It's reasonable for me to have a two-way foil for a second-level civilization, right?

"Electric propulsion system?"

"What the hell is this?"

A trace of doubt flashed deep in William Blair's eyes, and he said with some uncertainty: "It should be a new type of propulsion method. I suspect that it has something to do with Xia Guo's unusual behavior recently."

"For the specific situation, I think you should ask our NASA director."

Albert frowned, then picked up the black landline on the table: "Let Director Moulton come to see me!"

"By the way, there is Anthony, let him come too."

……

After half an hour.

A short, slightly bald man looked nervously at Albert in front of him: "Your Excellency, what do you want from me?"

"Moulton, do you know about electric propulsion systems?"

Looking at the slightly bald NASA director in front of him, Albert frowned and said: "The intelligence personnel sent information that Xia Guo is currently researching the electric propulsion system, and has canceled the original Long March [-] launch vehicle research project."

Moulton was stunned, and asked back with an incredulous expression: "Electric propulsion system?"

"Your Excellency, are you sure it is an electric propulsion system?"

Albert's frown deepened: "Of course, I'm sure!"

Moulton sneered, and the nervous look on his face dissipated.

He shrugged slightly, and said angrily: "Your Excellency, with all due respect, the electric propulsion system is rubbish."

"Let Xia Guo study it, I don't think they can achieve anything on it!"

Chapter 68 The Hidden Area 51

Seeing the puzzled expressions of Albert and everyone around him, Moulton hurriedly opened his mouth to explain.

"NASA has been doing research on electric propulsion systems for decades."

"To be precise, it should be research on the Hall thruster."

Albert raised his eyebrows lightly: "Oh? NASA's research was successful?"

Morton's expression froze.

He shook his head slowly, and said with embarrassment: "It's not a failure, but it's definitely not a success either."

"The thrust of the current Hall thrusters can only reach tens or hundreds of millinewtons, and most of the time they are used on deep-space vehicles."

"Perhaps you don't know the meaning of tens or hundreds of millinewtons. Let me put it another way and you will understand."

"The maximum thrust of the Hall thruster is about tens of grams."

"In the atmosphere, it can't even push an egg!"

Albert suddenly realized.

But soon, his brows frowned again: "Then why did Xia Guo cancel the Long March [-] launch vehicle research project?"

Facing this question, Moulton fell silent.

This is indeed a doubtful point.

After all, he is just a bureau chief, not a researcher.

Lack of scientific intuition is also a very normal thing.

"How about... I find some time to ask the NASA professor?"

Albert shook his head slowly: "Since the Hall thruster can't play a big role in the atmosphere, then don't worry about it."

"What's more...we can't be sure whether these two pieces of news are smoke bombs deliberately released by Xia Guo!"

Since knowing that Xia Guo turned around and took out the second-generation nuclear fusion technology after selling the first-generation fusion reactor technology, Albert felt a little bit psychologically shadowed.

"The most important thing now is how we should deal with Xia Guo's series of operations."

Moulton nodded respectfully, and said in a low voice, "In my opinion, we don't need to pay attention to the news released by Xia Guo."

"After all, we've suffered enough from nuclear fusion!"

"They want to study the Hall thruster, let them do it."

"I believe that chemical fuel rockets are the best choice for mankind at present!"

Albert's eyes moved slightly, and his deep eyes turned to Moulton again: "How is the preparation of the Pathfinder plan?"

Moulton's expression froze slightly: "The preparations have already begun!"

"Too slow!" Albert frowned instantly.

Just getting started?

According to the current development speed of Xia Kingdom, by the time they complete their preparations, maybe their red flags will be all over the moon!

Anthony, who had been silent all this time, pursed his lips and winked at Moulton beside him.

"Moulton, I think it's time to start that project."

Moulton's complexion changed slightly, and he asked in a low voice, "Anthony, are you sure?!"

Anthony closed his eyes slightly and took a deep breath: "I'm sure."

"The United States, you can fall behind by one step, but you must never fall behind others over and over again!"

Albert on the presidential chair: "???"

He frowned and interrupted the two of them: "Wait, wait! What are you talking about?? What project?!"

Anthony suddenly turned his head to look at Albert: "Your Excellency, I am applying to start the Area 51 project!"

Seeing Anthony's burning eyes, Albert suddenly looked weird: "Huh? Area 51? Isn't that thing an air force base?"

The next moment, Moulton's voice sounded.

"Your Excellency, on the surface, Area 51 is indeed just an air force base, but in fact, Area 51 is the core base of the United States' high-end technology reserve plan."

The expression on Albert's face became more and more strange: "???"

"Hey, gentlemen, that's not a funny joke!"

"High-end technology reserve plan? How come I never knew that there is such a plan in the United States?"

The voice of Secretary of Defense Anthony followed: "The high-end technology reserve plan started 50 years ago. The purpose is to reserve various high-end technologies and ensure that the United States will be in an international leading position in the future."

"During the period, in order to ensure that the secrets were not leaked, only the successive ministers of defense and NASA directors knew about it."

"Not only you, even the previous presidents of the United States, they didn't know the existence of this plan."

President Albert suffocated suddenly.

Well, no previous president knows.

His mind calmed down a little.

But soon, he thought of a very important question.

"What about the funding? Why have I never seen the so-called Area 51 budget on the budget?!"

Anthony said with embarrassment: "This... funds can be faked after all."

"In the past 50 years, about 10% of the military expenditure has been secretly flowed to Area 51."

Albert suffocated suddenly!

Good guy!

10%! !

This is 10% of the annual military expenditure of the United States!

A full 50 years of spending!

Albert couldn't even imagine what was being researched inside!

He took a deep breath and asked softly, "May I ask, is there any technology stored in it?"

Anthony and Moulton looked at each other, then Anthony nodded slightly: "Of course."

"The last Cold War made us deeply realize the importance of space supremacy. Therefore, the reserves in Area 51 are mainly some technologies in the aerospace field."

"For example... an enhanced version of the Saturn V, the Saturn VI launch vehicle."

Albert's pupils shrank suddenly!

As a native of the United States, Albert is naturally aware of the world-renowned Saturn V heavy-duty launch vehicle!

As the heaviest launch vehicle ever used in human history, the Saturn V rocket is as high as 110.6 meters.

The take-off weight has reached an astonishing 3038.5 tons, and the total thrust has reached the ultimate 3408 tons!

Because it is used for manned missions to the moon, it is also called a moon rocket!

Albert swallowed slightly, and said in a very difficult tone: "Saturn VI? What is it used for?"

Moulton took over the conversation and said softly, "Your Excellency, it was developed for Mars."

"Currently, there are three completed Saturn VI heavy-duty launch vehicles hidden underground in Area 51."

"Mr. President, as long as you give the order to unlock Area 51, the mere Xia Kingdom is not even worthy of being compared with our great America!"

Moulton's words made Albert's heart surge, and he wished he could see the star-spangled banner of the United States on the surface of Mars now!

He took a deep breath, calmed down his agitated mood, and said firmly, "Ready to sign the presidential decree!"

"Activate Area 51 plan!"

Chapter 69 Completion of Aerospace Plane: Xuannv No.[-]

summer country.

An air force training base.

With a pale complexion, Bai Yixuan supported his waist, looked up at the scorching sun in the sky.

"But, it's over..." Hong Fan's unique hoarse voice came from the side, "My God, I don't want to come to this training base again in my life!"

Hearing Hong Fan's complaint, Bai Yixuan pulled a wry smile, shook his head and said, "Don't talk about you, I don't want to see this training base again!"

Hong Fan's eyes lit up slightly: "Brother Xuan, you can't hold it anymore?"

"This is a rare situation. It's the first time I've seen Brother Xuan, you're afraid!"

Bai Yixuan glanced at Hong Fan angrily, and said angrily, "Are you kidding me?"

"I'm not a robot, I'm sure I won't be able to sustain this kind of intense training!"

A burst of crisp laughter came from the side: "I think Brother Fan is right. Since I realized it, I haven't seen Brother Xuan complain about the training content!"

Bai Yixuan turned his head and looked helplessly at Xia Wanyi who was smiling behind her: "Look at how energetic you are, why don't I contact the coach again and fly around in the sky?"

The smiles on Xia Wanyi and Hong Fan's faces disappeared instantly.

The heads of the two shook like rattles.

What are you kidding? !

Fly around the sky again?

Recalling the scene when they first arrived at the training base a month ago, the two shivered slightly under the scorching sun!

The three people who had just arrived at the training base were directly dragged onto the three training planes without any theoretical basis.

As the name suggests: practice is the best teacher.

then……

The three astronauts were tossed hard by their respective coaches.

Cobra maneuvers, Nescherov somersaults...

Although the physical fitness of the three astronauts is good, they are still tossed a lot by these fancy movements.

After experiencing the "torture" of the first day, from the second day onwards, the daily life of the three astronauts was fixed on their respective training aircraft.

In just a few months, the cumulative flight time of the three even reached an astonishing 300 hours!

On average, each person spends a full 10 hours a day on an airplane!