About Us[]
AION is a company dedicated to the research and construction of high performance spacecraft for deep space exploration. Through its subsidiaries, AION is also involved in the development of military aircraft and vehicles, and AION is also exploring ways in which resources can be extracted from other celestial bodies.
The company focuses on the advancement of space technologies to enable the easier and cheaper transport of passengers and heavy cargo with hypersonic and spacecraft over infrastructure networks spanning multiple countries, making space travel affordable for the majority of the population in the future.
AION is also exploring ways to extract resources such as minerals and fuel from other celestial bodies in order to improve the efficiency of interplanetary travel and to generate revenue through the sale of space-based resources.
History[]
Interplanetary Rockets, Launch and Manufacturing (IRLM)[]
Founded on August 20, 2019 with headquarters at the Orion Space Center on the Maria Madre archipelago off the Mexican coast, Interplanetary Rockets, Launch and Manufacturing (IRLM) began with the financial backing of six space companies, with the goal of developing rockets and spacecraft to explore other planets through ambitious projects.
In its early years, IRLM had an extensive fleet of spacecraft leading missions and projects, although initially it relied heavily on rockets borrowed from other agencies or disposable rockets, losing most rocket designs over time.
After ceasing to rely financially on other companies, it began to develop a rover that would be primarily used on the moon, but thanks to its capabilities it was decided to deploy rovers to most planets and moons in the solar system to expand the knowledge of space. This program was a success, as it attracted the attention of investors who were interested in the company, thus consolidating the economic foundations and reputation of IRLM.
From various investments, development began on the Interplanetary Station (IPS), a remarkable space station capable of landing on planets and moons without an atmosphere. The IPS represented a significant technological breakthrough and opened doors for exploration beyond the limits of Earth. However, IRLM faced several unforeseen events during a manned journey into deep space, specifically to the Martian moon Deimos.
Several critical engine failures made a safe return impossible, testing the crew's endurance as they temporarily settled on the Martian moon. However, their perseverance paid off when a rescue mission proved successful, ensuring their eventual return to Earth, but unfortunately the station did not meet the same fate, being marooned on Deimos.
The creation of IRLM's military department gave way to secondary projects, most notably the creation of tanks, fighters, bombers and military space stations that had the capability to attack targets in space and on the ground.
IRLM's curiosity about Jupiter led to the construction of IPS 2.0, which could carry landers, temporary settlements, research probes and abundant supplies, in addition to all the equipment that IPS 2.0 could carry, as well as better security systems.
The inaugural launch of IPS resolved many of the questions left unanswered by the first IPS, visited Callisto, continued research on Europa's inner oceans, and discovered the potential of using dust on the surface of Ganymede for future construction materials.
In addition, IRLM established a settlement inside a dormant volcano on Io using thermal generators. Before departing the Jovian system, IRLM launched a probe into Jupiter's atmosphere, capturing fascinating images of its re-entry.
IPS 2.0 had a successful return, as unlike the first station, IPS 2.0 entered Earth's atmosphere and was destroyed in the process while the manned capsules were ejected from the station and returned safely to Earth.
Following the success of the previous IPSs, approval was given to build the third station, which unlike its predecessors, never left low Earth orbit, but served as a gateway to other planets, refueling and resupplying spaceplanes in need.
After proving that the use of space planes was highly efficient, it was decided to create the largest of the company, the Andromeda, which was able to go to Mars fully loaded and return to Earth, the Andromeda, was used only twice, because due to its size, there were no loads that were large enough to need to be transported in it, so they continued to use aircraft such as the EPAC or Wolf.
The creation of more subsidiaries that manufactured items such as medicines, food, weaponry, aircraft, raw materials, propulsion systems and experimental technologies meant that IRLM was able to sell various products to other companies and countries, thus generating considerable profits and increasing IRLM's reputation and value.
As part of an extensive rebranding strategy, IRLM was renamed to Nexus Intergalactic Space Technologies (NIGST) in order to symbolize the company's constant evolution and expansion into more fields of technology.
Nexus Intergalactic Space Technologies (NIGST)[]
After the name change, NIGST forged an alliance with the Centaur Propulsion Lab, giving rise to the NRSP (Nexus Resupply and Sources Program). This collaboration proved highly advantageous for both companies, in the case of NIGST doubling the agency's net worth, solidifying the company's position as one of the most influential in the field of space exploration.
Thanks to the profits generated by the subsidiaries, NIGST was able to consolidate a network of facilities across the planet that have diverse purposes, such as the production of fuels, engines, or the preservation of samples, rocket tracking and communications, training future astronauts, among other uses, such facilities were mainly managed by the subsidiaries.
Among NIGST's outstanding programs is the Ionilink program. This visionary initiative involved the implementation of a sophisticated satellite constellation designed to revolutionize communication between the facilities and NIGST headquarters.
By improving the speed and security of transmissions, Ionilink facilitated coordination and accelerated decision-making processes. In addition to this program, the Starfall telescope, a state-of-the-art scientific instrument designed for the exploration and study of distant solar systems, was launched aboard the Sirius space shuttle, further expanding the frontiers of the company's knowledge.
Following the success of Ionilink and the improvement of interplanetary communications, the Akula and Sagittarius capsules were created and undertook a mission to a near-Earth asteroid.
Launched from the mythical Orion Space Center platforms, both capsules were guided from Cygnus rockets to the asteroid. Once there, the Sagittarius capsule landed while the Akula capsule remained in orbit in the style of the Apollo missions. This mission brought back to Earth samples and data from the asteroid and was a success that laid the groundwork for the next NIGST missions.
Research into new aerospace technologies initiated the production of two innovative rockets, the Novaureus X, a spacecraft capable of carrying more than 15 people into space, equipped with a large cargo bay and a maintenance drone. The second rocket was the most important, the Prometheus, a space plane that played a fundamental role in the technological development of NIGST by building a temporary lunar base.
For the construction of this base, a fleet of 4 Prometheus were used aboard the company's favorite rockets, the Cygnus and the Knight, this base was a test for the space planes and their capabilities for future projects, after the completion of the mission, the base modules were loaded inside the Prometheus, returning successfully to earth.
NIGST undertook smaller projects as well, which by themselves did not mark the company as much as Prometheus or Novaureus X, for example, the construction of two hypersonic aircraft, the A-SP Ghost, a cargo/bomber aircraft that would be capable of orbiting the earth and the Nightwhale, a reconnaissance and transport aircraft that was used for workers to move quickly between NIGST facilities.
Although not as ambitious projects were undertaken as at IRLM, NIGST's unwavering commitment to military innovation led to the formalization of the military subsidiary, known as Carinean Vanguardist Nexus (CVN), giving the green light to the production of advanced aircraft, aircraft carriers, tanks and more specialized weaponry, with the purpose of selling everything produced to international powers.
Although NIGST may appear to have had somewhat discontinuous missions from one another, it played a pivotal role in establishing the core infrastructure that underpinned the agency's operations and gave the baptism of fire to old and aging NIGST and IRLM technologies, such as base construction and manned craft.
As NIGST sought to forge its distinctive identity. The decision was made to change its name to AION, following the concept of Gnosticism. This name change honored the timeless essence that transcends the changes and limitations of space, embodying the legacy of the company's constant quest for knowledge and exploration.
AION[]
AION underwent a transformational change compared to its predecessors, NIGST and IRLM, by revolutionizing its fundamental principles. The company embarked on numerous programs.
The first mission, Forgotten Seas, was the first of the newly emerged AION, launched after the existence of life on Jupiter's moon Europa was theorized, and consisted of a Hades rocket carrying ten communications and research satellites, two small telescopes, two atmospheric probes, and a lander with a rover.
Forgotten Seas successfully reached Europe with the help of several gravity assists, upon reaching low orbit, it started with the deployment of the ten satellites and the 2 atmospheric probes in order to analyze possible landing sites.
Once the terrain was correctly analyzed and Europa was mapped, an ideal site for descent was established, the lander was deployed with the rover, and when the landing was confirmed, the research protocols began, gathering important data for future missions.
The subsidiary companies were not left behind in the change of image, since they were all unified in only 2 companies under AION: COMETRA, where all the military companies were unified, and ALTERRA, unifying all the companies related to technology and science, such as electronics, medicine and research.
To offer a decent headquarters to this group of 3 companies, AION decided to build a gigantic headquarters: The National Institute of High Technologies (INALTEC), located in the south pole, consisted of a subway base of 3 floors, where each one housed each company. Above the headquarters was AION's main launch center, although the Orion Space Center was never left unused.
To improve the space infrastructure, the remarkable Avnas initiative was designed, which involved the establishment of multiple resupply stations at strategic sites in low Earth orbit, the moon and Mars, to later install a network of mines throughout the solar system to generate more resources, although this last objective was never fulfilled.
To "fulfill" the creation of mines, the construction of the Lucifer, the first SSTO began after almost a year of NIGST's Novaureus X. The Lucifer implemented for the first time an advanced system that uses several groups of engines that are turned on depending on the conditions.
Another craft that was created solely to meet the needs of the Anas was the Hyperion I, a space plane that used only ion engines as a method of propulsion, making it incredibly efficient and light, in turn the SSTO Baphomet I was planned, but not built.
The Avnas was inaugurated on the Avnos-GS 1 mission by the new Flegeton I heavy-lift rocket, these stations not only facilitated rocket launches for AION, but also provided support for other companies, enabling ventures in more distant locations.
Unfortunately, the Avnas project was temporarily abandoned as AION focused on building a new rocket, the Zeruel, because the Flegeton I was too small for the needs of the project, requiring 4 launches to put only one station into orbit, making everything extremely complicated and costly.
The Zeruel was AION's first "hyper" rocket, measuring more than 200 meters and capable of launching incredibly heavy payloads, being the perfect rocket not only for Avnas, but for even more ambitious projects, that's how the Zeruel earned a place as a more than legendary rocket in AION.
The Avnas project was resumed with the launch of the Nemo-01 station, a station deployed by a Zeruel that was characterized as a single launch station, despite its enormous weight, the Zeruel could easily transport this station to Earth orbit.
Following the success of the Zeruel and the ambition of Avnas, two launches were made consisting of a space station Nemo-02 and the new Nemo B-01, a space colony built by the company Ultimate Phase which is placed for the first time on the moon.
To send the first astronauts to the base, a small reusable rocket of about 20 meters was built to contrast with the magnificence of the Zeruel: The Akuma. Like the Nemo B-01, the Kristel capsule, used for crew transportation, was built by ultimate phase.
Unfortunately, the Avnas was completely abandoned, as AION focused on the creation of one of the best space planes in the fleet: the Neo Covenant Gamma XXVII, a space plane inspired by NIGST's Andromeda but designed to match the efficiency of the Zeruel.
In addition to the Ultimate Phase contract, Empresa Aeroespacial de Investigación y Exploración Mexicana (EAIEM) requested the construction of a space shuttle from AION, and once completed and tested, it was praised for its efficiency and performance in space.
The Covenant took years to develop, and due to its expensive propulsion mechanisms and systems, it exhausted most of AION's funds, so all projects were cancelled and all AION's rockets and spacecraft were no longer maintained, and most of them were sold.
The construction of the Covenant also resulted in the dissolution of COMETRA and ALTERRA, and also caused the sale of all AION headquarters around the world, leaving only the Orion Space Center in Mexico.
After the evident inactivity and recovery of AION, the Nirvana program was announced, which aimed to explore the most hostile corners of the solar system, it began with the Star Shaped Dream mission, where a covenant loaded with a swarm of solar probes was launched to investigate data such as the composition of the atmosphere.
To fulfill the program began with the development of the Grimoire Ryper XX, a ship that can carry cargo and crew, the Ryper was used for the first time in the Xenon mission of the Nirvana program, launching together with two Baphomets to Venus to establish a colony on the planet, and although immense challenges were faced, the main objective was achieved.
Nirvana's ambition for exploration led to the launch of the third mission, Drained, where the third Ryper was launched accompanied by a Baphomet to Uranus, both rockets being manned. However, an unforeseen critical systems error caused Baphomet to descend fatally into the atmosphere.
Fortunately, the safety systems worked perfectly, redirecting the spacecraft back into orbit. The Ryper crew successfully rescued Baphomet's severely damaged casing. Although the incident led to the cancellation of the Ryper's primary objective, the safe return of Baphomet's crew demonstrated the spacecraft's autonomy and advanced features.
Post Ryper Incident[]
Due to this issue and international regulatory pressure, Nirvana had to be cancelled immediately and, although this was a major blow to AION, it was decided to upgrade the systems of both spacecraft to avoid similar problems in the future.
Due to the seriousness of the incident, the large projects were also cancelled, in addition to modernizing the entire fleet of the company, AION decided to make a small project, the Banshee, which consisted in the development of small rockets to be used in small launches, the Banshee series had five rockets of different purposes, from cargo transport to crew modules.
AION is currently developing the new state-of-the-art space plane, the Celestial Everlong, which aims to be better in all aspects than its predecessor, the Covenant.
Fleet and Technology[]
Among our history, we have developed several ships that are listed here
Spaceplanes and shuttles[]
AION classifies as space plane of shuttle every ship that has wings, every spaceplane is also an SSTO and the NASA classification is followed for shuttles.
| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Active | Used frequently |
| Inactive | Not used / To be used soon |
| Retired | No longer will be used |
| In development | Under construction |
Everlong Celestial[]
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Skyvenlark[]
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Neo Covenant Gamma[]
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Arael[]
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Hyperion[]
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Nightwhale[]
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Andromeda[]
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Grimoire Ryper[]
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Baphomet[]
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Leviathan[]
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Banshee[]
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Bougainville[]
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Lucifer[]
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Zeruel[]
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Flegeton[]
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Facilities[]
Trivia[]
- Every logo used for AION is 100% original, with one exception: the Icarus logo, which is the William Rimmer's painting "The Fall of Day."
- This company is not only significant in its fictional universe but also marked the beginning of a well-known SFS roleplay Discord server.
- Rock music has heavily influenced AION, with references to bands such as Guns N' Roses, Nirvana, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and others.