Chapter 1272 Witnessing the Speed ​​of China

"Academician Chang..."

Zhao Fuyuan turned his gaze away from the map:

"This... was also calculated in advance?"

Kuaizhou-31 is certainly not a missile. In fact, even the Dongfeng-, which serves as its prototype, cannot possibly target Guam.

However, it is still a pleasure to take advantage of this opportunity when no one dares to complain and let the US troops in Guam feel the pleasure of having their heads washed by rockets.

Anyway, the rocket's altitude at this moment has far exceeded the generally defined upper limit of airspace (100km). Besides, it has not really crossed directly above your territorial waters node, so there is no way to make any explanation.

"If we had planned ahead, it wouldn't have been so bad..."

Chang Haonan grabbed a piece of paper and wiped the sweat from his palms:

"I just thought that most people probably haven't seen this scene with their own eyes, so I'll give them a chance to appreciate it..."

Zhou Pingjian next to him almost couldn't help laughing out loud:

"You're a very nice person then..."

"..."

As the flight altitude increases further, the moisture content in the surrounding environment decreases rapidly, and the conditions for producing any visible contrails are no longer met.

Therefore, the beautiful jellyfish cloud actually only lasted for a short time before disappearing without a trace.

As they were talking, the rocket had already flown to the exact center of the second tracking and control area.

"Changjiang No. 5 report, the second stage engine is shut down, and the speed increment control adjustment begins!"

Compared to a first-stage rocket that is designed entirely to increase speed and altitude, the core second stage, while continuing to propel the rocket body, also needs to start energy management and reduce orbital errors.

However, the combustion conditions of solid rockets cannot be completely stable in theory. Therefore, the work of verifying and adjusting the orbit accuracy can only be carried out in the last two glide segments.

On the computer screen, several sets of parameters that had previously remained stable began to jump rapidly, and the target flight trajectory transmitted back by Yuanwang-5 also experienced several consecutive and almost undetectable deviations.

At this altitude, optical equipment can no longer observe too many details. Only a camera fixed on the third-stage rocket inside the fairing can still capture an almost completely dark picture.

But even without context, it's still possible to see that the rocket's posture is changing.

In fact, according to Chang Haonan's design, Kuaizhou-1 will perform two rounds of trajectory calibration during the entire orbital process to ensure that the most ideal accuracy is achieved on the first orbital entry, and the satellite itself no longer needs to make subsequent adjustments.

However, because the Yuanwang series of survey ships were not designed to perform such missions, detailed comparison data between the power stage flight trajectory and the ideal trajectory cannot be provided for the time being.

The energy management effect of the entire flight process can only be evaluated through the final orbital parameters.

"Throw the fairing!"

As the command was given, a dazzling white light split from the center of the originally dim camera screen, exposing the body of the Fishing Boat No. 1 satellite to the space environment.

About ten seconds later, the second and third stage rockets separated, and the third stage rocket ignited almost simultaneously, and the flight attitude of the star-rocket combination slowly changed from oblique upward to horizontal.

On the computer screen, the numbers representing the satellite's altitude began to change at a slower rate.

401.20.

401.21.

401.22.

……

Compared to liquid engines that can be shut down once, solid three-stage rockets must push the satellite directly into a preset orbit in a relatively short operation.

To make an analogy, when reversing into a parking space, you are required to do so in one go and you must also maintain a certain speed.

The error will naturally be larger.

The previous orbital entry algorithm was equivalent to the first generation of automatic parking, which was to mechanically remember “turn the steering wheel x times in x seconds and open the accelerator to x degrees” and then repeat the operation.

The new orbital entry algorithm tested on Kuaizhou-1 is equivalent to an intelligent driving system with full sensors and computing power. It can calculate the most appropriate operation in real time according to the actual situation on site and achieve precise parking in complex situations.

Finally, after a few long minutes.

The number slowly jumped to 401.28km.

The three-stage rocket still retains a certain amount of residual thrust at this time, but the satellite no longer needs this excess energy.

"Star and arrow separate!"

At the moment the satellite was unlocked, the altitude data jumped for the last time and finally stayed at 401.30km.

At this moment, Chang Haonan clearly heard the sounds of exhalations coming one after another around him.

401.30km is exactly the height of space debris No. 40396 expected to be in two hours.

It is also the target orbital altitude for this launch.

"Changjiang-401.30 report, target confirmed, orbital altitude 0.01km, error less than km..."

Before he finished speaking, applause and cheers rang out simultaneously on both sides of the radio call...

……

Compared to the excitement in China, the situation across the Pacific Ocean is not so optimistic.

After losing consciousness from a fit of rage, Chief Griffin spent two days in the hospital.

As a result, after regaining consciousness and completing a physical examination, the first news he heard was that China was broadcasting the implementation of the "Space Fishing Boat" project live to the world.

Fortunately, he was mentally prepared and did not faint again.

Instead, he asked Meyer to quickly turn on the TV in the ward.

The Chinese side clearly spared no expense in this live broadcast.

In addition to the Chinese reporters interviewing on the spot, there was even English simultaneous interpretation during the broadcast, for fear that overseas audiences would not understand.

"I am now at the temporary rocket launch site in the northeast of Hainan Province. Just now, Commander Zhou Pingjian, who is in charge of this launch mission, has confirmed to us that the mission satellite has successfully entered orbit. In about 10 minutes, the onboard camera will be turned on. At that time, audiences around the world will be the first to see the scene of Fishing Boat No. capturing space debris..."

Obviously, this can be said to be the most exciting live broadcast in human history.

At 400km above the ground, catch a "flying fish" that can fly nearly 8km per second.

Griffin's brain was still a little bit unreliable at this time. Looking at the weed-covered background behind the reporters, he frowned slightly:

“Is this the spaceport?”

"Uh...yeah."

Meyer nodded:

"About half an hour ago, they used a launch vehicle here to launch a... rocket-like thing. The whole process was broadcast live."

This statement made Griffin's expression even more confused:

"What do you mean by roughly a rocket?"

Before Meyer could organize his words, the picture on the TV screen flashed, and as usual, he began to review the wonderful scenes of the entire launch process.

The first scene, of course, is from countdown to launch.

Then, there is no need to answer this question.

Griffin saw with his own eyes the rocket, called Kuaizhou-1, ejected from the tube, ignited, climbed, and adjusted its trajectory...

For a moment, he began to doubt whether he was still in a coma.

It was not until the entire review process was nearing its end and the iconic music representing the success of the launch mission sounded that I finally woke up from the dream.

"The Chinese definitely didn't decide to launch this launch two days ago... They probably decided on the current launch window from the beginning, and the previous actions were just a trick to confuse us..."

Griffin's thoughts suddenly became clear, and he struggled to get out of bed while speaking:

"Hurry up and bring me my coat. I have to get back to NASA as quickly as possible..."

"The Chinese are expected to launch a formal capture operation within the next two to three days. We must give some response before then..."

Judging from the current situation, it is completely impossible to stop China's actions.

The only thing left to do is to restore some public opinion as much as possible.

For example, by disclosing detailed information about debris No. 40396 on the official website, or announcing that China would be allowed to share NASA's global tracking and control network during the entire capture process.

Regardless of whether these actions are really useful, they can at least give the outside world a feeling that "China and I are working together to solve the crisis."

Instead of being unresponsive like a paralyzed person.

He roughly went over it in his mind and realized that if he was efficient enough, these actions could be completed in 6-8 hours.

It should be in time!

However, until Griffin took off his hospital gown, Meyer next to him still did not make any move.

"Help me get my coat...didn't you hear me?"

Griffin frowned, his tone slightly annoyed.

"But……"

Meyer's movements were extremely stiff, as if his hands and feet were out of control:

"But according to the previous announcement from the Chinese side, they will..."

At this point, he raised his hand to check the time:

"The capture process will begin in about 15 minutes, and the entire mission is expected to be completed within two hours..."

"..."

Griffin also stopped moving, with a look of astonishment on his face:

"Starting the mission 15 minutes after launch?"

"Although I also think it's very exaggerated, but that's what they wrote in the very beginning trailer of the show."

Meyer's voice was a little hoarse.

Just as the two looked at each other, neither of them knowing what to say, the host's voice came out again from the TV:

"The Fishing Boat No. 1 satellite has established a signal connection with the ground, and all mission payloads are operating normally. Let us immediately switch the signal back to the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, and they will provide the first-hand image data captured by the onboard camera..."

The words fell and the music stopped.

The TV screen flickered for a while, and finally a blurry and slightly overexposed video image appeared.

It is not difficult to see from the arc-shaped aquamarine planet on the left that this was taken by a satellite in low-Earth orbit.

Griffin suppressed his fear and quickly walked to the TV, wanting to take a closer look to see if he could find any flaws.

At the same time, he muttered softly:

"If it is a scene simulated in a studio, then there will inevitably be flaws in the lighting characteristics..."

However, it's better not to look too closely.

The light and shadow effects presented in the entire picture are not only flawless, but even in the middle of the shot, one can vaguely see an object rotating at high speed.

Since this place is facing away from the sun, there is no reflection.

But it is still not difficult to recognize that it is a solar panel of the UARS satellite!