Archive:Daqhon

This article is out of date.

Daqhon (Orbiter)

Daqhon in orbit
Station statistics
COSPAR ID	2011-109A
Call sign	Qitt (House)
Crew	10
Launch	August 6, 2011
Carrier rocket	Mógilm
Mission status	In orbit
Typical orbit altitude	647 km
Orbital speed	33,200 km/h
Days occupied	1886
Statistics as of Jan 2017

It needs editing since ACY's space/science/economic allies all went ka-plut. The Daqhon may be reimagined as something from an in-universe scifi franchise or the like.//

Daqhon (Achiyitqan: dahqɂon [daχqʔon]), meaning 'Orbiter', is a space station owned and maintained by the Achiyitqan Space Agency (LALHA). It is a fast-rotating pseudo-gravity-producing partially-modular craft (composed of disparate sections ejected in separate stages and assembled in space) in low-Sahar orbit. Launched in 2011, it is the third station operated by LALHA. It is primarily manned by Achiyitqan nationals, although citizens of other countries serve and have served among its crews.

The station is used mainly to conduct experiments in a zero- or micro-gravity setting, especially on human biology and physics; it also collects meteorological and astronomic data from several powerful telescopes.

Modules and construction

Daqhon is notable for its overall wheel-like shape, with an outer ring and a connecting central spoke. It spins to create a pseudogravitational force in the outer wheel. The wheel and spoke composed of many separate modules which were ejected into space in separate missions. However, its overall design is more pre-ordained than a fully-modular station, requiring strict foreplanning with regards to the organization of modules, and allows for a maximum total number of modules which must abide by strict size and shape guidelines. In the future, a second or further wheels could be added to allow for more space.

Modules by function include solar arrays (x8), the reactor, life support system, living quarters (x2 x4), docking ports (x3) and airlocks, experimental labs, experimental modules, and storage. Most of the storage areas (only some of which are pressurized) are recycled from Hushqitt, LALHA's previous station, as are a number of 'dead modules' which are mere placeholders in the architecture awaiting replacement.

History

Daqhon was launched in 2011, replacing the previous station Hushqitt, which had been in orbit for 26 years (1985-2011), before which Hastqitt Aciyitqanaka was in operation for 18 years (1965-1983). Unlike its predecessors, Daqhon is the first partially-modular space station (as opposed to fully-modular) by LALHA. In its present state, it incorporates some recycled modules from Hushqitt.

Daqhon was first proposed in 2000, when its predecessor Hushqitt had been in orbit for 15 years. It was still fully operational but lacked some new state-of-the-art features and functions that had been designed since its launch, and despite its fully-modular composition, it was incapable of upgrading to meet the requirements of newly-planned missions and experiments. Planning, basic funding and construction of Daqhon took approximately nine years, but its launch was delayed a further two until August 2011 to ensure rigorous safety standards. It was first visited in October 2011 after two months of intensive long-distance scrutiny, and has been permanently manned since April 2012.

The station is still not technically completed, as many of its legacy modules (recycled from Hushqitt) are due for replacement.

Since launch it has been manned by five long-stay crews, two visiting teams, and the sixth long-stay crew is expected to launch in summer 2017. Crews range from a minimum of four to a maximum of ten permanent or twelve temporary personnel at current capacity, with plans to expand for up to 20 crew by 2020.

No accidental deaths have occured onboard or in shuttles to or from the station. However, in April 2013, crew member Attashó Máyek committed suicide while in orbit, three weeks after deployment, and a week after the First Crew returned (more than having the occupancy of the station) causing an international controversy and a halt to the Visitors programme.

Crews

Crews have varied in size from four (visiting) to ten (resident) crews. The current maximum support allows for twelve personnel for up to two months, or ten personnel for thirteen months. Ten is the present and record number of personnel. Individuals marked with a (V) below are Vodholk.

Previous

October Visitors (Oct. 2011 - Jan. 2012)

- Imiŋákku, 29, Tigáatgiaqits
- Tówinnuɥe HeAmqalko, 42, Tigáatgiaqits
- Cípɂa heHuɥ, 38, Kiinápsk x1
- Nátoe, 46, Uumstú (V)

The October Visitors were the first crew (visiting and overall) to Daqhon. The four members were in orbit for three and a half months, from October 2011 to January. Their key function was to assess and test the habitability and safety of the station and to assist in some of its construction. They also performed a few simple experiments.

First crew (Apr 2012 - Apr 2013)

4/6
- Laáhŋe kaTaud, 33, Tigáatgiaqits
- Xéol kaQun heTigáatgiaqits, 35, Tigáatgiaqits
- Bannatéma Mutstipheɥ, 40, Tsiqaqobuw
- Móowhin heCimmáa, 31, Iɥtaawsúttudu
- ? x2

The First Crew stayed in orbit for nearly a full year and were mainly occupied with scientific experiments in the areas of physics and, to a lesser degree, biology.

April Visitors (Apr 2012 - July 2013)

1/4
- Attashó Máyek, 28, Tigáatgiaqits
- ? x3

The April Visitors and First Crew cohabited for most of a month aboard Daqhon before the First Crew returned home. A few days after the First Crew departed, Visitor Attashó Máyek committed suicide onboard the station, demoralizing the remaining crew of three and sparking outrage and heartbreak across Achiyitqana and internationally. The Visitor programme was canceled in the wake of this event.

The purpose of the April Visit was to test the ten-person habitation capacity of Daqhon, as well as performing other experiments and maintenance between resident crew stays. After Attashó's suicide, the crew requested an early return, however, they were not able to return before the pre-planned date in July due to logistical issues.

Second crew (Aug 2013 - July 2014)

0/8
- Tigáatgiaqits x1
- Onpihasga x1
- Kiinápsk x2
- Háawuleissqits x1
- ? x3

Third crew (Aug 2014-July 2015)

1/8
- Háawuleissqits x2
- Epóɂa Etu, 48, Batégiaqits (V) x1
- Onpihasga x1
- Diɂahnooy x1
- ? x3

This crew was in orbit when Tesktósoɂet was annexed, becoming the seventh allied state of Achiyitqana. A photograph of the sunrise over Achiyitqana and Püülsuwa, posted online by the Vodholk crew member Epóɂa Etu, went viral.

Fourth crew (Aug 2015-July 2016)

0/9
- Püülsuwa (V) x1
- Kapáibe x1
- Tigáatgiaqits x1
- Iɥtaawsúttudu x2
- Onpihasga x1
- Kiinápsk x1
- ? x2

Current (Fifth crew : Aug 2016-present)

0/10
- Tektósoɂet (V) x1
- Uumstú (V) x1
- Tigáatgiaqits x1
- Onpihasga x1
- Kiinápsk x1
- Tualdalqo x1
- ? x4

The fifth and current crew is the first to have 10 resident (year-long) personnel. It is also the first crew to have a member from Tesktósoɂet (despite its annexation in 2015, there was not enough time to train prospective astronauts from the state for the launching of the fourth crew), and the first crew to have two Vodholk, both of which are expected to become standards for future crew demographics.

They are slated to return to earth in July 2017.

Future

The sixth crew, as currently selected, is comprised of:

0/10
- Tketósoɂet (V) x1
- Uumstú (V) x1
- Háawuleissqits x1
- Iŋinqits x1
- Tigáatgiaqits x2
- Xiaŋihma x1
- ? x4

The seventh crew is slotted to possibly have 12 members.