Chapter 127: The Chang'e Lunar Exploration Project

Inside the headquarters of the Fuyun Group, located within the industrial park, Li Fu’s office was filled with the company’s senior executives. It was clear they were in the midst of discussing significant matters.

"The state’s orders are massive. Looking at these figures, it’s enough to produce hundreds of aerospace planes," Yu Liang remarked, clutching a data report. Ever since the advent of "Black Gold" material, the materials division had only one client: the state. As the nation pushed forward with space technology, the demand for aerospace planes had skyrocketed. With the cost-effective Black Gold material now available, it had naturally secured a vast number of orders.

"A few hundred aerospace planes are nothing for a vast nation like ours, especially considering that in the future, China intends to secure resources across the entire solar system. Hundreds are far too few. We will need millions, even tens of millions—they should be as ubiquitous as cars are today for it to truly be enough."

"The future of aerospace planes lies in their accessibility to the general public, allowing ordinary people to travel to and from space at will. If we reach that point, we could truly be considered a spacefaring civilization."

Li Fu reviewed the order data. While the volume was enough to keep his materials company busy for months, the pricing—though much cheaper than previous materials—was still based on the weight of aerospace-grade materials. Black Gold was sold to the state by the gram. Even if it wasn't as expensive as gold, the sheer scale meant that the materials for a single aerospace plane cost over a billion yuan. These orders represented hundreds of billions in revenue; aside from the virtual reality product line, the materials company had become a massive revenue generator.

"Fang Zheng, while I am away from the company, you need to expedite the formation of our own aerospace subsidiary and lay the foundational groundwork. Chen Bin, Yu Liang, Yang Yiping, and Cao Haitao, you four weren't invited to the project, so you should lead a team to research our own aerospace plane. I’ve already boasted to the state that we can provide them for one billion yuan each; it would be embarrassing if we couldn't deliver."

Recently, Li Fu had received an invitation from the "Chang'e" project team to participate in the manned lunar landing program as a prominent scientist. The assignment would likely keep him away for at least six months, prompting him to delegate company matters.

The most critical task was establishing their own space exploration and aerospace manufacturing companies. The conditions were ripe: the company possessed the necessary technology, and the team—comprising top experts in aviation and aerospace—had the expertise. With Li Fu’s guidance and the Black Gold material, technical hurdles would be overcome. Furthermore, the company was flush with capital from its virtual reality, materials, and biotechnology divisions. The virtual reality sector alone, bolstered by the increased supply of bio-chips, generated hundreds of billions of dollars monthly.

In many ways, Fuyun Group had more liquid capital than the state’s space agency, as the latter relied on government appropriations, whereas Li Fu had total control over Fuyun’s resources. Additionally, the regulatory barriers that previously hindered private entry into the aerospace sector had been lifted, leading to the emergence of other private aerospace firms.

"Don't worry, I will ensure the foundational work is completed as quickly as possible," Fang Zheng promised.

"Brother Fu, we will get right to it. By the time you return, our aerospace plane will have taken shape," Chen Bin and the others echoed, radiating confidence. Having participated in the research of the "Divine Arrow" aerospace fighter, they were well-prepared for the challenges ahead.

"Good. If anything urgent arises, keep in touch. I should still be reachable."

***

At the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, a vast conference room was packed with the world’s leading scientists. There were top experts in space technology like Liu Shiying, Deng Kun, Meng Chao, and Xu Zhensheng; astronomers such as Min Ze, Yuan Heng, and Mei Wending; data science luminaries like Wang Wei, Zu Hui, and Shi Qingren; and communications experts like Li Tuo and Sun Yunshan.

Every individual in the room was a national treasure—a titan in their respective field and a globally recognized authority. Li Fu, as a Nobel laureate, academician, and leading expert in aerospace, was seated in the front row alongside Liu Shiying.

This was China’s first manned lunar landing, as well as the first such mission of the century. The state placed immense importance on the event, with high-ranking officials overseeing the coordination. International eyes were fixed on China.

"Our manned lunar landing must not only be completed smoothly and perfectly, but we must also realize our plan to establish a manned lunar outpost," declared the mission commander, a three-star general, his voice booming with authority.

The mission was a pivotal step for China’s future in space. Success would bolster national pride, facilitate the acquisition of lunar resources, and drive the nation's goal of making the space industry a core pillar of its economy. Failure, however, would be a devastating blow. The weight of the mission was why the country had mobilized its finest minds. Manned lunar exploration was not child's play; it was a comprehensive test of a nation's scientific and technological prowess.

"The future of space will undoubtedly belong to China," Li Fu thought to himself. Sensing the room, he realized that nearly all the scientists were in their prime—mostly in their thirties and forties. This young, talented team ensured that even without his own "hacks," China’s aerospace technology was destined for rapid advancement.

The mission mobilized the entirety of China’s space infrastructure: the BeiDou Navigation System, the lunar global positioning system launched the previous year, and the "Heavenly Palace" (Tiangong) space station. On the ground, a global network of tracking stations and ships ensured complete coverage. A new supercomputer, "Moon Rabbit," had been built specifically to simulate the Earth-Moon trajectory and calculate the vast data required for the mission.

With the advent of the aerospace plane, China’s space capabilities had surged. Having already established a lunar positioning system via unmanned probes, China had effectively completed half the mission before even launching. The remaining challenges lay in the landing, the return, and the establishment of the lunar base—the true crux of the expedition.