Leasing the port?
Elon's proposal surprised Jiang Chen.
In the internal discussion of the space elevator profit plan, there was indeed a preliminary plan for Celestial City's port leasing and berth leasing.
After all, the size of a one-person market was limited. Instead of enjoying a piece of cake alone, it was better to work with everyone to make the cake bigger, and then cut the cake. Only when everyone joined this huge market could the benefits of Celestial Trade be maximized. At the same time, it could also avoid many unnecessary disputes.
Imagine, the development of the entire world's outer space resources must pass through the space elevator located in Xin. All countries' cargo ships would travel to and from the sea base station under the space elevator. All the resources from outer space must be transported to the world's market through the port of Xin. What does this mean for Xin's economy, currency, and international status?
Competition? Of course there would be.
But if Celestial Trade couldn't compete with SpaceX, Planetary Resources, and Deep Space Industries with technology a century ahead, then it would be better for all Celestial Trade employees to kill themselves with tofu!
However, to Jiang Chen's surprise, the space elevator had just been completed, and even Celestial City was just in its infancy, let alone the port and berths. Before the United Nations Outer Space Development Summit, Musk had already considered such a faraway place, which really amazed Jiang Chen.
"What do you think? Are you interested? "Musk asked in a serious tone.
"Very interested … or rather, I'm surprised," Jiang Chen said with a strange expression.
"Oh? I don't know how I offended you — "
"No, you misunderstood." Jiang Chen shook his head, moved the holographic communication window from the left to the right, and then said, "We do have the intention to lease the port, but the relevant plans are still in written documents. We can't give you an answer now, but since you mentioned it, when the United Nations Outer Space Summit is over, we will study a reasonable cooperation plan, and we will contact you as soon as possible. "
With joy on his face, Musk said excitedly.
"Then I'll leave it to you!"
"Is there anything else?" Jiang Chen asked.
"Of course, there is one more thing," Musk smiled. "We were originally scheduled to launch the Falcon 9 rocket in early February, carrying 450 kilograms of supplies to the International Space Station to complete the supply. But now it seems that we don't need to waste 60 million US dollars? "
"Are you planning to outsource NASA's projects to us?" Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow and was intrigued.
Musk snapped his fingers on the other end of the phone.
"Exactly."
…
There was a difference in the cost of transporting goods up and down. Depending on the type of goods, the carriages used and the acceleration plan would be different. Naturally, the price quoted would be different as well. But in any case, the transportation cost of a space elevator was definitely lower than that of a rocket.
The standard price for the Falcon 9 was 60 million USD. Even if the recovery of the first stage rocket could save 80% of the launch cost (the probability of success was not high), it would still be 12 million USD. Compared to 450 kilograms of goods, the transportation cost per kilogram was as high as 26,000 USD.
Celestial Trade's offer was to send the Dragon Spacecraft and 450 kilograms of supplies to the geosynchronous orbit for a total of 2 million Xin New dollars. According to the current exchange rate, it was about 2.15 million USD.
According to the US subsidy policy for the aerospace industry, NASA paid around 61 million USD to SpaceX. If it was outsourced to Celestial Trade, the profit would be almost sixty times!
Moreover, there was no need to bet on the probability of retrieving the first-stage rocket!
Such a terrifying profit was enough to drive any capitalist crazy.
Even if outsourcing a subsidized project to a foreign country might incur the dissatisfaction of the federal government, Musk still made this decision. As for how to appease NASA's anger, he had already thought of enough excuses.
In addition, Jiang Chen also threw out a very tempting proposal. If the entire supply work was outsourced to Celestial Trade, it would save the 8-ton Dragon Spacecraft, and Celestial Trade's offer would be reduced to hundreds of thousands of Xin New dollars. However, Musk didn't completely lose his mind and declined Jiang Chen's "kindness".
After he hung up the phone, Musk immediately looked at his assistant.
"Cancel the launch plan in February immediately. Package the Falcon rocket-related technology and try to sell it before the United Nations Outer Space Summit this week. I'm going to the launch center in person. Cancel all the arrangements in the afternoon for me. "
A surprised expression appeared on the assistant's face.
"But … this is NASA's order, and our Falcon rocket engine has already been produced."
"In addition to the rocket engine, has the production of other components started?" Musk stopped at the door, turned around, and asked seriously.
"Wait a minute …" The assistant reached for the stack of documents on his desk and found the one he was looking for. He quickly flipped to the section about the production progress report. "It hasn't started yet —"
"Cancel it immediately. Right, package and sell the rocket engine that has already been produced. As for the research and development of the Falcon 10 rocket, immediately terminate it and allocate the extra budget to the third-generation dragon flying ship. "
"But why?" The assistant couldn't help but ask.
The Falcon 10 rocket. He thought he was perhaps the person other than Musk who knew how much effort the president had put into it. He really couldn't believe that just after this phone call, Musk, who single-handedly promoted the Falcon 10 rocket development project, ended this great project so easily.
"Because it's outdated," Musk said without hesitation.
He was also full of unwillingness to make such a decision, but he knew very well that just half a minute ago, he made the calmest and wisest choice in his life.
The birth of the space elevator marked the complete decline of traditional rocket spaceflight, just like tanks would eventually eliminate cavalry. Even if they continued to spend a lot of money to make the Falcon 10 rocket, it would only be a deathbed struggle before dusk. The expensive cost of production was not competitive at all in the face of the space elevator!
Rely on subsidies?
God, the United States is a capitalist country!
Subsidies alone can't last a lifetime! One day, the Congressional Budget Committee will lose patience.
Musk looked at the struggling expression on the face of the assistant who had worked for him for many years. He took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
'My dear Mr. Bessmore, my friend. You should be able to understand me at this moment. I am definitely not as relaxed as I look on the surface. Giving up the Falcon series of rockets doesn't mean giving up everything, and making such a choice … I should be the most uncomfortable person in the entire company. But reason tells me that I have to do this.
"It is only a matter of time before rockets from the atmosphere to outer space are eliminated. The Falcon series has completed its historical mission. We will learn from it, as well as the technology, and then solemnly close the coffin for it. I know it is not easy … but if we don't want this series to be our swan song, then we must follow the trend of history and move forward.
"Stronger, bigger, faster spacecraft that can come and go freely in the universe, that is our future!"
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