Great Country Academician

Chapter 923 NASA’s bargaining chip~

In the pitch-black starry sky, a blue-white arc of light swayed at the tail of the Hanhai space shuttle, steadily propelling it towards another silver-gray planet.

At this moment, inside the passenger compartment, Kou Guangwu from Wanhua Chemical Group was leaning next to the porthole, curiously looking at the scenery outside through the thick porthole.

The person who lived in the same room with him was another rich second-generation heir of a real estate company.

After looking at the distant deep space, Kou Guangwu asked curiously: "Speaking of which, how did you buy a ticket to the moon? Is it possible that your family wants to build a hotel plaza on the moon?"

The rich second-generation young master, who was floating on his bed and playing with his mobile phone, turned to look over and said with a smile, "Does Mr. Kou think this is realistic?"

Kou Guangwu shrugged and said with a smile: "Who knows? If we cooperate with Xinghai Research Institute, this is not impossible."

"Besides, aren't those tycoons in the Middle East planning to build resort hotels and mosques on the moon?"

The rich second generation laughed, skipped the topic and said, "I'm just interested in traveling to the moon."

After a slight pause, he put down his cell phone, propped his hands on the edge of the bed, floated down, flew to the porthole, looked at the deep sky outside, and sighed.

"I thought traveling to the moon would be fun at first, but now it seems like that's about it."

"Apart from the interesting scenery and weightless environment that I flew away from the earth before, the rest is quite boring, and you have to share a room with others. Fortunately, you can still access the Internet. If you can't even connect to the Internet, it will be really boring. So boring."

At the same time, in another room next door, Guo Chi, who was lucky enough to receive an invitation to travel to the moon, was also standing next to the porthole, curiously looking at the scenery outside through the thick porthole.

Maybe it was because the number of people who got the travel tickets was an odd number, or maybe it was the blessing of his idol. In short, he was lucky enough to get a single room.

Of course, it is said to be a single room, but it is actually a double room with two beds, but he lives alone.

The other two passengers traveling with him were not so lucky.

No matter how luxurious the house they stayed in was in reality, on this space shuttle, only two people could be together.

At this moment, the door to the crew compartment suddenly opened automatically, and Jiang Xinlin, wearing dark blue cabin work clothes, walked in.

"Leader Jiang."

Seeing Jiang Xinlin walking in, he was a little clumsy when crossing the pond, supporting the wall with his hands, turning his floating body and saying hello.

Jiang Xinlin flew over with skillful movements and said with a smile: "You don't have to be so polite. You are a tourist. Just call me Captain Jiang. Just treat it as a flight."

After saying this with a smile, he then asked: "How have you been these past two days? Are you still adaptable to the weightless environment? How is your physical condition?"

This kind of inquiry is routine. After all, for people who go to space for the first time, especially the three passengers this time, they are not astronauts or scientific researchers and staff traveling to the moon. The situation is a bit special.

After all, this is the first time that the lunar travel business has been opened to the outside world, and ensuring the health and safety of tourists is a must.

But as for his attitude, compared to the lucky man in front of him, his attitude was much kinder.

On the one hand, I really admire it. Currently, the price of a ticket to travel to the moon on the official website of Xinghai Research Institute is 49.99 million (metal gold), which is close to 200 million RMB.

The ability to resist the temptation of nearly 200 million RMB without selling transfer tickets is indeed admirable.

Not to mention other people, it was himself. If he thought about it from his perspective, he would most likely choose to sell the tickets in his hand.

After all, this is an income of close to 200 million, maybe even higher.

Because this is the first time that Xinghai Research Institute has launched a lunar travel business, there may be a premium.

In addition to admiration for this attitude, there is another point that is the greeting from Academician Xu Chuan.

If he hadn't read Guo Chi's information a long time ago and knew that he had no relationship with Academician Xu, he might have thought that he was a relative of Academician Xu.

After all, the one person who is qualified to say hello to him and ask him to take more care of him on the space shuttle before leaving, so far, is the only one.

Although it is unclear why Academician Xu attaches so much importance to him, it does not prevent him from accepting personal favors and doing well.

Therefore, his attitude towards Guochi must be different from the other two wealthy travelers traveling with him.

Guo Chi smiled and nodded, and said, "Fortunately, we have conducted weightlessness simulation training in the pool and microgravity machine training at the space base before."

Jiang Xinlin nodded and said with a smile: "That's good. If you feel any other discomfort, just tell the crew in time."

After a slight pause, he continued: "We will reach the moon in about three hours. Now we need to put on the spacesuit in advance. Do you need my help?"

Although it is different from the previous generation of space shuttles that required a lunar module to land on the moon, the second-generation space shuttles, with the support of miniaturized aerospace engines, can take off and land like civil aviation airliners on the earth.

But currently, astronauts and space shuttle members still need to wear spacesuits during takeoff and landing.

On the one hand, it is for safety. In case of any unexpected accident, wearing a spacesuit can last for at least several hours on the lunar surface, waiting for rescue from the lunar surface base.

On the other hand, although the landing site of the space shuttle is inside the Yuehuatai Scientific Research Station, it is still some distance away from the main base, and this journey requires wearing a space suit and riding a lunar rover.

However, the Yuehuatai Outpost Scientific Research Base is currently building an automatic linking device similar to the corridor bridge in the airport on Earth.

In the future, when landing on the moon, they can enter the completely airtight corridor bridge directly from the space shuttle, just like boarding and disembarking from a civil airliner, and then directly enter the lunar base.

Perhaps after this construction facility is completed, the lunar travel business can be opened to the outside world.

As for now, there is still some trouble after all.

Just as the three travelers were about to arrive on the moon for a three-day trip, they were hundreds of thousands of kilometers away on the other side.

Earth, the United States on the west coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

At the headquarters of NASA in Washington, at nine o'clock in the morning, a press conference was being prepared in an orderly manner with the busy staff.

In the lounge on the upper floor of the building, Director Bill Nelson was arranging his suit in front of his mirror. At today's press conference, NASA will officially announce the opening of the 'first phase' of the 'Artemis Project'.

As the director of NASA, he is naturally the host.

Sitting on a chair not far from the lounge, Bill Gerstenmaier, deputy administrator of NASA, looked at Bill Nelson, who was arranging his clothes in front of the mirror and preparing to go on stage. sad.

"My old man, what are you worried about?"

Bill Nelson turned around and asked with a smile when he saw Gerstenmaier's worried look.

After coming back to his senses, Bill Gerstenmaier didn't hesitate much and said directly: "Of course it's work related to the lunar space elevator project."

After hearing this, Bill Nelson smiled and said, "Any questions?"

Gerstenmaier thought for a while and said in a deep voice: "To be honest, I don't think this is a good project unless we can invite China to participate in this project."

Hearing this, Bill Nelson smiled and said: "It is impossible for China to participate!"

"They have seriously squeezed us out in the lunar biosphere project, which has caused NASA and the United States to lose a lot of face internationally."

"If we go back to invite them for the current lunar space elevator project, what will our people and taxpayers think of us?"

Gerstenmaier shook his head and said worriedly: "But from the perspective of technological development, without China, it would be difficult for us and our allies to support such a huge project."

"Whether it is considered from the technical level of the lunar space elevator project or the space transportation capacity and other aspects."

"Especially now, we have to admit that China has already surpassed us in the development of space development and aerospace technology and is far, far ahead."

"They're even now able to take off and land the space shuttle vertically on the moon like our F35 fighter jets."

After hearing these words, Bill Nelson smiled and said: "What you said does make some sense."

"but."

After a slight pause, he continued: "Our space shuttle is also developing rapidly. Although the Endurance is not as powerful as the previous Endeavor, it is enough to support us in completing the transfer of a large amount of earth-to-moon supplies."

"What's more, we also have a large number of outstanding aerospace companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Boeing."

"Don't worry, we have already discussed these related matters in meetings."

"The things you are worried about can be solved as long as we unite our allies from all over the world and have sufficient funds."

Speaking of this, Bill Nelson paused for a moment, and there was a sharp look in his eyes.

He looked at his deputy and continued: "Furthermore, once the lunar space elevator project is completed, we will maximize the development of lunar resources."

"Whether it is building scientific research stations and bases on the moon or mining rare resources on the moon, it is inseparable from the transportation of space elevators."

"Do you think the gentlemen in Congress will share this kind of project with great strategic status, strategic value and strategic significance to our competitors?"

"This is impossible!"

After hearing these words, Bill Gerstenmaier fell silent.

Indeed, Bill Nelson is right to say that on a project of great significance and strategic value such as the space elevator, it is impossible for the gentlemen in Congress to share it with their competitors.

The lunar space elevator project will be a resource for NASA and the United States to unite with other allies to fight against that country in the fields of space development and aerospace.

Just as China excluded them in the lunar biosphere project, they will return it in the same way in the lunar space elevator project.

If all goes well, they can even regain a new say in the aerospace field and space development.

After all, the moon is the most important transit point for human civilization to go to space and the universe.

Whether it is only less than 400,000 kilometers between the earth and the moon, or the ultra-low gravity environment of the moon, it is an important supply station for humans to go to deeper space.

Compared with directly replenishing supplies from the earth, building outposts and space stations on the moon will greatly reduce the time and cost of space exploration and development.

Whoever can occupy the important position and related resources on the moon first will be able to occupy an important position and voice in the subsequent space development.

The reason why they have been stubborn and unwilling to admit defeat in the field of space development and aerospace is not only that aerospace is the glory of the United States, but also has realistic interests and future strategic deployment.

But all this is based on the fact that the lunar space elevator project can be successfully completed and play its due role.

And is all this really so smooth?

For these, Gerstenmaier has a lot of worries in his heart. He always feels that this project may not be so easy or so smoothly completed.

Although this project was originally from the hands of Professor Xu Chuan, for today's United States, this super project is indeed a bit beyond their strength in the field of aerospace.

Across the lounge, seeing that Gerstenmaier was still frowning, Bill Nelson walked up to him with a smile, patted his shoulder, and said:

"Relax, my old friend."

"The lunar space elevator project is not just the idea of ​​Professor Xu Chuan, but has been discussed and verified many times within our company."

"In theory, it is very feasible. The only problem now is that the properties of the material may still be somewhat lacking, and we need to invest some research."

"But it is undeniable that if it succeeds, it will greatly help us control the development of lunar resources."

"Even in the future, China will rely on our space elevator to transport mineral resources and personnel on the moon!"

Bill Gerstenmaier shrugged his shoulders after a long sigh of relief and said, "I hope so~."

It has to be said that for the United States, being surpassed in the field of aerospace is indeed a difficult thing to accept.

In addition, the country across the Pacific Ocean does need a new project to inspire people and enhance the confidence of the people and the market in the field of aerospace and the development of space resources.

They originally thought that the manned Mars landing project would be the opportunity, but China's pace in exploring Mars was much faster than they imagined.

Now they have to put their chips on the lunar space elevator project.

On the other side, Bill Nelson tightened his tie, tidied his appearance, and smiled and said, "Let's go, it's almost time, the reporters are still waiting for us."