The Space Age & the Last Frontier

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The TC system is chosen for each of the sats in development; a working link budget is established.


Thanks to the increase in launches due to the commercial contracts, and by testing on the rockets which remained in orbit after the deployment of the 2 constellations, SANC has managed to finally implement a working software for managing the landing and thus achieving reusability.
Unfortunately though, it still need refinement due to the instability occurred in a minority of landings.
As such, work on that front continues.

Simultaneously, tests are conducted on the rockets that did manage to land perfectly, to be certain that no unplanned excessive strain of any kind was put on them, and that as such no future launches will be compromised.


2 LB and 1 HB are ordered.

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The power generation system is chosen for the sats in development.
Large solar arrays are mounted along with batteries, and the power regulation subsystem.

Finally, the reusable stages all seems to be able to land properly!
Engineers at SANC cheer, now free from this nightmarish work... Mostly. After all, there's always room for improvements.

Standard-fast procedures to quicken up the check-up for the integrity of the usable rocket get developed, and are started to get implemented.

The ordered rockets get built to specs.

Finally, one of the rockets which passed the check-up tests for reusability get refueled and launched again with the purpose of testing a very important payload: the crew module that was previously developed [see post #8] for human use. Human-like test dummies, fitted with spacesuits and sensors, fill the module.
The test consists of a few days in space, after which the module will be tested for re-entry back on Earth.

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The satellites are fitted with their propulsion system.
All satellites will have an Hall Thruster and an appropriet propellant tank.

The ordered rockets are built and thus begin their first stage of testing, to check up that everything is built up to spec.

The reusability software data is checked and processed again, checking for possible errors or inefficiencies.

Following the success of the crew module testing, and of the reused rocket, a first gruop of 10 astronaut is selected, after strict tests: a long and arduous training starts for them.

The reused stage is checked for undue strain.


The reusable specs are published:
SPECS FOR REUSABILITY=
Little Bear: Payload (max)=20'000 kg to LEO; | Cost per launch=60 millions NC$ (ridesharing allows to pay only a fraction proportional with the bought payload mass);
Heavy Bear: Payload (max)=80'000 kg to LEO; | Cost per launch=125 millions NC$ (ridesharing allows to pay only a fraction proportional with the bought payload mass);

EXPENDABLE SPECS=
Little Bear: Payload (max)=25'000 kg to LEO; | Cost per launch=120 millions NC$ (ridesharing allows to pay only a fraction proportional with the bought payload mass);
Heavy Bear: Payload (max)=100'000 kg to LEO; | Cost per launch=250 millions NC$ (ridesharing allows to pay only a fraction proportional with the bought payload mass);



[Notice that the listed costs are NOT the cost to build and launch the rocket (which are, of course, significantly lower): the listed costs refer to the price to buy a launch.]

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Work starts on the ADCS.
The sats are fitted with reaction wheels and magnetorquers, and the needed sensors are implemented.

The ordered rockets begin their second stage of testing, to check up that everything is built up to spec.

The astronauts proceed with their training; simulational machines are used to improve the closeness to reality of the training.

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The satellites are fully assembled, and as such the last tests before launch are made.

The ordered rockets begin, and succeed at, their third and final stage of testing, ensuring that everything is built up to spec; the rockets are now ready for launch.

The astronauts continue their training, learning how to operate the complex machines that will bring them into the vast heavens. The space suits are specifically tailored for each astronaut.
More training is conducted in special enviromental conditions, like underwater or in 0-g-like-planes.

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And finally, they fly.
The first being launched is GUMS, which will use a HB. Once again, the rocket will minimize the need of additional maneuvers as much as possible, but the on-board propulsion will still be needed to fully deploy the sats.
The reusable stage is collected again after delivering the payload; the check-up tests are immediately started, ensuring the reusability of the rocket.

The second and third to be launched are CLO1, the lunar orbiter, and SCT, the telescope, and both will launch with a LB.
After delivering their payload, the reusable stages of both rockets are collected; the check-up tests starts immediately, ensuring the reusability of the rockets.
Meanwhile, the upper stages fly towards the Moon and L2 respectively, waiting to arrive at their destination.

The astronauts finally complete their ground training: 5 of them are selected for an orbital mission.
A launch with a HB is scheduled.

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GUMS reach full deployment.


After entering the lunar SoI, CLO1 establish a lunar orbit and assets its orbital position into the final and proper orbit. SANC begins to analyze its data with great care.


SCT arrives in L2, where it stabilizes its orbit. The first, wonderful images from the powerful telescope are published worldwide, with great pride and joy of many NCR citizens.



Finally the astronauts begin their voyage:
3... 2... 1... Liftoff.
With a roaring thunder, the brave Californian cosmonauts are hurled into the heavens, where they'll spend the next week, conducting experiments and testing the various space equipment. After putting them and their payload into orbit, the reusable stage of the rocket successfully lands and is collected; the check-up tests are immediately started, ensuring the reusability of the rocket.

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After their week in orbit, the the brave Californian cosmonauts safely return on Earth.

Another launch is made to bring the remaining 5 astronauts into orbit, and their mission too will last a week. After putting them and their payload into orbit, the reusable stage of the rocket successfully lands and is collected; the check-up tests are immediately started, ensuring the reusability of the rocket.

SANC starts the development of a lunar rover, which will be called CLR1, and of an extra stage designed to bring a crew module in outer space, with docking capabilities.

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The second batch of astronauts finally returns home too, after their mission's end.

The development of CLR1 continues, the general design being fixed [think of Opportunity but lunar edition 2023]. The general payload and instrumentation is fitted.

Simultaneously work starts for the development of a lunar lander stage. It will come in two types: a "heavy duty" one, intended for larger payloads and for allowing reorbit from the Moon's surface, and a lighter one intended to drop smaller payloads.

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The TC system is chosen for both CLR1 and the landers; a working link budget is established.
Also the power generation and regulation system is fitted.


The astronauts start special training for more complex duties in space.

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The propulsion system and the ADCS are fitted for the landers.
CLR1 is fitted with is engine and mobility system.


While the "veterans" astronauts continue their expert training, a new batch of 10 astronauts is selected and starts training.

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Both CLR1 and the landers are fully assembled; thus the last tests are made before launch.


The old batch of astronauts starts training for a possible lunar landing, while the new one keeps advancing with the "regular" training.

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With great excitement at SANC, CLR1 and the light lunar lander are launched aboard a LB rocket.
After putting in orbit the payload, the reusable stage manages to land and is collected; the check-up tests are immediately started, ensuring the reusability of the rocket.
Meanwhile, the stage carrying CLR1 flies towards the Moon.

Both batches of astronauts continue their training.
Two test launches are announced:
one launch will be with a LB, which will bring 5 of the new astronauts into orbit to complete their training in space;
the other launch will be with a HB, and will carry 4 of the veteran astronauts and the heavy duty lander towards a lunar orbit: then the heavy duty lander, empty inside except for dead weight test mass (and sensors), will be landed on the lunar surface and brought back into orbit to test it. Then, after a rendezvous, the astronauts will be brought back to Earth.

One additional HB, and one additional LB are ordered.

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CLR1 finally arrives in lunar orbit; after a while, it starts the maneuvers to land on the lunar surface.
The rover is successfully deployed, and immediately begins its operations sending data and images back on Earth, where SANC immediately starts studying them.
CLR1 is also used to start scouting some of the more palatable options found by CLO1 for a possible Moon landing.

Both batches of astronauts continue their training.
The planned LB and HB launches happen without problems.
After putting in orbit their payload, the reusable stages manage to land and are collected; the check-up tests are immediately started, ensuring the reusability of the rockets.
Meanwhile, 5 new astronauts begin their week of training in space while the choosen 4 veterans are flying towards the moon.

The ordered rockets are built to specs.

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From the data gathered from CLR1, some landing spots are decided.

The new astronauts conclude their week of training in orbit, and return down on Earth.
Meanwhile, the veterans astronauts are successfully carried to lunar orbit. The heavy lander descend towards the Moon's surface, lands, and then sends its upper stage back into orbit like planned. After the rendezvous, the astronaut are brought back on Earth, having proved the feasibility of a human lunar landing.

The ordered rockets are built and thus begin their first stage of testing, to check up that everything is built up to spec.