This star is going to the moon

Chapter 468 If it weren't for the "Wolf Clause," humanity would have already established a permanent base on the moon!
A characteristic of Americans is that they act like they're at home anywhere, and often act arrogantly.

But this time, the American space delegation came to Laos and China to participate in the International Astronautical Congress, which really opened their eyes.

They first flew to the mountain city, then transferred to a neighboring city in Binhai, and finally took the high-speed rail to Binhai.

The mountain city's reputation as a "cyber city" has already spread internationally. Although they arrived during the day and it wasn't as impressive as it was at night, it still broadened their horizons.

After all, it's a megacity with tens of millions of people, and the size of the city when the plane lands is quite exaggerated.

If the mountain city offers a panoramic view of its immense scale, then taking the high-speed train towards the coast reveals a sophisticated blend of technology and natural landscape.

Especially in the coastal areas, the local government has transformed the area into a "harmonious future demonstration zone" that organically combines technology, nature, and aerospace in recent years.

When you're in this space city, it feels like you're in a future city in the best possible timeline.

The American space delegation arrived on the 24th, and as they were walking from the high-speed rail station to their hotel, they happened to see a space tourism flight taking off from the coastal space airport.

This further diminished their previously suppressed arrogance, and even silenced their discussions.

"Damn it, why didn't anyone tell me that Chinese cities are so advanced and developed!"

“We have all been deceived by the media. They don’t want us to know the real situation of the Chinese. Are those media outlets up to some kind of conspiracy?”

"Hmph, the media is always up to no good. They're the ones who spread the 'moon landing hoax' theory, and this lie has had a huge impact on our work!"

“I knew the situation in Laos and China was different from what the media reported, but I didn’t expect the difference to be so big.”

"Indeed, it feels like the overall technological level of the Chinese is similar to ours, and in some cutting-edge technologies, they are evenly matched. However, because they have the advantage of being latecomers, the forms they exhibit are more impressive. For example, the high-tech cities we passed through do look more advanced than the older federal cities that developed too early."

"It seems that the theory that China is another superpower is valid. Although China does not admit it, what they are doing is indeed a new space race with the Federation."

"Just like the Kite-class space shuttle that took off just now, I think it was a show of force against us!"

"Uh, no, it's because Blue Star Aerospace's space tourism flights all take off every Sunday at this time."

“Well, I don’t think the Chinese would do that. My father came here for a space mission and told me a lot of things, but unfortunately he never came back because of the Wolf Clause.”

Upon hearing the name of this clause, someone said in a lower voice, "Actually, if it weren't for this clause, perhaps we would have had space shuttles long ago, and humans might even have established a permanent base on the moon. It's a pity that politicians..."

While astronauts and technicians from other countries occasionally visit Laos and China, American astronauts and technicians haven't been to Laos and China for ten years.

The past decade has been almost a period of "stagnation" for some countries that have developed slowly or developed too early; without paying special attention, people wouldn't even know what their country has developed.

But the situation in Lao Zhong has changed almost every year over the past ten years.

Let alone foreigners who only come once in a while, even international students who have lived in China for ten or twenty years and then went abroad to study for a few years will feel unfamiliar when they come back.

"What on earth is this for? Is this still China?"

As aerospace technicians, they discovered that this decade was also a time of great breakthrough in aerospace technology between Laos and China.

Ironically, the US excluded China's space program because of its own "Wolf Clause," and now it seems to be excluding itself in the process.

In fact, the US had imposed various export controls on China and restricted cooperation in satellite technology and defense in the early stages. The "Wolf Clause" was the first time the US had restricted Sino-US space cooperation in the form of laws and regulations.

Ten years ago, an elderly Chinese scientist working on a contract basis at NASA's Langley Research Center was arrested while transiting through China.

Representative Wolf, who controlled the US space budget at the time, heavily promoted the scientist's possession of "information technology he had no right to control" to the media, but ultimately no evidence was found. Wolf eventually claimed the scientist's computer contained "adult films."

Taking advantage of this fabricated "espionage" incident, Wolf urged Congress to pass legislation banning space cooperation between Laos and China, prohibiting any joint research activities between the two countries that are related to NASA or coordinated by the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The reason given was that holding aerospace technology exchange meetings with China and Laos would harm the federal government's national interests!

Therefore, in the Appropriations Act passed in April of that year, Wolfe and others formally added the "Wolf Clause".

This clause quickly saw its first battle.

In May, the U.S. space shuttle Endeavour will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for its 25th and final mission, drawing considerable attention from the global media.

This is certainly an event that has garnered significant attention from the Chinese and American science and technology communities and media.

In addition to Endeavour itself, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, developed by Nobel laureate and Chinese-American scientist Ding Zhaozhong, and designed to search for the universe composed of antimatter, will be carried by Endeavour to the International Space Station.

Many Chinese and American scientists also participated in this project.

This was also one of the key projects in the aerospace technology cooperation between the two countries at that time.

As a result of the newly implemented "Wolf Clause," not only were the scientists involved in the project unable to watch the event in person, but even the journalists' passes to the Chinese journalists were revoked.

This issue is not only viewed strongly by the Chinese, but also by many American scientists.

But there was nothing he could do; Wolfe held the power to fund these research projects, and he wasn't a scientist, he was a congressman.

Since the implementation of the "Wolf Clause," not only have scientists from China and Laos been unable to communicate and cooperate with NASA, but Chinese researchers working in US institutions and Chinese students studying in US schools have also been affected.

This has also affected the progress of many scientific research projects in the United States.

This is also why some American scientists oppose and resist this clause.

Now, more and more people are beginning to resist that damned "Wolf Clause".

Putting everything else aside, do those aerospace company executives and senior researchers really need a $150 million ticket for a space shuttle flight that allows them to spend a few hours in space?!

Especially the younger generation.

"Wolf introduced the 'Wolf Clause' ten years ago, but he retired just two years later. Why has this clause been able to be enforced for so long?"

"Damn it, that old man is already 82 years old. When is he going to meet God?"

"These old Dengs always make the wrong decisions, seriously affecting the future direction of the Union. We, the younger generation, should..."

"Cough cough~"

As the young people's talk became increasingly outrageous, the leader of the group couldn't stand it anymore and reminded them, "Guys, you're only here in Laoshang on a business trip for a short time. You'll be returning to the Federation in a few days."

"If you don't want the FBI to come knocking, then don't say these things."

"Let's think about what new space-related news we'll get from the Chinese tomorrow, and how to respond..."

(End of this chapter)