"Enemy target is about to enter Earth orbit!!!"
The signal soldier, based on the trajectory and velocity parameters of the Gravity launch vehicle,
According to the simulation, there are 13 seconds left before it enters the predetermined orbit and begins its flight around the Earth.
Waiting for the right moment to enter lunar orbit.
"Professor Nelson, satellite ready!"
"receive!!!"
NASA staff immediately issued instructions to the eight satellites.
Each pair locks onto one Gravity launch vehicle, provided the Gravity launch vehicle slows down.
Once it begins orbiting the Earth, execute the impact plan!
"Five seconds left!!! Minister, something's wrong, the enemy rocket still hasn't slowed down!!!"
The signalman looked at the speed parameters on the display screen.
It maintained a speed of Mach 31.5, although it was slightly lower than its maximum speed.
However, this is within the margin of error!
"Impossible! If we don't slow down now, we'll escape Earth's gravity!"
Professor Nelson, speaking loudly during the video conference,
"Minister, it seems there's a problem with their control system..."
If the Gravity rocket malfunctions and the lunar landing mission is declared a failure,
This is the ending that Secretary Cohen most wanted to see.
Without spending a single penny, they successfully thwarted Chang'e's lunar exploration mission.
"Professor, things aren't that simple. The speed of the four Gravity launch vehicles..."
They didn't slow down at all!
If the control system of a launch vehicle malfunctions,
This is normal, but the probability of all four malfunctioning simultaneously is extremely low.
There is only one possibility: the Gravity launch vehicle's original flight trajectory...
It means not slowing down, but directly escaping Earth's gravity.
"Switch to the other party's live stream!"
Minister Cohen wants to see what's happening in the command center of the Houyi launch center right now.
The situation of scientific researchers in China.
In the video, almost all the researchers stood up.
It looked like a successful launch, showing no signs of a control system malfunction.
"Principal Su, we have successfully escaped Earth's gravity and entered our designated orbit!"
"That's great, Principal Su! Your first time building a rocket went so smoothly!"
Commander Tang put his arm around Lou Sulin's shoulder. As long as the first phase is completed smoothly...
There are no obstacles on the orbit to the moon.
The probability of problems occurring during this phase is extremely low; the most difficult part is the lunar landing process.
But even if the login fails, the plan is still considered a success.
It successfully entered lunar orbit on its first attempt.
"We are closely monitoring the rocket's operating parameters; there are still nearly 20 hours of flight time remaining."
Everyone must be extremely focused!
"Received, Principal Su!"
What happened in the White House conference room at this moment?
"Minister, are they celebrating?"
"Could it be that they used a direct moon landing method???"
A NASA engineer discovered the secret.
In the previous Apollo program,
NASA has previously emphasized the possibility of using a direct lunar landing method.
However, the rocket's engine simply couldn't meet the power requirements.
In the end, they gave up.
"Impossible! The calculations for Gravity were performed using the J-20's latest engine."
It's also impossible to achieve the thrust needed for a direct moon landing.
"Professor Nelson, could it be that they are using a completely new engine?!"
Technicians gradually zoomed in on the footage of the Gravity launch vehicle's flight.
The Gravity launch vehicle can be clearly seen in the footage.
Only one booster was used.
It is very likely a single-engine launch vehicle.
In the Apollo program,
The Saturn V launch vehicle used by the United States
Not only did it use a multi-engine approach,
It also used a three-stage rocket.
The first stage uses a liquid oxygen/kerosene propellant engine.
With maximum thrust, the Saturn V rocket successfully entered Earth orbit.
The second stage uses a hydrogen-oxygen engine to change the orbit.
Finally, using the third-stage hydrogen-oxygen engine, they successfully landed on the moon.
With such a complex propulsion system, the only option left was to choose a lunar orbit rendezvous and docking solution.
"Minister, the other side has already entered the leapfrog development phase!!!"
Having lost Earth's gravity, the Gravity rocket is now traveling at Mach 30.
Heading straight for the moon.
"Damn it!!! Professor Nelson, didn't you say that China would never use a direct moon landing method?"
Based on NASA's many years of spaceflight experience
There are also parameters for the J-20 engine provided by the intelligence department.
The final conclusion is that China, and indeed all of humanity, is currently incapable of achieving a direct lunar landing.
"Minister, previous data indicates that a direct moon landing is impossible!"
"Impossible? Then tell me where those four rockets are going now? Not to the moon,..."
Are we just going to fly straight to Mars?
Minister Cohen's face turned red with anger.
(WARNING!!! WARNING!!!!!!!!!)
"Minister, how about we go with Plan B?"
The United States prepared two plans in response to China's lunar landing program.
Plan A involves intercepting the Gravity rocket directly from Earth orbit by impacting it with a satellite.
If the interception in orbit fails, the Trident II ballistic missile can be used for interception!
"You mean the Trident II ballistic missile???"
"Yes, Minister, but we can only intercept the remaining four launch vehicles!"
Even the most powerful ballistic missile currently in service with the United States, the Trident II, only reaches a terminal velocity of around Mach 20.
These four Gravity rockets are currently hurtling towards the moon at Mach 30.
Even God couldn't stop it!
"Intercept you my foot! Do you really think our nuclear submarines will launch Trident II ballistic missiles?"
Once the missile is launched, it will no longer be a simple matter of a lunar landing program.
It is highly likely that dozens of Dongfeng series missiles have already reached the airspace over the US mainland.
"That's just intimidation, what a bunch of useless idiots!!!"
Secretary Cohen paced back and forth in the command center.
Completely unexpectedly, China actually adopted the method of directly landing on the moon.
"Professor Nelson, is it possible to intercept them when they cross the Earth orbit?"
Intercepting the subsequent four launch vehicles would at least somewhat redeem them...
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