Astronaut Academy

Space. The final frontier. To boldly go where no one has gone before . . .

But first you need to go through training. They don't let just anyone head up there, after all.

You are among the best of the best of, well, those who actually went through the application process. It takes a certain kind of person to want to be strapped to a rocket and shot into the unknown, after all.

The year is 2025, and the International Space Association (or ISA) has finally gotten the funding to send out a proper mission for the first time in years. But there haven't been new applicants in some time -- space travel had entered the realm of tourism for the ultra-rich, rather than the dream of every child who looked up at the stars and stretched out to touch them. It's only with the new surge in funding that they can return to setting out in the interests of science and exploration.

So perhaps their standards are a bit lower than before; you'll still need a sense of adventure, a strong stomach, and enough skills to earn a spot on the roster.

Astronauts can be qualified in numerous ways -- medics, biologists, robotics specialists, mechanics, computer techs, and pilots, to name a few. No matter what position you set your sights on, you'll need to earn it.

Application form:

Code:

[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b]
[b]Appearance:[/b]
[b]Personality:[/b]
[b]Prior training/experience(ie, why your character is qualified for the Academy):[/b]
[b]Other Info:[/b]

My character:
Name: Elanor Morgenstern
Age: 21
Appearance: 5'5, muscular, but a swimmer's build, rather than the bodybuilder type. Black hair, cropped short in a pixie cut, and grey eyes.
Personality: Strong, determined, and used to following orders. Sometimes, this can be to her disadvantage.
Prior training/experience(ie, why your character is qualified for the Academy): A Bachelor's in mechanical engineering, 500 hours flight experience (mostly via the Air Cadets), is fluent in English, French, and Spanish -- and is picking up a bit of Russian and Cantonese to prepare for any international missions, but is still a bit rusty there.
Other Info: She was raised in a military family. Growing up, she was used to having to move to a new base at a moment's notice, and it was hard to maintain friendships when you knew the other person might not be there the next day. She always knew she'd aim for a career in an organization that would respect her ingrained discipline. Her parents trained her to know how to use a gun if needed, but she knew that the army wasn't for her. A stint in the air cadets as a teen gave her a taste of what she wanted -- she loved to fly. But mere planes weren't enough. She set her sights higher, and submitted her application to become a space cadet.

Good luck with the game!

Name: Jeanne Monreau
Age: 18
Appearance: petite but strong. grey-blue eyes. chest length light brown hair
Personality: strong willed, but follows orders. Is a big dreamer but keeps her feet on the ground.
Prior training/experience(ie, why your character is qualified for the Academy): a certified private pilot. Fluent in French, Polish, Spanish, and English, and can speak conversational german. expert in robotics and computer programing
Other Info: lived in America the first 6 years of her life but moved to Europe because her dad's job sent him there. moved around europe for 10 years and moved back to the US.

Name: Chloe Lane
Age: 20
Appearance: Around 5'6", with long curly brown hair that reaches up to her shoulders. Average built, with no prominent muscles nor any prominent fat.
Personality: Ambitious, and not one who easily gives up. Outgoing and a hard worker. Impatient, and tends to have anger issues.
Prior training/experience: Only fluent in English. Has experience with high-tech computers. Bachelor's degree in medicine.
Other Info: Grew up with a family that had big hopes for her, and aspires to fulfill their dreams for her. She wants to become famous, and known throughout the world. She's always been curious about life outside of Earth, and wants to be a part of any discovery they might make.

Yay, a RP! Finally. I hope this one doesn't die out.

sandyverybeary3 wrote:Name: Jeanne Monreau
Age: 18
Appearance: petite but strong. grey-blue eyes. chest length light brown hair
Personality: strong willed, but follows orders. Is a big dreamer but keeps her feet on the ground.
Prior training/experience(ie, why your character is qualified for the Academy): a certified private pilot. Fluent in French, Polish, Spanish, and English, and can speak conversational german. expert in robotics and computer programing
Other Info: lived in America the first 6 years of her life but moved to Europe because her dad's job sent him there. moved around europe for 10 years and moved back to the US.

Accepted!

AleciaAutumn10 wrote:Name: Chloe Lane
Age: 20
Appearance: Around 5'6", with long curly brown hair that reaches up to her shoulders. Average built, with no prominent muscles nor any prominent fat.
Personality: Ambitious, and not one who easily gives up. Outgoing and a hard worker. Impatient, and tends to have anger issues.
Prior training/experience: Only fluent in English. Has experience with high-tech computers. Bachelor's degree in medicine.
Other Info: Grew up with a family that had big hopes for her, and aspires to fulfill their dreams for her. She wants to become famous, and known throughout the world. She's always been curious about life outside of Earth, and wants to be a part of any discovery they might make.

Yay, a RP! Finally. I hope this one doesn't die out.

Accepted!

Welcome to the program, Jeanne and Chloe! We'll be starting in one week's time to give everyone else a shot at creating an application, and I'll do my best to keep this RP from dying out.

Elanor pulled herself out of the pool, smiling at the pleasant ache in her muscles as she made her way to the showers. Her morning swim had gone a bit longer than usual; she needed to work out a bit of the tension that had built up in waiting for the response to her application.

She had dreamed of exploring the universe since she was a little girl, and the speaker who came to her Air Cadets class a few years prior had shown her the most likely path to her dream -- the ISA Academy.

She knew that it would take years of training and hard discipline, and there was a chance that even if she did her best, someone more qualified would take the spot. But there were few opportunities to make it off-planet without private funding, and she wouldn't know unless she tried.

The hot water flowed over her, and tension began to ease from her shoulders. The mail would arrive soon, and it was no use getting worried until she'd checked.

Fifteen minutes later, dried off and dressed in a camo green shirt and black trousers, she steeled herself and approached her father with a casual salute.

"Morning. Any mail for me today?"

His normally stoic face held a small smile. "Indeed there is," he said, handing her a slim device that bore the emblem of the ISA. After a quick fingerprint and retinal scan, it beeped in authorization.

A small hologram of a dignified-looking woman in the ISA uniform appeared on the screen and saluted her before speaking. "Elanor Morganstern. Congratulations on your acceptance to the ISA Academy. You are now challenged with entry in this year's class of trainees. We know this path may seem daunting, but the experience you gain -- and the potential benefit to humanity -- will be rewards without measure. But only if you pass muster. We encourage you to come to the ISA Academy as soon as possible and await further instructions. Room and board will be provided on arrival, and you will be fitted for your uniform after orientation. Make us proud, recruit."

With that, the hologram blinked out.

Elanor listened to the message with growing awe -- she had been chosen!

An expression of pure delight took over her face. "I'm in. I'm in! I need to pack -- I never thought I'd thank you for all the times you prepared me to toss my life into a box on a moment's notice. I love you, Daddy."

Her father gave her a quick hug. "Love you, too, Norrie. Your mom would be proud. Better get moving if you want to make the next transport to the ISA."

She raced to her room, grabbed the duffel that had seen her through the last three moves, and surveyed her few possessions. Furniture was standard issue, and she'd feel no loss at leaving it behind. Uniforms would no doubt be provided on her arrival. Only a few personal items would be needed . . . crisply-folded civvies were the first to enter her bag. Toiletry kit, undies, socks, towel. Her moleskins, notebook, and pencils. The aviator hat that had been her mother's last gift to her before she left. A hardcover of H.G Wells' The First Men in the Moon. Her eBook reader, that stored the rest of her library. And finally, her lucky compass, an heirloom that had been passed down from her great-grandmother, the first pilot in the family.

She strapped on her watch, pulled on her leather trenchcoat, grabbed her hat, and was ready to go. A quick goodbye to her father, and she was soon waiting at the base's Transport station. She'd arrived just in time -- they only had departures headed for ISA three times a day, and she would be leaving on the first.

The next few hours were a blur; she knew she got on at the right time, off at the right stop, followed directions, saluted her superiors, and nodded when required, but all she was conscious of were the words going through her head, over and over: I'mgoingtobeanastronautI'mgoingtobeanastronautI'mgoingtobeanastronaut.

It wasn't until she was in her dorm -- a small privilege of privacy that surprised her -- that she was able to calm down and think things through.

She could do this. No worries. She'd gone through flight training, physical training, and first aid courses before. She knew French and Spanish well enough to avoid getting shot. Her science marks were consistently high -- for her standard courses. She knew she was working on another level, here. It would be a challenge, but she would rise to it. No announcement had been made yet, so it looked like she had time to unwind a little before things really took off, so to speak.

First order of business: Loosen the death grip she had on her bag.

I lazily snoozed my alarm, and woke up to my dog at my feet. I wished him good morning and gave him a nice belly rub, and then got out of bed. I rubbed my eyes and stretched a bit. I grabbed my shorts and t-shirt out of my closet and dressed into them. I tied my shoelaces and headed out of the house. I started my usual morning jog, and looked out as the rest of the world was getting up. As I jogged, I glanced at the ISA billboard I saw everyday, and sighed as I thought about it. How wonderful it would be if I got accepted...

I stopped dead in my tracks as soon as I remembered that today was the day where the response to my application was supposed to arrive. I felt anxious yet excited at the same time. What if I got accepted? All of my dreams would come true. I looked up at the billboard again, and imagined my face up there. I smiled and continued jogging, impatient to get back home.

As my house came into view, my muscles tensed and I started feeling nervous. What if I didn't get accepted?

I walked in to find my mother cooking. "Good morning," I said to her, "did the mail come yet?" She nodded, and pointed to the table. I looked at the small device with the insignia of the ISA on it. I picked it up, and went through the fingerprint and retinal scan.

I stared in amazement as a hologram of a distinguished young woman popped up, and smiled as I looked at her ISA uniform and watched her salute. She then said," Chloe Lane. Congratulations on your acceptance to the ISA Academy. You are now challenged with entry in this year's class of trainees. We know this path may seem daunting, but the experience you gain -- and the potential benefit to humanity -- will be rewards without measure. But only if you pass muster. We encourage you to come to the ISA Academy as soon as possible and await further instructions. Room and board will be provided on arrival, and you will be fitted for your uniform after orientation. Make us proud, recruit."

After that, the hologram faded out and the small device closed up. I smiled widely as my mom gave me a hug and congratulated me.

I made my way to my room, absolutely euphoric. I took out my small messenger bag that I used to use for school and began packing. I put in a few pairs of jeans and t-shirts, pictures of my family and my dog, a poster with the planets and galaxies of the universe, my laptop, and her book of crossword puzzles, along with stationary.

I took a quick shower and dressed in my favorite peach t-shirt and a pair of jeans. I hoped I wasn't going to be too casual, but she didn't really know how to dress for the occasion. I grabbed my bag and hung it around my shoulder, said goodbye to my mom, dad, and my dog, and headed out.

At the Transport station I boarded upon the tram [OOC: I'm not sure what their traveling in, so I'm just writing tram. Hope you don't mind]. My mind raced as I thought of all of the possibilities; all of the things I could accomplish at the ISA.

I gleamed as I saw the breathtaking view, the multiple buildings, all with different symbols marked on them that signified their purposes, the people bustling about, the never ending campus seemed to stretch out for acres. I walked in and observed my surroundings, trying to soak in as many details as I could.

Time flew as I followed through the instructions I was given, and before I knew it I was in my dorm. It was a well spaced, quaint room, with a bed, a bedside table, and a small desk and chair. I put my bag on my desk, and waited until we got further instructions.

[OOC: It's the close future, so odds are good most of our current systems would be in place, but travel would be somewhat faster and probably solar powered or something.]

Elanor finally calmed down enough to release her bag, then quickly unpacked. It'd be good to settle in quickly. Clothing went neatly in the drawers of her small bureau -- the closet would be for uniforms and her coat -- the toiletry kit and towel went under the desk, out of the way but ready for morning trips to the lav. Moleskins, notebook, and pencils into the desk drawer. And the rest into the nightstand drawer.

She folded the empty duffel neatly and put it in the back of her closet, then paused a moment. Going back to the nightstand drawer, she retrieved the compass and put it in her pocket. She felt better with her lucky charm on hand.

An official-sounding tone drew her attention to a speaker overhead. "Good afternoon, recruits. Early arrivals may remain in their rooms until orientation or socialize in the Cadet Lounge. Directions can be found under the handbook app on your datapad."

That sounded like a good option; seemed better than waiting nervously in her room. She pulled the datapad from her bedside drawer and quickly found the map section. Pocketing her room key, she headed out.

Elanor's father had trained her in orienteering, so it only took a few wrong terms before she found herself in the lounge. The room was large but somewhat cozy, a wide screen along one wall displaying the earth from the moon -- that, she realized after noticing some clouds moving, was probably a live feed from the camera they'd sent up some years back. Couches were scattered through the room, bookshelves lined the walls, and a snack bar was tucked into one corner.

She was the first one there, it would seem. Seizing the opportunity, she went to the snack bar and got herself a coffee -- black, two sugars -- a turkey and cheese sandwich, and a chocolate chip cookie. She took her snacks and settled down on one of the couches to watch the Earth. The books would get her attention later; for now, she was too nervous to focus on reading.

I didn't even remember turning my alarm clock off when i woke up to the sun shining brightly in my face from my window. luckily it was only 8 o'clock. "i wish i had gotten up at 7, it would have given me more time at the island" i told my German Shepard pup that was lying in her bed next to my bed . my grandparents owned an small island off the coast of Florida, and i flew out there about once a week and today i was one of the days that i spent the day there. I got up and got dressed and packed a small bag with a swim suit and a change of clothes. i went down stairs and grabbed a bowl of cereal. and took to my car to drive to the small executive airport about 20 miles from my house. when i got there, i checked in, and went to my family's private hangar. the next parts i don't really remember too well because it' all routine.. like checking the small private plane that my family owns, making sure i have enough fuel and such. take off and the half hour flight were easy. the landing on the island was smooth as well. i had a large breakfast waiting for me at my grand parents house and after that i sat out on the deck with my grandparents while i talked about how excited i was for my graduation. my diploma had come earlier in the month and i was about to get to get ready to plan my courses for my masters track. I had decided to take a dip in the pool but after only about a half hour my grand parents got a call from my parents saying i got a very important package at home and i was to come home as soon as possible. i got dried off and my grandma made me a sandwich to eat quickly as it was lunch time. i flew back home and i got to my house in the early afternoon. my parents showed me the package as soon as i walked in the door is was addressed from ISA. my stomach did a small flop. I rarely got nervous about anything, but when i opened the package and held the slim tablet bearing the ISA emblem, my hands shook. I had been waiting months since i submitted my application, i have been looking forward to this moment for the longest time and it was the moment of truth. i placed my finger on the scanner and held it up to my eye for a retinal scan, then it beeped and a hologram popped up and said "Jeanne Monreau, Congratulations on your acceptance to the ISA Academy." i let out the breath i was holding as a sigh of relief, ans listened to the rest of the message, " You are now challenged with entry in this year's class of trainees. We know this path may seem daunting, but the experience you gain -- and the potential benefit to humanity -- will be rewards without measure. But only if you pass muster. We encourage you to come to the ISA Academy as soon as possible and await further instructions. Room and board will be provided on arrival, and you will be fitted for your uniform after orientation. Make us proud, recruit."
my parents gave me a hug and congratulated me then i called my grandparents to tell them the good news. My grandfather had been a astronaut and he told me how proud he was and my grandma said she would make me my favorite foods and a cake next time i visited. i went up to my room and i looked at my German Shepard and said, "well there goes my masters degree, at least for a little while..." i packed a bag with a few jeans and some t-shirts because i knew i really wouldn't need that much clothes because we would have uniforms then added some basic things like a toiletry kit and my robe, towel, and some slippers. then i packed a backpack with a few notebooks and books and my laptop and tablet and i packed my diploma, pilots license and certificate, and a few family photographs. i grabbed my pilots "wings" which is really just a wing-shaped pin my father gave me when i became a certified pilot. then grabbed my most prized possession, the locket that matches my best and closest friend, and has a photo of the two of us inside. now with everything packed in my duffel bag and my backpack, i walked down stairs where my dad was waiting to drive me to the air port. my dad and i then flew to the closest airport to the academy. from there i caught a cab to ISA academy. I walked through the front door and it was more magnificent than i had every imagined. i walked to the housing office and the got my dorm assignment. i then walked to the dorm. it was a simple layout, a bed, a desk, a rather small dresser, a closet, and a bed side table. I put my bags at the foot of my bed and was just about to lie down on the bed when and announcement cam over the speaker system "Good afternoon, recruits. Early arrivals may remain in their rooms until orientation or socialize in the Cadet Lounge. Directions can be found under the handbook app on your datapad."
"I'll go to the lounge in a bit," i thought, "but first i want to sit here and take it all in...."

My Character:
Name: Astra Carlson
Age: 18
Appearance: Long, gently curling, brown hair. Big brown eyes and a charming smile. She is small in height and rather shy, but fiercely and incredibly loyal.
Personality: She's a quiet teen who loves to look at the stars. She gets on well with most people. She is afraid of crashing and tends to worry.
Prior training/experience: Astra grew up surrounded by the world of space travel and astronomy. Her ambition has always been to follow in her mother's footsteps, the ones left in space that is, and become a pilot. Her father homeschooled her up until the age for 14, at which point Astra joined the Universe Exploration scholarship and started her basic training for her dream. However due to a lack of funding the scholarship had to close down, pushing Astra into finding a place to continue working hard and eventually, allowing her to become an astronaut. She is fluent in English, Italian, Sign Language and knows morse code. She has experienced training in flight simulators and swimming pools (for weightlessness training) but has never actually had flight experience, as the Scholarship programme closed down before she could make it that far.
Other Info: Astra is the only child of a Professor of astronomy. Her mother used to be an astronaut but she died when Astra was only 4.

JLBABV wrote:My Character:
Name: Astra Carlson
Age: 18
Appearance: Long, gently curling, brown hair. Big brown eyes and a charming smile. She is small in height and rather shy, but fiercely and incredibly loyal.
Personality: She's a quiet teen who loves to look at the stars. She gets on well with most people. She is afraid of crashing and tends to worry.
Prior training/experience: Astra grew up surrounded by the world of space travel and astronomy. Her ambition has always been to follow in her mother's footsteps, the ones left in space that is, and become a pilot. Her father homeschooled her up until the age for 14, at which point Astra joined the Universe Exploration scholarship and started her basic training for her dream. However due to a lack of funding the scholarship had to close down, pushing Astra into finding a place to continue working hard and eventually, allowing her to become an astronaut. She is fluent in English, Italian, Sign Language and knows morse code. She has experienced training in flight simulators and swimming pools (for weightlessness training) but has never actually had flight experience, as the Scholarship programme closed down before she could make it that far.
Other Info: Astra is the only child of a Professor of astronomy. Her mother used to be an astronaut but she died when Astra was only 4.

Approved! *salute* Welcome to the program.

*beep beep* went my alarm clock. The display flashed 5:00 as I rolled over to hit the snooze button, and missed. Why? Because it moved! My alarm clock was like a mini robot, it could sense when I was about to swing my arm over and hit it, so it moved. And now it was hiding somewhere in my room, still beeping away. "Perfect!" I grumbled as I threw back the covers and sat up. I stretched then stood up to see where my alarm clock had hid itself this time. I found it hiding under some laundry which I had thrown on the floor. I pushed aside the pile of jeans, shirts and the odd sock until I found my clock. I picked it up and switched it off. It greeted me with a "Good Morning Astra!" in it's robotic voice before it returned back to a normal clock. I placed it on the table by my bed and yawned. Today was the day I started at the ISA Training Academy. I began my daily routine, sleep still in my eyes. By 5:30 I was brushing my teeth and getting dressed. I hadn't recieved any uniform yet so I figured I would just have to wear something sensible until I got it. I decided on my dark blue jeans, a crisp white blouse and a black blazer. I picked up the pin which lay on my table near my alarm clock and pinned it to the lapel. It depicted the moon and a rocket coming round the front of it. My mother had presented it to me when I was only young and my father had kept it aside until I was old enough to wear it, when I was 7 years old. It was my good luck charm. I also tied the bracelet which my mother had made for me around my wrist. It was a brown material with beads of the colors of the rainbow in a row. I remembered her telling me that if ever I wore this on a mission, I'd be sure to see a rainbow in space. By 6:00 I was ready to leave. I caught a tram to the Academy and stepped through the doors, with my suitcase in one hand and my Astronaut Bear from BABW in the other. Sure I was 18 now and most people would find it silly to take a Teddy Bear to school, but Comet was my best friend and I needed his cuddles sometimes to stop myself from worrying. I looked around and wondered where I should go. I walked over to the reception desk and asked.

The receptionist gave Astra a smile and quickly hit her with a retinal scan. "Astra Carlson? Welcome to the program. Your room is in the dorm wing. You'll find a map and basic handbook in your datapad. Here's your room key." She passed over a key card. "You've still got some free time until orientation, and you'll be fitted for uniforms after. You can get settled in your room and wait there, or head to the cadet lounge to meet the other recruits."

I smiled and thanked the receptionist. "The dorm wing..." I said to myself taking out the data pad and finding the map. "Ahh... There it is!" I followed the map to the dorm wing and found my room. I used the key to access it. The walls were painted white and there were no posters or decorations, so I assumed that I would be able to decorate it as I pleased, though I would check first. I plonked my suitcase onto the bed and sat down next to it. "So... Comet... What do I do now?" I asked my furry little friend. His hard brown button eyes stared up at me through his worn out fur. Of course he didn't answer. He never did. He was an old bear, and well-loved as my father so often said. He wasn't perfect, he had had more holes in him than swiss cheese and his left leg was longer than his right (because I had pulled his right leg off once and my mother had to sew it back shorter). But he was perfect when it came to cuddles. "Maybe there's someone around here who can give us a pointer as to what to do." I stood up and walked out into the corridor.

I started unpacking just as I heard the announcement, "Good afternoon, recruits. Early arrivals may remain in their rooms until orientation or socialize in the Cadet Lounge. Directions can be found under the handbook app on your datapad." I quickly took out my clothes from my bag, and stuffed them into the dresser. I arranged the pictures on my side table and put my laptop and stationary supplies on the desk. I left my bag on top of my dresser and grabbed my datapad and left my room, with my key in my pocket.

After getting lost a few times, I found the lounge. The building seemed a lot bigger than it looked from the outside. I walked into the lounge. It was a nice room, with a pleasant feeling to it. It was a big room, atleast double the size of my dorm. Bookshelves were lined in the back, with a seemingly endless amount of books. There was a big screen along one side of the wall, which showed a view of the earth from the moon. In a corner, there was a snack table. I grabbed a muffin and headed toward the sofas scattered around the room. It was empty, except for one girl who was watching the screen. I sat at the sofa across from her and introduced myself, "Hi, I'm Chloe Lane,"

Elanor looked away from the screen when the other girl sat down and gave her a casual salute. "Elanor Morgenstern. Pleasure to meet you, Lane. What position are you aiming for?"

[ OOC: I don't know much about like, the ranking and stuff in astronaut things, or the proper terms, so I hope you don't mind. Uh, by like what she's aiming to be is like, the people behind the launch. Like the people who like count down the launch, and monitor the robots and whatnot. ]

[OOC: The countdown is generally done by the ground crew. Maybe a Payload Commander, with specialty in robotics?]

[Alright, thanks (: ]

"I'm hoping to become a Payload Commander. Robotics have always fascinated me," I said to her, "what about you?"

She grinned. "Pilot. I love to fly, but normal planes will never get me high enough for my taste."

"Then I guess you've come to the right place," I say to her, grinning. I glance around the room, still amazed to have gotten accepted. It all seemed so surreal.

[OOC: Let's see if I can kickstart this again . . . ]
"I've had my sights on this place for years. Next goal, seeing this view in person." She raised her mug in the direction of the viewscreen.