The Martian Space Administration

'' "Years of popular fiction claimed Mars was going to have to fight for independence, when in the end, it was Mars that put us back together." - (Devron Burren)''

Martian Space Administration
The Martian Space Administration (MSA) was formed in 295.015USDT (November 2120) following shortly after the first permanent colonists landed, and quickly realised that placing reliance on the goodwill of still-fractured governments of Earth, who at best were several months' away, would subject them to extreme danger.

Structure
As with all extra-planetary colonies settled after Luna, Mars formed with a single planetary Government. The MSA was detached as a semi autonomous branch of the Government. The Martian Secretary of Space was in overall charge of three branches:

Trade Branch was concerned with ensuring a steady supply of commerce occurred smoothly between Earth and Mars. This largely dealth with ensuring the trade routes were confirmed, the space lanes were clear and tithes were properly collected and all adminsitration around customs and quarantines were observed.

Science & Logistics Branch was the closest that Mars came to a military organisation. SAL, as it was known, was responsible for building a Martian Space Fleet. The Governments back on Earth looked to have abandoned the idea of replacing the aging Eden Class fleet, leaving Mars to build the only non commercial fleet in the system for a long time. The branch also organised the majority of non commercial scientific missions.

Exploration Branch worked closely with the Science & Logistics Branch, providing mission proposals to explore regions of the solar system, and conduct survey missions of various stellar bodies, looking for suitable locatoins to place further colonies.

Dissolution
The MSA surrended its autonomy in 327.554USDT (May 2177), when the Martian Government signed up to the Global Republic. Whilst surrendering its sovereignty, the MSA still continued to operate in all but name, as the only government body with an actual fleet to its name.

The last MSA built ship to be decommissioned was the MSS Aeolis, which was retired in a ceremony above the Martian South Pole, in 349.246USDT (December 2214)