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, along with 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, and Vandenberg Air Force Base is located in California on the west coast.

It is geographically located to launch high-inclination orbit and polar-orbit satellites westward, and was selected as a space shuttle launch base on the West Coast of the United States in 1972.

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

At this time, on the newly built Space Launch Pad 11 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, this behemoth is being erected -- the latest super-heavy carrier rocket 'Hercules 1'.

The Vandenberg base has launched the Raytheon medium-range ballistic missile, a symbol of American history, and has also launched many Hercules launch vehicles, witnessing the most glorious moment of the United States.

Now, the Hercules series of rockets is back on the global horizon, demonstrating the still-glorious 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 finally been in vain. Now that the global space exploration boom is heating up, it is very necessary for them to be able to show their strength on a global scale.

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

This is just a two-stage rocket to reach such a terrifying take-off weight.

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

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

For today's missions, the Hercules 2 launch vehicle is not needed for the time being.

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

The spacecraft, about 4 meters in diameter, is similar to the shape of an airplane, and it also carries a powerful space-based laser weapon capable of attacking satellites in space, as well as a warhead for hypersonic weapons and a command platform for weapon systems.

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

This is the most important part of the Pentagon's Falcon program, and it is also the key to entering the second phase of the Falcon program.

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

So to speed up the Falcon plan and release it in front of the global horizon in advance to flex its muscles, the plan was a bit crazy, but in order to maintain the advantage, I had to take risks.

"It's done."

Kane came to Shanahan with a nonchalant expression, as if his work was about to amaze the world, and he wouldn't care too much.

As for the problem of the failed rocket launch, he never thought that he had full confidence in his efforts for so many years

"Are you ready to launch?" Shanahan asked.

"Yes." Kane nodded coldly.

Shanahan had long been accustomed to Kane's indifferent appearance, and without his urging, the group walked towards the launch control center.

The people in the launch control center, some of whom were transferred from the Kennedy launch center, and some of whom were experts in the military's missile launches, made the most adequate preparations in order to maximize the success rate of this launch.

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

Even if they are experienced, they cannot be calm, because they know the significance of this launch, if Hercules 1 is successfully launched, their country will gain global deterrence, and if it fails, the consequences will be unimaginable.

For fear of failure, the launch did not dare to be broadcast live by the media.

Now that they were ready, they could clearly see Hercules 1 leaning alone on the launch tower through the large screen in the control center.

The time passed in waiting, and soon it was time for the launch.

Shanahan sat quietly in his seat, quietly watching the commander announce his readiness to launch, his palms clenched unconsciously as the countdown began.

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

“…… 3…… 2…… 1……”

"Ignition!!"

Hearing the final ignition of the commanding staff, Shanahan's heart lifted, and the others also showed nervous expressions, only Kane sat in his seat, holding his coffee with a blank face, and glanced at the big screen without any fluctuations in his eyes.

Puff puff......

With the successful ignition of the rocket, the cooling water below evaporated instantly, and the water vapor formed a huge cloud to envelop the entire launch tower.

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

Tens of seconds after the start of ignition is the most important, and many rocket accidents occur at this stage.

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

It wasn't until the ground camera couldn't see the shadow of Hercules 1 that Shanahan's hanging heart relaxed a little and showed a smile, at least the take-off phase was fine, and the first dangerous period was safely passed, and the next time was to wait for the results.

The next day, the Pentagon announced that Hercules 1 had successfully launched the Falcon into its predetermined Earth orbit.

The news once again shocked the world.

The Falcon space-based weapon platform has successfully entered the scheduled orbit! 》

A superpower is always a superpower! 》

U.S. Launches Falcon Program

……

Countless media in the West have reported frantically, almost all of which describe the strength of the United States, as if they are about to blow up.

Following NASA's announcement of the successful launch of Zeus, the core module of the space station, it is now the United States, this time sending an even more terrifying and massive Falcon space armed warship into space.

If the space station is a peaceful use of space, then the falcon lifts off as a sword of Damocles hanging over the world.

A moving weapon platform was overhead, and no one could sleep peacefully.

Countries that are at odds with the United States have collectively opposed the United States launching space-based weapons into space, and have even sued the United Nations to demand the peaceful use of space.

The global atmosphere has become more delicate with the successful entry of the American Falcon into the intended orbit.

The balance seems to be tilted a little bit in favor of the United States, but it is not enough to completely throw the balance out of balance.

"I'm here 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 next to him would 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.

"Tell me, how many?"

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

During the last test flight, Li Chengzhi asked Chen Mo if the aerospace plane was sold, and Chen Mo gave him a price to report back, and now, Li Chengzhi came to Chen Mo again with the above instructions, obviously there was a result.

"4."

"Shhh...... Seriously? ”

Chen Mo couldn't help but be slightly surprised.

The price he gave was 24 billion per aircraft, and the above one-time purchase of 4 aircraft, nearly 100 billion orders.

"Really." Li Chengzhi said affirmatively.

"What a tyrant." Chen Mo muttered.

What Chen Mo had in mind was that this order was related to the United States' success in putting the 'Falcon' into orbit.

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

Aerospace weapons, the best platform now, are aerospace aircraft, and they are also the fastest means of counterbalance.

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

Problems that can be solved with money are not problems.

But 4 is a bit much, that's a gold-swallowing beast, and it's a lot of money to feed 4 aerospace planes. According to common sense, the number of 2-3 is the best, one is out of the task, one is standby, if you are afraid of failure, you can have another one.

After thinking about it, all Chen Mo could think of was to use one for research and the other for aerospace engineering tasks.

"How? Can't take this order? Li Chengzhi asked.

"Pick it up, why don't you take it if you have money to make?" Chen Mo agreed without hesitation.

The above is eager to have an aerospace plane to enrich the national defense forces, and he has no reason not to agree.

"How long will it take?"

"4 planes, the fastest will be nearly half a year." Chen Mo said.

Although he is now automated, that thing, which is so complicated, once a month, is already the limit, but in order to ensure quality and safety, it must be slowed down and postponed for two months.

"Don't you still have one in the works?" Li Chengzhi said.

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

"No way." Li Chengzhi spread his hands and smiled.

"That one is for my space center to spare, and if you want one, it's not impossible to give it to you, but I have a reluctant request." Chen Mo said.

"What reluctance?"

"Sell me the mountain forest from the space center to the seaside, I took a brief look, about 30,000 acres."

“……”

"Don't look at me like that, I used to expand the space center, and now it feels a little small."

“……”

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

“……”

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

"I'll go back and ask."

Seeing off Li Chengzhi, Chen Mo also went to the research institute in Building 1.

The space plane is complete, and he has to prepare for his next stage goal: to go to space, to the moon.

Now is just the beginning, the universe has endless secrets and resources, this step is something that must go out and prepare for the future.