Kalistan

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Rocket Design Team stands downhill from nearly completed Test Launch facility



Kalistani Rocket Scientists return to Spencer
Test Launch facility nearly completed, as scientists prepare to head to Beiteynu
Spencer, Duchy of Suldanor
October 28, 5562

Scientists who had been studying theory, telemetry and design of rocketry in the United Kingdom of Lourenne returned to Kalistan this week.  They reported directly to the ISCA command in Spencer, where they were debriefed about their visit, and were asked to do a press conference to describe what they had learned.

Project leader Dena Alonzo of Kaliburg Polytechnic served as the spokesperson for the group.

"I have a brief statement before we get to questions, and then, if there is anything I haven't cleared up you may all ask away.  

First, my team and I would like to offer our sincere thanks to our Colleagues at the University of Thiers, especially Dr. Michele Auburn-Le Clerc, Dr. Monique Avilla, Dr. Yvette Garnier, and Dr. Jean-Marc Girard, who graciously allowed us to attend lectures, and tailored several of their courses to allow us to gain valuable rudimentary and foundational knowledge.  Their courses and facilities are top notch facilities, and the people of Thiers-Sur-Noel were most welcoming and accommodating to our team.  I look forward to future cooperation between our two programs.

The SOTERIA program is the pre-eminent missile and defense program in Terra.  There were obviously things that were off limits to our scientists, but outside of that, we were able to gain significant scientific information that will aid in the construction of our own rocket engines and fuselages.  We learned basics of thrust ratios, payloads, and the calculus behind the whole thing.  We also learned a lot about materials durability for both the rockets themselves, as well as the payloads that will serve as our satellites.  We were able to stick to the peaceful, commercial side of the SOTERIA program, as we made it clear that Kalistan's Space Program is not to be applied for military purposes and so consequently we also learned about telecommunication applications of the satellites as well.

The knowledge and understanding we gained was extensive and it is a veritable treasure trove of information that we need before we build our first rockets.  Our Lourenne team will now with with software engineers to translate their information into computer algorithms that will help us automate much of the construction, launch and orbit procedures.  We don't have it here, but I can say that following our nearly 2 year stay in Lourenne, we took copious notes:  More than 750 pounds of paper in the form of spiral notebooks, accompanied us home from Lourenne.  So the Lourenne team will work with the Engineers for a good while translating those notes and schematics into computer software that we can then create test models for before we begin building our first rockets here.

Meanwhile, I will be travelling with a new team to Beiteynu in a month to begin studying propulsion systems, fuel systems and guidance control systems with the Beiteynese.  We have received an invitation from Yishelem to study with their engineers who will give requisite information to allow us to actually turn the math and theory we learned in Lourenne into a working prototype.  I anticipate we will be in Beiteynu for another two years studying there.  While the first team was made up primarily of physicists and mathematicians, this second team will be made up of engineers and mission specialists.  We will also be bringing a member of AeroKal with us, Mr. Brent Grey when will represent his company in Beiteynu.  AeroKal has noted a desire to learn from the Beiteynese designers with the aim of increasing fuel efficiency in commercial aircraft, and has asked to tag along with our design team for the duration.  The design team will fly initially to Yishelem.

To give some idea of timetables, we are still several years away from building a working rocket prototype that we can actually attempt to launch from the new Spencer Space and Test Center.  It is quite encouraging to see the new test facility here in Spencer nearing completion.  I believe they said that the main launch facility will be constructed next at Spencer, and then they will build the fabrication plant.  Final completion of the full facility is scheduled for 8 years and builders say they are on schedule.  This concludes my brief, and at this point I will take questions."

Reporters asked several questions relating to the nascent Space Program in Kalistan, and Dr. Alonzo mentioned that she and ISCA looks forward to taking opportunities to cooperate with Lodamun, who is beginning work on a similar path.  "Once we boil all this down into computer protocols and processes, we will happily proliferate our knowledge to Lodamun as well, to assist them on their path." Space is, according to Alonzo, just one of many areas that Kalistan hopes to deepen cooperation with Lodamun on.

"We also look forward to continuing our association with the Lourennais with perhaps the creation of a program of lecturer exchange between our two countries. I can speak for my own college, Kaliburg Polytechnic, University higher ups have already formally expressed interest in attracting Lourennais professors from among the recently graduated and ABD student population. I met several very promising young scholars in Thiers who I think would really benefit from even a temporary posting in Kaliburg. And similarly, I can think of at least a dozen of my former students who would fit right into the culture in Lourenne's academic establishment. Maybe our two governments can work on that?"