Gondwanan Space Agency

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Gondwanan Space Agency
AbbreviationGSA
PredecessorVarious Space Agencies
Formation12 July, 2022
TypeSpace Agency
Legal statusIntergovernmental Organization
HeadquartersGreater Alsough, Aivintis
Administrator
Ensal Paloka
Parent organization
Gondwanan Scientific Research Institute

The Gondwanan Space Agency is a body within the Gondwanan Scientific Research institute that coordinates the space program and astronomical research of the GSRI.

The GSA was originally the space programs of Aivintis, Tavaris, East Cerdani, Nagato, and Vessarlian, but were united into the GSA under the jurisdiction of the GSRI in 2022.

History

Motivated by the growing advantages of having a space program, East Cerdani, Aivintis, Tavaris, Vessarlian, and Nagato (along with Augustia and Mizore) founded their space programs in 1959, 1985, 1991, 1997, and 2002. While they received some support from the Gondwanan Community when it was founded in 1990, these programs were rudimentary and did not receive a lot of funding. As all these nations are part of the GSRI, the space programs were merged into the GSA on July 12, 2022 and is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Astronomy in the GSRI. East Cerdani's space program only partially merged with the GSA, and East Cerdani kept independent control over the military aspects of the program.

Current Projects

This list does not contain all projects of the GSA, but lists some of the major ones.

Gondwanan Urth Array Satellite Series (GUA)

The GUA series of satellites, a synthesis of satellites from the previous agencies, is Gondwana's primary earth observation satellites. These are mainly in polar sun-synchronous orbit and preforms a wide range of functions such as oceanography and environmental studies. A subset of GUA, dubbed GUA-M, is comprised of meteorological satellites.

Gondwanan Communication Network Satellite Series (GCN)

The GCN series, also a synthesis of the communication satellites of the previous agencies, is Gondwana's communication satellite system. Comprised of multipurpose satellites in geostationary orbit, these satellites cover telecommunications, broadcasting, meteorology, search-and-rescue, and more.

Stargazer Orbital Telescope

The Stargazer Orbital Telescope, launched in 1998 by Tavaris, is one of the GSA's major in-space telescopes, able to see into the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is a general purpose telescope, and has examined many astronomical objects and phenomena, from both inside and outside the solar system, from the inner planets to star formation. Stargazer, while operated mostly by the GSA, is available to the public for some portions of time, and other organizations have commonly used it.

Horizon X-Ray Observatory

An image of the pulsar at the center of the Egg Nebula, taken by the Horizon X-Ray Observatory

The Horizon X-Ray Observatory, launched in 1990 by Aivintis, detects soft x-rays. It has been used extensively to examine black holes, stars, and other x-ray emitting phenomena.

Sivetra Gamma Ray Observatory (SGRO)

The Sivetra Gamma Ray Observatory was launched in 2009 by Vessarlian to detect gamma rays and soft x-rays. Named after Arec Sivetra, a physicist who pioneered in gamma ray studies, the SGRO examines gamma ray emitting phenomena such as black holes and supernova.

Other Satellites

Solar Observer Laboratory 1 (SOL-1): Launched in 1995 to study the sun and solar wind

Magnetosphere Analysis Mission (MAM): Launched in 2022 to study Urth's magnetosphere

Lunar

Lunar Observation Laboratory (LOL): Launched in 2012 by East Cerdani to orbit and study the moon.

Ground Based Observatories

The GSA has many more observatories, and these are just a few of them.

Auravas Astronomical Research Observatory (AARO)

The Auravas Astronomical Research Observatory was built in 1982 and is owned and operated by the University of Uravin. However, it receives funding and support, and is sometime operated by the GSA. AARO is comprised of multiple telescopes, and has ongoing projects to study both objects in the solar system, such as asteroids and moons, as well as phenomenaa occurring farther away, such as galactic nuclei, supernovae, and other solar systems. It is located in the Kaskada mountains in southern Auravas.

Doddy Cahya Pranoto Mega Observatory

The Kalana Island Observatory, established in 2000, is located in southwestern United Malordia. It is directly owned and operated by the GSA.

Genesis Arc Observatory

The Genesis Observatory, established in 1990, is located in the Genesis Island Arc, to the north of East Unovia Island, in Nagato. It is directly owned and operated by the GSA.

Apumoo Peaks Observatory

The Apumoo Peaks Observatory, established in 1996, is located in the Apumoo mountain range in southern Ayaupia

Future

New Horizons X-Ray Observatory

The successor to the Horizon Observatory, the New Horizons X-Ray observatory has state of the art equipment and is scheduled to launch in early 2023.

The Eclipse Missions

The Eclipse missions are a set of two missions to Urth''s moon. Each mission contains an orbiter and a lander. Eclipse-1 is planned to launch in 2024.

Other satellites

Solar Observer Laboratory 2 (SOL-2): For further study of the sun. To launch in 2025.

Launch Capabilities

Spacecraft

Nexus Launch Vehicle

Artist's rendition of an NLV rocket taking off

The Nexus Launch Vehicle (NLV) line is the primary workhorse of the GSA, and has made up the majority of GSA launches. It was developed in 2003 by Aivintis after the retirement of the Aivintian Space Propulsion Vehicle (ASPV), and has seen continual development and expansion since then.

Facilities

ANG Launch Facility

The Alliance of Northwest Gondwana (ANG) Launch Facility, located in Ayaupia, due to its proximity to the equator and being already used for launches, is the primary spaceport for the GSA.

Southern Launch Facility

The Southern Launch Facility is the GSA's main spaceport for high inclination and polar-orbiting missions due to its high latitude, and is located on the Aivintian coast, near Westhafen.