It's normal to develop some black technology in the future, right?

Chapter 388 Possibility of Failure

Excellent industrial products can reshape a country's image to a large extent.

The most typical cases are Germany and Japan. While the cars of these two countries are sold all over the world, they have also reshaped the image of these two countries in the minds of people all over the world.

After the end of World War II, the Japanese industry, which had nothing to do with high-end manufacturing and industrial design aesthetics, became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. To this day, Japanese industrial products are still considered high-end products by many people.

The same is true for Germany.

Now it is the turn of the Chinese to enjoy the dividends of the national image reshaping brought by this manufacturing capacity. Various high-tech products are rapidly reshaping everyone's perception.

Even rednecks in a deep red state like Texas know that when buying photovoltaic equipment, Chinese products are better than American ones. They have higher photoelectric conversion efficiency and better energy storage effect. With the same time and light, Chinese products can convert more electricity.

Californians feel this more directly.

In the past, new energy vehicles from China could not be sold in America, but after the opening this year, Chinese car companies have begun to build showrooms in America.

Some quick-acting American car dealers have begun importing small quantities of new energy vehicles from China to test the waters.

Driven by the Chinese in California, Californians are dazzled by the different Chinese new energy vehicles. They have witnessed the charm of Chinese manufacturing from these sci-fi Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturers.

This is true in America, and even more so in other countries around the world.

Laos-China's international image around the world is being rapidly reshaped.

After Mark got off the Changkong space airliner, he did not leave immediately, but found a chair at the exit of Pudong Airport and sat down casually.

Then she took out the camera and pointed it at herself, her hair was still a little curly, and then she started recording in front of the camera:

"Hi, everyone. Since I can't take photos on the space plane, and I want to convey my true feelings to you, I don't have time to return to the hotel. I can only convey my feelings about Changkong to you right now."

In terms of feelings, Mark's feelings are very similar to Li Xiyin's.

It’s just that as a former NASA engineer, Mark has a better understanding of the technical difficulty:

“I don’t know if you know a company called Zero-G, which specializes in providing zero-gravity services. They use a modified Boeing 727 aircraft to perform parabolic motion in the sky to simulate a short-term zero-gravity environment.

Before entering the zero-gravity state, the passengers' experience is not very comfortable because you will experience a force confrontation process.

Aircraft like these that simulate low gravity need to first use engine thrust and elevators to climb at a 45-degree angle.

After climbing, the thrust is reduced and the aircraft is turned to simulate a free fall, so that the aircraft follows the same path as a free-falling object without air resistance. Passengers will get a simulated zero-gravity experience.

It wasn’t a very pleasant feeling because it was a bumpy ride and I felt like vomiting before and after I went into zero gravity.”

Zero-G is a company that specializes in providing zero-gravity experience services. They are trying to make the zero-gravity experience one of the must-do items on Americans' life list.

Because 99.99% of Americans cannot afford spacecraft tickets to experience space tourism, Zero-G's zero-gravity flight is equivalent to providing a cheap space experience, although the price is not cheap at all.

A flight with a total of only 450 seconds of simulated weightlessness can be sold at a "sky-high" price of $8200.

It all depends on publicity. Obviously, once China launches cheap space tourism, Zero-G will be one of the first companies to fail.

"I think the Changkong space shuttle involves crossing the Karman line and re-entering the atmosphere. Everyone needs to know that at an altitude of 100 kilometers, the gravity offset is not obvious.

At an altitude of 100 kilometers, the gravity people feel is only 3% different from that on the ground, which is a difference that is difficult for people to feel.

But at this altitude, the atmospheric pressure is only one ten-millionth of that on the earth's surface. As a result, the internal structure of the entire aerospace plane is very complete and the aerodynamics are particularly good.

I am almost imperceptible to changes in air pressure and gravity. Although the overall riding experience is firmly restrained, the wrapping and comfort of the seat are enough to satisfy me.

Considering it’s traveling at more than 20 times the speed of sound, all of this becomes bearable.”

The Karman line refers to an altitude of 100 kilometers. Above this line is considered to be outer space, and below this line is considered to be the earth's internal space.

When flying above the Karman Line, you do not need to obtain permission from any country's airspace management department. You can fly however you want.

Many domestic flights would only take an hour if they were to fly in a straight line, but because they can only follow prescribed routes, they have to take a longer route than usual, taking twice as long or even longer.

The same is true for international flights, which often won’t let you walk the shortest distance.

The space plane does not have this concern because it does not follow the flight path of ordinary airplanes at all.

“After talking about the riding experience, I want to talk about some other feelings.

I know that many Americans believe that we are still great and that our military strength is still the best in the universe. They believe that China’s military strength is not as good as that of America. They believe that China has developed rapidly in recent years, but there is still a gap between China and America.

After visiting China several times, I think China is no less important than our country.

It's just because their internal thinking logic is different from that of America. They are avoiding direct conflict with America. They are a country that knows how to exercise restraint.

If we were to change to other countries, Japan would fight us when its national strength was only one-tenth of ours. When our national strength was only a fraction of England’s, they dared to fight the Maple Leaf Country, which was still under the jurisdiction of England at that time. And Russia dared to compete with us on a global scale when its national strength was only one-fourth of ours.

And I deeply realize that there is no gap between China and America, in any aspect. Even in many high-end fields, China already has advantages.

They still have enough patience.

The Chinese only need to do their own thing to enter the space age, I think America can only look forward to Musk."

Mark's video has a high number of views but a low completion rate because it does not include footage of the interior and flight of the Changkong. As a result, a large number of viewers clicked in to watch it, but left when they saw him start talking about the ride experience.

Few people have the patience to listen to his views on China.

The comments of Americans focused on the riding experience of the Changkong space shuttle:

"If I could fly to Europe in an hour, I would consider it even if the ticket cost $10,000."

"I'm worried about the future of Boeing."

"The outside of this plane is so cool and futuristic, but it's a pity that we can't see what's inside it."

"I envy Mark for being able to experience China's space shuttle." As for the final reflection session, people from places like India, Japan, and Korea gave more positive comments.

Maybe it’s because they deal more with China and understand China’s style of doing things as a country better.

"China has always been good at being patient and then seizing the opportunity to deal a fatal blow to its opponents. We are very clear about this."

"We should be thankful that China is America's competitor. If other countries were America's competitors, the S3 season would have already started. It is thanks to China's patience that we can still enjoy peace today."

"This is because other competitors do not have such vast land and excellent population as China. All China needs to do is wait, while other countries need to consider too much."

Indeed, I am looking forward to Musk.

China is launching a space shuttle, and what America is doing is returning to the moon.

Stimulated by China, America must first allow American astronauts to return to the moon, no matter how great the cost.

"Of course, we are confident that we will return our astronauts to the moon, a landmark moment for America to be great again, with a crew of four, including a black man and a white woman.

This is a great example of the diversity and inclusion that NASA's space enterprise represents."

At a press conference before the moon landing, NASA's director said:

Although the White House, the Senate, and the Supreme Court are now dominated by the Elephant Party, and the pursuit of identity diversity has gradually disappeared, it does not mean that the Donkey Party will not make a comeback, or that the public pressure about racial discrimination and gender discrimination will no longer exist.

This time, all white men can go into space, but there will be a new general election next year. When the Democratic Party comes to power, this matter will definitely be brought up to make a fuss.

The head of NASA doesn't dare to take any chances, he wants to stay in this position as long as possible.

In an exclusive interview with Fox after the press conference, the director of NASA elaborated in detail on what they are doing and what they are going to do:
“No, our moon landing has nothing to do with China. I saw China’s space shuttle, which is a remarkable achievement, but it is Boeing, not NASA, that needs to compete with China’s space shuttle.

Congress recently approved a $50 billion appropriation for Boeing, didn't it? Boeing is the one that needs to think about this issue.

We are going to the moon in accordance with the goals that NASA has always set. I don’t think it’s because our Chinese counterparts put pressure on us to go to the moon. "

"Apollo was driven by the Cold War, but now is not the Cold War. Now is a peaceful era. We have a healthy competitive relationship with China. The Artemis program is completely different from the Apollo program. Our plan is to build a complete and huge space industry.

I know there have been a lot of voices recently that suggest we should focus on asteroid mining rather than returning to the moon.

But the problem is that asteroid mining and returning to the moon have never been two conflicting things.

Most people don't realize how the space industry works. We need to go back to the moon and build a base on the moon.

This is part of the space industry, which ultimately needs to make full use of space resources.

The tourism, mining and transportation industries all need to be built on the foundation of the space industry.

And returning to the moon is very important.”

"We have the same goal as Wright, and even earlier plans for using asteroids.

In 2022, NASA launched the DART spacecraft to impact the Dimorphos asteroid, and successfully changed the orbit of the asteroid.

This is also the first time in human history that the trajectory of celestial bodies has been successfully changed, and now we can make asteroids land on the moon.

Return to the moon, build a lunar base, capture asteroids to the moon, complete preliminary smelting on the moon, and bring resources back to Earth.

In this way, a complete space industry chain is built.

In this space chain, returning to the moon is just the first step.”

"Of course, Dimorphos weighs only a few tons, but we have to take things one step at a time. We are now on the right track. The space sector has never had more potential than it does today."

"How long will it take to complete the concept? Our plan is 2050. 2050 will be the first year that America will use space resources on a large scale."

Honestly speaking, the Fox host didn't believe a word NASA said.

因为NASA22年时候的目标是在25年9月完成载人绕月球运行一圈的任务。然后在2026年9月让宇航员降落在月球南极。

As a result, it is now 2027, the lunar orbit has been cancelled, and we will return to the moon directly.

In short, the pie is big, but can NASA do it?

Anyone who pays attention to the space industry will not be so optimistic.

"If you just look at the flight path, we are indeed sending astronauts to the moon on the same landing path as the Apollo mission. But unlike the one-off Apollo mission, this time we will lay the foundation for regular lunar landings.

In the half century since we walked on the moon, we’ve continued to push the boundaries of knowledge to deliver on American’s promise of creativity and leadership in space.

Together with our international partners, we will lead innovative and sustainable exploration programs to help enable future human expansion throughout the solar system.”

The interview with the NASA director sparked a lot of discussion after it was posted on Twitter by Fox.

"NASA is like a 74-year-old man driving a ridiculously expensive Bentley on his way to Costco to stock up on groceries. He's driving way too slowly."

"My assessment is that it is not as good as Musk. What NASA should do is disband and hand over all budgets and tasks to SpaceX."

"If NASA had used Starship from the beginning instead of considering the Artemis 2 rocket, it would have sent people to the moon long ago."

"Compared to Wright, it is clear that no one in NASA can compete with him now. Only Musk can do it!"

It is clear that American people are dissatisfied with NASA, or more precisely, the slow progress in the space field.

NASA's return to the moon this time, like last time, will be broadcast live around the world.

Chen Yuanguang sat on the sofa in his home, holding a bucket of popcorn, watching the images of the launch site on the screen in front of him, quietly waiting for the moment when humans return to the moon.

"Do you think there is a possibility that they will fail?" Lin Jia asked.

(End of this chapter)