Holy Lanlanian Space Agency

Creation

Holy Lanlanian spacefaring history has its origins with the Imperial Air Force in the evening years of the 15th century. The HLIAF had built on rocketry technology pioneered by the Aurentians in the 70s and used militarily in the Aurentian-Galeaen War of 1488. Their first domestic production test was in 1491, with the testfiring of the RK-1. Two years later, it used the RK-3 to reach an altitude of 300km before the vehicle ran out of fuel and descended back to Siora, falling into the Lagrain Ocean.

In 1506, the HLIAF launched the Ultforkstyad 1, the first scientific satellite to detect the Ëv Allen radiation belt.

The empire's space program would be operated by the HLIAF until 1509, when it'd be re-organized under the HLSA during the reign of Soren II. The HLSA would absorb the air force's Rocketry Division, as well as two of its related research facilities: the Eland Aeronautical Laboratory and the Gunther Flight Propulsion Laboratory. In 1512, it gained control of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Space flight programs

Manned programs

Project Ventyr (1510-1514)

Having inherited much of the HLIAFs space research organization and staff, the HLSA was able to quickly focus on advancing the empire's space program. Using rockets developed by the HLIAF's Rocketry Division, as well as its prototype for what'd become the empire's astronaut suit, the HLSA launched Project Ventyr, which focused on achieving near-Siora manned spaceflight.

In 1511, Wilbert Karpsan achieved a half-hour suborbital flight using the Na Gösva 1. While the first Lanlanian, the Union of Socialist Republics had achieved the first overall man. He and his two colleagues, Brenden Nalund and Maikel Verse would complete eight spaceflights of increasing duration over the next four years under Project Ventyr.

Brenden Nalund was the first Lanlanian to complete orbital flight in Dosa 1512, completing three orbits around Siora. His vehicle underwent reentry difficulties which led to his crash-landing off the shores of Lanlania. His body not recovered. While the Project was delayed for several months due to the accident, Verse's eventual mission--Ventyr 5--was launched in Ventyr and successfully conducted a nine-orbit flight. Both Karpsan and Verse were sent back in Marth 1513 for eighteen orbits, which was the last flight of the project.

Despite the loss of Nalund, the project was considered a success as it proved the viability of manned spaceflight and successful reentry. It also tested radio communications between the Harold Space Center, which finished constructed in 1513, several Imperial Navy relay ships, and the orbiting unit. These tests would lead to Lanlania’s first communication satellite in 1514.

Project Anlet (1512-1516)

Project Anlet was a cooperative affair with the Gehennian Space Authority. It began shortly after Ventyr 3 and sought to test cooperation with the Gehennians and, more specifically, between orbiting space vehicles. In 1514, it helped test Lanlaina’s first radio communications satellite—linking the Gehennian vehicle with Lanlania’s Anlet Vehicle and even the two organizations’ ground control centers.

In Marth 1515, it tested extravehicular activity in Anlet 2—directly exposing Lanlanian canine astronaut Bastion to outer space. He died during the experiment—the first and last as the use of animal in orbital experiments was banned by Soren II following a public outcry. In Nueva of the same year, Anlet 3 tested human activity outside the vehicle, having astronaut Viktor Felberg walk outside the vehicle for a quarter-hour.

Previous missions served as precursors to Anlet 4 in July 1516, which successfully rendezvoused and docked the Anlet Vehicle with its Gehennian counterpart. The mission was one of the most publicized, garnering much attention in both the Empire and Gehenna. It’s most memorable production—a photograph of some of the astronauts meeting in the Gehennian vehicle—is still used as a symbol of Lanlanian-Gehennian cooperation.

Project Ontävan (1515 - 1528)

As Project Anlet reached its peak, Nyland announced—and broadcasted—a successful moon landing in late 1515. Seeking to further cooperation with the Gehennians, Soren II proposed a joint moon landing between the two empires. The Gehennians quickly agreed, in order to not fall behind in prestige and technology.

By 1517, the HLSA had designed a large engine theoretically capable of reaching Lun: the Gösva Tva. It was tested in an Dein lunar flyby mission, which confirmed Nyland's successful landing. In early 1518, an upgraded Gösva Dre was tested. However, the rocket failed in later phases and the project was delayed. Simultaneously, the Anlet Vehicle was modified to serve as a landing module, while the Gehennians developed a command module. The landing module was tested over Ontävan 4 and 5.

In Septum 1522, Ontävan 6 was used to scout landing sites on the moon. The next year, both parties agreed that the time was right. However, a hurricane struck and damaged launch site on the Kale Islands later that year, delaying further launches. It wasn't until late 1524 that Ontävan 7 was launched and a joint Holy Lanlanian-Gehennian party traveled to the moon. The success saw much publicity in both countries and strengthened ties. They visited the moon again multiple times until 1528 to perform experiments and retrieve samples. The program adavanced avionics, communication technology, and computational devices in both countries.

Rymdalatt (1520 - 1536)

Rymdalatt was a science lab launched by the Lanlanians. It studied primarily effects of microgravity, near-earth radiation, and the effects of long-term habitation of outerspace. Though the Lanlanians intended to extend its life, the vehicle was not prepared in time before Rymdalatt re-entered the atmosphere in 1536. The station was inhabited by 6 crews for a total of 491 days.

Tyr Space Shuttle (1530 - 1570)

The Tyr Space Shuttle was a reusable vehicle, of which two were built. It used two solid-fuel boosters and an external tanker, the latter of which was not reusable. The orbiter vehicle could reach an altitude of nearly 700 km and carry a payload of up to 22,000 kg.

The shuttle was used in the launch and servicing of Rymdlatt and later the Elder Space Telescope. Its service was terminated after 40 years, succeeded by the more advanced Vestiga Space Shuttle.

Recent and planned missions

Vanhalt Space Station (1571 - Present)

The Vanhalt Space Station is a multinational space station and cooperative project between the Lanlanians, Florinthians, and Gehennians. Under construction since 1571, the space station achieved operational status in 1576, and has been inhabited since. It is primarily a microgravity and space environment research laboratory.

The station maintains an orbit at an altitude between 360 and 480 km, and is occasionally boosted by attached spacecraft. There are proposals to convert it to an orbital assembly complex, though this has not yet been approved.

Vanguard Project (1576 - Present)

The Vanguard Project is a HLSA's flagship project and is oriented toward exploring the other planets in the Solen system, with plans to eventually send manned missions to viable planets. Already, multiple probes have been launched to multiple planets, with the next step being unmanned rovers.

Recent developments

Esselnijr Launch Track (1575 - Present)

The Esselnijr Launch Track is a 130 km long electromagnetic track that begins at the Wilhelm V Space Center in Gynavae and runs towards the Gynavae Mountains. It is powered by clean energy sources and launches a vehicle to near-exit velocity. Due to the accelerations achieved in the tunnel, it is not capable of handing manned vehicles and specializes instead in launching satellites, light modules, supplies, and other cargo. It has a maximum tonnage of 20 tonnes and its current vehicle is the Stad V.

It was constructed between 1562 and 1575 at a cost of 12 billion marks.

Vestiga Space Shuttle (1572 - Present)

The Vestiga Space Shuttle is a reusable, single-stage-to-orbit spacecraft developed alongside the Esselnijr Space Track at a cost of nearly 9 billion Marks. It has a maximum cargo capacity of 22 tonnes and takes off vertically, though lands horizontally at a reinforced track at the Wilhelm V Space Center. It uses an aerospike engine and makes use of liquid/liquid oxygen fuel. Having room for up to 8 persons, the vehicle is expected to meet current and future needs for near-earth operations.

Enhalt Space Launch System (1578 - Present )

The Enhalt SLS was developed between 1572 and 1578 to serve as a dedicated heavy lifter for the HLSA. Unlike the Vestiga, it is neither reusable nor SSTO, though it does use an identical engine and fuel source. The most powerful rocket has a maximum tonnage of 140,000 kg to low-planetary orbit and 70,000 kg to geostationary orbit. Each launch costs around 300 million marks, though it varies on payload and target orbit.

It is expected to see service in outer space construction and in the exploration of other planetary bodies.