Pioneer Space Station

Pioneer is a modular, multi-purpose orbital station built by the German Democratic Republic primarily for the purpose of testing a variety of developing or experimental technologies related to extra-terrestrial exploration in real conditions. It features research and testing in many different but complementary fields and is greater in planned scope than any space stations that came before it.

Background:
The use of permanent artificial satellites for research of emergent technologies had begun roughly 20 years prior to the launch of Pioneer, but since the end of the race to the moon in 1969, the exploration of space had taken a back seat in the mind of great powers and slowed significantly in pace and scope. This was caused by a mixture of state actors preferring to focus their efforts elsewhere and the limitations and difficulties inherent with surface-to-orbit launches. Despite this, significant discoveries have been made and many experiments were undertaken successfully by both the Soviet Union and the United States. However, it seemed like the limit at which investments were being deemed worthwhile had been reached.

East Germany, and specifically the Commissariat of Sciences and Research, began planning of a space program early in the mid-90s, building upon experience gained through the Soviet Interkosmos program. Preliminary testing for space station components and technologies was hidden in plain sight under the Schirmacher development program of the early 2000s, where environmentally-sealed, modular-designed habitations and work stations were produced then tested on the Antarctic continent.

The premier rocket launch system used in the program is the Energia serie, which was purchased from the Soviets after its retirement to mothball and refurbished with the help of blueprints and former engineers who had worked on the system. Made totally re-usable, Energia was selected for its large payload capacity and was initially used to bring to orbit large swarms of minisats for the purpose of domestic surveillance of the East German territory and border areas.

Phase 1:
Launch of Pioneer modules began in mid-2004 and has proceeded at a startling pace at the Künheit cosmodrome in southern Slovakia, averaging two major module launches per month for the first months and quickening to one launch per week since. A small contingent of 3 cosmonauts, 2 of which with practical experience in the Interkosmos program, inhabited the K-1 Core module shortly after its insertion into orbit and have been taking care of the assembly of further modules since. They were brought to orbit through the use of the same Buran space shuttle that took part in Operation Snow Rabbit and the Rettung-1 rescue mission.

As of current, assembly is steadily continuing with subsequent launches and the primary objectives are to increase the living space capacity and to render operational a variety of service and research modules intended to give the Pioneer station as much independence from earth as possible. In addition to numerous scientific studies in material sciences, biology and physics, social studies will also be performed on Pioneer on a base level. As the Pioneer Program intends to dramatically increase the scope of space exploration, crews will be more numerous than ever, which is a stepping stone towards any hypothetical colonization of space or terrestrial bodies.

Overall:
Pioneer is a modular station constructed in a grid-like manner using primary sections and junction sections. Junction sections are roughly cube-shaped and about 6 meters by 6 with docking elements jutting out of each surface 1 meter out. These junctions serve as intersections between several different modules and can be used as relaxation areas due to the relatively quiet, empty spaces. Primary sections follow an equally mass-produced outer frame that is cylindrical, for about 8 meters of diameter and 30 of length, with a variable amount of solar array and thrusters. They can have one or two exit ports, and theoretically could be extended out in every direction as much as desired through successions of primary and junction sections. At this time, however, the station follows a relatively flat diagram, with living quarter modules forming an inner 'ring' and scientific or service modules extending out from that central area.