welcome

[rachel]

_{On the board, there are going to be many different classifications and groups of people, from genetic statuses to occupations. Here you can find out the differences between these groups and what they do. If you have any questions, feel free to pm an admin.}

Genetic Status

<sub>Valids
This is a majority of the upper and middle class. Individuals in this group were not created by natural means, but had every part of their genetic make up contrived before they were even born. A genecist combined the DNA of the two parents to achieve the looks, intelligence, and health that they wanted. Not all members of this group are perfect; your genes depend on your parents (i.e. if your parents were both had an average health and average intelligence, chances are that you're not going to be spectacular in either of these areas.) These are usually the people who hold the prestigious and normal jobs.

Invalids
These people were born without being genetically designed. Everything was left up to chance: their gender, physical and mental health, and intelligence of an individual were all left up to chance. These people are also known as "god children" due to fact that some would say their parents left their children's conception in the hands of God instead of doctor. These individuals usually still have 'imperfections' that have been eliminated with gene selection and research. Such 'imperfections' include mental illness (depression, etc.), heart defects, vision impairments, and almost anything you can think of. They are usually given lower class jobs, such as janitors, due to employment selection processes which require a DNA sample before you are hired. Most of the time, these people are completely normal, except for the small genetic scarlet letter in their DNA.

Borrowed Ladders
Borrowed Ladders are individals who were born the natural way, and therefore have many of the genetic imperfections that make it impossible fo them to rise in society. But this is where Borrowed Ladders are different; they do something about it. Taking up somebody else's idendity, Borrowed Ladders pay a Valid to use their DNA. The Valids in return provide them with blood, urine, hair, and skin samples. It's a difficult transformation, usually involving modifying an individual's appearance to make them match their valid counterpart. These characters are very complex and I will be very picky in their applications.</sub>

[rachel]

Gattaca Space Corp.

<sub>Below are the general positions in Gattaca.

Mission Control.
Critical to the success of any mission, the main job of all those in the mission control center is to manage and monitor all space missions. A staff of flight controllers and other support personnel monitor all aspects of the mission using telemetry. A large tiered room, every member of a space misison serves an important role, including:

Flight Director (FLIGHT) Leads the flight control team. "Flight" has overall operational responsibility for missions and payload operations and for all decisions regarding safe, expedient flight. He monitors the other flight controllers, who are in constant verbal communication with him through intercom channels.

Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) Is a representative of the senior management chain at JSC, and is there to help the flight director make those decisions that have no safety-of-flight consequences, but may have cost or public perception consequences. In no cases can the MOD rep overrule the Flight Director during a mission.

Emergency, Environmental, and Consumables Management (EECOM) EECOM's shuttle responsibilities include monitoring the atmospheric pressure control and revitalization systems, the cooling systems (air, water, and freon), and the supply/waste water system.

Extravehicular Activity Officer (EVA) Responsible for all spacesuit and spacewalking-related tasks, equipment and plans when the EVA takes place from the shuttle.

Flight Activities Officer (FAO) Plans and supports crew activities, checklists, procedures, schedules, and timelines.

Flight Dynamics Officer (FDO or FIDO) Responsible for the flight path of the space shuttle, both atmospheric and orbital. FDO monitors vehicle performance during the powered flight phase and assesses abort modes, calculates orbital maneuvers and resulting trajectories, and monitors vehicle flight profile and energy levels during re-entry.

Ground Controller (GC) Directs maintenance and operation activities affecting Mission Control hardware, software and support facilities; coordinates space flight tracking and data network, and Tracking and Data Relay Satellite system with other space programs around the world.

Guidance Officer (GUIDANCE) Monitored onboard navigational systems and onboard guidance computer software. Responsible for determining the position of the spacecraft in space.

Operations Planner (OPSPLAN) Leads the coordination, development and maintenance of the mission's short-term plan, including crew and ground activities. The plan includes the production and uplink of the onboard shuttle plan and the coordination and maintenance of the onboard inventory and stowage listings.


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Astronauts.
The men and women of Gattaca who have passed the rigorious tests and gained the right to call themselves astronauts are considered by the outside to be the heart of Gattaca. The minds in space of every mission that the company has sent up, combined they have spent more than two hundred years above the earth. To enter the astronaut program means to be in peak physical and mental deficencies as well as having an impeccible strand of DNA.

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Engineers.
Modern flight vehicles must undergo severe conditions such as differences in atmospheric pressure and temperature, or heavy structural load applied upon vehicle components; numerous matters must be taken into account. Consequently, they are usually products of complex synthesis of various technologies and sciences, including but not limited to aerodynamics, materials science and electronics. The knowledge and the process of combining these various branches of studies are what is collectively known as aerospace engineering. This complex characteristic keeps a single aerospace engineer from involving in the entire task; rather, aerospace engineering is conducted by a team of engineers, each specializing in their own branches of science.
Assembly and Checkout Officer (ACO) Responsible for all shuttle-based activities related to construction and operation of the space shuttle, including logistics and transfer items stored in a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module. Also responsible for shuttle payloads.

Booster Systems Engineer (BOOSTER) Monitors and evaluated performance of propulsion-related aspects of the launch vehicle during prelaunch and ascent, including the main engines and solid rocket boosters.

Data Processing System Engineer (DPS) Responsible for data processing systems in a space flight, including the onboard general purpose computers. This includes determining the data processing system status, flight-critical and launch data lines, the malfunction display system, mass memories and system-level software.

Aeronautical Research Engineer (ARE) The research department of the Engineering program at Gattaca is dedicated to one purpose: coming up with new technologies that would improve the Gattaca space program. Ranging from everything from a new piece of equipment to a new fuel source, their years of research provides the program with the advancement it needs for more complex missions.


Electrical Generation and Integrated Lighting Systems Engineer (EGIL) Monitors cryogenic levels for the fuel cells, electrical generation and distribution systems on the spacecraft, and vehicle lighting.

Guidance, Navigation, and Controls Systems Engineer (GNC) Monitored all vehicle guidance, navigation and control systems. Also responsible for propulsion systems such as the Reaction and Control System (RCS) and the CSM main engine.

Maintenance, Mechanical, And Crew Systems (MMACS) Responsible for space shuttle structural and mechanical systems, monitoring auxiliary power units and hydraulic systems, managing payload bay and vent door operations, landing gear/deceleration systems, and monitoring the orbiter docking system. MMACS also follows use of onboard crew hardware and in-flight equipment maintenance.

Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) Responsible for the assembly and operation of systems related to atmosphere control and supply, atmosphere revitalization, cabin air temperature and humidity control, circulation, fire detection and suppression, water collection and processing and crew hygiene equipment, among other areas.

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Communications.
A branch off of mission control, Communications is responsible for all communications between astronauts and mission control and the astronauts & mission control and the public/ media. Usually these people posess excellent speaking skills and charisma along with a vast scientific knowledge.

Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) Generally the only person who communicates directly with a manned space crew. During much of the U.S. manned space program, officials felt it was important for all communication with the astronauts in space to pass through a single individual in the Mission Control Center. That role was designated the Capsule Communicator or CAPCOM and was filled by another astronaut, often one of the backup crew members. It is believed that an astronaut is most able to understand the situation in the spacecraft and pass information in the clearest and most efficient way.

Flight Surgeon (SURGEON) Directs all operational medical activities concerned with the mission, including the status of the flight crew. Monitors crew health, provides crew consultation, and advises flight director of the crew's health status. A direct communications loop can be established between the mission astronauts and the flight surgeon, in accordance with doctor-patient confidentiality.

Public Affairs Officer (PAO) Provides mission commentary to supplement and explain air-to-ground transmissions and flight control operations to the news media and the public.

Integrated Communications Officer (INCO) Responsible for all data, voice and video communications systems, including monitoring the configuration of in-flight communications and instrumentation systems. Duties also included monitoring the telemetry link between the vehicle and the ground, and overseeing the uplink command and control processes.

Onboard, Data, Interfaces and Networks (ODIN)Responsible for the U.S. Command and Data Handling System, including hardware, software, networks, and interfaces with International Partner avionics systems.[/i]


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Physical Training.
Gattaca Space Corp requires that all of its employees are in top condition; a mission cannot run uless all of its members are fit and healthy. It is the responsibility of the Physical Training department to monitor and assess the physical abilities of all the company's members, with their attentions most greatly focused on those who are interested in going into space.

Assessment Team (AT) Responsible for assessing the health and physical abilities of all members of the Gattaca program. Their focus mostly lies on the current and prospective astronauts and it's their responsibility to recommend to the Flight Director who is cleared and who is not to go into space on a certain mission.

Space Preparatory Team (SPT) Once an individual has been chosen to go into space for a mission, they must undergo months of intensive training to prepare them for everything they might encounter from launch to re-entry. It is the responsibility of the members of the SPT to train cleared astronauts on basic skills they will need to complete their missions.

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Security.
Since Gattaca only accecpts those of the greatest genetic standards, it highly prides itself in its security. The security officials at Gattaca are responsible for taking DNA samples from everyone entering the building. These samples determine who is allowed to enter certain departments, if the building at all. Usually, these people are both trained geneticists and law enforcement officials, due to the dual nature of their jobs.</sub>