Good to know. I think I might write the program I was talking about anyway, at least for my benefit w.r.t. rocket design. Also, I believe it is possible to launch a rocket in the same turn it is built - is this correct? My turn is as follows:
Dr Smith was somewhat annoyed by the progress the Chinese space program was making. While this development was somewhat troubling, he knew that ASTRO stood to lose more face if they failed to fufill their promise to put a satellite in orbit in the next two years, so he felt that it was neccessary to make a launch attempt this year. This was not without a silver lining, as CHASE had demonstrated that it was possible to put an object in a stable orbit around Earth. Dr Smith had been thinking about putting a very sophisticated set of scientific instruments into space for a while, and he now moved to make what he had been thinking about a reality.
Research:
Dr Smith will research the S.E.A. (Space Environment Analysis) Satellite, a satellite capable of analysing the environment of space and transmitting its readings to Earth and more importantly ASTRO.
Lab 1 will improve the reliability of the small thruster further.
Lab 2 will improve the stored energy of the fuel ASTRO uses.
Research Cost: $2000
Design
None this year, but I believe my current technology allows me to design a 2-stage rocket that can put a 1286kg payload into a stable Low Earth Orbit.
Production
1 Explorer satellite
Production Cost: $500
Launch
We are finished with test flights for now, so mount the Explorer satellite onto the Redstone I rocket and launch the rocket (This mission will be dubbed Explorer 1)
Other
Suggest to the relevant federal agency (I think it's the FBI) that they investigate the recent troubles in Spain, especially the troubling rumours that they (the rebels) have access to some sort of advanced rocket technology
Total cost: $2500