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If the previous article stirred up international speculation and ridicule, today's interview has made all the ridicule disappear.

When the news wasn't comprehensive, messages like "Navigator Company self-destructs," "attention-seeking," and "relying on scandals due to lack of technology" quickly spread.

Some people had considered the SSTO issue, but it was quickly overshadowed by the prevailing "trend".

The closest successful SSTO spacecraft was the "X-33" technology demonstrator, but that was 20 years ago.

In the past four or five years, there has indeed been an SSTO rocket being built, a Haas 2CA SSTO rocket, which uses a "V"-shaped linear aerospike engine, so the overall rocket shape resembles a razor.

It is a small rocket with a carrying capacity of only 100 kilograms, targeting the micro-satellite launch market. It has always been said that it would be test-flown, but it never has been.

Later, it was rumored that they were going to branch out and produce a "flying skateboard," not using a turbofan engine, but rather many rotors blowing air downwards.

This made many people suspect that they were just a company creating hype, and they quickly disappeared from international news.

But Navigator Company's project not only showed the real machine, but also released a detailed promotional video online after the interview.

Most importantly, their first flight is tomorrow.

It's amazing!

In just one day, no matter what other aerospace companies are doing or what great future plans they have, they are all rubbish compared to Navigator Company's "Dart X."

Oh, right, plus the "Starry Sky Inn" that Navigator is developing and manufacturing, the combination of the two is perfect!

Internationally, there are two suborbital aircraft about to begin commercial operations, costing only a few hundred thousand dollars, which is very cheap, but they can only reach suborbital space.

There are three manned spacecraft that can enter orbit, but a single seat costs tens of millions of dollars, which is too expensive.

Look at Navigator, flying to space orbit costs only one million dollars, and there is a space station for accommodation. What can other companies compare with?

I heard that the International Space Station is going to take guests, but how can a scientific research space station compare with a space station specializing in tourism?

Moreover, the International Space Station is already so old. Are tourists entering space to see the messy wiring and scientific instruments?

In Navigator Company's promotional video, the "Dart X" takes off from Navigator Company's runway, and when it flies to space orbit, the fuselage will slowly rotate, allowing tourists to enjoy the beautiful Earth, Moon, stars, and Tiangong Space Station and International Space Station through the large portholes at the top.

After that, the spacecraft will dock with its own "Starry Sky Inn", where tourists can experience the fun of space in a sci-fi decorated space station.

What? You really want to experience space science experiments?

That's easy too. Many fun space science experiments are waiting for you, and even eating can be regarded as a space science experiment.

You can also use the space station's 3D printer to print an experimental item, and then take it back to Earth as a souvenir that you "personally" made in space.

However, for safety reasons, space walks are not currently offered.

Seeing the promotional video, many people yearn for it and can't wait to be sitting in the first flight, going to space tomorrow!

Unfortunately, these people have little hope.

After the interview, Navigator Company went all out, releasing a new message every now and then, without stopping.

Plus the news and articles written by those media outlets when they returned, it was quite lively.

But what makes outsiders jealous and reporters beam is Navigator Company's first flight benefits.

In general, the first flight of spacecraft will carry some things, not fly up empty.

Official first flight tests generally carry some experimental items, such as seeds, instruments, friendship items from other countries, and so on.

The first flight tests of private aerospace companies start to do some fancy things.

For example, soliciting from the public, anything is possible, it can be experimental payloads from university laboratories or private research institutes, or souvenirs from aerospace enthusiasts and company fans, and so on.

Of course, Navigator Company will also do it, but it was kept secret before, and the first flight is tomorrow, so there is not much time to solicit from outside, so this time it was done internally.

Of course, it was made clear in advance that although they have enough confidence that the test flight will be successful, there is always a chance of failure. If it fails, these carried items will be gone forever.

Think carefully about what you want to put in.

The company's employees, especially those who participated in the confidential project, can take something they like or want to send to space and put it in the spacecraft.

Of course, the size cannot be too large, and the weight cannot be too great.

An internal selection was held, and the items were quickly determined.

After that, it was the reporters' turn to receive benefits. They could also send some things into space, with the same restrictions as above.

However, most of the reporters are here on business trips and don't bring many things, so they are mostly personal belongings.

Some put in small stuffed toys, some put in keychains, and some even put in their press cards.

Finally, it was the turn of a domestic media reporter, who was quite cunning and wanted to put in a switched-on sports camera.

The key is that Navigator Company agreed.

"Then can I fix it next to the porthole?" the reporter asked excitedly and nervously.

"Of course, do you want the cockpit porthole or the cabin porthole?" the staff member in charge of registration said with a smile.

"The cabin, can it be fixed so that half faces outside the porthole and half faces the cabin? If it's difficult to fix, then just point it all at the window."

"No trouble, we can do it."

"Thank you, thank you so much!"

Other reporters: "..."

"Damn, that's okay too?"

"Oh no, why didn't I think of that?"

"Regret, I knew I would have put in a camera."

"Hey, don't worry, the sports camera's battery can only shoot for an hour at most, and even with an external power bank, it can only shoot for 5 hours. There are nearly 20 hours left until tomorrow's takeoff, so putting it in is just a waste of time."

Hearing the other reporters registering and not leaving, chattering there, the staff couldn't help but say: "This test flight is simulating the real riding process in the future, which is completely different from the conventional spacecraft launch. Roughly, you can refer to the airplane riding process."

As soon as they heard this, the reporters' faces lit up, and they immediately wanted to surround him and ask questions, but they were blocked by the security personnel next to them.

These security personnel had attended the previous press conference and knew what these reporters were like, so they directly asked them to leave.

They will be allowed to take pictures tomorrow, so what's the hurry?

The boiling night passed, and a new day arrived. Many people opened their computers or mobile phones after eating, and set the screen to Navigator's official live broadcast page.

"Hello everyone, a new day, we are going to space."

Tang Chao stood in front of the camera and waved.

Yes, he is still the "host" today. He is a particularly good learner. When he realizes that he has any shortcomings, and if he is willing to learn, he will quickly work hard in that direction.

"Look, this is my physical examination report from yesterday. All the circles above are green, indicating that I can go to space tourism. So, this is my boarding pass, with my name on it. Today I am called Zhang San."

Tang Chao held up a paper physical examination report and boarding pass to show the camera, then waved his hand and began to show off the clothes he was wearing.

"And what I'm wearing is the company's newly designed passenger uniform. Isn't it very sci-fi and beautiful?"

"With the boarding pass, we can go to board the spacecraft. As long as we follow the route prompts, we can easily find it..."

"Beep beep beep~"

As soon as he walked through a door, a warning sound rang, and then a staff member smiled and indicated that the backpack he was carrying had to go through security.

To this, he expressed helplessness: "Okay, it seems that I, as an internal staff member, can't just muddle through."

He honestly went back and put his bag into the security equipment.

This live broadcast is under the control of Navigator Company. They will use this live broadcast to convey some information to the outside world, such as what things cannot be brought when taking a spacecraft to space. So, after Tang Chao put the things on the conveyor belt, some brief text descriptions appeared on the screen.

However, this is just a preview. A detailed process demonstration animation will be released separately in the future to tell passengers who plan to take the spacecraft what to do and what not to do.

After all, this is just the first flight, and there is still some time before the official commercial operation begins.

After the security check was correct, Tang Chao picked up his bag and continued to walk forward.

In fact, there is nothing in his bag, just some small souvenirs prepared by the company, which will all be given away in a lottery after this safe return from space.

People watching the live broadcast stared at the screen, not letting go of a single detail. When Tang Chao walked to a place with floor-to-ceiling windows, the protagonist of this time, the "Dart X" that was seen yesterday, appeared.

It was parked outside the boarding gate in front.

The whole process is very similar to the boarding process.

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It's just that Tang Chao walked here, watched himself walk into the boarding gate, walked into the boarding bridge, but still didn't stop.

"What is this guy planning to do? Isn't he planning to take the experimental machine into space?"

"Damn, isn't that right? This could kill someone. Dare they do this?"

"I don't think so. No matter how satisfied you are with your work, you can't do this, right? It's too risky."

"I think so too. Even testing a fighter jet should be the job of a test pilot. It's impossible for the chief designer to just go up."

"Let's watch slowly. Whether Captain Tang gets on the spacecraft or not, today is definitely a day that needs to be remembered in history!"

Of course, Tang Chao would not carelessly get on the spacecraft. This is the first flight of a manned spacecraft on Earth. Even if the technology is the same, the manufacturing level of Earth and Kerbin is still somewhat different.

If there is an accident, although he can use the method of traveling to Kerbin to escape, how to "resurrect" on Earth afterwards is a problem.

So the camera followed him as he walked inside the boarding bridge, and then started to go up the steps. This is different from the general boarding procedure.

After going up the steps, the boarding bridge was higher than the spacecraft, and then extended to the center of the spacecraft. The roof of the boarding bridge buckled down, forming a relatively closed space.

At the end of the boarding bridge is the entrance to the spacecraft, a downward entrance.

And next to the entrance, stood a person also wearing a passenger uniform, accurately speaking, a dummy, a bald model, with a piece of paper stuck on his forehead, with "Zhang San" written on it.

At this time, the audience understood what was going on.

Sure enough, it is impossible for the chief designer to participate in the first flight mission.

As soon as Tang Chao walked here, another staff member stopped him, "Sir, after our inspection, the ticket you are holding belongs to this Mr. Zhang San, so you cannot pass, and please return the ticket to Mr. Zhang San."

Tang Chao had no choice but to put the ticket into Zhang San's chest pocket, and folded the inspection report and stuffed it in.

Here, his performance ended. The staff took his backpack and put it into the "Dart X" cabin along with Zhang San.

The camera outside was not allowed to enter, and the picture was directly cut to the camera in the cabin. All the viewers watched the staff fix Zhang San to the first seat. Obviously, this is a dummy for testing.

Looking at the other seats and open spaces, they were all fixed with large and small bags, which were the carried "experimental items".

Subsequently, Tang Chao took an internal small electric car back to the control center. The big screen inside showed various monitoring data. All the staff were on standby, and the "Dart X" had begun to prepare for takeoff.

Before, there had been a shot of the spacecraft being towed to the runway by a tractor, and this runway is also the only runway that Navigator Company currently has.

If this runway had not been completed, the first flight test of "Dart X" would have been postponed.

Afterwards, the company will build three more runways, and even reserve land to prepare for building more runways in the future.

When the future comes, intercontinental travel may rely on this kind of flight method.

And through this live broadcast, the viewers clearly understood the future riding mode of manned spacecraft, which is only slightly more troublesome than taking an airplane, but compared to the current manned spaceflight process, it has been streamlined to the extreme.

Tang Chao sat in the command seat and checked various data, all of which were transmitted from the "Dart X"'s intelligent flight control computer. Information gathered from other staff also indicated that everything was ready.

In addition to the information given by the Air Force, indicating that there were no other aircraft on the test flight route, he said: "Permission to take off!"

At his command, "Dart X" immediately replied, in a pleasant female voice that sounded relaxing.

"Program started!"

As the reply was issued, the spacecraft's various systems came online. Engines one and two started, and hot flames shot out violently, pushing the spacecraft forward.

This scene was filmed by cameras from all directions, giving all the viewers a feast for the eyes.

After taxiing for a while, engines three and four started, adding two more streams of hot flame, increasing the thrust, and the spacecraft suddenly took off.

At this moment, many people couldn't help but stand up, clenching their fists and wanting to shout, but they forcefully held it back because now was not the time.

So they could only clench their fists and stare intently at the live broadcast screen.

This was the first time in human history that a spacecraft, without any external assistance and relying solely on its own engines, had taken off from a horizontal runway.

Through the camera footage at the rear of the spacecraft, it could be seen that the spacecraft was flying higher and higher, and the tracking camera on the ground gradually lost sight of it. The screen then switched back to the large screen in the control hall.

Ordinary people could watch the exquisite synchronized animation, while people in the industry and enthusiasts could watch various data.

And the more the enthusiasts watched, the more excited they became, while the more the people in the industry watched, the more they broke out in cold sweat.

Until the spacecraft had flown high enough that the thin air could no longer provide it with lift, and the fuel consumption had reached a balanced value, the final fifth and sixth engines were activated.

Six beams of flame, full thrust!

Too powerful, their manned spacecraft couldn't compare at all. Even the official manned spacecraft of Tianxia, the毛熊 (Mao Xiong - Russia), and Meruiken (America), only had their deep-space manned capabilities worth mentioning.

Because according to the Pathfinder Company's explanation, the "Dart X" design could not meet the needs of manned deep-space flight.

Therefore, in terms of manned capabilities in near-Earth orbit, the "Dart X" was unparalleled!!

Sure enough, as the flight speed displayed on the big screen increased faster and faster, suddenly, the slight vibration of the cabin screen went still, and the fixed wrapping straps floated up.

This is... entering a state of weightlessness.

That is to say... "Dart X" succeeded!

"Holy crap!"

"Yeah!!"

"Awesome!!"

The people who had been holding back suddenly shouted, waving their fists up and down!!

And inside the command hall, everyone cheered!

Tang Chuan stood up and shook hands with Zhang Liyan next to him, and then shook hands with Chen Jing on the other side, and said, "Humanity has entered a new space age."

"Yes."