Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 357 The Sputnik Moment of the 21st Century
The Cold War was hardly a friendly affair for ordinary people.

It's true that the post-Cold War era was a golden age for people in the liberal camp, but their experience during the Cold War itself was rather ordinary.

The people in the Eastern Bloc watched the various propaganda reports about winning at mahjong, and were stunned when they heard the news of the collapse of Soviet Russia on the radio.

People in the Western bloc can feel the threat of nuclear weapons from time to time, a threat as clear and real as a knife blade resting on their throat.

But for politicians, especially those from America, it was such a golden age.

The hills of Korea, the beaches of Cuba, the jungles of North Vietnam, the cemeteries of Afghanistan—anywhere can become a chessboard for politicians. Once a move is made, there's no going back; if you lose, you can start over and create another chessboard.
Using ordinary people as pawns and national power as bargaining chips—it's simply wonderful.

Old Deng has been living in that era and has never woken up. Fifty years ago, he was the youngest congressman, so young that he had to wait until he turned 30 to take office after being elected. Fifty years later, he is the oldest president, so old that even in 2023, he is still full of Cold War mentality.

The protracted war that began at the beginning of last year was considered by him to be the pinnacle of his operations, pushing Russia and Europe into the abyss without bloodshed.

The former has no geopolitical security left, and the latter has no economic future left.

Give him another five years, and he is confident that he can single-handedly orchestrate the deconstruction and restructuring of Russia and Europe, accomplishing what the Cold War could not achieve at the end: dismembering the core territory of Tsarist Russia.

Before him was the latest map from Da Mao and Er Mao, with different flags representing the battle lines of both sides.

Red represents Russia, and blue represents China. The combination of red and blue indicates fierce competition, with both sides engaged in intense ground warfare around the southwest of Donetsk and conducting drone strikes around the southern port of Odessa.

Every morning, noon, and evening, the White House Chief of Staff would come to update Deng on the battle reports from the front lines in Russia and the United States. Whether Russia or the United States was gaining the upper hand, as long as the war continued, Deng's mood would improve somewhat.

As usual, White House official Sulvin, sitting across from me, was rambling on: "In short, this is very, very, very bad for us."

It took three consecutive "very"s to finally get Old Deng's attention off the map. "Sorry, Jack, could you repeat that? You know I'm getting old, and my energy isn't what it used to be. I need to hear a lot of things two or maybe three times."

Scharvin appeared calm on the surface, but his energy was not what it used to be, which was one thing, but the key point was that you had been distracted just now.

However, the other party was not only an old man, but also his superior. Shalvin knew best how to coax the old man. At the same time, he blamed himself for being blinded by the news of the China Lunar Artificial Intelligence Supercomputing Center and forgetting how to communicate with the old man, which was such an important matter.

Scharvin patted his head: "Of course, Mr. President, the Cold War space race is about to begin again."

cold war?

This word quickly awakened the old man's dormant memories.

Space Race?

President Kennedy's blood on his head, Lyndon Johnson holding up the passed Civil Rights Act, Nixon meeting Aldrin on the recovery ship as he returned to Earth, and President Reagan's Star Wars speech.

Scenes flashed rapidly through Old Deng's mind. "What's going on?" He suddenly became as sharp as he had been fifty years ago.

Why didn't you mention the Cold War earlier? If you had mentioned the Cold War earlier, I would have been fully focused from the very first sentence.

Scharvin felt a wave of helplessness. "I knew you hadn't heard a thing," he thought, but on the surface, he pretended nothing was wrong and said with a smile, "Mr. President, China has announced plans to build a lunar superconducting artificial intelligence computing center on the moon."

Old Deng felt that this had reached a blind spot in his knowledge. He knew about the moon, he knew about artificial intelligence, and he roughly understood what a computing center was all about, but when all of these were combined, it really challenged the limits of his cognition.

It took Scharvin quite a while to explain before the other person understood what it meant.

"What impact will this have on us?" Old Deng asked, puzzled.

Scharvin knew he had to be more direct: "According to experts, China is very likely to succeed."

If they succeed, they will own the entire moon.

They already possess basic capabilities for traveling between Earth and the Moon. Once they establish their so-called artificial intelligence center on the Moon, it means they will also be able to solve the problems of water, electricity, and communication networks, which would allow them to exist on the Moon for an extended period.

This also means that China will become the first country in the world to have experience in systematically developing another planet.

They could even use the moon as a springboard to reach Mars, just as Randolph Lin suggested.

If the space age is just around the corner, then China's plans mean it has already gained an advantage, and we need to be sufficiently vigilant.

The products of our space race with the Soviet Union during the Cold War gave rise to the Internet era. In the long run, China's space infrastructure and lunar terraforming programs will also spawn a large number of new technologies, some of which may very well be world-changing technologies like the Internet.

Therefore, we must attach great importance to this.

Constantly linking it to the Cold War was the only way for Old Deng to quickly understand.

"So what should we do? We should also launch a new Star Wars program for the 21st century! We should build a nuclear base on the moon and put nuclear missile silos there. It will form a new deterrent force for America." Old Deng's tone became intense, his expression turned somewhat ferocious, and veins appeared near his temples.

He thought he was the last Cold War survivor, unaware that there was another person in the world who had not yet emerged from the Cold War and shared the same idea as him: to build a lunar nuclear launch silo.

"Mr. President, calm down, calm down. I think we haven't reached the most dangerous moment yet. China's plan has only just been announced, and we still have plenty of time to catch up."

I would like to hold a hearing first, inviting experts from NASA, research institutions and universities to come together and discuss countermeasures.

"As for whether or not to build nuclear launch silos on the moon, that can be discussed further," Scharvin reassured.

Without hesitation, Old Deng replied, "Okay, let me know as soon as you have the results. We must land on the moon first, not after China."

Scharvin nodded and said, "Of course, Mr. President, America's astronauts will set foot on the moon by the end of this year."

"Chinese company Apollo Technology announced plans to build the world's first superconducting artificial intelligence computing center at the lunar south pole, utilizing the extreme low-temperature environment of Shackleton Crater to provide AI computing power in an unprecedented way. This development comes against the backdrop of an increasingly fierce space race, raising serious concerns in America. A White House official told reporters that this marks a new era of struggle for space dominance."

In a luxury villa in Washington, D.C., CNN is broadcasting a report on the incident on television. Jonathan, with his gray hair, is eating bread with jam, while his wife Anna, who is younger than him, sits opposite him and can eat high-calorie foods like grilled bacon.

"Are the Chinese really that technologically advanced? They're actually able to build an artificial intelligence computing center on the moon?" Anna asked.

Jonathan continued eating his bread without looking up, swallowing it in one gulp before replying, "China's technology has progressed very rapidly in recent years."

“Isn’t it said that their technology comes from our Apollo moon landing fifty years ago?” Anna continued, knowing that her husband Jonathan was an expert in this area.

Jonathan is a senior lunar research expert at Aerospace Corporation, who has studied the lunar surface for over thirty years.

Coincidentally, after the Apollo program ended, he joined Aerospace Corporation, where he continued his research, the content of which was never actually put to use.

This also means that he has had a very comfortable life for the past thirty years. He only goes to the company one day a week at most, and sometimes he doesn't go at all. Yet he was able to buy a house in an upscale residential area in Washington, D.C.

As an aside, Aerospace Corporation is an aerospace consulting firm, formerly known as the Western Development Division of the Air Force, which later became a non-profit organization. It was founded in 1960.

"Non-profit" means that the organization does not make a profit, but it doesn't mean that the people inside it don't make a profit.

Many NASA officials retire and then come to Aerospace Corporation to take up minor positions and collect hefty salaries.

Between 2001 and 2008, there was an incident where the Air Force charged a service fee to an employee named Hunter.

This man, also named Hunter, was hired as a software quality assurance engineer but only had a high school diploma. He claimed to have a PhD from Oxford University and almost never worked during his tenure.

Hunter was also working for another defense contractor, filling out two full-time time cards and receiving large amounts of overtime pay.

In reality, Hunter wasn't at the company, but rather enjoying himself in bars, amusement parks, and theaters.

Compared to Hunter, Jonathan's academic credentials are genuine; he has published numerous articles on lunar topography and hasn't consistently skipped trips, going one day a week—making him far more conscientious. At least, that's what Jonathan himself believes.

"Their technology initially came from the Saturn V, but it quickly evolved, and now they can routinely go to the moon. If you pay attention, you can see them sending people or cargo to the moon almost every month."

Just like the unprecedented production capacity that China has unleashed in other manufacturing sectors. Jonathan swallowed the last of his bread, wiped his mouth with a tissue, and pointed at the television: "Because of those Chinese plans, I have to go to a meeting at the White House today."

A somber atmosphere hung over the Oval Office in the West Wing of the White House. Jonathan pushed open the heavy oak door and went inside, then the door closed, shutting out the noise from the outside world.

He glanced briefly at the guests present, then sighed inwardly, "What time is it? Why are they still fighting among factions?"

At this time, there were name tags on the cards of people like Bezos, John Morgan Jr., and David Calhoun (Boeing CEO), but Musk was nowhere to be seen.

Jonathan, a seasoned veteran, certainly knew why: Musk's support for Big T had deeply offended the White House, so even at a time like this, he couldn't sit at the table for dinner.

On a summer afternoon, the Washington sunlight streamed through the bulletproof glass windows, but it couldn't dispel Jonathan's sense of powerlessness, a feeling similar to the White House's announcement of the indefinite suspension of the Apollo program shortly after he joined Aerospace Corporation to study lunar topography.

Scharvin sat at the head of the table, holding a recent report on the matter.

Each person also has a copy in front of them.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming so quickly," Scharvin said, his gaze sweeping over the dozen or so people in the room.

Sitting to his left was NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, his brow furrowed, holding a tablet computer displaying a concept image of Apollo Technologies' lunar program.

The academic representatives were primarily Allen Harris, a professor of space policy at MIT, and Mary Evans, a professor of economics at Harvard University, who specializes in macroeconomics and geopolitical economy.

Other attendees included aerospace advisors from the Department of Defense, intelligence analysts, and representatives of several engineers.

"Today, we are not facing science fiction, but reality," Scharvin continued. "China announced this project, stating that they have the capability for a single manned lunar landing and have landed in Antarctica multiple times."

This means they can make regular round trips to transport personnel and equipment.

Their superconducting AI center will utilize the natural low-temperature environment of the meteorite crater to run chips based on Nb3Sn or iron-based superconductors.

These chips enable zero-resistance computing, with processing speeds several times faster than room-temperature silicon-based chips, and are used for AI training and quantum simulation.

Chief Nelson said, "Jack, you're right."

China has already established a temporary base in Shackleton Crater, where they extract water from water ice and generate electricity through solar arrays or small nuclear reactors.

In terms of communications, China's relay satellite, named Queqiao, has already covered the far side of the moon and even tested a laser link that reaches Earth directly.

If this AI center is built, it will be a self-sufficient computing matrix capable of processing massive amounts of data and supporting their Mars exploration program.

From a technical standpoint, while our Artemis project has made progress, delays in starship testing have put us behind.

I don't think we can rely on just one company.

Blue Origin's lander is already being tested, and we can provide precision landing technology to ensure safe deployment in the complex terrain of Antarctic craters.

Mr. Morgan's General Dynamics will also be landing on the moon this year, and I think we need more resources to join in.

Allen added, "From a policy perspective, this is a new Cold War."

China will become the first country with experience in systematically developing another planet.

This is not just about technology; it also involves international law: whoever develops it first sets the rules.

We must push Congress to pass a new space bill, increase NASA's budget, and form an alliance with the EU and Japan.

Economics professor Mary Evans spoke, and the projector switched to her chart: a curve showing the impact of U.S. space spending on GDP during the Cold War.

"From a macroeconomic and geopolitical perspective, this event is a redemptive event for China."

They are currently facing severe economic difficulties, with their CPI declining into a deflationary cycle, the consumer price index at only -0.3%, weak demand, a housing crisis leading to a shortage of investment, and the overall economic growth rate falling from 14% in 2007 to less than 6% in 2023.

Population aging and manufacturing overcapacity have exacerbated structural problems, leading to squeezed corporate profits, rising bank bad debts, and the overall economy falling into a low-growth trap.

But this lunar superconducting AI center project is an unprecedentedly imaginative 'big project,' similar to Roosevelt's New Deal or the Cold War space race.

It can inject huge investments for rocket manufacturing, materials research and development, and infrastructure construction.

This will stimulate domestic demand, create millions of high-paying jobs, from engineers to supply chain workers, and boost GDP growth.

Historical data shows that the Apollo program increased the U.S. real GDP by an average of 2.2% in the 1960s and 1970s, generating trillions of dollars worth of technology, including integrated circuits and satellite communications.

This Chinese project could trigger a similar effect: superconducting technology could be applied to artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, and more, solving deflation problems and reshaping the global supply chain through technology exports. Isn't General Aerospace, represented here today, the best example?

Evans continued, saying she felt a strong sense of crisis: this wasn't just about the economy, it was about a power shift.

"Geopolitically, China can gain a foothold in space through this project, attract international investment, and alleviate capital outflows."

Imagine this: they use the moon as the starting point of a new Silk Road, exporting AI services to YDYL countries and winning over allies.

If the space age arrives, China will dominate rule-making, threatening our absolute advantage in semiconductors and the status of the US dollar.

This is similar to the Sputnik moment of the past; we must respond, or we will lose our dominance in innovation.

The conversation in the meeting room continued, with everyone chiming in.

Jonathan wasn't high enough to get a chance to speak, and he only mentioned that if Shackleton Crater wasn't a good option, the second best location was Degellach Crater, which is only about 54 kilometers away and has a flatter terrain compared to Shackleton Crater.

Scharvin listened, and he knew that although the people who came had different ideas, their consensus was very clear: America had to act.

"Mr. Morgan, it is well known that you have a good relationship with Lin from China. Did your cooperation with them include lunar south pole landing technology?" Scharvin asked finally.

John Morgan Jr. replied, “I’m sorry, we haven’t started negotiations on that yet, but I’m confident we can get the technology from them.”

John Morgan Jr.'s thinking was, "Whether I can get it or not, you can only trust me. To put it more bluntly: NASA, send the money!"
"That's good!"

Bezos was filled with immense regret. "If I hadn't missed the chance to recruit Professor Lin in 2020, would General Aerospace have surpassed Blue Origin and been able to steal the spotlight in this kind of setting?"

Scharvin tapped the table one last time: "Thank you, everyone."

Our countermeasures are: First, accelerate the Artemis II manned lunar orbit mission, aiming for an Antarctic landing in 2024; second, collaborate with commercial partners, with General Aerospace and Blue Origin jointly developing a reusable manned lunar landing system; third, increase the budget, establish a 'Lunar Development Fund,' research and develop indigenous superconducting technology, and push Congress to approve a trillion-dollar space investment plan through economic stimulus; fourth, diplomatically, push for revisions to the UN Space Treaty to restrict unilateral development, while sharing technology with allies and forming a counter-alliance.

The idea was great, but could it really be done? Jonathan wondered. Boeing and Blue Origin jointly developing a reusable manned lunar landing system? They couldn't do it alone, but could they really do it together?

Both presidents had "Den" in their names and both faced the Sputnik moment from powerful rivals. Lyndon was able to lead America to victory in the space race, a victory won during the Nixon era, but the foundation was laid during the Lyndon Johnson era.

Will we have such good luck again this time?

(End of this chapter)