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Chapter 1653 International Space Agency (Second update, please subscribe)

Because of the Iron Curtain, the outside world knew almost nothing about Moscow.

In many cases, if there is no insider information provided, the West has to rely more on "guessing" about Moscow's intelligence.

At the beginning of the new year, the Kremlin approved the "Zvezda Project".

That is, to build a permanent base on the moon, at the same time, to carry out research on the lunar military base, and to build a permanent underground military base. The garrison of this lunar military base will reach 21 people, who will be transported to the moon in batches. At the same time, they belong to the Soviet lunar special forces, and the total number of this special force is 145.

However, all of this is unknown to the outside world, but what is certain is that this plan, which costs billions or even tens of billions of rubles, is bound to fundamentally change certain things.

Just as the Zvezda Project was approved, Korolev had already begun his work, continuing to explore the potential of the N1 rocket.

In addition to requesting a liquid oxygen-kerosene rocket engine with greater thrust, he also proposed a new research direction to increase the transportation capacity of the N1 rocket.

"We need a large common bottom tank! A common bottom tank is two tanks with a common bottom. This is the technology used by SEA on the Prometheus rocket. The application of "common bottom" can solve the problem of allowing the rocket to carry enough fuel while reducing its own weight."

The "shared bottom" reduces the "fat" between the two boxes, so the rocket can "give up" more takeoff weight to the payload. This is also the reason why the Prometheus 2 rocket has a larger payload than the N1 rocket.

Mishchen said directly:
"But we have discussed this before. We are technically unable to manufacture it!"

What Mishin said is true. The common bottom structure in the tank is very complicated. It must be able to effectively isolate the temperature difference of nearly 200 degrees between the upper and lower tanks. Its structural complexity can be imagined.

It is precisely because the Soviet Union's processing level was low and it could not make large common-bottom tanks that the N1 rocket had a special shape - using spherical tanks to directly make the rocket into a giant cone. Although large spherical tanks are easy to process and save weight, because the sphere has the smallest surface area to volume ratio, it saves the most materials and insulation.

However, it also occupies the most space, which correspondingly increases the dead weight of the rocket. These reasons have limited the rocket's carrying capacity.

“So, we have to address this issue.”

Korolev took out a magazine and said to Mishin:
"Just because we can't make it doesn't mean foreign countries can't..."

The magazine reported that a British company manufactured a large single-layer common bottom tank for the Luna 5. After the Luna 5 successfully landed on the moon, partner companies from various countries also "advertised" themselves, and this British company undertook the research and development and manufacturing of the common bottom tank.

This is the natural advantage of SEA, which can maximize the use of Western countries' technology, take advantage of their technological advantages, and achieve certain scientific goals at the lowest cost through technological integration.
"However, the fuel they use is liquid oxygen/methane. Liquid oxygen/methane bipropellants have the natural advantage of having similar temperature ranges, making it easier to combine the liquid oxygen tank and the methane tank. We use liquid oxygen/fuel oil, and the temperature difference between the two is very large!"

Facing Mishin's objection, Korolev shook his head and said:

"It's not the temperature difference that's restricting us. After all, we've solved that problem a long time ago. But we haven't made any breakthroughs in the processing and manufacturing of large common-bottom tanks. What we need is the manufacturing technology. Well... I think the KGB comrades should be able to help us solve this problem!"

This is the Soviet Union. When they encountered some technical difficulties, in addition to independent research, they also had the option of the KGB.

Soon, Lubyanka Square issued orders to intelligence officers stationed in Britain, and thus, a space race with its own unique situation began on Earth.

Just as the KGB spies in Britain were working hard to obtain some key technologies, the first British person to set foot on the moon, Morrissey Peake, finally ended his 22-day quarantine and returned to London on a BOAC VC10 passenger plane. For a time, the whole of Britain was boiling.

In fact, 23 days ago, the British were looking forward to Morrissey's return, but he needed to be quarantined for health reasons.

Although it is well known that microorganisms cannot survive on the moon where there is no atmospheric protection, no magnetic field, and where solar wind and various cosmic rays directly reach the surface, because the mission team entered a lava tube that had never been entered by humans, it is still unknown whether there are microorganisms in the lava tube with a milder temperature environment. After all, the previous four landings by humans only touched the surface.

Therefore, out of caution, the three astronauts were quarantined for 21 days when they returned from the moon. All objects they touched after returning to Earth were discarded and disinfected, and all people who had direct contact with them had to wear thick protective clothing.

It can be said that the first thing they received when they returned to Earth was not flowers and applause, but the highest level of protection on Earth at that time. Therefore, the highest level of protection measures were taken for the imaginary lunar lava tubes and possible viruses, and the purpose of doing so was for safety considerations. During this period, even when Li Yian came to visit, he was in the protective laboratory and talked to him through thick glass.

From the airport to London, there were crowds of people welcoming him everywhere, and people crowded on the roadside to welcome the return of this "British hero".

This is definitely a big deal for the UK. Although the "Moon Project" has been criticized by all parties for spending hundreds of millions of pounds in the past few years, now, looking at the British Union Jack repeatedly played on the TV screen, all the accusations have disappeared.

After all, Britain, the former empire on which the sun never sets, has its own pride and is unwilling to become a second-rate country.

In fact, no country wants to become a second-class country, but in history, they are helpless and can only passively accept the decline of their national status.

But Britain has its own pride. They are conceited in their bones. Even those supporters of the Labour Party are not without inner conceit.

“The poorest patriot in the East End of London can involuntarily puff out his chest when he thinks of the industry and wealth of Britain.”

Perhaps this is a bit of an exaggeration, but Britain was once the British Empire after all.

How could the subjects of the British Empire not have the slightest bit of pride? Moreover, it is no longer 45 years ago, and it is no longer the era of hunger and scarcity. After years of development, Britain has long since gotten rid of the shadow of the post-war period. It has abundant supplies and a rich life. In addition, the social security system is sound. "When you have enough food and clothing, you will know honor and disgrace" has never been an empty talk. Now, Britain also has its own honor to pursue.

"When the Union Jack was planted on the moon, people thought of the glory of the British Empire!"

The whole of Britain was in an excitement. Both the old and the young seemed to be recalling the past that they had experienced or recorded in books.

That was a glorious era for Britain, when the British Empire ruled the world.

In that era, the British Empire was proud.

That era is gone forever...

Now when Morrissey Peake, the "British hero", returned to Britain, he was naturally welcomed by all parties, and the pride of the British people was once again boiling.

“We went to the moon!”

This is a great victory for the Commonwealth!

So, at this time the whole of Britain was in a kind of carnival, and in fact, all of this is understandable.

After all, no one can remain calm when faced with this kind of thing.

Of course, because of this, the British have also developed a new enthusiasm for the moon, which also determines that the UK will invest more money and more resources in the space industry.

And, this is change.

Originally, Europe was absent from the space race to some extent, but everything changed with the entry of Britain.

Especially after witnessing the unprecedented success of the UK's participation in SEA's space program, European countries also set their sights on SEA in the spirit of doing great things with little money.

"The UK brought back 5 kilograms of lunar soil and lunar rocks from the moon, and even lunar rocks from deep inside the lava tube!"

Unlike ordinary people who are concerned about astronauts, Eduardo Amaldi, as a scientist, is concerned about the scientific value of lunar soil and rocks.

He said to Pierre Auger:

"I think we should cooperate with them in order to better explore space!"

The two of them were the driving forces of Europe's aerospace industry. The economic boom of the 1950s enabled Western European countries to invest in space research, and Western European scientists found that a single national project would not be able to compete with the two superpowers.

So under their promotion, the Western European scientific community held a meeting to discuss the establishment of a common Western European Space Agency, with representatives from eight countries attending the meeting. However, the United Kingdom did not join because it had already joined the SEA space program. In the end, the seven Western European countries decided to set up two different agencies, one focusing on the development of launch systems, ELDO (European Launch Development Organization) and ESRO (European Space Research Organization).

"We should cooperate with them. After all, their technology is far ahead of ours. But what kind of cooperation should this be?"

Pierre Auger asked in return:
"Is it like the British, sending their flag to the moon?"

This is the French media's satire on Britain. The French have never had a good attitude towards Britain, a European country outside the European Community.

They were even mocked for spending hundreds of millions of pounds just to paint a Union Jack on a rocket. And after the success of the Luna 5, French newspapers and magazines described Britain as "the most expensive flag-planting in history."

"If it is just for this goal, then the result is that our European countries will spend a lot of money to support their research, and we are just participants. In this process, it is almost impossible for us to get much return. I mean in terms of technology. In terms of aerospace technology, how can we always be their vassal?"

In fact, Pierre Auger said this out of his own selfish motives. As a Frenchman, he knew that rocket technology studied for the aerospace industry would promote missile technology. France needed to have its own missiles, but France did not have enough funds and technology to develop these. European cooperation was the best choice.

Now Eduardo Amaldi's proposal is obviously not in the interests of France.

Facing Pierre's objection, Eduardo said:
“We can set up an international space agency to pool science and funding from Europe, SEA, the UK and other countries to conduct joint research. Even in the lunar program, British companies and research institutions are deeply involved.”

But they didn't get rocket technology!
Pierre thought so in his heart, but of course he did not express it directly, but just said:
"I think we should consider this matter carefully. After all, it involves multiple countries."

Although he expressed caution, it was well known that Western countries had no secrets, and soon the initiative to establish an "International Space Agency" spread among the European scientific community and was immediately welcomed by the entire European scientific community.

Almost all European scientists strongly support this proposal. While expressing their support, they also believe that international cooperation is the best way for mankind to explore and develop space!
(End of this chapter)