The Western IslesBoard

CALA

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Founding
Founded in 1972 with the aim of creating a missile defense network and launching small communication satellites into orbit, CALA was initially placed under the Department of the Military and essentially functioned as a design bureau. Following the liberalization of the mid 1970s under which the de facto military control of the government was replaced by regular elections of civilian leadership to the presidency, the agency was transferred to the Department of Science in 1979, where it has remained to this day.

Organization and Operations
Elisabet Porras, former administrator of the Gran Lago Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, is the current CALA Director. Although the agency carries out significant proprietary research and development, some research and a significant portion of the agency's construction and engineering load is contracted out to Corindi companies such as the commercial space company Acelias and Corindi Dynamics. As well as launching satellites and modules into orbit, the agency collaborates with Corindi aerospace companies working on advanced projects, and has assisted in the prototyping of the experimental SST7 "Millennium" , SST12 "Insólito", and SST14 "Bolívar" super sonic transports, as well as other projects such as the OCS6 "Liberty" orbital vehicle and space-plane.

Current Missions
Corindi-Svalbardian Joint Space Station
Following the completion of the Corindi-Svalbardian Joint Space Station (CSJSS) on May 16th, 2019, CALA has maintained a constant presence on the station, which after the attachment of Svalbardian Space Lab 1 module delivered by an Arildrion Industries Atlas World Bearer Rocket performs pharmaceutical research in a low gravity environment, makes observations of the Sun and Earth, and tests the effects of a low gravity environment on the physiology of astronauts. The station is also intended to help Corindi and Svalbardian planners gain valuable experience in the construction and operation of manned space stations, which was put to use during the design and construction of the Regional Space Station (RSS)

The CSJSS is intended to sustain a 3-5 astronaut crew for rotating shifts of up to periods of up to four months, with some missions involving EVA activity as well as onboard experimentation. A wide variety of experiments are intended to be carried out, both while the station is manned and potentially empty. The station is intended to have a lifespan of over two decades, and remain inhabited for the majority of that period.

The Fraternité-2 module (The Corindi portion of the CSJSS), as well as any resupply missions to the station are launched on the Constelación II Reusable Heavy-Lift Launch Vehicle, Corindia's primary launch vehicle.

Rigel-1 Lunar Probe
The Rigel-1 Lunar Probe constructed by primary contractors Acelias, Aeromada, and Corindi Dynamics, was intended to photograph the surface of the moon from orbit and perform a chemical and mineralogical analysis of the lunar surface. Following this, the probe was de-orbited and the lander portion successfully touched down in the Mar Vaporum (Sea of Vapors) on May 29th, 2019. Once landed, it took pictures of its surroundings and conducted basic spectrographic tests, the results of which are still being analyzed by CALA scientists. The probe was able to land within 1 meter of its target landing point.

The probe was launched into lunar orbit by the Constelación II launch vehicle, with the launch taking place on the island of Quital on May 14th of 2019.

A plaque commemorating the intrepid Corindi astronauts, scientists, and engineers of CALA is mounted on the lander portion of the probe, as well as a retroreflector for laser ranging.

Intrepid Space Telescope
The Intrepid Space Telescope, operated by CALA and constructed by primary contractors Coron Electro and Corindi Dynamics. The Intrepid Space Telescope is structured around an existing 2.3 m field of view primary mirror. The two primary instruments carried by the craft are a 300-megapixel multi-band near-infrared and visible camera and a high contrast coronagraph covering shorter wavelengths.

The telescope is intended to answer questions exoplanet research and cosmology, including addressing basic questions about dark energy and cosmic acceleration. The methods used to investigate dark energy will include gravitional lensing and the observation of distant galaxies, supernovas, and nebulas. A census of planets and exoplanets will also be conducted.

The Western Isles Space Station
The Western Isles Space Station, alternately known as the Regional Space Station or RSS, is a collaboration between Corindia and other nations in the region in developing, launching, and assembling a large space station in low Earth orbit.

Future Missions
Future launches, including the potential moon and mars probes, rovers, and potentially manned landers, will be carried either on the Constelación II Reusable Heavy-Lift Launch Vehicle or the Quásar Heavy-Lift Launch Vehicle, depending on the payload. If payloads larger than small probes are to be sent to Mars the Quásar will become the primary launch vehicle as it is the only rocket in the Corindi fleet with the potential power to complete such missions.

The CALA "Roadmap to the Moon" indicates the tentative plan of the agency going forwards as it attempts to establish a manned presence on the moon within two decades, as well as land a probe on the Martian surface.

See Also:

Other Space Programs:
ANSA by Great Altera
PSSA by Polar svalbard
SAAM by Athara magarat
LOTSA by Townside
SKO by Solaryia
NSRI by Dormill and Stiura
UASA by Uprea
CNSP by Costavozka