Chapter 318 - Mission Accomplished (1/2)

Chapter 318 Mission Accomplished

Zhang Heng felt like he was experiencing a giant earthquake. Everything around him shook violently, and despite how st.u.r.dy the whole vehicle was built, the way each screw clanged and vibrated made them seem like they would fall apart at any minute.

As the rocket lifted off the ground, the powerful acceleration threw its pa.s.sengers in the command module back into their aluminum alloy seats. It felt as if a gorilla sat on their chests, and even the simple movement of raising an arm became an arduous task. Fortunately, Zhang Heng trained for this very situation in the s.p.a.ce center and was no stranger to the ma.s.sive g-forces their bodies were subjected to while on the ascent.

The numbers on the display board kept jumping at a frantic pace!

135 seconds after liftoff, the central engine shut down. At 150 seconds, the other four F-1 engines around the periphery were cut off. When the first stage was exhausted of fuel, the Saturn V rocket had already reached an alt.i.tude of more than sixty-eight thousand meters.

Explosive charges separated the first stage from the interstage ring, and along with the Launch Escape System, they both separated from the vehicle and subsequently fell into the ocean.

The second stage could begin its job. The J-2 engines were ignited, and the entire vehicle increased its velocity from a ‘modest’ 9,200 kilometers per hour to a terrifying 24,600 kilometers per hour, sling-shooting it into the upper atmosphere in one fell swoop. The entire process lasted for a full six minutes until the second stage ran out of fuel. It was quickly discarded as well. Now that the entire launch vehicle was about a tenth of its original weight, it was the third-stage’ turn to engage and keep the vehicle’s trajectory. Apollo 11 continued to accelerate, and compared to liftoff, the awful vibrations in the cabin had calmed considerably.

The third stage shut down automatically after burning for precisely 2.75 minutes. The Saturn V launch vehicle carrying the Lunar Module had reached its escape velocity of 28,000 kilometers per hour, successfully entering Earth’s...o...b..t.

The moment the announcement of successful orbit was made, mission control in Houston erupted into roars of cheers and applause. It meant that the launch phase was a success and was now over. When the engines were shut down, thrust levels dropped to 0% in just half a second. With a slight jolt, the pressure on Zhang Heng’s chest magically dissipated, and suddenly, he found himself floating above his seat. Thankfully, the seat belts kept him firmly strapped, and he wasn’t about to fly off anywhere.

He had read many books and watched countless movies about s.p.a.ce, even witnessing the launch of Shenzhou 5, and fully comprehended every step of the moon landing. Now that it was actually happening, and that he was physically in the thick of it, it was an entirely different feeling altogether.

Right now, they were orbiting the Earth at an alt.i.tude of 166 kilometers. When their helmets were removed, they floated from their hands like feathers. The view of mother Earth finally came into sight through the porthole of the s.p.a.cecraft.

Words failed to describe the otherworldly sight presented before them. An azure planet all alone in the deep, dark velvety sky. An arc-shaped horizon looming from the mists of the atmosphere, where thousands of tiny clouds drifted silently over the blue ocean. The ground was like a vast palette with a bright amalgamation of colors. They transitioned from yellow deserts to undulating mountains to dark green rainforests. The scene invoked indescribable awe and a landslide of emotions flooding through the hearts of the astronauts. It was a moment where everyone became speechless and dumbfounded.

Even Zhang Heng, who had been calm and composed all the while, found himself a little dazed, as he gazed at his homeworld from high, high above.

Just then, a series of system prompts echoed in his ear.

(Admire Earth from s.p.a.ce – Mission complete…]

[Returning in four days…) [Successfully boarded the Saturn V launch vehicle – 10 game points. Please view the character panel for more details…] (Successfully entered Earth’s...o...b..t – 20 game points. Please view the character panel for more details…]

[Successfully maintained continuous weightlessness for more than 500 seconds – 10 game points. Please view the character panel for more details…]