Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 240 Successful Landing

Collins, the astronaut who would remain in the command module, was filled with worry for his comrades and anticipation for the mission.

He patted them on the shoulder, smiled, and said, "Good luck, guys. I'll be here waiting for you."

Collins spoke calmly, but inwardly he was praying, "Please come back safely."

December 20th, the moment of separation arrived.

Aldrin and Armstrong entered the cramped lunar module and closed the hatch.

Collins spoke to them via radio: "'Eagle,' prepare to separate. Best of luck."

Armstrong replied, "Thank you, Michael. We'll be back."

With a soft thud, the lunar module separated from the command module and slowly headed toward the lunar surface.

Meanwhile, major television stations around the world are conducting intensive live coverage.

In America, CBS’s Walter Cronkite sat in the studio, excitedly announcing to the audience: “Ladies and gentlemen, the lunar module Eagle has separated from the command module and begun its descent to the lunar surface. This is an unprecedented feat in human history.”

The television screen switched to an animated simulation of the lunar module's descent, and viewers held their breath, their eyes glued to the screen.

In England, BBC Major Freeman said in a calm tone: "At this moment, the world's attention is focused on the moon."

Aldrin and Armstrong will once again set foot on the moon, proving to the world that Earthlings can set foot on lunar soil more than once, and that one day we will conquer the moon as easily as we conquered the New World!

The commentator from Japan's NHK excitedly exclaimed in Japanese, "This is a milestone in human civilization. The people of Japan and America are witnessing this great moment together."

Although I don't understand the logic of the Japanese TV station, that's just what they say.

In India, the live television broadcast attracted millions of viewers.

With schools closed, students gathered around the television, and teachers took the opportunity to explain scientific facts about the moon.

The lunar module Eagle began its descent. Armstrong took manual control, while Aldrin read out the data: "Altitude 50000 feet, descent speed normal."

Suddenly, the computer emitted a piercing alarm sound, and the screen displayed "1202 Alarm".

Armstrong's heart was racing, but he remained calm: "Cape Canaveral, we have 1202 alert."

In the control room, Lin Ran suddenly stood up, then sat down again after a moment: "The computer memory is overloaded, but it can still continue to run."

Command Apollo 11 to continue its descent and monitor for alarms.

Upon hearing the instruction, Armstrong took a deep breath and chose to unconditionally trust the professor.

He continued to operate the lunar module. He discovered that the autopilot was leading them to an area filled with boulders, and decisively switched to manual mode.

Sweat dripped from his forehead, and he said in a low voice, "I need to find a flat spot."

Aldrin read out nervously, "30 seconds of fuel remaining!"

Inside the control room, Lin Ran clenched his fists, and Lyndon Johnson held his breath as well.

"Contact light on!" Armstrong shouted.

The lunar module gently touched down, kicking up a cloud of lunar dust. "Cape Canaveral, Tranquility Base is here. Eagle has landed."

A thunderous cheer erupted in the control room. Lin Ran pumped his fist, and President Johnson stood up excitedly, clapping and shouting, "Fantastic! They did it!"

Even though he knew in advance that it would definitely succeed, Lin Ran could not hide his excitement and joy, because it was a success that he had participated in from the very beginning.

If timeline 60 goes smoothly, it means that timeline 20 will also go smoothly.

This is simply replicating existing success, Lin Ran thought to himself, but he wanted to forge a new path to success, whether in the past or in the present.

After the news was relayed to television stations around the world through NASA, commentators cheered. Cronkite excitedly exclaimed, "America has successfully landed on the moon solo! Let's cheer together!"

On the greyish-white surface of the Sea of ​​Tranquility on the moon, the lunar module Eagle rested steadily, with Aldrin and Armstrong inside preparing to set foot on the lunar land.

On Earth, billions of eyes are glued to television screens, hearts pounding with anticipation as they wait to witness history.

After all, the last time Gagarin landed on the moon, marking the first time in history that human footprints appeared on the moon, the Soviet Union's technology was inadequate, so it was not broadcast live for the public to see.

In other words, if we add a qualifier, such as "the first live broadcast of the moon landing," then Aldrin and Armstrong's event was indeed the first.

Here's a detailed explanation of how the live broadcast of the moon landing was achieved.

Without detailed information, it would be difficult to figure out why the moment they stepped out of the lunar module was captured on camera, or whether this was a studio-made moon landing.

In the years to come, the doubts of the Chinese people about the studio moon landing will only exist online, while the doubts of the Americans about the studio moon landing will also exist in reality, in addition to the internet.

Aldrin even physically clashed with real-world critics.

Back to the Apollo program.

The television camera used in the Apollo 11 mission was a black-and-white camera manufactured by Westinghouse, equipped with a 16mm lens and weighing approximately 7.25 pounds.

This camera was not pre-installed on the lunar surface, but rather pre-mounted on the descent stage of the lunar lander, specifically within the modular equipment storage component.

The modular equipment storage assembly is a storage area of ​​the lunar module, located in the fourth section of the descent stage, and is designed to store various equipment, including cameras and geological tools.

In layman's terms, once the lunar module's legs extended, the camera automatically appeared, and the lens was already pointed at the hatch.

The camera is located on the landing platform of the lunar lander.

(Lunar module design drawing)
After landing, the astronauts need to activate the modular equipment storage components to start the cameras.

The specific deployment process involved Armstrong pulling a rope inside the lunar module to unlock and open the modular equipment storage components, unfolding them like a drawer.

The unfolding of the modular device storage components not only frees up the camera but also positions it at a predetermined angle, facing the ladder.

(The lunar landing camera, mounted on the side of the lunar module, ensures that the moment the astronauts step onto the moon can be accurately captured.)
This action ensures that the camera can directly capture the astronauts descending the ladder.

Aldrin then turned off a circuit breaker and activated the camera's transmission function.

This step is crucial because it connects the camera to the lunar module's communication system, initiating the transmission of video signals back to Earth via radio.

Due to safety considerations during camera transport, the initial image may be upside down, but the ground control center will quickly adjust it to ensure that viewers see the correct image.

The transmission of the live broadcast signal relied on a lightweight antenna installed on the lunar module, which consisted of 38 feet of fine gold-plated wire and was able to efficiently reflect signals in a vacuum environment.

The signal was transmitted via a unified S-band system, covering a distance of approximately 25 miles, returning to Earth from the Moon.

This system was used extensively in the Apollo program to ensure that all communication signals, including voice, biomedical telemetry, and video, could be transmitted simultaneously.

The signal was first received by the Honeysac Creek tracking station in Australia, then relayed through ground stations such as the Goldstone Observatory in California and the Parkes Radio Telescope in Australia, before finally being transmitted to a global television network.

England's Guneley antenna 1 also participated in the signal relay, ensuring that European viewers could also watch in real time.

The hatch slowly opened, and Aldrin carefully moved down the ladder. His spacesuit felt bulky in the low gravity, and each step felt like a tentative exploration of the unknown.

He stopped at the last step of the ladder, took a deep breath, and his breathing was clearly audible inside his helmet.

Finally, he leaped lightly, his right foot landing on the soft lunar soil, leaving an eternal footprint. "As the professor said, this is one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," Aldrin's voice echoed back to Earth via radio, calm yet filled with boundless awe.

At that moment, the silence of the moon surrounded him; there was no wind, no birdsong, only boundless desolation.

On the gray-white ground, craters resemble scars left by time, distant mountains gleam coldly in the sunlight, the sky is a deep black, and the earth appears as a blue droplet suspended in the sky.

Aldrin's emotions were churning.

He thought of his home on Earth, and of his wife (before the drama ended) and children (before the father-son feud), who were sitting in front of the television.

He murmured, "We did it."

He then turned to look at the lunar module, where Armstrong was preparing to follow in his footsteps and join the space exploration.

Armstrong descended the ladder, his movements slightly clumsy, like a toddler groping his way in the low gravity of the moon.

As he took his first step, he couldn't help but laugh: "Doctor, this feels amazing, like dancing ballet!"

Aldrin nodded in response: "Be careful, Neil, this is being broadcast live."

The two walked on the surface of the moon, each step like a scene from a slow-motion movie.

They leaped forward, dodging sharp rocks and craters of varying depths. The bulky spacesuits made them look like knights in armor, but their excitement made them forget all discomfort.

Aldrin looked up at the Earth and exclaimed, “It’s so beautiful, like a shining lighthouse hanging in the darkness.”

Armstrong stared intently at the lunar soil beneath his feet: "This place is eerily quiet, yet indescribably beautiful."

Their primary task was to plant the American flag.

This time there was only the American flag, not the Soviet Russian flag.

This is important to the White House.

Aldrin took the folded flag out of the lunar module, and Armstrong helped him unfold it.

In the vacuum of space on the moon, the flag could not flutter in the wind, so they used a horizontal bar to support it, allowing the Stars and Stripes to stand upright on the lunar surface.

Under the sunlight, the red, white, and blue colors stand out vividly against the gray and white background, as if announcing the arrival of humankind to the universe.

At the moment the flag was planted, they stopped and solemnly saluted.

Armstrong whispered: "For America, for all mankind."

Aldrin thought to himself, "Our names will be etched into history along with this flag."

Next came the scientific mission of collecting lunar rocks.

Aldrin used pliers to pick up pieces of rock and carefully examined their textures. These unassuming stones, carrying the secrets of the moon over billions of years, will unlock the mysteries of the universe for scientists on Earth.

Armstrong then took out a small shovel and carefully dug into the lunar soil like a gold prospector, putting the sample into a sealed bag.

As they worked, they spoke with the Cape Canaveral control center: "Control center, sample collection is going smoothly. There are more stones here than we expected!"

Meanwhile, live television broadcasts around the world captured the moment. In the United States, CBS anchor Walter Cronkite's voice trembled almost as he exclaimed, "Ladies and gentlemen, man has landed on the moon! This is the intersection of dreams and reality!"

The sight of astronauts leaping on the moon brought tears to the eyes of viewers watching on television.

In England, Major Freeman spoke with a calm yet excited tone: "We have once again crossed the boundaries of the earth, and humanity has once again successfully left its mark on the moon."

The NHK news anchor in Japan could not contain his excitement: "A feat for all mankind! Japan and the world cheer together!"

In an ordinary family in Ohio, USA, Mr. and Mrs. Smith are watching television with their three children.

Father John slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "This is the greatness of America! The professor really did it!" Mother Mary wiped away her tears and said, "I am so proud of them."

Conservative white men in the Southern states also supported the professor, knowing full well that it would not have been so smooth if anyone else had been in his place.

The pragmatic need for learning outweighed racist ideas.

The children jumped around in the living room, imitating astronauts' movements, dreaming of flying to the moon themselves.

The atmosphere inside the Canaveral Mission Control Center was tense yet enthusiastic.

Lin Ran's mind had calmed down.

Engineers stared at the data, monitoring every indicator of the astronauts and the lunar module.

The engineer stepped forward and whispered, "Professor, they are in good condition, and the system is working perfectly."

Lin Ran smiled and said, "Keep an eye on it, don't let your guard down."

President Lyndon Johnson, sitting to the side, clapped and said, "Fantastic! They are our heroes!"

After completing their mission, Armstrong and Aldrin looked around the moon one last time.

The desolate surface gleamed faintly in the sunlight, their footprints silently left on the lunar soil, like a silent painting.

Armstrong said softly, "This is just the beginning. There are still so many secrets the universe holds for us."

Aldrin nodded: "Yes, Neil, our next stop might be Mars."

Aldrin had no idea that his next destination would be the moon.

They returned to the lunar module, ready to launch into space with samples and the hopes of humanity.

On the greyish-white surface of the Sea of ​​Tranquility on the moon, the lunar module Eagle stands silently, surrounded by the footprints left by astronauts and scattered scientific instruments.

After completing their lunar walk, Aldrin and Armstrong returned to the cramped lunar module to prepare for the most crucial step of their mission: launching from the lunar surface and returning to the command module Columbia, which was orbiting the moon.

The command module is named Columbia, which is also believed to be Lin Ran's tribute to Columbia University. Of course, this view is mainly held by Columbia's faculty, students, and alumni; other Americans do not share this opinion.

They believe it to be the first American ship to circumnavigate the world in 1773: the Columbian sailing ship.

On Earth, inside the Cape Canaveral mission control center, Lin Ran, White House officials, and the engineering team held their breath, while hundreds of millions of viewers around the world anxiously awaited this moment via live television broadcast.

Inside the lunar module, the air was filled with the smell of metal and disinfectant, and the indicator lights on the instrument panel flashed green, indicating that the system was operating normally.

Armstrong sat in the driver's seat, his eyes scanning every switch and instrument to check the status of the engine.

His fingers lightly touched the control lever, his heart both calm and tense.

Aldrin stood to one side, inspecting the sample box containing 47.5 pounds of lunar rocks and soil, making sure they were securely held in place inside the capsule.

He opened a storage compartment and took out two cameras, a life support backpack, and boots, placing them on the lunar surface to reduce the weight of the lunar module.

He looked up at Armstrong and grinned. "Neil, we've made the moon feel like home, but now it's time to go back to our real home."

Armstrong nodded: "Get ready to go home."

(End of this chapter)