Chapter 307: The Prophecy Of Leading Far Ahead
“I’d like to ask the professor, in the Star Wars Program proposed by President Johnson, what role did you play?”
The Washington Post reporter still wouldn’t give up and followed up with another question.
No one believed that you proposed this plan, they insisted on nitpicking, even if Lyndon Johnson said he proposed it, they still had to ask Lin Ran again.
Lyndon Johnson turned sideways to look at Lin Ran, with a smile on his face, looking confident.
Of course, this appearance looked like a threat to the reporters in the audience, a variant of the Johnson treatment imposed on Lin Ran.
Lin Ran tapped the microphone in front of him, “Of course, the Star Wars Program was of course proposed by President Johnson.
President Lyndon Johnson, with his astonishing wisdom and outstanding foresight, realized that rapid and significant changes were occurring in the field of aerospace, and our technological progress was so swift.
After I and President Johnson proposed the concept of reusable rockets and multiple satellites per launch, he quickly realized that we should use these technologies to build a global defense system belonging to America.
This is a great plan, it will build an impregnable fortress in space for the free world, and when the Star Wars Program succeeds, that will be the moment the Iron Curtain falls, this Iron Curtain is not a man-made conceptual construct, but a real one capable of defending against any attack from the Soviet camp.”
After Lin Ran finished speaking, a burst of warm applause erupted from the audience, and the reporters clearly bought into Lin Ran’s account more.
“Professor, because this plan is simply too exaggerated, ten thousand satellites, I believe that when ten thousand American satellites are floating in space, it can play a decisive role.
But could you explain in detail how we will specifically achieve it, as well as the multiple satellites per launch and reusable rockets you mentioned.
I think only after we fully understand these two concepts can we grasp the feasibility of this great plan.”
Lin Ran replied: “A reusable rocket means that after launch, most of its components can be recovered and reused, which can greatly reduce our costs, for example, the cost of a rocket in the past was 100 million US dollars, but in the future a single rocket can be launched more than ten or even dozens of times, reducing the single launch cost to unimaginable levels.
Multiple satellites per launch means that one rocket can send multiple satellites to predetermined orbits, which requires extremely precise orbital control technology, and my plan is to achieve sending more than 30 satellites into predetermined orbits in a single launch within five years.
Combined with reusable rocket technology, we only need to spend 10 billion US dollars to complete this grand plan.
This is also the source of President Johnson’s imaginative creativity.”
This time the applause was even more enthusiastic.
“Professor, are all of our ten thousand satellites nuclear-powered satellites, and besides monitoring, will they also take on the role you mentioned yesterday at the United Nations General Assembly, becoming part of the low Earth orbit nuclear deterrence?”
All the questions were directed at Lin Ran, no one asked Lyndon Johnson, as for Dean Rusk, does that person even exist?
“No, we will not use nuclear power for low-orbit satellites at all because the risks are too high, but for higher-orbit satellites, we will consider nuclear energy, which is also for power system considerations, not deploying nuclear weapons.
America has signed the Outer Space Treaty and will certainly abide by it, we will not weaponize space.”
Helens said to Jenny in her ear: “Why do I feel like the professor is the president.”
Jenny patted her arm, signaling her not to talk nonsense.
Because there were many reporters from the East Room today, sitting packed closely together, Helens’s voice was certainly low, but what if someone overheard and it reached Johnson’s ears.
It wasn’t fear of Johnson, but to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Press Secretary George Christian quickly realized something was off, why are you all asking the professor’s opinion, what about the president.
He knew he had to quickly steer the press conference back on track, continuously calling on reporters friendly to the White House, long-time supporters of Lyndon Johnson, which finally refocused the press conference’s attention back on Lyndon Johnson.
But evidently, once the reporters called weren’t those fixed few, everyone would throw the topic to Lin Ran.
This made the atmosphere of the entire press conference very delicate.
Although the three on stage maintained smiles throughout, everyone could clearly feel that Lyndon Johnson’s smile was forced, and Lin Ran was equally uncomfortable.
“Oh, no wonder President Johnson needs to be wary of the professor, if I were President Johnson, I’d be wary of the professor too.”
After the press conference ended, in a restaurant next to the White House, Helens and Jenny complained.
Jenny said helplessly: “Is being too capable also a mistake?
Whether it’s technical issues, international law, or the specific progress of the Star Wars Program, if Lyndon Johnson knew, I wouldn’t mind asking him, but he can’t answer.
Didn’t you see Jonathan ask him when reusable rockets can conduct the first test, and whether the test will invite reporters to visit the Cape Canaveral Launch Site, he couldn’t answer at all?
Didn’t it still rely on the professor to bail him out.”
Helens smiled: “It’s precisely because the professor’s presence is too strong that everyone asks these professional questions.
Think about it, if it wasn’t the professor but some other NASA official, would the reporters ask these kinds of questions?
I even saw some reporters hoping to get the professor’s stance on whether the Vietnam War should be stopped, I saw the professor’s expression change at that moment.
So President Johnson is wary of the professor because his presence is too strong.
Even more terrifying is that if the Star Wars Program launches, no matter who the president changes to, the professor will remain in the NASA director position.
Now it’s clear that whether President Johnson, or the Elephant Party’s potential presidential candidates Nixon and Fred, are all very satisfied with the professor.
Then the professor’s influence will continue to grow, even staying in the NASA director position longer than Hoover.
Plus having led the Apollo Moon Landing and the Star Wars Program, that’s how terrifying his influence is.”
After hearing this, Jenny knew that the future Helens described was very likely.
After a pause, Helens said thoughtfully: “I even feel that in the future, no matter who is in the White House, they will only become increasingly wary of the professor, and this has nothing to do with how well the president does, it only has to do with the professor’s existence.”
Jenny sighed: “See, I feel the professor may not want to stay at NASA forever.”
Helens’s eyes lit up: “How? Any insider news? Has the rift between the professor and President Johnson reached the point where the professor is forced to leave NASA?
If the professor really leaves NASA, that would be huge news, second only to President Kennedy’s assassination in the past decade.”
Jenny shook her head repeatedly: “I didn’t say that, it’s just a feeling, I just feel that the professor is not as enthusiastic about NASA work as before.
Maybe the professor is tired of the scheming days at NASA and the White House, and wants to return to Columbia University to diligently pursue academia.”
Half right, Lin Ran didn’t want to return to Columbia University to pursue academia, if possible he wanted to return to Hong Kong University as a mathematics department professor, teaching and educating people.
“Oh, I believe once the Star Wars Program succeeds, it will bring different changes to the Vietnam War, this battle will go much more smoothly.
But regrettably the Vietnam War is about to end, we will soon drive the monkeys into the sea, we will soon achieve victory in this war, if I were the commander, I think maybe 24 hours would be enough.”
“Of course I don’t believe the Star Wars Program was proposed by President Johnson, he doesn’t have the brains for it, believe me, if he had the brains to design the Star Wars Program, he wouldn’t have commanded the Vietnam War like this.
This is 100% the professor’s idea, I believe even Lyndon Johnson can’t understand the concepts of reusable rockets and multiple satellites per launch.”
“No no no, I’m not saying President Johnson is lying, but that he exaggerated his contribution to the Star Wars Program.
You get it? Let’s assume a scenario, the professor reports to President Johnson that we observed the Soviets launching a nuclear-powered satellite, this is very serious, it poses a severe threat to our security, we need to take it seriously.
Then President Johnson says, is it possible for us to see their movements in advance before the Soviets launch nuclear-powered satellites.
So the professor proposes ten thousand satellites, low-orbit and medium-orbit satellites interwoven to monitor the globe, and finally President Johnson names it the Star Wars Program.
In other words, for the entire Star Wars Program, he might have just said two sentences, oh my god, being America’s president is too easy, two sentences and he becomes the founder of the Iron Curtain after the future Star Wars Program is completed.”
Reporters on the Vietnam War frontline all liked interviewing this blond blue-eyed new soldier.
Not just because he was Fred’s son, but also because he himself exploded with quotable lines in interviews, often saying shocking things.
Like if he were commander, he could end the Vietnam War in 24 hours, the higher-ups would definitely not be happy hearing that, but reporters would be thrilled, isn’t this material right here?
After the Star Wars Program was announced, it sparked heated discussion among the public, some thought the plan would burn too much money and increase expenses, others thought since the Soviets had put nuclear-powered satellites into space, this plan was very necessary.
But in Congress, this proposal passed with overwhelming advantage through a special congressional budget for the Star Wars Program.
Because the Elephant Party is mainly conservatives, and conservatives mostly support maintaining the Cold War and continuing to fight the Soviets, as for the Donkey Party, this was proposed by their president, they had no reason to oppose.
Congress directly allocated a special budget of 2 billion US dollars to NASA for the Star Wars Program.
Reporters also mobilized, asking for opinions from various people.
The name Star Wars also gave new inspiration to many in the arts.
For example, George Lucas, who had just shot his first short film “Freiheit” last year, after seeing the news thought: “Star Wars? This name is too cool, satellites are stars too, why didn’t I think of it? Humanity can live on satellites in the future, and conflicts happening on satellites.”
Starlink version Star Wars led Lucas’s Star Wars series movies astray.
Who knows if in this spacetime, the astray version of Star Wars can still gain influence like in the original spacetime.
On June 5, on the eve of Kosygin’s visit to America, Soviet Ambassador to the United Nations Nikolai Fyodorov met with Secretary-General U Thant at UN headquarters in New York.
He handed over a document, his tone steady but cautious:
“Mr. Secretary-General, the Soviet Union regrets to inform you that our ‘Cosmos 250’ satellite may re-enter the atmosphere within the next two weeks due to a technical malfunction.
The satellite carries a nuclear reactor for peaceful ocean observation.
We are doing everything possible to minimize risks and will bear responsibility in accordance with the Outer Space Treaty.”
U Thant clutched the report, stunned, “You mean the satellite will turn into a nuclear bomb and crash on Earth?”
Early that morning, the Soviet side had sent a secretary to arrange an urgent meeting, saying there was an emergency.
About nuclear-powered satellites, it had been argued from the beginning of the year until now.
The Soviet side never denied having nuclear-powered satellites, just saying theirs were absolutely safe, completely for peaceful ocean observation purposes.
And Lin Ran had written two popular science articles published in the New York Times midway, detailing why the Soviet nuclear-powered satellites had a high risk of crashing.
The Soviet side quickly published articles to refute, saying Lin Ran had ulterior motives, resorting to any means to flatter the White House, slandering Soviet technological strength.
Even at the United Nations, in the past period, whenever space-related topics came up, the American and Soviet representatives would argue for a while before the day’s agenda could formally begin.
U Thant was stunned because Fyodorov’s consistent line had been that their satellites were absolutely safe, absolutely no danger possible, Soviet technology in the space field was beyond doubt, the strongest.
And now so suddenly telling me your nuclear-powered satellite is going to crash?
Shadows of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis already flashed in his mind, this was nuclear technology, any mistake related to nuclear technology would trigger global panic.
“Yes, its nuclear reactor specifications include 50 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, thermal power of 100 kilowatts, electrical power of 3 kilowatts.
If fragments scatter, it may cause serious environmental pollution.” Fyodorov said calmly, without any embarrassment, he had already done the mental preparation, in this line of work if you still cared about face, you absolutely couldn’t continue.
U Thant’s face instantly became grave, his fingers lightly tapping the desk, he really wanted to curse with a three-character phrase.
“Nuclear reactor? Mr. Ambassador, this is extremely serious.
Where do you predict the fragments will fall?”
“Based on current orbital data, possibly in the northwest region of Maple Leaf Country or the North Pole region.
We have notified the Maple Leaf Country government through our embassy there and promised to provide technical support to deal with any consequences.”
U Thant was well aware that current orbital calculations showed here, but Maple Leaf Country borders America after all, what if it carelessly crashes into America?
This would be a major accident.
U Thant took a deep breath, “I understand. I will immediately notify Maple Leaf Country and America, and convene the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to discuss this.
Is the Soviet Union willing to disclose more technical details to assist international response?
Fyodorov hesitated for a moment, weighing transparency against state secrets in his mind.
He was well aware that excessive disclosure might expose their aerospace technology, but concealment would exacerbate distrust.
“We will provide the necessary information to ensure the international community understands the situation, and we will also strive to fulfill our obligations under the Outer Space Treaty.”
Fyodorov finally answered, anyway the judgment is up to the Soviet Space Agency, on this matter he just adhered to one principle: be a good mouthpiece.
U Thant really wanted to curse this time, it’s this time already, and you’re still here fooling me with diplomatic rhetoric.
But he had no choice, he was just the Secretary-General, all he could do was convene a meeting and let America and the Soviets wrestle it out.
Almost at the same time, at the Soviet embassy in Ottawa, Maple Leaf Country.
Soviet Ambassador Alexander Yoffe urgently met with Maple Leaf Country Foreign Minister Mitchell Sharp.
Yoffe handed over a formal letter, his tone solemn.
“Mr. Minister, the Soviet government regrets to inform you that our Cosmos 250 satellite is likely to crash in your country’s northwest region due to technical malfunction.
The satellite carries a nuclear reactor, we are monitoring its orbit, and will provide technical support to deal with any consequences.”
Sharp’s face turned ashen, the pen in his hand suspended in mid-air.
He quickly recalled the terms of the Outer Space Treaty, realizing the Soviets must be responsible for any damage.
“Nuclear reactor? Mr. Ambassador, you previously always said your technology was foolproof, with no issues at all!
This poses a serious threat to our environment and people, can you guarantee the fragments won’t cause pollution?”
Yoffe replied: “Our engineers predict most of the reactor will burn up in the atmosphere, but we cannot completely rule out the possibility of fragments landing.
But we will fully assist Maple Leaf Country in dealing with any consequences.”
After receiving the news, Maple Leaf Country hurriedly sent people to contact America for help.
The news also rapidly spread at the United Nations, triggering intense reactions from various countries’ representatives.
The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space held an emergency meeting to discuss the Cosmos 250 crisis.
Arthur spoke first, his tone laced with anger.
“Mr. Chairman, the Soviet behavior is shocking.
Less than a year after signing the Outer Space Treaty, they let a nuclear-powered satellite go out of control, threatening North American security.
This is an open challenge to the spirit of the treaty! We demand the Soviet Union disclose all technical details and bear full responsibility.
Clearly the professor has repeatedly warned the Soviets, yet they have been evading their responsibilities and obligations, always packaging military projects as ocean monitoring!”
Maple Leaf Country representative Robert McDonald followed closely
“Maple Leaf Country thanks the Soviets for the advance notice, but this is insufficient to alleviate our concerns.
Radioactive debris may pollute our land and water sources, threatening lives at the landing site.
We demand the Soviet Union provide detailed crash predictions and commit to full compensation for cleanup costs.”
