Inside an old factory building of Hughes Aircraft Company in the southern suburbs of Los Angeles, Playa Vista.
Monday, March 4th.
Simon arrived punctually at 8 a.m., as usual.
After 24 hours, the 70-meter-long, 30-meter-wide facility, comparable in size to a large film studio, was filled with the smell of welding fumes and sweat, indicating that a long and intense work session had taken place.
Excluding the staff responsible for judging or assisting, of the 50 candidates who had been there the previous day, only 43 remained, split into nine teams. As Simon had anticipated, half the teams were still working. What pleased him, however, was that even those teams that had completed their projects were helping others without resting.
Simon didn't concern himself with why the other seven people had left. He personally announced the end of the interview session and instructed the accompanying NASA testing team to start inspecting the rocket components the candidates had made. After decades in the aerospace field, NASA had developed a comprehensive set of standards for various hardware and software related to the industry.
The exhausted candidates, who had worked through the night, were taken to a nearby apartment to freshen up. Soon, Elite models would deliver their breakfast.
Simon, meanwhile, sat at a workbench reviewing detailed records of each team's 24-hour performance. The judges were NASA professionals specializing in rocket testing. Although Simon wasn't planning on hiring them permanently, they were more than qualified to serve as temporary interviewers.
This was just the third round of interviews and would not determine the final result.
Simon had no intention of hiring based solely on whether a team completed its task. He preferred to assess the candidates' fit for his requirements based on the interviewers' evaluations.
Half an hour later, the candidates started returning from the nearby apartment. The NASA team continued their inspections, and on a cleared section near the factory entrance, several rows of chairs were arranged. About a dozen tall, attractive women were setting up breakfast. As the candidates returned, a few of the models gracefully invited them to sit.
This was the fourth round.
From yesterday until now, four waves of beautiful women had come to deliver meals, each one stunning in appearance and physique, which left most of the single candidates visibly excited. Some more outgoing individuals had even struck up conversations and exchanged contact information. It soon became clear that these were professional models Simon Westeros had hired specifically to serve them.
And the food over the past day and night had included a variety of international cuisines—Italian, French, Chinese, and Mexican—that many of the candidates, though well-paid, rarely had the chance to enjoy.
Good food and beautiful women.
"How tacky!" was the first reaction from those who understood Simon's intentions.
However, if it could continue, no one would complain.
Elon Musk and the three other members of his team, who had formed just yesterday, returned as well, now dressed in fresh clothes provided for them. Despite having worked for 24 hours straight, they were still in high spirits, especially when they saw the group of beautiful women, which perked them up even more.
Glancing around, they noticed that this group of models had been replaced again, though they were still all long-legged, slender-waisted, and beautiful.
"If I could marry one of them, it'd definitely be worth it."
But, of course, most of their thoughts were focused on whether they'd land the job. From the various details over the past 24 hours, it was clear how much Simon Westeros valued SpaceX. During their busy work and discussions, Musk's team also realized something.
Simon Westeros had single-handedly driven the internet industry forward through three core companies: Cisco, America Online, and Egret. These three companies represented the three pillars of the internet—hardware, service providers, and content—forming a complete industrial chain.
Now, the combined market value of these three companies was approaching $900 billion.
This was a clear precedent.
Looking at the current situation, SpaceX, SolarCity, and FusionTimes followed a similar pattern. SpaceX handled aerospace, SolarCity worked with photovoltaic technology, and FusionTimes developed nuclear fusion. While not as closely connected as Cisco, America Online, and Egret, these three companies covered the entire spectrum of humanity's venture into space.
SpaceX provided the aerospace technology to launch humanity into space.
SolarCity's photovoltaic technology could be widely applied in space.
FusionTimes' controllable nuclear fusion was the foundational energy source needed for humanity's expansion into the cosmos. Relying solely on fossil fuels would never be enough to support space exploration beyond the solar system.
Half a century ago, breakthroughs in aerospace had sparked dreams of a spacefaring future. Unfortunately, that dream never fully materialized.
But now, following Simon Westeros' plan, it might finally become a reality.
At 9 a.m., everyone had returned and finished breakfast. Simon then walked over from the workspace, holding an object that, to most, looked like a hydraulic jack. However, those present recognized it immediately—Simon was holding an aerospace actuator, an essential component widely used in aircraft and rockets for controlling balance or steering through hydraulic transmission.
Musk's team exchanged glances, their eyes brightening.
The part Simon was holding was the result of their team's 21 hours of work. Initially, they had five members, but one had quit halfway, deeming the project a waste of time, and left before noon the previous day.
Musk still remembered that guy, a Stanford graduate with dual master's degrees in quantum physics and mechanical engineering. A proud individual. It was a shame he quit because, with him, their team could have finished the job in just 12 hours and earned bonus points by helping others.
After the person left, the remaining four took 21 hours to complete the actuator in Simon's hand.
To manufacture the actuator's drive shaft, the four had even learned how to operate a precision lathe within those 21 hours. Their extraordinary learning ability had impressed the technician overseeing the lathe's safety.
What was even more remarkable was that the component they produced met all the required standards.
Simon placed the actuator on the table and, gesturing for everyone to remain seated, smiled and said, "Even though some of you didn't finish, I've reviewed everything. Everyone who's still here has given their best effort. What I want to say is, if you get this job, this is the pace at which you'll be working."
After Simon finished, a tall young man sitting across the table raised his hand. With Simon's permission, he smiled and pointed to the food on the table and the models relaxing nearby. "Mr. Westeros, does that include this?"
Everyone laughed.
Simon wasn't bothered by the playful comment. Smiling as well, he replied, "Those ladies are just here to lift your spirits. If you want to see more of them, you'll have to ask them out yourselves. As for the food, it won't always be as luxurious as these four meals, but because you are the elite of the elite, your future meals here will certainly be better than what you're used to at your previous companies. Also, this is Los Angeles—my turf. If you're interested, you'll have plenty of opportunities to attend celebrity parties."
The crowd responded with playful cheers, catching the attention of the models nearby.
Simon signaled for everyone to quiet down, then patted the actuator in front of him. "You all know what this is, so I won't explain. But does anyone know how much one of these professional-grade actuators costs in the industry?"
The young man who had just made the joke immediately answered, "I know—about $100,000."
Simon nodded and then shifted the conversation. "So, what do you think this one cost to make?"
The group looked confused.
Musk, understanding Simon's point, wasn't disappointed and said, "Mr. Westeros…"
Simon interrupted, "Just call me Simon."
Musk paused briefly before continuing, "Simon, my team made this part. I'm not sure about the cost of the sensors and other components, but I'd estimate this actuator cost less than $10,000 to make."
"That's right. In fact, excluding labor, the total cost of all the components in this actuator was only $3,900. Meanwhile, a similar model from a NASA-certified manufacturer costs $120,000," Simon said, glancing at the group. "NASA's testing team has already evaluated this device. On a scale of 1 to 10, they gave it a 9.5, meaning it meets aerospace standards. So, $120,000 versus $3,900—what are your thoughts?"
No one knew how to respond.
After waiting for a moment, Simon continued, "I mentioned yesterday that SpaceX isn't just a vanity project for some billionaire but a company aiming to revolutionize aerospace and push humanity's future forward. That's why I need you to bring real, substantial change to the aerospace industry—both in advancing technology and reducing costs."
"Traditional aerospace manufacturers, like Boeing, rely on over 1,200 suppliers to build a rocket. Each supplier ensures their own profit, driving up costs. Moreover, the spread-out technology hinders industry progress and innovation. These are exactly the issues SpaceX must eliminate. My approach to SpaceX's operation is to design and produce as many of our components as possible in-house, including the core rocket engines. The ultimate goal is 100% self-manufacturing."
"Some of you may think this sounds crazy—how could one company handle all aspects of aerospace?"
"But in the past 24 hours, you've proven that you have the ability to do this. The next step is simply a greater challenge. If you still think it's impossible, you can quit now. But if you're up for the challenge, here's your final task: in three days, I want each of
you to submit a detailed personal statement, not a generic resume. I want to know specifically which areas of SpaceX's first rocket project you believe you're capable of contributing to."
"Okay, that's all for today."
Simon finished and, as usual, quickly left with his entourage.
Since it was Monday and his schedule was packed, Simon had flown in by helicopter. Once the session was over, the Black Hawk helicopter took off from Playa Vista, flying over the yacht-packed Marina del Rey and directly to Malibu, where the Dania Studios were located.
The morning was spent dealing with various matters within the Westeros system.
In the afternoon, Simon's schedule focused on revisiting some of his recent projects.
At 1 p.m., Simon departed for San Francisco, arriving in Palo Alto an hour later at a modest office building near Stanford University. There, a startup company had recently been acquired by Westeros. This company, although small, was in the cutting-edge field of new technology: 3D printing.
Though 3D printing might sound like a new technology, its concept actually dated back to the late 19th century with the advent of photography. By the 1980s, 3D printing technology had matured significantly, though it never saw widespread application due to a lack of practical use cases.
In Simon's memory, years later, there had been a 3D printing boom in China, which, in hindsight, seemed more like a hype-driven effort to attract venture capital. It eventually faded because 3D printing was not suited for large-scale industrial production. The costs were too high for mass-producing items like cars or shoes, making it impractical.
However, Simon remembered one field where 3D printing was a perfect match: aerospace.
3D printing might sound high-tech, but essentially, it was just another form of model-making. However, it was indeed more advanced, capable of producing complex models that traditional industrial molding techniques couldn't.
One of the most typical examples in Simon's memory was the rocket engine.
Using traditional manufacturing methods, many components could not be made in one piece and had to be separately fabricated and assembled, resulting in over 1,000 parts in a rocket engine. The manufacturing process was also lengthy, often taking six months to complete one engine.
In comparison, a 3D-printed rocket engine could reduce the number of parts to under 100 because many complex components could be made in a single piece. In the aerospace industry, something as small as a screw could cause the failure of a multi-million-dollar rocket launch due to the sheer number of components involved, increasing the uncertainty of a successful launch.
Reducing the number of parts by 90% would significantly boost the success rate of rocket launches.
Additionally, 3D printing could dramatically shorten the production time for rocket engines. Instead of a six-month manufacturing cycle, even accounting for the time spent on modeling and testing, a 3D-printed engine could be completed in just one month.
Fewer parts, increased stability, and shorter production times would ultimately reflect in the overall cost of building a rocket.
Simon's vision, extending over a long-term plan for space colonization, involved phasing out rockets entirely. Even though the U.S. space shuttle program had faced setbacks and was on the verge of being abandoned, Simon believed it was the right path forward and that progress in that direction would continue.
In the short term, Simon's goal was to bring about a technological revolution while drastically reducing the cost of rocket production to compete with established aerospace manufacturers and secure commercial contracts, ensuring SpaceX's sustainability as a business.
SpaceX had already proven that technological innovation and cost reduction could go hand in hand.
The more Simon delved into the industry, the more confident he became in this belief.
Take 3D printing, for example. Once applied, this technology could reduce spacecraft manufacturing costs significantly, while also representing a significant leap forward in aerospace engineering.
Just as human laziness has historically driven technological progress.
The pursuit of lower costs will also drive companies to adopt more advanced technologies.
SpaceX's first phase focused on developing a low-cost launch rocket. While it may not seem like a huge leap forward, Simon's plan was to incorporate as many of the new technologies that had emerged over the past 30 years as possible into this project. This would lead to advancements in materials science, mechanical engineering, electronics, and many other fields.
At the same time, the parallel development of SpaceX, SolarCity, and FusionTimes would result in a comprehensive leap in technology, as these three companies already covered nearly every aspect of cutting-edge technology at this stage of human development.
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!]
[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]
[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter] [+5 Reviews = +1 Chapter]