Rebirth: Starting from Lighting Up the Tech Tree

Chapter 177 Success

On the large screen in the launch control center, the countdown numbers were ticking.

10:14:30. Thirty seconds left until the launch window.

Zuo Cheng stood in front of the control console, his hands resting on the table, his eyes fixed on the main screen. The largest screen in the center displayed the Sky One on the launch pad, surrounded by real-time data from various systems. Fuel tank pressure was normal, battery voltage was normal, attitude angle was normal, and all parameters were within the green zone.

Yu Ying stood to his left, and Li Guodong to his right. More than twenty engineers sat at their respective workstations, no one spoke, only the sound of keyboards clicking and the low hum of the air conditioners running.

"Nationwide live broadcast signal confirmed." Han Lu's voice came from the back row, "The number of viewers has exceeded 30 million."

Zuo Cheng didn't turn around. His attention was entirely on the screen.

10:14:45.

"Launch pad evacuation complete," Captain Qin's voice came through the walkie-talkie. "You can proceed with the automatic launch procedure."

Li Guodong took a deep breath: "Flight parameters confirmed, orbital parameters input correct, guidance algorithm verification passed."

10:14:55.

"Five seconds to prepare," the automated announcement system's female voice rang out in the control center.

Zuo Cheng felt Yu Ying's hand quietly grasp his arm.

"Four."

On the screen, the four engine nozzles at the bottom of the Sky One rocket began to pre-cool, and white steam billowed out from the bottom of the rocket body.

"three."

Zuo Cheng opened the technology tree interface in his mind. The light from the sixth branch shone steadily, and the thin line at the base of the branch extending towards the seventh position trembled slightly. He closed the interface.

"two."

Everyone in the control center held their breath.

"One. Ignition."

A muffled thud echoed through the concrete wall. On the main screen, four jets of blazing white flame erupted from the bottom of the Sky One rocket, reflecting off the launch pad to create a dazzling sea of ​​fire. The rocket began to vibrate, and under immense thrust, it slowly lifted off the launch pad.

"Takeoff confirmed." Li Guodong's voice trembled slightly. "Altitude 10 meters, speed 12 meters per second, attitude normal."

The rocket ascended faster and faster, its exhaust trail leaving a long white trail in the sky above the Gobi Desert. The engineers stood up in unison, looking up at the large screen.

"Altitude 500 meters, speed 80 meters per second, first-stage engine thrust normal."

"At an altitude of 1,000 meters and a speed of 160 meters per second, pass through the point of maximum dynamic pressure."

Zuo Cheng watched the data stream. The rocket was climbing along its predetermined trajectory, and the AI-enhanced guidance algorithm was adjusting the thrust distribution in real time to ensure the stability of the rocket body in the atmosphere.

"Altitude 10 kilometers, speed 600 meters per second, Level 1 shutdown preparation."

The control center was so quiet you could hear a heartbeat.

"Level 1 shutdown."

A large patch of flame suddenly disappeared on the main screen. All four first-stage engines shut down simultaneously, and the rocket continued to rise due to inertia. One second later, the first- and second-stage separation mechanism activated, and the first-stage rocket separated from the second stage.

"Separation confirmed. Secondary ignition."

The second-stage vacuum engine emitted a thin, bright flame, propelling the payload further up the trajectory. The first-stage rocket, under inertia, continued its upward trajectory, beginning its return journey.

"Level 2 flight normal. Altitude 50 kilometers, speed 2 kilometers per second."

Zuo Cheng switched the screen. In the image transmitted back by the second-stage rocket, the blue sky was deepening, and an arc-shaped horizon appeared at the edge. Cangqiong-1 was leaving the atmosphere.

"Star-rocket separation preparation."

"Separation confirmed. Load into orbit."

A cheer erupted in the control center. Engineers clapped and some jumped for joy. The verification satellite had successfully entered its designated orbit; the main mission was complete.

But Zuo Cheng did not move.

"Level 1 return status?"

Li Guodong immediately switched the view. The main screen displayed the real-time position and attitude of the first-stage rocket. It had completed its rollover, with the engine nozzles pointing towards the ground, and was using aerodynamic deceleration.

"Altitude forty kilometers, speed two kilometers per second, attitude stable."

"Altitude 20 kilometers, speed 500 meters per second, landing legs unlocked."

Zuo Cheng stared at the screen. The first-stage rocket was descending, its four landing legs slowly unfolding from the bottom of the rocket body.

"Altitude five kilometers, speed eighty meters per second, engine restart in preparation."

Everyone fell silent. This was the most crucial moment.

"Altitude one kilometer, speed forty meters per second, engine ignition."

On the screen, a short, intense burst of flame erupted from the base of the first-stage rocket. The descent speed decreased dramatically.

"Height 200 meters, speed 8 meters per second."

"Altitude 100 meters, speed 4 meters per second, attitude normal, target aligned with recovery platform."

Zuo Cheng clenched his fist.

"Height: 50 meters; Speed: 2 meters per second."

"Height 20 meters, speed 1.5 meters per second, landing legs fully deployed."

On the main screen, the first-stage rocket slowly descends, with its four landing legs extending toward the recovery platform.

"touch."

The first-stage rocket landed steadily in the center of the recovery platform, the shock absorbers on its landing legs compressing slightly. The rocket body stood upright on the platform.

"Recovery confirmed. First-stage rocket landed successfully, with a deviation of 1.2 meters."

There was a moment of silence in the control center, then a deafening roar of cheers erupted. The engineers hugged each other, some with tears in their eyes, others laughing heartily. Li Guodong grabbed Zuo Cheng and patted him hard on the back.

Zuo Cheng closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

He reopened the technology tree interface in his mind. The thin line extending from the sixth branch was thickening, its light growing brighter. The outline of the seventh position began to appear.

Commercial spaceflight.

Zuo Cheng closed the interface and walked to the window. In the distance, the launch tower was still emitting faint smoke, and the contrails in the sky were gradually dissipating.

Yu Ying walked over, a smile on her face: "You succeeded."

"It's a success," Zuo Cheng said, "but this is only the first one."

"One is enough," Yu Ying said. "From today onwards, no one will ask whether 402 can build rockets."

Zuo Cheng didn't speak. He looked out the window, a slight smile playing on his lips.

On the large screen in the control center, the image switched to the recovery platform. The first stage rocket of the Sky One stood there steadily, its white paint reflecting a dazzling light in the sunlight.

The CCTV anchor's voice came through the live broadcast: "A historic moment. China's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle has been successfully launched, and the first stage has been precisely recovered."

Han Lu walked over with her phone: "President Zuo, our phone has been ringing off the hook. Xinhua News Agency, Reuters, Bloomberg, and at least twenty investment institutions are all asking the same question."

"What is it?"

"When will the next rocket launch?"

Zuo Cheng smiled and said, "Tell them, in three months."