SpekeX
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SpekeX | |
 | |
| Formation | 6 May 2002 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Wielek, Speke |
Budget |  $79.200 billion (2022) |
Staff | 12,000 (2021) |
SpekeX Aeronautics, commonly known as "SpekeX", is a private aerospace and aeronautic company headquartered in the eastern city of Wielek, Speke. The company is known for its contributions to the development and advancement of aerospace and aeronautic technologies, particularly in the areas of reusable rocketry and electric aircraft. In addition to these ventures, SpekeX also produces drones for military use.
SpekeX has been a part of SPASEK, the joint space agency of the Sekidean Union, since 2012, despite being a private company. This is because Speke is a founding member of the foundation and has played a significant role in the development and success of SPASEK. SpekeX's contributions to SPASEK have included the development of new space exploration technologies, the launch and operation of satellites, and various collaborative projects with international space agencies.
History
SpekeX was founded in 2002 with the initial goal of colonizing Stratos, a planet that showed evidence of the presence of water in the form of ice but had no known biological life. While the company has not yet developed the necessary technology and infrastructure to support human habitation on Stratos, it has grown and diversified its operations to include a range of other aerospace and aeronautic endeavors. These include the development of reusable rocketry, electric aircraft, and military drones. SpekeX continues to be a leader in the field, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of space exploration and related technologies.
Fleet
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passenger | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A330 Freighter | 27 | — | — | Used to transport SpekeX equipment, rocket parts, satellite hubs, or other items requested. | |
| L10XXL | 5 | — | — | Used to transport rocket parts or other items in bulk. | |
| E1 | 2 | — | 15 | Experimental electric aircraft, set to be introduced Q2 2023. | |
| Total | 32 | — | — | ||
Goals & Programs
SpekeX has a goal of launching around 3,000 Orbitlink Satellites into Low Anteria Orbit (LAO) around Anteria. As of 2021, the company has already launched over 2,000 of these satellites, which are designed to provide high-speed, low-latency internet access to users across the planet. The success of the Orbitlink satellites has established SpekeX as a leader in the field of satellite-based internet access, and the company continues to work towards expanding and improving its services. The additional 1,000 satellites are intended to further improve the coverage and reliability of the Orbitlink network.
SpekeX has been working on the development of the Astra spacecraft for several years, with multiple prototypes and tests conducted to ensure the safety and reliability of the rocket. The company is planning to conduct the first orbital launch of the Astra rocket in 2023, which will mark a significant milestone in their efforts to send humans into space. This launch will be a major accomplishment for SpekeX, and the company is currently preparing for future missions, including the possibility of sending a crew to the Caliesia Lunar Outpost in the near future. The Astra spacecraft has shown great promise as a reliable and capable vehicle, and SpekeX is confident in its ability to safely transport astronauts to and from Low Anteria Orbit and beyond.
Orbitlink
SpekeX has launched over 2,000 Orbitlink Satellites into Low Anteria Orbit (LAO) with the aim of providing high-speed, low-latency internet access to users across Anteria. During the beta testing phase, users reported average download speeds ranging from 150mbps to 500mbps, with some users experiencing speeds as high as 1gbps. Upload speeds averaged between 50mbps and 250mbps. In addition to providing ground-based internet access, SpekeX has also developed receivers for use on aircraft and ships. The company is currently conducting Phase 3 testing for its aircraft Orbitlink system, which is intended to provide in-flight internet access to passengers.
Anterian Space Station
The Anterian Space Station (ASS) is a proposed space station which is being designed, meant for use by Anterian nations. The project is being developed by SpekeX at the moment, with no countries showing interest at the moment.
Achievements
On June 7th, 2021, SpekeX successfully launched the Stratos rover, SR-1, to Stratos using the Valk 9 Rocket. This marked the first time that SpekeX had sent a rover to another celestial body and was a major achievement for the company. The rover has been on the surface of Stratos for over a year now, gathering thousands of pieces of data for scientists on Anteria to analyze. The mission has provided detailed information about the atmosphere and geology of Stratos, as well as photos of the Stratoshian surface and information about liquid light hydrocarbons found on its surface. Despite the harsh conditions on Stratos, with average temperatures of around -100°C (-148°F), the rover has managed to stay operational and continue its mission. The Stratos rover mission has been a major success for SpekeX and has contributed significantly to the field of space exploration.
Criticism
SpekeX received criticism for a few reasons, one being that the Orbitlink satellites were highly visible in the night sky. A train of these satellites was almost visible every night across Anteria at a magnitude of around 3.2, and this became a popular activity known as "Orbitlink spotting" in 2020. However, this visibility was also an annoyance and hinderance to space exploration and research, so in 2021, an anti-reflective coating was applied to the solar panels of the Orbitlink satellites to fix this problem. This made the train of satellites no longer visible to the naked eye, but it remains a beloved memory for those who were able to see it during the trend of Orbitlink spotting.