The Western Isles Space Station (OOC, TWI Only)

[Ioudaia]

Oooh! If there's external space, how about something like the Wake Shield Facility? Perhaps it could be mounted on a boom, and the ScantArm used to move it back to an airlock so astronauts could change the experiment modules on it.

If it's just mounted on a boom what makes this any different than the external mounting options that already exist?

Well, you said there was "external racking". I was thinking of relative small-scale racks. The original Wake Shield Facility was 3m/10' in diameter. It also trailed in the wake of the Space Shuttle, and I don't know if mounting to a trailing surface will produce the same hard vacuum. But if neither of those are a problem, sure, it can be slapped into an existing rack.

Based on my extravagant spending on unmanned missions, I'm going to say that my manned space program is still under development. Since you wanted to avoid getting "15 minutes into the future" what about a spacecraft that combines technologies from previous/existing ships? For example, a heavily modifed Soyuz using the Space Shuttle's ceramic tiles for full reuseablity, and landing like the prototyped Gemini hang-glider system. It doesn't break any new scientific ground, it's just a little clever engineering. I don't think it's too different in concept from many of the weapons people are selling in the region.

That's novel, but I don't see any reason why this wouldn't work. Would be an interesting addition to the potential resupply fleet.

It's novel because it's not an optimal design, except for being cheap to launch. Larger reuseable vehicles are more cost-effective overall, but launching more mass still takes more money. For a nation with few manned spaceflight ambitions, it's not worth the cost.

So... I'll say we have the ship in development with test flights planned for this year. That way, it'll be available for space station missions soon(ish) after the first modules of the space station reach orbit. More stuff to add to factbooks... it never ends.

[Alteran Republics]

If we're talking about walking the line between realism and sci-fi, I guess I should stay quiet for now ...

We've all been there honestly. Do you still use those British MUSTARD shuttles strapped together? Those were neat

Latest variants sees a smaller version (scheme 9) strapped ontop of a single !MUSTARD Scheme 7 ship. For lighter missions; such as single/cluster satellites and resupply missions.
https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1005119 << for pretty pictures

The plan is to phase out the larger Scheme 7 ships in favour of a single/twin reusable rocket boosters at some point this year.

[Corindia]

If it's just mounted on a boom what makes this any different than the external mounting options that already exist?

Well, you said there was "external racking". I was thinking of relative small-scale racks. The original Wake Shield Facility was 3m/10' in diameter. It also trailed in the wake of the Space Shuttle, and I don't know if mounting to a trailing surface will produce the same hard vacuum. But if neither of those are a problem, sure, it can be slapped into an existing rack.

It's large enough that we might be better served by mounting it on the same rack that the heat dissipation systems are on. it could be serviced by the ScantARM then, and it's free real estate after all. Depending on placement I assume it could still get the same thermosphere measurements? I don't know if we could safely have it trail the station for very long but presumably that would be fine for shorter periods (basically any amount of time in which the station isn't adjusting its orbit). This seems plausible to me

[Corindia]

Latest variants sees a smaller version (scheme 9) strapped ontop of a single !MUSTARD Scheme 7 ship

Don't talk to me or my son ever again
I do like it when the region takes space exploration down paths that weren't really followed IRL. More flavor that way.

[Alteran Republics]

Latest variants sees a smaller version (scheme 9) strapped ontop of a single !MUSTARD Scheme 7 ship

Don't talk to me or my son ever again
I do like it when the region takes space exploration down paths that weren't really followed IRL. More flavor that way.

It's just like playing Kerbal, but without any of the mathematics or careful planning.

[Aizcona]

Latest variants sees a smaller version (scheme 9) strapped ontop of a single !MUSTARD Scheme 7 ship

Don't talk to me or my son ever again
I do like it when the region takes space exploration down paths that weren't really followed IRL. More flavor that way.

As long as it is reasonably realistic

[Corindia]

Don't talk to me or my son ever again
I do like it when the region takes space exploration down paths that weren't really followed IRL. More flavor that way.

the mathematics or careful planning.

we play that game very differently

[Ioudaia]

Well, you said there was "external racking". I was thinking of relative small-scale racks. The original Wake Shield Facility was 3m/10' in diameter. It also trailed in the wake of the Space Shuttle, and I don't know if mounting to a trailing surface will produce the same hard vacuum. But if neither of those are a problem, sure, it can be slapped into an existing rack.

It's large enough that we might be better served by mounting it on the same rack that the heat dissipation systems are on. it could be serviced by the ScantARM then, and it's free real estate after all. Depending on placement I assume it could still get the same thermosphere measurements? I don't know if we could safely have it trail the station for very long but presumably that would be fine for shorter periods (basically any amount of time in which the station isn't adjusting its orbit). This seems plausible to me

OK, that's what I'll do, then.

Is there an official list of national contributions? I don't see one in the OP, but I might have missed it. I'd like to add Microgravity Glove Box and the Wake Shield Facility to the official list.

[Alteran Republics]

OK, that's what I'll do, then.

Is there an official list of national contributions? I don't see one in the OP, but I might have missed it. I'd like to add Microgravity Glove Box and the Wake Shield Facility to the official list.

They both sound fictional.

*puts on sunglasses*

Science Fictional.

[Corindia]

It's large enough that we might be better served by mounting it on the same rack that the heat dissipation systems are on. it could be serviced by the ScantARM then, and it's free real estate after all. Depending on placement I assume it could still get the same thermosphere measurements? I don't know if we could safely have it trail the station for very long but presumably that would be fine for shorter periods (basically any amount of time in which the station isn't adjusting its orbit). This seems plausible to me

OK, that's what I'll do, then.

Is there an official list of national contributions? I don't see one in the OP, but I might have missed it. I'd like to add Microgravity Glove Box and the Wake Shield Facility to the official list.

I've made a list, I'll put it in the OP (done) and start building a factbook around it

[Ioudaia]

OK, that's what I'll do, then.

Is there an official list of national contributions? I don't see one in the OP, but I might have missed it. I'd like to add Microgravity Glove Box and the Wake Shield Facility to the official list.

I've made a list, I'll put it in the OP (done) and start building a factbook around it

Thanks!

I also now have a proper space agency factbook.

[Corindia]

If there are no objections, I'd be happy to launch a module this week. Kick things into action.

[Alteran Republics]

If there are no objections, I'd be happy to launch a module this week. Kick things into action.

Alright, who's doing what?

[Corindia]

If there are no objections, I'd be happy to launch a module this week. Kick things into action.

Alright, who's doing what?

So by my reckoning there's at least ten launches of materiel, and probably more. That's 5 major modules, 3 of which are necessary for long term inhabitants, 4 for the chonky solar panels, which can be folded but are still big, 1 for things like the arm and heat dissipators. This is before supplies, experimental equipment, astronauts. I haven't actually looked up any ISS schedules so this could be off, but it's the assumption I'm working under. Corindia seems like an obvious choice to launch our own module of the critical three, the other two are Dothrakia's and Mik/Scant's

[Corindia]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembly_ ... ce_Station

Based off of good ol' wikipedia 10 is probably about right actually. Let's add one more for the truss and call it 11. And also, at least one of those solar panel assemblies is crucial, whatever lifeboat/vehicle is attached really shouldn't be the only source of power, even if unmanned. So let's say there's (at least) 4 launches before it reaches a bare standard of long-term habitability

[Athara Magarat]

Aye, aye sir.

[Ioudaia]

If there are no objections, I'd be happy to launch a module this week. Kick things into action.

Go ahead. I need to post a test flight of my manned ship too.

Not that I have any artistic ability for making space agency logos or line art for the ship itself.

[Corindia]

If there are no objections, I'd be happy to launch a module this week. Kick things into action.

Not that I have any artistic ability for making space agency logos or line art for the ship itself.

I can do a basic logo if you want, maybe the vehicle too if it's small. With something like the ship you could also be sneaky and get some shots from KSP or another game too.

[Alteran Republics]

Alright, who's doing what?

So by my reckoning there's at least ten launches of materiel, and probably more. That's 5 major modules, 3 of which are necessary for long term inhabitants, 4 for the chonky solar panels, which can be folded but are still big, 1 for things like the arm and heat dissipators. This is before supplies, experimental equipment, astronauts. I haven't actually looked up any ISS schedules so this could be off, but it's the assumption I'm working under. Corindia seems like an obvious choice to launch our own module of the critical three, the other two are Dothrakia's and Mik/Scant's

Alright, well if the heavy lifting and modules are covered - perhaps ANSA could be left with supply runs using either Scheme 7 or the Scheme 7 and 9 hybrid launches for smaller payloads?

[Dothrakia]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembly_of_the_International_Space_Station

Based off of good ol' wikipedia 10 is probably about right actually. Let's add one more for the truss and call it 11. And also, at least one of those solar panel assemblies is crucial, whatever lifeboat/vehicle is attached really shouldn't be the only source of power, even if unmanned. So let's say there's (at least) 4 launches before it reaches a bare standard of long-term habitability

Do we need to have any specific spacing between launches?

[Corindia]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembly_of_the_International_Space_Station

Based off of good ol' wikipedia 10 is probably about right actually. Let's add one more for the truss and call it 11. And also, at least one of those solar panel assemblies is crucial, whatever lifeboat/vehicle is attached really shouldn't be the only source of power, even if unmanned. So let's say there's (at least) 4 launches before it reaches a bare standard of long-term habitability

Do we need to have any specific spacing between launches?

Not really, I guess enough time to make sure everything went well and to orient the module. I mean I'm not saying we should be sending them up every hour though

[Corindia]

So by my reckoning there's at least ten launches of materiel, and probably more. That's 5 major modules, 3 of which are necessary for long term inhabitants, 4 for the chonky solar panels, which can be folded but are still big, 1 for things like the arm and heat dissipators. This is before supplies, experimental equipment, astronauts. I haven't actually looked up any ISS schedules so this could be off, but it's the assumption I'm working under. Corindia seems like an obvious choice to launch our own module of the critical three, the other two are Dothrakia's and Mik/Scant's

Alright, well if the heavy lifting and modules are covered - perhaps ANSA could be left with supply runs using either Scheme 7 or the Scheme 7 and 9 hybrid launches for smaller payloads?

I'm not necessarily certain the heavy lifting is covered, I know Aizcona, me, and a few others have that capacity but we still haven't divvied up exactly who's launching what. Actually, let's get that sorted rn, I'll make a list.


Essential for habitation:
Hub module (Dothrakia) Dothrakia
"North" life support module (Miklania + Scant with some of the life support) Miklania
"East" habitation module (Corindia) Corindia
Solar panel assembly x 1 (Scantarbia)
Heat dissipators, ScantARM (Scantarbia)

Nice to have:
Solar panel assembly x 3 (Scantarbia)
“South” lab module (Aizcona)
"West" science module (Townside and AM)
External Truss (Brulafi)

[New Aapelistan]

So as I said in the RMB, I have launch capacity so if you need launches to be done relatively close to the equator (if I remember the position of the Western Isles correctly), you can contact me. TG will suffice, I doubt I will be keeping my eyes here too much.

[Dothrakia]

Alright, well if the heavy lifting and modules are covered - perhaps ANSA could be left with supply runs using either Scheme 7 or the Scheme 7 and 9 hybrid launches for smaller payloads?

I'm not necessarily certain the heavy lifting is covered, I know Aizcona, me, and a few others have that capacity but we still haven't divvied up exactly who's launching what. Actually, let's get that sorted rn, I'll make a list.


Essential for habitation:
Hub module (Dothrakia)
"North" life support module (Miklania + Scant with some of the life support) Miklania
"East" habitation module (Corindia) Corindia
Solar panel assembly x 1 (Scantarbia)
Heat dissipators, ScantARM (Scantarbia)

Nice to have:
Solar panel assembly x 3 (Scantarbia)
“South” lab module (Aizcona)
"West" science module (Townside and AM)
External Truss (Brulafi)

Dothrakia has the ability to launch satellites. (like communications and GPS)
If you think those same systems would be fine for launching the hub module then I can launch it since I'm the one who built it.
Also I'd imagine I'd be the first launch no?

[Corindia]

I'm not necessarily certain the heavy lifting is covered, I know Aizcona, me, and a few others have that capacity but we still haven't divvied up exactly who's launching what. Actually, let's get that sorted rn, I'll make a list.


Essential for habitation:
Hub module (Dothrakia) Dothrakia
"North" life support module (Miklania + Scant with some of the life support) Miklania
"East" habitation module (Corindia) Corindia
Solar panel assembly x 1 (Scantarbia)
Heat dissipators, ScantARM (Scantarbia)

Nice to have:
Solar panel assembly x 3 (Scantarbia)
“South” lab module (Aizcona)
"West" science module (Townside and AM)
External Truss (Brulafi)

Dothrakia has the ability to launch satellites. (like communications and GPS)
If you think those same systems would be fine for launching the hub module then I can launch it since I'm the one who built it.
Also I'd imagine I'd be the first launch no?

The hub is relatively small so that should be sufficient. And technically it doesn't really have to be the first since there needs to be two modules to dock anyway, but you can launch it first if you want!