Topaz II

Topaz II is a large space station constructed and operated by Izistan. The construction period was small due to the large modules and the payload abilities of Izistani rockets.

Mission

The Topaz II is designed to study manned long duration stays in free fall and to test the methods and technology of construction and industrial techniques while conducting research in various fields.

The Topaz II is a far larger station then the earlier Aleutian and Topaz I station(s). The components were designed with the use of heavy lift vehicles in mind.

Modules

The station is composed of three main modules(and one free floating instrument platform).

The Habitat Module: The area were the crew lives, eats and performs recreational activities. The station normally hosts six cosmonauts in spacious (for a space station) quarters, it may also host up to twelve in overflow situations.

The Laboratory Module: Contains scientific equipment and material for a variety of fields, it also houses the primary communication equipment for the station.

The Airlock/Docking Module: The lightest part of the station, weighing in at 25 tonnes. It houses the airlock for EVA activities and four docking portals for visiting spacecraft.

The Telescope: Actually not connected to the station, but in orbit 15 kilometers away for ease of servicing. The images taken by the telescope are often featured in Izistani media.

The two main station modules weigh in at around 250 tonnes each, this allows for much interior space and equipment. They are about 40 meters long each and 10 meters wide, the docking module is about 10 meters in length, and 5 meters wide. The modules were launched to 185 kilometers and pushed by boosters to a attitude of 405 kilometers where they were assembled by Izistani RSTS shuttles, crews arrive via the Bypak crew transporter space plane. Resupply is accomplished by the unmanned Produce resupply craft. A onboard crew bailout system is provided in case of damage to the Bypak or station.

There is talk of complementing the station with a nuclear powered "tugboat", capable of maintaining orbit without the need for a friendly craft to boost it up further. The upcoming lunar mission will relay data through the station and a series of satellites.

Specifications

Typical Crew Size: 6.

Total Length: 90 meters.

Maximum Diameter: 10 meters.

Total Mass: 530,000 kilograms.

Typical Orbit: 405 kilometers(Earth).

Electrical System: Solar panels(A 100KW nuclear reactor was coverty installed with the station, it is suspended at the end of a 25 meter long robotic arm; this information was not released to the international community).