At the Satellite Launch Base, a giant measuring 3.4 meters in diameter and 24.6 meters tall was slowly moved upright on a mobile platform toward the nearby launch tower.
In the control center, a group of researchers were methodically checking the rocket, while a special team of thirteen people repeatedly ran simulated tests of the latest Candy Algorithm.
At first, everyone called it the new Attitude Balance Algorithm. But once they got their hands on the second version, the name started to feel increasingly awkward. Since the algorithm had been packaged as a piece of candy, someone—no one knew who—started calling the second version of the Attitude Balance Algorithm the Candy Algorithm.
"Old Chen, how about delaying the launch? Give the testing team a little more time to run a few more tests on the Candy Algorithm."
Chen Xihe patted his old friend Zhang Xianmin on the shoulder. "Old Zhang, don't you trust me? As soon as I got the algorithm, I organized a team to start testing it. So far, there hasn't been a single problem."
"Besides, we still have three days before launch. If there's a problem with the Candy Algorithm, it'll definitely show up within those three days. We can delay the launch then, if we have to. And if all else fails, we can keep using the original Attitude Balance Algorithm. Isn't that right, Old Zhang?"
Zhang Xianmin looked at the rocket on the main control screen as it was slowly pushed toward the launch tower. He just couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
In Zhang Xianmin's view, they ought to test the algorithm in practice with a rocket that wasn't carrying a satellite. Then they could use the data to determine whether the Candy Algorithm was worth adopting. They could decide to use it for a satellite launch after that.
Granted, the satellite they were launching this time was merely a standard Weather Backup Satellite. Even if the launch failed and the satellite crashed, or if the rocket exploded shortly after liftoff with the satellite still aboard, the loss would be within acceptable limits.
Rocket technology had certainly matured, but launches still failed every year, usually because of some small, unexpected problem.
On ordinary equipment, a minor problem might not matter much. Even a few missing components might not keep it from working normally.
But rockets were different. At high speeds, small problems could rapidly grow without limit, ultimately causing a failed launch.
At this stage, that was true of every country.
As long as the problem didn't occur during a crewed spacecraft launch, the loss was considered bearable.
Satellites and other equipment could be rebuilt. Astronauts could not.
It wasn't just that training an astronaut cost the country an enormous amount. More importantly, astronauts were living, breathing people.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside the launch tower, the staff worked with the command center to carry out the final prelaunch checks.
After three days of testing, the Candy Algorithm had shown no problems. Every test result indicated that the rocket's attitude remained extremely stable under the adjustments made by the algorithm.
In the control center, several white-haired elders, including Chen Xihe and Zhang Xianmin, sat quietly in the back row, watching the younger generation.
This stage called for quicker reactions to deal with any unexpected situations that might arise.
That was one reason why younger people made up the majority of the control center staff at every rocket launch.
"All personnel, attention. Begin evacuating the launch tower. The satellite will ignite and launch in ten minutes."
"Repeat! All personnel, attention. Begin evacuating the launch tower. The satellite will ignite and launch in ten minutes."
At the announcement, everyone in the launch tower completed one final inspection and then evacuated to the buses waiting on the ground.
As the last bus pulled away, the area around the launch tower was completely deserted.
"One minute to launch."
"Three... two... one..."
"Ignition! Launch!"
As the chief commander pressed the red launch button on the towering launch gantry, all the support arms attached to the enormous ivory-white launch vehicle retracted. The tracking and measurement equipment around the launch site powered up, and the high-speed cameras, tape recorders, and other recording equipment all began operating.
Moments later, a continuous, thunderous roar rang across the launch site.
The sound was like mountains collapsing and seas surging, shaking the earth.
A second later, the enormous rocket rose from the ground, climbing slowly as glorious flames blazed from its tail and it soared toward the sky.
Chen Xihe didn't say a word in the control center, but behind his Reading Glasses, his eyes never left the main screen.
Of course he was worried!
The rocket soared through the blue sky. A few seconds later, it began to turn after rising vertically. After a few dozen seconds, its exhaust condensed into clouds of smoke, like a white ribbon stretching southeast across the sky. Finally, it dwindled into a tiny speck of light in the vast distance, passed out of the atmosphere, and disappeared from view.
Yet hundreds of sets of modern measuring and communication equipment, designed and built in our country, from the mainland to the ocean-going measurement fleet, kept "biting" onto that tiny speck invisible to the naked eye. They precisely measured, recorded, and reported the rocket's speed, altitude, and attitude at every moment of its flight.
Every moment, huge volumes of measurement data flowed from all corners of the country to the tracking and control data exchange center.
Using a variety of precision equipment and circuits, the tracking and control center linked every participating unit into one tightly coordinated team. It promptly gathered and exchanged data among the units, constantly reporting the rocket's flight data to the measurement stations and guiding them in accurately tracking the rocket.
It also promptly relayed the information collected at each station and the rocket's flight status to the control and command centers at the launch site.
Good news kept coming!
"Tracking is good!"
"Systems operating normally!"
"Flight is normal!"
When Chen Xihe saw the final rocket stage detach on the main screen, the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally settled.
Just as in the simulated tests, the rocket's attitude had remained remarkably stable throughout the flight.
Later, when the satellite made its own adjustments to enter its planned orbit, the Attitude Balance Algorithm performed just as impressively.
"Haha, come on, Old Zhang. Dinner's on me."
Meanwhile, Mo Jingchun, out shopping at the supermarket, had no idea any of this was happening. After all, the country launched so many rockets every year, and there wasn't a platform promoting and livestreaming every launch.
With little Candy strapped to his back in a baby carrier, Mo Jingchun happily pushed a shopping cart around the three-story shopping center.
"Candy's favorite strawberries! I'll get a box!"
"No! Two boxes! I want some too!"
P.S. Thanks to Black Duke Joke and Small Person Zhi for the tips. ʱªʱªʱª(ᕑᗢᓫ∗)˒ Also!!!
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