Chapter 309: The Situation’s Development Gradually Becomes Eerie
“Rather than researching computers, better to research how to replicate the professor.”
The young engineer who liked reading Silicon Valley technology magazines said.
Such a suggestion caught George Green off guard. “We ordinary people should pray that day never comes. I simply can’t imagine if the professor could replicate, would ordinary people still have a reason to exist?
At that time, every industry would probably be filled with professors.”
Meanwhile, the orbital calculation teams led by Dr. Foster had grown accustomed to the professor’s operations.
Even if the professor provided results, they still had to continue their work.
Whether to prove the team’s necessity of existence or to further verify the System 360 cluster performance, this matter had to advance.
Foster calmly worked with the team on repeated verifications, combining SPADATS radar data to gradually narrow the prediction range.
The next evening, Foster gathered the team to display the final results.
The blackboard showed an arc-shaped trajectory covering 50° to 65° north latitude.
Foster said: “Our best prediction is that the satellite will reenter the atmosphere on June 23 to 24, with the fall area extending from the western Pacific coast to Northwestern Canada, most likely near Great Slave Lake, with an error margin of about 1000 kilometers.”
Among the engineers present was one of Maple Leaf Country descent. He recalled the location of Great Slave Lake and felt unwell.
“If it really crashes into Great Slave Lake in the end, that would be terrible news.”
This is Maple Leaf Country’s second largest lake, also the deepest in North America, with both ecological and economic value, rich in fishery resources.
Foster sighed: “Yeah, according to the Soviet Union side, it contains 50 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, which is not a small number.
If the nuclear reactor isn’t completely burned up, the radioactive debris will bring disaster.”
Foster sighed and rubbed his temples.
The Maple Leaf Country engineer said: “We need to hold a press conference as soon as possible, announce our calculation results publicly, and have residents in that range evacuate during those two days.”
George Green reminded: “Before that, shouldn’t we first look at the professor’s answer?”
Foster suddenly realized. He opened the envelope and found a Maple Leaf Country map inside, with a line drawn from Great Slave Lake as the starting point to Baker Lake as the endpoint, and a circle-like pattern drawn with that 600-kilometer line segment as the diameter, accompanied by the text:
“The fragments will fall along this line, spreading across Maple Leaf Country territory.”
After cross-verification of both sides’ results, Lin Ran’s calculation results were even more specific.
Ultimately, using Lin Ran’s results as the final report, NASA submitted the report to Lyndon Johnson.
The report included the orbital prediction map, possible fall areas centered on Great Slave Lake and Baker Lake, and potential risks of the nuclear reactor: if fragments scatter, radiation levels could reach 1.1 sieverts per hour, enough to threaten life.
Lyndon Johnson took a deep breath upon seeing it, as the result was serious enough that he worried meeting Kosygin at the end of June under these circumstances would be seen as not tough enough.
“Christian, hand the press conference to the professor to hold. Have him host this press conference in Huntsville and do the specific explanations.
Have him explain the situation to the public, but take care to avoid causing panic.
I still need to think about it.”
Think carefully about what? Whether to meet Kosygin.
Whether this matter would affect his election situation.
This was what Lyndon Johnson needed to think about.
The press room at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville was completely different from the White House.
White House press conferences, depending on scale, if small, were in a tiny office with only a few reporters and the White House Press Secretary.
If large, then in the East Room, which was more formal.
If aiming for a relaxed, celebratory victory atmosphere, it would be held in the outdoor Rose Garden.
The Huntsville press room was more like a simple shed made of steel and plastic tarps than a hall.
A slightly strong wind could blow dust into the shed, giving everyone a taste of Alabama flavor.
But this didn’t dampen the reporters’ enthusiasm at all.
The blackboard had a huge world map and an enlarged orbital diagram, marking the predicted fall area of Cosmos 250.
Lin Ran stood at the podium, with flashbulbs constantly going off below.
Lin Ran said: “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending.
The Soviet Union has notified us that their Cosmos 250 nuclear-powered satellite has malfunctioned and lost control, expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere on June 23 to 24.
NASA has used the data provided by the Soviet Union and our tracking system to predict its fall location.”
He pointed to the map, where the red area covered northern North America.
Lin Ran continued: “Our calculations indicate the satellite may fall between the Pacific and Northwestern Canada, most likely near Great Slave Lake.
Since the satellite carries a BES-5 nuclear reactor with 50 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, we must take the potential radioactive risk seriously.
Cosmos 250 has an orbital inclination of 65°, with perigee now down to 180 kilometers.
Atmospheric drag is accelerating its decay. Using the Jacchia model and SPADATS data, we predict reentry between June 23 and 24, with a broad fall area. The White House is urgently seeking cooperation with the Maple Leaf Country government to prepare emergency measures for this accident.”
Reporters raised hands one after another, questions surging like a tide.
A Washington Post reporter asked first.
“Professor, how dangerous would the nuclear reactor crash be? Does the public need to worry?”
“Rationally speaking, I believe the Soviet Union would have fully considered that the reactor design needs to withstand reentry heat when launching nuclear-powered satellites.
But given the Soviet Union’s past limited design performance, for safety’s sake, we have notified Canadian authorities and prepared search and cleanup plans.
The public need not panic; we will maintain transparency throughout.”
A Wall Street Journal reporter followed up: “Professor, you warned the Soviet Union side earlier this year, yet they still chose to launch nuclear-powered satellites. Is the data they provided this time reliable? Why didn’t they take measures in advance?”
Lin Ran answered: “The data provided by the Soviet Union matches what our SPADATS observed, showing they have demonstrated a degree of transparency.
We also requested complete data from the Soviet Union side, and we will cross-verify with that data to ensure it’s correct.
Unless all Soviet data is fabricated, we would certainly detect anomalies.
Therefore, the prediction results handled by NASA are accurate.
As for why the Soviet Union didn’t believe my technical predictions, I think it’s probably because their confidence in themselves exceeds their trust in me.
After all, I don’t work in Moscow, do I?”
The reporters present burst into laughter.
Below the stage, besides American reporters, the most numerous were Maple Leaf Country reporters.
A Maple Leaf Country reporter couldn’t hold back, stood up, tone laced with worry:
“Professor, if fragments fall in Maple Leaf Country, what impact would it have on the environment and residents?”
“It would have serious impact, endangering the lifespan of people throughout the area and affecting their health.
I can’t give specifics now because we don’t yet know the radiation levels after fragment fall, but we are cooperating with Maple Leaf Country’s Atomic Energy Control Committee to formulate emergency plans.
If contamination occurs, we will join Maple Leaf Country in immediately isolating the area and cleaning up fragments.
President Johnson and I have spoken; we promise full support for our ally.”
“Professor, I’d like to ask, this Soviet satellite crash will also raise public doubts about the Star Wars Program. What do you think?” Jenny, who came specially from Washington representing the New York Times, asked.
“First, our Star Wars Program satellites are divided into low-orbit satellites and medium-orbit satellites. The former are not nuclear-powered; if they crash, they have auto-decomposition settings to ensure disintegration before landing, with no ground impact.
The latter are nuclear-powered satellites, and we too will have sufficient safety settings to ensure no environmental pollution after landing.
NASA will uphold a responsible attitude to ensure the Star Wars Program is safe and reliable.”
“Professor, can you guarantee it absolutely won’t have problems?” A reporter from The Times still wasn’t reassured.
Lin Ran nodded: “I guarantee it won’t have a situation like the Soviet Union’s.”
After the press conference, the media erupted in heated discussion.
Mainstream newspapers like the New York Times, Time Magazine, The Times, etc., all published maps marking the fall area.
Residents around the mapped areas began to worry. In Yellowknife of Maple Leaf Country, residents gathered at the community center, discussing how to cope with possible radiation risks and planning a long trip out during the newspaper-predicted fall time to avoid the risk.
Finally, in the early morning of June 24, 1967, the sky over Great Slave Lake in Maple Leaf Country’s far northwest was streaked by a blazing fireball.
The nuclear-powered satellite Cosmos 250 disintegrated upon reentering the atmosphere, with scattered radioactive fragments covering the entire wilderness.
This accident not only had profound effects on the environment and resident health but also ignited the powder keg of international politics at the Cold War peak.
Public panic, media buzz, and intense international debates intertwined, pushing this nuclear-powered satellite crash event to global attention.
At crash time, the reactor failed to fully burn up, with fragments scattering into soil, vegetation, and water bodies near Great Slave Lake.
“NBC latest news: Preliminary tests by Maple Leaf Country’s Atomic Energy Control Committee show radiation levels in some areas up to 1.1 sieverts per hour, far exceeding safety standards.
Water samples from Great Slave Lake detected trace radioactive materials, which may enter the food chain via fish and aquatic plants.
Scientists worry that summer rainfall could wash radioactive particles into broader water systems, threatening the ecosystem.”
“CBS reporter continues coverage of this Soviet nuclear-powered satellite crash. The joint U.S.-Canada Operation Morning Light is underway. According to the White House spokesperson’s statement, the operation has so far recovered only about 0.1% of the nuclear fuel, 50 grams, with most fragments still unfound.
Experts speculate the reactor core may have dispersed into particles smaller than 1 millimeter, hard to fully clean up.
The Maple Leaf Country government announced establishment of long-term monitoring stations for regular soil and water testing, but ecological recovery is expected to take decades.”
“Latest from Maple Leaf Country reporter: In an Inuit community near Yellowknife, hunters report abnormal behavior in deer herds and fish, raising concerns over long-term ecological chain impacts.
Maple Leaf Country Resources Minister James Fulton stated in Ottawa: We face an unprecedented environmental crisis and must take decisive action to protect our land.”
“In Yellowknife, community leader Joseph Nunak organized hundreds of residents to protest in front of city hall, holding signs reading ‘Protect Our Home’ and ‘Soviet Union Must Be Responsible’.
Nunak said passionately at the rally: Our ancestors lived on this land for a thousand years, now threatened by foreign nuclear waste! We demand truth and compensation!
The protest drew national and even American media attention, with CBC Television live broadcasting the residents’ anger and unease throughout.”
This matter also sparked nationwide debate in America. A New York Times poll on the 26th showed sixty percent of the public opposed the president meeting Soviet senior official Kosygin.
In the White House Oval Office, Lyndon Johnson and McNamara sat opposite each other across the desk, both holding cigars, the occasional puffs of smoke making the scene not seem like a static painting.
“McNamara, the New York Times poll actually shows 40% of the public think I should still meet Kosygin?”
The original Johnson-Kosygin meeting was set for June 28, but delayed due to the Soviet nuclear-powered satellite crash.
“Yes, this shows the public’s war fatigue.” McNamara’s tone was calm, without any frustration over war setbacks.
“Mac! I need an accurate answer from you—can we win this damn war or not?” Johnson stood up, leaning forward, nearly shoving his cigar into McNamara’s nostril.
Early February 1967, Kosygin visited London to discuss main issues between England and the Soviet Union.
But the trip’s purpose went beyond that. Hanoi had secretly asked the Soviet Union to use Prime Minister Harold Wilson to pressure Washington.
Harold was one of the few European leaders supporting the Vietnam War.
Hanoi and Moscow hoped the Vietnam War could ultimately be resolved peacefully.
The Johnson side also hoped to use Kosygin for mediation on the Vietnam War issue.
Both sides were seeking intermediaries to find a solution.
It was like some war where everyone wanted to talk, but on the surface all pretended not to want to talk, not to be in a hurry.
Among them, the American ambassador to Moscow delivered a secret letter from Johnson to Ho Chi Minh to the Soviet Union, proposing a new suggestion: America stops bombing North Vietnam and massing troops in exchange for South Vietnam guaranteeing no more troop deployments to the front lines.
After this suggestion was passed to Hanoi, Washington received no reply.
(The above content comes from “Trust – Dobrynin Memoir 1962-1986”)
The escalating Vietnam War drew increasingly fierce international criticism against America, and American Congress also questioned Lyndon Johnson’s unrestricted power to dispatch troops.
This led to Kosygin’s Gettysburg trip.
But this nuclear-powered satellite crash created a turn in public opinion, with the Soviet Union again seen as the greatest threat, giving Lyndon Johnson room to maneuver.
But the premise was winning.
Winning means a future; without winning, the hard-earned breather would see pressure surge back like a tide.
McNamara replied without hesitation: “Of course, of course we can win. My command has no issues. Our Operation Cedar Falls early this year achieved a huge victory, didn’t it?”
Lyndon Johnson was speechless, because the Iron Triangle area captured in Operation Cedar Falls had now been retaken by the enemy.
This operation was a tactical victory and strategic failure.
McNamara continued: “Mr. President, on this matter, you could ask the professor’s opinion.
More accurately, I think for all matters, you could ask the professor’s opinion.”
Lyndon Johnson wanted to curse but held back. He walked to the telephone, picked it up, and dialed Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.
After five minutes, the communicator found Lin Ran, and then Lin Ran’s voice came through: “Mr. President, how can I be of service?”
After Lyndon Johnson roughly explained the situation, Lin Ran answered: “I think meeting Kosygin won’t yield anything substantial.
Why not consider talking with China?
In the North Vietnam area, China’s mediation might be more effective.”
Lyndon Johnson showed a thoughtful expression. “You mean I should accelerate China’s entry into GATT in exchange for their help mediating North Vietnam?”
