Orbital Air (OA) is a megacorporation based out of Nairobi, Kenya that specializes in cargo and passenger transport to Earth orbit, with other headquarters being located in the NUSA, France, Germany, Japan, and China. Orbital Air also works closely with the ESA, JAB, and the Neo-SSR. Orbital Air holds a key position in the world, and a practical monopoly on orbital transportation: with their amazing advances holding a large fleet of French-made Hermes spaceplanes they handle all orbital lifting capability, with the exception of a few governments, none of which however offers comparable services. Many corporations rely heavily on Orbital Air's services to transport cargo around the world.
History[]
2020s[]
In 2020, Orbital Air worked closely with the Euro-Space Agency's Crystal Palace L-5 colony, a massive orbital hotel complex usually only for the ultra-rich; if it wasn't for them, the hotel would have gone out of business. With all commercial space bound cargo dependent upon them, Orbital Air is in a lucrative position.
A large part of Orbital Air's budget and covert resources were put to use ensuring that they remained as the absolute power in orbital technology. During the 2020s, their eye was on the country of China, which had been improving its commercial lift capability rapidly. The Euro-flight Corporation had also expanded its operations. Antoine DuBois, the corporation's largest shareholder and CEO of the time, worried about the corporation's hold on the monopoly with the increasing competition.
The Johnson Orbital Facility was a major transfer station for passengers who purchased tickets for the Crystal Palace, where they switch from the space-planes to space transport shuttles assembled at the workstations owned by Orbital Air.[1]
In co-operation with the ESA and the Australian government, Orbital Air built and operated the Cape York spaceport, the largest single industry in Australia. As part of their move into Australia, in 2008, Orbital Air purchased Hayman Island from the Australian government in a deal that gave the island "independent sovereign status", thus exempting Orbital Air from any legal interference by Australia. The island became their headquarters shortly thereafter.[2]
2040s[]
Orbital Air built the NCX Spaceport in the 2040s.[3]
2077[]
In 2077, Orbital Air has been expanding its services and its reach. All major cities in healthy enough countries will have an Orbital Air space center, containing all the conveniences and style of any airport. The space-planes used in these ports are almost always owned by Orbital Air themselves, though there are exceptions to this: in the regions of Europe it's more common to ride in a space-plane by the ESA (Euro-Space Agency), and in Asia it's more common to ride in ones designed and owned by the JAB (Japanese Aerospace Bureau).[4]
The Luxury comfort of an Orbital Air Space-Plane can only be experienced by attending one of the flights.
Database Entry[]
ORBITAL AIR
Orbital Air was founded in Nairobi, Kenya, at the beginning of the 21st century - it is the oldest corporation specializing in the transportation of cargo and passengers via the Earth's orbit. OA's fleet consists of heavy-lift rockets, manned and unmanned spacecraft and commercial passenger shuttles. The Kenyan giant controls most of the world's spaceports, including the largest cosmodrome in Mogadishu.
Orbital Air's extensive portfolio of services additionally includes the construction and maintenance of orbital stations and satellite networks. The corporation also operates points of so-called "rocketless spaceships", using electromagnetic catapults (mass drivers). Because of this, Orbital Air has managed to significantly reduce the cost of launching cargo into low Earth orbit and secure a dominant position in the space industry.
Orbital Air remains the undisputed leader in innovative orbital technologies. Under its current CEO, Leslie Wawuda, the corporation pours immeasurable resources into space exploration/conquest. Currently, in cooperation with the New African authorities, the corporation is conducting research on the Alpha Centauri system.
Orbital Air's main competitors are the European Space Council (ESC), which established the first city on the moon, Tycho, in 1997; they also frequently collaborated with Night Corporation.
Indeed, Orbital Air and Miriam Night's corporation weren't always at each other's throats. The cold war between the two colossi began around 2045 when the Kenyan corp took over a mass driver build site in Night City, which was left unfinished. As a result, Night Corp irrevocably lost the chance to have their home city be the frontier for conquering the great beyond of space. [3]
Subsidiaries[]
- OA Black
- OA Crystal Palace Direct
- OA HighLines
- OA TerraLines
- OA TychoLines
Equipment and resources[]
- 35 orbit capable Hermes Scramjet space-planes
- 35 corporate jets
- 2 helicopters per office
- 70 AV-4 urban assault vehicles
- 15 Boeing C-25 heavy cargo jets
- 30 Osprey II V-TOL Aircraft
All major offices have a surgery capable infirmaries. Orbital Air is well equipped, and has access to almost all levels of military equipment. It is primarily interested in space defense and air-superiority weaponry to protect assets. In addition to the Johnson Facility, Orbital Air maintains two small maintenance and research workstations, and has a small fleet of orbital vehicles to transport crews between facilities.[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 PONDSMITH, M. Cyberpunk 2020 Corebook. 2nd ed., Berkeley, CA, R. Talsorian Games, 1990.
- ↑ PASQUARETTE, C. Pacific Rim Sourcebook. 1st ed., Berkeley, CA, R. Talsorian Games, 1994.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty (Orbital Air Database Entry)
- ↑ CD Projekt RED. Cyberpunk 2077. Video Game, Multi-Platform. Poland, CD Projekt S.A., 2020.