Please tell me you're not actually building these things.
New totzka
The last three seasons have really suffered without George's input. I'm not saying everything in the show has to be like the books (although the phrase "nipples on a breastplate" was sorely missed) but the show runners definitely needed some help in guiding the series towards the ending.
The Alteran National Space Agency (A.N.S.A.), commonly pronounced as "Answer", is a National Agency set up and funded by the Alteran Government and private contractors, whose sole purpose is to expand Alteran social, scientific and economic interests in the planet's orbit, regional industrial and scientific sectors.
The Alteran National Space Agency (A.N.S.A.) was formed following a a stark warning from the then Deputy Praetor for Industry and Infrastructure, Albinus Rector, who stated that: "Altera is left behind. We are still standing, looking up at the stars and dreaming of our place amongst them; whilst our rivals from across the globe are taking their first steps. This is a great dishonour to the people of Altera - for we continue to declare ourselves as hard workers with some of the greatest business and academic minds ... Yet here we are, still shackled to our little corner of Argus. This, my friends, needs to change."
In conjunction with financial representatives from numerous national companies and government agencies, a meeting was held in December 1968 in the emerging industrial city of Novae - where it was later revealed the newly formed A.N.S.A. planned to construct one of its regional space centres. The meeting was ratified in a convention a year later, where the A.N.S.A. mission was outlined: "[The]A.N.S.A.'s purpose shall be to provide for, and to promote, for exclusively peaceful purposes, cooperation amongst Alteran companies and governmental bodies in space research and technology and their space applications, with a view to their being used for scientific purposes and for operational space application."
The A.N.S.A.'s current Director of Operations, Hang Bantov - who took office in 2015 - re-clarified their mission: "Today, space activities are pursued for the benefit of citizens, and citizens are asking for a better quality of life on our planet. They want greater security and economic wealth, but they also want to pursue their dreams, to increase their knowledge and they want young people to be attracted to the pursuit of science and technology. I think that space can do all of this: it can produce a higher quality of life, better security, more economic wealth and also fulfil our citizens' dreams and thirst for knowledge, and attract the young generation to the sciences. This is the reason space exploration is an integral part of overall space activities. It has always been so, and it will be even more important in the future."
Within months of the 1968 agreement, several companies began bidding on the lucrative contracts to supply, build and help maintain a new fleet of space vehicles. Amid a beildering variety of possible spacecraft shapes, stages and engines being proposed by both Alteran and international aerospace companies, the Multi-Astro Logisitical Launcher And Recovery Design (MALLARD) concept stood out to A.N.S.A. engineers. The homegrown team at Alteran Aerospace - the designers of MALLARD, won the contract, with their proposal for a completely re-usable system of manned shuttles, popularly known as 'MALLARD', 'Space Arks' or 'Space Ducks'. With their promise of low-cost to build, maintain and use - MALLARD can be deployed in a cluster or a tandem configuration - depending upon the payload. The 'tandem' (back-to-back/belly) configuration was the preferred launch method by A.N.S.A.
The MALLARD concept was devise in early 1964, but first appears in the public eye in 1971 as the Curia announced their intentions for the national space programme. The basic idea was to have a number of vehicles lifting off together that were identical in external appearance, but only one of which was actually destined for space. The other aircraft used in the launch would reach up to the edge of space, before syphoning extra fuel to the main vehicle, separating and then returning back to base.
Right from their first iterations when launched in 1979, there have been nine versions (known as 'Schemes') deployed by A.N.S.A. over the years. As of November 2020, A.N.S.A. began to scale back MALLARD launches, as the organisation focused more heavily on reusable rockets and lighter launch vehicles. This was, in part, due to the failed bid for MALLARD to launch and maintain the Regional Space Station. In January 2021, A.N.S.A. formally announced MALLARD's retirement. MALLARD will be kept mothballed until 2025, when it will be then sold/passed on to museums around Altera and the region.
Three MALLARDs in a tandem launch position
The Alteran Star Vessel 'Frontier', the A.N.S.A.'s main mission vehicle
The Alteran Star Vessel 'Excelsior', the A.N.S.A.'s new Scheme 9 light/medium lift vessel
Scheme 7 and Scheme 9 in 'piggyback' launch position
Scheme 7 and Scheme 9 in 'nose-lift' launch position
Firefly is a partially reusable two-stage-to-orbit medium-lift launch vehicle designed and manufactured by Alteran National Space Agency in the Alteran Republics. It is powered by Hydra engines, which were also developed by A.N.S.A., burning cryogenic liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) as propellants. Its name is derived from the fictional spaceship "Firefly" from the TV show of the same name, as well as the insect native to many parts of the region; notably the Alteran Republics. The rocket evolved as development progress, with the Firefly Mk.I (2002 - 2011), Firefly Mk.II (2013–Present), Firefly Mk.III and Mk.IV (2015–Present and 2018-Present respectfully). Unlike most rockets, which are expendable launch systems, since the introduction of the Mk.II version, Firefly is partially reusable, with the first stage capable of re-entering the atmosphere and landing vertically after separating from the second stage. This feat was achieved for the first time on flight 26 of the Mk.II in April 2016.
Firefly can lift payloads of up to 22,800 kilograms (50,300 lb) to low Earth orbit, 8,300 kg (18,300 lb) to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) when expended, and 5,500 kg (12,100 lb) to GTO when the first stage is recovered.
Development of the Firefly began in the early 21st Century, as it became clear to A.N.S.A. that it would need to modernize the majority of its space-faring equipment. With the MALLARD Schemes 8 and 9 in full development, A.N.S.A. also wished to replace Atri Rosa - which was built using dated technology and was already inadequate for the task of future space missions.
Firefly is aimed to tap into the lucrative market of launching a variety of payloads; ranging from satellites and extra-terrestrial missions. In 2020, both the Firefly Mk.II and Mk.III were put forward as Altera's prime candidate for resupply the then-to-be-launched Regional Space Station; as MALLARD lost out to other international bids to launch the first wave of sections for the station. As development for the Mk.IV continues, A.N.S.A. is confident it can secure the majority of cargo and astronaut transfer missions to and from the Regional Space Station.
The latest version of the Mk.II, Mk.III and Mk.IV features increased engine thrust, improved landing legs, and other minor improvements to help recovery and reuse. The planned Firefly Heavy derivative, introduced in February 2018, consists of a strengthened Firefly Mk.III first stage as its central core, attached to two standard Mk.II first stages used as boosters.
Firefly Mk.V is still in the planning and development stages, with the major new feature being a reusable secondary stage - featuring its own set of landing legs and de-acceleration Hydra engines.
Front left to right: Firefly Mk.I, Mk.II, Mk.III and Mk.IV
Whilst the Alteran National Space Agency was working with Alteran Aerospace to develop the larger Firefly rocket system, several companies noted that there was still a demand to launch smaller payloads into Polar and Sun-Synchronous orbit. At these lower orbits, many communication companies were interested in launching smaller satellites - but usually only a single or few devices at a time. These companies would have to piggy-back on larger launches.
Engine manufacturer and advanced engineering firm Rowlands envisioned a solution for these requirements. Consisting of a small, lightweight rocket that could be reused, Rowlands designed a system that could be launched from remote sites that required little infrastructure.
Rowlands developed two systems - Venture I and Venture II. Venture I is envisioned for use by small research companies, universities and other academic institutions - ideal for launching small, individual experiments and satellites into Low-Earth Orbit. Many universities also use the system to research in micro-gravity environments. The Alteran Space Defence Force has also expressed interest in the system as a potential base for anti-satellite weapons. Venture II was designed to launch single, or small clusters, of satellites into Low Earth Orbit up to 1,000km from the surface.
Unlike Firefly, which was a mixture private and public development, the Venture system is one of many purely private programmes to develop low-cost space exploration, research and commerce. Funded purely by Rowlands, the Venture system aims primarily to sell its systems to Altera commercial and academic institutions, as well as internationally to governments with small budgets, or lacking the infrastructure for larger space programmes. The Venture system was first tested in 2016. After many false starts and initial technical issues, Rowlands released the Venture I and II onto the market in late 2020.
Seogsa is a family of military communications satellites, now operated by Van Howell Technologies on behalf of the Alteran Republic's A.N.S.A. and Horizon Inc., which provide strategic communication services to the three branches of the Alteran Armed Forces and to E.C.I.S. forces engaged on coalition tasks. The Seogsa 1 to 4 series were operated by the Alteran Air Defence Force until 2003, and subsequently operated with Seogsa 5 by Van Howell Technologies. Following the launch of the Seogsa 5 series of satellites, the network has been expanded for use of civilian communications - most notably for its use within the Seogsa Global Positioning System (SGPS) network.
Seogsa 5 is the next generation of satellites, replacing the existing Seogsa system. Van Howell Technologies (VHT)were responsible for the build and delivery of Seogsa 5 satellites in orbit, whilst Horizon Inc. is responsible for provision of services to both Council for Defence and civilian networks. Horizon Inc. have also been contracted to provide communications services to E.C.I.S. using spare capacity on the satellites.
The Seogsa 5 satellite is based on the VHT ArgusStar A3000 bus design, weighs about 4,700 kilograms (5.2 short tons), has two solar panels each about fifteen metres long, and has a power budget of five kilowatts. It has four steerable transmission dishes, and a phased-array receiver designed to allow jamming signals to be cancelled out. They will also resist attempts to disrupt them with high-powered lasers. VHT described in 2010 the Seogsa 5 system as having:
High power 160W TWTAs on all transponders, giving 56 dBW peak EIRP in each transmit spot beam and 41 dBW peak EIRP in each global beam per transponder.
15 active transponders ranging in bandwidth from 20 GHz to 40 GHz
Up to 9 UHF channels
Multiple fully steerable downlink spot beams
On Board Active Receive Antenna (OBARA) capable of generating multiple shaped uplink beams
Flexible switching capability allowing connectivity between any uplink beam and at least two downlink beams Nuclear hardening, anti-jamming countermeasures and laser protection
As of 2015, the CfD is specifying the replacement of Seogsa 5, whose operating programme ends in 2022. Van Howell Technologies will build a non-competitively sourced Seogsa 6 satellite planned for a 2020 launch, as a transition to a new architecture. As of 2017, the project Seogsa 5 was viewed as unlikely to be extended beyond 2025. The vision for Seogsa 6 is a flexible system architecture that combines Alteran government, allied and commercial satellites. As of December 2019, the CfD was processing requests for information from potential bidders to operate the ground stations for Seogsa 6, with a possiblity of switching operations back to military personel.
Kosania, welcome to Gael. Didn't notice you there for a while.
Two things:
1) The World Assembly does not exist within TWI, it's equivalent is the League of the Western Isles. 2) Check out this football club tournament that's going to start around the end of the week. viewtopic.php?f=7&t=464749
We Brits are very good at coming up with good ideas, laying down the foundations then come up with some dreary excuse as to why we shouldn't go with the plan anymore. Sometimes financial (a lot of it was post war "Wecanafforditsolongasnothingbadhappensonnowaitwhatsthatboom" reasoning), but equally part of the rationale was that the governments kept swinging between the two major parties and they'd come up with some reason to justify cancelling a project from the other party. Britain's aerospace and industrial heritage suffered greatly because of this.
As I'm currently on the train (London job interview ftw), but I have a big old book at home filed with the project, including all the projects, cost projections and reasons why it didn't come into fruition. I'd be glad to quote from it directly if needed be.
Of course, I'm beyond the idea of just reading something on the book and taking it as gospel truth and I thought long and hard about the !Mustard programme.
Hello there, good people of this region. I saw the Western Isles while looking for a region to join, that has a map and a regional roleplay going on. I'm new to the NationStates, and I don't really know how things work here yet, so I hope I'll get to learn a lot. I'm from Poland, I'm an university student that's into politics, history and pop culture in general. As for my nation, I'm aiming for more of a story than a set nation. So I'm thinking about going through various forms of government, ruling coalitions, coups, rebellions and so on.
The Holy Kingdom of Agadar
The United Commonwealths of Alteran Republics
The Most Catholic Diarchy of Miklania
The United Republics of Dormill and Stiura
The Blue Islands of Corindia
The Free Lands of Vancouvia
The Republic of Linaviar
The Dominion of Nhoor
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