Delgado Space Flight Center
| Nation: |  Nouvelle Alexandrie
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| Population: | ~1,800 |
| Predominant language: | Martino, Alexandrian |
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| Main roads: | Access Restricted |
| Major districts: | Centre de Contrôle, Ensembles de Lancement, Bâtiment d'Assemblage |
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| Current mayor: | Davide Corrandez |
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| Map versions: | |
The Delgado Space Flight Center (Alexandrian: Centre de Vol Spatial Delgado, Martino: Centro de Vuelos Espaciales Delgado) or CVSD for short, is a spaceport located southeast of Chiron, on the island of Taras, New Luthoria, one of the Regions of Nouvelle Alexandrie. Chiron is located approximately 100 km from the equator at a latitude of only 2 degrees north. It was opened in 1695 AN to provide launching capabilities for the Aeronautics and Space Administration. Since then, it has been the main launching installation for Nouvelle Alexandrie's national space program.
At Delgado, space launches are conducted by ASANA, who also manages the land and infrastructure. Private companies, including Javelin Industries and the National Research and Development Corporation, also collaborate with ASANA through use of Delgado facilities.
History
CVSD was first selected as Nouvelle Alexandrie's national spaceport after the creation of ASANA in 1694 AN. After construction of a main control center and two launch platforms, EL-36 and EL-37, over the course of five months, the site was oficially inaugurated as New Luthoria Space Flight Center in 1695 AN.
Since its opening, it has seen the launch of numerous unmanned and manned spaceflight missions, including the groundbreaking Amanecer Program (1695 AN-1696 AN) that saw the very first New Alexandrien male - and one female - astronauts launch into space. To accommodate the growing ambitions of the national space program, CVSD was expanded over time through the addition of three more launch platforms, EL-38 to -40, with the final - EL-40 - being famous for launching the Vencedor (1705 AN-1708 AN) missions that saw Nouvelle Alexandrie land on Tarsica. The site was renamed in honour of President Julio Delgado in 1715 AN, noting his support for ASANA and especially the Vencedor program.
As of 1730 AN, the center has a total of eight facilities. Aside from 5 launch platforms, it also possesses a dedicated mission control center, an assembly building, two fuel depots, and a technology center.
Facilities
Control Center
The Delgado Control Center is a relatively small mission control center for ASANA that performs the launch and early orbit phases of missions, after which most of the operations are carried over to ASANA Mission Control in New Luthoria City, about 40 km northwest. It consists of a total of 80 employees at most times, with additional contractors in times of need. Mission teams include:
- Mission Management Team
- Propulsion Team
- Avionics Team
- Structural Team
- Payload Team
- Electrical Team
- Ground Launch Team
- Telemetry Team
- Communications Team
- Environmental and Weather Team
- Medical Team
- Landing and Recovery Team
Launching Platforms
El-36/37
The oldest launching platforms (Alexandrian: Ensemble de Lancement) have been in use since 1695 AN. EL-36 has been exclusively been utilized for the launching of MSS Constellation launch vehicles that were used in the Micras observation program, as well as Tarsica missions (which were taken over by EL-39 in 1703 AN).
EL-37 has in the past been used for the launch of MSS Charger launch vehicles, used for the Amanecer program; MSS Heavy Charger launch vehicles for the Viajero program; and MSS SuperCharger for the Aurora program. EL-37 was refurbished in 1730 AN to carry out the future launch of heavy lift MSS Venture launch vehicles capable of advanced manned payloads.
EL-38
This platform, constructed in 1700 AN, has been exclusively been used for MSS CelestiaX launch vehicles that were utilized for the Guardianes Pequeños (1705 AN-1711 AN) and Celestiales (1706 AN-1713 AN) unmanned galactic explorer program.
EL-39
This platform, constructed in 1703 AN has been exclusively used for MSS Constellation launch vehicles that carried planetary exploration missions to Tarsica, Atos, Pyros, and Eos.
EL-40
This platform was constructed specifically in 1705 AN for the launching of MSS SuperCharger launch vehicles for the Vencedor program. In the future, it will carry out new launches for MSS Venture launch vehicles.
Assembly Building
The Assembly Building (Alexandrian: Bâtiment d'Assemblage) is used to assemble each launcher before the mission. The vehicles are then delivered by railway (for EL-36, EL-37, and EL-40) or by road (for EL-38 and EL-39) to the launch zone. The mobile launch vehicles complete the trip to El-36, EL-37, and EL-40 in about one hour; and to EL-38 and EL-39 in about four hours. It is then secured in place over each launch pad's flame tunnel.
Technology Center
The Delgado Technology Center (Alexandrian: Centre Techique) is the main hub for engineering for the spaceport. It is the main test center for pre-launch operations, ensuring the safety of each craft before payload integration. A team of 100 engineers and scientists are employed in the center.
Launches
Launch Safety
Fire safety is ensured by the special branch of Delgado Fire Brigade, oficially a part of the Federal Forces. Security is maintained by the local branch of the Federal Gendarmerie. Before and during launch windows, CVSD security is enforced strictly by anti-personnel and anti-aircraft measures.
Notable Launches
Manned Spaceflight
- 11.X.1695 AN: Esperanza-1 launches as the first unmanned satellite in Nouvelle Alexandrie history.
- 15.XIV.1695 AN: Amanecer 1 launches the first Nouvelle Alexandrien astronaut into space, Alberto Canzarez.
- 21.VIII.1696 AN: Amanecer 5 launches the first female astronaut into space, Emma Salazar.
- 22.V.1697 AN: Viajero 1 launches the first multi-crew mission into space, with Adrian Ocaña and Lucas Molinero.
- 21.IV.1705 AN: Vencedor 1 launches the first three-crew manned mission into space, with Alberto Canzarez, Diego Soria, and Oscar Halconero.
- 01.I.1706 AN: Vencedor 4 launches as the first mission that lands on Tarsica, bringing Xavier Villalobos and Adam Dávila to another world.
- 09.XIII.1708 AN: Vencedor 8 marks the last mission to land on Tarsica, bringing Roberto Mallén and Ruben Madrid to the moon of Micras.
- 20.II.1715 AN: Aurora 1 launches as the first mission to inhabit the Aurora Space Station, the first space station for Nouvelle Alexandrie.
- 20.III.1719 AN: Aurora 7 marks the first international cooperation mission, bringing a Constancian astronaut.
- 22.III.1722 AN: Aurora 11 marks the final mission to inhabit the Aurora station, which eventually disintegrates in 1725 AN.
Unmanned programs
- 16.X.1697 AN: Explorador 1 marks the beginning of ASANA's Micras observation program, with over 16 missions in the program over five years.
- 11.III.1700 AN: Descrubrimiento performs the first Tarsica flyby for ASANA, laying the groundwork for Vencedor. A total of 5 missions are flown.
- 11.X.1702 AN: GEOM 1 launches as the first geodetic monitoring satellite for ASANA, with 6 more following after.
- 12.IV.1703 AN: Atos Explorador 1 launches as the first solar orbiter for ASANA, researching Atos. 3 more missions follow after.
- 11.VI.1703 AN: Tarsica Topógrafo 1 launches to become the first orbiter around Tarsica for ASANA, providing much needed information for Vencedor. 6 more missions follow after.
- 11.III.1705 AN: Observador 1 performs the first Pyros flyby for ASANA. 7 more missions follow after.
- 28.IV.1705 AN: AAIO launches as the first of the Guardianes Pequeños program, a broad-spectrum galactic observers program.
- 18.VII.1706 AN: Seiza Space Telescope launches as the first in the Celestiales program, the most ambitious research program for ASANA to date.
- 16.V.1707 AN: Vanguardia Gamma Ray Observatory launches as the first gamma ray telescope for ASANA, continuing the Celestiales program.
- 11.X.1707 AN: Vigilante del Mar 1 launches as the first oceanographic altimeter satellite, an important step for ASANA in Micras observation. 4 more mission follow after.
- 18.VII.1708 AN: Espectador 1 launches as the first satellite imaging mission, another step for ASANA in technological innovation. 8 more mission follow after.
- 19.III.1709 AN: Eos Topográfo 1 performs the first Eos flyby for ASANA. 6 more missions follow.
- 12.IV.1709 AN: Tímido X-Ray Observatory launches as the first x-ray telescope for ASANA, continuing the Celestiales program.
- 18.II.1710 AN: GMS launches as the most ambitious mission for the Guardianes Pequeños program, its aim to provide the most complete optical mapping of the galaxy.
- 13.XI.1710 AN: Ahuanal IR Space telescope launches as the first infrared telescope for ASANA continuing the Celestiales program.
- 07.I.1711 AN: Cedillo Space Telescope launches as an upgrade to Seiza, providing far greater resolution, continuing the Celestiales program.
- 14.VII.1713 AN: Descrubridor Exoplanet Explorer launches as the first exoplanet satellite for ASANA, the last mission in the Celestiales program.
Local impact
The space sector is responsible for almost 25% of the GDP of New Luthoria as of 1730 AN, which has grown over the years since 1700 AN, when it was only 8%. Also as of 1730 AN, CVSD employs about 1,870 people, with a further 8,000 people employed directly or indirectly as a result of the activities of the spaceport. ASANA's budget accounts for almost 18% for the management of CVSD alone, with an annual endowment of over €3.5 billion. In terms of labor relations, CVSD's employees are known to be about 70% unionized.
In terms of environmental impact, CVSD's location was strategically chosen in 1694 AN due to its lack of urbanization. The city of Chiron, about 15 km northwest of CVSD, is the closest urban center. The main launch trajectory lies east of the site, and is partly shared with Bell Rock, another spaceport under the control of Çakaristan.
