Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 241 Return to Earth
Kranz at mission control responded: "Roger, Eagle."

升空时间定在124小时22分01秒，约17:54 UTC。

All systems are functioning normally. Best of luck.

Inside the control room, Lin Ran whispered to Lyndon Johnson beside him, "Mr. President, the ascent engine only has one chance, and it must be flawless."

But don't worry, we've checked it countless times, and the engine is in absolutely excellent condition.

Lyndon Johnson clenched his fists and replied in a low voice, "This is our promise to the world, and we cannot fail."

Lin Ran knew that since there were people all around, the other party definitely wouldn't reveal their true thoughts.

The countdown began, and the voice from the control center echoed in the headset: "Ten, nine, eight..."

Armstrong's hand rested firmly on the control lever, while Aldrin stared intently at the instrument panel, reading out the data: "Fuel pressure normal, engine warm-up complete."

"Five, four, three, two, one, ignition!" The ascent engine roared to life, the lunar module vibrated gently, and the astronauts inside felt a soft thrust.

The moon's low gravity makes launching into space much easier than a rocket launch on Earth.

Through the small triangular window, Aldrin saw the greyish-white surface of the tranquil sea recede rapidly into the distance, and the Stars and Stripes they had planted toppled under the impact of engine exhaust.

"The flag has fallen!" Aldrin exclaimed, his voice filled with regret.

Armstrong focused on the instruments and calmly reported: "Control Center, Eagle is airborne, pitch and roll normal."

A surge of excitement welled up inside him: "We're really leaving the moon!"

Then he turned to Aldrin and said, "It's alright, we'll straighten him up next time we go."

NASA originally planned to land at the same spot where Gagarin had landed before, but because the mission was moved up by a year, the landing site was changed to Tranquility.

Inside the control room, the screens showed the lunar module gradually ascending, and the engineers held their breath.

Lin Ran said in a low voice, "Well done, Buzz."

Then he turned to Lyndon Johnson and said, "Mr. President, everything is going well."

President Johnson clapped his hands and exclaimed, "They did it!"

During the live television broadcast, CBS anchor Walter Cronkite's voice was filled with excitement: "'Eagle' has lifted off from the lunar surface! America has successfully left the moon on its own! The heroic astronauts are about to return to Earth!"

Inside the control center, everyone was still tense; they couldn't relax like the viewers in front of their televisions.

For viewers, the end of the live broadcast meant the end of the moon landing. People around the world had witnessed the complete process of the moon landing, which was much more complete than the previous Soviet moon landing.

The live broadcast ended, but the TV program didn't. What followed was not live footage, but rather a simulated animation depicting the progress of the Apollo moon landing.

For NASA staff, it's far from over.

Subsequent tasks included the docking of the lunar module and the command module, as well as the return of the command module, none of which were as simple as they seemed.

To be honest, returning to Earth was the hardest part.

Despite having data from the Soviet Union, the strategies they employed differed.

The lunar module shut down its engines 435 seconds later and entered its initial 11×55 mile orbit, about 13 miles from the command module Columbia.

Armstrong and Aldrin began adjusting the orbit, using the Reaction Control System (RCS) to bring Eagle's orbit closer to a circular orbit of approximately 56 miles, bringing it closer to Columbia.

Inside the command module, Michael Collins orbited the moon alone, experiencing an unprecedented sense of loneliness.

He tracked the lunar module's signals with radar, feeling both nervous and expectant.

He recalled the laughter of the three men at the start of the mission and muttered to himself, "Come back soon, guys."

He breathed a sigh of relief when radar showed the Eagle approaching and said over the radio, "Cape Canaveral Control, I have the Eagle's signal, about 10 miles away."

The lunar module performed a series of orbital adjustments, including concentric orbit rendezvous, constant altitude difference, and the start of the terminal phase, to match the orbit of Columbia.

Aldrin stared at the radar and read out the data: "Distance 100 feet, approaching speed 2 feet per second."

As the Hawk approached within 40 feet, Armstrong saw the docking probe of the command module through the window.

He whispered, "I see the Columbia. Get ready to align."

Aldrin cautioned, "Let's align our window with his right window, and don't scroll to the right."

Armstrong nodded: "Understood, stay steady."

“Received, Columbia. Prepare for docking,” Collins responded.

Suddenly, the attitude indicator began to fluctuate violently. Armstrong frowned: "Something's wrong!"

Aldrin glanced at the gimbal angle: "We've entered gimbal lock!"

Gimbal lock occurs when a navigation system loses a degree of freedom, which can lead to loss of attitude control.

Armstrong quickly switched to the Abort Guidance System (AGS): "Switch to AGS, Doctor, stabilize me."

Aldrin gave the adjustment instructions: "Pitch up 5 degrees, yaw left 2 degrees."

Armstrong operated the thrusters, and the capsule trembled slightly in lunar orbit. After a few minutes of tense adjustments, it finally stabilized.

“Alright, back on track,” Armstrong said with a sigh of relief, sweat trickling down his forehead.

The distance narrowed to 10 feet, and Armstrong estimated: "He was 10 feet... now about 5 feet."

The docking probes were clearly visible through the window. Collins adjusted the attitude inside the command module to ensure the probes were aligned: "Looks good, Eagle."

The two spacecraft made gentle contact, and Collins activated the recovery mechanism.

“Cape Canaveral Control Center, we are ready to dock,” Collins reported.

But suddenly, the combined spacecraft began to vibrate violently, especially in the roll direction.

Collins exclaimed, "What's going on?"

Armstrong felt the shaking: "We're oscillating!"

He realized that the forward thrust was not fully aligned with the center, causing the attitude to deviate. The automatic system then started ignition to correct the deviation, which triggered oscillations.

Armstrong quickly released attitude hold and manually stabilized the spacecraft.

With a soft click, the lunar module's probe was inserted into the command module's hatch.

"Captured!" Collins shouted excitedly.

"Cape Canaveral Control Center, docking complete," Armstrong confirmed, his voice tinged with relief.

A few seconds later, the vibrations subsided, and the docking latch clicked into place.

“Hard connection!” Collins confirmed, his voice filled with relief.

Armstrong breathed a sigh of relief: "Okay, we're yours, Columbia."

Collins responded with a laugh: "I didn't feel any impact, it felt pretty stable, but when I pressed the retract button, things got messy."

Armstrong explained, "Yes, I deviated from the center when I applied forward thrust, and the automatic system started ignition to correct it."

Inside the control room, telemetry data confirmed successful docking, and the engineers erupted in cheers.

Thunderous applause erupted in the control room. Lin Ran breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and pumped his fist in celebration: "That was awesome!"

(The elliptical rendezvous orbit resulting from the docking of the lunar module and the command module was the subject of a paper written by Buzz Aldrin before the lunar landing. It is no wonder that Aldrin, a PhD in orbital mechanics, felt resentful for not being the first to land on the moon.)
Lyndon Johnson glanced at Humphrey, then stood up and clapped his hands in celebration: "They're back!"

Humphrey knew it was time to have the White House photographers capture the moment, showing off the president's tall figure.

The focus of the image should be on the president, not the professor.

The live television broadcast switched to an animated simulation of the docking scene, with Cronkite narrating: "The lunar module and command module have successfully docked! The astronauts will soon be reunited!"

After docking was completed, Aldrin Armstrong opened the hatch of the lunar module, climbed through the narrow docking tunnel, and entered the command module.

They carried 47.5 pounds of lunar rock and soil samples, along with a 16mm film canister, to record precious images of the lunar surface.

Collins greeted them in the command module with a broad smile: "Welcome back, guys! How's the moon?"

Armstrong grinned: "A magnificent desolate place."

Aldrin added, "It was dusty, but breathtakingly beautiful."

They secured the sample box in the storage compartment, took off their bulky spacesuits, and were finally able to take a short rest.

Collins joked, "The scientists will be ecstatic with all these rocks you brought. Oh, and the president too. He's been so resentful about how the Soviets only gave us a tiny bit of lunar soil during the last moon landing."

With everything in place, it was time to say goodbye to the "Eagle".

Collins operated the console and initiated the separation sequence: "Alright, let's abandon the 'Eagle'."

He flipped a switch, the explosive bolt activated with a low popping sound, and the docking latch loosened.

Through the porthole, they watched the Eagle slowly drift away, its silvery-white hull shimmering in the moonlight as it gradually disappeared into the darkness of space.

Armstrong gazed at the departing lunar module and thought to himself, "It took us to the moon; now it's time for it to rest."

Aldrin patted him on the shoulder: "It has accomplished its mission, and so have we."

Collins reported via radio: "Cape Canaveral Control, lunar module jettisoned."

Kranz responded: "Roger, Columbia. Preparing for trans-Earth injection."

After jettisoning the lunar module, the command module Columbia prepared to perform trans-Earth injection ignition, leave lunar orbit, and embark on a three-day return journey.

Trans-Earth injection ignition is one of the most critical steps in the mission. The service propulsion system must ignite precisely, as any deviation could cause the spacecraft to deviate from its orbit or even fail to return to Earth.

控制中心内，林燃直接计算出具体参数告诉指挥官克兰兹：“点火时间130:30:00 GET，持续2分30秒，速度增量约3280英尺/秒。”

The data was transmitted to the spacecraft via radio.

Armstrong, as commander, was responsible for oversight, Collins for operation, and Aldrin for monitoring the navigation system.

The three adjusted the spacecraft's attitude according to the instructions from the guidance computer, aligning the SPS engines in the correct direction.

Collins stared at the instrument panel: "Attitude locked, pitch 150 degrees, yaw 0 degrees."

Armstrong performed a final system check: "All systems are normal."

Aldrin read out the data: "Fuel pressure is stable, engine warm-up complete."

Inside the control center, everyone was glued to the screens.

Kranz radioed: "Columbia, Cape Canaveral, Trans-Earth Injection ignition countdown 10 seconds."

"10, 9, 8..." Collins counted down, and the cabin was silent except for the low hum of the instruments.

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1, ignition!" The SPS engine roared to life, the spaceship shook violently, and the thrust pressed the three people into their seats.

Armstrong felt the familiar acceleration and thought to himself, "We're going home." Aldrin stared at the display screen, confirming the speed increase: "Speed ​​increased, trajectory normal."

Two minutes and 30 seconds later, the engine shut down, and the computer showed that the spacecraft had entered its return orbit to Earth.

Collins reports: "Cape Canaveral Control Center, trans-Earth injection complete. We are on our way home."

Thunderous applause erupted in the control room.

Lyndon Johnson stood up and hugged Lin Ran, saying, "Professor, this is a victory for America!"

The White House photographers successfully captured the moment, and Humphrey wanted the photos to speak for themselves.

Although he admired Lin Ran, he valued the position of vice president even more. If Lyndon Johnson was ousted, he would have to leave with him.

Lin Ran nodded: "That's right."

He thought to himself that such a victory would soon appear in China, even if it was in another time and space, but he believed that China in this time and space could do the same.

India talks a big game, but the Chinese always get serious.

The command module Columbia traced an arc in the vast universe, carrying astronauts Aldrin, Armstrong, and Collins on their final journey back to Earth.

Their mission is complete. Now, they face their most dangerous challenge: to traverse the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of 11,032 meters per second and safely splash down in the Pacific Ocean.

Inside the Cape Canaveral control center, everyone was tense; this was the final moment.

People around the world watched with bated breath as the historic moment unfolded on live television.

Hours before entering Earth's atmosphere, the astronauts began their final preparations for reentry.

The command module of the Columbia remains connected to the service module via an umbilical cord, with the service module providing propulsion, power, and oxygen support for the entire mission.

Its mission is now complete.

Collins sat in the left seat of the command bay, his gaze sweeping across the control panel to confirm that all systems were ready.

He pressed the separation button, and with a soft click, the service module slowly detached and floated in the dark space.

Collins watched through the porthole as the service cabin gradually disappeared into the distance.

He said in a low voice, "Goodbye, old buddy, you did a good job."

His voice carried a hint of emotion; this mechanical companion had accompanied them on their 38-kilometer journey between the Earth and the Moon, but now it had to remain alone in space.

Armstrong patted him on the shoulder, smiled, and said, "It has done its job. Now it's our turn."

Aldrin was busy checking the lunar sample box, making sure that 47.5 pounds of rocks and soil were securely held in place inside the capsule.

He opened a storage compartment, took out several unnecessary pieces of equipment, and reduced the weight of the command module.

“These stones are treasures,” he said to his companion with a smile. “Scientists will go crazy for them.”

Mission Control's Kranz confirmed via radio: "Apollo 11, Cape Canaveral, service module separation confirmed. Prepare for attitude adjustment."

Armstrong responded: "Received, Houston, we are adjusting our stance."

His voice was calm and steady, masking his inner nervousness.

He knew that the re-entry process would test their skills and courage.

The command module needs to be precisely adjusted to ensure that the heat shield faces the Earth's surface in order to withstand the high temperatures during reentry.

(The Columbia command module successfully returned to Earth)
Collins operated the thrusters of the reaction control system, and the hull slowly rotated, with the heat shield aligned with the direction of advance.

The indicator lights on the dashboard are flashing green, indicating that the posture is correct.

Armstrong checked the incident angle data to ensure the flight path angle was -6.48 degrees, with an error not exceeding 0.5 degrees.

He whispered, “The angle must be perfect. Too steep and we’ll burn up; too shallow and we’ll bounce back into space.”

Aldrin stared at the display screen and read out the data: "Roll 0 degrees, Pitch 150 degrees, Yaw 1 degree."

Collins confirmed: "Attitude locked, system normal."

The three men reinstalled the launch seats, secured their seatbelts, and prepared for the impending gravitational acceleration.

The metal frames of the seats creaked slightly inside the cabin, a reminder of the violent tremors they were about to face.

12月21日12:35 EDT（16:35 UTC），指令舱以36194英尺/秒（约合11032米/秒）的速度进入地球大气层，正式开始再入。

Outside the cabin, the heat shield begins to withstand temperatures of 5000 degrees Fahrenheit. The surface ablative material gradually melts, carrying away the heat and protecting the safety inside the cabin.

Through the porthole, the astronauts saw a blazing plasma light, like a sea of ​​fire, encircling the command module.

Aldrin picked up his 16mm camera and took pictures of the spectacular view through the starboard porthole.

"It's like a shooting star flew in!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.

Communication was interrupted due to plasma shielding, lasting approximately 3 minutes and 45 seconds.

The cabin was completely silent, save for the hum of the instrument panel and the astronauts' breathing.

The g-force gradually increased, reaching a peak of 6.3g, firmly pressing the three people onto the seats.

Armstrong stared intently at the display screen, monitoring the trajectory data, silently chanting to himself, "Hang in there, the system is working perfectly."

His body was pressed down by gravity, making it almost impossible for him to move, but his gaze never left the instruments.

Aldrin gritted his teeth, feeling the heavy pressure on his chest.

He recalled his light steps on the moon and thought to himself, "The difference between one-sixth of the moon's gravity and six times that gravity is like heaven and earth."

Collins, on the other hand, focused on the reaction control system, ready to manually adjust the attitude at any time.

His heart was filled with anticipation: "We've come this far, home is just around the corner."

Inside the control center, Lin Ran also held his breath, staring at the timer on the screen.

Every second of the communication interruption felt like an eternity.

Kranz said in a low voice, "They should be out soon."

Lyndon Johnson gripped the back of his chair and whispered a prayer: "God bless them."

Communication was finally restored at 195 hours, 07 minutes, and 00 seconds into the mission.

Armstrong's voice came through the radio: "Houston, Apollo 11, we have passed the thermosphere, all is well."

A thunderous cheer erupted in the control room. Lin Ran snatched the microphone from Kranz's hand: "Well done, Neil! Welcome back! Your trajectory on the radar is perfect."

During the live television broadcast, CBS anchor Cronkite excitedly announced, "They've made it through the fire! Apollo 11 has safely completed its reentry!"

The command module continued to decelerate. At 195 hours, 12 minutes, and 08 seconds into the mission, the drag parachute deployed, and the module felt a slight pull.

Aldrin reported: "Professor, the drag parachute has been deployed."

At this moment, the person in charge of radio communication with them has changed from Kranz to Lin Ran.

Immediately afterwards, at 195 hours, 12 minutes, and 56 seconds into the mission, the main parachute opened, and the capsule gently swayed in the air before slowly descending.

Collins laughed and said, "We're floating like a giant parachute, it feels great!"

Armstrong nodded: "Much smoother than jumping on the moon."

Control Center confirmed: "Apollo 11, Cape Canaveral, main parachute confirmed, expected splashdown 13.32°N, 169.17°W."

Lin Ran immediately stood up, took off his headphones, turned to the team and said, "Prepare to welcome the hero home."

At 16:50 UTC, the command module of the USS Columbia splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, water spraying everywhere and waves lapping against the bulkheads. The hull rocked gently on the surface of the sea, with buoyancy devices ensuring it remained upright.

The astronauts breathed a sigh of relief, unbuckled their seatbelts, and high-fived each other in celebration.

Armstrong smiled and said, "We're home, guys."

Aldrin patted the seat: "This journey has been quite something."

Collins joked, "Next time I'll have to bring some coffee up; this journey has been too tiring."

Rescue helicopters arrived quickly, and Navy divers approached the command module, installed buoyancy devices, and opened the hatch. The astronauts donned biosafety suits and prepared to transfer to the USS Wasp.

Lyndon Johnson personally greeted them on the deck, his face beaming with a victorious smile.

Lyndon Johnson waved to the astronauts through the isolation pod window: "You are heroes of mankind!" Armstrong responded: "Thank you, Mr. President, this is a victory for us all."

Television viewers around the world witnessed this moment live.

"Today, we are witnessing not only a technological victory, but also the endless brilliance of humanity's spirit of exploration."

When Aldrin stepped onto the moon, he represented not only America, but all of humanity. This is a moment forever etched in the annals of history, a testament to the pinnacle we can reach when we dare to dream and strive relentlessly for it!
This achievement is the culmination of countless years of dedication, wisdom, and sacrifice.

From the engineers who designed the spacecraft to the astronauts who risked their lives, everyone involved contributed to this feat.

We must not forget the pioneers who paved the way for us; their vision and courage have led us to where we are today.

But this is more than just a moon landing! It concerns endless possibilities for the future, the tomorrow of space exploration, scientific breakthroughs and discoveries, and even more so, the inspiration for future generations.

If we can go to the moon once, we can go a second time, a third time. In the future, we will have lunar cities, regular flights between Earth and the moon, and ordinary people will be able to travel to the moon.

I'm already looking forward to what the professor said in an interview: that ordinary people will be able to travel to the space station within ten years.

The moon landing is just a stepping stone to the universe, reminding us that nothing is impossible as long as we have dreams!

As we gaze at those blurry images transmitted back from the moon, we are filled with awe and wonder.

We were reminded of our place in the universe, the fragility of Earth, and the boundless potential within each of us.

This moment transcends national borders, politics, and differences; it is a shared human experience and a collective leap forward for us!
Let's take this as our starting point! Let this moment be a catalyst for exploration and discovery! Let's continue to challenge limits, explore the unknown, and pursue a deeper understanding of the universe.

The moon landing is not the end, but the beginning of a new era in human history!
To borrow the professor's words: 'This is not just one small step for one astronaut, but one giant leap for mankind.'

Today, we have taken this step again, standing on the threshold of a new frontier.

Let us embrace this moment with hope and determination, firmly believing that the stars are within our reach!

This is not just a victory, but a promise, a promise to the future.

We stand here, gazing at the starry sky, knowing this is just the beginning. Let us, with fearless courage and indomitable will, continue our journey to touch those distant stars and to write an even more magnificent chapter in human history.

Because today, we have proven once again that human dreams have no limits, and our journey is to the stars and the sea!

I'm Walter Cronkite, a host on CBS News. Let's look forward to more amazing moments from the professor and NASA in the future. Cronkite will be here to accompany you through these moments live and with your voice!

On Earth, television viewers lingered, still captivated by the awe-inspiring spectacle.

(End of this chapter)