Rebirth of Hong Kong Island, leading the technology war

Chapter 326: There is a space launch site in Hong Kong?

During this period, Hu Jiangshan has been busy with matters at the space launch site and has had almost no contact with Starry Sky Glory.

The chip orders placed by Starry Glory were basically delivered last month, and it was all handled entirely by Dr. Zhang Rui. Hu Jiangshan didn't pay any attention to it at all.

Peng Xiaojun is the boss of Starry Sky Glory Company. He called me and it must be something important to communicate.

Hu Jiangshan answered the phone and Peng Xiaojun's voice came from the other end.

"Mr. Hu, is it convenient for us to talk?"

"It's convenient, General Peng, please tell me."

Hu Jiangshan suddenly thought of something and asked, "Boss Peng, is there something wrong with the mass-produced chips?"

Peng Xiaojun quickly said: "No, no, the chip works very well. All indicators have not only met the standards, but have even exceeded them."

"Oh, that's good."

"Boss Hu, the chips you make are so useful that a friend of mine found out about it. He also makes aerospace parts and needs chips, so I want to ask if you have any extra production capacity."

Hu Jiangshan thought for a moment and said, "I need to ask the production line for the details, but I think it shouldn't be a big problem. By the way, when does your friend need the chips?"

"Time is a little tight. It would be best if we can successfully tape out the chips within three months and produce the first batch of chips within half a year. The quantity needed for the first batch is not that large."

After listening to some details told by Peng Xiaojun, Hu Jiangshan felt that it would not be difficult and could be done with ease.

Hu Jiangshan said, "General Peng, that's even more of a problem. As long as you send us the IC design of the entire chip, we can start work. It will only be ahead of schedule, not delayed."

"That's good. By the way, as for the price..."

“If the chip manufacturing process is not much different from those of Starry Glory, the price will be the same.”

Peng Xiaojun was very happy when he heard this: "Obviously, he is very grateful to Hu Jiangshan."

After talking about chips, the two started chatting again.

Hu Jiangshan asked, "By the way, General Peng, how is the rocket development going recently? Is it going smoothly?"

Peng Xiaojun sighed and could only say that it went quite smoothly.

Hu Jiangshan was puzzled. Since the rocket development was going smoothly, why did Peng Xiaojun sigh? Was there some hidden reason?
By the way, Hu Jiangshan suddenly remembered that the smoother the rocket development went, the more urgent something became, which was the rocket launch test.

Previously, Fang Xiaoya and Hu Jiangshan had mentioned that the launch schedule at mainland launch sites is very tight. Even if one applies for a rocket launch schedule right away, it will take at least half a year before it can be arranged, and it may even take a year.

Sure enough, Peng Xiaojun continued, “We are currently in contact with the rocket launch base to see if we can arrange a launch mission in advance. They are also in a difficult situation and said they will try their best to arrange it, but asked us not to hold out too much hope.”

"Well, then what?"

"It's been a month since we applied, but there's still no result. We're very anxious. After all, the first rocket prototype has been assembled, and even the simulated launch experiment has been done. We have to do a real launch to find deeper problems."

Hu Jiangshan smiled and said, "Mr. Peng, I remember telling your company before that I'm planning to invest in building a space launch site."

Peng Xiaojun immediately said, "Yes, I do remember this, but Boss Hu, it's not that I don't believe you can do it, the key is that the construction period of a space launch site is very long. Even if it is built faster, it will take at least three or four years. We can't wait now."

"General Peng, I have to give you a reassurance now. My space launch site has been basically built."

After hearing Hu Jiangshan's words, Peng Xiaojun didn't react for a moment. He was obviously stunned. It took a while before Peng Xiaojun's voice was heard.

"...What's going on? Boss Hu, what did you say just now? I don't think I understood. Can you repeat it?"

"General Peng, I mean the launch site has been built. If you have any ideas, we can find a time to discuss it in detail."

"This... is completed? You mean the space launch site is completed?"

When Peng Xiaojun spoke, his voice was sometimes high and sometimes low, and he was obviously not very confident.

Hu Jiangshan confirmed the statement again.

Hu Jiangshan was not surprised at Peng Xiaojun's reaction at all. Anyone would be surprised, and even find it incredible and unbelievable.

A while ago, Hu Jiangshan did tell the people from Starry Sky Glory that he wanted to build a space launch site, but who would have thought that the launch site would be built shortly after he said it? Some people even thought that he was just talking and it was impossible for him to really build a launch site.

Even people who don't know much about space launch sites should know that building such special facilities requires more than just money.

If you have money, you have to have a lot of money.

Even if you have a lot of money, money that you can't spend, you may not be able to build a qualified space launch site.

The technical threshold of a space launch site is too high, which is known to everyone in the aerospace system. Even top aerospace experts like Peng Xiaojun find it even more unreliable.

Hu Jiangshan told Peng Xiaojun that if they were interested in cooperating, they could find a time to have a good chat, either in person or via video conference.

Peng Xiaojun came back to his senses. "Boss Hu, it's not that I don't trust you. This is a serious matter, but we have to make sure before we can make a decision. If I send someone to inspect your space launch site, will it be convenient for you to receive them?"

"It's convenient, of course it's convenient. General Peng can send someone over at any time."

Peng Xiaojun responded without saying anything else. He said goodbye to Hu Jiangshan and hung up the phone.

Hu Jiangshan thought about it and estimated that Peng Xiaojun and the other people in Starry Sky Glory would need some time to digest it before they could accept Hu Jiangshan’s statement.

Of course, Hu Jiangshan still had confidence that Starry Sky Glory would send people over. After all, they really needed to conduct rocket launch tests.

Without help from other external forces, Starry Sky Glory may have to wait half a year to conduct its first rocket launch test, which will greatly slow down their rocket research and development progress.

Space research and development is very expensive.

Although private aerospace companies have no shortage of investors and can raise a lot of money, their funding chain can be cut off at any time if technological development does not go smoothly.

Especially for start-up aerospace companies, every step of development is like walking on thin ice and cannot be taken carelessly, otherwise they may capsize.

What Hu Jiangshan needs to do next is to make preparations.

To be honest, although all the major issues at the space launch site have been resolved, there are still a lot of small things, which is quite cumbersome to think about.

At the same time, in the imperial capital, the headquarters of Starry Sky Glory.

Assistant Xiaoru opened the door of the boss's office and walked in, holding a pile of documents.

Xiaoru suddenly saw her boss Peng Xiaojun sitting at his desk, behaving strangely.

Peng Xiaojun was seen staring blankly at the ceiling, his eyes dull and motionless, like a statue, lifeless.

Xiaoru was startled and wondered what was going on.
Why does the boss look so hopeless? Is it because there is some major problem with the company's operation and he can't continue? The boss must be very depressed to have such a reaction.

Oh my god, Xiaoru was really afraid that the boss would suddenly go crazy and jump out of the window.

This was too terrifying. If Xiaoru hadn't been quite brave, she would have peed herself in fear. "...Peng, Mr. Peng, are you okay?"

Xiaoru asked this, but Peng Xiaojun didn't respond. Xiaoru felt very disappointed, so she asked again, her voice even louder.

Finally, Peng Xiaojun came back to his senses: "Ah, what? Xiaoru, what's the matter?"

Xiaoru finally breathed a sigh of relief. Peng Xiaojun had finally returned to normal. If it was still the same situation, she would have almost called 120.

"General Peng, please take a look at these documents."

As she spoke, Xiaoru put the document in her hand on the table and asked Peng Xiaojun to check it and sign it if there was any problem.

These are basically some reports and some onboarding procedures for new employees.

Peng Xiaojun read it one by one, signed it, handed it to Xiaoru, and then he could continue with the process.

Seeing that Peng Xiaojun was still a little absent-minded, Xiaoru asked, "Mr. Peng, would you like a cup of coffee?"

"Yes, give me a cup of coffee."

After class, Xiaoru brought over the cup of American coffee.

Peng Xiaojun thanked him, took a sip of coffee, and looked thoughtful.

Xiaoru was about to leave when Peng Xiaojun stopped her and asked her to call a few people over.

After a while, the people Peng Xiaojun called arrived one after another, including Fang Xiaoya and Liu Chao. Both of them had been to Hong Kong Island and met Hu Jiangshan.

Especially Fang Xiaoya, who was Hu Jiangshan’s girlfriend in his previous life.

There are a few others, such as Tao Cong from the logistics department.

These people are considered the core members of Starry Glory. Hu Xiaojun will only call them all over when it is something particularly important.

Liu Chao looked at the others, then at Peng Xiaojun, and obviously felt that the atmosphere was different.

"General Peng, what happened?"

Peng Xiaojun said: "Everyone, please sit down quickly. Don't be anxious. I called you here just to talk to you about something."

There were sofas and chairs in Peng Xiaojun's office, and everyone sat down.

Tao Cong asked: "General Peng, you look a little serious. We are all scared. What happened?"

"Let me confirm one thing first. Rocket Prototype No. 1 has been assembled. Has the system debugging been completed?"

Liu Chao nodded: "It's done. In fact, it was done last month. We have also done a 10% engine thrust test. Everything is normal."

Tao Cong said, "General Peng, we have already prepared a complete set of rocket launch test plans. Now we just need a launch site. General Peng, there won't be any unexpected changes, right?"

Everyone looked up at the same time, trying to find some clues from his face.

For a startup company, the worst-case scenario of a so-called misfortune is a broken capital chain. Not only will there be no follow-up funds for research and development, but even salaries may not be paid.

Startup commercial aerospace companies are even more special. They have no income and rely solely on research and development and burning money. The risks are extremely high. Therefore, as the boss, Peng Xiaojun has to work for the subsequent financing and meet with various investors.

Liu Chao couldn't help but ask, "Boss Peng, is there a problem with the financing?"

Peng Xiaojun raised his eyebrows and waved his hand: "What are you thinking about? It has nothing to do with financing. The financing situation is good, and the next payment will arrive soon."

When everyone heard this, they all breathed a sigh of relief. At least the worst situation did not happen, and naturally nothing else would happen seriously.

Fang Xiaoya asked: "Boss Peng, is there something you want to tell us?"

"It's like this. You should know that the schedule at the rocket launch site is very tight right now. There is no space available. I have thought of many ways and contacted many people, but there is no good news yet."

Everyone looked at each other, this matter was indeed quite depressing.

The rocket prototype has been assembled, and the software and hardware systems are all ready. It just needs to be transported to the launch site for the actual launch, but it turns out that there is no number available.

Starry Glory's research and development speed is faster than that of several other private aerospace companies in the country. If it can launch earlier, it can gain more time and gain an advantage in the competition.

But it is very embarrassing that we are unable to conduct launch experiments now, and the previous advantage in research and development speed has been greatly reduced.

You have to know that if we wait another half a year, the rocket prototypes of several other private aerospace companies may be almost ready. By then, everyone will be back on the same starting line, and Starry Glory's advantage will be eliminated.

At this time, Peng Xiaojun coughed lightly and said, "Everyone, I have received another piece of news. Maybe we can find another launch site to conduct the launch experiment."

After hearing this, everyone's faces lit up with joy, but then they showed puzzled expressions.

Tao Cong asked: "Other launch sites? Not in China? Are they overseas launch sites?"

Fang Xiaoya shook her head: "General Peng, this is not reliable. If it is a foreign launch site, it will involve many difficulties and may not be able to be solved."

Tao Cong nodded: "It's not easy to ship something like a rocket abroad. The customs clearance procedures are very complicated."

Rockets are essentially the same as missiles, so of course the clearance procedures for them are complicated.

Peng Xiaojun smiled and said, "No, it's in China, but it still needs to go through customs, but the procedures are much simpler."

The others all looked confused and obviously didn't understand what Peng Xiaojun meant.

Since we are in the country, why do we need to go through customs?

Fang Xiaoya's eyes suddenly lit up: "General Peng, are you saying that the launch site is on Hong Kong Island?"

Peng Xiaojun nodded.

Everyone else was stunned.

"General Peng, this is not right. How can there be a launch site on Hong Kong Island?"

"Yeah, Hong Kong Island is too small to build a launch site!"

Liu Chao asked: "General Peng, you are not talking about Hu Jiangshan, are you?"

Peng Xiaojun nodded: "Yes, I just talked to Boss Hu on the phone, and he said that the space launch site he invested in has been built and can accept orders for rocket launches."

"This is not..."

Liu Chao’s first reaction was that it was too unreliable, but he didn’t say it out loud. It’s not good to be too arbitrary. But after thinking about it carefully, he still felt that it was impossible.

(End of this chapter)