This star is going to the moon

Chapter 167: Blue Star Aerospace is banned, we still have to do business with Lu Yun
The representatives of Lockheed Martin were very excited. They had been waiting for an opportunity for so many years, not to prove their greatness, but to get back everything they had lost.

Why can Boeing dominate civil aviation, then military industry, and finally aviation, then aerospace?

What about Lockheed Martin?

The answer is of course yes, but I just haven’t found a good opportunity before!
And now, the opportunity has come!

"...According to official news from Blue Star Aerospace, the linear aeroplane engine used in the Wooden Kite space shuttle has successfully completed a semi-system test run, and the aircraft is being manufactured very quickly. Therefore, Lu Yun's claim of a maiden flight in the middle of next year is very likely."

The Lockheed Martin representative excitedly said, "According to our inside information, Lao Zhong's military has already contacted Blue Star Aerospace and has designated the Wooden Kite space shuttle as a sixth-generation fighter!"

"Think about it, gentlemen. If we allow the other side of the ocean to possess the sixth-generation fighter jet first, our national security will be greatly threatened!"

"It would be horrible if we were at a party and dancing and their space fighters suddenly took off!"

"To deal with this dire situation, I suggest restarting the 'Adventure Star' project, reactivating the X-33 scaled-down test aircraft, and building our own space fighter!"

After listening to the presentation by the Lockheed Martin representative, the congressmen digested the information while reviewing the materials and discussing it.

"This Kite space shuttle is incredibly powerful. With just a few modifications, it can be loaded with missiles. If it launches an attack from space, we will be in a very passive position."

"That's right. Old Zhong doesn't own any private companies. They're all state-owned military enterprises or disguised state-owned military enterprises. The Wooden Kite will definitely be converted into a space fighter by them. We must stop this."

"According to information provided by Lockheed Martin, the Wooden Kite is a copy of their previous X-33. Coupled with the rapid development of space technology, it has the ability to take off and land horizontally. It is more advanced than the X-33 of twenty years ago, which could only take off and land vertically. But as long as the funds are in place, Lockheed Martin can quickly improve the X-33 into a space fighter even more advanced than the Wooden Kite."

"I don't know much about space technology, but if Lockheed Martin says so, it should be about the same."

"Then... agree?"

The congressmen who attended the meeting had their own thoughts. Some of them had been lobbied by Lockheed Martin, and the two sides maintained a good relationship.

Some of them directly accepted political donations from Lockheed Martin before becoming members of Congress, so their relationship with them is even more extraordinary.

Of course, not all the congressmen present are related to Lockheed Martin, some are related to other companies.

At the same time, representatives from Boeing and Sierra Nevada Corporation also felt something was wrong.

"I understand the need to respond to Zhong's threats, but why only mention the X-33 demonstrator? Why not mention the X-37B, which Boeing has flown several times?"

"Our X-37B can carry advanced weapons such as missiles and laser launchers to conduct long-range precision strikes, and its combat potential is enormous."

"Once launched, the X-37B can quickly reach any target 'over the sky' around the world, and then use the weapons it carries to control, hunt down, and destroy enemy satellites and other spacecraft, and even attack enemy ground targets."

"Our Sierra Nevada Sea Company's 'Dream Chaser' space shuttle is also possible. Although it can't carry people due to technical issues and can only carry cargo, that's perfect. It can do all the tasks of the X-37B..."

After the two companies compared their accounts, they felt that Lockheed Martin was not only targeting Blue Star Aerospace and Road Cloud, but also targeting them.

"The person who came here is evil!"

So sign a joint protest immediately!
The Lockheed Martin representatives had already held a meeting to discuss the matter before arriving, and were determined to restart the project even if it meant offending the two partners.

After all, the other party has the leading projects in hand, and I can only follow them to do some subcontracting work. How can I be willing to accept this!

Even if they offended me here, it wouldn't matter. After the X-33 project was restarted, I could just subcontract more work to them so they could make money together. We're all in the capitalist world, so who doesn't know who?

The Lockheed Martin representative then responded directly, "Because your so-called new generation of small space shuttles is too outdated. It is essentially no different from the previous large space shuttles and still requires rocket propulsion for a successful launch."

"One extra step doubles the preparation time, making emergency takeoff impossible, and the inability to use reusable rockets leads to high costs and a serious waste of resources. It's not environmentally friendly at all!"

My goodness, the other two families became anxious as soon as these words were spoken.

Environmental protection issues are political correctness created by the Americans themselves, and they use it to target others. Now you dare to say that we are not environmentally friendly?
"That's nice of you to say, but your X-33 was abandoned because it was too technically difficult. Our Boeing's X-37B has flown many times and is available now if needed!"

"That's right. Our Sierra Nevada Corporation's Dream Chaser small space shuttle is about to make its maiden flight. And I'm afraid we can't even find the complete blueprints for the X-33 you mentioned. How long will it take you to get it off the ground? Ten years?"

As Boeing and Sierra Nevada responded fiercely, both sides began greeting each other with the "F" word, which lawmakers were accustomed to.

Yes, this is free America.

It was very polite not to fight directly in the meeting.

Fortunately, despite their quarrels, some agreements were reached at the meeting, which was to include Bluestar Aerospace and Road Cloud on the "Entity List".

Blue Star Aerospace is prohibited from doing business with the United States, whether selling or buying.

Lu Yun is also prohibited from using various American services.

Just like the previous ban on Huayao Company.

However, this ban bill cannot be completed in one day, and the details still need to be worked out, but related companies in the United States soon learned the news.

Especially those emerging private aerospace companies that are eager to make a career and plan to break SpaceX's monopoly and get a piece of the pie, but they were stunned when they heard the news.

"?"

If they are prohibited from purchasing equipment and technology from Blue Star Aerospace, how can they develop their own reusable rockets?
Some of them are even halfway through development, but now they are banned. Is this a ban on Blue Star Aerospace or a ban on them?

"What's going on? Is it Ma Yilong's doing?"

"I told him he's a South African with dual Canadian and Malaysian citizenship, and he's here to destroy our free market!"

"Is there some misunderstanding here? Someone go ask about it. If things get out of hand, it won't end well. We private aerospace companies still have to do business with Lu Yun's Blue Star Aerospace."

"Yeah, he's not in the communications business, so he won't steal our privacy and data. He's in the rocket business. If the official space agency doesn't allow us to cooperate, then commercial cooperation is also not allowed?"

"Our companies can provide many jobs when they develop, and they can also break Ma Yilong's business monopoly. What a great thing! Why is it banned?"

"Did Ma Yilong launch a political lobbying? How much money did he spend to persuade those congressmen to let him maintain his monopoly?"

"Go ask someone. They must give us an explanation. How can we, the upright and honest people of the Stars and Stripes, be suppressed by Ma Yilong, a foreigner?"

(End of this chapter)