Kalistan

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A Space Program for Kalistan?
Kalistani Physicists head to Lourenne to learn about Rocketry
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
December 15, 5560


Professor Dena Alonzo, tapped to oversee Space Research in Kalistan

Recently, various hobbyists have taken up the practice of model rocketry in Kalistan.  They have been inspired by the growing space programs across Terra.  "We are seeing more and more teens and young adults taken to firing off model rockets in parks and fields across Kalistan," said Professor Dena Alonzo of Kaliburg Polytechnic University, who has recently been named Project leader for the nascent Kalistani space research program at KPU.  "Most of the rockets will fly into the air more than 100 feet, and deploy a parachute so they may be retrieved and reused.  It's a fairly fun activity that parents and their kids can get into, and for some reason there seems to be a lot more interest in the hobby these days than there has been in decades past, perhaps something to do with various space related news from across the globe."

But Professor Alonzo also notes that there is interest in rocketry from the scientific community.  "My collogues have begun working on grants aimed at developing rockets that are more than just hobbies or toys.  We are beginning to explore the scientific and commercial implications of a rocket program, perhaps someday to begin building our own rockets here to put communication and scientific satellites into orbit.  There is plenty of knowledge and experience around the globe and we are starting to become interested in possibly exploring this for ourselves."

Earlier this month, following several discussions with Kalistani media outlets, including KRTVN and Radio Kaliburg, the Ministry of Science and Technology has ordered Kalistan's intelligencia to begin working on communications satellites for the goal of launching a continental telecommunications network, tentatively called Radio Seleya.  Currently, the space program is licensed to the private sector, but there has not been an application for a permit to develop space assets in centuries in Kalistan, so the Government will be signing legislation to move the Space Program back into the Public Sector, and placing it under the governance of the Ministry of Science and Technology.  "There is currently no money in it," said Professor Alonzo.  "We currently license our global telecommunications links on others satellites, but I think the thrust of the National Government is headed in the direction of us developing our own technology."

Professor Alonzo said that an initial group of 35 scientists from across the Empire have been invited to Lourenne, to the Royal Space Agency and to the University of Thiers - Aerospace Facility, located in Thiers-Sur-Noel in Lourenne to study with Lourennais counterparts and "learn the science of rocketry.  The lessons will include telemetry, or aiming the rockets so that they can enter orbit at the right angles, as well as rocket body design, fueling systems, and payloads. I don't doubt that we can get this information from the internet, but if Kalistan is prepared to invest several billion Rubles into the program, we may as well learn from people with a thousand years of experience in the field.  We also would like to explore electronics for civilian, peaceful applications-  Communications satellites, weather satellites and geo-positioning satellites, for starters, to allow Kalistan to begin to catch up to some of the more advanced nations."

When asked if there will be a defense component to the program, Professor Alonzo said that was highly unlikely.  "Kalistan's defensive doctrine precludes anything like missiles.  We already possess surface to surface and air to surface rocket artillery.  This thrust is specifically aimed at scientific and commercial application, and to my understanding there are no conversations at this point about military usage."  Professor Alonzo said that the training in Lourenne will be designed to create orbital technology.

"I'm not even sure if manned spaceflight is being considered at this point," said Professor Alonzo.  "Adding life support systems creates a host of problems for which there are not a lot of return on investment anymore.  Anything that humans needed Space to develop has been pretty much developed already.  It's 5560 and we are interested in learning technology that was initially invented in the 1950s,  and perfected by 1963, but surprise:  only now, 3600 years later, is Kalistan just getting around to it.  I don't think manned space flight will yield much benefit for Kalistan."

The first team, led by Dr. Alonzo, is likely to head for Lourenne in about 4-6 months and will remain in country for about 2 years to learn as much as they need to in order for Kalistan to gain the rudimentary knowledge necessary to begin building and testing full sized modern rockets.  "Meanwhile, we have developed a team who will begin constructing necessary infrastructure in Kalistan Proper so that we can begin building and testing when we return.  This infrastructure will consist of an initial launch pad facility, a mission control, and a rocket fabrication building.  Over time, as we gain more experience, we will add new facilities to the location, and it will become a proper space facility.  The site is being selected as we speak, but it will likely be somewhere in Suldanor, away from major population centers, due to the weather and factors that rule Ananto and Vrassa completely out.  Those facilities should be ready for us when we return."

As Kalistan steps into the present day with regard to the space program, they will likely be looking for additional partnerships.  "We of course have already had some offers for cooperation from Beiteynu, who have themselves experience with ballistics and space tech, and we don't doubt that others will want to cooperate, especially in the electronic sector, to help us source electronics necessary to build the kind of satellites Kalistan is looking for.  Kalistan is looking to cooperate, and this would be a great opportunity for a lot of countries who have some expertise but with fewer resources to be a part of it."