Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 90: The more funding, the better (910)

"Landing on the moon is just the first step," Lin Ran said, changing the subject. "Next, we plan to build a space station. Simply put, we'll build a large laboratory in space where scientists can conduct experiments. Spaceflight shouldn't just be about budget; it must also deliver real-world value."

To be honest, Lin Ran’s speech was very touching, but the cold $20 billion in the report reminded all the congressmen present that wishes are beautiful, but reality is extremely cruel.

When Lin Ran stood on the stage, he discovered that although there were few, there were still black legislators in the audience.

But because there were too many white people, I didn’t see it below just now.

(The 87th Congress (1961-1963) had four Black House members and no Black Senators)

"This space station is not only a scientific research base, but also a stage to showcase America's strength. Other countries want to come up and conduct experiments? No problem, just line up and buy a ticket first." Lin Ran began to make plans.

"So, ladies and gentlemen of Congress, I hope you will take this small step and support our budget request. NASA isn't just about exploring the universe for America; it's about opening new worlds for all of humanity."

There was warm applause from the audience, and Lin Ran breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that his speech was a success.

James Webb was next on stage to detail where they planned to spend their budget next year.

"Professor Lin, you just mentioned the space station plan, manned lunar landing, and space docking.

We understand the latter two, but many of us here, myself included, don't quite grasp the space station program. Could you elaborate on it?" Appropriations Committee Chairman Clarence Cannon was very polite.

Lin Ran said: "In my understanding, the moon landing was just for the space race, it doesn't actually have much value.

We will not have the ability to build a lunar base for a long time.

Land on the moon, and it’s gone after that.

The space station is where the real value lies.

We can start with the space station, from the space station to a small space city, and then to a real space city.

Completely transform space into America's space, and lock the Soviet Union to Earth."

Lin Ran started to make promises.

The dividend brought by space is the technological explosion from the 90s to 2020, not some space city.

But it is more than enough to fool these congressmen.

They don't believe it, so how can they burn America's funds?

“Humans will eventually leave the Earth, but a space station is undoubtedly a better way than the moon.

We build solar cells with higher photoelectric conversion efficiency to achieve self-sufficiency in space station energy through solar cells.

The space station can not only conduct experiments, but also provide billionaires with a space tourism experience. It is a unique experience to overlook the earth from the space station."

Lin Ran hopes that America and NASA will fall into the big pit of the space station and cannot climb out.

Because he still has a trump card that he hasn't used yet.

Looking at it from the perspective of sixty years later, what would make America invest resources in space regardless of the consequences?

The space race is only one aspect. Once the Soviet Union is no longer viable, what else will you use to make America burn 5 percentage points of its GDP every year?

If the Soviet Union fails, the first thing these people in Congress will do is cut the budget.

In the short term, it depends on competing with the Soviet Union, and in the long term, it still depends on new deceptive tactics.

Lin Ran wants to find a giant carrot to hang them on, and this carrot is immortality. DNA telomeres were discovered in 1938.

But the relationship between telomeres and cell lifespan wasn't established until 1985, and a direct link between telomere shortening and cellular aging wasn't established until 1990.

From 2015 to 2016, astronaut Scott Kelly spent nearly a year aboard the International Space Station (ISS), while his identical twin brother, Mark Kelly, remained on Earth as a control. Researchers conducted a detailed comparison of the two men's physiological changes, including measurements of telomere length. The results revealed some surprising findings:

Increased Telomere Length: While in space, Scott Kelly's telomeres actually increased in length, on average, during the mission, contrary to the general trend on Earth where telomeres shorten over time.

They packaged telomeres as the secret of increasing human lifespan in the universe, and added endorsement from their own great scientists.

The old men who truly hold power in America believe that the key to extending human life really is hidden in space.

This is how information asymmetry can be used effectively.

Lin Ran's proposal of a space station has already laid the groundwork for uncovering the mystery of telomere immortality.

“And we can’t keep following the Soviet Union and competing in areas defined by them.

The Soviet Union launched satellites, so we also launched satellites. The Soviet Union conducted manned space flight, so we also conducted manned space flight. The Soviet Union landed on the moon, so we also landed on the moon.

We need to create competitions to get them involved.

"When Americans live in space, their advantages over the Soviet Union will undoubtedly become apparent," Lin Ran continued. "People around the world will watch as Americans live in space, while the Soviet Union can only briefly enter space before returning to Earth in disgrace."

Clarence Cannon nodded and said, "But how can you be sure that you can achieve it?"

Lin Ran said confidently: "As I said inside NASA, there are only successes and no failures in my life.

I am very confident that we can build the world's first space station.

It's just a bigger satellite, one that can carry people."

After the hearing, Lin Ran asked privately, "Will it pass?"

James Webb explained: "It is unlikely that we will get the full $20 billion, but at least $15 billion will be allocated to us.

Don't worry, NASA finally has some hope. They doubled their funding last year, so doubling it again this year shouldn't be a problem."

In September, NASA successfully completed its first manned space flight.

Although Lin Ran did not contribute anything and it was all a plan set by NASA, the outside world still attributed the credit to him.

His bold statement in an internal speech, "There is no failure in my life," was widely publicized in news reports.

Some newspapers also began to accept Time magazine's views and gave Lin Ran the title of NASA's shadow director.

At this moment, Lin Ran has already boarded a flight to London, ready to start his week-long trip to London.

Getting your head wet is inevitable, London is always attached to raindrops.

As soon as Lin Ranyi got off the plane, Hong Kong Governor Sir Robert Black and former Hong Kong Senior Inspector Thomas greeted him in the drizzle of London.

"Professor Lin, welcome to London. England warmly welcomes you." Robert Black was very enthusiastic. After all, Lin Ran's title this time was the same as his, and his actual power was incomparable to his.

However, what Lin Ran didn't know was that London not only had honors, but also the surprises prepared for him by the Soviet Union.

(End of this chapter)