Chapter 731

Just as China was cheering for the triumph of the heroes, the news of the return of the auspicious ship also spread to every corner of the world through the reports of the overseas edition of the central media, as well as the public statements of NASA, ESA, Russian space agency and other agencies.

Almost everyone, after hearing the news, responded with surprise without exception.

Before that, the North American media had been reporting interviews with NASA experts, believing that although Xiangrui has a 25 ton Earth Moon transfer orbit carrying capacity, it may eventually face the same failure as the Soviets due to its hasty plan to land on the moon.

However, reality is like a slap in the face, not only to their faces, but also to their fantasy.

Not only did Xiangrui successfully return to the Jinling space launch center, but also 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.

China, which has been overtaking by electric propulsion system in the field of aerospace, is catching up with them at an incredible speed.

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

There is no gap without comparison. Although NASA's research in the field of outer space has made no progress in the past half century, the pace of development is undoubtedly much slower. Now China has set foot on the moon, and NASA's lunar space station plan will not be launched until 2022. Ares plan has not seen any actual action since it was announced.

All Americans who are concerned about this matter are filled with questions and even anger.

What is their NASA doing?

In such a public opinion environment, the North American media, the wind began to change.

From sneering at the technology of China's space flight, it has become "furious with NASA". In particular, led by the New York Times, NASA experts' opinions were adopted in several interviews. However, after the report was reported, they were faced continuously, so that this time they were not inviting NASA experts, but directly aimed their guns at NASA, and put a line of gunpowder flavored headlines on the front page of the latest newspaper --

< br What are our people doing in the month? 》

coincidentally, just when the New York Times began to criticize NASA from love and hate, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post also attacked NASA's inaction from different perspectives, questioning where its annual funds, several times or even tens of times of China's, were used?

Among all the media, CNN's current affairs channel, which has the sharpest point of view, even called for the establishment of a special investigation team to check NASA's budget list over the years, claiming that there might be a shocking blackout.

For a while, NASA was also plagued by passionate people.

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

However, all of these achievements are far less impressive than those of landing on the moon.

After all, no matter how far the detector flies, it is also the detector, far less than the human step towards the field beyond the earth, which can stimulate people's senses.

Facing the excited people, it's not just NASA that's worried. When something has enough influence on national cohesion and voters' votes, it's not just a technical issue, but a political issue.

The authorities promised to keep America great.

However, these promises are all things that need to be fulfilled, and they can not be fooled by talking casually.

Now the target of media attack is NASA, but generally speaking, the fire will burn to the white house soon

……

The White House.

In a conference room.

At the same table as last time, except for a few fresh faces, there are the same people as last time.

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

"Ladies and gentlemen, please take a seat."

He went to the main seat and sat down. The president looked around the conference table, and then focused on NASA director Carson for two seconds. Then he took his eyes back and said directly, "I need an explanation."

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

"We muttered about China's determination in the field of Aerospace And technical strength. Their application of electric propulsion system is beyond our expectation. Before that, we never thought that electric propulsion can provide the same thrust as chemical rocket when the power and working medium are enough. It turns out that the electric propulsion system is also feasible for climbing gravity wells. At present, we have cooperated with PPPL laboratory, MIT and other research institutions to improve the electric propulsion system... "Knocking on the table interrupted Carson's chatter. The president reached out and pinched his brow, said impatiently.

"How long will it take?"

Carson was stunned, then smiled bitterly.

"This There is no way to expect that before we solve the thrust problem, we must first solve the problem of controllable fusion miniaturization. "

Before we solve the problem of miniaturization of controllable fusion, we have to solve the problem of controllable fusion. Although intuition tells Carson that it may not be as difficult as he thought to solve the problem of controllable fusion miniaturization, or at least not as difficult as controllable fusion engineering itself, it is useless to analyze these things now.

After all, according to the outcome of the negotiations, it will be at least next year before the two sides can reach a technical exchange in the field of controllable fusion.

And the price is not small

"Since there is no way to expect it, please stop farting. What I need now is a solution, rather than listening to you explain your incompetence!" said the president

At this point, Carson almost didn't have a gush of old blood.

Shetter!

Didn't you ask for an explanation?

of course, though he make complaints about it in his heart, he can't say that.

After a little silence, he coughed softly and continued.

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

The president turned his eyes to the vice president, only to see the thin old man sitting at the vice chair of the conference table nodding his head and saying in a frenzied voice.

"Before the meeting, I had a chat with Mr. Carson. His proposal was quite good, though a little risky."

Although the vice president is just a mascot in American politics, if he is not a powerful person, he may not be as powerful as the governor of New Jersey, but he can also play a role at a certain time.

For example, in the case of NSC restructuring and the vice president personally in charge.

Most of the time, the president can't directly take care of the space field. In most cases, the president's executive office and the vice president themselves coordinate.

"Adventure?" The president frowned, looked at Carson and asked, "what kind of adventure."

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

The president frowned Is that a plan? And if I remember correctly, life support unit testing is not over now. "

"That's right, but we can't wait any longer. As you said, if it doesn't have big problems, we should believe that our technicians have done their best," Carson continued, taking a deep breath. "If we omit some troublesome procedures, the fastest is half a year No, just two months! We can send it to Mars! "

Just as the voice dropped, there was a sound of discussion at the conference table.

Carson was sweating.

Because he knew that his proposal was quite risky.

Or it's not just a gamble. It's a gamble with the life of an astronaut.

After the Columbia tragedy, few people dare to do it!

Sure enough, a serious looking middle-aged man stood up, looked at Carson sharply, and said.

"Can I guess, director Carson, if you are referring to the" necessary testing links "in your so-called cumbersome procedures?"

In the face of the president's executive office adviser's dilemma, Carson explained, "the test is not necessary In fact, we have been able to ensure that the life support unit can operate stably for at least two years with sufficient power. "

Does the man keep on sending: "what do you guarantee?"

Carson was speechless. Just as he didn't know how to answer, the president suddenly spoke.

"He's right."

"Sometimes we should be more flexible, especially in the face of a flexible opponent. Isn't that why the National Space Committee was established?"

When the president mentioned himself, the vice president smiled and reached for his tie.

He always has a low sense of existence. Only in this situation can he show his sense of existence to others.

The president's words caused a lot of whispers. The man who had previously complained to director Carson hesitated, but insisted.

"Mr. President, I must remind you that this is not in line with the procedure."

"No, it doesn't have to be in the Arizona desert, it can be in the Martian desert," Carson said immediately. "We can send the life support unit up first, and then start it remotely to see if it works. If we can, we'll send the astronauts up. "Although he didn't agree with this kind of risk-taking in his heart, he didn't care about it now.

As he had previously said to his secretary from the satellite control room.

NASA needs a win.

America needs a victory!

If not

It's the way to resign.

As a result, he had no other choice.

"Just do what he said, send the life support unit to Mars for testing." seeing what the annoying guy was going to say, the president knocked on the conference table with a pen. "There is no time for us to waste. After the Chinese started the competition, every minute is precious to us!"

With his eyes, the man who got up earlier sat back, and the president then looked meaningfully at director Carson.

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

The meaningful eyes made Carson sweat on the forehead.

But even so, he still points his head hard, his right hand on his chest to swear.

"I promise you."

"God is on our side!"