To the Moon

[Jamie]

To the Moon
Security Classification: TOP SECRET

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Limited budgets but high aspirations, the United Kingdom Space Agency had already reached its annual budget and although not publicized, its goal was to have rockets launching from British Soil by September 1998. Albeit, an ambitious goal. Due to the limited support from government, the Director of the UKSA, Alan Harman; raises the phone from within his private office and makes a call to the head office for Sparrow Industries. If given the opportunity to speak to a receptionist, he would request a discussion with a senior member of the company to discuss a partnership between Sparrow and the UK Space Sector.

Hollie

 

[Hollie]

This Phonecall is PRIVATE and ENCRYPTED — Jamie
The customer service agent transferred the call to corporate office on request, where Mr. Alexander Smith answered the line. "Hello, Sparrow industries. Alexander speaking?"

 

[Jamie]

To the Moon
Security Classification: TOP SECRET

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"Good Afternoon" Alan began, "My name is Alan Harman, I'm the Director of the United Kingdom Space Agency -- a new branch mandated by the British Government to manage space affairs and conduct missions beyond out atmosphere. I am calling you today due to the vast resources that Sparrow possesses, that we simply do not. At least, not with a much larger investment. You see, we are restricted to a governmental budget which means we are working with scraps. Our goal is to launch rockets from British Territory by the end of the year but with out limited resources, is limited to the Black Arrow Satellite Carrier which is already outdated.

The main purpose of this call was to express interest in a potential partnership between Sparrow, and the United Kingdom Space Agency; To work together towards a common goal of exploring space. With exploration ceasing in 1995, we want to step forward and pioneer the way back into spaceflight. By working together, through your resources with Airbus, Lockheed Martin and others in your conglomerate and our control centers and launch platforms, I envision a partnership that will see us launching national and commercial assets to space for the benefit of all. That is, if this is something you would be interested in?"

Hollie

 

[Hollie]

"It is a great pleasure and honour to have your consideration, Mr. Harman. We're particularly invested in geostationary satellites as a commercial opportunity, but each launch represents a major financial investment. To reduce costs, we've already generated a lot of dialogue with the Russian Federation for use of their space agency, though fostering such a partnership will take time. And, while it is true that Sparrow has immense engineering and technical capabilities, largely owing to our shares in Airbus and Lockheed Martin, we do not have a base of operations to complete our work. If the British Government are offering something similar, we'll contribute to your research while fulfilling our own objectives. As you know, any partnership will rapidly draw attention from competitive state(s) so we must confirm a clear, compelling and executable direction before we elaborate further."

Jamie

 

[Jamie]

To the Moon
Security Classification: TOP SECRET

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Retaining silence, allowing Mr Alexander to make his points, Alan responded. "The United Kingdom currently has an launch platform and mission control center in Scotland that we would very much like to see Sparrow participate in. Although in discussions with Partnership with Russia, it would give you options based on cost and efficiency whilst the UK would benefit from the technology. To give an understanding of our direction, and echoing what I have already mentioned. The current timescales we possess are:

• 1998 - Towards the end of the year, we intend to have launches taking place of empty Black Arrow Satellite Carriers. The infrastructure is in place and these launch systems will be ready in the next few months. We intend to have at least two launches before the year is over.
  We hope this will be a significant milestone to be the first rocket launch since the end of the Space Race in 1998. Although this in itself is an invitation for competition, as you mentioned.
  
  
• 1999 - Sticking to strict deadlines, we intend to resume our Black Arrow launches which serves as a rocketry testing program. This allows us to launch missions, test our capabilities and enhance ourselves. We have plans for a total of 16 launches, although naturally, this will see failures. During the first half of the year, two new programs will commence. One which will consist of Satellites which we intend to use the Black Arrow Program to launch more... inexpensive assets of smaller payloads. The other will be the introduction of our Medium Launch Pad which, we are hoping Sparrow would compliment with a Medium Lift Launch Vehicle. Options are something we would need to look into, but a keen interest in options such as the Atlas series. This would need more discussion. We intend to have a solid Black Arrow program to allow us to launch smaller satellites and intend to have the first medium launch of a rocket by the end of 1999, or the beginning of the year 2000. In partnership, this could cover your own interests.
  
  
• 2000 - Moving into the 20's, things will be in quicker motion. Working more on the launches of larger vessels from the medium platform and investment into the larger platforms to give us more options. Over this time, we can develop new technologies, infrastructure and plans for future missions. Even manned.

I hope this rundown is comprehensive enough, and shows the goal we intend to take... ideally with Sparrow beside us. Although I'm unaware of other deadlines and time tables for other agencies, I feel our time tables are quick but based on facts of what we can definitely accomplish. We would be able to offer land near our launch center to build warehouses and facilities for Sparrow; although I must admit, our own budget wouldn't allow us to build those for you. It's a new facility so has much building up to do beyond the launch pad and mission control.

Hollie