Moscow, Kremlin. This special meeting is being held here around the space elevator completed in the territorial waters of the new country in the western Pacific.
"Just yesterday, Starlink Trading sold us the promised RM-320 rocket engine. Reverse engineering has been started. Within a year at the latest, the new rocket engine will replace the old aerospace engine. We will use a In a matter of years, it surpassed the distance that the United States spent decades behind us in the aerospace field."
"Unfortunately, when Star Ring Trade handed us this sword, it also pulled down the curtain on the entire stage. Whether it is economics, politics, culture, or military, everything tomorrow will be different from today. Because there What is unknown is unknown, and unknown means infinite.”
Having said this, the Director of the Russian Space Agency Oleg Ostapenko lowered his eyebrows and stated the facts in an artistic way. He looked at the members of the Russian Federation Council present and the person sitting at the head. President-Putin.
After a pause, Oleg continued.
"Guys, the old days are over."
Taking a deep breath, the Minister of Defense looked at Putin who said nothing and whispered.
"If the space elevator can deliver tons of supplies to outer space, then our proud air and space defense forces will become a joke."
Pujin tilted his head slightly.
"Fortunately, we have a good relationship with them?"
"That's true, but we can't place all our hopes on good diplomatic relations," the Minister of Defense lowered his voice and continued to whisper next to Putin, "The United Nations will ensure the safety and rational use of the space elevator. After discussion, I very much agree with maintaining good bilateral relations with the new country, but only an alliance of equal strength is more in line with our interests, right? Weaken them appropriately... "
Putin raised his hand and interrupted the Defense Minister's speech.
"If the United Nations in New York is destined to be history, then what's the point of us making things difficult for them at the United Nations?"
…
Far away in the Capitol in Washington, a special hearing is also being held.
At the meeting, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Charles Bolden read the manuscript in his hand in front of many congressmen, experts, and scholars from all walks of life who were looking down.
"Although Congress has been trying to compress our budget, we still use a limited budget to advance the space program step by step. The results achieved over the past decades are great and staggering. Not only have we seen the privatization of the space industry, Even this face-saving project that originally seemed to be losing money finally became profitable.”
“Yes, we were ahead.” Mr. Bolden paused and glanced meaningfully at the members of Congress in the hearing room. “We once convinced the world that the Statue of Liberty was the future. "
Those Congressional budget committee members who used to be aggressive in hearings to reduce NASA's budget were now like cocks defeated in a fight, lowering their heads, embarrassed and not daring to meet the eyes of this dark-skinned old man.
Secretary of State Kerry, who was sitting at the hearing committee table, coughed slightly.
"This is a congressional hearing, not a federal court hearing. What we should be discussing now is not who to hold accountable, but how to respond."
"I don't mean to hold anyone accountable, Mr. Kerry." Mr. Bolden glanced at Kerry, "But I must remind you that we should not make the same mistake twice on the same issue."
"What's your opinion?" Hillary asked, sitting in the hearing room.
"To expand NASA's budget, we must immediately start research on space elevator technology. Compared with China and Russia, we have a unique advantage in global influence. We can completely replicate a space elevator in the Atlantic Ocean!"
"If the project is established, how much funding do you need?" Hillary looked at Bolden and asked seriously, "I mean, from research and development to completion."
Bolden directly turned the manuscript to the last page, sniffed, and said quickly: "If we can get technical support from the Future People Group, the investment budget will be about 100 million. If we start from R&D , US$100 million, and construction can begin by 2030 at the latest.”
The hearing committee members present looked at each other in confusion, and the faces of experts from all walks of life were also quite ugly. Hillary and Kerry looked at each other and saw obvious disappointment in each other's eyes.
help? How is it possible to get help from the Future People Group? If this technology is mastered by more than two companies, then of course they will come to promote their technology in order to obtain space elevator project orders from the US government. However, there is only one company that has mastered space elevator technology. How can being a "contractor" be more profitable than a monopoly
As for the $200 billion budget request, let alone Hillary’s nod, the Budget Committee at the hearing directly killed the project.
"200 billion? God, this money is enough for us to build two aircraft carrier battle groups!" Sure enough, before Hillary could speak, an opposition congressman said sarcastically, "Unless China continues to lend us money , otherwise where will the money come from? Do you expect taxpayers to pay for this whimsical project?"
This is not a whimsical project, someone had secretly completed it some time ago.
Just as Bolden was about to say this, a neutral aerospace expert spoke at the hearing: "The United States also has quite a number of private aerospace companies. We have used half a century to prove the enthusiasm and innovation of private enterprises. . Instead of arguing about unsolvable problems here, why not ask SpaceX for its opinion?"
Bolden's face looked a little ugly.
Ask spaceX for its opinion? What do you think of spaceX company? Magic conch
Even before the hearing began, he had approached SpaceX founder Elon Musk to inquire about the feasibility of building the United States’ own space elevator. However, Elon Musk's answer made him feel deeply powerless.
According to the information released by Star Ring Trading, if the United States wants to build a similar space elevator, it must first start with the most basic elevator materials.
Two hundred billion
What is shown to the Budget Committee is always a conservative estimate.
After the hearing, Kerry and Hillary walked side by side toward the garage. On the way, the two talked about the space elevator issue that they had just discussed to no avail.
"He doesn't care at all about the impact that the new country's breakthrough in aerospace technology will have on the United States. He only cares about NASA's budget."
"You are an expert on international issues, Mr. Kerry. I want to hear your opinion." Hillary said expressionlessly.
Lowering his voice, Kerry said seriously.
"We can use the United Nations to put pressure on the new country! This is a big cake, and Russia and China will not give up on taking a share of the space elevator. As long as we make a slight concession when dividing the cake, they will agree to our joint effort A proposal to put pressure on the Star Ring trade. Outer space belongs to all mankind, and the world-wide project of the space elevator should also be shared by all mankind... "(.)