MASA presents the plan for the Space X New Century ProgramThe Allied space agency want develop a new family of space launcher dedicated to the private market as well as for the future of space exploration
A table showing the launchers which MASA want to develop in the next decades. From left to right: SAQR (hawk in majatran), KOBAK 1 and 2 (sparrowhawk in deltarian), RABOBIRDO Light and Heavy (raptor in Zardic) and the AQUILA launchers (Eagle in istalian)The Majatran Allied Space Authority invited the international press to the inauguration of the
Majatran Rocket Testing Facility, built in Northern Istalia, on the coast close to the Solentian border, a work lasting over two years in preparation for the future development of the Space Authority which finally revealed the definitive plans of what was announced years ago, a program called "Space X: New Century Program" and which according to the agency will be developed over the next twenty to twenty-five years, although some experts of the sector considered this estimation as unrealistic soggesting to add at least 5 or 10 years. However, the Agency has confirmed the goal of developing a new family of space launchers that will be able to transport from 150 kg to nearly 60 tonnes.
The program is not only designed to develop launchers that meet the growing demands of the market and meet the privates by offering more than competitive prices, to which lighter rocker models will be dedicated, but also to develop launchers dedicated to the space exploration and which will can therefore carry men and scientific instruments to develop knowledge in the field and pave the way for future other developments.
The new launchers will ensure transport for the low Terra orbit as well as until the Geostationary transfer orbit, the latter being the most scientifically important target for MASA since geostationary transfer capabilities are crucial for the positioning of modern satellites as well for the success of space programs maybe directed to the moons or other regions and planets of the solar system, an area on which MASA has not exposed itself eccessively, although the specifications required for the larger launchers, which will require the greatest development times, in terms of size and transportable mass are clearly aimed at reaching and overcoming the Terra's orbit to carry considerable loads far from the planet.
As to how the project will be materially developed, MASA intends to exploit massively the cooperation with the privates to whom will be subcontracted the physical production of the rockets, and thus the development of the engines and electronic technologies needed for the driving systems.
The Space Authority has announced that both in Istalia and Zardugal several companies of the sector have already started to fund their research and development areas, starting with the very first announcement of the future space development, to develop those that are obviously the main components of each rocket, the engines.
Masa announced that a contest will be launched at every stage of the program development, which will guarantee funds to participating companies, although the program is obviously also open to all research institutes in the industry, and that as per a progressive phase-out method it will determine who will be chosen for the final production (whether they are electronic components, propulsion systems or the structure of the rockets itself). A method which will guarantee to many companies large funds and that, even if they will be not chosen, will surely guarantee an increase in their know-how as well as the possibility of further developments independently from the MASA and perhaps in other areas. The Authority has stated, however, that it will favor as many cooperations as possible, encouraging the principle of specialization and development and modular production.
In Istalia the ones which played in advance are both
Leonardi Industrial Group, which in cooperation with
Hasan-Mariani Holding & Investment Group founded the
Astra Propulsioni, and
Estal, which decided to expand the research and development sector for new rocket propulsion engines. For the time being, between the two, Estal is surely the favorite since it has long been producing such motors for the sector, such as the renowned
Estal RMO-4100-A Dragon's Breath, even if, looking to the aspirations of the MASA, Estal will have to make a real jump of quality and enormously increase resources for research and development, which, given the financial solidity of Leonardi/Hasan-Mariani's joint venture, could completely turn the tide.
From Zardugal, instead, seems to have been one of the subsidiaries of the renowned
Kostandian Corporation to devote itself to research, hoping to recover the fortunes of the company which since the beginning of the 41st century saw drastically losing space and competitiveness on the markets. But in the light of Zardugal's recent government's tendency to limit its action within both the Alliance and the international level, it seems that the projects of the Zardic company may not receive the necessary political support for future developments. Significantly more favored is
Venetio, which boast important expertise in the field of high tech materials and advanced metallurgy, could become an important supplier for that or those companies which will be chosen for the construction of the rocket.
MASA, however, has stated that it is firmly inclined to involve more governmental agencies and private companies in the program, landing a hands to all the members of the Majatran Alliance, but it said also that it would be more than welcomed the co-operation with space agencies of other third countries and regional organizations. The Majatran Alliance sincerely hopes that co-operation with organizations outside the organization will develop, underline in fact, that scientific, economic and industrial co-operations are some of the preferred ways to ensure peaceful relations and stability among the nations of the world.
The A platform of the new MASA Rocket Test Facility (left) and a test conducted by Estal on the experimental RMO-4500-NX (right)* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
First long flight for the AMJ-100 which from Zardugal arrives in Istalia to finalize the test phasesGreat performance of the aircraft which has already interested several majatran companies and gives good hopes to both Ajace and Venetio
The AMJ-100-XT, the model which will end the flying test in Istalia, landing in MilonaThe presentation to the public of the new jet, another goal for the inter-Majatran cooperation, will have to wait for several months, but the first flight tests conducted in Zardugal have already been a great showcase which has attracted many majatran companies and, above all, low cost airlines.
Among the most interested, and which already started preliminary talks with Ajace, there seems to be
MajAir, formerly known as
Parallela, bought by
IstalAir to transform it into its own low-cost branch giving it a name of broader breathing and clearly devoted to the Majatran market, aiming to become the leader of the low-cost airline industry, just right the market on which the new jets are hoping to break through, guaranteeing low maintenance costs, fuel economy and reduced emissions, all features that MajAir has asked for at Ajace as well as more seating options than the models dedicated to the major airlines, geared to offering a single class of passengers and hence all those measures that low cost airlines use to lower prices and so attract more customers. The AMJ-100 seems to be perfectly responsive to the above-mentioned specifications and this is why it is expected for the jet, as soon as it will be officially presented to the public, a major launch on the market with a mega order by MajAir, intending to form an entire fleet of AMJ, initially the AMJ-100 and then its successor, the AMJ-200, whose prototype is beginning to take shape in the
Venetio Research and Test Center not far from Beleco.
With regard to the aircraft's performance, the
Estal Supreme DY-550 engines have proven their reliability as well as excellent performance in terms of fuel consumption and speeds, which has led Ajace to confirm cooperation with Estal for the new aircraft. The relationship between the two companies, however, recently seems to have been sloping due to the development of the propulsion for the older brother of the AMJ-100: Ajace, in fact, if he praised the DY-550 chosen for the first AMJ family model, could not withstand from expressing all its disappointment about the fact that, unlike what was hoped, the engine could not be used even on the next model, the AMJ-200, for which Estal is developing a new engine that will require Ajace a further financial effort.
If Ajace vaguely complains about an Estal's own strategy to gain more profits, the latter justified itself by criticizing both the pressures made by Ajace to reduce development times and costs as well as errors in the specifications requested to the Estal's designers. Ajace, on the other hand, rejects these allegations and threatens Estal to turn to other companies for further collaborations and contracts, but it is unlikely this could happen, as commented the experts of the sector, as this would only generate additional costs for Ajace, which moreover should turn to partners out of Majatra, as it is difficult to find a valid alternatives to the istalian company for the design, production and maintenance of aeronautical propulsion systems.
The advanced glass cockpit of the AMJ-100 (right) and an Estal Supreme DY-550 engines in the production facility of Estal near TurrinoThis recent event, despite the attractive economy prospect for the new aircraft family, underlined a major issue which affect all the economy of the Majatran Alliance, which is currently dominated by the Istalian companies, know how and products, a situation that could be a double-edged sword for Istalia and the other members, the former could be the only one to support the innovative efforts in research and production as well as the most part of the expenses for the mantaining of the Alliance itself while the latter ones risk to become too dependent by Istalian economy at the expense of their own companies and products, a situation that the Alliance whant avoid.
For this reason the Istalian government announced that the issue will be focused during the next meeting of the Allied Common Executive Commission, proposing a larger investement program for industrial and scientific development dedicated to the weaker and less advanced economies of the Alliance, so to increase their competitiveness and their capabilities in the field of research and technological know how, hoping for an increase of their economy and so an increase on the capacity to contribute for the financial support of the Alliance.