Chapter 247: Space Race, Lunar Farming (Part 2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Returning to the yacht, Tang Rui began to arrange some matters, as he did not plan to continue staying there.

It was now late July, almost August.

He had spent over two months in Bohai Bay.

The project had progressed to this point, with the most crucial parts already completed, and his private cargo had been added.

The remaining tasks, such as laying the undersea tunnel and connecting the oil pipeline, were minor.

With Red Lotus overseeing, there would be no issues.

As for the construction onshore, he had never been involved in it, as it was always managed by the construction unit.

Therefore, staying there had no more significance.

Although watching the Koreans dig holes every day was amusing, it had become boring over time.

Once Tang Rui had delegated all his tasks, he asked Gaoyang to sail the yacht back to Dalian.

That evening, Tang Rui took a private plane and returned to his long-missed home.

“I’m back,” he exclaimed upon arriving home.

“Is the Bohai Bay project finished?”

Li Shuyao was surprised to see Tang Rui return.

For these two months, it had always been her visiting Tang Rui at Bohai Bay, thanks to the White Emperor Spacefighter that could hover next to the yacht, making it convenient to return the next day.

So, besides visiting Bohai Bay on weekends, she would also spend a few nights there during the week.

It was only a ten-minute journey, quicker than her daily commute.

“It’s not finished, but there’s not much left to do. I don’t need to be there to oversee it; I can handle things from home.”

Life on the yacht was comfortable, but it had become tedious.

Had it not been for waiting for the construction of the platform inside the undersea ore vein, he would have returned much earlier.

“Have you eaten dinner? I’ll cook something for you.”

“Anything simple will do.”

“Alright, then rest first.”

Li Shuyao said and went to the kitchen to prepare a meal.

They were all simple home-cooked dishes.

No fish.

The couple had almost become sick of seafood after eating it so much recently.

Tang Rui lay on the sofa, took out his phone, and began browsing the news.

Ha!

America was serious this time.

Half a month ago, the Americans had announced their intention to return to the moon, and this time they planned to establish a base there.

For this lunar mission, they had prepared two spacecraft and additional supply depots.

Thus, these spacecraft needed to be assembled in outer space, then slingshot around Earth’s gravity to travel to the moon.

Tang Rui had previously read this news and thought America was just bluffing again.

After all, they had made such declarations more than once, but it turned out they were serious this time.

Tonight, after nine, they were going to launch a component of the spacecraft into Earth’s orbit.

They were using the Falcon Heavy rocket, which was a fully reusable launch vehicle.

It seemed the Americans were truly committed this time.

After reading the news, Tang Rui visited NASA’s official website to check the timeline of their moon return plan.

The entire spacecraft required eight launches, plus four more for supplies and fuel.

In total, twelve launches were needed to fully assemble the spacecraft.

Then, it would undergo two months of testing in outer space.

Going through this entire process, the Americans planned to land on the moon by the end of the year, around Christmas, as a part of their New Year’s celebration.

A great idea, it would sound like.

Should he get involved?

Tang Rui squinted, thinking there might not be an opportunity unless he went to outer space to check their spacecraft.

But such an action might impact the current international situation.

Previously, the tensions were high, with weapons used for intimidation.

There was even a proxy war in Africa.

So, his dismantling of the opponent’s satellite was quite normal at the time.

But now, everyone had agreed to avoid armed conflicts and arms races.

So, direct action was not advisable.

Wrong.

America was initiating a space race with them.

This wasn’t an arms race, but its impact was significant, as the competition was for space supremacy and the future.

So, they couldn’t just stand by.

“Eaten.”

“Coming.”

Tang Rui put down his phone and stopped thinking about this issue.

After all, it wasn’t a big deal.

He was a player with cheats; why fear an opponent who only spent money?

The night passed without further discussion.

The next day, Tang Rui went to the company, toured around, checked on various departments, and chatted with a few project leaders.

Though there wasn’t much happening at the company, he still needed to make a round and deal with accumulated matters now that he was back.

After finishing these tasks, he went to see Lin Chao.

“Brother Lin, the Americans are starting a space race with us. Is there any word from above?”

“I’m not sure about the specifics, but I can get the information for you,” Lin Chao replied, shaking his head.

Tang Rui had been relaxed while away.

But such news didn’t reach him here.

Once Tang Rui returned, he could easily get any information through a secure channel.

“Then I’ll trouble you, Brother Lin.”

“Have some tea; I’ll be right back.”

Half an hour later, Lin Chao emerged from the secure room with two file bags containing freshly printed documents.

The ink on the A4 papers was still warm.

Tang Rui picked up the documents and began to read.

In the face of space competition, they couldn’t back down.

They could have retreated or played it safe before, when they hadn’t fully emerged or faced direct competition.

But not anymore.

They had already made a firm stand before, and retreating was no longer an option.

Everyone was watching.

As someone who had been top of his class, saying he didn’t want to compete in a subject anymore just didn’t feel right.

Thus, they had to go ahead with the plan, ready or not.

In fact, the domestic aerospace field had accumulated a lot of foundations over the years, with some areas even developing their own systems.

But compared to economic development, the investment in space was not substantial, as it didn’t bring immediate economic benefits.

Even though some space technologies had high technical value and could be applied in various industries, the feedback time was too long.

Now, with the new economic pillar industry found and the rapid development of carbon-based semiconductors over the past six months, traditional silicon-based semiconductors had been almost completely replaced.

With the new industry pillar established and the Bohai Bay project under construction, expected to be completed early next year,

Oil would no longer be a major expense, allowing them to fully invest in aerospace.

Thus, the domestic government directly allocated 200 billion for technological integration and optimization, with carbon-based semiconductors replacing microelectronics, and the original moon landing and lunar base plans were brought forward.

The two space plans Tang Rui held were for the reusable space shuttle and the lunar base.

The space shuttle plan was straightforward.

Tang Rui could start it anytime he wanted.

What interested him was the lunar base plan, which included building a standard base for 30 people and a biosphere for growing vegetables.

Farming on the moon; it was a natural skill.

Wherever people went, they would grow crops, even on the moon.

After reviewing both plans, Tang Rui asked, “Did they say when we’re going to the moon?”

“The idea from above is to develop our own strengths first and make full use of the advantages of carbon-based semiconductors.

As for the moon landing, we’ll get there sooner or later; we’re not rushing. But when we do go, it will be to start building the Guanghan Palace,” Lin Chao answered without hesitation.

Clearly, these were directives from higher up.

“Do I not have any tasks?” Tang Rui asked again after hearing this.

“The Bohai Bay project is also very important. We have talents in the aerospace field, and now with increased investment, results are certain, it’s just a matter of time. We’re not in a hurry in this area.”

Tang Rui understood what they meant.

They saw he was too busy, so they didn’t assign him any tasks.

Besides, the space race was not a matter to be rushed in half a year.

If he completed the Bohai Bay project, he would certainly have tasks to do.

“Okay, I understand. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back,” Tang Rui said, preparing to leave.

“There is something. I didn’t rush to inform you since you weren’t here. The nuclear industry has already created the core you needed.”

The core was ready!

Tang Rui’s eyes lit up at this news..