"This is the air circulation device; it can absorb the carbon dioxide exhaled by astronauts and convert it into oxygen output."

"This is a temperature regulator imported from America, ensuring that the humidity and temperature inside the spacecraft remain in the most comfortable state at all times..."

Hamand looked at the dazzling array of equipment cabinets, most of which had not yet been installed, with some wires exposed, but the simple flooring was complete, and the exposed alloy color felt very solid.

Moving forward to the crew cabin, he saw six seats arranged neatly in two rows next to portholes, with a spacious aisle wide enough for two or three people in the middle.

He was pressed into a seat by an unknown hand and immediately felt as if he was enveloped, with every corner of his body relaxed and exceedingly spacious and comfortable.

Turning his head following the instructions, the oval thick port window gave a reassuring feeling and featured a black filter layer that was said to filter intense light radiation in space.

Next, he arrived at the cockpit at the front. Above him and below his feet were all sorts of switches and buttons. A middle-aged man in a cabin spacesuit, with a determined face, was constantly flipping and adjusting various switches while talking to the engineers behind him.

"This is the future commanding officer Lin Ju, who is piloting New Yuan 1B. He is testing the ergonomics of the button layout; we will adjust according to his feedback."

As Lin Ju spoke, the stern-faced Deng Lei turned his head and nodded slightly, and Hamand quickly responded, filled with respect.

He noticed that the co-pilot’s seat was somewhat different from the passengers’ seats in the back. As he turned back to compare, a considerate engineer invited him to sit in the co-pilot’s seat.

Immediately, his view was filled with the complex control panel, and the front window covered in white cloth perfectly created the dreamy feeling of space.

Under the engineer’s guidance, Hamand flipped several rows of switches and slowly pushed the valve to the left, saying in disbelief,

"So all I need to do is to complete these actions, and I can take off?"

"Yes, though there are many buttons here, most are controlled by the computer during normal operation. Only in emergency situations would the pilot need to manually control them.

However, you can’t take off just yet because your body has not been properly secured."

The engineer pressed something under his seat, and Hamand felt the chair move. His legs were slowly lifted, the sprung arc-shaped clamps locked onto his thighs and tightened, and the extendable neck brace emerged from the gap between his neck and the seat back, securing his fragile neck.

Hamand felt integrated with the chair yet relaxed due to the extreme closeness, except for a sense of pressure on his legs.

"During takeoff, you will be subject to 3 to 4 G-force. Our newly developed off-load chair can alleviate more than half of the overload for you, tighten the blood vessels in your legs at the same time, and direct blood flow to the brain to prevent oxygen shortage. Now, as soon as the commanding officer gives the ignition command, the plane will officially take off."

"This is amazing, brother, truly incredible. Is this what astronauts feel like?"

After lingering for an hour in New Yuan 1B’s cabin, Hamand left reluctantly, not forgetting to boast to the people around him:

"Commanding Officer Deng said I’m very talented and learn much faster than all the rookies he has ever taught. Maybe I have the potential to become a space shuttle pilot as well!

By Allah, although my smallest private plane is larger than New Yuan 1B, it has never given me such a wonderful feeling. Sitting inside felt as if I had truly reached space!"

Hamand talked non-stop about his novel experience and the various amazing devices, which piqued the curiosity of the accompanying leaders who could not help but want to have a look for themselves.

Lin obliged and had the engineers take them in, smiling as he listened to their exclamations of wonder. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Androff pretended to stroke his large beard and quietly gave Lin an OK gesture.

...

Throughout the afternoon, as well as being dazzled by the New Yuan spacecraft, Hamand also checked out the recovered New Yuan 1B rocket’s first stage and engine testing, which were "clearly very substantial" activities.

After this, he even changed his evening plans to have dinner in the cafeteria.

Of course it wasn’t the ordinary staff meal but a special "space meal" that had been prepared.

"Lin, I thought we could only eat curry and mush in space—are these really something you can eat in space?"

Having spent the afternoon with Lin Ju, Hamand had become good friends with him, finding the young man to possess a seemingly endless array of wonderful things. At the moment, he was curiously pointing at the dishes on the table.

"The ’mush’ you’re referring to was the first generation of space food. After all these years of progress, we can now send complete dishes to space and try to retain their flavors as much as possible."

Lin Ju pointed to the dishes on the table, such as the potato beef and minced meat with green beans, and then had someone bring over a packet of powder which he mixed with cold water.

"Try this, it’s made from concentrated fruit juice in powder form, containing no additives. Just add water and you can experience pure, freshly squeezed juice."

Hamand made a casual comment about the juice but seemed to be particularly taken with the cup in his hand.

"This is a Space Cup made from dark blue ceramic and composite materials, which can..."

A meal that could be considered overly modest for a Crown Prince had made Hamand extremely happy; he even asked to take a Space Cup from Lin Ju.

After the meal, Androff and Guo Shen were already waiting in the large conference room. They enthusiastically explained the key points of space flight and future interstellar travel methods, also showing various fresh PPTs.

Although Hamand could hardly understand most of it, he kept nodding, appearing very interested.

Finally, in the evening when Lin Ju was seeing him off, Hamand couldn’t help but stop and say:

"Lin, you really are remarkable. If my country had such companies, my father the king would certainly be willing to give them his best private jets."

The previously somewhat weary Lin Ju suddenly became spirited, thinking to himself that it had finally come to this step.

Saudi Arabia was wealthy, but not foolish; coaxing them was no simple task.

"Your Highness, even though the technological development in your country may need some time, the achievements in astronautics of humanity are meant to be shared, especially since commercial space travel has opened up many more possibilities."

"Yes, we have spent a lot of money to send our excellent pilots to America and to Russia for training before they go to the space station, but that doesn’t mean we have become a spacefaring nation.

On the contrary, many people say that we don’t understand science and are ignorant and backward."

Lin Ju quickly made an exaggerated expression of disbelief:

"That really is a prejudice. Your Highness, you give me the impression of being free-spirited and very respectful of science."

He expressed himself with indignant fervor: "I think that Abe’s development of its own space program is also for the sake of space affairs; the world should support it."

Hamand shook his head: "But Lin, Abe doesn’t have the capacity to build its own rockets. We even face discrimination in space travel. I can freely choose which private jet to fly, but I have no way to get close to space.

I am very envious of you, having the ability to pursue things nobler than what we have on the ground."

Hearing the Crown Prince’s complaints, Lin Ju furrowed his brow, pondered for a moment, then with feigned grandeur, waved his hand expansively:

"I won’t allow my friends to be treated with such indignity. Your Highness, if it weren’t for site restrictions, I would even offer you a spaceplane!

Unfortunately, launching a spaceplane is extremely complex, unlike how ordinary airplanes are universally usable. It must rely on specialized launch and landing facilities."

Lin Ju sighed repeatedly as if he truly regretted it.

"My brother, are you saying that if Abe builds a launch facility, you could also sell us the spaceplane to launch?"

"Of course... um, ah?"