NationStates Jolt Archive

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[ooc: we will make a cooler symbol later]
IC:

Saturday, the 19th of April, 2008 was the day set for the opening meeting for the 71st annual Board of Directors of S.T.A.R.. This year the talks were being hosted at the Neils Bay S.T.A.R. base in the HOB. The Neils Bay base was the largest shuttle launch facility in the HOB, housed many of S.T.A.R.'s administration buildings, and also had extensive R&D laboratories.

The setting and timing was perfect. The SS-5 satellite launch prototype was scheduled for testing the following day, giving the Yanitarian directors a chance to see five years of HOB research in action. The weather radar was showing an open window for three days. Most of the many Island of Bellevue was under the a surillian blue sky with a cool offshore breeze blowing in.

The Yanitarians would be housed in Montreux, the cultural center of the HOB and a bustling cosmopolitan just north of the base.

The Board of Directors would be meeting in 'building #23,' a large modern complex of meeting and visitor facilities. Room 301 had been prepared for the occasion. A long table with 22 seats had been set with name cards and information packets at each station. A multimedia table and display was at the far end of the room, and would accommodate the needs of various presenters. The right and far wall of the room was made of a seamless wrap window, which would provide the directors with views of several of the bases launch facilities, and further in the distance the HOB coastline.

Currently the HOB directors were waiting on the ground floor of building #23. Gee Lemarc (Director of S.T.A.R.-HOB), Caitlin Lundi (Neils Bay Area Director), Maria Rouge (Financial Director of S.T.A.R.-HOB), and Jacque Marcelle (Research Director of S.T.A.R.-HOB) were the most notable of these attending the meeting, but lower level managers and researchers were also present. When the Yanitarians arrived they would proceed to the meeting room and get the 71st. meeting underway.

A Da-134 descended towards the tarmac at the airport in Montreux. Lord-Duke Jean-Etienne Delvaux watched the YNW report as it played on the satellite television of his plane.

"... is expected to launch the following day, and coincides with the Yanitarian Lunar Probe, Bennike VI. The Bennike project, which is a branch of the larger "Carte Blanche" project, is aimed at scouting out areas suitable for a small lunar colony on the moon...

Dr. Hans Laake, who was sitting next to the Lord-Duke, spoke softly, "I don't suppose that they would know about the plans for the YRSF, would they? Heh."

"And ruin the fun? Doubtful. They'll find out soon enough, when Sunder gets off it's ass."

The plane touched down on the tarmac...

The Da-134 engines whirred to a low whine as a rolling staircase was pushed into place. 50 yards off a small group of reporters and interested public chattered as the fuselage door was opened and the Yanitarians started to descend.

At the bottom of the stairway, a small group from the Neils Bay base had gathered to welcome the foreigners. A small security force was also on hand, mostly airport personnel tasked with keeping the press and public at a safe distance.

A fleet of several S.T.A.R. SUV's were waiting for the visitors, and would take them to the base, and later to their hotel.


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The drive from the Montruex was uneventful as the SUV's rolled down an auxiliary highway reserved for S.T.A.R. use. Once on base there was a round of short greetings, of course the HOB and Yanitarian directors knew each other well. The directors made there way to the third floor and to the meeting room, where they were seated.

Dr. Lamarc started, "Again, I would like to welcome you all back to the HOB and S.T.A.R.-HOB. You have before you a packet of documents we have put together, including an itinerary, HOB projects overview, and 2008-2009 funding numbers.

If you refer to your itinerary, it should be the first sheet, you will see that we would like to start by running over our current projects. We can then get into future plans, and finally discuss funding."

At this point Dr. Lamarc signaled to a lower level tech, who manned the multimedia station.

Lamarc continued, "As I am sure you are aware of, our SS-5 launch system is out of its secondary R&D phase and we will be testing our prototype, weather permitting, tomorrow.

In your information packets you will find all the pertinent specs. on the system. The SS-5 is our fifth reengineering of our 'satellite launch system." The fifth version is a two stage rocket that will utilize a VTHL takeout/landing retrieval system. Our main goals with this design was to make a reusable satellite delivery system for low elevation orbit satellites.

As you know, reusable launch systems have yet to be perfected, with our space shuttle being the only one currently in use. The main problems we have encountered are the same seen in the shuttle, precisely the heat shielding is extremely cumbersome and requires extra structural support to the rocket.

Anyways, we have developed several different heat tiles that have passed laboratory tests. These should greatly reduce the system's weight while adding longevity to the structural integrity and life span of the rocket."

While Lamarc was speaking the technician flipped through several images and schematics of the rocket and its components.

He continued, "completion for this project is essential to our long term goal of increasing our satellite fleet. Additionally, innovations from this project will doubtless help us improve on existing technologies.

Are there any questions at this time?"

"How does it compare to the cost of the tiles we currently use on our disposable launch vehicles," asked Dr. Laake.

"Well it really depends on which of the new tiles proves to work best in real world situational tests. You see currently we use different heat tiles for various parts of the shuttle. But the high-temperature reusable surface insulation, that we use on the main body of our reentry rockets constitutes the biggest cost, and despite their name are in need of constant replacement.

What our scientists have come up with for a replacement is a 'carbon-tube fabric' that has nanoscale-weaves in it. This adds extreme strength and durability while maintaining the heat resistance of approximately 1,300 C. These carbon nanotubes are actually quite cheap to make, but we are still perfecting the post production processing.

Currently we have formed 2.5 inch thick plates that preformed well in laboratory conditions. They passed reentry heat tests, orbital freeze tests, and takeoff friction tests. Of course you know as well as I do that real life performance is the most important thing.

On average, using the nanotubes to replace our old reinforced carbon-carbon tiles, would initially not be a significant financial change, however their durability should save a lot of money, time, and maintenance in the future. Replacement costs and time have really been the main problem in the past. Not to mention problems arising from orbital repairs, which, pardon the pun, are astronomically expensive."

"Indeed, this is good news. Our space program is going in the exact opposite direction, in that we are instead opting for a recyclable launch vehicle with certain reusable components. For instance, the reentry vehicle itself is reusable, while the rockets, and cargo hold are all recyclable.

"However, there are certain projects we have in the works, and that we will inform you about when our time comes, that will have to be completely reusable."

"Yes well, anyways we look forward to hearing about your plans. But if you will permit I will go on about our motivation for these developments.

Currently the HOB has 68 geostationary satellites in orbit. We hope to double this number within the next ten to fifteen years. This will be the first step in an orbital defense system that we are developing jointly with the military.

Additionally we plan to increase production and deployment on our cosmic observation satellites and probes.

If you had not guessed yet we are looking to towards unmanned orbital and super-orbital machinery. And this new delivery system will hopefully make it easy and cheaper to do so.

There is one final project that we have started on. Well, by started I mean that we have been discussing it, and it would obviously be a long way off. You remember the nano-tubing I was telling you about. Well it actually came from some preliminary work we started looking at materials that could make "space elevators" feasible.

I know that this idea has been relegated to the 'unfeasible' for a long time, but gentlemen, we really are starting to think that we could create carbon nanotubes strong enough for such a construction... but like I said, we are really just discussing it at the moment as a possibility.

If you would care to present now, the floor is yours."

"First of all, I would like to say that our space elevator project has been in the works for years, and our research of carbon nanotubes looks very promising. At the moment, though, we need something capable of climbing a sheet of nanotubes into the sky. We expect construction to begin anywhere from 2010 to 2015. A primitive space elevator would start at $5 billion but we have secured funding of over $200 billion, just from our government and Yanitarian investments. However, it will take many many years to recoup the cost.

"Second, as you know, your SS-5 launch coincides with the launch of the Bennike VI lunar probe. It is part of Project Carte Blanche, our ongoing project to create space and lunar colonies, which likely wont come about until the space elevator project comes around. We are also planning our line of new launch vehicles, which will transport personnel through the radiation belts, and carry new satellites into space, which we plane to launch in rapid succession this year.

"Finally, we have planed several 'Space Fighters' which will be staged at a permanent base in a space station. This fighters will intercept enemy satellites during times of war, and not only cripple their ability to spy on us, but cut down both civilian and military communications satellites. Imagine, if you will, an enemy who cannot communicate because their fancy satellite uplinks failed, and who cannot find their way because they don't have maps, just useless GPS modules. This of course will be run by the newly formed Yanitarian Royal Space Force."

"That all sounds very promising. Have you thought to the issue of self sustainability of the space and planetary installations you are planning?

I only ask because we have a joint project with the NIT Agricultural division. This project has been working on methods for converting inorganic planetary substrate into farm-able land.

Basically they have been experimenting with adding different organic matter and microorganisms to rock dust and measuring the mixtures growing potential. They have actually had pretty good headway.

Additionally they have also been working on genetic engineering of plants for planetary use. A lot of work has been down with cold resistance, as well as water and light depravation.

As to your "Space Fighters" although the idea seems like something out of science fiction, that is pretty much the business we are in. I know we have tinkered with the idea. Why have you chosen to go this route rather then using rockets?"

"Yes, sustainability will be a problem, but we are planning on using hydroponics labs. Although we would be interested in testing your project on the moon.

"And the plants seem promising, as our plant experiments are not going well. Especially since we are looking at the dark side of the moon.

"Before I go on, let me tell you about the goals. The base on the moon will contain about 50 scientists. We plane on operating a large conventional observatory there, since the moon cannot interfere with our view from there. A radio telescope is also planned, since those are ideal conditions for it. Finally, it will serve as both a base for future deep space travel, but as a testing ground for our Nuclear Impulse Drive and solar sail.

"When building, we are going to use remote ships which will be built specifically to be broken down for construction material once on the base. Most of the base will be built deep underground.

"As for the space fighters, it's science fiction, all right, but completely plausible science fiction. Nothing is stopping us from doing it, other than cost, which is no longer an issue, as we now fall under the government subsidies for the Aerospace industry as well as our space program. For propulsion, We will very likely be using rocket engines, unless we can find a more suitable approach."

"Yes, hydroponics would be an good initial setup while the soil is treated for fertility. But the problem with production or transport of water seems to be a major stumbling block for sustaining hydro-greenhouses.

Of course, if we can get a space elevator to work supply problems would be greatly diminished.

If I might steer the conversation back to your fighters for a moment, what sort of payloads would you consider equipping them with?

Also, I do not think we can stress enough our angst about other nations discovering their existence. Doubtless, acknowledged existence of such weaponry would spawn an intense initiative on the part of other nations to match our space weaponry.

The longer we can keep this a secret, the more time we will be able to distance ourselves technologically from other nations.

Unlike in Yanitaria we have our hands tied a little by the government when it comes to researching space weaponry, for the exact reasons stated above. The HOB does not want to stimulate other nations into developing space weapons.

A "loophole" that we have been able to exploit in the past is developing technologies for "strategic dense." Such as spy satellites, which we use to "monitor for threats," but would obviously prove useful offensively.

In short, if we are to collaborate on such a project, special care will have to be given to "A" keep this technology a secret and "B" demonstrate its "defensive" purpose."

"Indeed, it is very important to keep this a secret, and we spare no expense in doing so. As for strategic defense, most modern militaries use GPS to get around, and satellite uplinks to communicate. By having elements in the sky capable of knocking their satellites out of the sky many enemies will be rendered incapable of fighting coherently.

"Further, most militaries rely exclusively on sat uplinks for communications around the world. Imagine their surprise when their satellites fall from the sky 'like borken bird', and they are unable to communicate with their navy or army abroad. Sure they might have a telephone, but many modern nations use satellites for that as well! Only solid, slow land lines could be used, and divers could easily destroy those!

"And think of all the countries that have nuclear launch satellites. I'd imagine that when suddenly they realize that those have been boarded, and that their own nukes may be used against them, or at the very least dropped on their heads, their nation will be in an uproar. The people will be revolting in the streets as their government allowed their nuclear technology to be commandeered.

"Moving on to your question, we are developing space to space missiles based on the Kh-22 Raduga, for large installations, and smaller missiles based on the harpoon AShM for individual satellites. These will be loaded onto the space station that houses the planes, but the pilots will be flown up before every war. The space station itself will have only 4 crew members to keep it online, but it will also double as a research station and telescope. There will be two of them, housing a total of twenty craft.

Dr. Lamarc nodded as he took in the information from the Yanitarian directors.

"Yes, I see. What stage of development are these craft at currently and when could they be operational? We will of course review this information in greater detail, and make a proposal for HOB government funding, which highlights the defensive nature of the project.

Additionally, as to 'Carte Blanche,' I think we need to get our lawyers and defense people together to work on details of exclusive use.

If you have anything else you would like to discuss you can bring it up now, otherwise I propose we move onto assigning the 2008-2009 budget."

"Yes, I think we should move onto the Budget."

[ooc: To tired to post tonight. How much of my defense budget do you think I should give to S.T.A.R. funding... I looked up Nasa's funding which was about 17 billion... I might want to make mine a bit higher... I mean I am not fighting a 500 billion dollar war]

OOC: I am putting mine at 1 trillion.

Dr. Lamarc sorted through his dossier until he found the funding overview.

"Lets see," He started, "64 billion from defense funding, 150 billion in joint RAS (Royal Air Service) funding, some 215 billion for special projects, and we have a joint fund with NIT for 0.9 billion.

Then from our endowment we will have up to 30 billion, but are looking to reinvest at-least half of that."

Lamarc pulled out another sheet.

"Most of the joint RAS fund has been set aside for our SS-5 and satellite fleet projects. The RAS wants to use some of it to develop a second class of low orbital jet... we really don't think much of their plans but we will probably let some of this funding to go towards that.

NIT is going to be given about 70% of the 0.9 billion, which they will use on research on genetic engineering and space farming research.

Our special projects funding is up in the air at the moment, but we are looking to put some into space elevators, rocketry, and developing better materials for space travel and rocketry.

However, we should have some 70-130 billion what is still up in the air. If we cannot find worthy projects to invest in it will go back into our endowment."