Chapter 257: Bezos’s Rage!
The main thing is that the parameters are exactly the same.
As soon as everyone compares them, they know, is this Moon-1? This is clearly the F-1 rocket engine.
Under the official Weibo of China Aerospace, netizens are all posting that sticker pack that says “let me see your true face.”
(This animation is from the America cartoon Scooby-Doo, the blond man in a white shirt and orange ascot is Fred Jones)
The left man is captioned front and back: Moon-1 and F-1.
“Moon-1? Isn’t this just F-1 with a new skin? Covering your ears while stealing a bell is way too obvious!”
Science popularization bloggers quickly posted articles: “F-1 is an engineering miracle from the 1960s, with single engine thrust equivalent to several times that of modern rockets.
China being able to replicate such an engine shows that we have entered the world’s forefront in heavy rocket technology.”
“Too awesome! This means we can build our own Saturn V!”
“Why replicate technology from 60 years ago? Can’t we develop a brand new engine?”
“F-1 design is mature, performance reliable, replication can quickly verify technology, why not replicate?”
“This engine name is too subtle, better to just call it F-1.5.”
“F-1.5? Better to just call it F-1, cooperate with an America company, sell F-1 there, anyway Commissioner Smith and the old timers want to make money, better to directly let NASA spend 5 billion US dollars on a new project called replicating the F-1 engine.
Then buy from China for just 5 billion RMB, this resale profit exceeds 300%, earning big time!”
“Holy crap, why do I feel like NASA would really do this? They have no bottom line when it comes to grabbing money.”
On Zhihu, the question “‘Moon-1’ engine why has parameters identical to F-1?” attracted thousands of answers.
A user claiming to be an aerospace practitioner wrote: “F-1’s design is public, but manufacturing difficulty is extremely high, involving precision machining, materials science and combustion stability control, China being able to replicate it shows that under Ran Shen’s assistance, the Sixth Academy’s manufacturing capability has reached top-tier level.”
“No, I know Ran Shen’s undergraduate thesis was on Apollo Moon Landing, the specific name seems to be Apollo Moon Landing Project Analysis.
Isn’t the result of your analysis a bit too outrageous, directly stripping off America’s underpants?
The old timers spent the entire 2010s trying every way to replicate the Apollo Moon Landing’s Saturn V, with F-1 engine being the heavy focus, public data shows they spent at least several hundred million US dollars on technology replication.
Throwing all kinds of technical big moves, even pulling out old antiques but still didn’t replicate a single one.
Ran Shen just because the thesis was on this, solved the F-1 engine, feels like the old timers are going crazy, completely losing it.”
“Purging fire, someone will say what significance does 1960s technology have, if it has no significance, why is America trying every way to replicate the F-1 engine?
Before Musk’s Falcon 9 successfully achieved recovery, NASA never gave up efforts to replicate F-1.
NASA failed to replicate, CNSA succeeded in replication, could it be that neither is as smart as netizens?
To put it this way, successful replication means China has no bottlenecks left in heavy rockets, Long March 9 heavy rocket’s technology reserves are deeper.
Even taking F-1 replication as the process, replicating the Merlin engine used in Falcon 9, and even replicating Falcon 9 itself isn’t impossible.
Anyway, the old timers will have people who can’t sleep, NASA from top to bottom must strictly investigate if there are internal ghosts. If no internal ghosts, it’s really hard to explain.
Ran Shen returned to China last year, back for just a short year and solved F-1, NASA has to play ghost hunting game now.
I dare say the White House will definitely strongly condemn China, even directly sanction Apollo Technology, extradite Ran Shen back to America for review.
These are all things they can do.
Of course, whether extradited back for review or to make you disappear, locked up at NASA to help replicate Apollo Moon Landing, that’s hard to say.”
“F-1’s injector plate has 2832 injectors, combustion chamber uses Inconel-X750 tube cooling, turbopump delivers 2.7 tons RP-1 and 4.7 tons liquid oxygen per second.
If ‘Moon-1’ can replicate these, it shows that we have become very mature in nickel-based alloy processing and cryogenic fuel systems.
This is not just a technological breakthrough, but also a symbol of national technology strength.”
On Reddit’s r/space section, a post “China’s ‘Moon-1’ engine parameters completely identical to F-1, what does it mean?” quickly topped the hot list, attracting massive comments.
User SpaceNerd42 wrote: “This is too shocking! F-1 is a legend in aerospace history, thrust 1.5 million pounds, manufacturing difficulty extremely high. China being able to build it shows their engineering capability is not inferior to anyone.”
At this time it was 2021, China’s strength in high-end manufacturing field had not yet spread to the external network.
Even domestically in China not many believed it, China’s set 2025 China Manufacturing actually most had already been achieved.
Another user RocketFanatic analyzed: “F-1 design is public, detailed blueprints in NASA archives, but from blueprint to real object requires top-tier materials science and manufacturing process, not something simple plagiarism can achieve.”
Doubting voices naturally not few.
The old timers’ demand for Winning Studies in some sense even not inferior to Indians.
Wanting them to admit facts is sky-high difficulty.
Minority individuals may awaken, but as a group, wanting them to face reality is no ordinary difficulty.
User TechSkeptic commented: “I’m very curious how they did it, F-1’s Inconel-X750 tube brazing, injector plate drilling and combustion stability control are all extremely difficult, China’s copycat ability a bit too strong?”
In replies, someone joked: “Maybe they bought F-1 old parts on eBay, XDDD”
“Really possible, I’ve bought quite a few Apollo Moon Landing souvenirs worth collecting on eBay.”
But more users seriously discussed: “Even if replication, being able to build a single combustion chamber engine with 1.5 million pounds thrust is an impressive achievement.”
On Twitter, aerospace reporter Eric Berger posted: “China’s ‘Moon-1’ engine parameters match F-1: 1.5 million pounds thrust, 263 seconds specific impulse. This is a major breakthrough for their heavy rocket plan.
This might accelerate the space arms race? America’s Artemis program needs to step it up!”
Another user “GeoPolAnalyst” wrote: “F-1 design is public, but China building it so fast, there might be a more complex story behind.”
These posts sparked fierce debates, some think it’s normal technological progress, others directly say it involves technology theft, needs serious treatment.
America’s Fox News quickly followed up, broadcasting program “China’s Space Ambition: Threat to America’s Leadership Position?”.
Host Laura Ingraham opened directly: “China announced a new rocket engine, parameters exactly the same as Apollo Program’s F-1 engine.
Is this a technological breakthrough, or replication of America’s technology? We have former NASA Director Jim Bridenstine and defense expert Michael Griffin to discuss.”.
Bridenstine said: “F-1’s design is public, any country can study it. But manufacturing such an engine requires advanced materials, precision machining and testing capability.
China’s success shows their aerospace program is very mature.”
Ingraham pressed: “But is it possible they obtained technology through improper means?”
Bridenstine cautiously responded: “No evidence supports this guess, although Randolph Lin showed extraordinary interest in Apollo Moon Landing during his studies in America, but this still cannot be evidence.
We should focus on how to maintain America’s competitiveness.”
This refers to a visit record published by Fox, the record shows, in some Apollo Moon Landing related technical archive storage venues, a familiar name can be seen in the visitor lists:
“Randolph Lin”
Griffin was strong in tone: “China’s rapid progress in space field poses challenge to America, F-1 is the cornerstone of America’s moon landing success, now they built similar engine, we must re-examine space strategy.”
At program end, Ingraham summarized: “This is not just technology issue, but national security issue, we must take action!”
To put it bluntly, Fox’s program on one hand habitually accuses the old Chinese, how can you replicate our technology?
Even if technical data is public, not allowed.
On the other hand accusing the old timers, making injustice call for Fred’s son, the previous White House master.
The old timers obviously can’t cope with China, still need Fred’s son to come!
CNSA then held a press conference, displaying the “Moon-1” engine model.
Spokesperson said: “‘Moon-1’ is the result of our many years of research and development, drawing on historical designs, but incorporating modern materials and process innovations.
This engine will provide power for heavy rockets like Long March 9, supporting future moon landing and deep space exploration missions.”
This statement further ignited discussion.
On Reddit, user “SpaceEnthusiast” posted: “CNSA says they improved materials and processes, I want to know what exactly was changed? New alloy or optimized injector? This model isn’t exactly like F-1?”
On Twitter netizens made memes, placing photos of “Moon-1” and F-1 side by side, captioned “like father and son” or “history repeats”, sparking hot retweets.
Musk retweeted and captioned: “If NASA gave funding to SpaceX, we would have built F-1 long ago.”
Washington reacted even more strongly.
Senator Ted Cruz posted: “China copying F-1 engine is a wake-up call, we must conduct detailed investigation into this!”
House Science Committee also announced it will hold a hearing to discuss the impact on America.
Domestic media continued reporting, CCTV broadcast special program “‘Moon-1’: Milestone of China Aerospace”.
Experts interpreted in the program: “‘Moon-1’s successful test verifies our top-tier capability in single combustion chamber liquid engine field, in the future, this engine will support Long March 9, aiding manned moon landing and Mars exploration.”
On Zhihu, question “‘Moon-1’ what significance for future aerospace missions?” sparked hot discussion.
“F-1 has huge thrust, suitable for heavy rocket first stage. ‘Moon-1’s success means we can build rockets similar to Saturn V, providing assurance for deep space missions.”
“Replicating F-1 is technology verification, in future may develop higher thrust engines, like 2 million pounds class.”
Not only America netizens make pictures, China netizens do too.
They created massive memes, like placing Moon-1 and F-1 engine side by side, captioned “big brother, new brother”.
Fox News follow-up report quoted anonymous officials: “We need to investigate how China obtained such detailed technical data.”
This rhetoric resonated in massive America media and Washington congressmen.
Blue Origin headquarters in Kent, Washington State, bathed in blazing sun.
Top floor meeting room of headquarters building spacious and bright, floor-to-ceiling windows outside showing new Glenn rocket parts being assembled, huge cranes moving slowly, workers’ busy figures faintly visible.
Meeting room walls hung with Blue Origin milestone photos: New Shepard’s first suborbital flight, BE-4 engine ignition test.
Central long table placed with tablet computers and coffee, wall big screen displaying latest China Aerospace news screenshot: “Moon-1” engine test successful, parameters match F-1 engine.
Jeff Bezos pushed door in, steps light but eyes focused.
He scanned the room, gaze stopping on the screen.
Blue Origin President Bob Smith and VP of Engineering Dan Christensen already seated.
This Dan Christensen here is not the abstract painter, but the loyal veteran who has been working at Blue Origin since 2007.
Bezos sat in main seat, tone with curiosity: “So, China replicated F-1 engine, this is big news, what do you think?”
Of course what he was curious about wasn’t the matter itself, but Randolph Lin.
He had some impression of this name.
Before a fundraising dinner in March last year, a senator from New York State called him, hoping to introduce Randolph Lin to him.
The other party said this young man might be of great use to his Blue Origin.
At that time he didn’t take it seriously, plus virus outbreak then, the later fundraising dinner was online.
This led to this young man called Randolph Lin being just a gust of wind in his memory, gone after passing.
Hearing this name again was when Burning One Rocket launch succeeded in China, when company internally shared industry dynamics, Bezos specifically found materials, confirmed Burning One Rocket’s chief designer was that young man he had seen in zoom meeting.
And learned that this young Chinese descent named Randolph Lin, in the past half year plus, also made huge reputation in mathematics community.
At that time Bezos just felt some regret, didn’t expect the other party really was talent.
Result didn’t expect hearing this name again on F-1 engine replication.
Bezos was extremely familiar with F-1 engine.
Bezos himself recovered two F-1 engines that performed missions then crashed to Earth, restored by Blue Origin, finally donated to Flight Museum in Seattle.
Bezos’ team recovered these two engines in March 2013.
They recovered at Cape Canaveral, brought back thrust chamber, gas generator, injector, heat exchanger, turbine, fuel manifold and dozens of other cultural relics.
Bezos later wrote a personal letter to Flight Museum: “All these are extremely gorgeous, powerful proof of Apollo Program, there is a secret the ocean won’t easily give up: mission identification.
Component ends and severe corrosion after 43 years underwater removed or covered most original serial numbers, when we left Florida we knew the preservation team had their work cut out, we’ve been praying since then.
Today, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news. One restorer scanning these objects with black light and special lens filters made a breakthrough discovery — ‘2044’ — stenciled in black paint on the side of a huge thrust chamber.
2044 is the Rocketdyne serial number associated with NASA number 6044, which is the serial number of Apollo 11’s F-1 engine #5. This brave conservator kept digging for more evidence, and after removing more corrosion from the bottom of the same thrust chamber, he found it ‘Unit No 2044’ stamped on the metal surface.”
(Bezos recovered F-1 engine surface 2044 traces)
(Clearer image after restoration, mainly F-1 engine number)
(F-1 just salvaged)
Bezos was extremely familiar with F-1 engine, he also once thought about replicating F-1, but Blue Origin couldn’t do it.
Smith adjusted posture, tone cautious: “Jeff, this is indeed a milestone. F-1 is a legend in aerospace history, single engine thrust 1.5 million pounds, manufacturing difficulty extremely high.
China’s success shows their engineering capability is already very strong.”
Dan Christensen pushed glasses, added: “From technical perspective, replicating F-1 requires solving injector plate machining, Inconel-X750 alloy brazing and combustion stability issues.
Them being able to do it shows top-tier level in materials science and precision manufacturing.”
Bezos leaned back in chair, hands crossed, gaze shifting between the two.
He recalled the 2013 deep sea expedition he funded, salvaging Apollo 11’s F-1 engine wreckage from Atlantic Ocean seabed, those rust-stained parts still displayed in Seattle museum.
He smiled slightly: “I still remember the scene when we salvaged those F-1 engines, they were like living fossils of history, now China built brand new F-1, this makes me curious, can we do it too?”
Smith frowned slightly, tone with hesitation: “In theory, we absolutely have capability to replicate F-1.
Our recovered engines provide precious real object reference, team also did detailed analysis of its structure.
But this requires massive resources, may distract from our focus on ‘New Glenn’ and BE-4.”
Dan Christensen opened tablet computer, pulled up F-1 engine technical report, screen showing injector plate’s complex structure.
She pointed at data: “F-1’s gas generator cycle completely different from our BE-4 staged combustion cycle.
F-1 uses RP-1 kerosene and liquid oxygen, injector plate has 2832 injectors, combustion chamber pressure 70 bar.
Our BE-4 is methane fuel, design more focused on reusability. Replicating F-1 requires reconfiguring production line, even possibly new test bench to adapt to its scale, F-1 nozzle diameter over 3.7 meters.”
Bezos nodded, eyes revealing scrutiny: “But we have modern technology, CNC machining, 3D printing, advanced simulation software, these should make replication easier, right?”
Dan Christensen answered: “Indeed, modern technology can improve efficiency.
For example, we can use laser drilling for injector plate, precision higher than 1960s drilling machines.
Inconel-X750 alloy brazing can also use more advanced vacuum furnace, reduce defects. But F-1’s design has uniqueness, like copper baffle to suppress combustion oscillation, these all need precise replication.
But replicating F-1 is still a huge engineering challenge.”
Smith cleared throat, interrupted: “Jeff, I understand the appeal of replicating F-1, but we must consider cost-benefit.
BE-4 development already consumed massive resources, ‘New Glenn’ first flight imminent.
Replicating F-1 may need hundreds of millions US dollars and years of time, and it’s disposable engine, not aligning with our reusability concept.”
Bezos gaze sharp: “Bob, I understand your concerns.
But think about it, F-1 is humanity’s moon landing cornerstone.
If we can replicate it, not just technical victory, but a symbol, proving Blue Origin can match history’s greatest engineering achievement.”
Bezos actually thinking inwardly, if we can replicate F-1, I have confidence to get ten times the money back from NASA.
Dan Christensen thought: “From engineering perspective, replicating F-1 can let us deeply understand big thrust single combustion chamber engine design.
For example, F-1’s turbopump delivers 2.7 tons RP-1 and 4.7 tons liquid oxygen per second, this capability can inspire our future heavy engine designs.
But from cost perspective it’s actually unnecessary.”
Smith frowned, tone with worry: “Yes, we must ensure not affecting mainline projects, if to replicate, I suggest first do feasibility study, evaluate required resources and time.”
Bezos finally no good expression, he suddenly changed face: “I still remember when we salvaged F-1 from sea that year, I asked you if we could replicate.
Your reply was NASA is doing it, we have no need.
Later after NASA failed I asked again if we should replicate F-1, you said no need, cost too high, benefits too small.
NASA to replicate, CNSA to replicate, historically F-1 played crucial role in moon landing process, yet you always find excuses to evade.
To put it bluntly it’s not that this has no significance, not that cost too high benefits too small, but you don’t have this capability.
Randolph can do it, I invested 1 billion US dollars every year since 2017, yet you can’t do it and find all kinds of reasons!
If Randolph at Blue Origin, I would fire you all immediately!
You are all wastes!”
Bezos raged, pounding table while cursing.
He at this moment extremely regretted, regretted not giving that young Chinese student a chance back then, leading to F-1 not born at Blue Origin now.
This is interest but also sentiment, even more emotional value.
For tycoons of Bezos’ level, emotional value from replicating F-1 far surpasses money.
Besides, can help him have capital to compete with SpaceX in aerospace field.
Explanation here, Bezos and Musk’s relationship very bad, bad to publicly curse war on Twitter level.
And Bezos’ Blue Origin is object of Musk’s mockery, mocking Bezos’ incompetence and Blue Origin’s trash snacks.
Bezos never regretted so much, all this now destroyed.
“Randolph?” Dan Christensen and Bob Smith looked at each other, how could Randolph Lin come to Blue Origin.
The other party not even internship, other party never even been to Washington D.C.
The two somewhat baffled.
Bezos continued: “Three years, I give you three years, I want to see F-1 engine at Blue Origin too!”
Bezos reacted intensely, Dan Christensen and Bob Smith felt undeserved disaster.
Three years if they could do it, Blue Origin wouldn’t be at this state today.
China’s gust of wind stirred up a hurricane in America.
On Stony Brook University campus, Nilanjan Balasubramanian who just got Board of Trustees Special Award and promoted to professor, felt his life simply reached peak.
Solved professor position, has a mathematics master student, also got big bonus from board.
What could be better than this?
Result this morning, in classroom he was taken away by some FBI people.
