Chapter 1011: The United States surrenders and the space race ends
In the laboratory, Jim Rodrigo pushed up his glasses on the bridge of his nose, breathed a long sigh of relief and said, "It would be great if we could get a Martian soil sample containing microorganisms from China and do some research on it.
"
If the information disclosed by China is true, then they must have rock or soil samples containing microorganisms in their hands.
This is a dream for any country, any research institution, and any scholar.
After all, whether it is scientific research or philosophical research, whether extraterrestrial life really exists is an extremely important question.
The discovery of extraterrestrial life can provide a new way of thinking for mankind to understand the origin of life on earth.
If humans discover life on other planets, whether it is simple microorganisms or more complex life forms, it can help us conduct comparative studies of life and verify or revise existing theories about the origin of life.
Upon hearing this idea, Professor Nora Xiu, who was flipping through the documents in his hand, had a bitter smile on his face.
Today, when the Huami space race is extremely fierce, will those Chinese people share samples containing microorganisms with them?
The idea sounds almost like a dream.
Just like when the news about ancient microbial fossils discovered on the moon shocked the whole world, almost all countries tried to apply for samples from China for research. They also waited for China to fully understand the fossil samples before opening them to the outside world.
Moreover, when China opens up ancient microbial fossils for other countries to study, it does not mean distributing samples to various countries, but invites scientific researchers from various countries to conduct research in China.
Obviously, no one can share the 'treasure' in their hands and let others study it before thoroughly studying the things in their hands and the secrets on the moon or Mars.
This doesn't sound very authentic.
But for a country, there is nothing wrong with this approach.
If they, the United States, were the first to discover the existence of life on Mars, they might not even make this news public.
Or even if it is made public, it is most likely that they will make it public after they have thoroughly studied these microorganisms.
On the one hand, this discovery is too shocking. The research value of extraterrestrial life is undoubtedly huge.
On the other hand, disclosing this information in advance to the whole world will not bring much benefit except causing countless troubles to you.
There is life on Mars. This news is made public. It is conceivable that the whole world will focus on China.
It’s not just the pressure brought by governments and scientific research institutions, but also public opinion among the people.
For example, humans are not alone in the universe, the earth is not the only cradle of life, and the news that alien life exists on Mars may make the whole world restless.
For example, if microorganisms or bacteria on Mars enter the Earth's ecosystem, they may cause serious harm to humans or other animals and plants, etc.
So no matter what aspect you consider, disclosing this information is not the best choice.
If their Perseverance rover or Curiosity rover had discovered this, from their perspective, I am afraid they would not have chosen to make it public, or would have made the news public as soon as possible.
After shaking his head and getting rid of the messy thoughts in his mind, Professor Nora Xiu sighed and said: "It is not very likely that we can get microbial samples from the other party."
"If I were a manager in China, and if these microorganisms were real, I am afraid that soil samples carrying microorganisms would not be sent back to Earth in a short time."
"Because this may cause irreversible damage or harm to the earth's ecosystem. After all, we still don't know whether these microorganisms will affect the human body."
"I think they might send these microorganisms to a base on the moon to study them."
As soon as he finished speaking, another loud voice came from the side.
"You are right. China is not planning to send those Martian microorganisms back to the earth in the short term, but they are not allowed to send those microorganisms to the moon. Instead, they are planning to build a research base on Mars and then send a batch of them
Scientific researchers will go over and conduct research on Mars first."
Hearing the sound coming from the door, Nora Xiu and Jim Rodriguez both raised their heads and looked at the door.
I saw Professor Michaels Lawes, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, walking in quickly.
"Director Lowes?"
Seeing the person coming, Jim Rodrigo asked curiously: "Didn't you go to the headquarters for a meeting?"
Michaels Lawes nodded and said hello: "I just came back not long ago."
On the side, Professor Nora Xiu didn’t care about this. He looked at Director Michaels Lowes, frowned slightly and asked:
"Building a Mars research base? Has their aerospace technology developed to this point?"
"You have to know that there is Mars. Just dealing with food, clothing, housing and transportation is an extremely troublesome task, let alone doing research on Mars."
"Both the equipment and the personnel are very troublesome."
Director Lowes revealed quite a lot of information in one sentence.
He originally thought that it would be very difficult for China to send astronauts to Mars, but now it seems that this is far from the limit of those Chinese people.
Michaels Lowes shrugged and said, "I don't know about this, but this information was given to me by the headquarters."
Shaking his head, Professor Nora Xiu sighed and said: "Forget it, there is no point in talking about this. Maybe China can still let us participate."
Michaels Lawes smiled and said: "It's really not impossible."
"Um?"
Upon hearing this, Nora Xiu and Jim Rodrigo looked over in unison.
Facing the inquiring gazes of the two men, Director Lawes shrugged his shoulders and continued: "This time I went to the headquarters for a meeting to discuss matters related to aerospace relations with China."
"Due to some factors, the authorities are ready to stop our competition with China in the aerospace field and are ready to repair relations with them."
"Director Bill Nelson has already rushed to China and is negotiating with the other party."
"If all goes well, the authorities and NASA will take the initiative to abolish the "Wolf Rules" and the "New Competition Law" regulations, and even pay some other costs to restore the relationship between the two parties, at least in the aerospace field.
Yes....."
In the laboratory, after hearing the news, Professor Nora Xiu was stunned for a moment and subconsciously asked: "Are the authorities and headquarters ready to admit defeat in the aerospace field?"
"Cough~"
After coughing in embarrassment, Michaels Lowes smiled and forcefully explained: "It may not be so appropriate to describe it as admitting defeat."
"In my opinion, this should be more of a cooperation in the aerospace field between the two parties after reaching a consensus on boarding, which is beneficial to both parties."
Hearing this, Nora Xiu and Jim Rodriguez had complicated expressions on their faces.
Although this Lawes was not very willing to admit that they had lost, everyone knew that by taking the initiative to seek peace from China, they were choosing to admit defeat.
However, for the authorities and NASA, choosing summation now may be the best option.
After all, their opponents have achieved achievements far beyond theirs in aerospace technology, and even their allies have given up on them and chosen to cooperate with each other.
If they continue to compete in the space field, they may miss not only the lunar biosphere projects and scientific research activities on the moon, but also the more distant world.
Instead of doing this, it is better to give up competition, and while they still have some say in the aerospace field, they can turn the ship around and choose to cooperate with China to jointly develop space.
However, even though that is said, not everyone can accept this choice.
After all, aerospace has been a deep-rooted pride for the United States for decades.
Especially for Michaels Lowes, who participated in the meeting in Washington, he knew very well that admitting defeat to China in the aerospace field this time was not just about taking the initiative to abolish the "Wolf Rules" and the "New
Competition Law and these regulations can repair the relationship with China in the aerospace field.
After all, in today's aerospace field, they are the ones who need help from their opponents.
And when they ask for help from others, they have to pay more extra benefits in exchange for China to take them to play together in outer space.
Although he didn't know what the authorities chose to pay, the price was probably not small.
And for today's United States, there may not be many things that it can offer in exchange for benefits and that China will value.
Sighing in his heart, Michaels Lawes skipped these thoughts that he could not decide, looked at Professor Nora Xiu, and said.
"If Director Bilson's negotiations with China go well, we should be able to participate in their research on Mars."
"You are the chief researcher of the Perseverance Mars Exploration Rover, and you specialize in the field of ancient microorganisms. I have recommended you to the headquarters. If the next cooperation can be achieved..."
Before Michaels Lawes could finish his words, Nora Xiu nodded quickly and said: "Of course, I am willing!"
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Pacific coast.
Jinling, in Xia Shu Space Base.
Director Wu Yuankang of the space agency found Xu Chuan, who was studying microbial data on Mars.
"Are you saying that the United States and NASA have given up? They took the initiative to repeal the Wolf Clause and the New Competition Act to ease competition in space and seek cooperation between the two countries in the space field?"
In the office, after receiving the news from Director Wu Yuankang, Xu Chuan asked curiously.
Opposite the sofa, holding the tea made by his assistant, after taking a sip to moisten his throat, Wu Yuankang nodded with a smile and spoke.
"Yes, this space competition is over. The United States has surrendered to us. The next space development will enter a new stage!"
Hearing this, Xu Chuan smiled and said: "This is rare. They actually choose to lower their heads and admit defeat to us."
Wu Yuankang smiled and said: "What can we do if we don't admit defeat?"
"In the aerospace field, they are no longer the ones who dominated the world in 2000. Even now, their strength in the aerospace field is not as good as it was in 2000. Space is no longer theirs to decide."
Hearing this, Xu Chuan also smiled and nodded.
Indeed, since losing the former Soviet Union as a competitor, the United States' development in aerospace technology has almost stagnated.
Although tens of billions of dollars are still invested in the aerospace field every year, the development of aerospace technology has not progressed much.
Even after voluntarily giving up space shuttle technology, their aerospace capabilities have regressed a lot, and there was an embarrassing incident where astronauts had to rely on Tsarist Russian launch vehicles to go into space.
"Oh, by the way, how long will it take us to establish a temporary scientific research base on Mars?" After chatting for a while, Wu Yuankang looked at Xu Chuan and asked.
Hearing this question, Xu Chuan thought for a while and said: "It won't take long before the Hanhai space shuttle has successfully landed on the surface of Mars. This means that we can directly modify the second-generation aircraft and send it to Mars.
, directly serving as a temporary scientific research base.”
"According to the plan, the next batch of materials and scientific research equipment, as well as related scientific research personnel, will be launched and transported to Mars in twenty days."
The discovery of Martian microorganisms forced them to comprehensively revise the plan for this manned mission to Mars.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! It was originally planned that four astronauts would conduct scientific research activities on the surface of Mars for two and a half days, and then carry the collected resources and exploration of Martian soil, rocks, water ice, atmosphere, etc.
Data returned to Earth.
But the discovery of Martian microorganisms completely changed the plan to land on Mars.
It is difficult for them to make a choice without determining whether the microorganisms on Mars will be harmful to humans and the Earth's ecosystem.
If there is no other plan, then they can only arrange for people to return to the earth or the moon.
But the successful landing of the Hanhai space shuttle gave them another option.
Therefore, after communicating with each other, the six astronauts who participated in the manned mission decided to stay on Mars for the time being, using the Hanhai space shuttle that landed on the surface of Mars as a temporary base.
Anyway, the various foods and resources on the space shuttle are enough to sustain them until the next batch of supplies arrives.
During this period, on the one hand, they can maintain the observation of Martian microorganisms, and on the other hand, they can conduct more scientific research activities on Mars.
Wu Yuankang: "Can you bring one or two scientific researchers from the United States?"
Hearing this, Xu Chuan looked at Wu Yuankang with some surprise: "Bring one or two scientific researchers from the United States?"
"Well, this can be considered the result of this negotiation."
Wu Yuankang smiled and continued: "After all, they have taken the initiative to admit defeat, repaired our relationship, and will achieve more cooperation with us in the future aerospace development."
Hearing this, Xu Chuan looked at Director Wu and asked curiously: "To be able to squeeze people in here, what did the United States pay for this negotiation in the aerospace field? Won't it just abolish that?
Two bills, right?”
Wu Yuankang laughed and said: "Of course not."
"Now they are begging us to help them play in the aerospace field. Will it have any impact on us whether they repeal those two bills?"
After a slight pause, he looked at Xu Chuan and continued: "Aside from some cooperation and technology in the aerospace field, the most important thing is the company's commitment to withdraw completely, you know~"
Hearing this, Xu Chuan suddenly understood. No wonder the superiors chose to put aside their prejudices in the field of aerospace, and even arranged for one or two scientific researchers to follow their footsteps to study microorganisms on Mars.
It turns out that concessions were made in this regard.
Although they have long been able to take back the island and protect the country's territory, this is based on war or strong measures. If they can accept it smoothly and smoothly, the higher ups will naturally be more willing.