New Mars DevCo chief seeks retraint on growth
Calls for stricter development review
ARES PORT, Aug. 30 - The new manager sent by Mars DevCo to supervise development in orbit and planet side said Friday that he supports the establishment of a Valley-wide council to more closely review residential, agricultural and industrial projects in the Valles Marineris and adjacent areas.
Elric Balvicar, whose appointment was only officially announced on Tuesday, or more than four weeks after his arrival on the Mars Carousel, said that he favors tighter review of all projects to ensure that they align with long-term development goals and do not result in unnecessary duplication of efforts.
“We have a one-time opportunity to develop a new planet in a way that is best for Mars and all its inhabitants, now and in the future, Balvicar said in a press conference at the Industrial Tube Terminal between Ares Port and Urbs Vallis (The City) at the western end of Tithonium Chasma.
Balvicar, whose career includes top management positions on two Earth mixed industrial and habitational orbitals, was named Mars DevCo Planetary Manager, the company announced in a press release Tuesday.
Balvicar arrived on the Mars Carousel July 46 aboard the explorer scout Boudicca after being rescued from the fast packet Caraval, which flew passed Mars due to near total engine failure. The Caraval was subsequently brought back to the orbital shipyard by the Boudicca’s sister ship, Beansí (Banshee).
Balvicar will live primarily aboard the Carousel, officially Pontus Caelestis, but maintain quarters at Ares Port as well.
“We’re seeing more scattered and spontaneous projects rather than coordinated and planned development,” Balvicar said. “Those projects may compete with each other to the detriment of overall development goals.”
Balvicar cited a substantial residential expansion project at Geryon Montes in Ius Chasma, industrial expansion in Candor Chasma, a water-mining project getting underway in Melas Chasma and a long-distance road proposal being discussed by Noctis and Ius.
“We favor a more coordinated and measured development of the Valles Marineris that benefits all current and future residents,” Balvicar said.
While outside the Valley proper, Balvicar also pointed to growth in Orson Welles Crater as well as the new development taking place in Shalbatana Vallis.
Some 2,800 km from Urbs Vallis, an independent group led by famed Mars builder Jeremiah Volcan is planning to build what he calls a vertical city in a pit crater northeast of Orson Welles.
The future of Mars
Balvicar’s appointment comes as development outside Tithonium Chasma is picking up pace, spurred in part by the invention of compact fusion units in Candor Chasma,
“We all look forward to working with him (Balvicar),” said Ius Chasma Councillor Seamus Mitsutomi, who has been a strong proponent of local control of growth. “We also look forward to explaining that we already subject development proposals to stringent review to ensure they are in the best interests of our residents and the area.”
City Council President Claude Paddingbury repeated his call to Friday for a Valley-wide council and said he intends to ensure that it is placed on the ballot in the November council elections.
Paddingbury argues that such a council is needed to oversee growth across the entire length of the Valles Marineris from Noctis Labyrinthus at the western end through Coprates Chasma.
The City takes a very controlled approach based on its background as a scientific outpost supported to large extant by Earth entities, though trade increasingly goes both ways, Candor Chasma Councillor Griffin D’Armagnac said.
“The other chasmata favor more organic growth and give their residents a freer hand,” D’Armagnac said. “At Geryon, Ius is building a habitation that fits beautifully with the landscape. In Candor, we’re building a growing industrial base that fits in with our very innovative culture, but all of it in harmony with our home chasma.”
Most Earth-born residents of the other chasmata started out in the City and moved on from there, noted Noctis Councillor Blythe Gunther said.
“Many of us are former contract workers who moved from the City to build our own futures here on Mars,” Gunther said. “We won’t let the City or DevCo take that away from us. We’re free and independent citizens of Mars.”
O’Ceileachair exploration group adds to fleet
Expanded group buys the Caraval
COPRATES CHASMA, Aug. 28 - A Mars-based exploration group led by spaceship captains Attracta and Electra O’Ceileachair is expanding its fleet as well as its executive staff.
The group has purchased the fast packet Caraval, which flew by Mars after its engines failed in July five weeks ahead of a deceleration burn, and intends to remodel and re-power the ship, which has larger cargo and crew capacity than their scout ships.
“There is an amazing amount of potential out in the Belt,” said Attracta O’Ceileachair, captain of the Boudicca explorer scout, who just returned from a 2 annos (3.8 year) survey of the asteroid belt. “We need a bigger ship to even begin to develop the resources for Mars and for the people who are going to live out there in the future.”
The sisters’ salvage rights for bringing the Caraval back to Mars account for about half the value of the deal, and the rest licensing rights for their faster engine technology for use in the two Space Rescue ships as well as installation and maintenance.
That work comprises the scout Jove, which aided in the rescue of the Caraval and is being refurbished for use as the first Space Rescue chase ship and another ship currently under construction that will be used as a space tug.
All three ships will be equipped with the ship pairing modifications used by the Boudicca and its sister ship Beansí, which carried the Caraval back to Mars.
The formation of the Pontus Caelestis-based Space Rescue service was announced in late July.
The O’Ceileachairs have added new partners to their group, including Caraval Capt. Peregrine Aeolus and Corprates-based entrepreneur Rhian Llewellyn, who is also part of the insurance scheme being launched for Mars-based space exploration, transport and shipping beginning in February 102.
“We’re going to rename the Caraval the Pilgrim,” O’Ceileachair said in an interview on the palm-lined terrace outside the Phobos Coffee Shop in Chandrasekar Dome here. “My sister (Electra) wanted ‘Breezy Pilgrim’ but Perry (Aeolus) didn’t like the idea.”
A long-term captain for Mars DevCo, Aeolus wound up his final trip for the corporatin with the return of the Caraval.
“We’re also going to be expanding Mars-based ship building and repair capabilities,” O’Ceileachair said.
The O’Ceileachair group has secured rights to operate a private ship repair and refurbishing service adjacent to the existing shipyard, where the work on the Caraval, Jove and the future tug will be completed.
That would represent the second such private service in addition to the ReLaunch ship refitting and breaking operation located at the other side of the shipyard
The O’Ceileachair group is also purchasing four unused half-kilometer space liner sections sitting in storage, two of which will be used as interior work and staff space adjacent to the shipyard.
The other two will be used in demonstration development projects for the Belt.
“We might spin them around a central propulsion core and send them out for a longer survey of the Belt,” O’Ceileachair said. “But we’re still working on the design and propulsion. We’re working on making our ships even faster.”
Bounced off a hull into space
All in a day’s work for new shipwright
MARS ORBITAL SHIPYARD, Aug. 29 - Sitting in the cafeteria of the orbital shipyard, shipwright and space welder Dominique Martel looked out at the ships and hull sections moored in the shipyard.
She exhaled slowly as she remembered the tense moments working in a hard suit between two spaceships speeding away from Mars at tens of thousands kph, the fast packet Caraval with failed engines and the scout Beansí trying to haul it back.
“We were about done when the Caraval shifted, bouncing me off the hull,” said Martel, who earned her shipwright certification this week. “You know you’re tethered, but it all seems slow motion and for a moment I wondered, ‘Is my next stop Jupiter?”
“Jason (Ferrario) hauled me back in, but that was a real moment,” said Martel, who with fellow shipyard welder Ferrario completed the modifications needed to enable the explorer scout Beansí (Banshee) to carry the larger Caraval back after its engines failed.
“You try not to think about how fast you’re moving, and in space, you don’t really notice. When you’re EVA (extra-vehicle or outside) you really have to focus on the job in front of you, and nothing else.”
The modifications including installing attachment points on the hull of the Caraval to enable it to connect with the pairing lattice on the exterior of the Beansí.
“Think of it as feet and shoes. The Beansí has the feet and (its sister ship) Boudicca has the shoes. The feet slip into the shoes. They developed that system so they could maneuver together in flight,” Martel said. “We put the shoes on the Caraval, but because of the differences we had to add some shoe stands.”
The system locks automatically for the two explorer scouts, but Martel and Ferrario had to manually lock the Caraval to the pairing lattice on the outside of the Beansí’s hull.
“We’d just about finished when the Caraval bounced me into space,” said Martel. “It was scary but I love working in space. That’s why I’m out in the yard, like Jason—that’s him by that hull.” She pointed through the gallery window to a tiny figure hovering over a half-kilometer space liner section.
The Caraval’s engines failed on its approach to Mars and the ship sailed by Mars. The 12 passengers onboard were rescued by the Beansí and its sister ship Boudicca, which were returning from a 2-annos exploration of the asteroid belt.
Martel’s next job in space, as shipwright for the expanded O’Ceileachair group, is modifying the scout Jove for the new Space Rescue service and outfitting a ship to serve as a space tug. The work includes adding the ship pairing systems used by the Beansí to rescue the Caraval and upgrading the engines for faster speed under a project awarded to the O’Ceileachairs.
Martell, whose thin, tall stature tells of a life off planet, says she was “born in space” aboard the L5 habitat and apprenticed in space work.
“I was space-certified by the time I was 16. That’s 9 annos for the Martians. Started working outside as soon as they’d let me, but I’ve always dreamed of Mars,” said Martell, adding that she read every science fiction book about Mars in addition to all her school and technical reading.
“Becoming a shipwright has been a long-time dream for me. I’ve worked on all the pieces of the ships, mostly repairs here on Mars,” Martell said.
More ships are going to be built locally for trade with Earth but more importantly for the exploration and development of the Belt, she said.
“That’s all picking up speed with the Mars-based explorers and now shipbuilders,” Martell said. “We’re headed for the future and I want to be a part of that.”
Corrects 11th para to read 'rescue the Caraval' instead of "Jove"
Five injured in shuttle hard landing
Perched on a crater rim
OUDEMANS CRATER. Aug. 28 - Five passengers suffered injuries, none serious, when a local shuttle made a hard landing Wednesday on a 150m slope about two km from the survey station’s landing zone, Survey Mars reported Wednesday,
A total of 15 people were aboard the Class III shuttle, whose pilot was not among the injured.
The accident happened as the older model shuttle was approaching Oudemans Station, which is housed in a small crater near the center of the 110 km diameter Oudemans Crater
“It dragged a rear landing pod as it crossed the rim on approach to the station’s landing zone,” Survey Mars Chief Ian Kuyper said. “That left it stranded and tilted near the stop of a steep slope.”
Local Survey personnel were able to free all of the passengers and crew and take them to the station for treatment, Kuyper said.
The accident caused moderate damage to the shuttle and one of its rear engines.
A repair crew is en route by land from Noctis, a 250 km trip, and should arrive by Aug. 37.
“We’re flying in some engine parts, but the Noctis crew should be able to manage the repairs so we can just fly it back,” Kuyper said.
Eun Isil, Noctis Correspondent
CONTRACT CHAOS - Skipping out
URBS VALLIS, Aug. 30 - - The City Labor Council has referred a City industrial staff manager to Tithonia Superior Court for judication of allegations he helped contract workers leave ahead of term and move outside the City.
The Labor Council said in a statement that its investigation showed Herman Zeiger, a staff manager at the industrial plant and factories between the City and Ares Port, took a leading role in procuring more than 20 skilled workers for posts outside the City, for Noctis, Ius, Candor and Coprates.
Not all of the workers had sufficient training for surface travel and outdoor work.
“It’s a life-and-death issue for untrained workers,” the Council said in a statement, and thanked officials in other chasmata for their help in the investigation.
The Court referral comes as the Labor Council is investigating reports of more than 60 missing workers, down from 80 at the beginning of July.
- Mirihi Merced
Calendar
Ring City hearing
The Coprates Council holds a hearing Wednesday, Aug. 35, to discuss and potentially vote on a proposal to build a ring city around its home crater. The first step on the table is a 10 km agricultural corridor heading west from Chandrasekar Dome and enclosing some of the existing habitats in the area.
Meadow Mosey
Walk through a wildflower meadow at the Tithonia Gardens and soak up the beauty and tranquility. Learn all about the Mars-adapted wildflowers on the docent tours on the even hours in the afternoon on Saturday. Through August. Habtube 2, Terrace 4
Look into the Great Red Spot
The Tithonia Museum is hosting an exhibition of an exquisitely detailed orrery with spheres that mimic the view from orbit of each of the planets. The distances and size aren’t to scale, since Jupiter, Saturn and the outer planets wouldn’t fit, but the detail is amazing. Through early September. East Terrace 12
“Olympus Mons” Documentary adventure threedee about life on top of the tallest mountain in the solar system Stage 3. Hab 1. Terrace 8. Aug. 36-Aug. 42, 18:00, 20:00, 22:00
City Strings. Quartet plays its favorite popular selections. WestHill Terrace 4 Friday-Sunday 19:00
Song Share Acoustic players swap songs. Geryon Agora. Two sessions. Saturday Aug. 31 16:00, 20:00
City Social Mix and mingle with new arrivals and old hands. Hab 2. Terrace 4, by Tithonia Gardens. Every Friday 17:00
- Merry Grace, lifestyle correspondent
The Chaos Courier helps you over the rough spots.
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PRINTING Design and fabrication. Non-mechanical. Ex-contract only. IUS 278 70887
BIOENGINEER - Specialist in hardy, low atmosphere grasses. COPRATES 295 67284
APPRENTICES Recycling systems. 8 annos and up. IUS 278 98559
APPRENTICES Metal smith, forging, casting, 8 annos (14 years) and up. URBS 269-37728
APPRENTICES Aquaculture. 8 annos and up. URBS 269 62128
APPRENTICES Environmental systems. URBS 269 81447
APPRENTICES Construction. Interior. GERYON 278 65689
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DANCING. All styles for adults. Hab 3 Rec Center. URBS 269 10311
MARTIAL ARTS Multi-style Strength and conditioning. WestHill Terrace 2 URBS 269 14420
STRENGTH Training for trainers. COPRATES 295 04716
CRICKET Mars style. Two teams. They'll explain it COPRATES 295 21508
The header photo is the iconic mosaic of the Valles Marineris hemisphere of Mars from 2,500 km above the surface taken by the Viking Orbiter. (NASA/JPL-Caltech)
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Photomosaic: Viking Orbiter: NASA/JPL-Caltech