Space Launch Results: August 2020
Aug 1, 2020 16:47:59 GMT -5
Echolilia, Markanite, and 3 more like this
Post by Paffnia on Aug 1, 2020 16:47:59 GMT -5
Three nations have rockets poised for launch at the Islands Space Center: Markanite, Jabberwocky, and Free Las Pinas. Scientists from Markanite and Jabberwocky are in the Islands' first-ever space race, feverishly competing to see who can establish a lunar colony first. Today, Regional Reserve Chair Emeritus United Royal Islands had the honor of initiating the launch:
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Liftoff!
Before the race to set up a colony got going, first off the launch pad was an unmanned lunar probe from Markanite. The rocket arced into the sky, but once it passed into Earth orbit, the probe was struck by a meteor passing close to Earth. The meteor sent the probe into a wild tailspin back into the atmosphere. The probe returned to Earth in one piece, able to be launched again, but an ill omen for the colony space race to come...
Next to launch was the lunar colony from Jabberwocky, followed seconds later by the competing lunar colony from Markanite. The rockets were neck and neck as they accelerated beyond Earth orbit towards the moon. The crew from Jabberwocky, trying their hardest to get their colony on the moon first, attempted a landing before they had been cleared by mission control! Once the lunar dust settled, their gamble paid off. Jabberwocky established a successful colony in the territory around their probe launch from last month, near the lunar equator around Executive Officer Crater on the far side of the moon. Jabberwocky's victory in the space race and newly opened lunar mine combined to net him a huge space program economic boost.
Don't feel too bad for Markanite's space program, though! His astronauts touched down only shortly after and, despite the lesser chance for success from losing the space race, did successfully establish a lunar colony of their own. Using images from his space telescopes, Markanite was able to set up a colony in the perfect spot: on the cratered territory around the Mare Markanite named for him, in the northern hemisphere on the far side of the moon. Low-gravity experiments in his lunar laboratory have also led to a handsome economic boost as well.
Finally, the head of Free Las Pinas' space program tried to enter the command on his computer to launch their lunar probe. However, she made a typo which instead led to the whole computer system going offline for days to install system upgrades. The launch therefore failed, though there's always next month!
The updated moon map can be found here. Payouts and details to come in a moment.
