Twelve o'clock in the morning Beijing time.

Converted to Washington time, it's 8 a.m.

For the vast majority of Americans, a new day has just begun.

A young couple and their four-year-old child sit at a living room table enjoying breakfast together at a home in suburban New Jersey.

Mixing the salad dressing into the bowl, Julie, who was sitting at the table, glanced at the news on the TV, just in time to see the news on the TV that was relaxing about the Ares project, and couldn't help but whisper, "I don't understand, why do we have to spend money to compete with the Chinese people for these things, isn't it better to use the money to do something meaningful?" ”

Buddy, who munched on a bacon sandwich while watching TV, grinned.

"You don't understand, it's a man's waste."

Hearing her husband's words, Julie rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I don't understand, I don't understand how a truck driver can worry about going to the universe. Even if you take 10,000 steps back, they won't be able to let you drive a truck on Mars. ”

Buddy raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "Maybe there will be such a day in the future?" Project Ares is supposedly recruiting volunteers, and maybe I'll be like Han Solo—"

"I warn you, don't even think about it!"

Looking at his wife, whose expression became serious, Buddy made a helpless expression and tried to convince his wife to come.

"Take it easy, my sweetheart...... I'm just saying it, and of course I'm not going to actually sign up. ”

At this moment, a small accident suddenly happened to the news that was being shown.

Just nine minutes ago, NASA's observation satellite found that the Xiangrui carrying the lunar module took off from the Jinling Launch Center in China, and as of the time the station received the news, they had left the stratosphere and were heading to low-earth orbit.

Looking at the picture on the TV, Buddy's mouth opened slightly, and he didn't even notice that the bacon slices in the sandwich had fallen on the plate.

"Oh God...... The Chinese are landing on the moon. ”

While fiddling with the salad in the bowl with a fork, Julie glanced at her husband speechlessly.

"So what?"

Buddy didn't answer his wife's question, just stared intently at the TV, whispering a grumbling in frustration.

"Damn, what the hell is our NASA doing! We've been standing still all these years! ”

The news on TV continues to be broadcast.

It's just that the original news arrangement has been completely disrupted by this sudden incident.

After getting the press release for a brief report, the host immediately connected with Columbia TV's special expert, Professor Slade from Cornell University. At the same time, the Slade professor also serves as an advisor to NASA's Ares program, so his professionalism is unquestionable.

“…… After receiving this news, we urgently contacted Professor Slader, an expert from NASA, although he was unable to get to the scene...... Hello Professor Slade! ”

Professor Slade: "Hello. ”

On the screen of the studio, a picture of Professor Slade appeared.

Through the telephone connection, the host interviewed him on the spot.

"What do you think of Huaguo's moon landing program?"

After thinking about this question for about five seconds, Professor Slade said in a conservative tone: "Huaguo has not disclosed the specific technical parameters of the Xiangrui, including the fact that we suspect that there may be advanced Hall thrusters and smaller controllable fusion reactors on it...... Of course, there are also some opinions that tend to believe that they have adopted an advanced lithium-sulfur battery technology, after all, Star Technology In addition to the aerospace business, the main business area is still in the battery field. ”

Moderator: "I believe that the vast majority of the audience doesn't care which technical route they take, can you make a prediction for us in simpler terms?" ”

"Predictions?"

The host nodded: "Yes, we all want to know how much probability there is of success in this launch." ”

Professor Slade: "I probably can't give you a definite answer, I don't have any specific information about the Xiangrui. ”

At this point, he paused for a moment and continued in a reluctant tone.

"But if I had to say it, they would have a better chance of winning than the Soviets. Big. ”

"Do you think they have a better chance of winning than the Soviets?" The host's eyes widened in surprise and he repeatedly confirmed in disbelief, "Are you serious?" Do you think they will succeed? ”

"I didn't say that, I just meant that they had a 1 in 2 chance of success...... Or maybe a third of that," Professor Slade continued in a vague tone, "of course, even if they do land on the moon, they are still far from us. After all, we have landed on the moon more than once, and ...... Sorry, there are some things that are inconvenient to say here. ”

Look at the reports in the news.

Buddy breathed a sigh of relief, feeling much better than before.

At least the probability of the Chinese people succeeding in landing on the moon is less than one-third.

Compared to Columbia TV, NASA experts are still slightly more convincing.

Poking the omelette on the plate with his fork, the four-year-old boy raised his head and held the fork high above his head as if he were playing with his rocket toy.

"Daddy, I want to travel to the moon."

Hearing his son's milky speech, Buddy smiled and reached out to rub the little guy's head.

"There will come a day, my little one, that our president is leading us to greatness again! When you're my height, maybe we'll be going to Mars as easy as going to Hawaii...... When the time comes, remember to bring back some souvenirs for your father. ”

The little boy blinked, nodded, and said in a milky voice.

"Okay, Daddy."

Looking at the two living treasures, one big and one small, Julie smiled and shook her head, continuing to solve her salad.

She didn't care at all about whether she was great or not.

She just hopes that everything doesn't get worse.

……

What the vast majority of Americans fear, however, is happening.

Since the completion of the Pangea fusion reactor, China's energy costs have dropped dramatically, and the situation on the other side of the Pacific has been getting worse.

NASA Headquarters Building.

in the satellite control room.

As early as three days before the launch of Xiangrui, the observation satellite in synchronous orbit had already pointed its camera at Jinling, China. And now, this "nasty ghost" carrying the lunar module is approaching the edge of the atmosphere little by little.

Staring at the green dot on the screen, Aiden from the CIA cursed in a low voice.

"We're just going to watch it go up to the sky?"

The NASA administrator gave him a faint look.

"Or else?"

Aiden said indignantly, like an angry lion.

"We should do something about it."

Ignoring the CIA officer, the NASA director pondered for a moment before looking at the secretary standing next to him.

"How's the life support unit on Space-X?"

The secretary immediately replied: "It is said that it has entered the testing stage. ”

"How long does the test take?"

After hesitating for two seconds in the face of this question, the secretary quickly replied: "Considering a series of problems such as the window for landing on Mars, our colonists will have to live in it for at least two years...... Of course, the test doesn't need to take that long, and according to Musk, nine months at most is enough. ”

"We can't wait nine months," NASA Administrator said, shaking his head, looking at the flashing green dots on the radar, "The Chinese are catching up with us, and it is more important than anything else to advance the Ares program to the next stage." ”

Taking a deep breath, he turned his head, stared at his secretary, and continued.

"Listen, you can contact Musk for me and ask him if he can shorten the time for testing. I know it's going to be difficult, but we need a victory, a victory that is enough to give Congress and the people an account! ”

The secretary held his breath and asked after a long moment.

"Sir...... What do you mean by victory? ”

NASA Administrator said with a blank face.

"Deliver life support units to the surface of Mars within half a year."

"If the Chinese think that by imprinting their footprints on the moon they have caught up with us, we will tell them by action, and tell our Congress and our people how small their achievements are before us!"