Chapter 965
Unexpected Situation During Rocket Launch
In December, the north wind howls like a knife across the Gobi Desert in Jiuquan.
The launch center's command hall was brightly lit, with dozens of screens on simultaneously, each displaying different data streams.
With only two weeks left until the scheduled launch window, the pace of the lunar landing mission has become so tight that it's being calculated in hours.
Yang Anchao stayed here for seventeen consecutive days. When he was tired, he would take a nap on the cot in the corner of the command hall, and when he woke up, he would continue to stare at every parameter on the screen.
The incident was discovered during an additional review of control procedures.
According to the pre-launch inspection procedures, all flight control software must undergo a final full code review before final version sealing.
This task is usually done by automated tools, but Yang Anchao insisted that core engineers manually check key modules.
It was this persistence that saved the entire rocket.
At 11 p.m., a young engineer raised his hand, his voice strained: "Mr. Yang, look here, there's a piece of code in the redundancy switching logic of the attitude control engine that shouldn't be here."
Yang Anchao walked over and leaned down to look at the screen, his face turning ashen within seconds.
That piece of code was disguised as a normal exception handling branch, cleverly embedded deep within thousands of lines of code, and had no connection to any known functional modules.
Its sole function is to disconnect the switching channel between the main control system and the redundant backup when it receives a specific external signal.
Simply put, it remains quiet under normal conditions, but once activated, the rocket's attitude control system will lose its redundancy protection within seconds.
If it happens to be triggered at the critical moment of a soft landing on the moon, there will be only one consequence: the entire rocket will crash into the moon.
Yang Anchao straightened up and gave the order in a hoarse voice: "Stop all overtime work and seal the code repository. Notify General Manager Wang and the special task force in Beijing. From now on, no one may access any line of flight control code without my signature."
The message reached Wang Donglai's encrypted terminal within two minutes.
He was reviewing the official production line commissioning plan for Wanwusheng in his office in Tangdu when he saw the red alert pop up on the screen. He put down his stylus and immediately dialed Yang Anchao's number through an encrypted channel, only saying one sentence: "Have you caught the person yet?"
"He's been caught. Security personnel apprehended him ten minutes ago."
Yang Anchao's voice was filled with barely suppressed anger: "He's a veteran employee who's worked in the aerospace system for many years, responsible for the integration and testing of flight control software modules. Last month, he was bribed by a foreign organization through an intermediary, who promised him money and an overseas account on the condition that this backdoor be implanted. He said he thought it was just commercial espionage and didn't know what the consequences would be."
"Regret can't fill an empty stomach!"
Wang Donglai's voice was cold: "Send the investigation results to Beijing simultaneously, and notify the space agency and the science and technology bureau. This matter must be investigated thoroughly. In addition, the flight control code must be reviewed from beginning to end, and the system must be fully integrated. Use our quantum computing platform to scan all historical versions in parallel, tracing the source of every line of code, every function, and every modification record."
At the same time, Wa also retrieved that person's complete data file, including employee number, date of employment, project history, access control records, internet browsing history in the past six months, frequency of encrypted communications, and abnormal bank account transactions.
Every piece of information is accurate to the second, and every flow of funds is traced back to its source.
The middleman's identity was identified within minutes: a former senior executive of a foreign company who ran a "business consulting firm" in Hong Kong, had close ties with several overseas institutions, and had previously participated in at least three technology theft activities targeting domestic technology companies.
Wang Dong glanced at this information and immediately sent it to the relevant departments.
Now, he no longer needs to be afraid of many things.
Nuwa's powerful artificial intelligence technology is already well-known.
When the news reached Beijing, the task force immediately summoned all its core members.
The hat department rushed to Hong Kong overnight and, with the cooperation of the local authorities, implemented precise control over the middleman.
A joint expert team from the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence and the China National Space Administration arrived in Jiuquan in the early morning to conduct a comprehensive re-inspection of all flight control systems, covering everything from the core control modules to every interface of the communication links, telemetry systems, and ground control stations.
That afternoon, Yang Anchao gave a full report to the joint expert group in the conference room of the launch center.
He reconstructed the discovery of the backdoor frame by frame: how the engineers' manual spot checks located the abnormal code segment, how Wa's quantum computing platform completed the full code review of the past few months in tens of minutes, locking down the precise time of the backdoor implantation and related modification records, and how the security department locked down the suspect in a very short time by cross-referencing access control attendance records and internal communication monitoring.
"The backdoor has been removed, and all contaminated code modules have been rolled back to the secure version after seven rounds of cross-validation."
Yang Anchao's voice was hoarse, and now, when he spoke of it, his tone was filled with anger.
"But I must say that the reason we were able to find it this time was not because the system was so perfect, but because of luck. It just so happened that I insisted on doing manual spot checks, and it just so happened that the engineer found this piece of code. If he hadn't found it, the consequences would have been unimaginable."
The meeting room was so quiet that you could hear the faint sound of sand and wind hitting the glass of the Gobi Desert outside.
The head of the joint expert group was an elderly aerospace engineer with gray hair. He took off his reading glasses and slowly wiped them, his voice low but each word firm and resolute: "The responsibility for this matter does not lie with you, nor with your team. Foreign forces have been targeting the aerospace industry for quite some time now, and their methods are becoming increasingly professional and covert. This time it was a backdoor, next time it might be hardware implantation, and the time after that it might be supply chain contamination. We must push the security defense line forward to every link, from code writing to hardware procurement, from personnel background checks to supply chain management; there can be no blind spots in any link."
Late that night, Wang Donglai received a video call request from Beijing on his encrypted terminal.
He pressed the answer button, and a familiar background appeared on the screen.
The voice on the other end of the call was calm and steady, but carried a caution that only appears before major decisions: "Comrade Donglai, we understand the situation. First of all, we must commend the efficiency with which the Galaxy Aerospace team discovered and handled this matter, but at the same time, we must recognize the wake-up call this incident has given us. The issue now is not whether we can find out the truth, but whether we should adjust the launch time."
Wang Donglai did not answer immediately.
The voice on the other end of the screen continued: "The reasons for postponing the launch are quite valid. Malicious code was implanted in the flight control system. Although it has been removed, the mission to land the rocket on the moon allows no room for complacency. We need more time to conduct a comprehensive re-inspection of all systems. The expert group recommends pushing the launch window back by at least one month, and launching after the New Year. This will allow us to calmly complete all checks and ensure everything goes perfectly." Wang Donglai finally spoke.
His voice wasn't loud, but every word seemed polished by the wind and sand of the Gobi Desert, carrying an undeniable certainty: "Leader, it's precisely because this mission doesn't allow for any room for complacency that we can't postpone the launch. We've uncovered the backdoor, eliminated the hidden dangers, apprehended the perpetrators, and also pinpointed the middlemen and the chain behind it all. This shows that our security defenses aren't passively taking hits, but proactively discovering, eliminating, and counterattacking."
He stood up and walked to the window. Outside, the tower cranes at the construction site of the Tang Imperial City were still turning.
His voice was transmitted through an encrypted channel to the capital city, hundreds of kilometers away.
"I respect the expert group's opinions, but the whole-rocket-to-moon mission is not just an engineering issue; it's a strategic one. The mission of Pioneer 2 is not just about sending three astronauts to the moon, but also about completing a series of cutting-edge scientific experiments at the base, including biological breeding, materials preparation, quantum communication, and verification of extraterrestrial life support systems. Each experiment corresponds to China's long-term layout in key scientific and technological fields. If it's postponed for a month, these experiments will have to wait for the next window. When is the next window? Weather conditions, orbital parameters, the base's solar cycle—all factors need to be recalculated. A month is not just a month; it's a complete overhaul of the entire mission process."
He paused briefly, his tone becoming more resolute: "Moreover, this incident itself is interference from external forces. They're using such underhanded tactics to try and disrupt our plans. If we postpone the launch, no matter what excuse we use, it will be interpreted in the international arena as 'there's been a problem with China's space mission.' That's exactly the interpretation they want. We can't let them succeed. The flight control code has undergone seven rounds of cross-validation, and all contaminated modules have been rolled back to safe versions. We used the full computing power of the Tiangong platform to scan all historical versions and found no second backdoor. We're not launching with hidden dangers; we're launching as planned only after confirming safety."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the call, followed by a very serious voice: "I basically agree with your assessment, but I must ask, how confident are you about the launch window in December?"
"hundred percent!"
Wang Donglai answered without hesitation, stating definitively, "It's not just a verbal 100%, it's based on real data. All the tests of the Lishi engine are in the data package, and the Xirang coating has worked continuously for over a thousand seconds at a temperature of 3,000 degrees Celsius without any degradation. All the key stages of the rocket's landing on the moon have passed simulation. I never make definitive statements when I'm not sure, but now I can say with certainty that this launch will definitely be a success."
There was silence on the other end of the call again, this time for even longer.
Wang Donglai could hear the sound of the other person writing on the paper, a soft, unhurried sound.
"it is good!"
The voice finally rang out again, saying, "The launch time will not be adjusted. But I have one request for Yang Anchao and the joint expert group: in the last two weeks before launch, all systems must undergo another full-scale safety review. This is not just a formality; it's a genuine combination of manual spot checks and automated parallel scanning. The engines must be re-tested, the guidance system must undergo a full-process simulation again, and the communication links must be stress-tested. If any data shows an anomaly, immediately halt the process, and send the report directly to my desk. This is a pledge; there is no room for negotiation."
Wang Donglai's reply was crisp and decisive: "Received. This pledge will be signed by everyone at Galaxy Aerospace."
After the call ended, Wang Donglai put down the encrypted terminal and sat back down at his desk.
On the screen, Wa had already compiled a list of all the review items required by the joint expert group, with each item marked with the implementing team, timeline, and acceptance criteria.
He read through each item, signed in the approval column at the bottom, and then picked up another phone to dial Yang Anchao's hotline.
"Engineer Yang, I'm passing on an order to you. Continue with the full retest of the flight control system as usual, conduct one additional engine test, and run the guidance simulation again. The review checklist has already been generated; arrange everything according to it. All review records must be submitted simultaneously, with a deadline of one week before launch. You made a pledge before, and I'm doing the same this time."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, then Yang Anchao's hoarse but firm voice came through: "Received. Don't worry, Mr. Wang, everyone at the launch center, from top to bottom, will be on track."
The lights at the Galaxy Space Launch Center stayed on until the early hours of the morning.
The engine was reignited on the test stand, and the roar tore through the silent night sky of the Gobi Desert.
The simulation of the guidance system ran over and over again on the Tiangong platform. Wa's computing power was pushed to the limit, and all abnormal branches were exhaustively tested, pushing the coverage to 100%.
Security investigators interviewed key personnel one by one and re-verified all entry and exit records and communication logs.
The joint expert team members are stationed in groups at each key node, and any abnormal parameter fluctuations are immediately reported.
The eyes of the world are on Jiuquan in December.
The announcement of GalaxySpace's plan to land the rocket on the moon had already been circulating, with media from various countries stationed outside the launch center and new topics of discussion appearing daily on social media platforms.
Some were excited, some were skeptical, and some brought up those failed cases to argue that "private space companies pursuing manned lunar landings are courting death."
Yang Anchao ignored all the noise. He simply appeared in the General Assembly Test Hall every day on time, stroking the words "Pioneer II" on the silver-gray arrow with his rough hands, as if stroking a child who was about to embark on a long journey.
Wang Donglai was in his office in Tangdu, where he was tracking the launch preparations in real time via an encrypted channel.
Whenever Wa reports messages like "Engine test normal", "Simulation runs successfully", and "No new anomalies found in safety review", he nods slightly and writes two words on the report: "Read".
These two characters were written very lightly, but the ink was very heavy.
He remembered the man who had been taken away by the security department. He had worked in the system for many years, handled the flight control code of several generations of rockets, and ultimately ruined his life because of a bribe.
He recalled what Yang Anchao had said on the phone: "He said he thought it was just commercial espionage and didn't know what the consequences would be."
But as anyone in the aerospace industry knows, a single line of incorrect code could mean that three astronauts will never return home.
In December, the north wind howled across the Gobi Desert. Pioneer 2 stood quietly on the launch tower, the sunlight reflecting off its silver-gray body with dazzling brilliance.
Everyone at the launch center signed a pledge, every step underwent the most rigorous review, and every line of code was scanned countless times.
Wang Donglai said on the phone that this time it would definitely work.
Yang Anchao squatted on the Gobi Desert under the rocket, looking up at its majestic figure, and clenched the enamel cup in his hand.
He wanted to see those words become a reality with his own eyes! (End of Chapter)