Chapter 235: Professor, What Do You Want?
Buzz Aldrin said: “Professor, I’m at the hatch, the view is too stunning, Earth is so beautiful~”
Lin Ran replied: “Received, Buzz, remember to check the camera installation.”
Buzz Aldrin said: “Camera is secured, shooting solar eclipse, besides the lunar eclipse I also took a selfie.”
Jim shouted: “No, Buzz, what are you doing? Don’t forget the main task!”
Buzz Aldrin laughed: “Relax, Jim, I’m just recording history. When you go out for EVA later, I’ll take one for you too!”
The second EVA mission began at 42 hours 48 minutes, this EVA is called umbilical EVA.
Why call it that, because this time Buzz Aldrin needs to completely leave the spacecraft, connected only by a 9-meter umbilical, lasting more than 2 hours.
He moved along the handrail to the spacecraft adapter section, used foot restraints to secure himself, and completed 17 manual tasks, including using a torque wrench and connecting a 30-meter tether to the Agena adapter.
He rested for two minutes every few minutes, avoiding the excessive fatigue problem from previous missions.
After returning to the spacecraft interior, Buzz Aldrin said to the control center: “Control Center, mission progressing smoothly, foot restraints working perfectly.”
What is physical fitness, this is physical fitness, every astronaut’s physical fitness far exceeds that of an ordinary person.
This era’s peak Buzz Aldrin is absolutely top-tier in both calmness and efficiency.
The only thing lacking a bit is mentality.
Buzz Aldrin continued: “Control Center, I’m at the adapter workstation, starting bolt-turning task.”
Lin Ran replied: “Good, Buzz, watch your pace, remember to rest periodically.”
Ten minutes later, Buzz Aldrin replied: “Bolt task complete, next is electrical connector, Professor, I feel this is much simpler than underwater training.”
Jim beside him timely added: “Control Center, Buzz looks as relaxed as fixing a car in space.”
Lin Ran replied: “Received, Gemini 12, keep it up.”
Buzz Aldrin flows naturally as if born for space.
The third EVA is stand-up EVA, the task began at 67 hours 1 minute after launch.
Buzz Aldrin needs to perform 55 minutes of stand-up EVA in this process, completing remaining tasks, including further photography and equipment checks.
He photographed Earth’s limb and ultraviolet star field, returned to the spacecraft after completing the task, and excitedly said: “Jim, this feeling is too wonderful.”
Buzz Aldrin: “Control Center, third EVA complete, ultraviolet photography done, preparing to return.”
Lin Ran replied: “Good job, Buzz, confirm all tasks complete, safe return.”
Buzz Aldrin said: “Professor, space is eerily quiet, only my breathing sound.”
Lin Ran said: “Stop marveling, Buzz, don’t forget you still have experiments to do!”
In the control center, Lin Ran and Kranz exchanged a glance, they clearly understood Buzz Aldrin’s EVA success benefited from the improved restraint system and training.
His performance so relaxed, like a leisurely stroll in space, this will help completely eliminate internal NASA doubts about the feasibility of extravehicular activity.
Though there weren’t many doubts to begin with.
And in the second EVA, Buzz Aldrin connected the 30-meter tether to Agena.
Gemini 12 undocked from Agena, but remained connected by the tether.
The crew controlled the spacecraft attitude via thrusters, studying the dynamic behavior of the two spacecraft.
The tether remained slack until 51 hours 51 minutes into the mission, when the crew jettisoned the docking pole and released the tether.
This experiment provided data for future space station tether operations.
Every experiment has its significance.
It must be said, the Apollo Program is indeed a great attempt in human history.
The deeper Lin Ran participates in the Apollo Moon Landing, the more speechless he feels about NASA sixty years later.
How did you all regress more and more over these sixty years.
Buzz Aldrin’s voice interrupted Lin Ran’s thoughts: “Control Center, tether connected, preparing to undock.”
Lin Ran: “Received, Gemini 12, confirm tether status, undock at any time.”
Jim: “Docking released, tether slack, dynamics look stable.”
Rope game in space, this data is very important for the Apollo Moon Landing.
During the return to Earth process, Buzz Aldrin and Jim checked off their completed tasks one by one on paper:
“14”
14 refers to the scientific experiments NASA planned for them before launch.
“Frog egg growth: Study zero-gravity effects on biological development, complete
Terrain and weather photography: Photograph Earth terrain and weather patterns, complete
Astronomical photography: Including ultraviolet and dark-sky photography, complete
Micrometeorite collection: Partially complete
“
But accidents always arise unexpectedly.
Fuel cell system issues cause insufficient water storage space, leading to gas in the fuel cell, making the entire fuel cell unable to operate.
Additionally, two orbit attitude and maneuver thrusters lost thrust at mission start.
Buzz Aldrin: “Control Center, fuel cell water tank pressure a bit high, we’re handling it.”
Lin Ran: “Received, Gemini 12, try manual venting, keep monitoring.”
Jim joked: “Buzz is handling it, he looks like a space plumber now.”
Actually not easy at all.
According to Andrew Chaikin’s later book “Men on the Moon” investigation report, Buzz Aldrin fell into depression after returning to Earth from this mission.
This was unprecedented for him before.
This claim comes from Andrew Chaikin’s interview with Buzz Aldrin’s first wife.
Until the last day, Buzz Aldrin and Jim activated the automatic reentry system, returned to Earth, splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean, were picked up by helicopter, and taken to the long-awaited USS Wasp aircraft carrier.
In June, Washington’s summer heat began making the White House Oval Office particularly stuffy.
When Lin Ran arrived in Washington by special plane from Cape Canaveral Launch Site, he glanced at the blazing sun in the sky.
When he stepped into the office, he could clearly feel the tension in the air.
Lyndon Johnson looked much older than before.
Lin Ran of course knew what happened, the Vietnam War progress was extremely unfavorable.
In 1966, American army deaths reached 6350, a sharp increase from 1928 the previous year.
The iconic Ashau Valley campaign failed in March, not only failing tactical victory, but strategically the north established a base in that valley.
In April’s Sajinbei campaign, an American company ambushed in the rubber plantation of Jinmei Village east of Saigon, single incident soldier deaths over 100, death rate 80%.
This also became the origin of later American anti-war propaganda about Vietnamese soldiers possibly bursting from the jungle anytime.
Lin Ran sat in the leather armchair before the desk, opened his briefcase, took out a few pages of reports and charts.
He began reporting in a steady and professional tone, “Mr. President, our Apollo Program has made huge progress in unmanned test flights, these are key cornerstones to the Apollo Program’s success.
Since the beginning of the year, the Apollo Program has achieved significant progress in unmanned testing, laying a solid foundation for future manned flights.
We successfully conducted the first test flight of the ‘Saturn IB’ rocket.
On February 26, we successfully launched the AS-201 mission, the first test of the ‘Saturn IB’ rocket and ‘Apollo Command/Service Module (Block I CSM)’.
Although a suborbital flight, it successfully sent the command module into the Atlantic Ocean and verified the spacecraft heat shield performance.
This is crucial for verifying manned spacecraft safety.
On April 5, AS-203 mission launched. This mission did not carry an Apollo spacecraft, but focused on observing S-IVB liquid hydrogen fuel behavior in orbit, to support Saturn V rocket restart capability design.
Mission completed smoothly, Saturn V construction is now a clear path with no obstacles.”
Unlike the original spacetime where AS-203 failed, with S-IVB accidentally damaged in the final overpressure test, in this spacetime, AS-203 achieved near-perfect results.
“On May 25, AS-202 mission conducted, also a suborbital flight. Command module splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, further testing command module heat shield at higher speeds, and successfully ignited the service module engine.
Most importantly on May 20, we successfully completed the final Gemini mission, astronauts successfully completed the planned EVA docking operations, current progress all smooth.
Mr. President, we will complete standalone manned moon landing in November next year.”
Next year, that is 1967, Lin Ran’s subtext was, Mr. President, I fulfilled my promise to you, complete manned moon landing during your presidency.
Lyndon Johnson was previously burly and energetic, but now shows no sign of energy.
As usual when Lin Ran enters this office, the only same thing is the other’s famous “Resolute” desk.
Johnson shirt collar slightly loose, face showing undisguisable fatigue and anxiety, deeply frustrated by the Vietnam battlefield stalemate.
He had hoped limited military action would quickly solve the problem, but contrary to wishes, the war deepened, public dissatisfaction and anti-war sentiment surged like tides, eroding his political legacy.
“Very good work, Professor, your work always satisfies.
But can it be this year?
This year there’s still half a year to year-end, can we complete moon landing this year?” Lyndon Johnson said.
Lin Ran was somewhat surprised, not understanding why the other was so urgent: “Mr. President, this year would be too rushed time-wise, many verifications can’t be done.”
Lyndon Johnson said straightforwardly: “Professor, you’ve never failed, right?”
Lin Ran shook his head: “We need to respect science.
Despite these progresses, Mr. President, but the Apollo Program’s complexity is unprecedented. Command module and lunar module research and development, integration and testing still face many challenges, such as life support system, thermal control, carbon dioxide removal and other key technical issues, all need time to solve and verify.”
To more intuitively show the huge time gap, Lin Ran pushed a table to Johnson:
“Mr. President, to moon land by year-end, we need to compress all these nodes”
Before Lin Ran finished, Lyndon Johnson interrupted:
“Professor, my friend, you talk rockets, modules, tests, while my soldiers bleed in Vietnam’s quagmire!”
Johnson’s voice low and filled with suppressed anger, heavy Texas accent, every word hammering the air.
Lyndon Johnson suddenly stood, walked to Lin Ran, his tall frame almost overshadowing Lin Ran, like a boulder rising from Texas plains. He employed his signature “Johnson Treatment”: body leaning forward almost touching Lin Ran, eyes sharp and scrutinizing, voice lowered, full of pressure, yet with a hint of plea and temptation.
(1957, Lyndon Johnson and Rhode Island Senator Theodore Green in Congress, this photo exhibited at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, first published in the New York Times)
Newspaper columnist Mary McGrory described the Johnson Treatment as “an incredible forceful mix combining persuasion, pestering, flattery, threats, and reminders of past favors and future advantages.”
Washington Post editor Ben Bradley recalled the feeling of seeing the “Johnson Treatment” as “like a St. Bernard licking your face for an hour and scratching you all over.”
Lyndon Johnson’s Vice President Hubert Humphrey described it as “tidal wave surging.”
Lin Ran as a White House senior official, of course knew the famous Johnson Treatment.
But this was his first time experiencing such treatment.
He looked at Lyndon Johnson expressionless.
“We need a victory, Professor! A victory the whole world can see, letting American people hold their heads high again!” Johnson’s voice carried an unquestionable command, mixed with a hint of desperate plea.
“President Kennedy said moon landing in ten years. Now it’s 1966, Professor, we can’t wait anymore. Imagine, if this year, right this year, we send Americans to the Moon, what that would mean? It would be the loudest slap to those anti-war radicals and commies!”
Johnson almost roared the last words.
Lin Ran remained expressionless, slowly stood, used irrefutable force to press Lyndon Johnson back into his own chair, then slowly sat:
“Mr. President, no need for such hypocritical ways between us, let’s be frank.
I know exactly what you want.
You see clearly, the war situation will only worsen, not improve.
This year American soldiers dying one after another on Vietnam battlefield, next year’s deaths will only increase not decrease.
You’ve been dragged onto this endless war chariot.”
Lin Ran chuckled lightly, then continued: “War is disaster for some, revelry for others.
Here saying war situation worsens, Vietnam’s tenacity is one aspect, interest groups are more important reason.
The worse the war, more reason to get funding from Congress, more soldiers to battlefield, bigger cake to divide.
What a good business.”
Lyndon Johnson’s earlier expression gone, his gloomy face, bloodshot eyes showing remaining conscience:
“Professor, you’re too smart.”
Neither affirming nor denying.
He continued: “But what does this have to do with moon landing?
Battlefield matters under McNamara, if you want his job, I believe McNamara would gladly be your deputy.
If we complete moon landing this year, next year I’ll move you to Department of Defense, I’ll help convince those congressmen.”
Lin Ran shook his head: “Not interested in Secretary of Defense.
What I mean is, moon landing and Vietnam of course unrelated.
But both concern one thing, your support rate.
More precisely, your presidential seat.”
Lyndon Johnson wanted to retort: “Professor, next year is still my term.”
Lin Ran said faintly: “Mr. President, at this point, still not frank?
Forget it, I’ll say directly.
Simple, complete moon landing by end of next year, public opinion spotlight on astronauts, on me.
Never-failed professor completes Apollo Moon Landing, astronauts step on Moon soil with brave fearless spirit.
From moon landing completion to public opinion fermentation, early period all around moon landing people and events, by time positive opinion sweeps to Lyndon Johnson government’s moon landing help, election may almost end.
While year-end this year, one more year to operate, only possible to claim moon landing merit in public minds.
Civil Rights Act still fresh, though you pushed its passage, President Kennedy deceased, but public still thinks main pusher of equality is President Kennedy, only then you second.”
After Lin Ran finished, gloom gone from Lyndon Johnson’s face, unprecedented calm, he clapped: “Professor, you are indeed too smart.
I just open mouth, you read my true intent.
This Chinese people’s millennia political struggle wisdom?
Right, you said correctly.
I need to reverse my, Lyndon Johnson’s, prestige among American people, I need media to operate for me, I can’t just do four years, I have many things unfinished.”
After the string of words, he sighed deeply:
“So Professor, what do you want? Let’s make a deal.”
