Space Activities Coordination

[Ayzek]

This thread is for coordinating the efforts of Siorans to explore their solar system. Further information on the Solen system can be found on the wiki (eventually, soon). Should you wish to participate in these exploratory efforts, you must have control of a space program, be it national or international, yours or with authorization. However, per the Sioran MTRP Rules, you must develop a report concerning your institution's history, exploits, and assets to the Directorate's satisfaction.

The report can be located on the wiki, in a factbook thread, on your own website—just not here. This thread is primarily for forms and discussion between the Directorate and Players. What you should do is link to the report in this thread.

Space-faring History and Exploits Guidelines:

• The report should be at least one page long,
  
• detail the institution's history and projects, and
  
• use the following form:
  

Code:

Space-faring HE Report: [url=<link>]<agency>[/url] for <state>

Without a report, your satellites are launched by other parties and your state must partner with enabled countries to explore space. Submitting one will enable you to instead lead such cooperative efforts. As an alternative to a report, if your country is only now beginning to develop a space program, you may role play said space program and that thread would count as your report.


Relevant Technologies

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The following launch systems are permitted:

• Rockets: Obviously. These are pretty big and can handle heavy lifting.
  Tonnage to LEO: <150 tonnes.
  
• Mass Drivers/Space Guns: An effective way into space; allowed as it’s diversity from the rockets of today, and generally scientifically plausible; requires a long track (120+ km) and cannot handle manned missions (the accelerations are too high, without multiplying the length—and cost—several times over).
  Tonnage to LEO: ~20 tonnes.
  
• SSTO Vehicle: Allowed as science is making it more and more plausible every year. Read up on the Wiki page for single-stage-to-orbit for more information. This is a more cost-effective way to get people than fossil fuel rockets, though the vehicle can't generally handle significant loads.
  Tonnage to LEO: ~20 tonnes.
  

Please note that the above tonnages are general, reasonable limits. If you really wanted to make a rocket that could shoot up 200 tonnes or a SSTO vehicle that could handle 50 tonnes...it's probably possible but the platforms would be oversized and generally not an efficient use of resources. Most satellites are under 20 tonnes, after all.

The following "special" technologies are permitted:

• Laser satellites: For ABM purposes. They are reasonably expensive, reasonable large, and only have an engagement opportunity of… about five minutes? Ten? Around there. They also take a few seconds to actually make the missile go “BOOOMMM!!!!”. Math says that means each can only down around forty-sixty missiles… though, most likely, far less due to details that real life throws at you (missile leaving range, satellite leaving range; both move ridiculously fast). Note that this can only engage missiles that travel outside the atmosphere (long-range ballistics).
  
• Kinetic strike satellites: Or rods from god, as they’ve been dubbed. They’re also expensive, and honestly not that powerful. A 9 ton rod (at 6.1m length, .3 meter diameter) would have an impact equivalent to only 11.5 tons of TNT, which is not “city-wiping” capability. That's less than the MOAB. At best, that rod would be a tactical weapon…a really, really, really, really expensive tactical weapon with zero guidance and most of its destructive capabilities aimed at the ground. It'd be a good bunker-buster, though. If for some reason you don't want to use a far less expensive missile, I mean.
  
• Missile satellites: A satellite that’s loaded with missiles. Pretty simple, aye? In Real Life, it’s banned by treaties. In Siora, it's also banned by treaties so expect to have complications if you opt to launch one anyway. Explosive complications, possibly.
  
• Space Gun Satellite: Yup. You can put a gun on a satellite and throw it up into the air. It might not be very effective against missiles, mind, but hey!, it’s something. It could potentially be used against other satellites pretty effectively, though… just bear in mind that any stray bullets could end up hitting your satellites…actually, blowing up anything in space risks busting your toys too. It's better to use a laser.
  

The following are prohibited:

• Ground-assault laser satellites: No. GTFO.
  
• Anything not mentioned: Yup. Feel free to query the Ministry for something though; might have missed it. Just have supportive links prepared.
  

The following scenarios are viable activities for a Reported institution:

• Launch communication, intelligence, science, mundane satellites: Totally okay. No coordinate with the Directorate needed, provided there's nothing unusual about the satellites.
  
• Launching any of the "special" satellites mentioned above: An Activities report must be submitted. View below.
  
• Build space stations: Nothing too unusual here, just submit an Activities Report. View below.
  
• Probe orbital bodies, land rovers: This requires Directorate Supervision. Copy and fill the form located further down.
  
• Send people to the moon: Certainly possible, if expensive. The Apollo program cost over one-hundred billion in today’s money, though that was using expensive rockets. This does not require Directorate Supervision, only an Activities Report. View below.
  
• Send people to other planets: Technically, theoretically possible, but requires Directorate Supervision. Is expected to cost… billions. I won’t deny that it’s possible though (they're hoping by the 2030s in real life)—just, really expensive and risky. View additional notes below.
  

Recognized Reports

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Space-faring HE Reports

• HLSA History for the Holy Lanlanian Empire
  

Lun Landings

• 1515-1528 Project Ontävan for HLE, Gehenna
  

Space Stations

• Valhalt Space Station for HLE, Florinthus, and Gehenna