Author Topic: Imperial News Service (Daitō)  (Read 26101 times)

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Offline Daitō

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Re: Imperial News Service (Arashkai)
« Reply #90 on: September 09, 2021, 04:23:18 AM »

General Elections to be held in October, Imperial Government confirms


The Imperial government has confirmed that general elections will be held on the 27th of October, in keeping with the terms of the mandate given to it by the Imperial Diet in June. This comes as candidates prepare to begin their campaigns on the fifteenth of October, a result of a law passed in 1978 requiring that electoral campaigns for the House of Representatives take place over just twelve days. This rule was temporarily waived in 2020 as a test for potential reform in the system which has, however, been rescinded. So far, it seems likely that, in spite of previous events surrounding the tumultuous Fukumoto premiership, the Jiyū-Minshutō (LDP) will perform well, although it is expected to face a significant challenge to its hold on power by the Rikken-minshutō (CDP).

The elections this year are expected to be rather unique, coming off the heels of the Imperial Diet being dissolved in the wake of the 6/10 attacks and power being temporarily handed to the Emperor. This move was generally met with a mixed response, with many questioning the need for a Diet if it was going to hand power to someone else in the face of a crisis. It is expected that this decision will pose a challenge to many members of the House of Representatives as they begin their campaigns.

Gubernatorial elections will be held as planned this year on the same day as the General election, with several prefectural governors standing for reelection, although some, such as Gov. Shiro Yokata-san announcing their retirement. With that in mind, the coming election season looks to be a most interesting one for the Empire.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Arashkai)
« Reply #91 on: September 16, 2021, 06:30:06 AM »

Tokkō confirms suspect in 6/10 Attacks in custody


Jin Hiraishi, Director of the Tokubetsu Kōtō Keisatsu, has confirmed that the agency has arrested a suspect in the investigation into the 6/10 attack. The individual, a man by the name of Kaiji Hatsu, was found to have ties to the organization known as the RAC, had been seen leaving the building where the gunfire came from, and had, according to a source in the organization, his fingerprints on bullet casings in the room where the firearm was found. The Director was quoted as saying "While we have concerns as to how our gunman acquired the rifle used, that being a Yamakawa R73, we have no doubt that 'Hatsu-san' was responsible." The Rifle, whose serial number has not been disclosed to the public, was last checked out by a Rikugun-Chūi by the name of Katsuo Ijima, who went missing shortly before the attacks on the 10th of June. While the Director did not confirm the relation of Ijima-chūi to the attacks, he did say that there was good reason to believe that he was tied to it in some manner.

Director Hiraishi expressed his concern over another finding in the case, that being the discovery of Ijima-chūi's body in Ikijima's Mitane Prefecture in June. This news was reported briefly in the Island's local news outlets shortly after its discovery but was, due to its apparent lack of importance at the time, not reported by national news networks. So far, Director Hiraishi stated he believed that the suspect, Kaiji Hatsu, may have kidnapped the lieutenant during a regular drill and had, after the killing of Prime Minister Anabuki and the Antei Emperor, murdered him in order to tie up any loose ends. However, he stressed that, although the primary suspect has been taken into custody, the case remains far from closed as the investigation into any potential co-conspirators begins. We will update you with any other findings as they arrive.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Arashkai)
« Reply #92 on: September 17, 2021, 03:42:59 PM »

Tenryū will fly on 24 October, DNSA Confirms


Speaking to the Press earlier today, the Director of the DNSA, Haruki Akisada, officially confirmed that the launch of UHS-01 has been pushed back to the 24th of October, allowing ground crews to fully prepare the launch site for its first flight. The mission, which was initially hoped to be set for the 10th, will see a crew of two fly to the Kyūden-IV space station and prepare it for decommissioning. It will mark the first time a reusable spacecraft docks with the space station, as well as the second to last docking to the station in general before it is decommissioned in preparation for the launch of the first module of the Rikugō Space Station in March of 2022. The mission will see the recovery of the Setsugō docking module from the station, where it is planned to undergo refurbishment before being placed on display at the Shinkyō National Aerospace Museum.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Arashkai)
« Reply #93 on: September 17, 2021, 05:15:14 PM »

Fourth Round of Emperor's Cup Concludes


The Fourth Round of the Emperor's Cup has come and gone, with eight teams qualifying for the Quarter Finals scheduled to be held on the 23rd of October. The Emperor's Cup, which was first held in 1921, will see its 100th anniversary on the 21st of December, when the Semi-Finals are scheduled to be held. Below are the scores for the Fourth Round as well as the teams which took part. Those listed in bold are the teams that will continue to the Quarter Finals this October.
Team I
Score
Team II
Shinkyō Tengu
2-1
Iwate Diamonds
Tenkyō Giants
1-1 (a.e.t.)
(3-4 p)
FC Awara
Urasoe United
2-0
Uravi SC
FC Erikshaven
2-1
Shibetsu Tigers
Júbilo Otsu
3-1
Gamba Yuzawa
Sagan Saito
1-1 (a.e.t.)
(10-11 p)
FC Goris
Ventforet Setouchi
2-1
SC Ishigaki
Kaga FC
2-2 (a.e.t.)
(3-4 p)
KSCC Kitsuki

The Quarter Finals will see the following teams play against each other:
Team I
Team II
Shinkyō Tengu
KSCC Kitsuki
FC Awara
Urasoe United
FC Goris
Júbilo Otsu
Ventforet Setouchi
FC Erikshaven

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Re: Imperial News Service (Arashkai)
« Reply #94 on: September 21, 2021, 06:19:44 AM »

UHS Completes Final Approach and Landing Test


The UHS Orbiter Tenryū has, according to the DNSA, completed it's final Approach and Landing Test, landing safely at MFS Artsiv at 3:30 PM AST. The flight, which was crewed once more by Michiko Yamada and Erich Habermann, took off from MFS Artsiv at 2:36 PM, where it would at first circle the launch complex at an altitude of 5,791 meters before, at 3:28, the orbiter separated from its carrier plane. For the next two minutes, the vehicle would approach the runway before landing successfully to much elation from the crew. With the completion of this significant milestone, only one test remains: The first launch of the UHS this October.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō; Backdated to 7 August technically)
« Reply #95 on: September 26, 2021, 01:43:23 PM »

2021 Mundus Games come to a Close


With the eighteenth day of the 2021 Mundus Games coming and going, so too have the games come to a close. Now, the nation sings praises of the victors, regardless of their origin, in celebration of humanity's indomitable spirit. Below are the final totals for the participating nations in order of the number of gold medals earned:
Nation
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Total
Nation (cont.)
Gold (cont.)
Silver (cont.)
Bronze (cont.)
Total (cont.)
Achkaerin
66
47
60
173
Izhitsa
14
15
16
45
Heyra
35
35
30
100
Altona
12
10
3
25
Lijiang
30
28
18
76
Drenovia
11
11
10
32
Fleur
26
39
42
107
Jugland
11
9
10
30
Daitō
26
24
29
79
Floodwater
10
4
3
17
Solace
26
17
8
51
Lodja
7
13
16
36
Tytor
25
30
24
79
Kaitaine
5
10
18
33
East Moreland
22
17
22
61
Theocracy of
Kaitaine
3
3
7
13
Centralia
21
18
14
53
Seaforth
2
1
3
6
Royal Selucid
17
14
12
43
Toshikawa
N/A
2
1
3
Bakkermaya
16
32
28
76
Zimalia
N/A
1
2
3
Nueva Ardia
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Rodina
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Vanora
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

Of particular note were the Lijiangese team, which, despite having never participated in the games before, secured itself the No. 3 spot on the leaderboard, as well as the Achkaerinese, Heyran, and Fleuroix teams, which all won more in excess of a hundred medals over the course of the games. Of course, we would be remiss if we didn't mention His Majesty's performance during the games, during which he, alongside the Daitōjin National Team, took home two gold, one silver, and one bronze medals for the Empire. Many legends were born over the last eighteen days, legends which will undoubtedly continue in the years to come. Thank you for watching our coverage of the 2021 Mundus Games, and we hope to see you soon as the 2021 Emperor's Cup draws near.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Arashkai)
« Reply #96 on: September 28, 2021, 12:08:21 PM »

DNSA awards contract for "Lifeboat"


The DNSA has announced that it has awarded Aerospace Company Zayasu a contract to use their proposed Karasu spacecraft as a lifeboat for the soon-to-be-launched Space Station Shirotsuru. This comes as the agency prepares for its second phase of lunar exploration, requiring that any future Ryū spacecraft be devoted to that program over the next decade starting in 2023. The Karasu capsule will be capable of carrying eight crewmembers from the space station back to Mundus, where it would be refurbished and relaunched, whether that be on the soon-to-launch Inari III or carried aloft in the cargo hold of a UHS Orbiter.

Pictured: The Karasu ECRV

While the spacecraft has not yet been launched, we do know some information about it. For instance, we know that current plans for it will see it have a gross mass of about 7,000 kg and a payload capacity of 500 kg, as well as that its height will be around 4.28 meters and will be able to carry a crew of eight back to Mundus should an evacuation be necessary. Zayasu Aerospace is a name well known in the aerospace community, producing the venerable Kōnotori series of cargo resupply spacecraft which have serviced Daitōjin stations going back to 1987 with Kyūden II. The decision to pick this spacecraft is, as a result, not at all unexpected in light of it meeting the requirements laid out by the UYS Applications Program and the company's reputation within the DNSA.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #97 on: October 11, 2021, 04:44:59 AM »

Imperial Government to restore traditional Daitōjin naming order in Official Documents


The Imperial government has issued an edict requiring that all foreign-language translations of official documents make use of the traditional Daitōjin naming conventions in place of so-called "Ardian Naming" which has been in use since the late-1890s. No longer will the Empire cater to foreign expectations on this matter, believing it necessary to preserve the nation's traditions in an ever-changing world. Many across the nation have praised this move, although it has naturally seen some pushback in Styria from those who believe that it will affect all people, rather than just those who possess a name that is Daitōjin in origin. It is believed that, as election season approaches, more actions such as this will be taken as a part of the State Ministry of Culture's policy of "National Rejuvenation". This policy is set to take effect on the 2nd of January with the start of the Daitōjin New Year.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #98 on: October 15, 2021, 04:34:30 AM »

Election Season begins again


Following the dissolution of the Imperial Diet earlier this year in the wake of the 6/10 attacks, it was formally announced on the 8th of September that a general election would be held on the 27th of October in order to reform the House of Representatives and determine a new Prime Minister. His Majesty, the Emperor, has given his blessing to hold these elections, believing it necessary to return the nation to a state of normalcy following such an atrocity as the period of stabilization has been successfully accomplished. While it is anticipated that the LDP will win the elections based on current projections, it is believed that their control of the House will weaken, potentially requiring a coalition government in order to maintain their government.

As the deadline for registering as a candidate in the elections has now come and gone, those running have twelve days to campaign under the rules provided by the 1978 Electoral Reform Act, after which the elections will be held. So far, some notable candidates in the running include former Prime Ministers Himekawa Jin (LDP) and Edano Ikumi (CDP), as well as the head of the Teikokutō, Wakabayashi Saigo. Hayate Daisuke, the head of the Chōwa Research Council faction of the LDP, is also running for his position as the Representative for Aomori Prefecture. Once again, while the LDP is expected to maintain power in the nation, it is clear that this election will prove most interesting.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #99 on: October 18, 2021, 02:17:32 AM »

Autonomy of Styria in Question as Deadline Approaches


With the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Cession of Styria at the start of the new year, many have begun to question what will be done regarding pre-existing treaties on the status of the territory. The territory of Styria, formerly defined as a client state of the Empire from its transfer by the Derusmian Empire in 1897 until the 1922 Cession, has operated since as a protectorate with a high degree of autonomy over its internal affairs as well as limited control over its foreign affairs, thus permitting it to be a party to the MCUR while the Empire as a whole is not. As the Empire has been legally bound to maintain this system for the last century, after which the treaty stipulating it will be considered null and void, this has led to a debate as to what the status of the region should be. There are effectively two options: Maintain the status quo or formally integrate the territory as a full member of the Empire. While the native Teutonic plurality has largely supported the former option, many, including the sizeable Daitōjin population in the territory, have called for the latter option to be taken.

At present, it seems largely dependent on which party will win the election, as the two largest, the LDP and CDP, have supported opposing sides in this matter since 2017. The CDP has referred to the current system as "being beneficial to both parties" and that it has "reduced the strain of administering the territory". The LDP, on the other hand, has, although not explicitly, referred to the system as a potential threat to national security in the coming century, one that must be eliminated before the ties between the territory and the National Government are exploited by those who wish to see the nation plunged into chaos. They have also noted that, in spite of the alleged easing of the administration of the territory, it has led to a higher cost than the nation needs expend. It seems likely that this issue will play a major role in the elections set for the 27th.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #100 on: October 23, 2021, 11:04:06 PM »

UHS-01 Launches


The DNSA has confirmed that UHS-01, carrying Uchūnauts Hiroji Ryoma, Jin Shirokawa, Kinuko Arakawa, and Erich Weber, has successfully achieved orbit and is commencing procedures relating to its rendezvous with the Kyūden IV Space Station. The orbiter, Tenryū, is the first of its type, being based heavily on the design of the cancelled UYS orbiter that is, as we speak, being converted to serve as the nation's next-generation Low-Mundus Orbit Station.

Pictured: Tenryū launches from LC-17A

UHS-01 will serve both as the UHS Spacecraft's operational test flight and as the final manned mission to Space Station Tenryū, with a modified Kōnotori II Orbital Resupply Vehicle being set to dock next month in preparation for the station's deorbiting. The crew is expected to dock with the station at around 11:19 AM AST tomorrow, marking the fastest rendezvous a spacecraft launched by the agency has performed. The crew will then board the station before, at around 5:31 PM AST, undocking with the Setsugō module before repositioning it to docking port 1. The crew will then dock once more and perform activities relating to their mission over the course of the following eight days, including an EVA in order to test a new manned maneuvering unit for operations involving Shirotsuru starting next year. Regardless, this flight has been met with great celebration, and the Emperor has reportedly called the crew to congratulate them on this achievement. Stay tuned for further updates on the mission.
« Last Edit: November 25, 2021, 02:59:25 AM by Daitō »

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #101 on: October 29, 2021, 05:34:44 AM »

LIVE: Election night in Daitō

As a tight race comes to an end in the twilight hours of the 28th of October, 2021, we now expect that a result will arrive momentarily. This election is particularly momentous, as it marks a return to the pre-2020 electoral system which was, for the year's elections, done away with in a trial run of a new system, as well as it being the elections which follow the attacks that rocked the nation earlier this year. In light of the Diet's failure to act on the crisis, instead opting to hand power to the Emperor, we have seen a dramatic drop in voter turnout, with only a turnout of 50.1% so far compared to the previous election, which saw a turnout of 64.9%.

With all precincts reporting, we are now willing to call the elections in favor of the LDP, which won in 27 prefectures, although it will likely be forced to form a coalition government with the runner-up, the Teikokutō. The Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) picked up 15 seats in the House, while the Communist Party (DCP) won only three. Other political parties failed to win any seats in the House. LDP Party leader Jin Himekawa, who, should negotiations within the party go well, will likely serve as the nation's next Prime Minister, has issued a statement hailing the election as proof that, in spite of difficult times such as this, the nation's institutions will prevail and that he will immediately begin negotiations with the nation's now-second largest party in the House of Representatives regarding the formation of a coalition government. It remains possible that a member of the Teikokutō will serve as Prime Minister should the LDP fail to form a government before the deadline in november.

Electoral Map, c.10/28/21

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #102 on: October 30, 2021, 09:10:53 PM »
OOC Author's Note: Backdating this to the 23rd of October

Quarter Finals of the Emperor's Cup conclude

The Quarter finals of the 2642 Emperor's Cup have concluded, with four of the eight qualifying teams passing to go to the Semi-Finals. These semi-finals will be held on the 21st of December, while the Finals will be held on the Daitōjin New Year, or the 1st of February for our foreign viewers and/or readers. Below are the scores for the scores for the Quarter Finals as well as the teams that took part. Below that is the lineup for the Semi Finals.
Team I
Score
Team II
Shinkyō Tengu
3-2
KSCC Kitsuki
FC Awara
4-1
Urasoe United
FC Goris
2-2 (a.e.t.)
(6-5 p)
Júbilo Otsu
Ventforet Setouchi
1-1 (a.e.t.)
(4-5 p)
FC Erikshaven
Team I
Team II
Shinkyō Tengu
FC Goris
FC Awara
FC Erikshaven
« Last Edit: September 27, 2022, 10:17:10 PM by Daitō »

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #103 on: November 02, 2021, 04:48:38 PM »

Tenryū returns home

Pictured: Tenryū lands at MFS Artsiv, 2 Nov, 2021

The DNSA has confirmed that the UHS spaceplane Tenryū has successfully landed at MFS Artsiv after a successful test flight. The flight, which was crewed by Uchūnauts Hiroji Ryoma, Jin Shirokawa, Kinuko Arakawa, and Erich Weber, lifted off at 7:36 AM local time on the 23rd of October before docking with the Kyūden IV Space Station on the 24th. The crew then briefly boarded the station to prep the Setsugō module for its undocking and repositioning to the front of the station.

Tenryū docked to Kyūden IV

The crew of four spent a little over a week in orbit, performing experiments and readying the station for its deorbit early next year. With the success of the mission, the all-clear has been given and the DSNA will proceed with plans to launch Shirotsuru, a UYS-derived orbital station, later next year. For now, the agency has begun preparing for the launch of Ryū M-3 in December as well as subsequent missions through 2024. The agency has also indicated that it would open to international cooperation on a station in lunar orbit in the future.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #104 on: November 11, 2021, 02:34:59 PM »

Daitō celebrates Victory Day — 76th Anniversary

The Daitōjin celebration of Victory Day has once more come and gone, with military parades being held across the nation, as well as, in Styria, the so-called "Großer Zapfenstreich der Territorialgarde" (Grand Tattoo of the Territorial Guard), which was postponed from last week due to poor weather. His Highness, the Emperor, attended the parade in Shinkyō, where he, like his father before him, oversaw the day's festivities. Notably, he visited the Yasukuni Shrine in Shinkyō's Daigo ward, where he paid his respects to the nation's war-dead before attending a few ceremonies around the city.

Parade of the Imperial Armed Forces, Shinkyō

Other notable attendees of the parade were the Imperial Chancellor, Sachio Himekawa, as well as members of the Imperial Family, the Grand Dukes of Tsukishima and Styria, and Marshal Okimoto Esashi.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #105 on: November 19, 2021, 10:15:50 PM »

LDP fails to form government

Following difficult negotiations, the LDP has reportedly failed to form a coalition government with the Teikokutō. Having failed to accomplish this task, it now falls on the latter party, headed by Saigo Wakabayashi, to form a coalition government. If they fail to form a government by the 27th of November, then the government faces one of two options: restore the caretaker government headed by His Majesty or hold elections once again in December. It currently appears more likely that the former option will be taken, and if it is done, then this caretaker government will remain in place until 2024. What this will mean for Daitō, nobody can really say, although some wonder if its thirty-three year experiment with democracy could be on the verge of slipping away.
DNSA set to launch lander

The DNSA has confirmed it plans to launch the lander for the Ryū M-3 mission later this month, with it aiming to launch on the 29th at 6:23 AM AST. The lander, built by Negishi Aerospace, is designed to support the crew on the surface for no longer than five days, during which time they will explore the lunar surface around Shackleton Crater. The Ryū M-3 crew will launch later that day and rendezvous with it in orbit around the moon.
« Last Edit: November 28, 2021, 10:14:06 PM by Daitō »

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #106 on: November 27, 2021, 09:22:15 PM »

Teikokutō fails to form government — Caretaker government to be reinstated


With the deadline for the Teikokutō to form a government having come and gone without success, it has become apparent that it will be incapable of forming a coalition government. As a result, it has been announced that  the caretaker government established earlier this year will be restored, with it being kept until the next elections in 2024. Some have suspected that this could threaten Daitō's already fragile democratic institutions, however, a spokesperson for the Imperial Government has confirmed that it remains committed to maintaining the process of elections going forwards, even if reforms prove necessary. Others have hailed this as the correct move for the nation, which still reels from nearly a year of turmoil. Whatever the case may be, the future now lies in the hands of His Majesty's government.
Negishi developing Ground Effect Vehicle

In a press conference earlier today, a spokesperson for Negishi Aerospace has confirmed that it has been contracted by the Imperial Daitōjin Navy to construct a new class of vehicle. This vehicle, the first of its type to be operated by the navy, is a Ground Effect Vehicle (GEV), often referred to as an "Ekranoplan" in foreign circles. Known as the Suirō, or "Water Dragon", it is intended to set a new speed record of around 760 km/h for ground-effect vehicles while also maintaining the ability to operate from nearly any terrain on the planet, this being a result of its VTOL capabilities.

Pictured: A model of the Suirō-class GEV
The Suirō will be used by the IDN as both an Anti-Submarine Warfare and Maritime Patrol ship, further bolstering the nation's defensive capabilities as well as, should they be inclined, those of its allies. Negishi has not indicated so far whether it will be open to selling them to foreign powers outside of the CSTO, although it certainly remains a possibility unless the Imperial Government elects to block it.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #107 on: November 29, 2021, 01:49:47 AM »

Ryū M-3 launches — Daitōjin moonshot underway


The DNSA has recently completed the back-to-back launches of two Tenjin MLV-E launch vehicles as part of the Ryū M-3 mission. The second of these launches carried the Command and Mission modules, crewed by Uchūnauts Eijiro Ebashi, Hiroki Inagaki, Isao Kitamori, and Taeko Akiyama, and is set to rendezvous with the lunar module three days from now in orbit of the moon. Three of the four crew, those being Mission Commander Eijiro Ebashi, Lander Pilot Isao Kitamori, and Mission Specialist Taeko Akiyama, will land on the moon near Shackleton crater, where they will spend the next five days exploring the surface, including an excursion into the crater itself by Akiyama-san with the goal of prospecting for ice and learning more about its formation. The crew will also test a lunar rover which will service future missions to the lunar surface.

As of now, the crew has completed the transposition, docking, and extraction of the spacecraft's mission module as it continues through cislunar space. According to Commander Ebashi, the crew is in good health and good spirits and is reportedly excited to get to work.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #108 on: December 01, 2021, 01:44:46 AM »

Ryū M-3 Crew takes first steps on the lunar surface

We now continue our coverage of the Ryū M-3 lunar landing. At 1:38 PM AST, the Lunar Surface Access Module, designated "Tengu" by the crew, successfully landed on the surface of the moon, not far from Shackleton crater, not far from the lunar south pole. Some in the past criticized the designated landing site, owing to potential risks in landing there and it being the first Daitojin landing. Suffice to say, these criticisms have been solidly cast aside as we now cover the nation's first steps on the surface. The signal takes a little under two seconds to reach Mundus from the surface, so for all intents and purposes, this is footage is live. That's right. Live from the surface of the moon.

There he is. Uchūnaut Eijiro Ebashi, Mission Commander for Ryū M-3, is now descending the ramp the LSAM. Let us listen in as he takes his first steps.
   "I take this step for my nation, for my people, and for all the children of Mundus, knowing that today is but a single step in a voyage which will take us all to the stars. I know this is not the first voyage here, but I know in my heart that it will not be the last."

And with those words, Daitō has finally reached the lunar surface, only two years after Atlas 9 in 2019. But although it is not the first, with that honor going to the Rokkenjimans in the 1970s, it will not soon be forgotten by those who have watched this momentous occasion.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #109 on: December 10, 2021, 09:00:55 PM »

Ryū M-3 returns home

Pictured: Crews work to secure the Ryū command module

The Ryū M-3 mission, Daitō's first excursion to the lunar surface, has come to an end with the spacecraft's splashdown in the Kyne, approximately 97 km northwest of Tsukishima. The spacecraft spent nine days in space, with three of the crew, Uchūnauts Eijiro Ebashi, Isao Kitamori, and Taeko Akiyama, spending nearly five days on the lunar surface. This stay on the lunar surface marks one of the longest of such stays, during which time the crew explored the lunar south pole around Shackleton Crater. Of note was an excursion into the crater by Taeko Akiyama, during which time samples of ice and other materials were collected for study on Mundus. The crew performed a total of five EVAs on the surface for a time of about thirty-five hours, with the longest occurring on the third of December for the aforementioned excursion.

Furthermore, a final EVA was performed by Eijiro Ebashi and Hiroki Inagaki while on the way back to Mundus with the goal of inspecting the spacecraft for any damage that may have been sustained while in orbit. This has been standard procedure for spacecraft flying to the moon since Ryū M-1 as a safety measure, although no such damage was found that would impair the spacecraft's ability to reenter the atmosphere.

The crew is reportedly in good spirits and will be transported back to Artsiv over the next day, where they will undergo rigorous testing to ensure their health following the mission. Once cleared, it is expected they will fly to Shinkyō to meet with His Highness, the Emperor, as well as other officials in the government in order to congratulate them on a successful mission. As for the samples they returned, they will undergo study by the DNSA over the coming months and perhaps years.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #110 on: December 18, 2021, 08:43:45 AM »

DNSA confirms Kyūden IV reentry date


The DNSA has confirmed that it intends to deorbit the Kyūden IV space station on the 6th of January, 2022. This comes as the agency prepares to launch Shirotsuru early in March, while in the meantime, it will not have any crewed launches until after the station is launched. Currently, it is planned for the Kōnotori II spacecraft presently docked to the station to fire its thrusters in order to bring the station on a collision course with the planet in the southern Alucard. This location has been picked due to its relative distance from any populated areas and shipping lanes. A spokesperson for the agency has assured that there is no risk of the station hitting any populated areas, with the band in which the debris will fall being entirely confined to the ocean. Nonetheless, it has been suggested that advisories be put into place for the region between the 5th and 7th of January so as to avoid any unnecessary risks to civilians and property.
Prototype of Suirō to "enter testing soon" — Negishi CEO

Jiro Hanamura, the CEO of Negishi Aerospace, has recently gone on record saying that a prototype of the Suirō Ground-Effect Vehicle will enter flight testing soon, with the company aiming for a first flight as early as February. Hanamura has stressed that this demonstrator will primarily serve as a proof of concept, being completely unarmed but featuring the lift-jets and inflatable pontoons that make up a key part of the vehicle's ability to operate from most terrains. Should it prove successful, a second vehicle will be produced that will, in effect, be one such GEV as is planned to enter service with the Imperial Military.

The prototype Suirō has been given the designation YPV-16 by the Imperial Military, with the production variant likely to be known as the PV-16 should it ultimately be adopted.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #111 on: December 22, 2021, 01:31:16 AM »

Semi-Finals of the Emperor's Cup have concluded — Shinkyō Tengu to face FC Erikshaven


The semi-finals of the 2641 Emperor's Cup have concluded with much fanfare. During the games, the Shinkyō Tengu bested their rivals, FC Goris, while FC Erikshaven soundly bested FC Awara to take their place in the finals. With these matches concluded, things are shaping up for a battle that will cross the Kyne, as these two rival teams prepare to face off for the most important game of the cup. The game is set to occur on the Daitōjin New Year, set this year for the 1st of February on the Gregorian Calendar. This will allow both teams more time to prepare for the game, which will be played in Erikshaven, Styria. Below are the scores for the Semi-Finals:
Team I
Score
Team II
Shinkyō Tengu
3-2
FC Goris
FC Awara
1-2
FC Erikshaven

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #112 on: December 28, 2021, 12:47:08 PM »

Breaking News — Daiji Hatakeyama dead at 100
The Taikō was the oldest in Daitōjin History


The Family of Taikō (Grand Duke) Daiji Hatakeyama has confirmed that His Highness passed away last night in his sleep at the age of 100. Hatakeyama-taikō was, in life, a famed military aviator, having shot down twenty-two aircraft during his thirteen year service in the Air Force. His son, Katsuji Hatakeyama (72), has been sworn in as the new Grand Duke of the Hidaka Circuit and will formally take up the duties of the office starting on New Years Day. The late Grand Duke will be cremated and buried within his family's grave in Ueno in a private ceremony. With respect to the family, our coverage will be limited to announcing that his funeral has occurred. Flags across the nation and at its embassies will remain at half mast for the next two weeks in honour of the departed Grand Duke and War Hero.
DNSA to test "Flyback Booster"
If successful, turnaround of the UHS will improve tenfold


The DNSA has confirmed that it intends to test a prototype "flyback booster" variant of the Tenjin MLV-U first stage starting with UHS-002B in March. This booster will, if successful, allow for two-thirds of the spacecraft to be fully reusable, with a fleet of such boosters permitting the rapid turnaround of the UHS spaceplane and launch vehicle while also reducing the costs associated with replacing the booster presently used. The infrastructure necessary for such a design presently exists, with a landing strip already existing that would be large enough to facilitate the booster's landing, due to it having similar dimensions to that of the two Ochiai CT-8 Sekiryū aircraft operated by the agency for transportation. Haruki Akisada, the director of the DNSA, has stated that the stage will likely be the largest unmanned aircraft to have flown for many years to come, however, he stressed that its success would revolutionize spaceflight forever.

Artist's conception of the "Tenjin MLV-O" gliding back to Mundus

The DNSA remains committed to the UHS program even if the booster fails, although it has stated that it will need to scale back its long-term plans should the need arise. Nonetheless, engineers appear hopeful that the flights will succeed based on previous simulations. Due to its large height, although not surprising within the field of rocketry, its first test flight will remain UHS-002B, with there being no fears of the test endangering the mission nor its crew owing to the rocket's historical track record as a reliable rocket.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #113 on: January 05, 2022, 10:36:51 AM »

Diet set to vote on MCUR
The measure is deemed necessary in the leadup to the Integration of Styria


Both houses of the Imperial Diet will convene to vote on the nation's status with regards to the Mundus Convention on Universal Rights later this week, owing in part to the upcoming integration of the Autonomous Circuit of Styria in February. This marks the second attempt by members of the Diet to bring the nation into accordance with the Convention since its creation, with the leaders of the Jiyū-Minshutō (LDP) and the Rikken-minshutō (CDP) coming out in favor of signing. However, the Teikokutō currently remains opposed to the matter, with many of its members in the House of Representatives expected to vote against signing as they did in 2019.

The status of Daitō with regards to the MCUR remains a difficult subject, with the nation largely following the convention in spite of not being a party to it at this time. However, many within the government have criticized the document over concerns about its effects on national autonomy, not wishing to find itself fully beholden to international bodies with regards to the lives of the civilian populace. His Majesty has, although choosing not to make a gesture of support to one side or the other, indicated his support for the convention in practice, with many suspecting that he will support its ratification should it occur. Whether or not Daitō does ratify it will not necessarily change the course the nation finds itself on, although it could be perceived by those within as a concession and by those without as an act of goodwill towards the International Community.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #114 on: January 07, 2022, 09:06:41 PM »

Imperial Diet ratifies MCUR
The Nation will likely adopt the treaty's provisions in February


The Imperial Diet voted today to ratify the Mundus Convention on Universal Rights, with the House of Peers voting 245 to 82 to adopt a resolution which would see the nation formally sign the treaty. The House of Representatives likewise voted 293 to 172 to adopt said resolution, with the responsibility of signing it now falling to His Majesty's government. It is anticipated that said signing of the treaty will occur within the month, with a provision allowing for him to sign as late as March being on the table. While the Empire has long complied with the provisions of the MCUR, many wished to remain separate from said treaty, fearing the encroachment of foreign powers on the nation's sovereignty by signing it. Indeed, a significant part of the Houses of Peers and Representatives, largely belonging to the Teikokutō, voted against ratification.

Some observers have questioned whether the decision to sign was truly out of the so-called goodness of the nation's heart or whether it is merely part of an effort to court the favour of foreign powers. Whatever the case may be, this decision, whether symbolic in nature or not, will certainly affect the position the nation finds itself in going into the next few decades.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #115 on: January 14, 2022, 08:59:47 PM »

Ryū M-IV set to launch later this month
The Mission will be performed in conjunction with the Achkaerinese


A Tenjin MLV-V-U undergoes stacking, c. 30 December, 2021

The DNSA is now targeting the 30th of January for the launch of Ryū M-IV, which is set to bring a full crew of Uchūnauts, alongside an Achkaerinese Astronaut, to the lunar surface. The mission, which will launch only two months after Ryū M-III, marking a record turnaround for separate missions involving an MLV-V-U (the previous record being 59 days), will take the crew to lunar orbit, where they will rendezvous with an Achkaerinese-launched reusable lander, named "Bauer" after Jerry Bauer, the head of the ASA during the Trinity project, before landing on the far side of the lunar surface. This is set to coincide with the upcoming flight of the Rokkenjiman Akari spacecraft, whose crew will land first, allowing for this mission to serve in many regards as a dress-rehearsal for a potential rescue mission on the lunar surface.

The crew is reported to be made up of uchūnauts Taichi Yukawa, Erich Habermann, and Makoto Sadatomi, as well as Achkaerinese astronaut Danielle Sanders. Unlike the previous Ryū M-III mission, which only saw three members of the crew land on the surface, Ryū M-IV will make full use of the spacecraft's ability to fly fully autonomously, with the previous mission only keeping one of its crew aboard in the event of any issues involving the spacecraft's systems. The mission will also feature the deployment of a system known as "FROST", or "Far-side Radio Observing Scanning Telescopes", an array of radio telescopes designed to demonstrate the potential of far-side radio astronomy, something which may prove useful for projects potentially being considered by other space agencies. The DNSA has confirmed that, in the spirit of exploration and science, the findings from this demonstrator will be made freely available to any agency which wishes to make use of them.

With the launch of this mission less than a month away, many now suspect that Ryū M-IV will be the last flight of the Tenjin MLV-V-U, which, upon the launch of the mission, will have completed seven flights. The launches of Shirotsuru and the next two flights of the UHS spaceplane are set to fly aboard Tenjin MLV-V-U rockets, while the next lunar missions will launch aboard the MLV-V-O and future large-scale missions aboard the MLV-V-Ka, including rumored plans for a space station in lunar orbit or a platform in geostationary orbit. What does seem certain, as the launch date for Shirotsuru and Tenryū draws closer and closer, is that Artsiv Cosmodrome will likely be quite busy over the coming months, with High Bays I, II, and III currently occupied for the first time since the launch of Kyūden IV. The joint Akari-Ryū mission will mark another record, that being for the most individuals on the lunar surface at a single point, with an upwards of eight crew from three nations at the same spot on the far side of the moon.
« Last Edit: January 31, 2022, 06:31:17 AM by Daitō »

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #116 on: January 24, 2022, 01:19:53 AM »

Ryū M-IV rolled out to LC-17C

View from the Tenjin MLV Mobile Servicing Structure

The DNSA has confirmed that the Tenjin MLV-V-U rocket set to carry the crew of Ryū M-IV has completed its rollout to Launch Complex 17C following a 6-hour journey. The rocket, given the serial number TEU-7, is set to be the last rocket of the Tenjin MLV-V-U series to fly, with future launches expected to be carried out by the reusable MLV-V-O and the far more powerful MLV-V-Ka. In a way, it will be an end of an era, with the rocket having carried the Kyūden IV space station into orbit as its first mission and facilitating the last three lunar missions. As for the capsule itself, the crew has elected to name it Adachi, its namesake, keeping with the decision to name the lander for the ASA's Jerry Bauer, being Hideo Adachi, the first director of the DNSA.

Ryū M-IV will, unlike the previous M-III mission, see the entire crew depart from the Command Module, with the crew landing within 200 meters of the Rokkenjiman crew at Mare Ingenii on the Moon's Far Side.

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #117 on: January 30, 2022, 05:19:50 AM »

Transcript: Launch of Ryū M-IV
The following is a transcript of this morning's launch of the Ryū M-IV Spacecraft:

Spoiler: Transcript • show
T- 1:45 [DHK - Daiki Funae] For those who are just tuning in, this is Daiki Funae for DHK, coming to you live from Artsiv Cosmodrome on the East Coast of Tsukishima. It is is currently 12:33 AM local time, two minutes away from liftoff. The Crew of Ryū M-IV, ūchunauts Taichi Yukawa, Erich Habermann, and Makoto Sadatomi, alongside astronaut Danielle Sanders of the Achkaerinese Space Agency, currently sit atop the powerful Tenjin MLV-V-U that will carry them to lunar orbit. Their lander, Bauer, was launched by the Achkaerinese Space Agency earlier today and is currently on a translunar trajectory, with the crew expected to rendezvous with the spacecraft in lunar orbit. This mission is a historic once for many reasons, with it being the final mission of the Ryū Block V spacecraft and with it, the end of the Ryū program. It will also mark the first flight of the Achkaerinese lander, which is designed to take man to the surface of Nergal. With one minute remaining, we will switch over to the audio from Mission Control and the spacecraft.
T- 1:00 [DHK - Daiki Funae] T-minus one minute and counting. Now in the final minute of the countdown. At T-minus 45 seconds, Taichi Yukawa will make the final guidance alignment.
T- 0:45 [DHK - Daiki Funae] MARK. T-minus 45 and Yukawa has made te final guidance alignment. This is the last action taken by the crew aboard the vehicle. We are now approaching the half-minute mark. T-minus 33. T-minus 30 seconds and continuing... Continuing at T-minus 25 seconds.
T- 0:30 [Mission Control] 30 to go.
T- 0:29 [Yukawa] Roger, Hide. We are ready and are GO.
T- 0:21 [Mission Control] Minus 20.
T- 0:10 [DHK - Daiki Funae] 10 ... 9 ... 8 ... 7 ... Ignition sequence - all engines started - we have ignition 2, 1, zero ... We have liftoff.
T- 0:10 [Mission Control] 10 ... 9 ... 8 ... 7 ... ignition ... 6 ... 5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1
T- 0:01 [Yukawa] On the shoulders of giants, go Ryū!
0:00 [Mission Control] Liftof

0:00 [DHK - Daiki Funae] Turning midnight into dawn, Ryū M-IV has liftoff! Tenjin is now moving off the pad, and what a sight it is to behold.
0:01 [Yukawa] Roger, the clock is running. We have yaw.
0:08 [Mission Control] Clear of the Tower.
0:10 [Yukawa] Roger; tower. Yaw complete, we are rolling.
0:13 [Mission Control] Roger, Yukawa. Everything seems nominal, thrust is good on all five engines.
0:17 [Yukawa] Roll complete, we are pitching.
0:27 [DHK - Daiki Funae] This is Mission Control. Taichi Yukawa reports the launch vehicle is maneuvering to the proper altitude. Everything looks good at this point.
0:29 [Yukawa] Alright, checking our angles.
0:31 [Sadatomi] Thirty seconds. We really are going!
0:34 [Yukawa] Thirty seconds and Ryū is GO.
0:37 [Mission Control] Roger, 04. You are GO.
0:40 [DHK - Daiki Funae] First stage looks good, altitude is 1.7 kilometers.
0:45 [Sadatomi] Okay, 1 minute and 68 degrees.
0:47 [Yukawa] Got it.
0:48 [Habermann] Everything's on track over here, Taichi.
0:49 [Yukawa]Roger. Stand by for MAX- Coming through MAX-Q at 68 degrees.
0:57 [Habermann] Copy.
0:58 [DHK - Daiki Funae] Booster says we are good. Tenjin is now at 4 kilometers.
0:59 [Mission Control] IV, stand by for Mode I Bravo -
1:01 [Mission Control] MARK. Mode I Bravo.
1:03 [Yukawa] Roger. I-Bravo; we are still go.
1:06 [Mission Control] Roger, Taichi. Right on the line.
1:08 [DHK - Daiki Funae] Mission Control reports that everything is nominal and. Tenjin is now at 1.6 km downrange and is proceeding, currently at 6.7 km high.
1:09 [Yukawa] Okay, we have RCS command.
1:10 [Mission Control] IV, Feet Wet. Repeat, Feet Wet.
1:12 [Yukawa] Roger, Feet Wet.
1:25 [DHK - Daiki Funae] Coming up on maximum dynamic pressure at this time. Tenjin is now 6.4 km downrange. Altitude is 12.8 km down range and approaching 610 meters per second.
1:27 [Yukawa] Okay, 1:30 and 50 degrees.
1:30 [Yukawa] 1:30 and we are GO.
1:36 [Mission Control] Roger, Taichi. You are looking good.
1:37 [Yukawa] 2 gs. 2-1/2 gs, pushing 3. Just hang in a little longer.
1:48 [Yukawa] Okay, we are out of Max-Q.
1:55 [Mission Control] Standby for Mode-I Charlie.
1:56 [Yukawa] Copy.
1:58 [Mission Control] MARK. Mode-I Charlie.
2:00 [DHK - Daiki Funae] And the Flight Dynamics Officer says all is good from all sources. We are right on trajectory.
2:00 [Yukawa] Roger, Mode-I Charlie.
2:02 [Yukawa] EDS is off and we are GO.
2:03 [Mission Control] Standby for skirt sep.
2:04 [Yukawa] Roger, standby for skirt sep.
2:05 [Mission Control] MARK. Skirt sep. IV, you are still GO.
2:11 [Mission Control] IV, you are go for staging.
2:13 [Yukawa] Roger, go for staging.
2:24 [Yukawa] Okay, hold on until after staging.
2:25 [Sanders] Standby, everyone.
2:27 [Sadatomi] Okay, here's 20.
2:28 [Habermann] Okay, its 19.
2:30 [Yukawa] Now at 41... 41 seconds.
2:32 [Yukawa] 3-1/2 gs.
2:33 [DHK - Daiki Funae] Crew will experience maximum G-forces of about 4 Gs at shutdown.
2:35 [Yukawa] Hold on!
2:40 [DHK - Daiki Funae] Coming up on stage shutdown, and we have had shutdown on time.
2:44 [Yukawa] Staging.
2:46 [Yukawa] And Ignition.
2:55 [Mission Control] IV, Shinkyō. Thrust is GO on all engines and you are looking good.
3:03 [Yukawa] Alright, 3 minute mark and we are GO.
3:04 [DHK - Daiki Funae] We are at 3 minutes. Tenjin is downrange at 112 kilometers and 69 kilometers high. Velocity is 2,843 meters a second.
3:13 [Yukawa] Right, we have skirt sep.
3:16 [Sadatomi] 19, 15, 17.
3:18 [Mission Control] Roger, skirt sep

3:20 [Sadatomi] 16. There it goes!
3:23 [Mission Control] Roger, tower separation confirmed. Mode II.
3:25 [Yukawa] Roger, Mode II.
3:34 [Mission Congrol] Steering has converged. The CMC is go, you are right on track.
3:38 [Yukawa] Got it, Hide. Guidance is confirmed.
3:43 [DHK - Daiki Funae] That's the automatic guidance system, the inertial guidance system, performing properly.
3:45 [Yukawa] Okay, Hide, I got you the ELS SEP Circuit Breakers. We've seen it all, let me tell you: ignition, staging, and tower.
3:52 [Mission Control] Okay, got you.
3:54 [Yukawa] Oh, and by the way, the cabin's sealed (laughter).
3:58 [DHK - Daiki Funae] Ryū M-IV is now at 104 km in altitude.
4:03 [Yukawa] 4 minutes and we are GO.
4:05 [Mission Control] Okay, M-IV, you are GO.
4:09 [Yukawa] 21 degrees, still Mode II.
4:15 [Sadatomi] H and H-DOT are good.
4:28 [Yukawa] 4:30 and we are GO.
4:30 [Mission Control] Roger, IV, you are GO.
4:47 [DHK - Daiki Funae] Coming up on five minutes. M-IV is now 128 km high, 370 km downrange.
5:02 [Mission Control] IV, 5 minutes and you are GO.
5:04 [Yukawa] Roger, GO at 5.
5:13 [Habermann] Okay, coming up on T-4I to COI.
5:24 [Mission Control] Okay, IV, this is Shinkyō. Your times are nominal. Level sense arm is 8 plus 36; T-2 shutdown at 9 plus 20. Nominal times, over.
5:33 [Yukawa] 8 plus 36 and 9 plus 20, roger.
5:56 [Mission Control] Standby for T-4I to COI capability.
5:59 [Mission Control] MARK. T-4I to COI capability.
6:01 [Yukawa] Roger, T-4I to COI.
6:03 [Yukawa] Good. Gimbal motors?
6:04 [Sadatomi] Got it.
6:05 [Mission Control] Roger.
6:06 [Yukawa] PITCH 1.
6:06 [Sadatomi] Roger.
6:07 [Yukawa] Okay, and YAW 1.
6:08 [Sadatomi] YAW 1, go ahead.
6:13 [Yukawa] PITCH 2.
6:15 [Sadatomi] Got it.
6:15 [Yukawa] And YAW 2.
6:15 [DHK - Daiki Funae] Ryū M-IV still on trajectory. Now at 148 kilometers.
6:16 [Sadatomi] Okay, got a plus 15.8 and a plus 19.
6:16 [Yukawa] Got it, we've got four good motors and we are GO at 6:20.
6:25 [Mission Control] Roger, we copied the gimbals and everything is nominal. You are GO.
6:46 [Mission Control] Standby for T-IVB to orbit capability.
6:49 [Yukawa] Roger.
6:49 [Mission Control] T-IVB to orbit capability. Erich, we'd like OMNI Delta.
6:54 [Habermann] Got it.
6:67 [Sadatomi] 7 minutes.
7:00 [Mission Control] Roger, 7 minutes.
7:01 [DHK - Daiki Funae] 7 minutes in and we now have sufficient velocity to reach orbit should Stage II shutoff early.
7:08 [Yukawa] 7 minutes. We are looking good onboard.
7:09 [Mission Control] Copy, 7 minutes.
7:24 [Yukawa] Standby for inboard.
7:35 [Sadatomi] 1/2 G, standby.
7:40 [Yukawa] Inboard cut-off.
7:43 [Mission Control] Roger, inboard on time.
7:46 [DHK - Daiki Funae] And we have confirmed inboard shutdown, on time according to Mission Control.
7:53 [DHK - Daiki Funae] Ryū M-IV is now 1,005 km downrange and 149 km high.
8:01 [Yukawa] Eight minutes and we are GO.
8:03 [Mission Control] Roger, IV, GO at eight minutes.
8:08 [Yukawa] Standby for PU shift.
8:09 [Mission Control] Roger, PU shift.
8:17 [DHK - Daiki Funae] The spacecraft's guidance systems are agreeing very closely with the MLV. It looks good.
8:18 [Yukawa] Okay, that level sense will be at 36.
8:20 [Sadatomi] 36, got it.
8:21 [Mission Control] IV, Shinkyō. You are GO for staging.
8:24 [Yukawa] Got it, we are GO for staging up here.
8:32 [DHK - Daiki Funae] Staging is now less than 1 minute away.
8:34 [Yukawa] Coming in, we are level sense arm now.
8:40 [Mission Control] You have level sense.
8:42 [Yukawa] Roger, level sense arm. Standby for MODE 4, and then staging.
8:48 [DHK - Daiki Funae] Ryū M-IV is travelling at 6,400 meters per second.
9:01 [Yukawa] 9 minutes and we are GO.
9:03 [Mission Control] Roger, you are GO.
9:06 [Yukawa] Okay, standby.
9:07 [DHK - Daiki Funae] And about 10 seconds to staging.
9:09 [Yukawa] 10 seconds.
9:16 [Mission Control] Standby for Mode IV capability.
9:20 [Yukawa] T-2 Cut-off.
9:21 [Mission Control] MARK. Mode IV capability, and we copy cut-off.
9:23 [Yukawa] Roger, Mode IV capability. And we have T-4I ignition

9:28 [Mission Control] Roger, we copy T-4I ignition and thrust is nominal.
9:36 [Yukawa] We are MODE IV.
9:45 [DHK - Daiki Funae] We're up to 7,010 meters per second and are aiming for 7,620.
9:50 [Yukawa] Alright, 10 minutes.
9:55 [Mission Control] IV, the steering has converged and the CMC is GO. All systems nominal.
9:59 [Yukawa] Roger, the CMC is GO, 10 minutes. IV is GO onboard.
10:02 [Sadatomi] H-DOT's a little low, but not bad.
10:07 [Mission Control] IV, Shinkyō, you GO for orbit - GO for orbit.
10:11 [Yukawa] Roger, Shinkyō, we are GO for orbit up here as well.
10:18 [Yukawa] Okay, coming up on 3.0.
10:20 [Sadatomi] Got it.
10:20 [Yukawa] Double-check everything.
10:22 [Sadatomi] 3.0, 347 degrees. 23.9. We're a little high.
10:29 [Sanders] Velocity's a little low.
10:33 [Sadatomi] H-DOT's a little low.
10:34 [Mission Control] Roger, you're looking good.
10:36 [Yukawa] Okay, the cutoff is VI plus 100.
10:37 [Sadatomi] VI... I'll count you down.
10:52 [DHK - Daiki Funae] And we are now 1 minute from shutdown, from engine cutoff.
11:04 [Yukawa] 11 minutes and we are GO.
11:06 [Mission Control] Roger. Cutoff will be at 11 plus 47, repeat, 11 plus 47.
11:13 [Yukawa] 11 plus 47, roger.
11:33 [Yukawa] 11:30 and we are go. Standing by.
11:35 [Mission Control] Roger, you are go. Cutoff time is still holding at 11 plus 47.
11:44 [Yukawa] Cutoff at 11:44.
11:49 [Mission Control] Roger, cutoff at 11:44, we copy.
12:00 [Yukawa] We are looking at 93.5 by 89.5.
12:04 [Mission Control] Roger, 93.5 by 89.5
12:54 [Mission Control] The range safety is safe and we - you are in a GO orbit, nominal.
13:00 [Yukawa] Roger, we are in a GO orbit, nominal.
13:03 [DHK - Daiki Funae] Mission Control reports Ryū M-IV is now in orbit. Repeat, Ryū M-IV is now in orbit.
« Last Edit: January 31, 2022, 06:30:47 AM by Daitō »

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #118 on: January 31, 2022, 06:11:33 PM »
(OOC Note: This is backdated to around the fifth of January)

Commander Taichi Yukawa gives interview ahead of Ryū M-IV

As his fateful mission draws closer and closer, Taichi Yukawa, Commander of the upcoming Ryū M-IV mission and former commander of Expedition 32 to Space Station Kyūden IV, has found his training for the mission become far more intense than before. The ūchunaut will, as part of a multinational effort on the lunar surface, fly alongside an Achkaerinese crew member, Astronaut Danielle Sanders, and rendezvous with a Rokkenjiman crew consisting of Astronauts Mamoru Chiba, Usagi Tsukino, and Minako Aino on the far side of the moon. However, he has agreed to take an interview ahead of his flight set for next month.

When you were selected for this mission, how did you feel, knowing that you would be one of the lucky few to walk on the lunar surface?

Well, if I had to put it in a single word, I'd say I was surprised. Not in a "I'm not qualified for this mission" sort of way, but rather more of a "There are so many others who would make for a good commander on this flight" kind of way. Nonetheless, I'd argue I took to it quite well. I was certainly excited to find out, although I will admit I hid it decently well when I was at work. After all, it's the resolution to a dream I had when I was a child, watching the tapes of the first steps on the lunar surface. I'll never forget them, nor how I felt knowing that the future was upon us. Naturally, I wanted to be a part of it, but I digress. The fact that I am going to walk on the moon is, while on its own a wonderful thing, more than anything a chance to inspire future generations to do great things themselves. If I, a boy from the countryside of Sagami, could achieve this goal, then I don't see why, if you commit yourself to it, you couldn't achieve your own dreams, big or small.

Does this being the last flight of the Ryū program hold any particular significance to you?

Yeah, it does. I mean, sure, it'll be like III for the most part, but in a way it will be as though we will be taken aloft on the shoulders of giants. It's estimated that at its peak back in 2016 or so, we had some 400,000 or so people who worked on the program, who gave of themselves to make our mission possible. That's not to mention those dozens who gave their lives in the pursuit of this goal. Those are the giants whose shoulders we find ourselves carried upon, y'know. It's not some poetic speech for the sake of giving artificial weight to the mission. No, the dreams of those who worked on this program and on the coming UHS flights to the moon are riding with us. So yes, it is for those reasons that this mission is far more significant than one man can truly grasp. Even I struggle with it sometimes, but that's how it is.

What about the mission do you think is the most important facet? The landing itself, the cooperation in achieving it, or?

The fact that we will have seven people on the lunar surface at one time time, hailing from three countries and four distinct cultures certainly is quite important, in my opinion. Sure, that it will be the first mission to the far side of the moon is quite important too, as will the demonstration of radio astronomy from the lunar surface, but more than anything, the so-called "Handshake on the Lunar Surface" will no doubt go down in history as one of the greatest moments in spaceflight. A way of... showing to the world that the future has dawned, that cooperation, not competition, is the correct way forwards beyond our world. I hope that it will also show that the conflicts we have down here on Mundus are less significant than we lend credence to. After all, having orbited the planet for nearly a year over three flights, I already have had the chance to form such a perspective. With divine providence, it is my genuine hope that even a few may come to see things the same way.

How long will you actually stay on the lunar surface, and what can you tell us about the landing site?

Well, our total lunar stay-time is planned for about 152 hours, which is a little more than six days. Longer than any previous flight has planned or actually been on the lunar surface. This includes six seven-hour EVAs, well, plus or minus seven hours depending on how our oxygen and how our water and consumables go while out there on the surface itself. The first EVA will see us be, for the most part, in and around the lander, where we will get the majority of our scientific equipment deployed, our L-SEP package deployed, and unstow and unfold our lunar rover for future EVAs. In effect, it'll be a significant housekeeping EVA, where we'll need to get all of our equipment unloaded, get the rover in operational condition, load the rover with our tools, our radios, and our scientific gear, then spend the next three or four hours, depending on how this goes, on the L-SEP package, our scientific package, deploying it, setting up the radioisotope thermoelectric generator—the nuclear power generator which will keep it running. The last hour will be spent on field geology around our landing site. The second EVA will see us rendezvous on the lunar surface with the crew of Akari 7, taking the lunar rover between one and three kilometers southeast to meet them near their landing site. It will also be a seven hour EVA, during which time we will practice joint operations on the lunar surface and perform further field geology and study alongside them. The remaining EVAs will be similar to the second until the crew of Akari 7 returns to their capsule up in orbit, at which time we will continue our own exploration of the surface.

As for the landing site, it will be within Van de Graaff crater, a crater formation located in Mare Ingenii, the Sea of Cleverness as it were, a relatively large merged crater formation. The site itself promises to be a relatively smooth one, although it has enough interesting geology to make it worth the trouble of reaching.
« Last Edit: January 31, 2022, 06:17:44 PM by Daitō »

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Re: Imperial News Service (Daitō)
« Reply #119 on: February 03, 2022, 12:08:30 AM »

PV-16 Suirō delivered for testing to navy

Negishi Aerospace has confirmed that a pair of prototypes of the PV-16 Suirō have been delivered to the Imperial Daitōjin Navy and are set to begin testing shortly. The PV-16, likely set to be renamed the V-16 upon entering service, is a VTOL Ground Effect Vehicle that is planned to be used by the IDN for roles of Anti-Submarine and Ship Warfarfe and Maritime Patrol, with the option of further modification being left open. The vehicle is designed to be capable of operating from any surface, provided there is enough clearance on the ground for it. The Imperial Government has stated that it will block the sale of such vehicles to foreign powers not presently aligned with it, effectively cutting off the rest of the world beyond the Cross-Straits Community, or CSC, from purchasing it.

Jiro Hanamura, the CEO of Negishi Aerospace, has gone on record claiming that the best-case scenario for the vehicle would be that it enters full production in two to three months, although he expects it be more likely to happen in Mid-August.
Emperor's Cup comes to a close

The 2641 Emperor's Cup has come and gone, with the Shinkyō Tengu claiming victory over FC Erikshaven, with a final score of five to four. With this victory, the Emperor's Cup has finally come to a close, with the team being crowned this year's champion. To the victors, all praise is warranted. As for the defeated team, they have fought valiantly and have earned the deepest respect for their efforts. We here at DHK look forwards to the coming season, and with it the 2642 Emperor's Cup.
Ryū M-IV celebrates New Year in Lunar Orbit

The crew of Ryū M-IV, the final crew of a Ryū spacecraft, celebrated the Daitōjin New Year while docked to their lander in lunar orbit. This marks the first time that a crew has done so from Lunar Orbit, with the crew of M-I narrowly missing it. Nonetheless, it is expected that it will be far from the last of such flights to celebrate it, with the UHS program ramping up and all. The crew of four is expected to undock from the spacecraft in six hours, after which they will land on the lunar surface within Van de Graaff Crater.