The Ro Program
The Ro Program was Footballia's attempt to land men on Mars. Begun in 1977, it succeeded in 1983.
The initial ship was able to hold two people of roughly seventeen months, just enough for a day or so stay on Mars. This was increased drastically during the Program.
History
In 1976, during the Brazilian War, the Imperial Space Agency received word that the American NASA was attempting to land a human on Mars. In 1977, after discussion with Prime Minister Christopher Lohr and aging Overlord John Mark III Blanton, the Ro Program was begun. This was not the first time missions to Mars had been discussed.
In 1970, after landing the first Footballian on the Moon, the director of the ISC, Marshall Hawkins, began advocating a program to land a man on Mars. This was put down by Bill Newman, despite John Mark's attempt to begin the program. Throughout the early to mid-70s, plans to go to Mars surfaced several times, not succeeding until 1977.
The Capsules
- Ro 1-Exploded on launch.
- Ro 2-Exploded on launch.
- Ro 3-Exploded upon leaving atmosphere.
- Ro 4-Orbited Moon for a month.
- Ro 5-Orbited Moon for two months before coming back.
- Ro 6-Orbited Moon for six months with two men.
- Ro 7-Orbited Moon for twelve months with four men.
- Ro 8-Orbited Mars for three days.
- Ro 9-Orbited Mars for one day with two men.
- Ro 10-Circuit blew while passing Moon, capsule began drifting.
- Ro 11-Crashed on Mars, killing the three crewmen.
- Ro 12-Orbited Mars for four days with three men.
- Ro 13-Orbited Mars for a week with three men.
- Ro 14-Exploded on launch.
- Ro 15-Landed on Mars for a week with three men.
- Ro 16-Landed on Mars for a week with four men.
- Ro 17-Landed on Mars for a week with four men.
- Ro 18-Landed on Mars for two weeks with five men.
- Ro 19-Landed on Mars for a month with six men.
- Ro 20-Landed on Mars for a month with three women and three men.
