Chapter 75: Cape Canaveral Launch Site

In James Webb's original plan, he was to go to the Cape Canaveral launch site on the east coast of Florida before the official launch in May to do the final mobilization and cheer for the NASA staff on-site.

As a non-professional, going now wouldn't give any suggestions.

But knowing that this launch might have problems, he had to board the special plane to Florida with Lin Ran with a feeling of anxiety.

On the morning of March 8, 1961, the sky over Cape Canaveral, Florida, had just turned fish-belly white, and the sea breeze brushed over this land with a salty taste.

The newly appointed NASA Administrator James Webb and White House Special Assistant for Aerospace Affairs Lin Ran stood at this newly built space launch center. Lin Ran's expression was calm and composed, while James Webb frowned tightly.

The Redstone rocket on the LC-5 launch pad towered into the clouds, carrying the silver-white Freedom 7 spacecraft on top, shining brightly in the morning light.

Luo Bote Gilruth, the actual person in charge of the Mercury program, accompanied them on the side, while engineers busily shuttled around the launch device, checking circuits and adjusting equipment.

"Gilruth, this scene is truly spectacular." Webb stopped his steps, staring at the rocket, his tone carrying a trace of emotion.

Gilruth nodded, the corners of his mouth slightly raised: "Administrator, this is the hard work of our team.

Freedom 7 has already undergone hundreds of tests, and the Redstone rocket has also completed multiple unmanned launches. We have tried our best to ensure everything is ready."

Webb's gaze fell on the booster; the Redstone rocket's red paint was particularly eye-catching in the sunlight.

"How is Freedom 7's reliability? I heard there were some small faults in previous tests."

"There were indeed some twists and turns," Gilruth said frankly, "but we improved the navigation system and reinforced the electrical connections. This time, we have confidence."

Webb nodded slightly, but he was very uneasy in his heart. Randolph said there were problems, and Luo Bote Gilruth was full of confidence—who was telling the truth?

This manned space flight was not only a technical problem but also a symbol of national dignity.

And it also directly affected his reform plan at NASA.

When Webb was visiting Freedom 7, Lin Ran stayed in the conference room of the launch center. On the table were detailed blueprints spread out, with dense lines marking every detail of the booster and spacecraft.

Launch Operations Director Kurt Debus stood by the table, fingers lightly tapping the table, clearly full of confidence in his work.

"Kurt, how is the situation with the electrical system?" Lin Ran pointed to an area on the blueprint and asked.

Kurt walked up, picked up a pencil, and pointed to the circuit layout on the blueprint: "Professor Lin, we found some short-circuit hazards in early tests. For this reason, we redesigned the lines, added protection devices, and simulated various extreme situations. Now, the system's stability has had a qualitative leap."

Besides Kurt Debus, Rudolph Arthur was also at the scene; he was responsible for the propulsion system improvement of the Mercury manned program.

So he was also at the scene.

Rudolph Arthur urgently hoped to improve his relationship with Lin Ran and even more didn't want Lin Ran and James Webb to break NASA's existing pattern.

So he smiled and added: "When we handle manned spacecraft, the fault investigation mechanism for the entire fault is already perfect enough; from system testing to data analysis to fault tree analysis, etc., we investigate faults from multiple aspects.

Ensuring astronauts can return safely.

Professor Lin, don't worry; NASA's rigorous attitude and professionalism are as reliable as you are in the field of mathematics."

Kurt's fingers were simultaneously stroking the edge of the blueprint, his eyes staring at those complex lines; these were the results of NASA engineers and R&D personnel fighting day and night.

Lin Ran pretended not to know Rudolph Arthur, while inwardly he was confirming that the blueprint was exactly the same as in his memory.

He knew very well that as long as the time didn't change, this launch would have the same mistake as in history.

James Webb in the open field was asking about the astronauts: "Gilruth, how is the astronauts' preparation? Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, and John Glenn—who will be the final flight person?"

"If there are no accidents, it will be Alan; he is one of the best pilots," Gilruth answered without hesitation, "His physical and psychological qualities are impeccable. He knows the significance of this mission and is ready to meet the challenge."

Not long after, Webb met Alan Shepard, who was about to write history. Shepard was wearing a training suit, his posture tall and straight, with the unique firmness of a soldier on his face.

He reached out and shook hands with Webb; the palm transmitted a warm and powerful touch.

"Alan, very happy to meet you." Webb smiled.

"Administrator, I am also very honored." Shepard's voice was low and steady.

"How do you feel about this mission?" Webb stared into his eyes, wanting to read more from them.

Shepard smiled: "Both excited and a bit nervous, just like taking off in a fighter jet for the first time. But I believe in the team, and I believe in Freedom 7. It will take me up, and it will bring me back."

Shepard was indeed professional enough.

In the original space-time, about 2 minutes and 15 seconds after the Freedom 7 spacecraft launch, the spacecraft began to roll to the left, with a roll rate of about 1 degree per second.

The automatic control system failed to correct this problem, and the roll rate subsequently increased to about 10 degrees per second.

Shepard switched to manual control and successfully stopped the roll.

It was fortunate that they chose Shepard among the three to go up, otherwise Freedom 7 would definitely have brewed into an accident.

Webb patted his shoulder: "You represent America's hope. This time it might be broadcast live across America."

Shepard nodded, firmly saying: "I won't let them down."

Leaving the control center, James Webb and Lin Ran strolled on the streets of Cape Canaveral. This place was once a desolate sandy land, but now it had become vibrant because of the space program.

Military bases and research facilities stood in great numbers, and the air was filled with an atmosphere of tension and excitement intertwined.

Tourists on the roadside stretched their necks to look in the direction of the launch pad.

After returning to the special plane, Lin Ran and James Webb sat opposite each other in the helicopter.

"Professor Lin, what's the result?" James Webb asked hurriedly.

"Just as I expected, Freedom 7's control system has a very serious problem that hasn't been solved. And they haven't discovered it." Lin Ran leaned into the other party's ear and said in a low voice.

"We have to remind them quickly!" James Webb didn't want to see this scene appear during his term.

The first manned space flight having problems—that was an even bigger scandal than a live-broadcast rocket explosion. ===== CHAPTER 76 =====