Science and Technology Library

Vandenberg Air Force Base is located in the southern coast of California, just north of Cape Aguero, with an area of ​​about 280 square kilometers and a coastline of nearly 51.5 kilometers.

In the United States, as famous as Vandenberg Air Force Base is the famous Cape Canaveral launch site.

The Cape Canaveral Launch Site is located in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on the east coast of the United States. Vandenberg Air Force Base is located in California on the west coast. It is the West Range of the U.S. Air Force and the second largest space launch center in the United States.

The geographical location here is special, and it can launch high-inclination orbit and polar orbit satellites to the west. In 1972, it was selected as the space shuttle launch base on the west coast of the United States.

Unlike the Kennedy Launch Center, Vandenberg Air Force Base does not support civilian launches and is an experimental launch site for the Air Force.

At this time, Vandenberg Air Force Base has just completed the construction of space launch platform No. 11, and this behemoth is erected-the latest super-heavy carrier rocket "Hercules 1".

The Vandenberg base has launched the Raytheon intermediate-range ballistic missile, which is a symbol of American history, and has also launched a number of Hercules carrier rockets, witnessing the most glorious moment in the United States.

Today, the Hercules series of rockets have returned to global perspective, demonstrating the still brilliant ambitions of the United States.

Shanahan looked up at the giant launch vehicle in front of him with satisfaction in his eyes.

Over the years, the Pentagon's investment has not been in vain.As the global space exploration boom is heating up, it is very necessary for them to be able to demonstrate their strength globally.

Hercules 1 is a two-stage rocket with a total length of 60 meters and a diameter of 7.6 meters. The rocket engine has a thrust of 1,330 tons and a rocket's take-off weight of 1,170 tons.

This is only a two-stage rocket, which can reach this terrifying take-off weight.

But this is not the full capability of the new Hercules launch vehicle.

The Hercules 2 designed by Kane is the most powerful. The three-stage launch vehicle can reach 130 meters in length. The diameter of the first-stage rocket is 15 meters, which is more than the Saturn 5 that sent astronauts to the moon. The number is bigger, and all levels of rockets can be recycled and reused. That is the most powerful capability of the new Hercules rocket.

Today’s mission does not require the Hercules 2 launch vehicle for the time being.

On the Hercules 1 rocket, the target of this launch was also fixed: the Falcon space-based spacecraft.

The diameter of the spacecraft is about 4 meters, similar to the shape of an airplane. It also carries powerful space-based laser weapons inside, which can attack satellites in space. In addition, it also carries warheads and weapon systems for hypersonic weapons. Command platform.

If necessary, they can use small launch vehicles to send nuclear warheads and tungsten rods into the Falcon. The deterrence is self-evident.

This is the most important part of the Pentagon’s Falcon plan and the key to entering the second phase of the Falcon plan.

China's achievements in space exploration, as well as the successful docking of the Marching Ant Group space plane with the Lingxiao space station, made them a little anxious.

Therefore, the Falcon plan was accelerated and released to the global vision in advance to show muscles. The plan was a bit crazy, but in order to maintain the advantage, it had to take risks.

"finished."

Kane came to Shanahan with a cold expression, it seemed that his work was about to surprise the world, and he wouldn't care too much.

As for the failure of the rocket launch, he never thought about it. He had great confidence in his many years of hard work.

"Are you ready to launch?" Shanahan asked.

"Yes." Kane nodded coldly.

Shanahan's appearance of indifference to Kane has long been used to it. Without his urging, the group went to the launch control center.

Some of the people in the launch control center are personnel transferred from the Kennedy Launch Center, and some are experts in military missile launches. In order to maximize the success rate of this launch, they have made the most adequate preparations.

At this time, the atmosphere in the launch center was a bit tense.

Even if they are experienced, they can't calm down, because they know the significance of this launch. If the Hercules 1 is successfully launched, their country will gain a global deterrent. If it fails, the consequences will be disastrous.

For fear of failure, this launch dare not let the media live.

The preparations are now complete. Through the large screen of the control center, they can clearly see the Hercules 1 leaning on the tower.

Time was waiting for a second, and soon it was the time of launch.

Shanahan sat quietly and watched the commander announce his preparation for launch. As the countdown began, his palms clenched unconsciously.

At this moment, he was also a little nervous, staring straight at the big screen.

"...3...2...1..."

"ignition!!"

Shanahan lifted his heart when he heard the commander’s final fire, and the others also showed nervous expressions. Only Kane was sitting in his seat, holding the coffee blankly, and glanced at it without fluctuation. screen.

Puff...

As the rocket was successfully ignited, the cooling water below instantly evaporated, and a huge cloud of water vapor enveloped the entire launch tower. I saw Hercules 1, carrying the Falcon, slowly rising from the cloud-filled launch tower. .

Everyone's eyes rose with the ascent of Hercules 1, and the atmosphere did not dare to breathe.

The most important thing is the dozens of seconds after the ignition begins. Many rocket accidents occur at this stage.

Hercules 1, in the eyes of everyone, the height continued to rise to the sky.

It wasn't until the ground lens could not see the shadow of Hercules 1, Shanahan's hanging heart relaxed slightly, showing a slight smile, at least the take-off phase was no problem, the first dangerous period was passed safely, and the next time was waiting for the result. .

The next day, the Pentagon announced to the public that Hercules 1 successfully sent the Falcon into a predetermined Earth orbit in space.

The news once again alarmed the world.

"The Falcon space-based weapon platform successfully entered the predetermined orbit!

"A superpower is always a superpower!

"U.S. Launches Falcon Project"

...

Numerous Western media reports frantically, almost all describing the strength of the United States, which seems to be blown up.

After the NASA announced the successful launch of the space station’s core module, Zeus, it is now the United States. This time it is sending the more terrifying and larger “Falcon” space armed warship into space.

If the space station is for the peaceful use of space, then the Falcon lifts into the sky, which is a sword of Damocles hanging over the world.

A mobile weapon platform is just above the head, no one can sleep peacefully.

Countries that are at odds with the United States collectively oppose the United States launching space-based weapons into space, and even report to the United Nations, demanding the peaceful use of space. However, there is no use.

The global atmosphere becomes more subtle as the American Falcon successfully enters the predetermined orbit.

The originally balanced balance seems to be tilted a little bit towards the United States, but it is not enough to completely unbalance the balance.

"I'm here this time to talk about the order." Li Chengzhi sat in Chen Mo's office, his voice as low as possible, and he was a little cautious, as if he was afraid that someone could hear him.

"Huh? Did you give you instructions from above?" Chen Mo asked.

"Yes, the order has come down." Li Chengzhi did not deny it.

"Go ahead, how many?"

The order they are talking about now is an order for aerospace aircraft.

During the last test flight, Li Chengzhi asked Chen Mo if he could sell the aerospace plane. Chen Mo gave him a price and went back to report. Now, Li Chengzhi came to Chen Mo again with the instructions above. Obviously there was a result.

"Four."

"Hi...really?"

Chen Mo couldn't help being slightly surprised.

The price he gave was 24 billion, and 4 of them were purchased at one time, and the order was nearly 100 billion.

"Really." Li Chengzhi said surely.

"Really a local tyrant." Chen Mo muttered.

What Chen Mo thought was that this order was related to the successful delivery of the Falcon into orbit by the United States.

When the Americans begin to develop space-based weapons, they must have countermeasures, so that when they are attacked, they have the means and strength to counterattack.

Air and space weapons, the best platform now is the aerospace aircraft, which is also the fastest means of checks and balances.

Although there are anti-satellite weapons and missiles, it is definitely a good thing to have more checks and balances and hole cards.

Problems that can be solved with money are not problems.

But four are a bit too many. They are gold swallowing beasts. There is a lot of money to feed four aerospace planes.According to common sense, the number of 2-3 planes is the best, one for the mission and one for standby. If you are afraid of failure, you can add another one.

After much deliberation, what Chen Mo can think of is to use one for research and the other for aerospace engineering tasks.

"How about? Can you take this order?" Li Chengzhi asked.

"Take it, why not take it if you have money?" Chen Mo agreed without hesitation.

There is an urgent need for aerospace planes from above to enrich the national defense force. He has no reason not to agree.

"How long will it take to get it out?"

"Four, it will take nearly half a year at the earliest." Chen Mo said.

Although he is now in automated production, that thing is terribly complicated, one a month is the limit, but in order to ensure quality and safety, it must be slowed down for two months.

"Aren't you still making one?" Li Chengzhi said.

"The idea of ​​hitting the plane so soon." Chen Mo smiled helplessly: "How impatient you are."

"No way." Li Chengzhi said with a smile.

"That one is used by my space center as a backup. If you want that one, it is not impossible to give it to you, but I have a gratuitous request." Chen Mo said.

"What kind of unfeeling please?"

"Sell me the mountain forest from the space center to the sea. I took a brief look and it was about 30,000 mu."

"..."

"Don't look at me like that. I used to expand the space center. It feels a bit small now."

"..."

"I don't have any flowers on my face. I want to develop a bigger spaceship to prepare for the future."

"..."

Li Chengzhi couldn't laugh or cry, terrible guy, even so domineering when buying land.Buying 30,000 mu at a time, I really dare to speak.However, the land for top-notch scientific research is very cheap, and the country also has many preferential policies. This guy Chen Mo can really afford it.

"I'll go back and ask."

Sending away Li Chengzhi, Chen Mo also went to the research institute in Building 1.

The aeroplane is completed, and he has to prepare for his next phase of goals: to go to space and land on the moon.

Now is just the beginning. The universe has endless secrets and resources. This step must be stepped out to prepare for the future.