Chapter 111 - 107: World Moon Week_1

"The spokesperson of China’s Space Development Committee officially announced in Beijing, ’We are initiating a manned Moon landing exploration program and related Lunar Scientific Investigation Station construction plans.’

Landing on the Moon has been a dream of our nation since ancient times. Thousands of years ago, there was the story of Chang’e ascending to the heavens, and even the poet Su Shi envisioned lunar landscapes in his verses of ’Prelude to Water Melody.’

China’s aerospace personnel have always adhered to the principles of safety and reliability in space exploration. Since the launch of Project 921, China has sent 10 astronauts into space, achieved many accomplishments, and attained tremendous success.

Therefore, the Aerospace Development Committee, after reaching a decision, has resolved to launch our own lunar exploration program. It is reported that the mission will be accomplished using the independently designed new-generation CZ-10 rocket."

It is known that the concept of the CZ-10 rocket dates back to the 1960s and 70s. It was Sir Qian, a pioneer in China’s aerospace field, who envisioned this super rocket for a manned Moon landing.

Today, China’s Moon missions and the subsequent lunar programs will continue to bear the name ’Dawn,’ and the newly developed lunar rocket will be granted the name CZ-10, in memory of Sir Qian’s ardent aspirations for China’s aerospace and to rectify past regrets."

The Space Agency stated, "We must carry forward the spirit of hard work and endurance, the spirit of innovation undeterred by difficulties, and resolutely complete..."

An hour after the Dawn Project was announced, it topped the search rankings on Baidu and Weibo’s hot searches, creating a huge buzz online.

And when the national news broadcast it in the evening, the entire nation found out: The Chinese people are going to land on the Moon!

The impact of this news is no less significant than the first human flight into space, the launch of the first satellite, or the explosion of the first atomic bomb.

In countless universities and factories at night, at roadside snack stalls and grilled fish hotpot restaurants, people everywhere can be heard discussing the lunar mission.

Keep in mind, according to previous plans, the Space Agency was supposed to complete the last unmanned lunar exploration around 2025 and then proceed with a manned Moon landing around 2030. Now that’s a full decade ahead of schedule!

Especially the speeches by the big shots and key leaders of the Space Agency have all expressed the importance they place on landing on the Moon.

In forums for space enthusiasts, with the announcement of the CZ-10, a large group of netizens gathered to discuss the Space Agency’s lunar landing plan, and conspiracy theorists claimed that the second space race had begun.

An article titled ’Cold War Restarted, China Grabs the First Return to the Moon One Year Ahead of NACA!’ was shared everywhere. Originally just a piece of ordinary independent media writing, it became popular by sheer luck, and many people took it as fact.

What’s even more absurd is that that evening, calls suddenly began for donations to support the Space Agency’s lunar mission. Within 12 hours, several of its foundations had received donations exceeding 100 million yuan, alarming the person in charge who reported it overnight, seeking a way to handle the situation.

As for the question, is going to the Moon less important than civil affairs? Yes, there were some, but they were drowned out before they could even make a sound by the enthusiasm of the public.

Aside from eating, the Chinese people also yearn for the stars, and assisting children in mountainous regions doesn’t require diverting funds from scientific research."

...

"It’s really... unexpected."

In the local branch of the Aerospace Development Committee, Lin Ju communicated with the special envoy sent by the Space Agency, he looked thoughtfully at the CZ-10 rocket model in his hands.

As for the sudden implementation of Project 2921 to the Moon, the big shot conveyed the reasons to Lin Ju in private, and he understood them well.

The senior management could accept being overtaken by America, but they absolutely could not accept being surpassed by private space entities. The issues at stake there were too significant and posed a challenge to stability.

But Lin Ju was powerless to help. After all, the CZ-10 was scheduled for a lunar landing in April 2018, less than three years away. The system had given 48 months, and waiting a bit longer wouldn’t hurt.

Moreover, the CZ-10 had already been analyzed and evaluated by system engineers. The conclusion was:

Technically, the challenge isn’t too great since most of it is mature and indeed meets the requirements. Before the 2010s, it would have been considered an outstanding heavy rocket;

However, it isn’t reusable. From the perspective of efficiency and the future, its design concept is outdated. The Space Agency had no choice but to come up with such a rocket.

But the 2921 Project isn’t a solo endeavor by the Space Agency. Since it’s the Aerospace Development Committee that announced the plan, it means the manned lunar mission will still bring in private enterprises like New Yuan, but the Space Agency must lead, with major components developed and produced by them.

After preliminary discussions, the Space Agency subcontracted some of the electronic devices and subsystems, which are truly valuable.

But this works in Lin Ju’s favor because the otherwise elusive "Aim Higher" system task, which requires expanding aerospace influence and the world’s exploration of space, has now clearly advanced a big step, hasn’t it?

The Space Agency is determined to beat New Yuan to the Moon within three years. What about NACA? Russia? The European Space Agency? They must also take some action.

It moves the whole body to pull a single hair. Just thinking about the world engaging in a fierce space race again makes Lin Ju feel like he could laugh out loud even in his dreams.

...

America, Congress.

The news came suddenly, and America felt that their Pacific neighbor, always steady and unexciting, how could they suddenly announce a Moon landing?

Moreover, given their character, if they said they were going to the Moon, then they definitely meant it, unlike NACA’s procrastination.

After multiple confirmations, they received an official and affirmative reply:

"This Moon, I, China, am determined to land on it. It’s settled, and no one else coming will change that."

Then the senators realized the gravity of the problem and, before Claire could compose herself, she was swiftly dragged to Congress to face the grandees’ interrogation.

First: China says it will land on the Moon before 2019. Can they do it?

Claire, drawing upon her expertise, analyzed the question with Congress and then said, "Yes, with the scale of their investment, they could land on the Moon as early as September 2018, just in time for three years."

Another question: What about our Moon return plan? How long will that take?

Claire: "We have the SLS rocket, and the Orion spacecraft completed a test last year, but there’s no lander, and the tender for it has not been confirmed. The specific lunar plans are still undecided, so it wouldn’t be until 2020 at the earliest."

Indeed, at this time Ma’s Starship wasn’t even born yet, so the concept of an Orion-Starship lunar landing combo didn’t yet exist.

The senators grew impatient, "Director Claire, since the year 2000, we have invested tens of billions into NACA, yet your progress is slower than China, which is just starting now. You might be guilty of dereliction of duty!"

Claire: "Not much of that several billion US Dollars was spent on the SLS, and the delay is not NACA’s fault."

After a round of blame-shifting, the senators realized they still needed Claire to return to the Moon, so they abandoned the idea of impeaching him and turned to the serious matter at hand: NACA, find a way to send people to the Moon before the Chinese do.

Claire had already prepared for this. Knowing there wasn’t enough time for a radical solution, he quickly proposed his plan:

"The SLS rocket was supposed to complete its maiden flight in 2018 at the earliest, but for the mission, we’ll need to produce at least four SLS rockets before November 2018, preferably five.

The first launch must carry the Orion spacecraft on its maiden flight test before December 2016, then two launches between 2017 and early 2018—one to send the lander and return vehicle, and another for a manned Moon flyby. Finally, launch the fourth rocket for a lunar landing in the middle of 2018."

Senator: "Then get building it, looks like we need to speed up our timeline."

Claire: "I’m afraid that’s not the case, NACA’s manufacturing capability has significantly declined, and in reality, even if we start now, we could only retrofit two to two and a half SLS rockets by 2019 at most. America is no longer capable of mass-producing giant rockets like half a century ago."

Senator: "We have to find a way. You’re the Director of NACA, and we authorize the funds."

Claire: "Then we can’t rely solely on the SLS. Another heavy rocket we can use is SpaceX’s Heavy Falcon Rocket, which is under development. Without considering reusability, it can send a 26-ton payload to lunar orbit. Two of those launches could substitute for one SLS, which would roughly meet our target of 4 to 5 SLS launches."

Senator: "Then go talk to them. Now, please, bring back the attitude from half a century ago, and send Americans to the Moon for the second time!"

Claire: Presents the 12-digit budget proposal.

Congress: Approved.

Federal Reserve: Printing.

US Dollar: Increasing in value and height.

"America is facing the most serious challenge in history!"

This was America’s response to China’s 2921 Project and reflected its attitude.

SpaceX, Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman, Nevada Mountain, Rockdain, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and several other aerospace manufacturing companies were all brought into the Artemis program for a return to the Moon and immediately began researching lunar landing solutions.

Subsystems such as landers, lunar rovers, and scientific stations were each assigned, and then, based on existing rockets, America’s lunar landing strategy was formulated:

In December 2016, one SLS would conduct a test flight carrying the Orion spacecraft;

In February 2017, a Heavy Falcon Rocket, not recycling, would send "Gateway" (first part) to lunar orbit;

In October 2017, one SLS with Orion and four astronauts would conduct a manned Moon flyby;

In December 2017, a Heavy Falcon Rocket, not recycling, manufactured jointly by SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Boeing, would send the lunar lander section to lunar orbit;

In May 2018, a Heavy Falcon, not recycling, would send the "Gateway" second part to lunar orbit;

In August 2018, an SLS would carry out the lunar landing mission.

A total of six rockets, the spacing between launches was just slightly more than the time needed to manufacture them, meeting the target of before 2019.

If we expedite, we can complete the mission 3 to 4 months ahead of schedule.

The Artemis program ultimately decided to add a total budget of 60 billion US Dollars, eventually matching China in dispatching 90 to 100 tons to lunar orbit and establishing a lunar base.

These changes were announced officially four days after the 2921 Project was unveiled, on September 25th, which was a Monday and a Friday, dubbed by the media as "Moon Week."

Because at the same time, Russia, India, and Island Country also displayed their lunar mission plans, and eventually... New Yuan also announced their plan.

Russia’s lunar mission plan appeared rather perfunctory, cobbling together a PPT with an RD181 rocket; India’s goes without saying, and the Island Country’s aerospace was not much different from India’s.

Only New Yuan’s plan was able to convey immense technical capability just from the PPT presentation.