Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 276 Return to Earth
The concept of perspective is both important and unimportant.

It depends on the person.

Many regional powers never consider strategic vision, yet they thrive.

But for countries aiming for the top, strategic vision becomes extremely important.

If it weren't for the Marshall Plan and the Berlin airdrop, Europe wouldn't have remained so loyal to America for so many years; later generations are simply squandering the political legacy left by their predecessors.

But this political legacy is so rich.

If it weren't for the support provided by the Soviet Union's Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) to Central Asia and Eastern Europe, Russia would never have been able to secure a seat on the UN Security Council, and it wasn't until 2022 that the outside world began to demystify them.

For these very few countries, the overall situation becomes particularly important.

Although this lunar landing by China was a civilian endeavor, it was not considered a civilian endeavor by the outside world.

Even among the Chinese public, this is not considered a purely civilian act.

The first things to bring are a small TV from Bilibili, the school flag of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the national flag.

Later, with the deep involvement of China's aerospace industry, after discussion, the first two options were changed. Finally, it was decided that this was not only a breakthrough for us in the history of aerospace, but also something we should pay tribute to.

Of course, China Aerospace proposed that we should bring NASA's flag with us. Since we've already been slapped in the face, let's be even more direct.

If you can't get up here by yourself and can't plant your flag on the moon, we'll help you.

As a living fossil of the Cold War, no one in the world knows the ins and outs of the Cold War better than Lin Ran. Even the person sitting in the White House was just an unknown little Karami in the 60s, while Lin Ran is already a big shot who spans the White House and the Kremlin, and even the president cannot shake his position.

Lin Ran suggested that the flag of the Soviet Space Agency should also be brought up to pay tribute to the contributions made by both sides to human spaceflight in the 60s.

Lin Ran's thoughts also included the idea that in the 60th timeline, the flags were national flags, and in this timeline, he would help them plant the flags of NASA and the Russian Space Agency.

As for Bilibili and Jiaotong University, can we say a single word against them?

This scene, along with the video, spread globally, causing an unprecedented media frenzy.

The intertwining of history and the present creates a wonderful resonance, elevating the significance of the entire moon landing to a new level.

"I did not experience the Cold War, nor did I watch the Apollo moon landing live, but I always longed for that golden age when I was young. The competition between two superpowers from different camps was about who would leave Earth first. Looking at it today, how wonderful that was."

As I grew up, the burdens of life gradually made me forget that humanity had once had such a wonderful golden age. The slogan of making America great again refers to the 60s, but no one mentions Soviet Russia, or the enormous pressure that our former biggest competitor brought us.

This immense pressure prevented politicians from acting recklessly in the congressional budget, because if they did, as in the Vietnam War, the pressure from the Soviet Union would be directly and quickly reflected in all aspects.

We have forgotten the golden age for far too long, forgotten that humans actually set foot on the moon 52 years ago, forgotten that we are now trapped on Earth, and that the moon and Mars are just beautiful wishes.

Watching the Chinese company Apollo Technology conduct its lunar landing mission, I felt as if I had returned to my youth. When I saw the flags of NASA and the Soviet Union's space program standing on the moon, I was moved to tears. I have never missed that golden age so much.

We are very grateful to China for becoming our adversary. The people and government of America should wake up! We can't go on like this.

The journey to the moon cannot be undertaken by only Chinese people.

The third trending topic on America's Twitter was #AmericaShouldWakeUp.

The second is #AldrinMoonLanding.

"Seeing Aldrin land on the moon, it's hard to imagine that an old man over ninety years old could still have such ambition, physical strength, and spirit to complete the moon landing. He has transcended his time and become a symbol of the moon landing."

The first one is the #Aldrin speech.

The full text and video of Aldrin's speech are circulating widely on Twitter, with Musk leading the way in retweeting them.

As a South African immigrant, Musk has always looked down on rednecks and thought they were worthless.

"Good"

"Dr. Aldrin's words were brilliant!"

"I will personally award Dr. Aldrin $1000 million as a reward!"

In fact, this already fully demonstrates Musk's attitude; his views are consistent with Aldrin's.

He felt that wasn't enough, and about half an hour later, Musk launched into another long speech:
"Dr. Aldrin spoke very well. He is a true patriot. He not only pointed out the problems of Washington politicians, but also the problems of the people of America. I am sincerely glad that there are still such patriots in America."

The problems with politicians have been discussed by too many people, from traditional media to various KOLs, and I don't have any more or better opinions. But I have a lot to say about the people of America.

For the same jobs, hiring in manufacturing is far more difficult than in the service sector. Despite high labor force participation rates, manufacturing in all states is showing signs of labor shortages. Dr. Aldrin's words reveal the harsh reality facing America.

I strongly agree with his point of view; people should also get involved in manufacturing.

(An American woman working in the factory tightening screws)

Aldrin's heated remarks, combined with Musk's, caused the entire public opinion to spread rapidly on social media.

"Musk is absolutely right, America needs to stop complaining and revive the fighting spirit of the 60s!"

"Musk got rich from government subsidies, yet he tells us to be lazy? What a hypocritical billionaire."

"Musk praises America but belittles the United States. Who is he really on? Is he doing this for Tesla's business?"

"His claims about political corruption are valid, but calling all citizens 'useless' is outrageous. The return of manufacturing is a complex issue that cannot be solved simply by sending people to factories."

"NASA's Artemis program is progressing, so his statement is a bit of an exaggeration. Isn't SpaceX's success due to NASA's contracts? How dare he criticize it?"

But the majority of the criticism was negative. Nobody likes to be criticized, especially by a billionaire. "You're so rich, yet you criticize us for not being willing to work hard. We work hard for your company and your interests."
The conflict between the two sides is inherently irreconcilable.

At this point, what Aldrin said became irrelevant, because Musk himself jumped into the public sphere and engaged in a battle with the public.

In China, however, the moon landing was only half completed.

The remaining half is returning to Earth; it's not finished yet.

People are still watching the live stream, even though the live stream only shows simulated animations.

But everyone hopes to hear news of a successful docking between the lunar module and the command module.

At 112 hours and 10 minutes into the mission, Lin Ran and Aldrin completed the EVA inside the lunar module, organized their equipment, and ensured that the 20-kilogram lunar sample was safely stored in a sealed container.

Additionally, the ascent engine, navigation computer, and reaction control system need to be inspected.

Lin Ran checked each item: "APS fuel pressure is normal, thrust is 3300 pounds, and the navigation system is online."

Oxygen is plentiful, pressure is 5 psi, and the cabin temperature is 22 degrees Celsius.

After the inspection, Lin Ran said, "Baz, the crucial moment is coming. We need to prepare to return to Earth!"

"Prepare for takeoff." He reported through the communicator: "Wenchang Control Center, lunar module is preparing to ascend, requesting clearance."

Control center responded: "Lunar module, ascent approved."

Wei Xuhang monitored the orbit from inside the command module: "Lunar lander, CSM orbit is stable, ready to support rendezvous at any time."

Lin Ran replied: "Received."

At 112:32:40, Lin Ran initiated the separation sequence, detonating the explosive bolts. With a "bang," the upstage and downstage separated.

The descent stage remained on the lunar surface, becoming a permanent monument to this lunar landing.

Lin Ran said, "Separation successful, prepare for ignition."

At 112:33:00, the ascent engine ignited, generating 3300 pounds of thrust. The lunar module vibrated and slowly rose off the lunar surface.

Outside the porthole, the greyish-white landscape of the tranquil sea receded rapidly into the distance.

"Height 100 meters, ascent rate 10 meters per second."

"Stability, Roll 0°, Pitch 90°."

The two felt a slight push, and their bodies were pressed against the seats.

The burn lasted for about 7 minutes, and the engines propelled the lunar module into an elliptical orbit of about 17 x 85 kilometers.

Lin Ran reported: "Engine shut down, orbital parameters 17.1 x 84.9 km, error 0.1 nautical miles."

The commander at the Wenchang control center breathed a sigh of relief: "Perfect combustion, command module and lunar module have entered orbit."

In the live broadcast: "The lunar module has successfully lifted off! Astronauts have ascended from the lunar surface and entered orbit, preparing to rendezvous with the command module!"

At GET 112:40:00, after the lunar lander entered orbit, it prepared to rendezvous with the command module.

Wei Xuhang operated the navigation system in the command module to adjust the orbit and ensure synchronization with the lunar lander.

He locked onto the lunar module using radar: "5 kilometers away, approaching speed 2 meters per second."

Lin Ran initiated procedure P32, which is the same elliptical sequence initiation, to adjust the lunar lander's orbit to a same elliptical orbit close to that of the command module. He reported: "P32 in progress, orbit adjustment in progress."

Aldrin, monitoring the radar, reported: "Distance 3 km, Delta-V 10 fps."

After completing the moon landing, Aldrin was in good health and had no need to die on the moon.

After venting his anger, he felt even better. Wei Xuhang made minor adjustments to his posture inside the command module: "Professor, I see you. Orientation aligned."

He operated the RCS thrusters to orient the command module's docking cone towards the lunar module.

The main challenge during the rendezvous phase is that fuel is limited during the ascent phase, and even small speed errors can lead to orbital deviations, requiring the astronauts to perform additional maneuvers.

It's hard to imagine that the Apollo moon landings were successful every time; from a technical point of view, the entire technical solution was very complex.

There are many uncertainties involved. The elliptical rendezvous method takes about 3.5 hours, involves almost two orbits, and requires continuous updates and monitoring, increasing the workload for astronauts.

According to Apollo flight logs, Armstrong and Aldrin's heart rates reached 90 and 120 respectively during the ascent phase, reflecting psychological stress, which was further exacerbated by the tense operation during docking.

GET 113:30:00, entering the terminal phase, Lin Ran controlled the lunar module to approach the command module. Outside the porthole, the command module's outer shell shimmered in the moonlight, gradually growing larger.

Aldrin reported: "Distance 200 meters, approaching speed 1 m/s."

Lin Ran stared at the crosshairs on the docking window and fine-tuned the RCS thruster: "100 meters, stable speed."

He carefully operated the control lever to ensure the probe was aligned with the conical seat.

Wei Xuhang assisted: "Command module attitude locked, ready for docking."

GET 113:33:00, “Make contact!” Lin Ran shouted.

The docking probe enters the conical seat, and the three capture latches click into place with a "click" sound.

Aldrin confirmed: "Soft docking successful, triple locking mechanism."

Lin Ran initiated the probe retraction, and the 12 latches engaged one by one, completing the hard docking.

Aldrin exclaimed excitedly, "Docking successful! Professor, well done!"

Lin Ran responded: "The team deserves credit, Xu Hang, your track adjustment was equally crucial."

In the live broadcast: "Rendezvous and docking successful! The lunar module and command module have connected perfectly, and our astronauts are about to return to the command module!"

The Chinese public watching the live broadcast breathed a sigh of relief.

At GET 113:40:00, Lin Ran pressurized the docking tunnel, and air hissed in, the pressure equalizing to 5 psi. They opened the hatch and floated into the command module with the sample box and equipment.

Wei Xuhang greeted them, saying, "Welcome back. The lunar samples look fantastic."

Lin Ran handed over the sample box: "20 kilograms of lunar treasure, now handed over to Earth scientists."

Aldrin laughed and said, "Wei, the moon has a nice view. Next time it'll be your turn."

Wei Xuhang was so excited that he couldn't contain his joy, and he couldn't hide his smile at all.

At 113:50:00, they sealed the hatch and jettisoned the lunar module.

Lin Ran pressed the separation button, and the lunar module slowly drifted away, eventually crashing back onto the lunar surface.

Lin Ran thought to himself that he had gained another door on the moon.

Aldrin looked out the porthole and said, "Lunar module, thank you."

At GET 135:23:42, the command module is in lunar orbit, preparing for Trans-Earth Injection (TEI) burn.

That is, it will move from lunar orbit to Earth's orbit.

The Wenchang control center sent the following data: "TIG 135:23:42, Delta-V 3281 fps, attitude Roll 0°, Pitch 180°, burn time 150 seconds."

Lin Ran entered the data: "Data entered, SPS engine ready."

Wei Xuhang checked the main engine of the command module: "Fuel pressure is normal, thrust is 20500 pounds."

Lin Ran then confirmed the navigation: "Astronomical instrument calibration complete, attitude locked."

Control center confirmed: "Command module, proceed with trans-Earth injection."

Lin Ran responded: "Received, preparing to ignite."

At 135:23:42, the spacecraft entered the far side of the moon, and communication was lost.

The SPS engine ignited, lasting for 2 minutes and 30 seconds, generating 20500 pounds of thrust and accelerating the spacecraft to approximately 1.1 kilometers per second, thus escaping the moon's gravity.

Lin Ran stared at the timer: "Delta-V 2000 fps...3000 fps..."

"Temperature is normal, thrust is stable."

"Battery support is normal, no abnormalities."

At 135:26:12, the engine shut down, and the spaceship shuddered slightly.

Lin Ran reported: "TEI combustion complete, speed 1.12 km/s."

Aldrin exclaimed, "Earth, we're back!"

Outside the porthole, the moon rapidly shrank, and the Earth began to emerge.

Wei Xuhang said, "This Earth is so beautiful, like a lighthouse leading home."

"TEI successful! The command module has detached from lunar orbit and embarked on its journey back to Earth!" - Bilibili official live stream.

GET 136:00:00至188:00:00，三天返程中，宇航员执行两次中途校正。

GET 150:00:00, first MCC uses RCS thruster, burns for 10 seconds, adjust speed 0.5 m/s.

Lin Ran operated the planetarium to confirm the attitude: "Correction complete, trajectory error 0.01 nautical miles."

Aldrin looked at the Earth through the porthole: "It's getting bigger and bigger, like it's beckoning us."

Wei Xuhang was recording data: "The re-entry corridor has been locked, and it is expected to splash down in the East China Sea."

If it splashes into the Pacific Ocean, it might not be able to get back.

Lin Ran was terrified of being hunted down globally by the Americans.

They each spoke with their families via video call, except for Aldrin.

GET 194:49:12, approaching Earth at a distance of approximately 4000 kilometers, with a speed of 11 kilometers per second.

Lin Ran initiated the separation sequence, discarding the service module and exposing the command module's thermal shield.

Lin Ran reported: "Service module separated, heat shield exposed."

In the live broadcast: "Command module is preparing for reentry! Service module has separated, astronauts are about to face the test of the atmosphere!"

At GET 195:03:05, the command module entered the atmosphere at a speed of 11 km/s, with the heat shield enduring a temperature of approximately 2800 degrees Celsius, and the outside of the module surrounded by incandescent plasma.

The astronaut experienced 6.5G acceleration and was pressed down onto the seat.

Aldrin gritted his teeth: "This G-force is even stronger than the launch!"

Lin Ran smiled and said, "Baz, hang in there, we're almost home!"

At GET 195:07:00, the plasma dissipated, and blue sky appeared outside the porthole.

At GET 195:12:00, the main parachute deployed, and the speed decreased to 10 meters per second.

The command module splashed down in the East China Sea, only 2 kilometers from the Chinese recovery ship.

At GET 195:18:00, the helicopter arrived and the astronauts were hoisted onto the deck of the recovery ship.

The Chinese side welcomed them and awarded them honorary medals.

Lin Ran grinned and said, "See? I told you it was a piece of cake! Mission accomplished!" Then he saluted.

After the other party retorted, "Welcome back, kid. You were too reckless. Although I still believe that a wise man avoids dangerous situations, even if you succeed, we don't want you to go to the moon again."

Lin Ran understood: "Don't worry, unless it's a particularly important mission, I definitely won't go."

Aldrin accepted the medal from the other man, recalling that he had received it from President Nixon years before.

Half a century has passed in the blink of an eye. At this moment, he was filled with emotion and tears welled up in his eyes. He knew very well that he had been endlessly happy on the moon, but after returning to Earth, he had no hope of returning to America.

Or rather, even though America asked him to go back, he didn't dare to.

My heart is in Cape Canaraville, but my body is in Wenchang.

In the final stage of his life, Aldrin was deeply saddened.

After accepting the medal, Wei Xuhang saluted, exchanged a few pleasantries, and waved to his family on the deck, saying, "We're back!"

On CCTV, the news anchor excitedly announced: "Chinese astronauts have successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean! They have completed a historic lunar landing mission, winning honor for China and opening a new chapter in human space exploration!"

(The timestamps here are slightly adjusted based on NASA's Apollo 11 moon landing log on its official website.)
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(End of this chapter)