Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 238 On the Eve of the Moon Landing
The elegiac couplet personally written by Lin Ran was a momentous event for Hong Kong, a city on the periphery of the empire.

If we compare the Freedom camp to an empire, America is the center of the empire, England is at best the nearest satellite city to the center, and Hong Kong is the edge of the empire.

But for Lin Ran, it was just a casual way of repaying a favor from his past.

His most important achievement was the Apollo moon landing.

By September, the astronauts for the moon landing had been decided.

Lin Ran didn't hesitate. Since history had proven Armstrong and Aldrin's success, then they should use those two.

As for the actual moon landing, who took the first step is no longer important, now that Gagarin has already put his foot on the moon.

Not only did Gagarin put his feet on it, but Lin Ran also recited the famous quote, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

It really doesn't matter which American goes up first.

However, Lin Ran decided to let Aldrin go up first.

Who made Aldrin live so long? Sixty years later, he was working for himself and making a fortune.

During his final interview, Lin Ran looked at Armstrong and shook his head with a hint of regret.

Armstrong was extremely nervous, thinking that the professor's shaking of his head meant that he had almost failed to be selected.

It's similar to being ranked third out of 14 astronauts, just a little short of being selected.

As a result, he and Aldrin were notified that they would be carrying out the final test flight mission.

This is the final test flight mission, requiring the pilot control module "Explorer" to conduct critical orbital tests.

It's safe to say that whoever carried out this mission will likely be the same person who carried out the final moon landing.

Armstrong was left wondering what the professor meant by shaking his head.

In September, over Florida, the command module Explorer was undergoing crucial orbital tests.

This was also the last manned spaceflight test.

Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were excited in the command module, both knowing that they were preparing for the upcoming lunar landing mission.

Suddenly, the cabin alarm blared and the red light indicating an oxygen system malfunction flashed wildly, shattering the brief calm.

Armstrong quickly scanned the dashboard, his brow furrowed. He pressed the communication button, his voice calm but urgent: "Redstone Control Center, we have a problem. The oxygen system is malfunctioning, and the pressure is dropping."

Aldrin stared intently at the oxygen readings, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Trying to suppress his panic, he whispered to Armstrong, "Neil, the oxygen flow is unstable; we need to address this immediately."

His hands trembled slightly, but he still tried to remain calm.

What could be worse than the moon landing capsule collapsing and everyone dying before landing?

Armstrong turned to check the backup system, his fingers flying across the control panel. "I'm trying to switch to the backup oxygen tank, but it's very slow."

His breathing was rapid, and the tense atmosphere in the cabin was almost suffocating.

Inside the Redstone Mission Control Center, engineers gathered around the control console, where real-time data from the command module was displayed on the screen.

Lin Ran stood in the center, staring intently at the diagram of the oxygen system.

Mission Controller Kranz's voice came through the radio, calm and firm: "Explorer, received. Please remain calm and report the specific fault code."

Armstrong took a deep breath and tried to calm himself: "The fault code is O2-SYS-ERR-3, and the pressure has dropped to 70%."

His voice trembled slightly, but it was still clearly audible.

Lin Ran shouted, "Activate the emergency plan immediately!"

In managing NASA, Lin Ran placed great emphasis on the standardization of technical data and the need for contingency plans for any risks.

The engineer standing at a distance quickly flipped through the technical manual, his brow furrowed: "O2-SYS-ERR-3 usually indicates an oxygen valve malfunction, which could be due to a stuck valve or a malfunctioning sensor."

I suggested they manually reset the valve.

Lin Ran nodded and decisively said to Kranz, "Kranz, tell them to try manually resetting the main oxygen valve."

Kranz immediately relayed the order: "Explorer! Attempt to manually reset the main oxygen valve. It's located on the left side of the control panel, with a button labeled 'O2 VALVE RESET'."

Armstrong closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and felt his heart pounding in his chest. He tried to calm himself, thinking to himself, "I can't let fear control me. We're trained to handle this kind of situation."

He recalled countless simulations, forcing himself to focus on the mission.

He turned to Aldrin and said in a low voice, "Baz, go reset the valve. I'll continue monitoring the pressure."

He also disregarded his usual habit of calling Aldrin and the Doctor.

Aldrin unbuckled his seatbelt, floated to the control panel, located the button labeled "O2 VALVE RESET," and pressed it forcefully. However, the alarm continued to blare, and the oxygen pressure continued to drop.

He forced himself to concentrate, but his voice betrayed his anxiety: "Redstone Control Center, reset ineffective, pressure is still decreasing."

Armstrong also unbuckled his seatbelt and slowly walked to the dashboard to check the gauges, inwardly encouraging himself: "This is a test for our team."

With professors at the Redstone base, we are confident we can overcome any difficulties.

He took a deep breath and continued trying to find any possible solutions.

Inside the Redstone Control Center, Lin Ran clenched his fist. Sure enough, rushing things would cause problems.

He turned to his team, his tone urgent: "Activate the backup plan immediately, quick!"

Lin Ran continued, "It could be a valve blockage or a pipeline leak. We'll try to supply oxygen through the backup circuit by remotely debugging."

Then he directed over the radio, "Gene, instruct them to switch to the backup oxygen circuit."

Kranz immediately relayed: "Explorer, the professor's latest instructions: switch to the backup oxygen circuit. Turn on the 'AUX O2 CIRCUIT' switch on the control panel."

Aldrin acted quickly, found the switch, and turned it on.

A moment later, the oxygen pressure began to rise slowly, and the alarm gradually weakened.

Armstrong breathed a sigh of relief: "Redstone Control Center, backup circuit activated, pressure is being restored."

However, Aldrin noticed that the oxygen flow rate was still unstable and became uneasy: "Neil, we have to go back as soon as possible, otherwise the backup system may not be able to hold up either."

Armstrong nodded and decisively requested, "Redstone Control Center, we request to return to Earth immediately."

After a moment's thought, Lin Ran decisively agreed to let them return.

Kranz relayed the order: "Explorer, return authorized. Proceed according to emergency return procedures."

Armstrong initiated the return procedure, adjusting the spacecraft's attitude and preparing to ignite the engine to deorbit. Aldrin, meanwhile, closely monitored the oxygen system to ensure stable pressure.

The atmosphere inside the cabin remained tense; the two men held their breath, focused on their mission.

After several hours of precise maneuvering, Apollo 11 finally re-entered the atmosphere and landed in the Pacific Ocean. A rescue team quickly arrived and safely rescued the astronauts.

For NASA, although not all the test items have been completed, this mission is more than halfway done, and the test data required for the lunar landing has been obtained.

After all, there is the data from the joint moon landing.

The road to the final moon landing can be described as smooth sailing.

"Mr. President, NASA's solo moon landing is scheduled for December 15, 1966. The astronauts will set foot on the lunar surface forty-eight hours later and return to Earth eighty hours later. Please give instructions."

In late November, the Saturn V test was completed, and Lin Ran finally confirmed the lunar landing ceremony with Lyndon Johnson.

As promised at the beginning of the year, Lyndon Johnson passed legislation in Congress to remove China from the trade with the enemy laws.

"Good, Professor, the White House is looking forward to your good news!"

Lyndon Johnson pumped his fist in his office, knowing the moment to reverse the polls had arrived.

He wants to work for another four years!
They wanted to try again. In November, the White House press briefing room was bustling with activity. Reporters had taken their seats early, notebooks and pens in hand, while cameras and recording equipment were neatly arranged at the back of the room, their lenses pointed at the president's podium.

Everyone is well aware of the purpose of this trip: to land on the moon.

America is going to land on the moon independently.

It's worth noting that the Soviet-Russian space program had been relatively quiet for several years after their last joint lunar landing.

Although the Soviet Union claims it is making progress rapidly, you just haven't done anything.

The joint moon landing was successful, but an independent moon landing was impossible. America did it first. What does this mean?
This means that America has taken the lead in the space race.

As for the announcement of the moon landing, which ultimately failed, this was an outcome that none of the journalists had anticipated.

This is the confidence that the professor instilled in them.

Lyndon Johnson took a deep breath as he stepped onto the podium; he hadn't had a good experience holding press conferences here over the past year.

The Baiyue War was a complete disaster, leaving him speechless whenever reporters asked him questions.

He couldn't say that McNamara's command was terrible, that he was bad at it and loved to play around, and that he was in the Pentagon doing micro-management command on the front lines in America.

If he said that, the reporters would ask why he didn't replace the minister?

Why put McNamara in a position that is clearly not suitable for him?

Lyndon Johnson was truly suffering in silence.

He felt that the reason Baiyue played so badly was largely due to McNamara.

Not only did he have to take the blame, but he also had to face pressure from reporters at the press conference, leaving him with no way to express his grievances.

From his perspective, McNamara was entirely responsible for the mess he made.

Even the blame for poor personnel selection shouldn't fall on me, Lyndon Johnson. McNamara was the person you forced upon me as Secretary of Defense. He felt that McNamara wasn't even qualified to be a regimental commander, let alone Secretary of Defense.

Of course, this involves a paradox: you can't only find a professor useful when someone puts him in the White House, and then be unhappy when someone puts McNamara in.

Before pushing open the door to the East Room, Lyndon Johnson shook his head, clearing his mind of all unpleasant memories of the war and past interrogations from journalists. He wanted to hold this crucial press conference in top form.

As a seasoned politician, Lyndon Johnson was well aware of the significance of this press conference and understood the historic meaning of this moment.

Stepping onto the stage, Johnson took a deep breath, surveyed the conference room, and then began to speak:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I stand here today on behalf of the government and people of America to announce a momentous decision to the world. Thanks to the tireless efforts of NASA and our top scientists, we have decided to conduct a solo manned lunar mission this December."

Upon hearing this, applause erupted in the press conference hall. There was no surprise, as everyone already knew the content of the press conference beforehand.

Back in August, some people had already guessed what the professor was busy with.

After all, the professor didn't even attend the International Congress of Mathematicians in Moscow; he had no other tasks besides being busy with the moon landing.

Reporters eagerly raised their hands, wanting to ask questions.

Lyndon Johnson raised his hand to signal for quiet and continued:
"I know this decision may surprise some people, but please believe me, it is a well-considered choice."

Our Apollo program has made tremendous progress, and technological breakthroughs and the team's dedication give us confidence that we will achieve this goal in December.

This is not only a victory for science, but also a symbol of the American spirit and determination.

It is clear that there is no fundamental difference between politicians and political figures; they can lie without batting an eye.

What was clearly for the election two years later, and for his own continued stay in the White House, was somehow portrayed by Lyndon Johnson as a well-thought-out choice.

Jenny hadn't learned from Lin Ran that they were going to go to the moon this year, and she hadn't seen Lin Ran much lately, maybe only briefly meeting him once a month in Huntsville.

She keenly realized that Lyndon Johnson's speech mentioned team dedication, and the choice was not said to be Lin Ran's decision. Her years of news reporting told her that Lyndon Johnson was laying the groundwork for the distribution of credit after the successful moon landing.

Jenny, of course, wouldn't let Lyndon Johnson have his way. As the first reporter to ask a question, she bluntly stated: "Mr. President, how did the professor manage to push forward the moon landing program in such a short time? It was four years ahead of the original target set by President Kennedy in 1962 to complete the moon landing before 1970."

What impact will his abilities have on NASA?

Lyndon Johnson certainly knew who Jenny was, and even though he was unsure about the question, he still smiled and replied, "The professor is indeed an outstanding leader. His innovative spirit and excellent engineering skills have effectively promoted NASA's development, but the success of the moon landing program was more a reflection of the will of the American people and the result of teamwork."

After Jenny sat down, she squeezed Helen's hand next to her. Helen immediately understood what Jenny meant; the unspoken understanding between women is truly terrifying.

A reporter from Time magazine asked, "Mr. President, why was December chosen for the moon landing? Is there a specific reason?"

"That's a very good question."

December offered an ideal launch window, with both weather conditions and the moon's position being ideal.

"Furthermore, our team has completed all the necessary testing and preparation. December is the perfect time to take this step," Lyndon Johnson replied.

Another reporter then asked, "Mr. President, how safe is the moon landing mission? The public is very concerned about the safety of the astronauts."

Lyndon Johnson's gaze hardened as he replied, "Safety is our top priority. NASA engineers have conducted countless simulations and tests, and every detail has been repeatedly verified."

We have the world's best scientists and engineers, and our astronauts are among the world's finest pilots and scientists. I have complete confidence in their abilities and our technology.

Then it was Helen's turn. Helen asked, "Mr. President, does 'the best scientist' here refer to the professors?"

Lyndon Johnson wanted to shake his head, but with reporters sitting in the audience, he couldn't bring himself to say no. If he did, the media would just sensationalize it, saying he and the professor were at odds.

Such rumors have been frequently seen in newspapers in the past two years.

Where did it come from? It came from that damned Fred.

Fred frequently boasted about his close personal relationship with the professor, claiming that the professor and Lyndon Johnson were merely colleagues. He then mocked Johnson as a fool who only knew how to solve problems with force, saying that if he were in the White House, there would never be a war in the world.

Fred was already campaigning for 1968, repeatedly saying that if he became president, he could end the Vietnam War in 24 hours.

When Lyndon Johnson saw the newspaper report, he thought Fred was the absolute idiot. He said, "If you could end the Vietnam War in 24 hours, I'd change my last name to yours."

Fred's words led to persistent rumors in the media that Lyndon Johnson and Lin Ran had a strained relationship.

This also involves a paradox: who is the real idiot? Lyndon Johnson and Fred both think the other is the idiot.

Back at the press conference, Lyndon Johnson’s smile faltered slightly when he heard Helens’ question, before he said, “Of course, Professor is one of the most outstanding scientists of our time and works for NASA.”

This is sufficient proof that America is a beacon of freedom.

Helens then asked, "Mr. President, how did the professor's personal charisma inspire the NASA team, transforming it from a team that repeatedly failed before the professor arrived in 1960 into the team that only succeeds and never fails?"

It was impressive that Johnson could still smile. He replied firmly, "The professor's abilities are beyond question, and his contributions to NASA and the Apollo program are also beyond question."

But I must say that every step of the moon landing was inseparable from the support of the government and the countless scientists and engineers who have made silent contributions. We cannot keep focusing our attention on one person.

The professor already has too many accolades; we can share some of the honors and praise with other scientists and engineers, such as Brian von Braun.

Johnson was actually saying, "Give me a share; I want to boost my public support."

Politicians are adept at using high-sounding words to disguise their true intentions.

After the press conference, President Johnson returned to his White House office, where Vice President Hubert Humphrey was already waiting.

Johnson's face appeared somber in the firelight of the fireplace.

He sat down, his tone barely concealing his dissatisfaction: "Humphrey, did you see that? The reporters only have eyes for the professor, as if the moon landing was his achievement alone."

Humphrey was thinking that the contrast between NASA before and after the professor joined was too stark.

He responded calmly, saying, "Mr. President, the professor is indeed the focus of the media, and we cannot deny his contributions."

Lyndon Johnson frowned and interrupted, "I'm not denying his contribution, but I can't let the public think that the moon landing was just his victory. It was a national achievement, accomplished under my leadership!"

Humphrey thought to himself, "If you had said this sooner, I would have known how to help you build momentum." He nodded and said, "I understand. We need to let the public see your leadership and the government's determination."

(End of this chapter)