Chapter 24 Simulation_1

Deng Lei took several days to carefully search online for information and accomplishments of the New Yuan Aerospace Power Company, analyzing the feasibility of becoming an astronaut.

As a pilot capable of flying modern fighter jets, he also had engineering credentials and a good understanding of spaceflight.

Although New Yuan Aeronautics, as the first domestic private space company, was impressive and had landed tens of millions in commercial contracts, it appeared they still didn't possess the capability for manned spaceflight.

But after all, he was not a professional in the field, and because of what his nephew said, he was somewhat uncertain.

It wasn't until that day when he saw a new post on the official New Yuan microblog that he had been following.

Upon clicking in, there was a concept image showcasing the combination of the New Yuan-2 rocket and the H1 spaceplane, accompanied by a brief introduction to the manned spaceflight plan, including specific parameters and procedures.

However, the comments section below wasn't very active because this content was not as sensational as Lin Ju's previous posts.

Blustering was a traditional skill for private space enterprises.

In just half a month, Lin Ju had released three Moon landing plans, a Mars city concept, and two visions for ten-thousand-ton space cities.

At first, it sparked considerable discussions, but after all, he didn't have America's budget for dog-keeping, and the interest quickly faded.

Compared to manned spaceflight and spaceplanes, everyone just assumed it was another pie in the sky, and after a few fans and enthusiasts discussed for a bit, the buzz died down.

For Deng Lei, on the other hand, it was different; he believed his nephew's inside information, this could be a real project.

That same evening, Deng Lei dialed the number listed on the company's official website, inquiring if they were truly recruiting astronauts.

The person on the other end responded affirmatively. Deng Lei then revealed his current status as an active-duty instructor and his previous experience, after which the voice on the line became extremely respectful and eagerly invited him for an interview at the company, offering to cover all expenses for the trip.

Deng Lei finally made up his mind, and taking advantage of his vacation time, flew to New Yuan City and was then picked up by a company car and taken to the factory.

Greeting him was Lin Ju himself. Deng Lei didn't show any sign of intimidation and directly asked whether the spaceplane was real and if manned spaceflight truly existed.

Faced with skepticism, Lin Ju didn't waste words and instead took him to a spacious hangar.

There was a 1:1 wooden model of the H1 spaceplane's nose section on the ground, fixed on a hydraulic stand.

Deng Lei recognized at a glance that this was a flight simulator designed for training.

The simulator had just been completed, and two system engineers were setting its parameters.

The simulator's cabin interior was fully replicated to match the real thing. Where the windows were supposed to be, screens had been installed instead, and the control commands issued could receive feedback through the hydraulic system.

"Mr. Deng, this is the spaceplane you will pilot in the future. You won't need to control it during the launch and space phases, only during re-entry in the atmosphere, and I believe you have ample experience for that."

Hearing that he would only need to handle the controls for re-entry into the atmosphere, Deng Lei felt a surge of confidence. He might not be certain about space, but he was very assured in the air.

"Chairman Lin, are you really going to build this within a year?"

"Of course, and what's more, we will definitely send people into space within a year. The premise, of course, is that we have conducted unmanned experiments and have absolute confidence. We will not let you risk your lives unnecessarily."

Deng Lei uttered an 'oh' and then walked into the simulator, silently observing the unfamiliar layout.

"Why don't you give it a try? It's just a simulator, after all."

Lin Ju appropriately interjected and smoothly pushed Deng Lei back into his seat, signaling the System Engineer to step forward and teach him how to operate.

As soon as Deng Lei sat in the broad and sturdy astronaut seat, he couldn't help but want to experience it a bit longer, even the instruments all around looked extraordinarily novel to him.

With the engineer sitting in the co-pilot's seat giving instructions, this veteran pilot with twenty years of flying experience learned at a remarkable speed, grasping the basic operations in just a few minutes.

"Mr. Deng, I'll soon have the simulation cabin stand upright so we can experience the complete process from launch to landing," the engineer informed.

Deng Lei nodded, and then felt the direction of gravity slowly shift as the sky's blue filled the display screens of the portholes.

"Simulated launch commencing, 10, 9..."

"3, 2, 1"

Although there was no real G-force, the screen, combined with the hydraulics system, simulated the vibrations of a rocket at launch. It gave Deng Lei a tangible sensation, with his heartbeat far exceeding what it should have been.

The simulator's attitude kept changing, even inverting to simulate the shuttle with its bottom slanted forward to resist the heat barrier. Two minutes later, the vibrations stopped abruptly, and the picture in the window turned to a vast blackness with a streak of bright blue.

Even knowing it was fake, Deng Lei couldn't help but reach out to touch it, holding his hand up for several minutes before putting it down.

After drifting in the simulated space environment for five minutes, the simulator entered the landing phase. This time, the engineer and the simulator system continuously issued corrective commands, guiding him to maneuver the spacecraft and adjust its attitude, as they approached the simulated airport.

Despite the controls feeling unfamiliar, Deng Lei still managed to land the plane smoothly, with the system awarding a high score of 97—a truly excellent standard.

When he finally stepped out of the simulator, his body felt somewhat unaccustomed, as though he had indeed just come down from space, and he looked back at the simulator with a sense of reluctance.

Seeing this, Lin Ju sneakily gave the System Engineer a thumbs up before formally inviting Deng Lei to join.

This time, Deng Lei didn't hesitate, clenching his teeth he said,

"As long as I can fly it into the sky, I'm willing to risk everything. But I must have a guarantee... I want to go to space within two years!"

Lin Ju responded with a smile, easily agreeing. To him, that was nothing compared to the system's timelines.

He even asked Deng Lei if he knew anyone suitable to recruit, but was informed that most of the pilots from the flying school had families and had been settled for years, with few sharing his passion for spaceflight.

There were young pilots too, but those were active-duty combat pilots, and it was certainly not possible for them to retire just like that.

Lin Ju felt a bit disappointed, but thinking that having him alone was already a good start, he didn't press any further.

...

Upon returning to the military, Deng Lei went through the retirement procedures.

Although retiring at his age as a flying instructor was deemed appropriate, as a well-recognized talent in the flight school, people felt it was a pity and inquired with concern what he planned to do after retirement.

Deng Lei brushed them off with the excuse that he planned to fly for commercial airlines, and within a few days, he managed to complete the retirement process without a hitch.

A year wasn't a long time; as soon as he arrived at the company, he had to immediately start an intensive, secluded training, learning spaceflight knowledge and mastering the performance and techniques of space aircraft.

As for his physical condition, maintaining the status quo was enough. With his status as a top-tier pilot, he was still in his prime at forty.

Pilot and commander, GET.