Pluto
Pluto is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, a ring of bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune. The largest of the Kuiper Belt settlements and home to the self reliant and hardy [Plutonians. The Dwarf planet is also in a mutual orbit with it's own moon, similarly settled and of similar character.
The government on Pluto is a tight nit direct democracy, with citizens voting and acting on all joint decisions. With a low population of less than a million, the dwarf planet is able to operate with such a direct for of democratic action. The people there are characterized by their hardy nature, and calm cautious demeanor. Despite direct democracies fame for leading to chaotic fire brands, Pluto's strong civic minded character has kept the peace so far.
Today the Planetoid is a major stopping point and weigh station for exploration and mining out in the Kuiper Belt and boasts a strong repair and refit shipyard. Though limited in its resources, the character of Plutonians have lead to reputation for getting things done, and investments have stabilized their economy.
The government on Pluto is a tight nit direct democracy, with citizens voting and acting on all joint decisions. With a low population of less than a million, the dwarf planet is able to operate with such a direct for of democratic action. The people there are characterized by their hardy nature, and calm cautious demeanor. Despite direct democracies fame for leading to chaotic fire brands, Pluto's strong civic minded character has kept the peace so far.
Today the Planetoid is a major stopping point and weigh station for exploration and mining out in the Kuiper Belt and boasts a strong repair and refit shipyard. Though limited in its resources, the character of Plutonians have lead to reputation for getting things done, and investments have stabilized their economy.
Geography
- Mean radius 1,188.3±0.8 km 0.1868 Earths
- Surface area 1.664794×107 km2 0.035 Earths
- Volume (7.057±0.004)×109 km3 0.00651 Earths
- Mass (1.303±0.003)×1022 kg 0.00218 Earths 0.177 Lunas
- Mean density 1.854±0.006 g/cm3
- Surface gravity 0.620 m/s2 0.063 g
History
Pluto was settled late in the United Earth Sphere golden age. The dwarf planet, once incorrectly classified as a planet itself, never ceased to capture the imagination of humanity. As such when there became interest in a staging board for exploration and expansion into the Kuiper Belt the choice of Pluto was obvious in terms of PR. The bulk of colonists were frontier explorers, scientists, and ice minors. Life on Pluto was always hard, even in the best of days and often the colony struggled to keep people from simply leaving.
Despite its reliance on Earth for food and material, the distance, often a years journey by Gravity Engine, lead to a focus on self reliance. Hydroponic farms fed off the plutoian soil, water from it's ice, and mining from small crews drilling throughout the moon and kuiper belt objects became a focus. Without solar power or gas giants for fuel, the dwarf planet had a hefty nuclear fusion generator was built to power the moon without additional materials for five hundred years, a very fortuitous bit of over engineering that saved all their lives.
When the The First Wave hit, the horror rolled in slowly. Shipments simply stopped, as did regular transmissions expected in the chaos. Long distance radio transmission informed them days late, often in garbled fragments. Panic ensued as did rationing and starvation. It was decided that the planetoid would begin a radio dark existence as any signals might bring... whatever it was earth was currently loosing to. Shockingly, they survived.
Tech was already in place to help them operate without regular aid or in emergencies. Though starvation was inevitable, populations steadied after a while. Genetic modifications, once banned, were used to allow Plutonians to survive with less gravity, PT, and heat to save on power and moisture. Small mining vessels puttered along as quietly as they could collecting required metals and ores. Life was hard, deeply hard, everyone knew it, and everyone kept on living anyways.
It was late in the isolationist era that Pluto became aware it was not alone. Long form radio from Ganymede first caught their attention, then low yield waves from ships out by Neptune. Pluto made contact as soon as a vessel happened upon their limited range capacity. The Celestial Connection had made contact, and the Plutoians were happy to join. Since then they have become the CCs foothold in the Kuiperbelt, and a small but important member state. One which promotes stability in all its dealings.
Despite its reliance on Earth for food and material, the distance, often a years journey by Gravity Engine, lead to a focus on self reliance. Hydroponic farms fed off the plutoian soil, water from it's ice, and mining from small crews drilling throughout the moon and kuiper belt objects became a focus. Without solar power or gas giants for fuel, the dwarf planet had a hefty nuclear fusion generator was built to power the moon without additional materials for five hundred years, a very fortuitous bit of over engineering that saved all their lives.
When the The First Wave hit, the horror rolled in slowly. Shipments simply stopped, as did regular transmissions expected in the chaos. Long distance radio transmission informed them days late, often in garbled fragments. Panic ensued as did rationing and starvation. It was decided that the planetoid would begin a radio dark existence as any signals might bring... whatever it was earth was currently loosing to. Shockingly, they survived.
Tech was already in place to help them operate without regular aid or in emergencies. Though starvation was inevitable, populations steadied after a while. Genetic modifications, once banned, were used to allow Plutonians to survive with less gravity, PT, and heat to save on power and moisture. Small mining vessels puttered along as quietly as they could collecting required metals and ores. Life was hard, deeply hard, everyone knew it, and everyone kept on living anyways.
It was late in the isolationist era that Pluto became aware it was not alone. Long form radio from Ganymede first caught their attention, then low yield waves from ships out by Neptune. Pluto made contact as soon as a vessel happened upon their limited range capacity. The Celestial Connection had made contact, and the Plutoians were happy to join. Since then they have become the CCs foothold in the Kuiperbelt, and a small but important member state. One which promotes stability in all its dealings.
Tourism
Limited. Though many start their travels in the Kuiper Belt here, few wish to stay or enjoy it's amenities except the regular travelers in the belt. As many explorer note, "Pluto is a land of luxury compared to the space around Eris." However for everyone else, it is a cold inhospitable ball.
Comments