After receiving the Turing Award, Zhang Zhonghua took a night's rest and flew to Burbank, the City of Angels, in an Apache provided by Hughes Aircraft Company.
This time, Hughes Aircraft Company provided four helicopters for Zhang Zhonghua, which reflects the sincerity of the management of Hughes Aircraft Company. They attach great importance to Zhang Zhonghua, a super large customer.
Zhang Zhonghua couldn't help but think of that god-like man, Howard Hughes, who was also the prototype of Howard Stark in Marvel. Moreover, Howard Hughes was not only the prototype of Howard Stark, strictly speaking, he was
The prototype characters of Howard Stark and Tony Stark.
Zhang Zhonghua felt infinite emotion in his heart. According to the original trajectory, in about four years, Howard Hughes, the legendary figure, would leave this world in his own private jet.
The first half of Howard Hughes's life was full of glory. He enjoyed everything he could. He slept with almost all Hollywood female stars in his life, well, except for the ugly ones.
It's a pity that he had great success in the first half of his life, but he was lonely in the second half of his life. He never got married, so he had no children. In his later years, he left the world after being tortured by mental obsessive-compulsive disorder.
After leaving this world, Howard Hughes left behind a legacy that can be said to be astronomical. His company is the world's top presence in many fields.
It is a pity that Howard Hughes did not have any descendants to inherit these inheritances. In the end, these inheritances were split up and sold at low prices, enriching a number of local American consortiums.
Among Howard's companies, Hughes Aircraft is one of the main missile suppliers to the America Air Force. Its optoelectronic systems, radar systems, aircraft computer systems, missile systems, ion propulsion engines, etc. were later acquired by General Motors at a low price.
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Another company, Hughes Aerospace, is the world's largest satellite provider, and Hughes Communications is also the world's largest satellite communications network. This company was later acquired by Boeing.
The Hughes Laboratory is one of the top in the world in many fields, and there are countless scientists under the laboratory. Unfortunately, it was eventually divided up by companies such as Boeing, General Motors and Raytheon.
besides……
Being able to face so many good things, Zhang Zhonghua can only be a quiet spectator even if he is greedy. As a foreigner, it is impossible for him to get involved in these industries.
Let alone him, even the top consortiums in Europa would not be able to get involved, or in other words, as long as they are not America's first-class giants, they would not be able to get involved. Even the top consortiums in Europa and America's second-tier local giants can get some
Shares can only pay dividends, otherwise you will go bankrupt in minutes, and even people will disappear.
Soon, the helicopter Zhang Zhonghua was riding landed at the headquarters of Hughes Aircraft Company. The last time he came was a few years ago, when he came to Hughes Aircraft Company to customize four communication satellites.
Up to now, the four communication satellites launched have been operating in space for more than two years. These communication satellites will be scrapped in one year at most. Their wreckage will remain above the equator forever, becoming
Space junk.
The service life of current satellites is too short, and they can only be launched every few years.
The purpose of Zhang Zhonghua coming to Hughes Aircraft Company this time was naturally to customize new satellites before the four communication satellites were scrapped. Although there was still almost a year before they were scrapped, it was almost enough to customize them a year in advance. He always
Time is left for Hughes to produce and launch satellites.
Zhang Zhonghua was a little worried when he thought about the satellites he wanted to order, because this time he wanted to customize many more satellites than last time. Even he had a toothache, and satellites were really too expensive.
The first is that the Asian Associated Press needs to use four separate satellites, mainly for global information transmission. The brother company Yuhuang TV will occasionally use them. Just these four communication satellites cost 120 million US dollars.
Then Carrefour supermarkets, convenience stores and CFC catering also need three satellites, mainly for the construction of the supply chain system. As the scale of the retail industry and CFC becomes larger and larger, the company's supply chain is also becoming more and more complex.
It is complicated and must have its own separate account, which is another US$90 million expenditure.
In addition, Yuhuang Bank and its subsidiaries of Yuhuang Group also use three satellites, and because the group's finances are the absolute confidentiality of Yuhuang Group, the security requirements for the satellites are also the highest. The prices of these three satellites will only be very high.
Finally, Holy Egg Island needs a dedicated communication satellite, and it also needs to launch a synchronous weather satellite over Southeast Asia to keep an eye on the meteorological conditions in Southeast Asia so that the construction plan can be adjusted at any time according to weather conditions.
Lin Linzongzong roughly calculated that it would be necessary to customize 11 satellites of various types. If the cost of the satellite and the launch fee are included, the total cost will probably be close to 500 million US dollars. Moreover, even if these satellites are launched, they will only last three to four years. On average,
More than 100 million US dollars a year.
However, this is nothing to future demand. In the future, Carrefour supermarkets will need more and more satellites. However, with the development of science and technology, the service life of satellites is getting longer and longer, so there is no need to launch frequently. In the future, not only will satellites be launched for positioning
Satellites are used to track vehicles and ships, and satellites are also launched to build commercial networks.
The current price of a satellite is more than that of a Boeing 747 aircraft. However, with the development of technology, it will be several times cheaper in the future and become more and more durable. However, even then, satellites can only be afforded by multinational giants.
A few decades later, a Boeing 787 would only cost about 200 million US dollars, but in the 1970s, a mid-range Ford car would only cost about 1,500 US dollars. It would be no problem for a satellite to buy 2,000 Ferrari sports cars.
Zhang Zhonghua was very envious when he remembered that all the tycoons used private jets to travel. He has reached this point and is barely close to the top rich, but he doesn't even have a private jet. It's very depressing when he thinks about it. It's all Kai Tak Airport's fault.
Kai Tak Airport is really incompetent. As one of the busiest airports in the world, Kai Tak Airport has no place to park private jets, and it is dangerous to take off and land. The Boeing 747 that Zhang Zhonghua is interested in cannot land at all.
"Mr. Zhang Zhonghua, welcome to Hughes Aircraft Company again."
Francesco Fabregas said to Zhang Zhonghua with a smile on his face, the God of Wealth has finally arrived. Their executives at Hughes Aircraft have been waiting for a long time, and this time it will definitely be another big deal.
"Hello, Mr. Francesco Fabregas, there are many companies launching satellites here in the past two years. Congratulations."
After exchanging pleasantries, the two entered the conference room. The staff of Hughes Aircraft promptly brought coffee and some snacks to the two of them. They were all very exquisite and expensive snacks. They were definitely the highest level of treatment.
"Mr. Francesco, what is the price of satellites now?"
Zhang Zhonghua asked straight to the point.
"Well, the current price of satellites is affected by the price of raw materials and exchange rates. The price of satellites is now 25% higher than before. Of course, as our most distinguished customer, the Yuhuang Group must have some discounts in terms of price..."
Francesco Fabregas said.
A kind of plant, the dollar is really worth less and less, but if you want to buy satellites, there is only one company in the world, you can only come to them, and the security is the highest.
Not to mention him, even America, Japan, and other European countries come to Hughes Aircraft Company to customize satellites. They are the main supplier of the Apollo program and are technically superior to NASA in America.
If you don’t look for them, why should you look for NASA? Zhang Zhonghua can guarantee that America will receive the communication contents of everyone in the Jade Emperor Group simultaneously.
"Okay, this time Yuhuang Group wants to customize 4 communication satellites, which are mainly used for the Asian Associated Press to transmit information around the world. They require professional television, telephone, and information transmission.
Carrefour and others need to customize three communication satellites, which are mainly used for global network information systems.
Finally, Jade Emperor Group and Jade Emperor Bank will also customize three satellites, which will also have functions such as network information systems."
"Ten communication satellites, there is no problem at all. This separation of services will also be of great benefit to the satellites. The service life of the satellites will be longer..."
Francesco Fabregas said with a smile, his heart was beating constantly, the absolute God of Wealth must be served well.
"Mr. Francesco, I remember that in 1966, the world's first geostationary weather satellite produced by the Hughes Aircraft Company was launched into the sky. I wonder how your company's research on weather satellites is going now?"
Zhang Zhonghua went out and asked.
Now even America has not launched a geostationary weather satellite, let alone countries like Japan. The geostationary weather satellites launched by Hughes Aircraft before were also experimental in nature.
"We are almost done with weather satellites. We are jointly developing geostationary environment service satellites with NASA America, which are also one of the geostationary weather satellites.
It is still under research and is expected to be almost completed by the end of next year. This weather satellite will be 35,900 kilometers above the earth, centered on the lower point of the satellite, and can cover a radius of about 6,000 kilometers.
Well, let’s put it this way, if we take Hong Kong Island as the center, it can not only cover the whole of Asia, but even the country of kangaroos can cover more than half of the area.”
Francesco Fabregas said with great confidence.
"So, what's going on with the geostationary weather satellite now? Can it be sold? I mainly use it to observe the meteorological conditions of Holy Egg Island and Southeast Asia. You also know that I have invested a lot of energy in building my territory there. It must be
Always pay attention to the weather in Southeast Asia.”
Zhang Zhonghua asked.
"Well... we do have an experimental meteorological satellite now. Its lifespan is only about a year. So we will give it directly to the Yuhuang Group. Then when the technology is fully mature, we will produce the latest meteorological satellite for your company.
It just so happens that Japan's Mitsui Group will launch a communication satellite in America next month, and you can also take advantage of it. You can discuss this with Japan."
Francesco Fabregas suggested.
"Okay, thank you to Hughes Aircraft Company. Can the launch be in time for April 1973?"
"Of course there is no problem. One year is enough. By then the communication satellite can also be launched on America's rocket..."
After signing the satellite procurement contract, Zhang Zhonghua took a group of bodyguards and took a plane to Japan in the City of Angels. This time he took the charter service of TWA owned by Howard Hughes. Of course, it was a free charter flight. As a
A large customer who has just placed an order of nearly 500 million US dollars will naturally be given the highest level of treatment.
On the plane, Zhang Zhonghua tasted Romanee-Conti, the world's top red wine. The three most delicacies in the world were placed on the table, and he tasted truffles, caviar, and foie gras. Sure enough, he is a rich man, and he is still in their company.
Super big customers who spend huge amounts of dollars.
Zhang Zhonghua feels that his rank is still a little too low. Although he has become rich in recent years, he has always been eating slightly more expensive home-cooked meals.
In fact, he really doesn't have much interest in these luxury goods, they are all deceiving people.
"Boss, the price increase of Hughes' satellites is too outrageous. Although their technology is a little more advanced, the price of this satellite has increased by more than 6 million US dollars. They are simply cheating people."
A bodyguard complained to Zhang Zhonghua.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "Actually, it's not a scam. There's nothing they can do about raising prices. What items in America don't raise prices now?"
As the US dollar continues to depreciate, America is experiencing great inflation. A 25% increase in the price of Hughes' satellites is considered conscientious. The prices of other items in America have basically increased by more than 30%.
In November last year, America was forced to devalue the U.S. dollar by 7.8%. At the beginning of this month, the exchange rates of various countries were adjusted again, and the relative depreciation of the U.S. dollar exceeded 12%.
The most important thing is that there is only one commercial company for satellites, Hughes Aircraft Company. Satellites around the world are basically produced by Hughes Aircraft Company. We can only buy them from Hughes Aircraft Company, and even if NASA and other national agencies are willing to sell them,
Give it to me, I don’t dare to buy it, who knows if they will steal the company’s information.
So, let alone Hughes raising the price by 25%, we can only accept it even if they raise the price by 35%."
Zhang Zhonghua explained.
Zhang Zhonghua was very helpless when he thought of those 11 satellites. The average price of a satellite was about US$36 million, which cost US$400 million, not counting launch costs.
However, the one-year lifespan of the weather satellite sent by Hughes Company is not bad. If it lasts for one year, the weather satellite technology will be almost completely mature, and a new one can be launched before this temporary weather satellite is abandoned.
"The price of satellites has increased, so the cost of launching America's satellites will definitely increase a lot. Satellites are really profitable."
Another bodyguard complained.
"About that. The originally planned US$500 million is definitely not enough. Calculated, it will cost about US$600 million. The average annual cost of these eleven satellites is close to US$200 million."
