Chapter 1561 The Great Acceleration of Global Technology (First update, please subscribe)
It’s June, even though the sky is pouring with rain. But it cannot stop people from traveling.
Everyone is running around for a living. Whether in the Eastern world or the Western world, people always have to survive.
So running around and working hard is normal.
People hide under umbrellas and pass by puddles in remote areas. Some people who are careful about their image will carefully avoid those puddles.
Among these passers-by, there was a person who was walking aimlessly in the city. Perhaps he was a little distracted because he saw the news on TV.
Therefore, when he found himself at the Berlin Wall, he couldn't help but be surprised.
Opposite him is the Brandenburg Gate. The long Berlin Wall surrounds the entire West Berlin. In fact, the Berlin Wall is like a prison wall. It does not close Berlin, but the entire East Germany. In a certain sense, To put it simply, East Germany was a large prison.
But all this had little to do with Slit, who stood on the side of the road and stared at the Berlin Wall.
Beside him there is a newsstand. Several people were there to take shelter from the rain or browse newspapers and magazines.
Perhaps in order to attract customers, the newspaper seller started shouting. .
"A look at the Soviet Union's historic space flight - the Soviet lunar spacecraft's manned lunar orbit.
The Soviet Union defeated the United States once again. ”
America is defeated again!
And what about the Soviet Union?
Big win, special win.
In the past few days, the whole world has been paying attention to this Soviet space flight. Although this time their mission did not involve landing on the moon. But it needs to complete all other flights except landing on the moon.
This means that in the next few months, the Soviets will send their astronauts to the moon.
"They will be the first to reach the moon."
The news was broadcast on every television station available in West Berlin. For many people, this is undoubtedly breaking news.
Of course some people will ask.
"Where are the Americans? Where is the American moon landing spacecraft?"
For the Germans, of course they cannot expect the Germans to complete the moon landing mission before the Soviet Union. After all, Germany does not even have rockets now.
The only one who can place hope is the United States.
after all. The United States was far ahead of the Soviet Union.
But why hasn’t the United States caught up with the Soviet Union?
In fact, it was not until half a year ago that the United States’ Saturn 5 launched for the second time.
Although the launch was successful, it did not catch up with Russia's progress in terms of progress.
"The United States...is it really destined to be surpassed by Russia?"
Looking at the Berlin Wall, this idea came to Sleeter's mind.
At the same time, his eyes were turned to the sky. In the distant space, the Soviet spacecraft was heading towards the moon.
But what about the United States?
When Slit was thinking this, what he didn't know was that he was on the other side of the ocean. At the Kennedy Space Launch Center, von Braun faced his greatest challenge ever.
"Now I just want to know an answer, when can we send Americans to the moon."
Listening to the voice on the phone, von Braun did not answer immediately.
On the other end of the line was the man in the White House, President Johnson, calling because the Soviets had once again left them behind.
"Doctor, you should know that the entire free world is watching us now."
Johnson said into the phone receiver.
"They are all watching how we meet the challenge from the Soviet Union?"
Then Johnson said.
"For the United States and the Western world, one Sputnik moment is enough. If it happens again, it will undoubtedly be an extremely heavy blow to everyone."
Johnson's "Sputnik moment" refers to the launch of the first Sputnik satellite by the Soviets a decade ago.
That day, the Soviet Union's artificial satellite was like a loud slap in the face of the United States.
Even now, many Americans remember that day deeply.
Because that was the first time that the United States was surpassed by other countries.
"Can you imagine how painful the psychological blow we...all Americans would have suffered if the Soviet Union could land on the moon before us?"
Braun was silent as he listened to the president's words. The two of them were talking to the phone, but neither of them was talking. Say another word. After almost half a minute of silence, von Braun said it.
"Mr. President, I will do my best to achieve this goal, but we must ensure the safety of the astronauts."
Listening to the voice on the other end of the phone, Johnson thought for a moment and then said:
"Yes, astronaut safety comes first. I look forward to hearing good news from you, Doctor."
There were no more words, no urging, just an expectation, and of course, more helplessness.
This kind of helplessness of being surpassed is extremely helpless.
For Americans, they have already had a "Sputnik moment". Logically speaking, they should be used to it. After all, there are always two things.
After hanging up the phone, von Braun reviewed the drawings there again. In the past few years, he devoted almost all his energy to the development of the Saturn 5 rocket. For this rocket and to realize the dream of landing on the moon, the United States has spent tens of billions of dollars.
"I once thought that with the strong national power and advanced technology of the United States, we could land on the moon before the Soviets."
When von Braun's words fell, Robert beside him said with some annoyance while smoking a cigarette:
"Yeah, I'm afraid even God can't figure out why the Soviets have made such rapid technological progress in the space field? It's really puzzling."
Robert took a drag on his cigarette and complained:
"When we here put all our efforts into the high-thrust engine of the Saturn 5. What about the Soviets? They used dozens of engines like stacking blocks to achieve the same effect."
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Von Braun said, shaking his head, as Robert quipped that the Soviets were stacking blocks there.
"Robert this is not easy, it requires a very advanced control system.
Sea's Space Technology Exploration Company did not dare to integrate dozens of engines at the beginning. They chose three seemingly independent but integrated rockets.
In terms of overall rocket control, the Soviet rocket control system should be the most advanced in the world. ”
Von Braun took out a few photos as he spoke and said:
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"Now there are three companies in the world. We, the Russians, plus Sea, we are all working hard towards the moon.
Only we have chosen the path of great power and miracles. They all use multiple engines.
Even the fuel is different. We use hydrogen and oxygen fuel, while the Soviet Union uses oxygen and kerosene. And sea is oxygen methane,
Of these three completely different paths, which one is the most advanced? ”
Von Braun definitely wants to say that his path is the most advanced, but now he himself is skeptical.
After all, Sea also chose the method of launching multiple units. And compared to the United States and Russia, the performance of the oxygen-methane engine is exactly the middle value of the two paths.
"So you think the way they stack blocks is the future."
Robert looked at von Braun and asked:
Von Braun said, shaking his head.
"I don't know, I think the most important thing now is that we should do our best to win this game."
His answer made Robert silent for a moment, and then he said:
"So do we have a chance?"
Robert's tone was filled with uncertainty, because they had only conducted two experiments in total until now.
"We have successfully launched twice, and both times were successful."
Von Braun thought for a moment and then said:
"Perhaps, we can compress each experiment and use one launch mission as much as possible to complete experiments that used to take two or even three times."
Then he looked at the newspaper in front of him and said:
"Since the Soviets can use one launch mission to complete three experimental missions, we can also take the same measures. If our launch is successful this time, then next time we can directly send our astronauts to To the moon.”
The preliminary preparations that originally required four launch missions were reduced to two. This decision is extremely risky from any perspective.
"This..."
Robert thought for a moment and said.
"Will this bring great risks?"
"There are definitely risks."
Von Braun nodded, and then said:
“But this way we can save at least 6 months.
Maybe we can complete the moon landing mission 6 months ahead of schedule. In this way, we have a good chance of surpassing the Soviets. ”
To surpass the Soviets was the dream of all Americans.
"The Soviets have entered the final step and are only left with the final kick."
Robert looked at von Braun and asked:
"In this case, even if we split up and pursue them, we will probably not be able to catch up with them."
Faced with this reality, von Braun was silent for a while, and then he said:
"Then at least you won't be too far behind, right?"
Having said that, both of them fell into silence. Of course they both knew the risks involved in doing so, but they had no choice.
Even if the White House does not seem to be urging them to speed up progress, the pressure exerted by the White House is invisible.
In this way, with another success of the Soviet moon landing project, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the United States still chose to meet the challenge.
Their comprehensive acceleration began. For this, everyone involved in the development of rockets and the astronauts knew very well why.
Do they also know what risks they are taking? But everyone threw themselves into this competition without hesitation.
"We must win!"
In this way, these two current superpowers, with hundreds of thousands of personnel related to the aviation industry, are working hard towards the last goal.
As the hour hand turns, human beings seem to be becoming Austronesian step by step, trying to get rid of this lonely island of the earth and fly to the vast sea of stars...
(End of chapter)