NationStates Jolt Archive

On the tarmac, Chevrokian Aerospace Research Administration - Minot Testing Range

What got them to this point? In front of Test Pilot Steven Howard was one of two existing XCB-70F carrier airplanes. Not carrier, as in operated from a Navy aircraft carrier ship. Rather, carrier, as in it carried other aircraft to altitude. It was a mothership, so to speak. And it was commonly used for launching experimental aircraft at high speed and altitude.

But it was one freak of an airplane, and had the space program gone smoothly, it wouldn't even exist. When the Johanson administration had announced in 1992 that the nation would be in orbit with manned spacecraft by the turn of the century, the original plan was the usual take: putting a relatively small capsule on a huge rocket and putting it up there. All they had intended to do was make an enlarged version of the SSM-3 Odin ballistic missile to do the job. Trouble was, the prime contractor for the manned version, Aerodyne Rocketry, was seriously behind schedule and way over budget on the project. And now the President himself had ordered an investigation to determine exactly why Aerodyne had yet to even fly their ship unmanned.

However, five years ago, the Republic Air Force also made a proposal, saying that they could build a manned vehicle that could achieve orbit before the Aerodyne project, be able to carry more personnel and various payloads, and serve much as a manned reconnaissance satellite. Most importantly, they claimed that the entire system would be reusable; making the only operating costs regular maintenance, fuel, and personnel. Many people, of course, just thought that it was usual CCRAF bullshit.

They'd be proven wrong today, if everything worked right. On top of that freak of an aircraft was the XSR-10A Blackstar. It was more or less a fuel tank with wings, a flight deck, and engines. The plan was to get the XCB-70F up to maximum possible altitude and speed, then the Blackstar would start it's hybrid ramjet/scramjet engines, accelerate away from the mothership, and when they were maxed out, ignite the rockets, and then up into space.

Some time later, 80,000 feet above the Minot Testing Range...

The mothership couldn't do any more. Barely Mach 3 and 80,000 feet. It was close enough. Steven got a communication over his headset...it was from Chief Test Pilot Robert Endelhoff, the most experienced test pilot in all of CARA, calling from the Blackstar.

“Say, Steve, are we ready to go yet or what? I know you probably don’t got a lot of fuel left by now to sustain this sort of flight.”
“Yes we are Bob, final pre-launch checks completed. Better get ready, we’re at T-minus 1 minute.”

Endelhoff had his crew secure their pressurized suits and anything else in the cabin of the prototype. He started up the fuel systems for the two ramjet/scramjet hybrids on the craft, engaged the injectors, and the engines fired up. He was then checking gauges and various screens to make sure everything was working right. So far, it was.

“All systems good for launch,” Endelhoff said.
“Confirmed, ready for launch. Counting down, ten…nine…eight…”

Endelhoff pushed the twin throttles to maximum as the countdown progressed.

“Four…three…two…one…launch!”

Two RF-40C chase planes were video recording the whole process. The clamps released, and slowly, the Blackstar accelerated away from the mothership. The chase planes were able to keep up until 3.5 Mach, but then Endelhoff changed the engines over to scramjet operation. The chase planes could do no more, and the Blackstar gradually accelerated away to a higher altitude. It continued for many minutes, until it had reached about Mach 8 and 130,000 feet.

“Time for transition to rocket power, start main engine sequence. Five…four…three…two…one…ignition!”

The three huge rockets ignited and pushed the test crew back in their seats. Endelhoff was barely able to reach forward to shut down the scramjets. It was now accelerating much faster…all the way up to Mach 23, orbital velocity. Eventually, the shaking of the spaceplane died down and stopped.

They were in space now.

Confederate Republic of ChevyRocks
Press Release

“This morning, from a testing facility of the the Chevrokian Aerospace Research Administration, an aircraft was launched, that successfully achieved flight into space and into orbit. We can not, at the moment, release specific details about the plane. We would like to say though, that this is a great leap forward in our fulfillment of man’s dream to explore beyond the known world. “To reach to the sky, and touch the face of God…””

“We also intend, in the near future, to establish a research station in orbit. And from there, to travel beyond, further out into our solar system and beyond. We look to the international community, to any nations who wish to participate and help further our knowledge of the universe.”

Signed,
Joseph Derekson
Vice President, Confederate Republic of ChevyRocks


OOC: By “other nations,” I’m thinking more towards nations who haven’t yet established huge space stations or colonies on other moons or planets, and have done or could do currently basic protrusions into space.

To: Chevy Rocks
From: Franberry
Topic: Space Exploration

Text:
First, we would like to congratulate you on your achivement. Secondly, we are offering our help with spac exploration. While Franberry has had many space missions, have sent probes to farwary planets, and have landed on the Moon 5 times, we do not have a space station, and would be very interested in establishing one.

Pythogria suggests that you both join the International Spce Alliance. We're a member, and we're making moon colonies and space stations.

OOC: Woah, in MT, we have MOON COLONIES. Not so MT, eh?

IC:
To the Country of ChevyRocks:

We wish to help you with your experiments and exploration. We curretn;ly have only one satalite with scientists who are working for statistics to transform it into a nuclear weapons defense platform. We will provide budget and allow you to place scientists/troops/anybody else you wish to help onto it. We can, as of today, provide 23 people. We currently have 34 scientists and 4 astronuats on it. In exchange, we wish you to allow us three XSR-10A's, and three XCB-70F's.

Please, carefully, consider this,
Quirly,
Leader of Hayord

OOC: Woah, in MT, we have MOON COLONIES. Not so MT, eh?

OOC: I was looking more towards nations that hadn't yet progressed quite that far in their space program, thought it is certainly possible in MT.

IC:

To: Pythogria
From: ChevyRocks
Subject: International Space Alliance

We are interested in the ISA, and I am wondering if you could provide us with more information regarding it.


To: Hayord
From: ChevyRocks
Subject: Spaceplane Sales

It is good to know you are interested in helping our our space program. However, at the moment our XCB-70F and XSR-10A craft are still in their experimental phase, and likely will remain in national service if they reach production status. I have been informed, though, that through this program we also intend to achieve a single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) plane. Word is spreading that several of our indigenous aerospace firms will soon be working like mad to have a commercially available SSTO aircraft. At that time, you will certainly be free to aquire examples through purchase or trade.

OOC: I realise you want people who aren't that far along, but I figgered I'd post anyways.

Official Imperial Communique
Greetings from the Democratic Empire of Cravan! First of all, we would like to congratulate you on your first venture into space, and we realise this must be a great achievement for you. We would like to know if you are interested in us assisting you with some of your research into SSTO craft. We have already accomplished this technology, and are willing to share some of it with you. (I stress the word some, because the majority of our SSTO research is top secret) We hope to join in research with your people, and hope you accept our offer.

Again, congratualtions, and I hope you continue your journey beyond our world.

To the Country of ChevyRocks:

We will hold back on the plane until some are avalable. We will then buy one of each (one carrier, one space). As of now, however, we still wish to help you.

Quirly,
Leader of Hayord

OOC: I only hav eone platform, no colonie son the moon or anything.

To the Country of ChevyRocks:

We will hold back on the plane until some are avalable. We will then buy one of each (one carrier, one space). As of now, however, we still wish to help you.

Quirly,
Leader of Hayord

OOC: I only have one platform, no colonie son the moon or anything.

To: Cravan

We are glad to hear you would like to help us in achieving SSTO aircraft. We will be informing our various aerospace firms, who can then contact your respective firms with anything they may need help with.


To: Hayord

We are hoping that when production status is reached for a space place, that they will be SSTO capable, and that a “mothership” would no longer be needed. You will then be able to purchase them on a limited basis; limited, as we predict production numbers will not be very large in the near future.

Confederate Republic of ChevyRocks
Press Release

“This morning, from a testing facility of the the Chevrokian Aerospace Research Administration, an aircraft was launched, that successfully achieved flight into space and into orbit. We can not, at the moment, release specific details about the plane. We would like to say though, that this is a great leap forward in our fulfillment of man’s dream to explore beyond the known world. “To reach to the sky, and touch the face of God…””

“We also intend, in the near future, to establish a research station in orbit. And from there, to travel beyond, further out into our solar system and beyond. We look to the international community, to any nations who wish to participate and help further our knowledge of the universe.”

Signed,
Joseph Derekson
Vice President, Confederate Republic of ChevyRocks


OOC: By “other nations,” I’m thinking more towards nations who haven’t yet established huge space stations or colonies on other moons or planets, and have done or could do currently basic protrusions into space.
Official Statement of President John Holtz of Holy Paradise:
"We offer our congratulations to your nation and those who participated in this undertaking. We are currently running our own space program, and we believe it best for both of us if we cooperate and help each other build our two outstanding programs.