NationStates Jolt Archive

The Federated Union of Democratic Colonies has operated the Enterprise Class Space Shuttle since 1986. While the space shuttle has served the needs of the Democratic Colonies well during thier time in service, the Colonial Aerospace Research and Exploration Agency (CAREA) believes that a newer, higher performance, more efficent spacecraft would better serve the joint military, civilian and scientific needs of the Democratic Colonies.

The Democratic Colonies is at this time actively pursuing either production rights to, or a purchase of, twenty or more reusable spacecraft capable of scientific experimentation, satellite deployment, and heavy lift of cargo and/or passengers to high Earth orbit.

The Colonial Government is willing to spend the funds needed for the continuing presence of the Democratic Colonies in the frontiers of space. It is our hope that the international community has a spacecraft that meets our needs.

- Secretary Stephanie March, Colonial Department of Foreign Affairs
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/JC_Denton/NationStates/March01.jpg)

You could examine our shuttle.
http://s3.invisionfree.com/Izistani_Armaments/index.php?showtopic=9
It can operate unmanned and carry a payload of 30 tonnes.

OOC: Yeah, its my verison of the Buran. The booster production rights are included.

You might want to check out This (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=387705)

The MAG-1 Spaceplane
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/grunt74/NS1/MAG-1.jpg
Launched using 600ft of MagLev track and its advanced combined cycle rocket engines to reach orbit in record time, the MAG-1 has 3 crew positons (allthough it only takes 2 or in extreme cases 1 person to pilot it) and can be equiped for 7 additonal passengers. If the cargo area is used to store cargo or fuel, the maximum number of passengers is reduced to 2. Near the cargo bay doors a multi-adaptable soft dock and airlock mechanism provides easy access to space stations and other space craft. There is enough room and provison to sustain the crew for 3 days, with a full cargo load. If there is no cargo, the MAG-1 can be equipped to sustain 10 people for 4 days. The MAG-1 is meant as a space taxi or ferry, and is not intended for long duration missions. But in someinstances we have equiped it for scientfic experimets and the 3 crew were able to last 12 days on board the MAG-1. Standard retro rockets are supplement by plasma rockets to provide excellent manevring thrust. There are no weapons but there are 2 sensor hardpoints which could be used to equip weapons if needed.
The cost, including the installation of the MAGLEV track is $2billion, if you buy one MAG-1 the second one will only be $1.6 billion since you only need one track :)

You could examine our shuttle.
http://s3.invisionfree.com/Izistani_Armaments/index.php?showtopic=9
It can operate unmanned and carry a payload of 30 tonnes.


At this time, the RSTS Shuttle System appears to be the spacecraft most likely to be chosen to replace the currently serving shuttles in the Democratic Colonies, but the Colonial Government is still open to other proposals.

- Secretary Stephanie March, Colonial Department of Foreign Affairs
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/JC_Denton/NationStates/March01.jpg)