Chapter 266: Lunar Orbit Insertion
That night, lying on the bed, Young John Morgan recalled the first words Lin Ran said to him:
“NASA director, right.”
He thought to himself: “No, the professor wouldn’t really want to be the NASA director, would he?
Although it’s unrealistic to expect the White House to appoint him as NASA director, if there really is an entity like General Aerospace competing with SpaceX, and he replicates SpaceX technology as he said, even developing Starship ahead of SpaceX.
Wouldn’t that make him the shadow director of NASA?
Being in Shanghai, remotely controlling NASA.”
Young John Morgan simply couldn’t understand why a Chinese person would be obsessed with the NASA director position. Is that a post you can covet?
Didn’t you see that Musk had to get lost just for trying to arrange his friend into that position?
Young John Morgan’s idea was easy to understand.
He knew that Musk had privately said more than once that NASA had no reason to exist, and it would be better to let SpaceX replace NASA and handle all of America’s aerospace affairs.
So if General Aerospace could take down SpaceX, with the backing of old money Morgan’s General Aerospace, it wouldn’t be a problem to completely sideline NASA.
Lin Ran, who single-handedly created General Aerospace, calling him the NASA shadow director would be entirely justified.
From Young John Morgan’s perspective, the reason Lin Ran proposed this cooperation method might really be to become the NASA shadow director.
If the overt way doesn’t work, go for the covert one.
He sighed: “In the end, it still comes down to tomorrow’s launch.”
Tim finally edited the exclusive interview video with Lin Ran just before the Saturn V launch.
“Before Witnessing the Apollo Miracle, I Interviewed Ran Shen”
“Hello, dear audience friends. Today, I haven’t even washed my hair or shaved my beard, and I’m about to embark on the journey to Wenchang Launch Center.
Why so sudden? Because I got the opportunity for an exclusive interview with Ran Shen.
And just seven days later, on October 7, the last day of the National Day Holiday, we will witness a miracle in aerospace history.
In just over a year, Apollo Technology completed the miracle from design to launch to lunar flyby.
This number might not feel intuitive to you, dear audience friends, but the Apollo Moon Landing in the 1960s, starting from President Kennedy’s moon landing speech to the astronauts’ lunar flyby test, from May 25, 1961, to December 24, 1968, took them a total of 2770 days, whereas for Apollo Technology led by Ran Shen, this number is 385 days.”
The special effects numbers next to Tim dropped sharply from 2770 to 385.
“You might think it’s due to technological progress reducing the difficulty of moon landing, but America’s Artemis program can strictly be traced back to the Authorization Act passed by NASA in 2005, to research the manned spaceship named Orion for Moon exploration.
The official approval was in 2017, that is, four years ago, and after four years, the Orion spaceship originally planned to launch in 2016 still shows no sign of movement.
Although according to NASA’s latest news, the Orion spaceship will have its first launch next year, but NASA has delayed too many times, they have completely lost credibility. NASA couldn’t do it in four years, while a Chinese private enterprise did it in just a short 385 days.
You can find all sorts of reasons—we use outdated technology, we lack recyclable concepts, we use obsolete concepts—but no matter what, tomorrow, our Chinese astronauts are going to orbit the Moon!”
Tim was referring to tomorrow based on the video release time, not the filming time.
He was particularly excited in the video.
After the video was released, it reached one million views in just one hour. When he mentioned this, the bullet screen was full of 6s and various wishes from b-site friends.
The number of comments in the comment section was surging.
“I’ve heard of Apollo’s moon landing, but I’ve seen Apollo Technology’s moon landing with my own eyes!” This was the comment with the highest likes.
It didn’t express any moon landing conspiracy theory meaning, but it easily evoked associations.
“Just got an offer from Apollo Technology. After seeing General Manager Lin’s plans for the future, I can’t wait to dedicate my youth and passion to Apollo Technology! I hope to contribute to humanity’s steps toward the universe.”
If the highest-liked comment’s replies were a fierce debate between moon landing conspiracy theory supporters and opponents.
Then the replies to this comment were much more harmonious.
“Congrats! I’ll graduate with a master’s in mechanical engineering next year, I want to join Apollo Technology too!”
“Holy shit, awesome!”
“Bro, work hard, humanity’s future depends on you guys.”
“Can you help me get Ran Shen’s signature?”
Of course, there were also long essays:
“After listening to Ran Shen’s interview, I was truly filled with emotion. In the past, people always said this and that about China’s young people. As a representative of the young generation, Ran Shen shattered all doubts about China’s younger generation and even Chinese entrepreneurs.
Who says Chinese people don’t know innovation? Building an electromagnetic launch tower on the Moon—has anyone else mentioned that? As for bragging, Saturn V is launching tomorrow—is that bragging too? Will the astronauts be sent to orbit and return safely? Hasn’t Burning No. 1 medium rocket launched successfully twice? Once for testing, once for mission.
Bragging without delivering is NASA; bragging and then delivering is our Chinese young people!”
On the external network, it was a chorus of wails. Photos of Saturn V taken by Agence France-Presse reporters were spreading everywhere.
The photo taken by the Agence France-Presse reporter was retweeted over 500,000 times on a single Twitter post.
Indirect ones were countless.
This was the power of Saturn V.
Lin Ran openly admitted in the video that it was Saturn V, making foreigners both excited and angry.
Excited that the world’s largest rocket in history was reappearing, angry that it was actually made by a Chinese private enterprise.
Despite American media repeatedly emphasizing that Apollo Technology isn’t a real private enterprise at all, just a shell for China Aerospace.
But they couldn’t counter that in American eyes, isn’t your SpaceX also a NASA shell?
Why can’t you make Saturn V if you’re using a shell?
Lin Ran’s public admission also gave foreign media more reasons to attack, with accusations of despicability rampant.
Apollo Technology internally calls it the Big Rocket.
But in foreign media, it’s called Saturn.
The English name of Saturn V is Saturn V, and Saturn is also the name of the god of agriculture. What Lin Ran and they made is called Saturn, that is, the god of agriculture.
Why call it that.
Not only because it is a replicate of Saturn V, but also because in Roman mythology, Saturn is the god of agriculture, time, and harvest, equivalent to Cronus in Greek mythology.
Saturn devoured his children out of fear of being overthrown by them—isn’t that very villainous? More importantly, Buzz Aldrin’s father-son rift adds even more persuasiveness.
After learning about it, Lin Ran thought it was quite fitting. In a sense, he could indeed be called the god of time.
With so many gods in little Japan’s mythology, with the abilities he demonstrated, he is practically the king of time gods.
Saturn V launch—this launch isn’t just a simple launch; it includes the command module and lunar module, which can be seen as a half moon landing.
Except for not landing, there’s almost no difference.
Plus the first launch of Saturn V.
This brought a large number of big shots from China Aerospace to the entire Wenchang Observatory. The entire b-site dispatched a luxurious viewing group, and Pony naturally came personally to witness this historic moment.
If manned spaceflight is the first time for Chinese private aerospace agencies, then entering lunar orbit this time is something even China Aerospace hasn’t achieved.
China Aerospace’s astronauts have only been loitering in Earth orbit so far, and now a private aerospace agency is about to send their astronauts to lunar orbit.
CCTV is reporting throughout.
All the countable big shots in China are watching this launch.
“Professor Lin, we are about to witness the Big Rocket launch on the last day of the National Day Holiday. May I ask how you feel right now?” A CCTV reporter seized the opportunity to interview Lin Ran before the launch.
This time, it was the recently popular female reporter known for her pure image.
CCTV naturally couldn’t call it Saturn V, but Apollo Technology didn’t give an official name.
Therefore, CCTV also had to call it the Big Rocket. Standing where the Big Rocket was visible to the naked eye, CCTV staff had to admit that this thing truly lived up to the name Big Rocket.
“I’m feeling very calm, because to me, this mission is as simple as eating and drinking—it’s just part of my daily life.” Lin Ran said expressionlessly.
The female reporter was shocked: “Ah? Aren’t you worried about failure?”
Lin Ran remained expressionless: “The word failure doesn’t exist in my dictionary.”
The female reporter smiled awkwardly: “Alright, Professor Lin is indeed Professor Lin, confidently unparalleled.
Here, we also thank Professor Lin for accepting our interview. We wish Apollo Technology’s lunar flyby test a successful completion in advance!
Finally, please say a few words to the audience friends in front of the television!”
The official statement was unparalleled confidence, but in the public’s image, Lin Ran was a madman—confident to the point of arrogance.
A smile finally appeared on Lin Ran’s face as he said: “This is our final step toward the Moon. We will show the world our technology and determination.”
At 6 a.m. on October 7, the 110-meter-tall Big Rocket stood on the launch pad, its silver-white body contrasting sharply with the orange escape tower.
Around the launch tower, technical personnel in white protective suits busily checked fuel lines, circuitry, and communication equipment.
The air was filled with the faint smell of liquid oxygen, and the lights on the tower flickered in the morning mist.
At 9:00 a.m., flames erupted from the bottom of the rocket, the five F-1 engines roared simultaneously, and deafening sound waves swept across the ground.
The rocket slowly lifted off, thrust tearing through the air, breaking through the clouds straight into the sky.
The live broadcast lens captured the spectacular sight of heat waves distorting the air.
“Liftoff normal, attitude stabilization.” Li Wei reported, tone steady.
Inside the spaceship, vibrations were intense, pressing the astronauts into their seats.
In the final period, Qian Fei and Zhao Jianguo focused mainly on conditioning their bodies to ensure all health indicators were optimal.
Qian Fei gritted his teeth, staring at the speed data: “Speed 6000 meters per second, ascending.”
First stage rocket separation, second stage rocket ignition, spaceship continued accelerating.
A few minutes later, the spaceship entered low Earth orbit, vibrations stopped, and weightlessness set in.
Zhao Jianguo grinned: “We’re in space again!”
Qian Fei calmly said: “The challenge has just begun.”
In the control center, engineers erupted in applause.
Lin Ran said: “First step perfect. Prepare for lunar transfer orbit.”
This time, Pony couldn’t watch from the control center.
Because this was too critical, Lin Ran didn’t plan to rely on automatic guidance devices. He knew well that the 1960s automatic navigation devices were unreliable, and they hadn’t had time to research a new automatic navigation system.
They had only strengthened the communication system to ensure the spaceship could maintain communication with the ground at any time and record time differences between both sides.
That’s right, Lin Ran’s idea was to personally micro-manage at critical moments.
The automatic navigation system would come later.
Micro-management wasn’t new; if old methods worked, use them first.
After the successful launch and orbit insertion, that day’s news reports had already covered it.
“According to this station’s latest news, the Ben Yue Hao spaceship launched by our country’s private aerospace agency has successfully reached low Earth orbit and is expected to perform lunar orbit insertion in three days, entering lunar orbit. We wish them all the best in advance and hope the astronauts return safely.”
In Wenchang’s command control center, lights were on 24 hours.
In the center of the circular control room, three giant screens displayed mission progress in real time: one showing the 3D trajectory of the Ben Yue Hao spaceship, with the Moon’s gray-white outline gradually enlarging.
One playing the internal perspective of the spaceship, with clear footage of astronauts operating.
Another scrolling data streams, including speed, altitude, and propellant pressure.
Hundreds of engineers sat around the circular workstation, computer screens flickering, keyboard clicks incessant.
The wall had the mission schedule.
Lin Ran stood at the command podium center, holding the walkie-talkie, very calm: “Distance to Moon 10,000 kilometers, speed 2.5 km/s, prepare to upload LOI parameters.”
He personally reviewed all key data, including the spaceship’s real-time position, longitude and latitude errors not exceeding 0.01 degrees, speed precise to 0.001 km/s, propellant remaining precise to 0.1 kg.
China Aerospace experts, astronauts, and guests like Pony invited by Apollo Technology sitting in the external viewing room all felt a sweat in their hearts.
Because according to Apollo Technology staff’s introduction, this was the most critical step:
“Everyone, lunar orbit insertion, or LOI, is one of the most critical maneuvers in the entire manned moon landing mission, requiring the spaceship to perform a high-precision deceleration burn on the far side of the Moon.
Due to the Moon’s occlusion, the spaceship loses contact with Earth during the burn and cannot receive real-time instructions, so the ground team must pre-calculate and upload all parameters, and the astronauts must manually operate based on training and experience to ensure the spaceship enters the predetermined orbit.”
China Aerospace experts were shocked that a private aerospace agency could achieve this step, while also hoping Apollo Technology would succeed to accumulate experience for their future moon landings.
Parameters were precisely calculated by the command control center and uploaded to the spaceship via the communication system before entering the far side of the Moon, ensuring astronauts could execute the mission during loss of signal.
Orbit officer Xiao Liu pushed up his glasses, quickly verifying the trajectory line on the screen: “Orbital parameters calibrated, burn time 6 minutes, ignition countdown 30 minutes.
Expected to complete parameter transmission 5 minutes before entering LOS.”
Navigation officer Li Rui whispered to his colleague: “The professor personally simulated the trajectory ten times, F-1 engine thrust curve perfect, this is definitely steady.”
His fingers quickly input commands, checking propellant pressure at 300 bar, error within ±0.5 bar.
Lin Ran turned to the communication officer and ordered: “Confirm with Ben Yue Hao, upload LOI parameters.”
The communication officer shouted via microphone: “Ben Yue Hao, Wenchang Control Center, preparing to transmit LOI parameters, please confirm receipt.”
The screen showed transmission progress, data stream uploading rapidly.
Inside the Ben Yue Hao command module, the screen glowed blue, displaying propellant pressure, speed, and orbital altitude.
The command module had a conical design, weighing 5.56 tons, externally no different from Columbia, but internally full of modern vibe.
Qian Fei sat in the central seat, gaze sweeping the dashboard, checking burn parameters. Ground instructions came through his headphones, tone steady: “Wenchang Control Center, Ben Yue Hao received, parameter transmission complete.”
He was calm inside, thinking: “The professor’s calculations have never been wrong; we’ll definitely succeed.”
Zhao Jianguo sat on the left, fingers sliding on the touchscreen, confirming service module main engine status: “Engine green light, propellant pressure 300 bar, temperature 22 degrees Celsius, ready to ignite anytime, position and speed confirmed, we’re on orbit.”
He muttered to himself: “The professor’s parameters are indeed precise.”
Outside the window, the Moon was approaching, gray-white craters and rugged mountains slowly becoming visible in the sunlight.
Zhao Jianguo gazed afar and sighed: “This is a hundred times more spectacular than the simulator!”
Qian Fei calmly replied: “Don’t get distracted, burn countdown 5 minutes, checklist.”
He checked item by item: propellant valves fully open, engine ignition sequence normal, spaceship attitude yaw angle 0.02 degrees, pitch angle 0.01 degrees.
The spaceship approached the far side of the Moon, communication signal starting to fluctuate.
The communication officer reported: “Approaching LOS, signal will cut off in 3 minutes.”
Lin Ran decisively ordered: “Ben Yue Hao, you are authorized to execute LOI, parameters uploaded, good luck, see you on the other side.”
He gripped the walkie-talkie tightly, staring at the countdown on the screen, inwardly extremely calm.
Qian Fei responded: “Understood, Wenchang, Ben Yue Hao will execute as planned.”
Signal cut off, screen showed “LOS”, control room fell into brief silence, everyone holding their breath, staring at the countdown clock: 3 minutes to ignition.
Inside the spaceship, Qian Fei stared at the timer, voice firm: “Burn countdown, 3, 2, 1, ignition!”
He pressed the confirm button, the service module F-1 engine roared to life, tail spewing hot blue flames, spaceship vibrating slightly, deceleration force gently pushing astronauts forward.
Dashboard data refreshed rapidly, speed dropping from 2.5 km/s, propellant pressure stable at 300 bar, engine temperature rising to 500 degrees Celsius.
Zhao Jianguo closely monitored engine data, reporting: “Thrust 100 tons, temperature normal, vibration amplitude 0.5 m/s².”
He gripped the control stick, ready for manual adjustment, thinking inwardly: “These six minutes are longer than a lifetime.”
At the same time, Zhao Jianguo was responsible for closely monitoring speed and altitude: “Speed 2.4 km/s… 2.3 km/s… 2.2 km/s…”
His finger hovered over the operation button, ready for any anomaly, screen showing altitude dropping rapidly from 10,000 km to 1,000 km.
The burn continued, spaceship gliding silently on the far side of the Moon, outside the window darkness of space and the Moon’s barren terrain.
Engine jet sound echoed in the cabin, astronauts holding their breath, headphones filled only with low hum and their own heartbeats.
At the 3rd minute, Qian Fei reported: “Speed 2.0 km/s, altitude 500 km, orbital curve as expected.”
At the 5th minute, Zhao Jianguo shouted: “Thrust stable, remaining propellant 6 tons, temperature 550 degrees Celsius, all normal!”
At the 6th minute, Qian Fei stared at the timer: “Burn complete, countdown 3, 2, 1, engine shutdown!” He decisively pressed the stop button, engine shut off, cabin restored to calm.
Qian Fei took a deep breath: “Burn complete, check orbit.”
Zhao Jianguo quickly input commands, screen showing new trajectory: “Speed 1.8 km/s, perilune 100.1 km, apolune 300.2 km, orbit capture successful!”
He pushed up his glasses, exhaling: “Error only 0.1 km, professor is too awesome!”
Qian Fei lightly clapped: “We’ve reached the Moon~ Now we just wait for signal recovery.”
The spaceship rounded the far side of the Moon, communication restored.
Qian Fei reported via headphones: “Wenchang, Ben Yue Hao, LOI successful, we’re in lunar orbit.”
The control center erupted in thunderous applause.
The experts in the external viewing room looked at each other: “So lunar orbit insertion is this simple?”
Everyone found it hard to believe.
How many contingency plans had they made in the past, how many calculations, cautious, cautious, and more cautious, delaying the astronauts’ lunar flyby test—wasn’t it because this operation was so difficult?
But now it looks like it’s not that hard at all!
