AMM
Acronyms / Culture and Sports / Outer Space / Society

Acronym for the Astronauts Memorial Museum. A museum displaying exhibits related to all aspects of space exploration and development, it is divided into 4 main areas – the Coral Hall, the Moon Corner, the Space Corner, and the Beyond Corner. Popular among both tourists and Beyonds, with the Beyond Corner containing exhibits related to the Policenauts and Beyond Coast itself. The table coral placed in the lobby was extracted from the Great Barrier Reef, and is admired by Beyonds as a symbol of the CELESS.

Amphibian
Culture and Sports / Outer Space / Society

Slang for a person who travels between Earth and outer space. This has replaced the antiquated word "astronaut" in common speech, though it is still used in the scientific and historical sense.

ASL
Acronyms / Outer Space / Society

Acronym for American Space Lines. A space travel company that conducts flights between Earth and Beyond Coast, offering direct flights to the colony from cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago. It became famous for being the first company to employ space stewards and stewardesses on its flights. It has also received praise for the way it responds to passengers who experience SAS while onboard. The charming uniforms sported by its staff, which have the added functional benefit of helping to maintain normal circulation in weightlessness, are popular among travelers.

Beyond Coast
Outer Space / Society / Technology

Mankind's first space colony, completed in 2010. It orbits around Lagrangian point L5, one of the 2 most stable gravitational areas around the Earth in relation to the Earth and the Moon (the other being L4). The circle it makes with the Moon and 2 of the other Lagrangian points, likened to the shores of the vast ocean of outer space, has given it the name "Beyond Coast". It is the first and last O'Neill colony, shaped like a cylinder. It makes a full rotation every 2 minutes, creating artificial gravity nearly equal to 1G. It has 3 mirrors for gathering solar rays and can produce the effect of night by closing them for 8 hours. The mirrors also serve as radiation shields.

The other reason the colony was named Beyond Coast is because its climate is based on that of the west coast of America. Its energy needs are supplied by solar energy stations positioned outside the colony, in addition to nuclear reactors.

The colony is approximately 4 miles in diameter and 20 miles long. The total surface area of any one of its 3 surfaces is 56 square miles. The combined 3.5-mile thickness of the cylinder and its atmosphere helps reduce the cosmic radiation drawn in by the mirrors to 0.5 rem all year round. It is also equipped with protective shields that automatically lower during times of intense radiation bombardment.

Parts of the colony's outer walls and mirrors have since deteriorated with age; the ISPA is studying a plan to replace all of the colony's parts over the next 10 years.

Beyonds
Culture and Sports / Outer Space / Society

Slang for Extraterrestrials, people born and/or raised in outer space. In a narrower sense, it also refers to people living on Beyond Coast; approximately 40% of Beyonds are second-generation citizens born on a space colony. As even the most minute accident could turn into a major life-threatening incident on a space colony, Beyonds are taught to respond to everything in their daily lives in a calm and precise manner. This is reflected in their fashion, way of speaking, culture, and feelings, creating an undeniably unique group of human beings. Beyonds are capable of keeping their emotions under control and maintain a cool demeanor even amid the constant tension experienced on a space colony. People from Earth call the calm and concise way Beyonds speak a "Beyond accent"; conversely, on Beyond they call the inflectional and emotional way Terrestrials speak a "Home accent".

bird leg
Outer Space / Society

The phenomenon whereby a person's legs appear thinner in weightlessness due to bodily fluids becoming concentrated in the upper half of the body. One of the adaptation phenomena of zero gravity, causing the opposite effect of Moon face. Spaceplane crews wear special uniforms that maintain negative pressure on the lower half of the body, as the sudden rush of fluids to the upper half can cause irregular heartbeat, fatigue, and SAS. Companies offering zero gravity spa tours, which give people the chance to experience bird leg first-hand, have often been the subject of interest on Earth.

calcium foods
Culture and Sports / Life Science / Outer Space / Society

Bones, joints, and muscles undergo considerably less stress in weightlessness than normal gravity, causing the calcium in bone cells to be leached from the body. Calcium foods, also known as "cal foods", were developed as a way to replace this lost calcium. Examples include capsules containing crushed eggshells and milk containing casein phosphopeptides. A famous dish in calcium cuisine consists of mixing one of these with soybeans and seaweed, both of which are particularly high in calcium.

Many others methods have been developed for replacing calcium, which tends to be lost easily when living in outer space. Almost all food and drink consumed in space is either naturally high in calcium or is supplemented with calcium. One can also find products such as calcium chewing gum and candy, calcium carbonated beverages, and calcium seasonings.

CELESS
Acronyms / Culture and Sports / Life Science / Outer Space / Society

Acronym for Closed Ecological Life Support System. The system that regulates the internal environment on space colonies, space bases, and underwater bases, enabling them to function on their own. The structure exists as an independent biosphere, totally unreliant on any outside assistance or intervention to sustain itself.

Beyond Coast supplies all the food its inhabitants need and recycles its energy in accordance with this system.

cold sleep
Life Science / Outer Space / Technology

An artificial sleep induced by lowering the body's temperature and having it use only the minimum amount of energy necessary to keep itself alive. As controlling the body's temperature is extremely difficult, this method requires a special capsule equipped with an electronic freezing device. Post-thaw muscle atrophy, among other issues, was a problem surrounding early cold sleep techniques, but this has since been overcome through studying the hibernation of bears. Cold sleep is also now called "hibernation" for this reason.

However, because certain aspects of cold sleep, namely its safety, still remain unclear, it has yet to be permitted for official use. Astronauts are therefore forced to endure long-distance space flights without the luxury of cold sleep, a fact that has led to the spread of illegal drugs throughout space.

The Yuri involved in the Yuri accident of 2013 was connected to an early version of the survival ball cold sleep unit. The accident turned out to be valuable test data for cold sleep, helping to improve the technology.

Astronaut Jonathan Ingram's 25 years is the record for the longest amount of time a person has spent in cold sleep.

cosmic ray exposure
Life Science / Outer Space / Society

Cosmic rays, or highly energized particles continually moving throughout space, can have various effects on the human body. Sudden exposure to large doses of cosmic radiation can cause the widespread death of cells or even total body surface area burns. Up until now, space development has had no way of protecting against cosmic rays, which pose a significant danger to anyone exposed to them regardless of the length of time. An investigation into the true nature of the problem was not started until mankind had already moved out into space, and it is now the most significant problem surrounding long-distance space travel and space base construction. Beyond Coast has taken preventive measures to combat the problem, such as the creation of solar flare forecasts and shield warnings, but in reality, the effects of radiation exposure on space colonists continue to grow.

It is said that exposure to high-energy cosmic radiation can cause flashing lights to appear in one's field of vision, similar to the effects of optic neuritis.

cosmophobia
Life Science / Outer Space / Society

A fear of outer space. The darkness, cramped conditions, and restricted access to oxygen experienced when in space for long periods of time can cause feelings of extreme unrest and panic in some people, and can even lead to breathing difficulties or cardiac arrest in severe cases. It is commonly reported among astronauts participating in long-distance flights and long-term space station workers. Cosmophobia is one of the reasons Narc use has become so widespread in space, and one of the most fundamental problems regarding future deep-space exploration is how to overcome these psychological hurdles.

Jonathan Ingram suffers from cosmophobia as a result of his EMPS accident.

EES
Acronyms / Outer Space

Acronym for ejection escape suit. The heat-resistant ejection spacesuits used during the Policenauts era. Designed for use in an emergency ejection during a spacecraft launch or atmospheric reentry, they were colored orange to differentiate them from the normal blue flight suits used while onboard a spacecraft. The suits the Policenauts wore for their famous commemoration photograph were an evolved version of the EES. The suit boasts an impressive array of functions, but space passengers are now no longer required to wear them following the beginning of civilian spaceplane flights in 2020. Some say this was due to political influence exerted by the ISPA in an attempt to encourage space immigration, and there are those who say this practice ignores aspects of the Outer Space Safety Regulations that should still continue even today. The catchphrase "Casual space travel", coined by the ISPA at the time, is frequently cited as the spark of the space travel boom.

The government, eyeing the increased taxation possibilities that accompany the economic growth spurred on by an expanded space market, remains unsure about how to deal with this backlash.

EMPS
Acronyms / Outer Space / Technology

Acronym for Extravehicular Mobility Police Suit. A mobile police suit for use both inside and outside space colonies, jointly developed by Tokugawa Heavy Industries and BCP. Originally designed for tasks like preserving order and performing maintenance work outside Beyond Coast. Its bilateral master-slave manipulator allows for an unrestricted seven degrees of freedom, just like the human body, and it also does not contain any singular points. It is a machine with its own sensory feedback, created by combining advanced operations robotics technology with feedback functions applied from VR and teleexistence. Efficient advanced operations are now possible by having a human pilot compensate for a robot's cognizance time lag.

EMPS are equipped with various sensors and communication systems as well as emergency food rations. The Yuri model, piloted by Astronaut Jonathan Ingram during a test space walk, was an early EMPS prototype developed as a successor to devices such as the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) and the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU). Numerous improvements have since been made by incorporating technology from planetary exploration probes and other advanced operations robots, the results of which include the completion of the Goddard model, the primary EMPS in use by BCP; the Oberth model, an EMPS used for mining on the Moon; and the Von Braun military EMPS prototype.

Tokugawa Heavy Industries currently controls all EMPS development, production, and maintenance.

Freedom II
Outer Space / Society

A joint-project space station built by America, Europe, Japan, and Russia. It is a multiple-use manned facility orbiting the Earth at an average altitude of 249 miles. It is 269-feet long, an average of 407-feet wide, and the combined weight of its 4 modules is over 320 tons. Previous space stations placed heavy emphasis on research purposes, but Freedom II, equipped with a full-scale manufacturing module, manufactures various products that can only be made in space, such as solar cells, amorphous semiconductors, and ultra-transparent glass. It was one of the pioneers of Made in Space development.

Named Freedom II (and not simply Freedom) in respect toward Space Station Freedom, which had a significant impact on space exploration and development even though it was never realized the way it was originally envisioned.

Frozener
Life Science / Outer Space / Society / Technology

A person created from an artificially fertilized egg held in cryogenic storage by the government, which is then later transferred to a surrogate mother for gestation and delivery. A Frozener's egg is inserted with genetic information that makes the individual better adapted to space's environment and allows them to endure a wide range of activities in space that would give a normal person great difficulty. Since Frozeners are legally in a special class of their own, they are tattooed with an identification code on their forehead. Frozeners are very common on Beyond Coast and are not discriminated against in any way by other Beyonds. Many are employed by the military or work in government positions. Frozeners call the government, who raise them, "Breeders". It is rumored that they are given anti-aging treatment through telomere lengthening.

G biology
Life Science / Outer Space

A newly developed area of space life science. All organisms that have evolved on Earth are influenced by its gravity; this field of science attempts to crack the various mysteries of life by examining the functional relationships between gravity and organisms.

Goddard
Outer Space / Technology

A mass-produced EMPS model employed by AP. Named after Dr. Robert H. Goddard, hailed as the father of modern rocketry. It uses a large, removable hydrogen engine flight unit and is capable of hover flight within Beyond Coast, able to patrol the entire colony in approximately 30 minutes. It is equipped with various sensors, analyzers, and communication devices, and is outfitted with extremely strong Chobham armor. Furthermore, it can also perform operations and medium-distance flights outside the colony. A parachute is used for landings inside the colony. The actual removal of the flight unit is a one-touch procedure, but a special collection team is required to gather the units after separation. Armed with a 9mm automatic machine gun.

This is the type of EMPS piloted by Tony Redwood.

helium air conditioning system
Outer Space / Technology

Almost all Lunar bases employ lighting similar in wavelength to the light produced from the Sun, due to the cycle of approximately 14 days of daytime and 13 days of nighttime on the Moon. Sunlight is captured during Lunar daytime by solar cells, then delivered around the base via a solar ray transport system. The heat this system produces is cooled by placing refrigerated helium in the walls and ceilings of the base, a so-called helium air conditioning system, where the radiation from the helium cools the base. Bases use helium because it will not freeze even when exposed to the super-low temperatures experienced during nighttime on the Moon, which can reach as low as minus 274 degrees Fahrenheit.

This rather simple air conditioning system can also be found on the Tokugawa Moon Plant.

helium-3
Outer Space / Technology

A helium isotope containing one less neutron than ordinary helium. Almost nonexistent on Earth, it is found in relatively large quantities on the Moon and is used for energy on Lunar bases. It is particularly valued for its use in nuclear fusion, as it does not give off any secondary radiation. There is currently a large-scale movement to try and use helium-3 not just on the Moon, but on Earth and other space bases as well.

The Tokugawa Moon Plant currently controls all helium-3 mining and processing.

Home
Culture and Sports / Outer Space / Society

Slang for Earth; came into use in this sense after human beings first started living permanently in outer space and were now looking back on where their species originated.

Home accent
Culture and Sports / Information and Communications / Outer Space / Society

Refers to the inflectional and emotional tone of voice and way of speaking of people on Earth. Also known as an Earth accent. Does not refer to any language in particular, but instead refers collectively to the various accents, intonations, and pronunciations of words found in all languages, the way they are spoken on Earth.

On the other hand, in space, people are taught to communicate in a clear and concise manner due to the constant threat of danger that they face. Even a small verbal misunderstanding could be fatal; therefore, any vague or indirect expressions, contractions, or signs of emotion have disappeared from peoples' speech, resulting in a form of language that could almost be called "digital". The only exceptions to this are contractions such as "let's". This is to avoid the ambiguity that such contractions would bring about in their unabbreviated form, i.e., "let us play" could be either a request or a suggestion, whereas "let's play" is unambiguously a suggestion.

Nevertheless, Beyonds who were born and raised on Earth still retain a Home accent.

ISPA
Acronyms / Outer Space / Society

Acronym for International Space Promotion Agency. Formed in the 21st century to help advance peaceful space exploration and development, it was set up as Beyond Coast's own space agency in the image of various space agencies on Earth, such as the ESA, NASA, JAXA, the CNES, and the DLR. However, it frequently acts more like a business than a space organization, as it is run mainly from funds donated by the Tokugawa Group. Headquartered on Beyond Coast, with Joseph Sadaoki Tokugawa serving as its director.

Kabuki Quarter
Culture and Sports / Outer Space / Society

A red-light district located in the center of Beyond Coast. Its main attraction is zero-gravity sex, which has become so popular there are tours from Earth that go to Beyond just to visit this area of the colony. It is said to have started after the outbreak of STBO on Earth, when various entrepeneurs in the adult entertainment world moved their businesses to Beyond Coast to escape the disease. No one knows for sure who gave it its name, though it is thought to be named after the Kabuki-cho red-light district located in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

Koontz bill
Outer Space / Society

A gun control bill introduced by Robert R. Koontz in 2013. It decrees that all firearms be eliminated from space colonies and bases, and has since been implemented on Beyond Coast. It was originally intended as a gun control measure for Earth, but it has helped make possible the total abolition of civilian firearms in outer space, with space's unique environment particularly benefitting from such a measure. There is a growing movement on Earth calling for the immediate adoption of this bill, especially in places like America, where guns can still be easily obtained. Known on Earth as the Koontz bill, instead of law, because it has yet to be ratified there.

Lagrangian points
Outer Space

Five geometric positions in outer space where an object can theoretically maintain a stable orbit due to the gravitational forces of two larger objects, namely planet-moon systems and star-planet systems. Calculated by the Italian-French mathematician Joseph Louis Lagrange in 1772 and designated L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5, they are said to be the ideal locations for setting up large-scale man-made installations near Earth. The first 3 points are not considered stable enough for a space colony, so all valuable real estate in space is centered around points L4 and L5. Beyond Coast is located in an orbit around L5, as it was discovered in 1968 through a mathematical calculation that a colony could not be placed directly at L4 or L5, but would need to be in an orbit around it.

lift gun
Outer Space / Society / Technology

A gun, created to be usable in weightlessness, which produces no recoil. The moment a bullet leaves the gun's muzzle there is a second explosion, with the bullet acting like a missile, thus preventing any noticeable recoil from occurring. Named after the phrase "lift off", in reference to the first stage of a rocket launch. Almost all guns used in outer space are now lift guns. It has become popular among criminals as the "untraceable gun", since it leaves no rifling mark on its bullets, nor does it expel cartridges. The barrel of a lift gun also serves little purpose, as the primary explosion takes place immediately outside the gun. In order to compensate for the jolt this causes, a lift gun allows the user to lock onto a target with its laser sight. The decreased importance of the barrel has made it possible to reduce the size of the gun considerably.

They are also favored by female police officers who do not like the smell of gunpowder, synonymous with recoil guns, since lift guns produce little smoke when fired. The cost of just one bullet, also known as a missile round, still remains quite high, but some say this has helped enforce the system of total gun control in place on Beyond Coast.

All guns used by BCP are lift guns.

LSM
Acronyms / Outer Space / Technology

Acronym for Lunar Shuttle Module. A spacecraft that conducts flights between Lunar-orbiting space stations and installations on the Lunar surface.

Made in Space
Outer Space / Society / Technology

The technique of manufacturing products using the microgravity and high vacuum nature of outer space. Tokugawa Pharmaceuticals was the first drug company to develop Made in Space versions of drugs such as interferon and urokinase, achieving rapid success. Most of the microgravity manufacturing technology used to produce Made in Space products – everything from pharmaceuticals to new synthetic materials and zero G kits – is patented, and therefore controlled, by Tokugawa. This new field of business, which has made products more desirable simply by being made under weightlessness, is known as the microgravity business, and is the hottest industry today after the bio sector. Furthermore, applying the principles of zero gravity to bio technology has given birth to another industry called the space bio sector.

The Tokugawa Group famously purchased the Mir space station from Russia at the beginning of the 21st century, using it to develop pharmaceuticals under microgravity.

Mars, first manned mission to
Outer Space / Society / Technology

A joint project between Japan, America, and Russia, carried out in 2012 behind the words, "Onward to Mars." The four participating astronauts, which included Jonathan Ingram, who was undergoing his Policenauts training at the time, were the first human beings to land on Mars, spending a considerable amount of time there. The project was funded by the governments of the 3 participating countries as well as various private corporations, leading some to call the project more of a business trip than a scientific expedition. The astronauts traveled in a separate ship from their cargo, employing the so-called dedicated cargo ship method. The entire return trip, including the time spent on Mars, took approximately 1.5 years. The voyage also gathered attention with its use of the first large-scale spaceship to employ its own artificial gravity.

The astronauts famously encountered the rover Sojourner on the surface, which was sent to Mars in 1996 as part of the Mars Pathfinder mission. The first manned Mars mission was the biggest space event since the first Apollo landing in 1969, generating interest from all over the world.

mass catcher
Outer Space / Technology

A device that catches materials launched by the mass driver. Also known as a bucket cone. Built around a net employing electromagnetic force, it can slow payloads to a stop without even touching them. In addition, the catch frame has its own search laser, enabling it to catch materials accurately and safely. Materials caught are then sent to L4 and L5 via cargo ship.

mass driver
Outer Space / Technology

A linear motor-driven catapult used for transporting materials. Located on the Moon, its acceleration system allows its payloads to reach escape velocity and break free from the Moon's gravity, making it an economical way to transport Lunar minerals and other materials out into space.

There are 2 components to the mass driver – the guideway and the buckets. The guideway contains a series of wire propulsion coils positioned along its surface, and the buckets, or the capsules that carry the payloads until they reach the end of the guideway, contain levitation coils underneath them. The bottom of the buckets are also outfitted with superconductive magnets, with an alternating current sent through both them and the guideway. The strong repellant force of the electromagnetic field created is used to accelerate the buckets along the guideway; as the bucket nears the center of a propulsion coil, the coil is switched off and the next one switched on, until the bucket reaches the end of the guideway, at which point it releases its payload out into space at a speed of just over 1.5 miles per second. Since the mass driver does not require any type of fuel, such as liquid hydrogen or liquid oxygen, its operating costs are much lower than a rocket-based system.

master-slave manipulator
Outer Space / Technology

A system for controlling a machine via a device that reads human movement. The introduction of EMPS has made this type of control system a reality. Originally developed to try to make possible teleexistence, for work in extreme areas. The subtle movement of the muscles in the operator's body is transformed into mechanical movement; conversely, it allows for more precise operation by transferring the sensation of any objects around the machine to the operator's sense of touch. It also features a joint structure free from any singular points, which had imposed limits on the capabilities of previous manipulators.

Moon face
Outer Space / Society

One of the adaptation phenomena of zero gravity, where bodily fluids such as blood become concentrated in the head and the chest, causing a person's face to swell slightly and appear chubbier than it does under 1G. The blood of the cardiovascular system is moved throughout the body almost as much by gravity as it is by the pumping action of the heart; the same applies to the lymphatic system, which has no central pump and moves under low pressure via peristalsis. Therefore, it is said that in weightlessness, the head and the chest contain approximately 2 liters more fluid than they do when under 1G.

This collection of fluid in the upper half of the body also causes the lower half of the body to appear thinner, the phenomenon known as bird leg.

Moon Treaty
Outer Space / Society

An agreement opened for signature in the United Nations General Assembly on December 18th, 1979, declaring that the Moon, along with the rest of outer space, is to be used only for peaceful purposes. It also states that the Moon, other celestial bodies, and their natural resources are the shared property of all mankind. Its official name is The Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. Among other declarations, it strictly prohibits the construction of military bases and facilities, military exercises, weapons testing, and the use of physical force upon, or threats toward, any celestial body. America and Japan were originally non-signatories, but later joined the agreement in the 21st century when Moon development restarted. Nearly every country active in space exploration and development today is a signatory of this agreement.

neo immigrant
Culture and Sports / Outer Space

A refugee fleeing to outer space in an attempt to escape the various problems on Earth, such as overpopulation and the North-South problem. In particular, there has been a sharp increase in the number of day laborers who illegally enter Beyond Coast. Earth's mafia is known to support organizations who assist illegal immigrants, who, due to overcrowding, are just as much of a problem as legal immigrants. Not limited to just economic refugees, there are also many refugees fleeing regions of conflict on Earth.

O'Neill colony
Outer Space / Technology

A cylinder-shaped space colony proposed by Dr. Gerard K. O'Neill. Beyond Coast is the first and last O'Neill colony. Designed by American and European engineers, the shortcomings discovered with the colony, combined with Tokugawa's political influence, have meant that another O'Neill model will not be built. This has led some to argue that the ISPA and Tokugawa are too closely connected. The only designs thus far implemented for mid-sized and above colonies have been the O'Neill model and the torus model, with others, such as the dumbbell and sphere models, yet to be realized.

Oberth
Outer Space / Technology

An unregistered EMPS used on the Tokugawa Moon Plant for various plant operations and defense purposes. Named after Dr. Hermann Oberth, one of the founding fathers of rocketry and astronautics. It was designed and constructed solely by the Tokugawa Group, and as such the Tokugawa logo can be found on its body. Used mainly for mining and transport work, with its pilot wearing a hard suit while onboard. One of its notable features is its 2 large manipulator arms, used for excavating and transporting materials.

Outer Space Labor Standards Law
Outer Space / Society

The law that set the minimum standards for working hours and conditions in outer space. All work on Lunar and other space bases is carried out in accordance with this law. The maximum amount of time anyone is normally allowed to work continuously in space is 180 days, with any period of time extending beyond that prohibited.

Outer Space Medical Examination System
Life Science / Outer Space / Society / Technology

The system set up to help prevent a pathogen like a virus from entering a closed environment such as a space colony. All spaceports are staffed by specialist doctors who perform a full space medical exam on all arriving persons.

Outer Space Treaty
Outer Space / Society

An international treaty that established standards for the exploration of outer space and celestial bodies, as well as all other applications for space. Its official name is the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. Based on the 1963 United Nations resolution commending the efforts of the United States and Soviet Union to prevent the militarization of space, this treaty bans any country from carrying out off-Earth military activities, limiting the use of space and celestial bodies to peaceful purposes. It also states that no country can lay claim to a colonized celestial body, as it would belong to all mankind.

BCP carries out all rescue operations on Beyond Coast in accordance with the Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts, and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space, one of the three so-called "space treaties".

Policenauts
Outer Space / Society

The group of space police selected to provide security for the people (expected to number in the hundreds of thousands at the time) moving to Beyond Coast during the third wave of immigration in 2013, and also to lay the foundation for a permanent police force on the colony.

Police officers from around the world were recruited for the program in 2010; officers with skill and endurance, who had what it took to become astronauts able to act as a police unit on mankind's first space colony. 5 were chosen out of the initial selection pool and put through 3 years of intense training.

Astronaut Gates Becker, from Scotland Yard in the UK; Astronaut Joseph Sadaoki Tokugawa, from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department in Japan; Astronaut Salvatore Toscanini, from the NYPD in the US; and finally, also from the US, Astronauts Jonathan Ingram and Ed Brown, from the LAPD. These men, having become astronauts with police authority, were regarded throughout the world as symbols of peace in outer space. Also known as the Original Cops, they were reminiscent of the Mercury Project's Original Seven, becoming the focus of a global media frenzy; it is said they greatly changed the rather dark image that had surrounded space exploration and development before.

Prop
Outer Space / Society / Technology

Slang for the Tokugawa Group's headquarters on Beyond Coast. Called the Prop because it looks as if it serves as a support pillar for the colony, extending for several dozen miles from one of its surface areas to the opposite window side. A famous tourist spot on Beyond, it is also an important example of modern space architecture. Its central area, a weightless area several miles long, called the Garden, is a frequent topic of discussion in Earth's media. All rooms, including the president's office, its several auditoriums, and employee offices, are outfitted with optical fibers and linked to a satellite communications system, allowing for real-time communication throughout space. It is said the Prop is more similar to Earth than any other place on the colony. The building itself is managed by its own CELESS, so should an accident occur inside the colony, it would still be able to function by itself. This has led some to criticize Tokugawa for having their own personal "shelter" on Beyond.

reinforced lumber
Outer Space / Society / Technology

A type of wood made by soaking dampened wood in a barium chloride solution, followed by an ammonium chloride solution. The result is a wood that does not burn or rot, perfect for use in construction. Almost all of the non-synthesized lumber used on Beyond Coast is reinforced lumber. The use of real, untreated lumber on Beyond is prohibited by the colony's Architectural Regulations.

repatriation movement
Outer Space / Society

One of the anti-space movements, having sprung up around 2030. This extremist movement strongly advocates the immediate cessation of all space exploration and development, saying mankind should return to Earth. They argue that human beings were never meant to leave Earth. They have since become associated with other ecology groups on space colonies and have fast developed a sizable following. They originally attempted to address space's pollution problem through legitimate means, but following the beginning of their involvement with various ecology terrorists, many members of the movement have resorted to acts of terrorism to try to accomplish their objectives.

Someone who supports this movement is called a repatriatist.

repatriatist
Outer Space / Society

A person who supports the repatriation movement.

Return Syndrome
Life Science / Outer Space / Society

A syndrome characterized by the desire to return to Earth. Is frequently seen among middle-aged Terrestrials living on Beyond Coast. Almost all missing person cases on Beyond are instances of Return Syndrome. The exact cause remains unclear, but it is only reported among Beyonds who lived on Earth when they were younger, particularly those who took part in the first or second wave of immigration. Some have speculated it might be caused by the constant stress that comes with living in space, with the individual developing an extreme version of homesickness. Many people who have experienced Return Syndrome later said they became filled with the sudden urge to return to Earth, or "return Home", in their words, and immediately boarded the next available flight for Earth without even so much as informing their family.

SAS
Life Science / Outer Space / Society

Acronym for Space Adaptation Syndrome. A type of temporary sickness caused by exposure to a weightless environment. It is said that the cause of SAS is a vestibular disorder, whereby the vestibular system undergoes a paralysis, causing one to lose one's sense of balance. Symptoms include dizziness, cold sweats, vomiting, headache, fatigue, and, in particular, a false feeling of falling over that does not occur in ordinary motion sickness. The most effective treatment is an intramuscular promethazine injection.

Conversely, the bodily changes experienced when moving from a zero G environment to a 1G environment are collectively called Earth Adaptation Syndrome.

scramjet engine
Outer Space / Technology

Abbreviation of supersonic combustion ramjet engine. A type of air-breathing engine that obtains propulsion by taking in air at supersonic speeds, then compressing it and mixing it (utilizing ram pressure) with fuel at several points throughout the engine. The controlled expansion of this mixture produces net thrust, with an optimum flying speed of between Mach 10 and Mach 25. Can be found in almost all hypersonic and exoatmospheric aircraft as well as spaceplanes. Called the scramjet engine because it works through the supersonic intake of air and its combustion with fuel, usually hydrogen, via ram pressure. Also known as a scram engine. Differs from a ramjet engine in that it keeps the air moving at supersonic speeds, whereas a ramjet engine slows the supersonic airflow to subsonic speeds.

semi-hard spacesuit
Outer Space / Technology

A fifth-generation extravehicular spacesuit put into use after the turn of the century. Developed to overcome the previously existing problems with soft suits, such as the long depressurization time and extra ventilation equipment required. By making parts of a spacesuit hard, it is possible to maintain the internal pressure of the suit at 55.2 kilopascals, which prevents the wearer from developing decompression sickness. The suit also allows for more freedom of movement by using soft carbon fiber resin and urethane resin in selected parts like the arms, legs, and boots. This has helped scientists reduce the weight of the suit considerably, which is only 77 pounds under 1G. The inside of the helmet also contains a heads-up display, an eye-point sensor, a VRE camera, a communicator, and a drinking tube connected to a water supply.

Hard spacesuits, which are 100% hard, are employed on Mars and other extreme areas, but all other extravehicular spacesuits, including those worn on the Moon, have become semi-hard suits. The suit became famous after it was placed on the Policenauts crest in 2013.

solar cell
Outer Space / Technology

A device that converts solar energy into electric energy. Numerous solar cells employing silicon semiconductors could be found during the 20th century, but the highest energy conversion rates they ever achieved were no more than 20%. However, with the major advances in production environments that came with moving out into space, scientists succeeded in developing an amorphous semiconductor composed of silicon, tellurium, and arsenic, previously impossible, with an energy conversion rate of 60%. Furthermore, previous solar cells could only convert a very narrow wavelength of the Sun's rays into energy, but with the introduction of this amorphous semiconductor, cells can now convert the entire electromagnetic spectrum into energy. Beyond Coast's 3 mirrors employ such hybrid solar cells, which supply over 70% of the colony's total energy needs. All solar cars on the colony also use these cells and this conversion system.

solar flare
Outer Space

A violent explosion that occurs on the surface of the Sun as a result of the sudden release of magnetic energy. This release is caused by the interaction of the Sun's magnetic field with its fluid core, which produces a build-up of magnetic energy. This energy eventually reaches the surface of the Sun and passess into its corona, its less dense atmosphere, and is released out into space. Solar flares carry cosmic radiation, which has numerous negative effects on the human body as well as man-made equipment. Space colonies and bases continuously monitor solar flare activity in order to predict when large doses of radiation will be released.

solar ray transport system
Outer Space / Society / Technology

A lighting system that transports sunlight into a room using optical fibers. It is possible to transport not just visible light, but ultraviolet and infrared light as well.

space debris
Outer Space / Society / Technology

Also known as space junk or space garbage. Refers to the debris floating outside the atmosphere in Earth orbit, much of it consisting of abandoned satellites in geostationary orbit and rocket fragments in high Earth orbit. There are regulations regarding space debris contained in The Convention on the International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects, implemented in 1972, if one examines the document with a loose interpretation; however, the amount of space debris continues to accumulate every year, with collisions between objects resulting in even more debris, some forming complex fields of material. These fields inflict damage on other satellites, rockets, and spaceplanes. A strict system of control for space debris is currently being studied.

The presence of space debris has become a serious problem for all objects operating in low Earth orbit or above. The possible end of all space exploration and development due to a massive field of space debris enveloping the Earth is known as the Kessler Syndrome.

space fireflies
Outer Space

The phenomenon whereby human waste ejected out into space is hit by sunlight or another light source, causing it to glitter and resemble a group of fireflies. Astronaut John Glenn of Project Mercury famously reported this phenomenon after his first trip into space; they are seldom seen anymore, however, due to the strict legislation that has been enacted to prevent the ejecting of waste and garbage into space, such as the Outer Space Waste Regulations and Outer Space Environment Standards Law.

space history
Culture and Sports / Outer Space / Society

A recently established field of study that focuses on the history of mankind's activities in outer space. Is a required subject in all space colony secondary schools. The Beyond Coast Education Board has placed a strong emphasis on it in order to impart on today's youth the importance of examining "how we got to where we are in space today."

space infrastructure
Outer Space / Technology

Refers to the network of outposts, both manned and unmanned, located in outer space and on celestial bodies. The various ground facilities that support the transportation network between these outposts and Earth are also included under this heading. Tokugawa was one of the first organizations to participate in space development, exploring the business aspects of the field as it continued to buy up Russia's space technology. It constructed most of these outposts and facilities, and utilizes them as part of its business model.

space weather forecast
Culture and Sports / Information and Communications / Outer Space / Society / Technology

A forecast designed to predict the arrival of large doses of radiation and magnetic storms caused by solar flares. Solar flares, released from the surface of the Sun, can have various harmful effects not only on the human body, but on computers and other sensitive equipment as well. Space weather forecasting aims to predict these before they happen and inform people of when they will occur via television, radio, and the Internet. When a flare does occur, scientists can estimate the size of the flare and any effects the resulting solar wind might have by observing the wavelength and time intervals of the radiation released during the several stages of the flare, and issue reports and warnings as necessary.

Shield warnings are issued during times of intense radiation, with a colony's outer walls and block shields lowered for protection. All extravehicular space activity and the takeoff of space flights are prohibited during this time.

spaceplane
Outer Space / Society / Technology

A return-trip space passenger plane developed for the era of mass space transportation as a replacement for the Space Shuttle. Takeoff is accomplished via an Air Turbo Ramjet engine, followed by acceleration to Mach 12 via a scramjet engine, after which the plane switches over to a rocket engine for space flight. There are currently 6 companies offering spaceplane flights to and from outer space. With the introduction of spaceplane flights, traveling into space has become a reality for the ordinary person. The most popular airlines are America's American Space Lines and Japan's Nippon Space Lines, based on their service, cost, and safety record.

survival ball
Outer Space / Technology

A one-man rescue pod designed to offer a lifeline to its occupant in the event of an accident in outer space. Also known as a rescue ball. Devised during the Shuttle Era, all small-scale spacecraft are required to have one, as per the Outer Space Safety Regulations. The large-scale lifepods designed to hold 30 people found on spaceplanes and other spaceships also contain survival balls in case they are needed. They were originally created only to house someone set adrift outside Earth's atmosphere until they were rescued, but as mankind's activities in space expanded, organizations began installing them with long-term life-support devices employing cold sleep.

The entire surface of the sphere is covered with neo-norbornadiene, a refined version of a metal capable of absorbing solar rays, allowing the ball to semipermanently store energy and support its inhabitant for an extended period of time. The survival ball used by Astronaut Jonathan Ingram during the first test of the Yuri was a prototype survival ball containing an experimental cold sleep module. It was connected to a special umbilical cord with a two-way network allowing for the exchange of energy and data in the event of an accident.

Should an accident occur, the occupant is required to connect an attachment on their spacesuit to the ball's internal life-support machine and curl up their body into a rather uncomfortable position before entering cold sleep. Japanese astronauts liken it to the instant attainment of Buddhahood and do not look on it very favorably.

Terrestrial
Culture and Sports / Outer Space / Society

Slang for a person born on Earth.

torus colony
Outer Space / Technology

A donut-shaped space colony supported by Tokugawa. It is a smaller-scale colony, with a maximum population of around 10,000 people. Also known as the Tokugawa model, since it has been created almost solely by technology developed by Tokugawa. All space colonies currently under construction are torus colonies, the largest torus colony built so far consisting of 4 levels.

UCBC
Acronyms / Culture and Sports / Outer Space

Acronym for The University of California at Beyond Coast. Famous for its work in the fields of bioethics, space history, and organ transplantation.

Anna Brown attends UCBC, where she majors in bioethics.

Von Braun
Outer Space / Technology

A military EMPS prototype developed over the last 5 years by Tokugawa Heavy Industries. Named after Dr. Wernher von Braun, regarded as the father of America's space program. It is equipped with a 40mm grenade launcher as well as a computer system that suppresses and absorbs recoil when it is fired. The chest, the Goddard's weak point, is reinforced with additional Chobham armor, as per its planned military use.

Yuri
Outer Space / Technology

A prototype EMPS model developed as the successor to devices such as the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), the Simplified Aid for Extravehicular Activity Rescue (SAFER), and the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU). Named after Yuri Gagarin, the first human being in outer space. The type piloted by Astronaut Jonathan Ingram in a test space walk in 2013. Unlike the MMU and SAFER's nitrogen gas thrusters, which only allowed for very basic movement, it was instead equipped with miniature rockets. It was developed as an attempt to realize true aerial navigation in space, and not just short-distance movement and position control; accordingly, the unit's gross weight is heavier than its predecessors, and it is considerably larger as well.

After Astronaut Ingram's accident, EMPS development was temporarily suspended and the technology reworked from the ground up. Having been designed for mechanical work outside the colony, the Yuri is equipped with various data recording units, but is not outfitted with weapons of any kind; however, it has 4 manipulator arms that provide its operator with basic feedback. Also equipped with emergency food rations and a 3-day energy supply.

Yuri accident
Outer Space / Society

The accident that occurred with the Yuri EMPS prototype in 2013 during a test space walk. This unit was to be used by the Policenauts outside the colony. The unit underwent a malfunction in its vernier rockets, causing it to lose control and disappear out into space. There was a particularly strong solar wind blowing at the time, which resulted in a temporary communications blackout and the delay of the rescue operation.

The test was being broadcast live around the world, with the accident dealing a shock greater than that of even the Challenger disaster. This "second space shock" set EMPS development back 5 years. The Yuri was connected to a survival ball, which had a built-in cold sleep module, but because an SOS signal could not be detected, it had been thought that all hope was lost for its test pilot, Astronaut Jonathan Ingram.

zero G kit
Culture and Sports / Outer Space / Society / Technology

A garage kit that has had its parts cast in zero gravity. There are various types of kits available, such as resin, vinyl, and metal. One of its main attractions is the lack of air bubbles or seam lines due to it being cast under weightlessness. It is also capable of preserving the small details that tend to become lost between the mold and cast in 1G.

Furthermore, casting a kit as a whole, previously impossible, keeps the number of parts to a minimum, allowing even beginners to enjoy model assembly. The zero G kit has even been called the savior of the hobby works industry. The techniques used with zero G kits have also been applied to many traditional plastic models.

Zero G Pack
Outer Space / Society

A type of meal pack sold at the Maximum fast food restaurant chain. Its contents are designed to allow for easy consumption in zero gravity. It is nearly identical to the 1G Pack, though the Zero G Pack offers beverages that help replenish calcium and bodily fluids easily lost while in outer space.

zero G rhythmic gymnastics
Culture and Sports / Outer Space / Society

A type of rhythmic gymnastics performed under microgravity, first started 40 years ago by an astronaut, also a former rhythmic gymnast, looking for a way to prevent muscle atrophy in zero gravity. There are both timed freestyle events and traditional fixed events using balls, hoops, ribbons, ropes, and clubs, with competitors judged in technical merit, artistic merit, and execution. Apart from the same skills needed in sports such as traditional rhythmic gymnastics and synchronized swimming, competitors also need to focus on maintaining their balance under weightlessness. The sport was once called the "artistic sport for the Space Age", and remains the most popular and unique competitive sport on Beyond Coast, though it is still surrounded by the problem of calcium loss in its child practitioners. The Beyond Coast Athletics Association has established regulations specifying suitable practice times and ages in an attempt to address the issue.

Anna Brown belongs to UCBC's zero G rhythmic gymnastics club.

zero G salon
Culture and Sports / Life Science / Outer Space / Society

A type of salon located at the center of Beyond Coast, in its weightless area, which takes advantage of the effects of zero gravity to preserve the youthfulness and elasticity of a person's skin. The skin is also much less likely to sag and become wrinkled in general in zero gravity. Many of the treatment methods employed were originally devised by female astronauts.

Chris Goldwin goes to a zero G salon.

zero G ward
Life Science / Outer Space

A hospital ward that treats patients in zero gravity. Housing patients with a herniated disc, repetitive strain injury, or myasthenia gravis, for example, in weightlessness, and thus avoiding the stress bones and muscles experience under normal gravity, has offered new ways of treating conditions previously difficult to treat. It is also used for treating people who have become bed-ridden or have experienced total body surface area burns.

Most of the patients housed here are Terrestrials, as problems such as these occur far more frequently in Terrestrials than in Beyonds.