History of the Shazbotdom Imperial Space Administration

Below is the complete history for the Shazbotdom Imperial Space Administration.

The Foundation

The Shabzotdom Imperial Space Administration was founded as the Imperial Space Research Organization by imperial decree on the 17th of August, 1978. It's original concept was to use telescopes to observe the cosmos. What started as one facility high in the mountains of the Krenshaw Mountain Range in the north-central sections of the original Imperial Mainland, it expanded to 8 different telescope arrays, both standard convex glass and radio telescopes, spread throughout the Empire in the matter of 36 months. The first director was appointed by the Original Emperor, Shaz Bot, on the 29th of August, 1978. It was under his direction that the program began its initial expansion.

The 1980s

4534-Class (v1)
Rocket System

The Imperial Space Administration (ISA) played a pivotal role in the exploration of space during the 1980s. As one of the leading space agencies of its time, the ISA spearheaded numerous groundbreaking initiatives, including the development of the revolutionary 4534-class Rocket System.

At the forefront of space exploration, the ISA aimed to push the boundaries of human knowledge and scientific advancement. With a strong emphasis on innovation and technological prowess, the agency dedicated significant resources to the research and development of cutting-edge rocket systems that could propel humanity further into the cosmos.

The 4534-class Rocket System was a shining example of the ISA's commitment to pushing the limits of space travel. This advanced rocket system was designed to transport both crewed and unmanned missions into Earth orbit, with a primary focus on the exploration of Luna and Earth. One of the key features of the 4534-class Rocket System was its robust propulsion system.

Equipped with a powerful engine, this rocket system possessed an impressive thrust capability, enabling it to overcome the gravitational forces that bound it to Earth. In addition to being capable of achieving unprecedented speeds and traveling through the various orbits of Earth, this immense power was the source of the ISA's incredible ability.

In addition to advanced navigation and guidance systems, the rocket systems of the 4534-class were also capable of delivering precise control and maneuverability during space missions. These systems were crucial for safely navigating through the complex trajectories required to reach various orbits over Earth. There was no doubt that the 4534-class Rocket System proved to be an extremely reliable and adaptable workhorse for the ISA no matter what the mission was, whether it was launching satellites into orbit or delivering supplies to space stations.

Imperial Lab 1

ISA Imperial Lab 1

The most notable mission for the 4534-class Rocket System was the launch of Imperial Lab 1 in 1981, which was the first orbital laboratory for the Shazbotdom Empire. 4534-class Rocket Booster Z3T45 was the booster used to launch IL-1 and it performed its mission perfectly. After the initial orbital insertion, the first stage separated from the second stage and continued on an orbital trajectory to insert it into an orbit of 15 miles above the Karmin Line. After it's insertion, 4534-class Rocket Booster Z8E34 launched with the missions of bringing the Capsule with the Scientific Crew that would be the first Shazonites to operate the Lab.

Imperial Lab 1, also known as IL-1, was launched into orbit in 1982 and served as a vital research and development facility for the ISA. Spanning just over 25 meters in length, the space station was equipped with 2 laboratories, state-of-the-art equipment, and utilized a 1st Generation Capsule as its living quarters. Its primary objective was to conduct experiments and studies in various scientific fields, including astronomy, physics, and space medicine.

Throughout its operational years, Imperial Lab 1 facilitated groundbreaking research that contributed to advancements in space technology and expanded our understanding of the universe. The station housed a team of dedicated scientists, engineers, and astronauts who worked tirelessly to push the boundaries of human knowledge.

However, despite its remarkable contributions, Imperial Lab 1 was unexpectedly decommissioned in 1985 after only 4 years into its 8 year mission. This decision was primarily driven by a combination of budgetary constraints and a shift in the ISA's priorities. As the organization refocused its efforts on more ambitious projects, such as manned missions to other celestial bodies, the space station became less relevant to its long-term goals.

Imperial Lab 2

ISA Imperial Lab 2

The Imperial Space Administration experienced a remarkable resurgence in the field of space science in 1987 with the launch of a small space station called Imperial Lab 2. This marked a significant milestone in their efforts to further explore the mysteries of the universe. Imperial Lab 2, a compact and self-sustaining space station, was designed to conduct groundbreaking scientific research in a microgravity environment. It served as a platform for experiments in various fields, including astronomy, physics, biology, and chemistry. The station's small size allowed for precise control and monitoring of experiments, ensuring accurate and reliable data collection.

One of the primary objectives of Imperial Lab 2 was to study the effects of long-duration space travel on the human body. This research was crucial for understanding the physiological and psychological challenges faced by astronauts during extended space missions. By studying the impact of microgravity on bodily functions, scientists aimed to develop countermeasures to mitigate the adverse effects of space travel on astronauts' health. In addition to human research, Imperial Lab 2 also facilitated studies on celestial bodies and phenomena. Astronomers utilized the station's advanced telescopes and imaging systems to observe distant galaxies, stars, and planets, providing valuable insights into the nature of the universe. The station's unique vantage point in space allowed for clearer observations unencumbered by the Earth's atmosphere.

Imperial Lab 2 also played a crucial role in advancing the field of materials science. Experiments conducted onboard provided a microgravity environment for studying the properties and behavior of various substances. This knowledge was instrumental in developing new materials with enhanced properties, such as stronger alloys, more efficient semiconductors, and advanced composite materials. The success of Imperial Lab 2 paved the way for further advancements in space science by the Imperial Space Administration. It demonstrated the organization's commitment to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and technological capabilities. The space station's compact design and versatile capabilities proved that even with limited resources, significant scientific breakthroughs could be achieved. The resurgence of the Imperial Space Administration in 1987 with Imperial Lab 2 was a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. This small space station played a pivotal role in expanding our understanding of space, from studying the effects of microgravity on the human body to unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos. With each new discovery, the Imperial Space Administration solidified its position as a leader in space science, inspiring future generations of scientists and explorers.

The 1990s

With the multiple advances in technology in the late 1980s into the early 1990s, it was decided that in 1992 Imperial Lab 2 would be de-orbited the next year for it's end of life. At this time in the history of the agency, there were not options for modular systems for space stations to swap out old pods and bring up new pods with newer technology to better equip the astronauts for their missions.

After IL2 was de-orbited in 1993, the Empire switched to space shuttle style system for short term research in orbit, with each mission lasting 6 months at a time. After each mission, the shuttle would de-orbit, land at a commercial airport, and then be transported back to the space center for refurbishment, refueling and then to prepare it for it's next mission. On the 4th of November, 1998, the Supreme Emperor ordered the renaming of the Agency to the name it is now, the Shazbotdom Imperial Space Administration.

The 2000s

ISA Shuttle

These shuttle missions for space based research lasted until 2004 when the unthinkable happened. During a launch on the 25th of January, the boosters and fuel tank separated from the shuttle roughly 6km up from the pad. With the shuttle losing it's primary fuel source for the launch, the mission commander attempted to take control and guide the shuttle down to a nearby airport for an emergency landing.

This did not go as planned as the shuttle came in too fast for a landing, skid right off fo the runway on the far end, broke through the fence at the far end of the property and slammed right through rush hour traffic on one of the main highway systems within the Empire, finally coming to a stop after crashing through 2 dozen houses on the other side of the road. Overall, the entire flight crew of 5 as well as more than 200 people on the ground were dead, with another 400 injured.

The shuttle system was scrapped after this incident and the Imperial Government suspended all operations of SISA for an indefinite amount of time until a proper investigation was completed. It wasn't until three years later, in 2007, when the report came out and showed that a faulty part purchased from a foreign corporation caused the booster/tank ejection system to prematurely fire. From that point on, SISA was ordered to only purchase parts and equipment from Shazbotdom owned businesses.

The 2010s

It wouldn't be until 2011 when SISA woul be back in orbit, although at this time they are only regulated to launching satellites into orbit for businesses based within the Empire. To do this, the Imperial Space Agency would bring the remaining 4534-class Rockets out of mothballs and refurbish them for use. To ensure that they could get as much payload as possible into orbit, they did "rideshare" the payloads and send up 2 satellites at a time. This limited them to launch for telecom businesses and military purposes to expand the technological foothold of the Empire in the world.

The Space Modernization Program

In the late 2010s the Imperial Parliament initiated the Space Modernization Program. With this new edict from the Parliament, the Shazbotdom Imperial Space Administration began researching new rocket engines that would give more thrust with less energy expended and computer systems that would be built into the rockets to make the system reusable. In 2019, the first reusable rocket system was started, although it only had the first stage as reusable and it was a one core system that was designed to launch satellites into orbit. In 2019, the first prototypes for the Delta-class and Gamma-class boosters were first introduced to the current director of SISA, Dr. Gilbert Godwin.

The 2020s

With more testing, the first prototypes were made launch ready in 2020, but with the global pandemic putting a major strain on worldwide supply shortages for rocket fuel, the program was shelved and the first few prototypes were put in storage as the rocket engines continued to undergo tweaking to ensure they had less parts to make them simpler to repair if needed. In October of 2021, the supply shortage was waning and the Empire began extensive static fire testing of the engines at its test facility in preparation for transportation and install.

These tests continued until the 15th of June, 2022, when the first suborbital test flight of 1st Stage Booster Delta-1 cemented the Empires start of using it's fully reusable launch capabilities. Shortly after the full stack flight test of the combined 1st and 2nd Stages of the Low Orbit Insertion Rocket System, the system became fully operational for use.

Orbital Science Space Station Deployment

On the 15th of July, 2022, the first segment of the Orbital Science Space Station was sent to orbit on Boosters Delta-4 and Gamma-4. This was placed into orbit to begin building the semi-perminent orbital laboratory, which would be used to bolster scientific research for the Empire and her allies. These missions became standard throughout the middle part of 2022 until the 23rd of August, 2023, when the final launch occured for the initital building phase.

Contracts Roll In

While in the process of building the station, the Imperial Space Administraiton was approached by a University from an allied nation to assist in launching a small contingent of CubeSats into orbit, then later on more contracts came. One of the largest contracts was issues in September of 2022 when the PATHOS Foundation approached the Imperial Space Administration to begin launching an 81 Sattelite Network into HelioCentric Orbit close to the Asteroid Belt as a backup system for the knowledge of humanity.