CSIRO (Joan of What?)

The Bureau for Aeronautics and Space Exploration (BASE) is an independent agency of the executive branch of the Cygnian Imperial government responsible for the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research.

Chancellor Jonathan Behrens established BASE in 1968 with a distinctly civilian (rather than military) orientation encouraging peaceful applications in space science. The Aeronautics and Space Act was passed on 29 July 1968, disestablishing BASE's predecessor, the Imperial Committee for Aeronautics (ICA). The new agency became operational on 1 October 1968.

Since that time, most Cygnian space exploration efforts have been led by BASE, including the Selena moon-landing missions, the Concorde space station, and later the Phoenix shuttle system. Currently, BASE is supporting the International Space Station and is overseeing the development of the Ares Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, the Phoenix II and is also participating in an international Mars Exploration Program. The agency is also responsible for the Launch Services Program which provides oversight of launch operations and countdown management for unmanned BASE launches.

BASE science is focused on better understanding Earth through the Earth Observing System, advancing heliophysics through the efforts of the Science Mission Directorate's Heliophysics Reseaerch Program, exploring bodies throughout the Solar System with advanced robotic spacecraft missions such as New Horizons, and researching astrophysics topics, such as the Big Bang, through the Great Observatories and associated programs. BASE shares data with various national and international organisations such as from the Greenhouse Gases Observation Satellite.