The exploration of space will go ahead, whether we join in it or not. And it is one of the great adventures of all time. And no nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space. For the eyes of the world now look into space, to the moon, and to the planets beyond.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 12 September, 1962

As part of the Science Initiative, Space Programs will be a way for claims to flex their scientific might by being a part of one of the greatest scientific and technological achievements of the 20th Century - travel into outer space. Achieving this feat is a multistep process that will necessary take claims multiple years to achieve, and will be subject to a number of moderator actions and rolls to determine the outcome and success of this process.

To achieve sending manmade objects into space, claimants will submit posts in a milestone fashion over a period of years, the outcome of which will be rolled for to determine the success of that particular experiment. Space travel represents a major combination of civilian scientific and military applications, and as such most space programs were a combination of civilian and military assets. As a reminder, in 1955 no treaties exist restricting the use of weapons in Outer Space, so purely military space programs are an option until legislation against them is created.

The major milestones that must be achieved for sending an artificial satellite into space are:

Basic Rocketry

Basic understanding and experience with handling rockets. Most countries in the global north already possess this milestone, from experience in the Second World War and the subsequent period. Developing countries will have to research this field.

Advanced Rocketry

Advanced understanding of rocketry and propulsion systems, this milestone requires the claim to research and understand rocket flight mechanics, and the theoretical basis of space-capable rockets. This stage also requires the claimant to launch a set of sounding rockets as their first sub-orbital flight.

Ballistic Missiles

Ballistic missiles formed the basis for most early types of space rockets. This milestone requires an intricate understanding of liquid-fueled rockets, and requires the claimant to select a suitable propellant for their rockets.

Orbital & Spaceflight Mechanics

Academic backing for spaceflight is an onerous process, so this step requires the claimant to establish a robust academic and scientific basis for their future orbital missions. This step benefits greatly from international cooperation.

Space Vehicles

With rockets and a theoretical basis, the next step requires the claimant to design vehicles for travel into outer space. This includes rockets capable of orbit, and payload vehicles to be launched into orbit in the future. This step is merely for their design.

First Orbital Launch

With a rocket designed capable of orbit, this milestone will be the first time the claimant sends a vehicle into space.

First Orbited Satellite

Once the first vehicle is put into space, the next step is to place a satellite into orbit. This is a significant step and marks the claimant as a spacefaring nation.

First Orbited Mammal

With artificial satellites put into orbit, the next step is to put complex life into orbit. This can optionally be preceded by simpler organisms, like insects.

First Orbited Human

The pinnacle of achievement is the orbiting of a human being, and their return safely to Earth.

Thus, to get a human in space one will have to make at least 9 posts, and likely more as the likelihood of failures in the project is high in this period (a lot of rockets blew up or failed to launch). Spaceflight is a colossally expensive venture, and significant devotion will have to be made from a country's budget to achieve it.

Rolls will be made in a standardized process, with modifiers given at the moderator’s discretion as to the feasibility, realism and value of each post provided. Therefore, posts that have more research put into them and are more scientifically viable have a higher chance of success. Time is also an ally in space research - more time between steps will allow more time to iron out bugs and kinks, allowing the probability of success to be higher.

As with economic milestones, when creating a milestone post please mark which milestone is being completed with [Milestone: xxx].

As with any science projects, any progress made up until 1955 is assumed to have happened as OTL, and players who do not engage with science are presumed to launch their spaceflight projects as they did OTL unless some other in-game event interferes with them. This means that the R-7 Semyorka is already two years into its development cycle, and that Wernher Von Braun is at work for the Americans. Events that happen in 1955 should be done by players - that is, no satellites for IGY have been announced yet.

Good luck! To the Stars!