received atmospheric flight clearance.

"For this little card, we waited—almost two months!"

Xie Liaofu, upon receiving the expedited approval document, was quite pleased with the "A" grade indicated on it.

In setting emission standards for nuclear-powered atmospheric flyers, a system ranging from A to E was established, based on the amount of radioactive residues in the exhaust and their half-lives. Only grades at least C were allowed to fly freely within the atmosphere, and could apply for routes in accordance with ordinary aviation standards.

The proposal of these standards passed within a month, which was already lightning speed. Unlike other proposals, convincing the public to accept a nuclear reactor flying overhead was not easy, let alone a fleet of them.

Establishing these standards involved prominent figures from all walks of life, and the requirements could definitely be described as stringent; it barely persuaded the vast majority of representatives to approve it, even with the effort of marshaling the opinion-shaping machinery.

The Enterprise’s transfer flight in July actually fell under "black flight" status; thereafter, it conducted tests at the second experimental base in the northwest, only carrying out flight tests below 6,000 meters without breaching the atmosphere.

Since the focus was on cooperation with the military, Xie Liaofu and Androff took turns supervising on-site. Meanwhile, they had already come up with many improvement schemes but were still looking forward to making an atmospheric flight.

The moment the standard proposal passed in Capital, he couldn’t wait to start preparing for takeoff—in fact, with Enterprise’s design standards, it could take off as long as the computer self-check passed and there was enough fuel; a detailed inspection was required only after 10 trans-atmospheric takeoffs and landings.

When the ground crew opened the doors to the bunker-style hangar, Xie Liaofu had already reached the hatch before the flight crew; his identity was authenticated by AI, which automatically opened the door as he approached.

Under the astonished gaze of the flight crew and ground personnel, Xie Liaofu removed his bulky jacket and trousers, revealing a brown-green one-piece suit beneath. It was then that everyone noticed his boots were also integrated, instantly realizing what he intended to do.

"Chief designer, Mr. Xie, you can’t do this!"

Meng Senlin, a former astronaut and now the chief pilot of the Space Shuttle’s crew, immediately rushed forward; however, Xie Liaofu had already discarded his clothes and hopped into the Enterprise. By the time Meng Senlin entered, Xie Liaofu had already secured his helmet and was commanding the AI to perform a system self-check; colorful indicator lights rhythmically lit and dimmed.

After fixing his earpiece, Xie Liaofu’s voice transmitted through a speaker:

"I understand this Shuttle better than any of you. In New Yuan, even the boss participates in vehicle tests. This is my responsibility.

Enterprise, confirm the command—Meng Senlin’s piloting privileges!"

The computer aboard the Enterprise immediately responded, very humanely sliding and rotating the control seat in front of the console on the floor, stopping accurately beside Meng Senlin. It even considerately lit a warning light for helmet storage, reminding him not to forget.