Chapter 79

Looking at history, Lin Ran found everything strangely odd—Kubert had even pulled off the audacious stunt of flying an F-106 fighter jet low over NASA’s headquarters at Cape Canaveral.

NASA had already halted Kubert’s mission and replaced him with Shepard, yet ultimately still decided to let Kubert complete it.

Even if America had the lowest standards for discipline, this would never happen under normal circumstances.

Therefore, Lin Ran urged James Webb to accompany him to the Cape Canaveral Space Launch Base.

Besides going to see Freedom 7, he wanted to find a plausible reason to share his suspicions with James Webb.

You can’t suspect someone of being mentally unstable without even meeting Shepard face to face.

Returning to April, after Lin Ran and James Webb visited Cape Canaveral together, Lin Ran revealed his observations to him:

“I think Colonel Alan Shepard is off.”

James Webb’s expression turned grave: “I’ve felt it too.

His reactions were sluggish during our conversation.”

As a former lawyer and financial officer, James Webb’s attention to detail was unquestionable—he had noticed something amiss when shaking Shepard’s hand.

Lin Ran continued: “I suspect not only Freedom 7 is compromised, but that Colonel Shepard himself was deliberately selected.

Because we aim to break NASA’s lax status quo, which threatens its current power structure—they’re willing to sacrifice Freedom 7’s failure and an astronaut’s life just to intimidate us.”

After returning to Washington to report, James Webb, with assistance from an IA, first located Shepard’s personal physician, who revealed that Shepard had consulted him before selection about his physical discomfort and how to conceal it during the medical exam.

Then, using the physician’s medical records, James Webb obtained Shepard’s original physical examination report from Houston’s Hermann Hospital.

It clearly stated: Alan Shepard suffered from Ménière’s disease.

The doctor who falsified the records was also taken in for questioning.

In just two months at NASA, James Webb felt more exhausted than he had in two years of politics in Washington.

He was also grateful to have Lin Ran—if not for him, the blame for Freedom 7’s failure would have landed squarely on him.

From James Webb’s and the White House’s perspective, Lin Ran had rendered extraordinary service.

To the White House, Lin Ran had even exceeded their initial expectations: they had hoped he would shatter NASA’s stagnation.

As for why, in the original timeline, NASA never caused trouble again, it was because James Webb raised NASA’s budget from five hundred million to one billion dollars within just one year.

James Webb’s deep connections in Washington helped NASA secure research funding, drastically reducing internal opposition.

To gain authority within NASA and turn the position of Space Special Assistant into a real power post, Lin Ran couldn’t offer direct benefits like James Webb—he had to take an unconventional approach.

In ancient times, Newton was even called Sir Isaac; in the last century, Yang Zhenning and Li Zhengdao fell out over authorship; in this century, Qiu Chengtong and Tian Gang were locked in bitter conflict.

Scientists fighting for power and prestige were no less ruthless than politicians—often more so.

After confirming Shepard’s illness, James Webb’s trust in Lin Ran’s suspicions about Freedom 7 rose sharply.

It was under this medical report that James Webb, within twelve hours of launch, announced Shepard’s replacement—gaining Kennedy’s support.

For this White House, it was the perfect chance to completely purge NASA.

For Kennedy, it was an ideal opportunity to sever ties with the old NASA.

This White House would not be held responsible for NASA’s past failures.

At the Cape Canaveral press conference, Kennedy waved his arms, his tone fervent:

“We must press forward—for scientific progress, for national honor, for humanity’s future.

NASA is riddled with problems. The White House will establish a special investigative team, chaired by Vice President Lin Deng, to thoroughly examine NASA’s past failures.

This incident, and every past rocket launch failure by NASA, will be scrutinized.

I solemnly pledge: the government will investigate NASA fully, punish all responsible parties, and never allow any conspiracy to obstruct our great goal of space exploration.

Freedom 7’s failure was NASA’s failure. Under James Webb and Randolph Lin’s leadership, NASA will now achieve one success after another.

Failure is a test on our path forward, not an excuse to retreat.

Though we have suffered a setback, I am certain America will not be crushed by hardship.

Our space race with Soviet Russia has only just begun—it is far from over!

Finally, I pledge that before this decade ends, America will land a human on the Moon and return him safely to Earth...”

As Kennedy spoke passionately on stage, trying to offset the gloom of the manned space failure and NASA’s internal corruption by announcing America’s manned lunar landing goal, a distant gunshot echoed faintly.

The atmosphere instantly grew tense.

A soldier in Air Force uniform sprinted up to Kennedy and whispered in his ear:

“Mr. President, Robert Gilruth, director of the ground control center, has just committed suicide.”

Robert Gilruth, upon learning the content of Kennedy’s speech, panicked and shot himself with his personal Smith & Wesson Model 29 revolver.

He was the one who personally selected Alan Shepard as the first manned astronaut.

Kennedy immediately announced the news.

The reporters in attendance were numb—today’s news density was already overwhelming.

Every reporter lucky enough to be present felt they had struck gold.

Those wanting positive news could report Kennedy’s lunar landing pledge.

Those seeking negative angles had endless material: NASA’s sabotage, Robert Gilruth’s suicide, Freedom 7’s crash.

Those chasing legendary stories could focus on Lin Ran’s prediction.

Reporters couldn’t hop on private jets back to Washington like White House bureaucrats.

They had to wait for public transport.

Besides, they didn’t want to leave yet—their stories had already been faxed back to headquarters; their urge to discuss was unbearable.

Reporters even found a campsite near the Cape Canaveral launch site, planning a backyard barbecue, gathering in small groups to chat.

As for the articles? Let the editors back at headquarters write them.