New Horizons - 2028 - Humanity's first steps beyond Earth

[Tudoreleu]

As Stratum operations continue, running single- and multi-engine flight tests between South Uist and a droneship, the UK Space Agency, the British branch of the ESA, becomes worried that it may lose people's support. As such, it proposes to France and Germany that ESA might need to start working towards a greater project if it wants to stay in the newly rekindled space race.

[Ad Bot]

[Maxwell.]

planning to launch a new mars observation satellite begins

nasa researches reusable boosters

You may want to use Real Solar System, yeah, but sure!

rss alone won't cut it if we're being real about rockets, by the way

kerbal space programs stock parts are made for a kerbal sized system, not real, so basic ksp or real looking rockets made using the stock parts will never actually get into orbit in RSS, the only way to make it work with stocks part to build really big rockets, so big they stop looking practical (relevent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONP9jS14toE)

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/58236-112-real-fuels-v1120-may-14/ check this mod out if you want better/realistic engine efficiency, or go get the realism overhaul modpack

[Ragequit]

The German branch of ESA suggests a manned asteroid landing.

[Gojira]

the french branch agrees to this.

[Tudoreleu]

The UKSE also agrees to the project.

Meanwhile...



The final test launch for the Stratum project is a go. The rocket is to take off from South Uist, place a communications satellite in geostationary orbit above Northern Scotland, then land on a droneship in the North-Atlantic Ocean.
The mission is a success.

[TristanLuigi]

Many of you (anyone who is a Great Power) now have enough technology points to take 2020 techs. The ESA (Britain, France, and Germany) may even take a 2030 tech if they combine their points, though I don't recommend it.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1N64ForuhOh06DSpqK9cG6Cv-9FYEKWa_324M_xHev-o/

[Tudoreleu]

A major breakthrough in science is recorded in Wales, where a team of British scientists finally manage to find a reliable and relatively cheap way to mass-produce graphene. This should allow for a variety of new technologies to appear, that have been theorized already. Such possible applications include lightweight, flexible displays and circuits, solar cells, as well as other interesting and useful electronics.

tl;dr yall expect the UK to start exporting transparent displays and stuff in the following years

In the meanwhile, public interest in Stratum increases. There are possible talks of an agreement between the UKSA and Stratum.

[Ragequit]

how many 2020 techs am i able to take with (what i assume are) 108 research points

[Remurr]

would i be able to participate as switzerland?

[Mr. Hurricane]

A few Energia test launches are conducted at Vostochny, and the RFSA moves on to designing a lunar vehicle.

The RFSA breaks ground at a site around Vladivostok for another cosmodrome, one that will be able to handle Russia's future space needs.

Russia reached out to Japan to secure a launch vector along the Tsugaru Strait north of mainland Japan.

[TristanLuigi]

how many 2020 techs am i able to take with (what i assume are) 108 research points

Techs cost 100 points unless they're early.

[Maxwell.]

nasa launches it's mars observation satellite

[Ragequit]

Germany researches Reusable Boosters.

[TristanLuigi]

Germany researches Reusable Boosters.

For the ESA, or just for yourself?

[Tudoreleu]

bump

A collaboration between UKSA and Stratum is now in place. With the very long experience of the UKSA and the ESA as a whole, as well as the new ideas and accomplishments of Stratum, supported by the recent advancements in electronics technology, the group has big plans.