Free Web NovelChapter 1422: Chapter 674: Professional Questions Need Professional Answers!_2
The high-ranking official thought carefully and was quite tempted. He had said before that he hoped, within his lifetime, he could also experience space.
Now that Zhao Yi was preparing to go, he was very eager to try it as well.
Compared to the importance of Zhao Yi, his own safety seemed negligible!
The high-ranking official suddenly said with anticipation, "Let me know in advance during the sixth test. I will arrange my affairs and might also give it a try."
"You?"
"What’s wrong?"
"— Okay then!" After thinking it over, Zhao Yi realized there wasn’t really any danger. If he had the courage to venture into space, it should be fine for the high-ranking official as well.
—
For the second test of the sightseeing shuttle, many corporate representatives were invited.
In the two days leading up to the test, many people arrived at the Aerospace Bureau’s launch base.
Among them were representatives of Yixing’s partner companies, researchers from various institutions, and even delegates from foreign enterprises and organizations, with the latter even outnumbering the first two groups.
This was mainly because some of the foreign enterprises and organizations had not just sent representatives but entire teams.
They were welcomed into the ’Mission Exhibition Hall’.
In the Mission Exhibition Hall, dedicated staff members explained the second test of the sightseeing shuttle as well as some of its parameter performances.
"Our sightseeing shuttle’s diameter is about 37 meters, making it a true giant."
"As you can see, the windows are double-layered; indeed, the interior section that holds passengers has two levels, with a total of 150 rooms and 274 beds, theoretically allowing for a maximum of 300 passengers."
"The sightseeing shuttle also contains a gym, restaurant, and activity hall."
"To make an analogy, the sightseeing shuttle is like a cruise ship on the sea."
"During this test mission, the shuttle will spend two hours traveling to space, then will orbit for about three weeks, with each week taking approximately six hours, before making its return journey."
"From the return journey to landing, it will take a total of about four hours."
"The mission will take a total of 24 hours."
Hearing about the parameters of the sightseeing shuttle, many people were astonished.
The most significant parameter was the number of passengers it could carry. From the outside, the shuttle had many windows, but it was difficult to say exactly how many passengers it could hold.
SpaceX also has a project for manned space tourism and is preparing to manufacture the corresponding spacecraft, but according to the data they’ve released, the maximum number of passengers their spacecraft can carry is fifty.
Fifty is still a theoretical number.
Even the figure of 50 passengers is quite surprising.
For manned space travel, fitting fifty passengers at once is quite remarkable.
Yixing’s sightseeing shuttle, however, has a capacity of up to 300 people, almost unbelievably so, but with the shuttle’s size, it’s somewhat understandable.
Furthermore, it’s certain that Yixing possesses higher and more reliable anti-gravity technology. The spacecraft they build consume significantly less energy, allowing them to create a spacecraft with a remarkably high passenger capacity.
Meanwhile, the manager of Yixing was reporting detailed parameters to Zhao Yi—
"The construction of this sightseeing shuttle cost 1.93 billion, with an additional 210 million to be paid for patents and service fees."
"In addition, there are other expenses including maintenance, staff, and payments to the Aerospace Bureau, among others."
"So far, the total expenditure has been around 2.2 billion."
The actual cost of the sightseeing shuttle was somewhat lower than projected, as it was the first spacecraft built with a budget planned around 2.5 billion.
The manager continued the report, "The fuel cost for each test runs between 2.8 million to 3.5 million."
"If there are no major damages upon returning to Earth, the maintenance costs range between 6 to 7 million."
Then came a detailed list of cost expenditures.
Zhao Yi listened patiently, unsurprised by the financial outlay.
The sightseeing groups being built now are just the initial technical versions, with most of the primary expenses going towards core technology components, electronic systems, and compressed materials, while areas such as passengers’ rooms and facilities adopt the simplest designs.
It is for this reason that the manufacturing expense of the sightseeing ship can be relatively lower.
If the sightseeing ship were to officially start operations, it would definitely need to produce other versions of the ship, including "luxury" and "standard" models.
This is similar to ocean cruise ships; some are very ordinary, while others are luxury liners, with manufacturing costs that vary greatly. freeweɓnøvel.com
If one were to see a luxury sightseeing ship, the manufacturing cost would certainly be very high, possibly even four or five times higher.
The standard models aren’t low in manufacturing cost; rather, they "carry more people." Space tourism is definitely a new market and requires diligent operations to strive to make it a popular market.
In a popular market, consumption must be close to the average person.
The luxury sightseeing ships are provided for the wealthy, but if regular people are also to consume, there must be "people-friendly versions" of the ship; such ships must carry enough passengers to be profitable.
A thousand is the minimum.
Considering the cost of fuel consumption, supplies, round-trip maintenance, and risks involved, each trip costs on average over twenty million. To operate profitably, ticket revenues need to reach fifty million before the manufacturing cost of the spaceship can be recouped after several years of continuous operation.
If there were a thousand passengers, the ticket price per customer would only need to be fifty thousand.
This price is very people-friendly.
Because some luxury cruise tickets also exceed twenty thousand, thirty thousand, and even fifty thousand or a hundred thousand.
The sightseeing ship can’t possibly reach this ticket price in its initial operation, neither can Yixing Company operate at this level—unless the market is full enough and other companies that buy sightseeing ships join the competition, which could potentially lower the prices to this extent.
At first, it’s definitely the most profitable.
The current sightseeing ships carry around three hundred passengers, and even with a one-time fare of several million or tens of millions, many will scramble for a seat.
This is not just about taking a sightseeing ship into space for an extraordinary journey, it’s also a great networking opportunity.
The earliest passengers on the sightseeing ship can all be said to be rich or noble, among which will definitely be many super-rich individuals. Such networking opportunities are rare on a global scale, and certainly, many will go to great lengths to secure a ticket.
Zhao Yi pondered carefully and became even more optimistic about the space travel market.
Actually, there are drawbacks to space travel. Zhao Yi and several members of the technical department and astronauts discussed them while talking about the sightseeing ship, constantly mentioning the "drawbacks."
"Our sightseeing ship can only orbit Earth for a week at most, but in reality, if it were to be put into operation, three days would be the limit."
"Due to prolonged weightlessness in space, continuous exposure to such an environment may affect health, and the passenger experience is not great either."
"That’s why each operation should not exceed three days."
"Two and a half days would be the optimal duration."
"Additionally, since we can only orbit Earth, there isn’t much to see in terms of scenery; looking at it for too long becomes tedious."
"I estimate that no passenger would choose to go to space a second time, unless, in the future, other sightseeing routes are opened, such as to other planets like the Moon, Mars, etc., but that’s not possible in the short term."
Actually, the main issue is still that of gravity. The sensation of zero gravity is indeed appealing, but in fact, one can experience the sensation of weightlessness directly at the Anti-gravity Experience Hall on Earth.
Space tourism involves going into space to truly experience weightlessness, while incidentally enjoying the scenery of space and viewing Earth from the perspective of the spaceship.
However, being in a state of weightlessness for an extended period can greatly affect the enjoyment of the journey.
That’s the contradiction.
If the journey is too short, some passengers will begin to consider the cost-effectiveness.
But, if the journey is too long, many passengers simply cannot tolerate it as the sensation of prolonged weightlessness is not pleasant.
How is this problem to be solved?
Several managers and technicians at Yixing Company fell into deep thought.
At this moment, Zhao Yi directly said, "I think we should consult with professional travel experts on this matter, rather than trying to figure it out ourselves."
Others exchanged glances and could not help but nod in agreement.
They are all a group of technicians and financial staff, contemplating travel experience issues is simply not their field of expertise; professional problems require professional people to solve!
