Abraham was a typical middle-aged white man (tall nose, slightly overweight, and slightly balding). He currently worked for NASA as a senior technician in charge of space monitoring and rocket launch monitoring.
As the world's most powerful space agency, NASA had always been at the forefront of the world's aerospace industry. They were the first to land on the moon, the first space shuttle, the continuous rocket launches in the space race, and the Hubble Telescope, which would go down in history.
All of these were NASA's proudest assets. Even though the space shuttle had been shut down as a project, many countries still did not have the ability to manufacture space shuttles.
In addition, Stark Industries built the Ark spacecraft and launched it last year. Although the main technology came from Tony Stark, NASA also invested in it. The significance of the Ark could not be unknown to Abraham. It was something that was worthy of being recorded in history.
But now, the Ark had encountered a big problem. A sudden solar wind had disrupted all plans. The Ark, which was supposed to return to space, might have to face the solar wind head-on. As a veteran technician, Abraham knew what this meant.
There was not much that the people on Earth could do. This was not a Hollywood blockbuster, nor was it Matt Damon's "Mars Rescue". In fact, other than observing the solar wind and trying to find the most suitable hiding coordinates with the least radiation, there was not much NASA could do.
A group of scientists were already arguing in the office. They could not come up with any good ideas.
If Apollo 13's space self-rescue (note) was a miracle, then the Ark spacecraft could only pray for another miracle to happen.
"Coffee, Abraham." The colleague went out to the dining room and brought Abraham a cup of coffee. Abraham took the coffee and thanked her. He continued to drink it to refresh himself.
He had been staring in front of the monitor for almost six hours. In fact, ever since the solar wind erupted, Abraham could not go home. Almost all the senior technicians in NASA felt the same way. Even if they could not do anything, they could not leave. In other words, the Ark was related to the future of mankind.
This was the first time mankind had truly taken a step into space exploration. This was no longer the child's game of picking up seashells on the beach in the past few decades. This was the prelude to setting sail.
Whether the Ark succeeded or failed was of vital importance to human exploration of space.
"What can we do here?" Abraham's colleague asked softly. Abraham shook his head. "Pray."
As a scientist, Abraham found it ironic that he had to place his hopes on God. Just when he was in a bad mood, there was a commotion outside.
Just as he was about to go outside to find out what was going on, a loud shout came from outside, "Tony Stark is flying in in Iron Man Armor!"
Abraham and the other colleagues ran towards the source of the sound curiously. What was Tony doing here at this time? Everyone knew that the Ark was Tony Stark's painstaking effort, and he definitely wouldn't allow anything to happen to the ship.
The golden-red Iron Man Armor whizzed toward the NASA director's office and flew directly into it. This startled the director who was typing on his computer.
Then the director's secretary rushed in, pointed at the Iron Man, and said to the director, "Sir, I didn't have time to stop him."
The director couldn't help but roll his eyes. This is nonsense. If you can stop the Iron Man, then why are you on duty in front of my office? He waved his hand to signal the secretary to leave. "Okay, I got it. I think Mr. Stark is looking for me."
After the secretary left the room, the director turned to look at the Iron Man. "Mr. Tony Stark, it's a little impolite for you to come in like this."
Tony did not take off his Iron Man mask, but said as the Iron Man, "I know, so I apologize. But this is a special time, I think you should be able to understand."
The director nodded. "I know, that's why I didn't call the police just now."
Tony smirked. "That's funny."
"That's good news. The Ark is facing a huge problem. My scientists have started closed-door negotiations, but there's been no progress," said the director with a frown. "This is a terrible feeling. It's even more hopeless than the Apollo 13 accident."
"That's why we need to think of another way," Tony said. His tone made the director feel a little different.
The director tentatively asked, "You have an idea?"
"Do you remember the other plan I mentioned before?" Tony Stark asked.
"What?" The director didn't react immediately.
"Starport Sky City!" Tony reminded.
"What does that have to do with anything?" The director still didn't connect the two things together. "The Ark and Sky City are two different things."
"They're the same thing," Tony reminded. "They're actually the same thing. The plan for the starport has been approved by the Earth Federation, and we've been preparing for it for a long time. I know that. In fact, China and the European Space Agency have already started. Ever since the Ark launched last year and started mining for Helium-3."
Tony pointed at the director. "I know, including NASA, you guys are frantically building rockets. It's just like the previous space race. You guys are hoarding rockets. Your actions are too obvious. I even heard of an idiot who came up with a plan called the Relay Plan. If I'm not providing the technology for the Ark, I'll be the one backing you guys up."
What Tony said was not false. China, the European Space Agency, and other countries with independent space capabilities had been preparing for the space age for more than a year.
Not all countries were able to get their hands on the Ark. Even if they were able to get their hands on one, they would have to make some extra preparations. Furthermore, Tony's subsequent proposal for a spaceport had caused all the countries in the world to prepare for their own spaceflight plans. Everyone could see that the era of spaceflight had truly arrived. It was no longer something that only existed in science fiction.
The director didn't confirm or deny Tony Stark's statement. He just said lightly, "So what are you trying to say?"
"I need to requisition these rockets!" Tony Stark said bluntly. "I need these rockets to save the Ark! This is the first time in human history that we've taken such a big step into space. Failure is not allowed! "
The director did not deny this. Humans were only an insignificant civilization in the universe. Especially in the Battle of New York, humans had truly witnessed a powerful alien civilization. Even if the other party did not show any malice, they still could not let their guard down.
Under such circumstances, NASA's power was further expanded. The Star Wars program proposed by the Reagan administration was mentioned again. But this time, the target of Star Wars had changed from humans on Earth to aliens.
"I need to use these rockets to start carrying the first batch of materials to build the starport. Two of the four Arks that the Stark Corporation is preparing to deliver to the P5 countries this year are now close to completion. I will also take the risk and use them," Tony said solemnly.
The director frowned. "What are you trying to do?"
"Use everything we have to build a fortress that can block the solar wind!" Tony said. His tone was not frivolous like usual, only endless seriousness.
"The materials for the outer shell of the starport have already been produced when the project was started. They are armor that can resist the solar wind. I will use these armor to build a space fortress for the Ark so that they can have a place to hide from the solar wind."
"The two incomplete Ark spaceships obviously can't carry so many heavy materials into space, so I need all of your rockets! I will bring steel armor in the Ark spaceships and let them adjust the position of these armors in space. As long as the timing is just right, we can let the Ark avoid the solar wind. "Tony revealed his entire plan.
To be precise, this was not his plan, but Dr. Banner's plan. His inspiration came from the Invisible Fortress plan proposed by Li Jie.
At that time, Dr. Banner put forward such an idea: "The starport project has already begun, but the Earth Federation is arguing about which route it should take on that orbit. In fact, we should have started building the first base long ago, but the constant interest involved has hurt our pace of progress."
"The Ark is a crisis, but it is also a turning point. We should seize this opportunity to directly launch the Spaceport plan to shut those politicians up. And more importantly, we can't protect the Earth forever. No matter how powerful the heroes are, they will fall one day, and no matter how well-intentioned an organization is, they will deteriorate one day. We have great power, so the easier it is for us to deteriorate." Dr. Banner spoke bluntly.
"At that time, Jason found me and asked me to join the Illuminati because he didn't want such a situation to happen to everyone. He wanted to use fresh blood to cool everyone's brains. And now I think it's time for me to play a role. We can't help the Earth with everything. This is unrealistic."
"We need to let the Earth Federation truly unite and do one thing. Let them understand that they are insignificant in the vast universe. An ununited Earth is extremely fragile in the face of a real alien threat. A simple solar wind can destroy the hope and future of mankind!" Banner turned his head and looked in the direction of Li Jie.
"And even if this plan doesn't succeed, there is still Jason's Interstellar Fleet and Thor. If it doesn't work, let them rescue Dr. Reed and the others. There won't be too much loss."
Li Jie nodded. He also agreed with Dr. Banner's idea. Anyway, he couldn't think of Dr. Banner's idea. It wasn't that he couldn't think of this method of doing things, but because he lacked enough scientific knowledge, he couldn't calculate how the whole plan needed to be arranged like Dr. Banner.
This was a very professional ability, not something as simple as throwing a pot or something. This was not Li Jie's strength.
At NASA, the director was weighing the gains and losses. But just like Tony said, this was mankind's first real space voyage, and it was also the first step of mankind's exploration of extraterrestrial civilization. They couldn't afford to make any mistakes. Otherwise, would mankind have the confidence to take the second step?
Also, the whole world was waiting for the return of this batch of Helium-3 ore, so he didn't think too long. As an old astronaut, the director decided to do something that would go down in history at the end of his career.
He said to Tony, "It's not enough to convince me on this matter. You also need to convince the president."
Iron Man spread his hands. "You're already convincing him?"
"What?"
"I mean, actually, I'm not here." The mask of the Iron Man opened, and there was no one inside.
Tony was just talking to the director remotely. He was really busy now because he needed to go around the world to meet the leaders of various space agencies.
The director of the Heavenly Sword Bureau was negotiating with the leaders of various countries, pushing everyone to agree to this plan.
"The spaceport plan is not just about individuals or countries, and the Ark and Helium-3 are not just about the future of a country. They are related to the direction of our world. Whether from political, economic, social, or other perspectives, we need to unite to do this," Captain Rogers emphasized to the leaders through a video conference.
"We are not alone in the universe. There are enemies and friends in the universe. The history of human development has told us that the most powerful civilizations often perish due to internal strife, and Earth's civilization is still far from being powerful. Everyone, it's time for the Earth Federation to do something! Everyone, this is not only for us, but also for our future generations. This era needs an example! "
The president of the United States was the first to vote in favor. "I agree." (I'm going to retire anyway)
Then the leader of China, which had always been cooperating with the United States, also voted in favor. "If we can't even reach a basic agreement on such a small matter, then our civilization is not far from extinction."
Then the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Germany … In the end, even Latvia, which had always been at odds with the other countries, expressed its willingness to lend out its own rockets and Ark spacecraft.
To be honest, this matter had shocked everyone. No one knew when Doom had become so kind. Why would he help the Americans? Then there was a message: Dum, Susan, and Richard were university classmates, and it was said that they had a good relationship …
… …
The Houston Space Launch Center in the United States was extremely busy. Everyone was preparing for an emergency launch. In addition to the busy people, there was also Iron Man's steel team, as well as troops from the military wearing Elven armor produced by Oscorp to help. These people and machines were extremely strong, and they were not afraid of toxic and harmful products.
Their participation made the preparation work extremely fast.
At the launch site in the South China Sea, China, a huge solid-fuel rocket was being transferred to the launch pad at a gentle speed by hundreds of mutants who were proficient in magnetic field control.
At the European Space Launch Center, the rocket launcher that had been secretly prepared was pushed to the launch pad and final preparations were made.
At the Plesetsk base, a huge and crude machine was neatly loading the supplies delivered by Iron Man's team into the transport compartment of the rocket launcher.
Space centers all over the world seemed to be busy at the same time for the same thing. For the first time, the world was on the same footing and frequency because of the same thing.
US time on March 30th, 10 o 'clock in the evening. Weather: sunny. Wind speed: low.
Abraham was going to perform another launch mission. This was the twenty-fifth time in his career that he had done this kind of thing. After doing this so many times, logically speaking, he should have gotten used to it. But today, he still couldn't suppress his excitement.
The reason for this excitement was hard to describe. Was it because they were saving their compatriots outside of Earth? Or was it because this was the first time that astronauts around the world were working together?
Abraham shook his head and drove all the distracting thoughts out of his mind. Because he needed to hold his breath and concentrate, when the countdown ended, he calmly pressed the launch button.
The rocket ignited successfully, and a huge flame illuminated the entire Houston Space Launch Center. The rocket lifted off with a huge light and heat. It was like the sun rising in the night, and the burning flame could be seen even from tens of kilometers away.
This was the "sun" that represented the rise of human civilization. It carried the hope and persistence of human beings. We were like children lighting a bonfire in a terrible dark forest in the dark and cold universe.
There were always terrible eyes peeking at the erratic flame that seemed to be extinguished at any time in the darkness. The flame may be weak, it may be a kind of attraction and temptation. But when the light and heat were shining and couldn't be ignored, it was a kind of deterrence!
From Houston to the South China Sea, from Tanegashima to San Marco, a group of flames rose one after another. They were like the Venus ignited by human beings, moving forward into the dark and silent universe. They announced to the world: We are coming, and we will not retreat.
First the first one, then the second one, then the third and fourth, and then it began to spread until you could quickly count the number. These "Venus" that carried human civilization kept rising from the earth. They did not retreat or fear. They were wantonly emitting their own light and heat.
At this moment, thousands of stars twinkled on the earth!
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