Queuing to Launch into Space

Nowadays, everything requires queuing, even rockets launching into space. It sounds absurd, but it's actually happening.

My name is Li Tiechui, an ordinary telemetry and control officer at a rocket launch base. My daily job is to stare at screens and data, ensuring that those "big guys" safely launch into space.

It used to be a very leisurely job. There were only a few launch missions throughout the year. Most of the time, my colleagues and I would just drink tea, chat, and shoot the breeze. Occasionally, when leaders came to inspect, we would pretend to be busy.

But recently, things have completely changed. Launch missions have become as abundant as chives, one crop after another. The open space outside the rocket launch center is filled with rockets waiting to be launched, stretching as far as the eye can see, like the square of a train station during the Spring Festival travel rush.

"I say, what's going on? Why are there so many rockets launching all of a sudden?" I asked Lao Zhang across from me, while munching on a bun.

Lao Zhang is an old hand at the base and very well-informed. He took a sip of strong tea and said mysteriously, "Haven't you heard? The higher-ups have issued a strict order to accelerate space exploration. I heard they discovered a new energy source on the moon, and all countries are scrambling for it. We can't fall behind!"

"New energy?" I was a little confused. "But that doesn't mean we have to do it like this! It's almost like a bus route, queuing to launch into space. Aren't they afraid of a collision?"

Lao Zhang chuckled, "Collision? You're overthinking it. It's all intelligently controlled now, very precise. But the workload has really increased. I heard the programmers next door are almost collapsing from exhaustion, working overtime every day to write code."

I shook my head, thinking what a mess this was.

Even more absurd things were yet to come.

Due to the excessive number of launch missions, there was a severe shortage of personnel at the base. The higher-ups had a brainwave and decided to recruit temporary workers from society.

As a result, a group of oddly assorted people flooded into the base. There were newly graduated college students, unemployed middle-aged men, retired elderly women, and even a few young people with tattooed arms.

"This... is this going to work?" I looked at this motley crew, my heart filled with doubt.

Lao Zhang, however, was quite optimistic: "It's okay, it's just pressing a few buttons. After a few days of training, anyone can do it, right?"

But reality slapped us hard in the face.

During the first launch, a temporary worker pressed the wrong launch button, almost sending the rocket into the sky prematurely. Fortunately, Lao Zhang was quick-witted and stopped the disaster in time.

During the second launch, an elderly woman mistook the emergency stop button for a teacup and sat on it. As a result, the rocket stalled on the launch pad for a long time, and finally "poof," it went out.

The third... well, let's not talk about it, it's too painful to recall.

The base was in chaos. The leaders were frantic, holding meetings every day to scold people. But what good did scolding do? The rockets were still queuing up, waiting to launch.

One day, I couldn't take it anymore and went to the leader's office, slammed my hand on the table, and said, "Leader, this won't do! If this continues, there will be a major accident!"

The leader looked exhausted, rubbed his temples, and said, "Tiechui, I know it's not good. But it's an order from above, can we disobey it? Besides, this is a critical time, we can't afford to slip up!"

I was speechless.

Days passed, and rockets continued to fly into the sky one after another. The people at the base became increasingly numb and exhausted.

I often wondered, what is all this for? Is it really worth it to work so hard?

One night, I stood alone under the launch tower, looking up at the starry sky.

Suddenly, a meteor streaked across the sky.

I suddenly realized that perhaps we are like this meteor, burning ourselves just for that moment of brilliance.

Whether this light illuminates others or scorches ourselves, who cares?

I gave a wry smile and turned to walk into the control room.

Tomorrow, another batch of rockets will be queuing to launch.