At 10:38 a.m. on September 30, 2008, the Gulfstream G550 lent to Bian Xuedao by the Zhu family landed at Majuro-International-Airport, the capital of the Marshall Islands in the western Pacific Islands.

The staff of SpaceX (SpaceX) received an invitation at the airport to learn the road, and the group went to the hotel for a brief rest.

Thirty-five minutes later, Bian Xuedao, Mu Long and Li Bing took off from Majuro in a modified rescue helicopter to Kwajalein-Atoll.

There is a rocket launch site on the Kwajalein Atoll located at 8°43'N, 167°44'E, where the "Falcon 1" rocket independently designed and developed by SpaceX (SpaceX) will be launched for the fourth time at 15:15 p.m., which is two days later than the launch announced by Musk.

Six years of research and development, hundreds of tests, three consecutive launch failures, and the "Falcon 1" project swallowed up more than $300 million in funds, bringing Elon Musk, the helmsman of SpaceX, to the brink of death.

Originally, Elon Musk did not have the money for the fourth launch, but it was Bian Xuedao who invested $50 million in SpaceX in his personal name, pulling Elon Musk back from the precipice of bankruptcy and allowing Musk to have the funds to continue launching rockets.

Because of this, before the fourth launch, Musk invited Bian Xuedao to come to the scene to observe the rocket launch.

This is human nature, while learning the money, even if it is a gift flower, you have to let him hear it.

There were still three hours before the rocket was launched, and the workaholic Musk was so busy that his feet didn't touch the ground, but when he received a call, he still took time to go to the tarmac to greet Bian Xuedao.

Seeing Bian Xuedao, Musk hugged him and said with a smile: "I hope you can bring me good luck." ”

Bian Xuedao said: "Good luck comes from your persistence. ”

The two walked a few steps side by side, and Musk whispered: "I'm actually worried about this launch ......"

Bian Xuedao looked into Musk's eyes and said: "You are doing a great career now, if you succeed in one or two times, how can you be called great? Stick to your direction, no matter how many times you fail, I will do my best to support you." ”

Musk was silent for a few seconds and said in a deep voice: "Thank you, my friend. ”

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At 14:55 p.m., 20 minutes before the launch of the rocket.

Sitting on the observation seat of the information command center, Bian Xuedao was completely unaffected by the tense atmosphere of the scene, and the whole person was as calm as water.

The joy of Shen Fu's pregnancy, the great sorrow of Hu Xi's death, the two poles of life and death, filled Bian Xuedao and emptied him.

The experience of just half a month has made Bian Xuedao's heart more calm and stronger, and he even feels that whenever he is impetuous, impulsive, and angry in the future, he should go to the crematorium to take a look, and use the rituals of people's lives to calm down, take the gains and losses lightly, and look at fame and fortune a little lightly.

Five minutes before the launch, the information command center gradually quieted down, and the on-site commander-in-chief made the last data confirmation before the launch.

Looking at the nervous staff in the command center, Bian Xuedao said in his heart: In a few minutes, you will make history!

A minute before the launch, the on-site commander said, "Control-Center, this-is-Guidance-Center." We-are-ready-for-takeoff。 ”

“Time-minus！”

“Fifteen、fourteen、thirteen、twelve、eleven、ten、nine、eight、seven、six…… Lgnition-sequence-starts！”

“Three、two、one…… Lgnition！”

“Goodluck-everyone！”

“The-clock-is-running！We-have-lift-off！”

After 556 seconds of holding his breath, the on-site commander shouted, "Successfully-entered-the-preset-orbit." OK，we-got-it！！”

Suddenly, there was thunderous cheer in the command center, and some staff members got up from their seats, hugged each other, and waved their arms to celebrate the successful launch.

Looking at the excited staff, Bian Xuedao knew that an era had begun.

And he was fortunate to catch a ride on the "super cow" Musk.

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Although SpaceX's "Falcon 1" failed three times in a row, the launch of the rocket is a major event after all, and several American media still sent reporters to Kwajalein Atoll to report on the launch on the spot.

These American media have earned it!

The "Falcon 1" launched not long ago is the first liquid orbital rocket ever built and successfully launched with private funds.

It is true that in terms of technology accumulation and financial strength, private companies cannot be compared with the "national aerospace" at all, but anyone with a discerning eye can see that no matter how weak and unreliable the private aerospace in front of us seems, just like the Age of Discovery hundreds of years ago, commercial aerospace is a historical necessity of the general trend.

The successful launch of Falcon 1 not only made SpaceX the first private company in the world to successfully launch a launch vehicle, but also paved the way for the goal of commercial rocket launches.

An hour and a half after the launch of the Falcon 1, the news and video of the successful launch of the rocket became popular on the American Internet.

Subsequently, the video of the rocket's launch quickly spread to the Internet in Europe and Asia.

A worldwide sensation!

The reason why it is so sensational is because this is not a monkey, this is a launch vehicle!!

As of 30 September 2008, only 8 of the more than 200 countries in the world had the capacity to launch launch vehicles on their own.

A private company has done what only a few powerful countries can do.

"Falcon 1" soared into the sky.

SpaceX became famous in one day.

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Bian Xuedao did not attend SpaceX's celebration reception.

Before leaving Kwajalein Atoll, he reached an agreement with Musk that Bian Xuedao would invest an additional $75 million in SpaceX by June 30, 2009, and after this round of investment, Bian Xuedao's stake in SpaceX would increase from 2% to 5%.

Both Bian Xuedao and Musk know in their hearts that in view of the particularity of the field in which SpaceX is engaged, unless Bian Xuedao becomes naturalized in the United States, this shareholding ratio is the upper limit of his shareholding, and if it is more, both Bian Xuedao and Musk will be in trouble.

To a certain extent, Musk gave 3% of his shares to Bian Xuedao at this time, which was to repay him for his favor.

Because, the "Falcon 1" was successfully launched, and the most difficult step has been taken, and after today, it will be much less difficult for SpaceX to raise funds.

On the other hand, holding 5% of the shares is the "sign" line of listed companies.

In other words, if a person or company holds more than 5% of the shares of a listed company, it must be announced.

SpaceX has not yet been listed, and it stands to reason that there is no mandatory requirement to raise a brand.

But the problem is that after the successful launch of this launch, the funding sources and shareholder composition of SpaceX, which has come into the spotlight, are bound to become the focus of attention of all parties, and in order to consider smooth financing in the future, the necessary financial disclosure is necessary.

Musk has already planned to hold a press conference on October 3 to announce SpaceX's next stage launch plan, "Long" spacecraft plan and shareholder composition.

At the press conference, Musk will tell the outside world about the twists and turns of the four launches of the "Falcon 1". At that time, Bian Xuedao, who holds 5% of the shares, will appear as a "meritorious shareholder", that is, it is his financial support that gives the "Falcon 1" a chance to successfully take off, otherwise, SpaceX may no longer exist.

Musk believes that after this information is thrown, the American people should be able to understand the reason why SpaceX accepted the investment of a wealthy Chinese man, and at the same time reduce the resistance of all walks of life to Bian Xuedao's large shareholding in SpaceX.

The reason why Musk "takes care" of Bian Xuedao so much, in addition to returning favors, another reason is that the previous three consecutive launch failures are too shocking, and no matter how strong people are, they will inevitably have a little superstition in their hearts.

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After leaving the Marshall Islands, Bian Xuedao did not return to China or Vancouver, but went to San Francisco.

Along the way, there was great joy and sorrow, and he felt tired and needed to rest.

When he returned home, there would be a bunch of jobs waiting for him, and he wanted to escape for a few days, so he thought of the penthouse he bought in San Francisco.

After completing the transfer, Shan Rao couriered the key to the apartment to Bian Xuedao.

Although he had the key in his hand, he hadn't lived in the apartment once since he bought it, and this time he just went over to take a look, he didn't want his house to be occupied like the one in the movie "Hummingbird Attack" he had seen in his previous life.

Because he wanted to rest completely, he didn't have any contact with anyone before flying to San Francisco, including Shan Rao and Wen Congqian.

When the plane arrived in San Francisco, it was raining in San Francisco.

Take the car to the downstairs of the apartment, go upstairs, open the door.

Hey......

There are a pair of women's shoes at the door, and an umbrella.

Belch......

Why does this umbrella look familiar?

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(PS: Mr. Yang Jiang has passed away, and there is no more female Mr. in the world.) ）

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