Chapter 161, Return to the Moon Plan

Uncle Sam has carried out manned lunar landings many times in the 1970s. Since Armstrong landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, Uncle Sam has carried out 6 manned lunar landings, a total of 12 Astronauts have landed on the moon.

You must know that this was in the 1970s in the last world, and half a century has passed since then. It can be seen that Uncle Sam's technological level is definitely not impressive. This technological strength is very powerful.

Of course, the hugely expensive manned moon landing in the last century was actually for the needs of the Cold War hegemons in a larger sense, and to promote Uncle Sam's strong technological, economic, and military strength.

The Apollo manned moon landing program cost tens of billions of dollars in total. Some people may think that tens of billions of dollars does not seem to be a lot now, but this time has to be pushed forward 50 years. In the 1970s of the last century, the U.S. dollar was called the U.S. dollar. China's foreign exchange reserves at that time could not produce hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars, and China was very poor.

At that time, it could be said that it was a bluff and it cost a lot of money, but it did not have much substantive significance. Apart from bringing back some rocks, soil, etc. from the moon for research on lunar resources, there was not much A true role.

This is why in the next half century, Uncle Sam did not carry out manned moon landing activities. It is not that Uncle Sam's technology has regressed, but that manned moon landing activities are a loss-making business, and it is still A country controlled by businessmen is naturally not willing to engage in such a loss-making business.

However, today is different from the past. As China has launched the space race, and today's science and technology has achieved tremendous development compared to half a century ago, it is also as China establishes a permanent lunar base on the moon. , Mining lunar resources.

Uncle Sam is naturally unwilling to be outdone, not to mention that he now has the technology to mine lunar resources on the moon. Whether it is out of competition or greed for lunar resources, Uncle Sam has repeatedly increased its efforts. investment in space technology.

The plan to return to the moon is the most critical and core point. Uncle Sam has also been frightened by China's powerful space technology and rapid development speed. He is afraid that the gap will become wider and wider. No matter how difficult it is, he still has to keep up. Up.

On October 5, 2020, here at Uncle Sam's Kennedy Space Center, major media from around the world who heard the news surrounded the place with their long guns and short cannons aimed at the tall "Saturn 5" carrier rocket on the launch site. This behemoth is 110 meters high, has a take-off weight of more than 3,000 tons, a total thrust of 3,400 tons, a lunar orbit carrying capacity of 45 tons, and a low-Earth orbit carrying capacity of 118 tons.

The "Saturn 5" launch vehicle is a multi-stage throwable liquid (solid) fuel rocket. A total of 13 "Saturn 5" launch vehicles were launched between 1967 and 1973, and they maintained a perfect launch record. A total of nine "Saturn 5" launch vehicles carried the manned "Apollo" spacecraft into lunar orbit.

The production line for the Saturn 5 launch vehicle closed in 1970. The last launch of the Saturn 5 launch vehicle was in 1973. Now Uncle Sam is re-relying on the original design and using many advanced technologies to rebuild the "Saturn 5" launch vehicle.

Its thrust and carrying capacity are more powerful than before, and its performance is superior. However, the name is still "Saturn 5" because its history is so perfect. Uncle Sam is also like us, and he also compares this aspect. Superstitious, so there is no need to use other names.

The tall "Saturn 5" launch vehicle stood quietly. At the aerospace command center, a huge world map had been unfolded, and various data were flashing. At the same time, everyone below was wearing a white coat. The scientists are all busy nervously.

There is still half an hour before the launch time, and the President of Uncle Sam has arrived in person and is hosting the departure ceremony for this time's astronauts outside.

"I'm very happy to be here, especially at this time, half a century ago, the president who has the same name as this space center, President Kennedy, he proposed the manned moon landing plan, and finally we successfully realized this Great goal, we become the first great country in human history to land on the moon.”

"Time spans half a century, and we have arrived in the first 20 years of the 21st century. Now we are also facing a more severe situation. Someone has landed on the moon before us, and has established a permanently manned lunar base on the moon. There are even Conduct mining on the moon and launch lunar tourism.”

“Countless people who deeply love this country have written to me and sent me emails, asking me why I haven’t tried hard yet, and why we have been able to carry people to the moon in the last century, but why haven’t we returned yet again? Moon, ask me if we are falling behind."

"Today, I want to tell you, tell those who love this land deeply, that we are not only going to return to the moon, but we are also going to establish a permanent manned base on the moon, and in the near future, We must also vigorously develop the space industry..."

Uncle Sam's president gave an inspiring speech, and the scene was filled with applause. Countless Uncle Sams who came to watch the speech recalled the glorious history of the past and kept applauding.

"Let us welcome our space heroes Alan Glenn, John Sheppard, and Gaine Collins with the warmest applause..."

"We pray to God to bless them and wish them a smooth journey. When they return triumphantly, our entire great country will cheer and be proud of them!"

The departure ceremony was very simple. A total of 7 astronauts boarded the tall "Saturn 5" carrier rocket under the attention of the public. Soon, the time arrived at the launch point. With the dazzling white flames, the huge carrier rocket took off and headed straight for space.

Unlike China's manned moon landing, the method used by Uncle Sam was no different from the manned moon landing method of the last century. The spacecraft was launched into space through a large carrier rocket. The spacecraft orbited the earth for dozens of times to obtain a greater initial velocity and then headed straight for the moon.

Then, a jet-propelled lunar spacecraft will be used to land on the moon, and a lunar base will be built on the moon. The entire plan is very large and spans a long time gradient.

According to the plan, starting from today, Uncle Sam will send a manned spacecraft to the moon every half a month in the following days. The purpose is naturally to build his own lunar base that can be manned for a long time.

And after the manned lunar base is completed, Uncle Sam will also form a custom like China, with spacecraft regularly traveling between the earth and the moon to transport supplies and astronauts, etc.

The total investment of the entire return to the moon plan is as high as 5 trillion US dollars, which is not just as simple as sending a few astronauts to the moon to shovel a few pounds of lunar soil and move a few pieces of lunar rocks back.

Everything went very smoothly. The spacecraft was successfully launched into space and began to fly around the earth's orbit. The speed was getting faster and faster. After a few hours, it directly left the earth's orbit and headed straight for the moon.

In order to successfully complete the plan to return to the moon, Uncle Sam had already launched many unmanned probes, unmanned spacecraft, communication satellites, etc. to the moon in advance. Like China, he also dropped a large amount of materials on the moon in advance to lay the foundation for the manned lunar landing plan.

"Uncle Sam's strength is still very strong, whether it is scientific and technological strength, economic strength, or military strength. Look at the Saturn 5 launch vehicle they use to launch spacecraft. As early as half a century ago, they were able to have such advanced technology."

"If we didn't have the aerospace plane in our hands, it would not be easy for us to surpass them in the space field."

At the Longling Town Space Center, Li Fu looked at the images monitored by the "Clairvoyance" system, combined with the broadcast on the TV station, and the whole person couldn't help but give a thumbs up to Uncle Sam's technological strength.

"Well, the more I know about this field, the more I have to admire it. In the traditional field of science and technology, Uncle Sam has indeed reached the pinnacle."

"This year, they have to launch spacecraft every week to transport a large amount of materials into space, and use unmanned spacecraft to transport a large amount of materials to the Wells area of ​​the moon. This area is very close to the equator of the moon, with flat terrain and rich resources. It is the most suitable area for them to rely on traditional rockets for transportation."

Chen Bin also nodded. As an expert in the field of aerospace, he naturally knows the entire detailed process of Uncle Sam's plan to return to the moon. Although Uncle Sam's rocket technology is very powerful without the aerospace plane, it is definitely not as easy as China.

"Uncle Sam uses this traditional rocket to launch spacecraft, and the cost is high. It can be said that he is burning money. If he wants to build a permanent manned lunar base on the moon, Uncle Sam's cost will be tens of thousands times that of ours."

"For the same single transportation of materials, not only is the cost high and the risk high, but the most important thing is that the transportation volume is too small. If it becomes a custom and people have to travel back and forth between the earth and the moon regularly, I don't think Uncle Sam can continue like this for long."