Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 342 Star Wars? No, it's Skynet!

"When the oxygen tank exploded two days after the mission began, Aldrin, Jack, and Jim did not initially realize the seriousness of the situation."

When the explosion occurred, the astronauts knew that the lunar landing mission had failed and that there was not enough fuel left to support the landing, but they were unaware of the danger of this accident.

This wasn't the astronauts' fault; it was because the previous three moon landings—Gagarin's and Aldrin's two—had lowered the astronauts' guard.

Lin Ran sat in the guest seat and spoke eloquently, while the audience below held their breath. Being able to hear the professor explain the behind-the-scenes stories live was much more interesting than simply watching news reports.

In addition, given the natural oratory skills that seasoned Washington politicians possess, Lin Ran has this ability even if he doesn't need to run for office.

The audience was completely engrossed in listening.

Big T remained alert, maintaining the keen sense of a host, knowing that he needed to create a good show effect: "This is all thanks to your success, Professor."

There have been rumors circulating that you weren't in charge of the Apollo 13 moon landing, and that your energy was entirely focused on the Star Wars program, which is why this accident happened.

Lin Ran did not answer directly, but said, "Regardless of whether I was in charge of Apollo 13 or not, I have to take responsibility for its failure."

The traditional Chinese mindset still leans too heavily towards a sense of responsibility.

Lin Ran continued, "Aldrin quickly realized that most of the spacecraft was actually useless, and they said to the control center at Cape Canaveral the words that are now being repeatedly circulated in the media: 'Canaveral, we have a problem.'"

Three fuel cells and two oxygen tanks failed, and the spacecraft's computer also malfunctioned at one point, even though we had conducted various simulation training sessions for the astronauts on Earth to train them to handle emergencies.

But we have never simulated training for such dangerous situations.

For five whole days, the crew of Apollo 13 and experts on the ground worked together to deal with one crisis after another, rationing food and water, dealing with overheating inside the lunar module, and even using the lunar module as a lifeboat on the way back to Earth.

It was a difficult process, but thankfully we succeeded in the end.

President Johnson attributed all the credit to me in an interview, which I think is biased. The astronauts' bravery and tenacity were equally indispensable.

If they had lost their will to survive, or if their training hadn't been rigorous enough, the rescue operation might not have gone so smoothly.

After Lin Ran finished his introduction, the audience applauded together, led by Da T.

Big T spoke in a slightly exaggerated tone, almost like an aria, "After the oxygen tank explosion forced the astronauts to take refuge in the lunar module, how impossible it seemed to outsiders that they could return safely. At the time, almost every newspaper was saying that the astronauts were doomed."

Experts on the television program predicted, as the professor said, that astronauts certainly never simulated such an emergency during training.

Because everyone knows that if an explosion destroys your spaceship, all power and oxygen will be gone, and you will definitely die.

It's like taking a driving course and practicing what to do if your car goes off a cliff. What's the point?

But the Apollo 13 astronauts survived; they lived and successfully returned to Earth, despite the perilous situation.

This is largely thanks to the professor's extraordinary technology and navigation scheme.

The rest, as the professor said, is thanks to the astronauts' extraordinary composure. Aldrin truly is a national treasure; he always manages to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks.

After listening, Lin Ran thought to himself, "People really do change, people really do grow."

Nowadays, when Da T hosts a program, she can easily use all kinds of long and complicated sentences.

In his memory, this person used "Great" and "terrible" frequently during his campaign speeches, using simple words whenever possible. His vocabulary level was at least at the level of a Chinese university student at level 4, no higher. During the 16 campaign, Hilary often mocked Big T for being uncultured, having empty speeches, and only saying "Great".

Lin Ran felt that his speaking style was at the level of a fourth-year university student, while the media from the Donald Party camp said his speaking style was at the level of a third-year student.

However, the current DaT's language style is completely different from the DaT I remember.

"Professor, so what was the situation in the control center when the explosion happened, and how did you recover from the shock?" Big T asked.

Lin Ran said, "At the time, President Johnson and I were in the tour room. When NASA employees came to inform me, the president was shocked. I was okay because although we had never experienced this before, I was already mentally prepared."

Life is full of uncertainties; you never know which will come first, tomorrow or an accident.

Since the unexpected has happened first, we should face it bravely. The safety redundancy design we made for the spacecraft was to prepare for this day.

So I wasn't shocked; I was just thinking about how to solve the problem.

The president sounded a little nervous, after all, we have experienced too many unexpected events this year, and each one has been a blow to America. People from different positions have attacked and blamed each other.

This year has been full of unexpected events for every American.

Even more critically, compared to the political figures assassinated that year, this time the person facing an accident is an astronaut, an astronaut like Aldrin, who is a hero in the eyes of people from different political backgrounds. Such an accident, if it were to occur, would undoubtedly cause immense harm to the public.

Big T has matured. In the past, he would make sarcastic remarks about Lyndon Johnson, but now there's no need for that. Doing so would only give the impression of kicking someone when they're down and would offend Lyndon Johnson's supporters.

He just smiled slightly mockingly, thinking to himself, worried about the public? More like worried about his own reputation. "So, Professor, in this process, you provided ground guidance to the astronauts, like a cosmic lighthouse guiding them back to Earth."

While a ship's own navigational ability is important, without a lighthouse, it cannot dock.

The screen began playing an animation, a live feed from NASA's control center, faithfully recorded by cameras: the first few minutes were chaotic, with everyone shouting and trying to understand what was happening. Then the professor walked in front, followed by President Lyndon Johnson. As soon as the professor appeared, the chaos vanished, and the entire scene was reorganized.

"Dear viewers, look, this is the professor's influence at NASA. If NASA is a top-notch orchestra, then the professor is the only conductor who can lead this top-notch orchestra. When the professor appears, no matter how difficult the situation, NASA can immediately regain its fighting spirit to face the difficulties."

Lin Ran had seen a lot of publicity about his prestige at NASA. He knew that some of it was spontaneous from the media, since mentioning him would attract an audience, while others were the result of Hearst's massive propaganda machine.

The combination of these two factors firmly bound NASA to him, making it impossible for the president to shake his position at NASA.

If Lyndon Johnson couldn't do it, future presidents, who will only become weaker, will be even less likely to be able to.

Big T then asked, "Professor, what do you think was the key to the successful rescue of the astronauts on the ground?"

Lin Ran narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, and then said, "I think it must be a carbon dioxide filter. We solved this life-or-death problem with an everyday item."

Then Big T pulled out a prop model from under the table, a plastic bag and a jar wrapped with tape.

Lin Ran took it from the other person: "That's right, Big T."

The command module's filters are square, but the lunar module's slots are round. We can't allow carbon dioxide to accumulate, otherwise the astronauts will be poisoned.

We pieced things together on the ground using things we had on the spacecraft: lithium hydroxide canisters, plastic bags, tape, and even astronauts' socks!

We guided them through the assembly step by step via radio.

The finished product of the ground simulation may look absurd, like a children's science experiment, but it is effective.

After assembly, Aldrin reported, "It's sucking air in, like a vacuum cleaner."

That was, in my opinion, the most crucial moment, proving that engineering doesn't need to be perfect; impromptu creativity can also solve problems.

While watching the live broadcast on TV, 13-year-old Steve Jobs paced back and forth in the living room, muttering to himself: "Improvisational creativity, perhaps solving problems and then gradually refining them is a better path than perfection."

Big T countered, "Professor, isn't re-entry into the atmosphere the biggest risk? After all, if the heat shield is damaged, they might disappear in the fireball."

Lin Ran said casually, "That's certainly a problem too."

Because when the astronauts shed the excess modules from the spacecraft, they reported damage from the explosion, with panels twisted as if they had been hit.

But this can be solved; it only requires simulating the reentry angle and ensuring it's accurate to within 0.5 degrees. Calculation has never been a problem for me. The blackout period, which is three minutes of radio silence, is actually not unbearable.

Everyone is praying, but behind the prayers are data, and no one doubts the accuracy of the data I calculated.

I had thoroughly simulated and verified the integrity of the heat shield, ensuring sufficient backup battery power, so when I told Buzz, 'Trust the system, it will get you home,'...

Buzz remained completely calm and trusted me without reservation.

Big T then asked some specific questions, which were well received by both the audience in the audience and those watching on television.

Finally, Big T concluded:
"Dear viewers, the story of Apollo 13 has come to an end, but it will be forever recorded in history."

It proves human resilience; we do not back down in the face of the unknown.

We pay tribute to the professor, to Aldrin, Jack, Jim, and to all the participants.

Thank you for watching The Apprentice. See you next time.

Background music plays, the audience's screens show a splashing celebration, the studio disappears, and a brief silence falls.

Afterwards, in the studio lounge, Big T discussed with Lin Ran: "Professor, I'm very confused right now. I find it hard to win in New York State, but if I go to other states, I don't have the resources and I have to start all over again."

Big T was lost. His dream of becoming the youngest senator, congressman, and president was shattered in his first election. He realized that he had no chance of winning in New York State.

Lin Ran thought to himself, "How could you possibly win? Even though you're a native New Yorker, you've never been well-liked here. Jenny, who also grew up in New York, would pinch her nose whenever she sees you. You're the kind of person who stinks for miles around."

"Big T, do you know why your dad was able to win while you couldn't?" Lin Ran asked.

Big T had clearly been thinking about this issue for a long time, and he replied without hesitation: "Because my dad is older, voters trust my dad more than me."

As expected of Big T, her thinking is simple and straightforward.

Lin Ran shook his finger. "Yes and no. Your father's victory largely depends on the novelty. Voters have never seen a politician who speaks so directly and is not afraid to offend his colleagues."

Therefore, he can win.

But you're different. Although your speeches are more inspiring than your father's, you're too young. Are your political beliefs and speeches during the campaign substantially different from your father's?

Before Big T could answer, Lin Ran had already answered for him: "No!"
So, why should the people of New York State vote for you?

They've already met once; it's too difficult for you to beat your dad here.

Why choose Fred Young when Fred is an option?
In the same style, Fred performed in Congress, while you performed in The Apprentice every day, and people often bought tickets to come to The Apprentice to see you perform.

What reason do you have to get voters to send you to Washington?

Lin Ran's analysis is insightful, but it's actually not his analysis; it's Lyndon Johnson's analysis. Back at Cape Canaveral, Lyndon Johnson had already mocked Big T.

Mocking Big T for being delusional, wanting to run for senator?

When Lin Ran asked him why, Lyndon Johnson answered in this way.

The analysis from a living fossil of Washington, a politician who is as old as can be, immediately stunned Big T.

He fell into deep thought: Yes, why would voters elect me? What's the difference between me and my father? I also have the disadvantage of being young; I'm not even thirty yet.

Looking at Da T's state, Lin Ran said after a moment, "Da T, I've chosen a good location for you to start over."

"Where?" Big T's previously dejected mood brightened again.

The Huntsville Longzhong Plan was revealed by Robert Finch after Nixon's election, and Lin Ran's signature at Nixon's 1960 campaign fundraising dinner was also exposed.

Lin Ran's campaign strategy for Nixon was touted by the media as one of the greatest campaign strategies of the era.

The American media, of course, wouldn't call it the Longzhong Plan; they called it the Huntsville Trojan Horse Plan.

This means that the 1964 election, which appeared to be about sending Fred to the White House, was actually about Nixon repairing his reputation.

As a political talk show host, Big T must know this story; he even invited his father, Fred, to discuss it on one of his shows.

Because she knew this, Big T had expectations. "The professor gave me advice, how could this advice be bad?"
I was able to return to New York alive from the front lines of the Vietnam War thanks in part to the guidance I received from my professor.

Big T stared at Lin Ran with a serious expression, looking very devout.

Lin Ran stood up, walked to the America map in the lounge, and pointed to a region in the south-central part of the country: "Texas."

"Richard, congratulations on finally becoming president as you wished."

Because Lin Ran applied for a full month of vacation, he will not attend Nixon's presidential inauguration.

To avoid being accused by the media of discord between himself and Lin Ran, and also to gain a full understanding of the Star Wars program and to consult Lin Ran on some geopolitical issues, Nixon and Lin Ran held their first meeting in New York.

When Huntsville held the Longzhong Dialogue, Nixon looked haggard and dazed, but now he is radiant. Six years have passed, but he looks even younger.

Power truly is a magic potion, capable of keeping one forever young.

“Professor, it’s all thanks to you. Robert Finch gave an interview and deliberately leaked the information. This was my statement to the media. Without you, I, Nixon, would not be where I am today!” Nixon said firmly.

This is to show our attitude.

Lin Ran is very important.

Lyndon Johnson left him with an undeniable mess.

Lyndon Johnson spent six years trying to find a single clue about V. Could he find one himself?

Nixon would not have placed any hope on such a low-probability event.

What if V comes out and stirs up trouble again, and takes down big shots in Washington?
Politics is made up of people. If Hoover could be removed, what about the other members of Congress? What about the senior White House officials?

How much security force is needed?
Nixon got a headache just thinking about it.

If V's massacre continues and he can't find anyone, his term is 100% over.

So he came up with a solution.

"Professor, we've known each other for so many years, so let's skip the small talk."

I have a question for you: is it possible for us to build a Skynet?
At least Skynet should cover the Washington, D.C. area.

After listening, Lin Ran was somewhat puzzled, "Skynet?"

Nixon nodded: "That's right, install high-definition cameras on the satellites, and V will have nowhere to hide."

Since Star Wars is feasible, let's build a Skynet covering Washington with 10,000 satellites, based on the Star Wars program.

I believe no legislator will oppose this proposal, no matter how much budget is allocated.

(End of this chapter)