Scholar’s Advanced Technological System

12: 00 am CST.

It's 8: 00 a.m. Washington time.

For the vast majority of Americans, a new day is just beginning.

In a suburban New Jersey home, a young couple and their newborn child are sitting at a dining table in the living room enjoying breakfast.

I mixed the salad sauce in a bowl, and Julie sat at the table and swept the news on TV, and I saw the news on Ares relaxing, and I couldn't help complaining, "I don't understand why we had to spend money competing with the Chinese to do something meaningful with that money, wouldn't it be better? ”

Buddy grinned as he chewed the bacon sandwich and watched TV.

“You don't understand, it's a man's romance. ”

Julie turned a white eye when she heard her husband say that.

“Yes, I don't understand. I don't understand why a truck driver is so worried about the universe. Even with 10,000 steps back, they won't let you go to Mars to drive the van. ”

Buddy picked out his eyebrows and said with a smile: "Maybe there will be a day in the future? Allegedly Ares is recruiting volunteers, maybe I'll be like Han Solo...”

“I'm warning you, don't even think about it! ”

Looking at his wife, Buddy made a helpless expression and tried to convince her to come.

“Relax, my sweetheart… I'm just saying, of course I'm not really going to sign up. ”

At this point, the news that was being shown suddenly had a little accident.

“The following news was broadcast temporarily. Just nine minutes ago, NASA observation satellites discovered that they had left the stratosphere and were heading into near-Earth orbit with the Cheung Rui boarding the lunar module from the Jinling Launch Center in China. ”

Looking at the picture on TV, Buddy had a slight opening in his mouth, and he didn't even notice the bacon slices from the sandwich falling into the plate.

“Oh, God… the Chinese are on the moon. ”

Julie glanced silently at her husband as she threw a fork at the salad in the bowl.

“So? ”

Buddy didn't answer his wife's question, he just stared at the TV and whispered angrily.

“Damn, what the hell happened to our NASA! All these years we've been walking in the same place! ”

News on TV continues to be broadcast.

It's just that the original press arrangement has been completely disrupted by this emergency.

Immediately after receiving the press release for brief coverage, the moderator connected on-site a specialist from Columbia Television, Professor Slade of Cornell University. At the same time, Professor Slade also serves as an Ares Program Advisor for NASA, so there is no doubt about his professionalism.

“… After receiving this message, we urgently contacted NASA expert Professor Slade, although he was unable to make it to the scene… Hello Professor Slade! ”

Professor Slade: "Hello. ”

Professor Slade's picture appeared on the studio screen.

The facilitator conducted an on-site interview via telephone link.

“How do you feel about China's implementation of the Moon Climb Program? ”

Faced with this problem for about five seconds, Professor Slade said in a conservative tone: "China has not released specific technical parameters about the Xiangrui, including our guess that there may be advanced Hall thrusters, smaller controllable fusion reactors… Of course there is also a tendency to think that they have adopted an advanced lithium-sulfur battery technology, after all, which is the main area of operation of astral technology in addition to the space business, but also in the battery sector. ”

Moderator: "I'm sure the vast majority of viewers don't care what kind of technology route they're taking, can you make a prediction for us in a simpler way? ”

“Forecast?”

The moderator nodded: "Yes, we would all like to know what the chances of success are for this launch. ”

Professor Slade: "I may not be able to give you a clear answer, but I don't have any specific information on the Xiang Rui. ”

Speaking of which, he paused for a moment and continued in a reluctant tone.

“But if I say so, their chances are better than those of the Soviets. Big.”

“You think they have a better chance of winning than the Soviets?” The host opened his eyes in amazement and incredibly repeatedly confirmed, "Are you serious? Do you think they'll succeed? ”

“I'm not saying that, I'm just saying that they have a one-half chance of success… or about one-third more," Professor Slade continued in an ambiguous tone, "of course, even if they make it to the moon, they're still far from us. After all, we've been on the moon more than once, and... sorry, something isn't right here. ”

Watch the news.

Buddy was relieved and in a much better mood than just now.

At least the Chinese have less than a third chance of success on the moon.

NASA experts are a little more convincing than Columbia TV.

Poking the eggs in the plate with a fork, only a four-year-old boy raised his head and held the fork high above his head, as if playing with his rocket toy.

“Daddy, I want to go on a trip to the moon. ”

Hearing his son's milk speech, Buddy Haha laughed and reached out and rubbed the little guy's head.

“There will be such a day, my little one, our president is leading us back to greatness! When you're as tall as I am, it's not as simple as going to Hawaii... and then remember to bring back some of your dad's specialties. ”

The little boy blinked, nodded his head, a milk airway.

“Okay, Daddy. ”

Looking at these two big, small, live babies, Julie shook her head with a smile and continued to resolve her salad.

She doesn't care about greatness at all.

All she wanted was for everything not to get worse.

……

Yet what the vast majority of Americans are worried about is happening.

Since the completion of the Pangu fusion reactor, China's energy costs have dropped dramatically, and the situation on the other side of the Pacific has been worse.

NASA Headquarters Building.

Satellite control room.

Three days before the launch of Xiangrui, observation satellites in synchronous orbit had already targeted the golden mausoleum of China. And now, this nasty guy with the moon deck is approaching the edge of the atmosphere little by little.

Staring at the green dots on the screen, Aiden from the CIA whispered.

“We just watch it go up? ”

Director NASA took a glance at him.

“Otherwise? ”

Aiden said angrily, like an angry lion.

“We should take some steps. ”

Ignoring the CIA official, Director NASA thought for a while and looked at the secretary standing next to him.

“How's the life support unit on Space-X coming along? ”

The secretary immediately replied: "It is said that the testing phase has entered. ”

“How long does the test take? ”

Faced with a two-second delay, the secretary quickly replied: "Given a series of questions, such as the window period for landing on Mars, our colonists have to live in it for at least two years… Of course, the tests do not take that long and, according to Musk, a maximum of nine months is enough. ”

“We can't wait nine months,” NASA director shook his head and looked at the glittering green dots on the radar, saying, "The Chinese are catching up on our footsteps and moving Ares to the next stage is more important than anything. ”

Taking a deep breath, he turned his head, stared at his secretary and continued.

“Listen, you'll contact Musk for me and see if he can shorten the test time. I know it's hard, but we need a victory, a victory that's enough to tell Congress and the people! ”

The secretary held her breath and asked after a while.

“Sir… what do you mean by victory? ”

Director NASA said expressionlessly.

“Send life support units to the surface of Mars within six months. ”

“If the Chinese think they've caught up with us by printing our footprints on the moon, we'll tell them by action and tell our Congress and our people how insignificant their achievements are before us! ”