Chapter 732: The Burning NASA

While Huaguo was cheering for the triumphant return of the heroes, the news of the return of the Xiangrui was also reported by the overseas edition of the central media, as well as the public statements of NASA, the European Space Agency, the Russian Space Agency and other agencies, and spread all over the world. every corner of the

Almost everyone, after hearing the news, was invariably surprised.

Prior to this, the North American media had been reporting interviews with relevant NASA experts, who believed that although the Xiangrui had a 25-ton Earth-Moon transfer orbit carrying capacity, but because the moon landing plan was too hasty, it might eventually face the same failure as the Soviets. ending.

However, reality is like a slap in the face, not only hitting their faces, but also shattering their fantasies.

The Xiangrui not only successfully returned to the Jinling Space Launch Center, but also safely brought back three astronauts and lunar soil with a total weight of more than one kilogram.

Even if they don't want to admit it, they have to face a terrible reality.

Huaguo, which has achieved curve overtaking in the aerospace field through its electric propulsion system, is catching up with them at an incredible speed.

Today is a lunar module and a flag, so what will be tomorrow? What about the day after tomorrow?

There is no gap without comparison. Although it cannot be said that NASA's research in the field of outer space has made no progress in the past half a century, the pace of development is undoubtedly much slower. Now Huaguo has set foot on the moon, and NASA's lunar space station plan will not start until 2022. Since the announcement of the Ares plan, it has been thunderous and rainy, and no actual action has been seen.

All Americans who are concerned about this matter can't help but hold back their stomachs full of doubts and even anger.

What the hell is their NASA doing?

In such an environment of public opinion, the direction of the local North American media began to change.

From the cynicism of China's aerospace technology, it has become an "indisputable anger" at NASA. Especially the "New York Times", which adopted the opinions of NASA experts in several interviews. However, after the reports were published, they were indeed beaten in the face, so that this time they finally did not invite NASA experts, but directly Aimed at NASA, put a line of gunpowder-flavored headlines on the headlines of the latest edition of the newspaper——

"When Huaguo was landing on the moon, what were our people doing?" "

Coincidentally, when the "New York Times" began to criticize NASA from love to hatred, the "Los Angeles Times" and "Washington Post" also attacked NASA's inaction from different angles, questioning its How many times or even tens of times of Huaguo's funds are spent every year?

Among many media, CNN's current affairs channel, which has the sharpest views, even called for the establishment of a special investigation team to verify NASA's budget list for these years, and claimed that there may be shocking shady things in it.

For a while, NASA was also overwhelmed by the excited people.

In fact, if the evaluation is fair, the achievements made by the United States in the field of aerospace in recent years are not small. The boundary of its exploration has even reached Pluto, and the two Voyager probes have even set foot in the field outside the solar system.

However, all these achievements sound far less shocking than landing on the moon.

After all, no matter how far the probe flies, it is still a probe. It is far less than the human footsteps to take a step beyond the earth, which can stimulate people's senses.

In the face of the agitated public, it is obviously not just NASA that is struggling. When a matter has enough influence on the cohesion of the country and the votes in the pockets of voters, it is not just a technical issue, but a political issue. question.

The administration has promised that America will continue to be great.

However, these promises are things that need to be fulfilled, and they cannot be fooled by casual talk.

Now the target of media attacks is still NASA, but according to the general situation, I am afraid that the fire will be burned on the head of the White House in a short time...

...

White House.

in a meeting room.

In front of the same conference table as last time, except for a few new faces, the same crowd as last time was sitting.

When the current president walked in, everyone stood up to show respect.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please take a seat."

Walking to the main seat and sitting down, the president looked around the conference table, stared at NASA Director Carson for two seconds, then retracted his gaze, and said directly: "I need an explanation."

Carson and the deputy director looked at each other, finally took a deep breath, stood up bravely and said.

"We talked about Huaguo's determination in the aerospace field...and its technical strength. Their application of electric propulsion systems exceeded our expectations. Before that, we never thought that electric propulsion would It can also provide thrust comparable to chemical rockets. Facts have proved that electric propulsion systems are also feasible for climbing gravity wells. At present, we have cooperated with PPPL laboratories, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and other research institutions to improve the electric propulsion system..."

Knocking on the table interrupted Carson's chatter, the president reached out and pinched the center of his eyebrows, and said impatiently.

"how long it takes?"

Carson froze for a moment, then smiled bitterly.

"This... there is no way to predict. Before solving the thrust problem, we must first solve the problem of miniaturization of controllable fusion."

Before solving the problem of miniaturization of controllable fusion, the problem of controllable fusion must be solved first. Although intuition tells Carson that solving the problem of miniaturization of controllable fusion may not be as difficult as imagined, at least not as difficult as controllable fusion engineering itself, but analyzing these things now is useless.

After all, according to the results of the negotiations, at least next year, the two sides may reach a technical exchange in the field of controllable fusion.

And the price is not small...

The president said with a bad face: "Since there is no way to predict, please stop your farting. What I need now is a solution, not to listen to you explaining your incompetence!"

Hearing these words, Carson almost spit out a mouthful of old blood.

Shet!

Isn't that what you're asking for an explanation?

Of course, even though he complained in his heart, it was impossible for him to just say that.

After a short silence, he coughed lightly and continued.

"Of course, we've come up with a strategy ... and talked to our vice president before the meeting."

The president turned his attention to the vice president, and saw that the thin old man sitting on the vice-chair of the conference table nodded and spoke at a speed so slow that it made people mad.

"I had a chat with Mr. Carson before the meeting, and he had a pretty good, albeit risky, proposition."

Although the vice president is just a mascot in American politics, and if it is not a political strongman, the power may not be comparable to that of the governor of New Jersey, but it can also play a role at certain times.

For example, when the NSC is reorganized and the Vice President is personally in charge.

In many cases, the president has no way to directly take care of things in the aerospace field. In most cases, it is coordinated by the executive office of the president and the vice president himself.

"Adventure?" The president frowned, looked at Carson and asked, "What adventure?"

Carson took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "My suggestion is to start the first phase of the Ares project immediately and send our life support unit to Mars!"

The president frowned: "...Is this also called a plan? And if I remember correctly, the testing of the life support unit is not over yet."

"That's right, but time doesn't allow us to wait any longer. As you said, if there are no major problems, we should believe that our technicians have done their best," took a deep breath In a calm tone, Carson continued, "If some troublesome procedures are omitted, we can send it to Mars in half a year at the fastest... No, it only takes two months! We can send it to Mars!"

As soon as the voice fell, there was a discussion in front of the conference table.

Carson was also sweating on his forehead.

Because he knew that his proposal was quite risky.

In other words, this is no longer just a risk, but a gamble, taking the astronaut's life as a bet.

After the tragedy on the Columbia, few people have dared to do this!

Sure enough, a middle-aged man with a serious expression stood up, stared at Carson sharply, and said.

"Director Carson, may I guess that those troublesome procedures you are referring to are those 'necessary testing links'?"

Facing the challenge from the adviser to the President's Executive Office, Carson bit the bullet and explained: "The testing link is not necessary... In fact, we have technically been able to ensure that the life support unit can operate stably at least under the condition of sufficient power. More than two years."

The man continued asking: "What guarantee do you use?"

Carson was at a loss for words, and just when he didn't know how to answer, the president suddenly spoke.

"He's right."

"Sometimes we need to be flexible, especially against a flexible opponent, and isn't the National Space Council created for that?"

Hearing the president mentioning himself, the vice president smiled slightly and stretched out his hand to straighten the tie on his chest.

He usually has a low sense of presence, and only on this occasion can he show his sense of presence to others.

The president's words caused many people to whisper. The person who had challenged Director Carson earlier hesitated, but he still said stubbornly.

"Mr. President, I must remind you that this is not in order."

"That's not the case, the test doesn't have to be in the desert of Arizona, it can also be in the desert of Mars," Carson said immediately, "We can send the life support unit up first, and then activate it remotely to confirm whether it works .If we can, we'll send the astronauts up."

Although deep down in his heart he didn't agree with this risky approach, he couldn't care less about it now.

As he had said to his secretary earlier, standing in the satellite control room.

NASA needs a win.

America needs a win!

If not...

Anyway, it is the only way to take the blame and resign.

As a result, he has no other choice at all.

"Just do as he said, send the life support unit to Mars for testing." Seeing that the annoying guy was about to say something, the president tapped the conference table with a pen, "We have no time to waste, people in China After picking up this game, every minute counts for us!"

Using his eyes to signal the person who got up earlier to sit back, the president then cast a meaningful look at Director Carson.

"Mr. Carson, I hope to open champagne with you in two months and celebrate our success at the White House banquet. Please don't let me down, otherwise no one will sympathize with you!"

The meaningful eyes made Carson's forehead drip with cold sweat.

But even so, he still bit the bullet and swore with his right hand on his chest.

"I promise you."

"God is on our side!"