FOLD

Federal Space and Aeronautical Directorate

Fērlæcan Onwegworuld ac Lyftlic Dihtanat (FOLD)
Agency overview
Formed	1957 (1957)
Preceding	FLD

The Federal Space and Aeronautical Directorate (Fēþisc: Fērlæcan Onwegworuld ac Lyftlic Dihtanat), commonly known as FOLD, is a Fyrish government agency responsible for the civilian space program, plus aeronautical and aerospace research.

Formed in 1957, FOLD supplanted the function of the Federal Aeronautical Directorate (Fēþisc: Fērlæcan Lyftlic Dihtanat). The new agency took on the additional role of developing aerospace technology for peaceful applications, as well as promoting Fyrish-led space exploration. In this role FOLD led the majority of Fyrish space exploration efforts, culminating in the Project Monday (Fēþisc: Scyfe Mōnandæg) moon landing missions.

FOLD scientific endeavours focus on improving understanding of the solar system.

History

Civilian space program ideas existed in Fyrland as far back as 1932, with the presence of Kerenevoian aerospace engineers studying at Fasteah's university. However, the Pan-Septentrion War caused the retro-migration of many Casaterrans studying in Fyrland, leaving little impetus for large rocketry development during the war. The foreign scientists' absence prompted Fyrish born Penda Dagm to found Raeloc (Fēþisc: Ræloc) in 1942, which provided some innovations in light rocketry through the 40s.

The Vihoslavian bombardment of Tuistomünde on August 17 1943, significantly damaged the Ostlandic V-2 facility, halting production. Coincidentally, bombing by Entente forces against all planned V-2 production sites then took place through the following weeks. As a result, the Ostlandics then erroneously concluded that all V-2 production infrastructure stood compromised. This conclusion led to the dispersal of the V-2 program, with production moving to underground facilities, and design continuing abroad. Warin Krause's Tuistomünde team partially evacuated to Fyrland in December 1943, continuing development under the Odin Exchange Programme (Fēþisc: Wōden Behwearft Hīgung; Ostlandic: Odin Austauschprogramm). The program provided a safe-haven for continued V-2 improvements, at Raeloc's testing facilities. Although Raeloc had the pre-existing infrastructure, it was not of the scale necessary for the V-2 program; henceforth a massive effort to upgrade the facilities then took place. By spring 1944 the completed upgrades allowed for levels of V-2 testing not seen in Ostland since late 1942. These initiatives under the Odin programme provided a strong base for rocketry development within Fyrland.

As 1945 arrived the Casaterran Axis, edging close to defeat, began increasingly seeping researchers fleeing capitulation. Some of these evacuated to continue their work in neutral sympathetic Fyrland. This migration of Kerenevoian and Ostlandic researchers then provided a base for further technological development through the late 40s. However, Geopolitical tensions of the immediate post-PSW period proved troubling for successive conservative Fyrish governments. While Fyrland rapidly emerged as a global player in this period, the Hallian nuclear test of 1949 and stand-offish Serenese diplomacy, reaffirmed fears of Casaterran aggression. The development of a Fyrish nuclear weapon for parity's sake did not help the matter, as the 1951 test received strong condemnation, only exacerbating tensions. It was apparent then, that means of bolstering Fyrland's international image would serve the government well in the publics' eye. Mindfully developing peaceful applications for new technologies then, such as rocketry, could potentially achieve this goal.