Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 254 Chinese Version Face to Face
"Good good."

After this meeting, many things remained the same, but at the same time, many things changed.

"Ah."

When some major state-owned banks approached Bilibili to discuss cooperation, hoping to include them in the exclusive cooperation agreement, it was hard to imagine that the other party was a state-owned enterprise known for its slow decision-making and strong risk awareness.

When Li Xiaoman mentioned this to Lin Ran, Lin Ran was preparing to go to Yanjing.

He saw that the other party was holding a thick stack of proposals for cooperation from major state-owned banks. After learning about the situation, he smiled.
"Isn't this also a kind of loan?"
Trading future promises for present resources.

However, this loan is verbal, without any written commitment, and the current resources are not simply money.

But they are essentially the same.

I've never liked this approach, but sometimes you just have to borrow resources from the future.

Lin Ran recalled another timeline where the authority over American space affairs was also pre-approved from Kennedy.

However, he later fulfilled his promise with his actions, even far exceeding the White House's expectations.

This also means that authority is no longer given to you by others, but is firmly bound to you as a person.

By the time of Lyndon Johnson, even if he tried every means to reduce the impact of the moon landing and attribute the success to himself, it was almost an impossible task.

Removing Lin Ran from his administrative post would normally only require a presidential order or a phone call: "You're fired."
But Lyndon Johnson just couldn't bring himself to say it.

Since the loan has been paid off, what Lin Ran has now is the principal he earned. If the bank wants to deduct the principal without reason, does he still want to play?

Therefore, what Lin Ran is experiencing now gives him the illusion that he is reliving the past.

"President Lin, it's a great pleasure to cooperate with Apollo Technology. You are undoubtedly the No.1 private aerospace company."

The vice president I met at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation this time was named Chen Renjie, who is also an alumnus of Shanghai Jiaotong University.

Lin Ran had visited five times before, and the last time he met the other party, he had asked Jiaotong University to help him make the contact.

At the time, the other party was very polite and courteous. However, when it came to substantive cooperation, their implication was that it was possible in principle, but they needed to discuss it further, since such a project would waste a lot of their resources and required careful evaluation.

In short, just go back and wait.

It's possible in principle, but not in practice.

No matter what angle the other party used, they couldn't refuse him.

This time, Chen Renjie personally received him again. This time, it was not possible in principle, but it was not impossible to go through a special joint research and development project.

"President Lin, our idea is this: China Aerospace will provide you with a horizontal research project, which is the Apollo program, mainly studying the engine of the Saturn V rocket."

In terms of money, there might not be much, at most around five million. After all, the allocation of our annual funding for horizontal research projects was already determined last year, and this five million is considered special funding.

However, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation will provide sufficient resources, including production, research and development, and manufacturing, according to your requirements.

After listening, Lin Ran understood. To put it bluntly, this was because the other party was willing to do it, giving him the title of a horizontal research project. The nominal amount of money wasn't much, but the resources were sufficient.

He thought to himself, "I knew it. Nothing is impossible in human society, whether it's China or any other country."

The previous refusal was simply because the social resources I could leverage were not yet sufficient.

It's unrealistic for someone at Lin Zhongqing's level to leverage China's aerospace resources.

After all, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation is at the same level as Jiaotong University, both being vice-ministerial level institutions. Why should they listen to you?

If we're talking about weighted content, then Shanghai Jiao Tong University is far inferior.

Chen Renjie's meeting with Lin Ran was already out of consideration for Shanghai Jiaotong University.

But now, the situation is different.

Lin Ran knew perfectly well that the resources within the entire Chinese aerospace industry would be tilted towards him, giving him the green light—something that money couldn't buy.

As for the mathematics professor receiving a five million yuan research grant from China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, this might be an auditing issue for others, but when it was Lin Ran, there was no problem at all.

With the successful launch of Burning-1, Lin Ran has fully proven himself to be a true rocket development expert in the aerospace field.

Lin Ran smiled and said, "President Chen, believe me, you won't regret it."

Understanding how the F-1 and J-2 are built will only benefit China's aerospace industry, with no drawbacks.

Lin Ran didn't mention any intellectual property rights or patents.

Because it's pointless to bring it up.

You built it with the help of China's aerospace industry, and you say the patent is split 50/50, and you're not allowed to build it without permission.

People can easily change their name. I can just change my name and that's fine. Why do you say it's your patent?

In a sense, this type of technology is not protected by patents at all.

China has successfully replicated it, and NASA can only watch helplessly.

Similarly, Lin Ran can manufacture it by cooperating with China Aerospace, but if he doesn't cooperate with China Aerospace and instead cooperates with other companies, China Aerospace can't do anything about it.

Chen Renjie clapped and said, "President Lin, to be honest, when we met here last time, you told me that you could replicate it in six months with the exact same effect, and that you even made some optimizations. I probably only believed you one percent of that."

This is still based on the premise that you are a great mathematician, but the mathematics you are doing is number theory, and analytic number theory and aerospace-related mathematics are still very different.

Now that your Burning One project has succeeded, my trust level has increased to 10%. I might believe you 80-90% if you say three or five years, but six months is too short a time.

However, I still hope to see a miracle happen.

Chen Renjie stood up and shook hands with Lin Ran, after which staff from China Aerospace took charge of receiving Lin Ran.

He had to travel to Chang'an immediately.

All of China Aerospace's liquid rocket engine research and development and production are located in Chang'an.

Before heading to Xi'an, there was an interview with CCTV, China's state broadcaster.

This is a task that cannot be refused.

"This program was originally hosted by Professor Guo, but after learning that the guest to be interviewed this time was Professor Lin, I strongly requested to be replaced. After consulting with Professor Lin, the station agreed."

I suggested that it would be better for young people to interview other young people, and Mr. Guo's expression changed immediately, because he was only five years older than me.

The program "Face to Face".

Lin Ran also participated sixty years ago.

It was just a BBC interview, and the presenter at the time was Major Freeman. Lin Ran wasn't sure if CCTV had purchased the rights to this program from the BBC.

However, he guessed that probably wasn't the case. Face to Face wasn't a particularly special name, so what else would an interview program be called if not this?
Sitting opposite Lin Ran was Xiao Sa.

After a series of very familiar, sarcastic opening remarks, most guests would have already relaxed and been led by the other person's rhythm.

But today's interview is with Lin Ran, and I've done quite a few interviews before.

Which reporter hasn't seen this?

Lin Ran smiled and said, "Mainly because I thought we were acquaintances, we had worked together on the 'First Lesson of the School Year' program."

Xiao Sa nodded solemnly and said, "That's right. Moreover, when I first mentioned being recommended to Peking University, I didn't feel superior. Instead, I felt ashamed."

The reason I came to conduct this interview is to get back at them!

Lin Ran said, "Then you've picked the wrong opponent. I just successfully launched a rocket."

Xiao Sa nodded: "I know, but I have one last advantage over Professor Lin, which is that I went to Peking University. Even if you really go to the moon, Peking University is still stronger than Shanghai Jiao Tong University!"

Lin Ran smiled and said, "By the time I plant Jiaotong University's flag on the moon, things might be different."

Xiao Sa seemed quite frustrated: "Still not working?"

Could our Yenching University launch a rocket into space too? Let's dampen the arrogance of Jiaotong University!

Lin Ran pointed at the other person: "You can give it a try."

Xiao Sa smiled wryly and said, "Then let's not compete."

Getting back to the main topic, Professor Lin, we all know that the company you lead, Apollo Technology, recently launched a medium-sized rocket. Compared with small rockets developed by other private companies, the biggest difference of the medium-sized rocket is that it is larger in size and can send a greater weight into space.

Could you please give us, the viewers at home, a more detailed introduction?

Lin Ran replied, "Of course."

After giving a brief introduction to the parameters, Lin Ran said, "The greatest significance of this is that we have confirmed that the mathematical model we constructed is effective. It can bypass a large number of testing and verification steps, allowing us to launch directly."

Our biggest advantage over other companies lies in time and cost.

After listening, Xiao Sa clapped his hands and said, "Just listening to it makes me think it's amazing."

After all, being able to develop a medium-sized rocket in just six months is far more difficult and time-consuming than other similar companies.

Even from what I know about the progress of China's space program, it is probably far behind that of Professor Lin.

So could you be more specific? What exactly are its advantages?

After thinking for a moment, Lin Ran said, "Of course, we are called Apollo Technology. Let me take the engine development during the Apollo moon landing process as an example."

The rocket used for the Apollo moon landing was called the Saturn V, which was an unprecedentedly large rocket.

Its first stage is the F-1, and its second stage is the J-2.

Of course, both of these engines have various problems.

One of the more obvious problems with the J-2 is its unstable combustion. After the Apollo moon landing missions were completed, NASA tried many ways to optimize the J-2.

These include the J-2S adopting an extractive cycle, reducing the number of components and adding a throttling system, the J-2T using an annular combustion chamber and injection nozzles, and the J-2X using higher thrust, etc.

The J-2S alone represents an upgrade by changing from a gas generator cycle to an extraction cycle, reducing the number of components, lowering the difficulty of startup, and adding a throttling system and a variable mixing ratio system to adapt to different pressure conditions.

Six pre-production models were tested over eight years, from 1965 to 1972, with a total burn time exceeding 30,000 seconds.

However, if it is put into a computer and modeled, the final effect will be the same as building a model machine in reality. Then it may only take a week to determine that this technical route has no future.

It shouldn't be that bad; it would require a lot of effort, manpower, and time.

Compared to traditional R&D methods, it represents a fundamental improvement in every aspect.

After listening, Xiao Sa clapped his hands and said, "It sounds very useful."

Aren't other private aerospace companies that research rockets and engines under a lot of pressure?

They encountered Apollo technology, which possessed unique and proprietary techniques.

Lin Ran grinned and said, "I only have one piece of advice for them, which is to switch careers as soon as possible, the sooner the better. This is really not about monopolizing the entire market, it's truly my heartfelt advice."

"Whoever comes, even SpaceX, if they can compete with us in the same market, there's only one possibility: failure."

Xiao Sa turned to the camera and said, "This is what Professor Lin said, not what I said. Bosses of major companies, don't come after me if you have any problems."

So, the professor recently said you're the Chinese Elon Musk, but judging from your answer just now, you don't seem to consider yourself the Chinese Elon Musk.

Lin Ran sighed inwardly after hearing this. "Am I the Musk of China? Isn't that a bit too much of an insult?"
He then realized that 2020 was essentially a year in which he was rebuilding his reputation and legendary status.

"Of course not, I have never considered myself to be any of the people of China."

Rather than calling myself China's Elon Musk, I'd say I'm China's professor.

Lin Ran sighed inwardly, realizing that even if he wanted to say those words in the 60th era, he wouldn't be able to.

He also realized that it wouldn't be easy to accumulate the same prestige in this time and space as it did in 1960.

It's not that this timeline has fewer things it can do, but rather that in 1960 America, it had the entire propaganda machine of the free movement to help it spread its message, while now, that same propaganda machine only opposes it.

Lin Ran continued, "If everyone can compete fairly in the same market, I think we will be able to take down SpaceX sooner or later, just like Chinese manufacturers have done in various fields over the past forty years, eroding the market share of foreign manufacturers."

Xiao Sa said, "I look forward to seeing that day come."

Before the interview, I did my homework. I know very well that before Professor Lin's Apollo technology came out of nowhere, our expectation for private aerospace seemed to be that they could make reusable rockets.

After Professor Lin's Burning-1 rocket was successfully launched, people discussed how private aerospace companies seem to be able to do a lot of things and have the same vitality as private companies in other fields.

However, I've found that external expectations fall short of the professor's own goals.

Lin Ran nodded and said, "That's natural. The outside world's expectations are based on past understanding, but my appearance will constantly break everyone's understanding and turn the impossible into possible."

Xiao Sa asked, "So, Professor, what are your expectations?"

Without hesitation, Lin Ran replied, "Lead humanity out of Earth."

At least settle on Mars and complete the Martian colonization.

Xiao Sa didn't mention Musk's similar dream again; he simply applauded and said:
"Professor, I hope to see this scene in my lifetime, and it would be best if I could see it for myself."

　Only one chapter today; I've been out all day.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)