You promised to build cars, so why did you go into the military industry?

On June 11, Shenzhou-6 was successfully launched.

The difference is that, according to official reports, this time the spacecraft carried a small robotic arm with seven degrees of freedom.

This robotic arm is 5 meters long in total, and about 2.3 meters long when folded, with a load-bearing capacity of 3 tons.

It can independently complete the installation and replacement of external loads.

Li Ran, who frequented the laboratory, was somewhat surprised upon hearing the news.

Isn't this the Wentian robotic arm?

Are we starting technical verification now?

Li Ran felt a chill run down his spine, never expecting the butterfly effect he had created to be so strong.

As expected, starting in mid-June, the three astronauts of Shenzhou-10 began frequent extravehicular activities.

The personnel working with the robotic arm conducted a drill involving movement, maintenance, and load installation.

Moreover, on June 20, 2013, Tiangong Classroom officially started classes!

A floating water sphere, a spinning top, capillary action...

Everything that happens here in the weightless space is so fascinating.

When television broadcast this scene, so different from what we see on Earth, to every household, countless students were inspired to yearn for the universe after watching the live broadcast, and thus decided to dedicate themselves to the aerospace industry.

During their short stay of just over 60 days, the astronauts completed three spacewalks and two space lectures.

The frequent live broadcasts from space have sparked a space fever across China.

In June, July, and August, the world's attention was focused on Tiangong, which is 400 kilometers above the ground.

They are the brightest stars in the world right now.

In late July, Li Ran noticed that during the second space lecture, the astronaut teacher actually lit an open flame inside Tiangong!

"There are certain risks involved, and we have made thorough preparations for them."

This was something the astronaut professor specifically mentioned before ignition.

The simple act of striking a match instantly touched the hearts of countless people.

The imagined explosion did not occur; the spherical flames were indeed captivating, and this scene demonstrated the aerospace engineers' high level of confidence in the safety of Tiangong.

Unfortunately, Li Ran didn't finish watching the live stream because Lin Yu arrived.

Following Lin Yu, Li Ran arrived at the rocket casting workshop.

A rocket, 25 meters high and 3.5 meters in diameter, lay flat and slowly appeared in front of Li Ran.

With a diameter of 3.5 meters, it is a typical size for a medium-sized rocket.

Li Ran walked around it, observing it carefully, not wanting to miss a single detail.

"President Li, this is our rocket, 'Joint One'," Lin Yu said with great enthusiasm. "The other factory area stores the second stage rocket body, which is also 3.5 meters in diameter, but only a little over 5 meters high."

"Can it fly?"

"No, we still need to test it."

How do you test it?

"Send it to Factory 627, and after testing, we can apply for launch from there."

Upon hearing this, Li Ran immediately called Lu Yi Ping An Fa Fa Fa Large Cargo Transportation and Logistics Company. Having already worked together twice before, this communication went exceptionally smoothly.

However, when the train departed, Professor Lü Chaoping insisted on following the train.

This terrified Li Ran, who quickly led Wang Bing and the others to try and dissuade him.

After all, Wang Bing had once told Li Ran that he suspected Professor Lü Chaoping was a key technical member of the YF-100 team.

For such a highly skilled individual to spend a week or two in a chaotic and disorganized place would be too risky.

Seemingly aware of Li Ran and the others' concerns, Professor Lü Chaoping no longer insisted:

"Then I'll go back to Factory 627 first and take care of all the necessary preparations."

"I'll stay with you," Zhang Chengyuan stepped forward.

In order to minimize traffic disruption, the convoy officially set off at midnight that day.

We passed through the city without incident and arrived at the toll station.

This time, Lin Yu successfully recorded the precious scene of the toll station being demolished.

Of course, the cost will be that United Industries will have to pay for the repairs.

"Slow down, slow down, don't shake it too much."

The observer became alarmed when he noticed the oversized transport vehicle shaking as it passed a low-lying area.

The observer's shout immediately put the entire transport team on high alert.

"It's alright, just fly normally," Lin Yu reassured him. "The overload, vibration, and turbulence during a rocket launch are much worse than this. This shaking is nothing. Besides, we added a cushioning device when it was secured."

The observer did not believe it:

"The launcher is vertical! This one is horizontal, how can the forces be the same?"

"If it can't even withstand this much vibration, I don't expect this rocket to even take off." Lin Yu held up the camera and filmed the scene. "Listen to me. Operate normally."

Five days later, Li Ran and his group finally arrived at their destination.

Lu Chaoping and Zhang Chengyuan, who had been waiting there, took over the command and arranged for special vehicles to enter the site to unload the goods.

Three days later, after a thorough inspection, Lin Yu and his team unanimously confirmed that the transport had not damaged the first and second stage rocket bodies, and that subsequent tests could proceed smoothly as planned.

In the following week, the first and second stage rocket bodies passed the full-rocket vibration test and the full-rocket system hot test.

A static ignition test was then successfully conducted.

On the very day the static ignition test was successful, Lin Yu solemnly announced:

"The Joint-1 second-stage liquid-fueled launch vehicle has been successfully developed!"

Against the backdrop of the upright arrow, everyone took a group photo in front of the rocket they had made themselves.

The entire rocket body is coated with white heat-insulating paint, and the words "United One" and "United Industries" are written vertically on the rocket body.

A huge red flower borrowed from Factory 627 was tied to the waist of the first-stage rocket body, and Zhang Chengyuan and Lin Yu stood on the platforms on both sides to unfurl the banner.

"Joint One assembly line rollout ceremony!"

Professor Lü Chaoping and Director Qi Kaifeng were also invited to stand in the middle of the crowd and participate in the group photo.

The figures of the crowd were so small in front of the massive rocket; their faces were blurry, but their joy was palpable.

After the group photo was taken, Director Qi Kaifeng said to Li Ran:

"Send me your rocket data as soon as possible so I can conduct a risk assessment and submit a launch application."

That very night, Lin Yu packaged up the rocket data and sent it to Director Qi Kaifeng.

Then, everyone quietly waited for news.

But ever since the data was packaged, no one has received any related information, as if everything has vanished without a trace.

Ten days later, the group appeared in Director Qi Kaifeng's office.

"When did you guys get along so well with your comrades in the Navy?"

This was the first thing Li Ran and his team heard when they entered the office.

"My first application was rejected."

But then something happened, and comrades from the Navy came to us wanting to submit an application together.

They even said you are trustworthy comrades.

Do you think I don't know whether you can trust me or not? Do I need them to tell me?

However, thanks to their assistance, the second application went smoothly.

Director Qi Kaifeng handed Li Ran a launch permit application stamped with the official seal:

"Launch will take place within two weeks, at an opportune time."

The document was passed from hand to hand among the people.

"By the way, should I contact the insurance company?"

"No need, no need," Lin Yu waved his hand in refusal.

"Quite confident?" Director Qi Kaifeng remained noncommittal. "Then let's get going."