Quantum Transporters

Due to myriad factors (explained later on in this article), the peoples of Astraia do not use conventional space launches very often, have minimal air travel, and do not make use of space elevators. Instead, they make use of what are technically called quantum transporters - but colloquially called teleporters, due to the influence of science fiction and fantasy alike in popular culture - which make use of quantum field theory (QFT) and particle physics (links lead to external site) to near-instantaneously transport people and goods across great distances.   There are many different types of quantum tranporters, some designed only to transport matter from one side of a city to the other, while others are capable of sending people and cargo to space stations in orbit around Astraia. Many different companies manufacture them, to varying standards - from bleeding-edge military and space hardware, to questionable black market hotwired patchjobs, and everything in between.   Due to safety concerns with matter transportation in this manner, and some early incidents, maintenance crews and employers responsible for maintaining quantum transporters are required to test the transporter personally before opening it to public use, after each and every maintenance cycle. This ensures that no corners are cut with such potentially-lethal, but ubitquitous devices.   Quantum transporters, because of their complexity and how horribly things can go wrong when they do, are subject to similar safety and engineering standards as airplanes. It is thus actually safer to use a quantum transporter than it is to drive - you're astronomically more likely to suffer a car crash than you are to suffer a transporter failure.   These devices are powered by geothermal power plants and nuclear fusion stations, depending on the device's location and arrangement. They also require a dedicated quantum computer, and have a liquid nitrogen cooling system.

The Issues With Alternative Transport

Astraia's smaller reserves of water, alongside most of its water being stored in underground watertables, makes water too precious to convert to hydrogen fuel. Due to this cleanest method (electrolysis {link leads to external site}) of hydrogen production being thus very limited, there are not any eco-friendly, easily-mass-produced fuels that can power airplane or shuttle engines. Steam-methane reforming (link leads to external site) is not a method used by Astraii to make liquid hydrogen, due to methane being a relatively scarce resource on Astraia due to its lack of fossil fuels.   This makes air travel and space launces rare, and quantum transporters fill the role - and indeed, fill it better, due to transit being almost instantaneous.   Even if fossil fuels were more abundant, the peoples of Astraia are too environmentally-conscious to exploit them. The wyr's natural role in breaking down soil and rock, thus redistributing mineral and element content, have led to a world that does not lend itself to harsher forms of exploitation.   Space elevators were considered by Astraii governments for a time, but deemed unreliable due to the moon, Irida, and its powerful magnetosphere and close orbit. As Irida affects Astraia's thermosphere in ways not yet fully understood by scientists, the long-term expenses of quantum transporters was deemed more acceptable. It would not do to spend so much money on such a massive project, only for the moon to either collide with, or somehow disrupt, a finished or in-construction space elevator.