Chapter 308: Top Diplomat
The America representative Arthur Goldberg hurriedly tapped the microphone and corrected: “Sorry, we do not believe the Soviet Union’s reentry prediction, we do not believe the Soviet Union’s technology, we need the Soviet Union to provide all technical details of its nuclear-powered satellite and all relevant parameters of this reentry satellite, NASA will complete the reentry prediction under the professor’s leadership.”
These words immediately woke up the Maple Leaf Country representative Robert McDonald: “That’s right, we don’t want the Soviet Union’s reentry prediction, we want the professor to do the reentry prediction!”
Time is running out, please the Soviet Union side provide the relevant data as soon as possible.
Goldberg corrected: “Not relevant, all of them!”
This is what it means to clearly have only one seat, but countless megaphones.
Even if it is now old Trudeau, and Maple Leaf Country has some autonomy, they still follow America’s lead.
Because the incident is urgent, McDonald and Goldberg did not coordinate their words privately.
But this doesn’t matter, even at the meeting site, Goldberg can command McDonald without any scruples on what to say and what not to say.
“Yes, the Soviet Union side must hand over all data and technical details! This is the truly responsible behavior!”
McDonald gave up treatment and directly repeated what Goldberg just said, “Since I am a puppet, why bother exercising subjective initiative?”
Fyodorov slammed the table: “The Soviet Union’s technology in the field of aerospace will not tolerate slander from any country! I acknowledge the professor’s achievements in the field of aerospace, but this is not a reason to question the Soviet Union!
Even if the professor were personally here, he could not force us to hand over all technical details.
We will fulfill our international obligations and provide the necessary information, but this is not a reason for America to force us to provide technical details and other non-critical technology, nor is it a reason to seize the opportunity to attack and smear the Soviet Union!”
Fyodorov’s attitude was tough.
If Nikita were in the Kremlin, he might not be so tough, but since it has changed to Leonid, this one came to power hastily, and at this time node his authority is not yet solid enough, to a certain extent he still has to share power with Kosygin and Podgorny.
Leonid must be tough, only toughness can show his legitimacy, especially now during the Vietnam War.
In a sense, actually this year in mid-year Kosygin visited America, and Lyndon Johnson visited was a pit Leonid deliberately dug for Kosygin.
After this year’s mid-year Gettysburg meeting, next year the Soviet Union will have the Prague Spring, and by 71, Kosygin will completely lose influence in the diplomatic field.
As an old-school diplomat, Fyodorov has been active on the front lines of confrontation between the two sides, he deeply knows a truth, weakness may win momentary applause, but toughness can forever stand invincible.
If he really has to “be weak,” it must be Moscow ordering him to “be weak” via telegraph, not him showing weakness himself.
The guess about Fyodorov’s personal inclination here comes from his background and his speech at the United Nations during the Prague Spring, he graduated from the Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies.
Goldberg sneered contemptuously: “Heh, Soviet person’s aerospace technology? Does it refer to after Korolev’s death, there is no way to land on the moon independently? Or launching a nuclear-powered satellite, even after the professor’s reminder, still insisting there is no problem, until the satellite reentered before hastily notifying the international community?
If such aerospace technology is worth being proud of, then America’s aerospace technology is alien technology.
Next time I go to Washington for a meeting, I have to ask the professor properly if he is in contact with aliens.”
Goldberg’s words drew laughter from the free world representatives, obviously this kind of words that can make the Soviet Union eat dirt and also embody Western humor is very pleasing to the representatives.
Fyodorov knew the facts were in front of him, continuing to entangle on this point was of no benefit to them, he changed the topic: “I have already emphasized that the Soviet Union side will provide all necessary data, I believe with the professor’s ability, through the data we provide, he can calculate the satellite’s reentry location.”
Goldberg’s expression changed from earlier teasing to serious: “The professor’s ability is beyond doubt, but the problem is, the reason we insist on the Soviet Union side providing complete data and specific technical details is because we worry that the data provided by the Soviet Union side has omissions.
We need these things for cross-checking to ensure the data used for calculating the final reentry location is accurate and error-free, nuclear pollution is no small matter, satellite fragments reentering is even more no small matter, we are not coveting the Soviet Union’s satellite technology, even nuclear-powered satellites have very limited value to America.”
Fyodorov’s face turned ashen: “The Soviet Union will never provide misleading data! We deeply know the seriousness of this matter, so we notified the United Nations Secretary-General at the first time and convened an emergency meeting.”
Goldberg also refused to yield an inch, “Sorry, I just talked to the professor yesterday, I have fully solicited his opinion.
This is his instruction.
He said that the Soviet Union side may not give wrong data, but whether it is you or the Kremlin, neither can ensure that the data provided by the Soviet Space Agency is accurate and error-free. Since you launch nuclear-powered satellites, and launched 10 in a short year, it shows the Soviet Space Agency has full confidence in this satellite, thus neglecting possible problems.
And for this crash, the Soviet Space Agency’s internal explanation must be an accident, once they provide complete technical data, perhaps I will find it is not an accident, but their design mistake or other problems, then the Kremlin will find the report provided by the Soviet Space Agency to them has deviations, whether these deviations are work mistakes or subjective intent I won’t speculate too much.
Simply from this angle, from the Soviet Space Agency’s perspective of covering up work mistakes, the possibility of providing problematic data is very high, we need complete data to ensure sufficient coupling between data, problematic data can be discerned from physics principles and mathematics itself, thereby ultimately finding the precise location of the nuclear-powered satellite crash.”
After Goldberg finished, he paused for a moment, “The above is the professor’s original words, he has been reminding the Soviet Union side since the beginning of the year, whether it is me or President Lyndon Johnson, we both fully trust the professor’s judgment, the professor’s judgment is both from professional knowledge and insight into human nature, so I urge the Soviet Union side here to provide complete data.”
The representatives present whispered to each other, because it indeed made sense.
Even the Soviet Union camp representatives, although no one spoke, inwardly also felt it made sense, because everyone is cut from the same mold, who doesn’t know whom.
McDonald added: “Ambassador Goldberg, please convey to the professor on my behalf the most sincere thanks from Maple Leaf Country, secondly I think the Soviet Union side must provide complete data, this is not just the matter of one country Maple Leaf Country, this is the matter of the whole world.
The Soviet Space Agency says high probability reentry in Maple Leaf Country, but what if not? If the Soviet Space Agency’s estimate is wrong and reenters in other countries? If other countries are unprepared, how many casualties will it cause? How much uncontrollable pollution?
We need more professional people to provide precise judgment.
Maple Leaf Country’s opinion is, we only believe the judgment and prediction made by the professor.”
Goldberg nodded: “Hope the Soviet Union fulfills its obligations as it says.
Instead of evading, only facing when problems arise, we need to take action before problems arise.”
Fyodorov had regained calm: “Mr. Chairman, fellow representatives, this is a technical accident, not deliberate behavior, we have already shown a responsible attitude, the America and Maple Leaf Country representatives are politicizing this matter without limits, to achieve this purpose they even bring out the professor to provide evidence for their rhetoric.
But considering the Outer Space Treaty and a responsible attitude to the international community, the Moscow side will further discuss Maple Leaf Country’s proposal, we will give a final reply as soon as possible, I call on the international community here to treat it calmly and jointly address this challenge.”
A good diplomat deeply knows a truth, that you cannot always passively take hits, since the current battlefield is clearly unfavorable to you, you must know how to create a new battlefield, and on this new battlefield, launch an attack.
Offense is the best defense.
Diplomacy, debate, public opinion offense and defense, their core has great commonality.
Fyodorov is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding diplomats of this era, he quickly captured the point that could be used to attack:
“Additionally I need to emphasize, the reentry of one satellite can cause such a big reaction, in the America and Maple Leaf Country representatives’ narrative, it seems it will cause devastating blow to Maple Leaf Country.
And everyone knows, just at this year’s annual meeting, America’s President Lyndon Johnson proposed the Star Wars Program, to launch ten thousand satellites covering our skies.
The number of these ten thousand satellites far exceeds the satellites we launched, the reentry risk also far higher than the satellites we launched, then these ten thousand satellites are missiles hanging in humanity’s skies, with reentry danger at any time.
Therefore I call on the America side here, not to under the pretext of defense, do dangerous things, disregard humanity’s safety, according to the professor’s statement at the press conference, America will also launch nuclear-powered satellites.
If America’s reusable rocket technology R&D succeeds, it is hard to imagine the nuclear-powered satellites in humanity’s skies will be 10.
Even if the nuclear-powered satellite does not reenter on the ground but disintegrates in the atmosphere, nuclear radiation will still spread globally with airflow, causing global nuclear radiation and nuclear pollution.
I call here for the establishment of an international technical committee to fully assess space nuclear technology, establish safety standards, ensure all countries’ space activities are open and transparent.”
You want me to disclose? Then you also have to disclose to me.
Just right, I am also very interested in your reusable rockets and nuclear-powered satellites you are developing.
Fyodorov immediately grasped the key to the problem and turned the situation around.
He deeply knew that even within the free world, not everyone is of one mind with America, leaving aside the castrated Germany, just England and France these two countries, would they want to see you Americans’ so-called Star Wars, so-called satellite iron curtain succeed? Obviously not.
The Suez Canal dispute was only ten years ago, that time America and Soviet Union joined hands to force England and France to hand over control of the Suez Canal.
England and France have long wanted to make trouble, just lacked the opportunity before.
Now the Soviet Union representative gave them a righteous excuse to make trouble, how can they not make trouble vigorously.
England representative Lord Hugh Kalladen, France representative, West Germany representative and others spoke one after another, indicating the Soviet Union should publish detailed technical data and specific parameters, but America’s Star Wars Program should also be placed under United Nations framework for supervision.
This change caught Goldberg somewhat off guard.
Two topics bundled together, see if you take the move.
“Sorry, our Star Wars Program is led by the professor, it will absolutely not have the same situation as the Soviet Union, we have full confidence to ensure Earth’s safety.”
Goldberg repeated the same set over and over, we first talk about the Soviet Union problem, we have the professor, the professor absolutely won’t have problems, we won’t cause satellite reentry.
For a moment the scene was exceptionally chaotic.
India representative Ramesh Singh indicated that India can lead the establishment of an international technical committee to avoid the US-Soviet sides affecting the committee’s fairness and impartiality.
After the meeting ended that day, the United Nations press room was packed with reporters, magnesium lights flashing one after another.
The United Nations side held a press conference, trying to calm the controversy.
Fyodorov: “Ladies and gentlemen, Cosmos 250 is a satellite for scientific research, out of control due to unexpected failure.
The Soviet Union side, upholding a responsible attitude, has notified the United Nations and Maple Leaf Country, and will provide technical support.
We call on the international community to treat it calmly, we must unite to jointly address this challenge.”
Then Goldberg spoke: “We have communicated with the Soviet Union side to ensure they provide complete satellite data, the team led by the professor will calculate the reentry location to ensure the nuclear-powered satellite reentry can be predicted in advance, avoid casualties, after the satellite reenters, we will launch Operation Morning Light to clear the nuclear radiation it brings.”
Fyodorov corrected: “Possible nuclear radiation.”
Goldberg said straightforwardly: “Sorry, it is nuclear radiation.”
After other countries proposed to disclose technology for supervision, the US-Soviet sides quickly reached consensus, the Soviet Union side provides complete parameters of the nuclear-powered satellite, the America side is responsible for predicting the reentry location.
Other countries’ opinions are not worth mentioning.
The Soviet Union’s shadow spread for so long, so long that sixty years later, the big bear’s blitzkrieg turned into a quagmire wrestle, and there are still people hyping the so-called top three powers.
After the press conference, global media stirred up heated discussion.
Washington Post headline: “Soviet Nuclear Satellite Threatens North America”.
Pravda rebutted: “America Uses Accident to Smear Soviet Technology”.
Lin Ran again became the focus of public opinion heated discussion, Maple Leaf Country and America public are all expecting the reentry location given by Lin Ran.
Located in Huntsville City Redstone Arsenal, now should be called Marshall Space Flight Center, the huge IBM System 360 computer cluster occupies half the room, and this room is no ordinary room.
The computer cluster concept has been deeply integrated into IBM’s computer design.
(IBM System 360)
This is the latest version of System 360, compared to the first edition released in 1964, this IBM mainframe besides supporting dynamic resource response, also introduced high-speed cache memory, making the computer’s data processing ability 12 times stronger than before.
The machine emitted a low hum, punch cards piled up like mountains, technicians busily input data.
IBM’s technical engineers also came to the site, they have one task today, that is to prove the latest System 360 is stronger than the professor in computing power.
The computer’s advantage lies in computing power, but every time in critical instantaneous calculations, not matching the professor is one thing, in orbital calculations with massive data, after so many years of development, surely can surpass, right?
For IBM, if they can squarely defeat Lin Ran in computation, that would also be no small news, released on Wall Street, it would greatly boost IBM’s stocks.
Lin Ran and NASA’s orbital mechanics experts, IBM’s engineers are all waiting for the specific data sent from Washington.
Once the data arrives, both sides will formally start computation work.
Nearly two weeks of atmospheric drag and solar activity data already recorded on the blackboard.
First to arrive is the telegraph, Soviet Union provided data includes inclination 65°, perigee 200 km, apogee 300 km, launch time September 18, 1966.
This is simplified data.
Complete data delivered by special plane.
After data arrived, engineers combined Soviet Union data with NORAD’s SPADATS space detection and tracking system observations, input into the computer.
IBM’s engineers stared at the results spat out by the printer.
Thompson reported: “Preliminary calculations show the satellite’s orbit is decaying rapidly. Estimated reentry time around June 15, error plus or minus 24 hours.”
NASA’s orbital mechanics expert, Foster frowned, staring at the world map on the wall.
He drew a broad area with red chalk, from the Pacific Ocean all the way to the North American mainland.
Foster: “Atmospheric density model is key.
This model is not precise enough, we need to assume the worst case.
Thompson, adjust the drag coefficient, consider the satellite’s cross-sectional area and mass.”
They worked overnight, reintroduced the Jacchia atmospheric model to estimate high-altitude atmospheric density.
Even the latest System 360, computing one orbital decay takes 2 hours, and this is based on IBM engineers guarding the site, immediately troubleshooting and fixing any problem.
While Lin Ran’s answer was already written in a thin letter, placed on the table, he had gone to busy his own work.
Lin Ran only spent half a day in his own office to give the answer.
When he walked into this room filled with machine hums, placed the answer on the table, IBM’s engineers all felt strong frustration.
He just needed half a day, they huffed and puffed for half a day, asked about precision, 5000 km, plus or minus one day.
IBM engineer team’s head, George Green full of bitter smile, “Professor, you doing this will make the new young guys in the team lose confidence.
Originally everyone was quite confident this time, our new System 360 uses many new technologies, you are a bit too fast.”
Lin Ran has many identities, NASA Director, Columbia University Mathematics Department professor are just part of them, also IBM’s chief scientist.
This identity cannot be put openly, the federal P.L 87-489 effective in 1963 and the memorandum on conflict of interest and moral standards clearly emphasize federal senior officials cannot hold positions in enterprises.
But rules are rules, practice is practice, IBM had chief scientist before, after 1963 the position still exists, but no one on the position, no name.
After 1965, Jenny Hearst appeared on IBM board of directors member list.
Lin Ran is IBM’s chief scientist, a tacit fact.
Just like the later Congress Hill stock god, she won’t admit, but everyone knows.
Lin Ran smiled: “The young guys getting a bit of a blow is good, this is the necessary path for IBM engineers working at NASA, after all I don’t participate in all computations, you are still very necessary.”
George Green smiled bitterly again, he asked: “Professor, when do you think computers will be stronger than you?”
Lin Ran said without looking back: “Soon, George, you will definitely see that day come.”
The engineer next to George Green who has been working here for five years grumbled: “The professor said the same five years ago.”
George Green turned sideways and patted his head: “Everyone cheer up, we can’t be too much slower than the professor!”
The new engineer muttered: “BOSS, I think what the reporters said is not wrong!”
George Green asked: “What did the reporters say?”
