In Progress Let's go to the Moon and do the other things (Kerbal Space)

[Burning Bridges]

Announcement of Koviet Space Ageny

Prof. Dr. Eng. Spermatov, A., Chief Engineer

Today anniversary of Revolution and we also very proud to present to international guests: currently-in-development program for human landing on Moon.

For sending future missions we design extremely powerful raketa "N1". This almost finished device will enable us heavy lifting, human landing missions and make obsolete everything the capitalists have!!

Prototype of "Next Gen" rocket N1 on launchpad.
You see how very big and powerful this rocket compared to previous old fashion design (capitalist).

Lunar Landing Apparat "Tchaika". Complete with human escape vehicle, weight >7.ooo kg.

This very reliable and safe design, culmination of many years succesful work only possible in Koviet Union.

 

[Burning Bridges]

Future of Kapollo in jeopardy?

As a consequence of the highly successful Koviet Lunar program, and the recent shocking images of their new lifting vehicle, the President has ordered an investigation into the efficiency of our whole space effort.

In the investigation we had to answer how THEY could develop such a powerful rocket, and a lander that looks practically indestructible, while our technology still looks so terribly inadequate. The commitee was not at all satisfied with our current plans, especially concerning safety.

As a consequence the President cancelled the next Kapollo launch, restricted funding, and installed Konald Reagan as new director of the space program. He is known to be tough as nails, and questions the usefulness of over 50% of the personnel.

He said the Agency can still continue to fly to the Moon but we can perform no more stunts on the lunar surface. We must start practically from scratch, become more professional and design much more efficient vehicles. Needless to say we are seriously lagging behind the Koviets in technology and resources.

 

[Cassidy]

If the final version of this features fast travel to all Solar System bodies, Gas giant fuel gathering and interstellar flight of a colony ship to Alpha Centauri/whatever as the ultimate goal, I'm sold.

 

[Yeesh]

When will you fucking sheeple finally wake up? These screenshots are all FAKED!

 

[Burning Bridges]

Mission Report: Luna 5

Today we announce another automatic landing take place. We decide to need more data, therefore we send another inexpensive probe apparat, not human (yet).

Result: Another very successful landing, gather new important data.

This time liftoff must take place while night. This necessary because we like to try.

Also one out of our scientists develop new very practical technic. If controller fire Trans Lunar Motor exactly when Moon over horizon, trajectory shall always become quite good (theoretic). We will test result in practice.

Trajectory indeed become very good and Moon capture spaceship at Aphelion! After success dress rehersal of technic, now in future precise maneuvre possible which perhaps even help fuel to save.

Lunar orbit stabilize at about 0 grad latitude precisely.

Fire Deceleration Motor just before pass Svarovski Bassin, where we plan landing site.

Landing flight aim precisely to southern rim Svarovski. There also old "Schrödinger" Krater (almost).

Picture almost from final moments descent.

Probe have touchdown safely inside "Schrödinger" Krater, and again mission encounter no problems.

Landing Apparat "Shilka" have now become really proficient. (3 successful Landings)

This map for showing landing site.

Pictures landing area of multiple angle.

 

[Burning Bridges]

Successful rocket test in Peenesmünde?

We have material which indicates that the Kermans have been succesfully testing a radically new rocket.

It should be stressed that by peace treaty Kermany is still restricted from building rockets larger than 15t.

But theoretically they could be trying to build rockets that fit into that specification, and somehow bring them up to the performance required for space flight. Since our scientists have always ruled out the possibility of using such a small rocket, it is not clear how they could make it. But perhaps they spotted something in the calculations that we missed.

If this story turns out be true, it would make the Kermans the third nation which is able to send men into space.

Pictures of the yet unconfirmed A3 launch.

While at first sight this looks just like a ballistic rocket, it appears to be of startling performance for it's size. Although the total weight is < 10t, it could be suitable for suborbital and perhaps even orbital flights.

We could get hold of this blueprint. If the numbers are correct the performance is simply phenomenal (in comparison to the size). Allegedly the cost per unit is less than 100.000 Reichsmark.

 

[DwarvenFood]

Jeremiah is one unfazed badass motherfucker.

^

 

[GarfunkeL]

Love the broken english.

When I become a trillionaire, I'll hire you as my Chief Engineer for the Codex Moon Rocket program!

 

[Burning Bridges]

Public speech of Konald Reagan, Director of KSA, during the first symposium "How To Lead Space Agencies"

"As I am sure you are aware, some months ago I took on a new job as Director of our National Space Agency.

During my first days in office I made a shocking realization that the agency had fallen into an abject state which was bordering on socialism and un-american perversion.

Sundays were spent leisurely at home with the families, instead of praying in Church. I was not allowed to wear proper firearms inside the facilities. One particularly evil person had even put posters of nude ladies in his office!

But with me in charge, things were going to change. From the first day I set out to restore a new spirit, which subordinates everything under efficiency and cost saving.

For quite some time I had to reject proposal after proposal, until the engineers would finally come up with something that fits into my plans, and our small budget.

To give you an example of the things with which I have to put up on a daily basis, have a look at this blueprint:

"Project Apollo"

This is a proposal for a huge, over-complex moon program which relies on a lunar orbit rendezvous. But everyone in their right mind knows that docking maneuvres in space are absolutely impossible!

It goes without saying that this ludicrous proposal was rejected. I also made sure personally that the people in charge were either laid-off or relegated to insignificant tasks.

I can tell you, it did take a long time until things slowly improved. But today I can proudly present the first results of the new methods of operation.

Aurora is a small and very efficient rocket which which is developed with the help of Kerman specialists.

The Kemini capsule was designed for safe, long duration space flight, and our astronauts are very happy with it.

We feel sure this new hardware will turn into a very versatile platform and become a major success for us.

These new spacecraft will only be the beginning of a program in which we practice new procedures to go to the Moon and the other things. Preparation for the first missions is already underway, and you hear it here first: we plan to use Kemini to put a satellite in lunar orbit very soon! This will commence as soon as we have the new KSP version which supports persistence ..

I thank you for the attention! Konald Reagan"

*applause*

 

[Burning Bridges]

What the Koviets don't want you to see

I am sure you all heard the stories how the Koviets have overtaken us and demonstrate how ro run a space program.

But the public needs to be more aware that all their missions are conducted in absolute secrecy and we only get to see the successes.

However, you can rely on us to do our utmost that you will be able see the other side of the coin!

This is top secret footage. It shows the secret launch of the infamous miracle rocket in which they have invested so much, and which was going to make our space program "obsolete".

Pre flight and start appear normal.

From the pictures one can see that they must have been desperately trimming weight from their original design, which does not surprise us because the promised figures were not realistic.

But about a minute into the flight the rocket goes completely out of control:

Seconds later the mission is aborted and a major catastrophe just barely avoided:

These large rockets are very expensive to build, and this explains why there have been no more big announcements after the successful Luna missions!

After this failure, the Koviet plans to put men on the Moon are in serious trouble.

 

[Oesophagus]

What version of the game are you on? A lot of the custom parts seem to not work properly for me in 0.13

 

[Burning Bridges]

I am running multiple installs (mostly 13.2), and planning to update to .14 soon (the payware release).

By "not working properly", do you mean the part showing a red texture? I know this is a pain in the ass. You can either fix it manually, or download a new version of the addon. I made the necessary format change for the few parts which I liked, and deleted the rest. If you want to do it yourself, open the texture with Irfanview and save as PNG with alpha channel.

 

[Oesophagus]

Thanks! Have some kool kredits

also, this improves my kerbal experience greatly

 

[Oesophagus]

THE RIVAL ENTERPRISE

Meanwhile, in a distant part of Kearth, an evil plot to undermine all of Burning Bridges's efforts was being hatched. The fundamentalist state of Kiran had it's own designs for space.



A space program was hastily assembled, and within a week a working prototype, made of state-of-the-art wheelie bins and duct tape was ready. The objective of the first mission was to successfully orbit the earth and return safely.

The rocket in all its glory:

Now if you're an eagle-eyed codexer you might be wondering why there are no SAS modules on this magnificent beast. Does it use clever aerodynamics? Is this some yet unrevealed Kiranian technology? Is it wichcraft? The answer is that there are no SAS modules because I simply forgot about them. Still, I didn't notice that untill after launch.
So...

The desperate and brave Kerbals do what they can to hold a vertical course. (Though Jebediah doesn't seem to mind)

"vertical" is a subjective term...
At this point the fuel of the first stage ran out. Fortunately, Kiranian mission control had a contingency plan...

um...

Still, with the first stage decoupled, the rocket was much, much lighter, and thus easier to control.

But would the puny little engine intended for use in orbit be enough?

Nope.

The last glimmer of hope rested with the tiny third stage engine intended for orbital adjustments. Time was of the essence...

Although small, the engine is incredibly fuel efficient, so it just might be enough to propel the now very light capsule to around 2300 m/s

SUCCESS!

And here is the little engine that could, finishing its orbit:

Now, however, the issue was whether the remaining fuel would be enough to return home.

it was. So...

re-entry...

(they really have to implement temperature rising due to atmospheric friction. I'm almost certain that with such an angle of re-entry, these guys should now be fried)

So far so good, no one dead, even though the g-force meter was ominously leaning towards the red...

parachute deployed

everything's still working

Touchdown!

An unexpected success, despite some minor initial inconveniences. Much was learned, and the next prototype is sure to do even better! (Like for instance it'll have some sort of fucking guidance)

 

[GarfunkeL]

Haha, good read.

 

[Oesophagus]

This game is as addictive as crack

 

[Burning Bridges]

++ Kunited Nations very concerned that small cylinder may contain nuclear weapon ++

 

[Онега]

What about Kbest Korth Korea?

 

[Burning Bridges]

Congratulation from Koviet Space Bureau. For us space welcome for all peace nations, especially when not from capitalist block. [Censor: But next time please make request from Moscow before flying without permission.]

We understand very much problem related with early design. But I like rocket. This look very much like design which I think some time when becoming Chef Designer.

But please: don't make mistake of using under nuclear device which you perhaps will share from us.

 

[Oesophagus]

++ Kiranian Foreign Ministry ++

Dear Kunited Nations

We don't know what you speak of. We only use rocket as vacuum cleaner design. Very dust here. Need much vacuum cleaner.

Also, uranium in our country belongs to allies from Koviet Union. We not do anything with it, we just holding onto it for them.

Sincerely

Kabdul Camelshagger, chief engineer and catering supervisor

 

[Burning Bridges]

The KUN will keep an eye on this.

 

[Oesophagus]

bump

 

[Oesophagus]

bumpity

 

[Oesophagus]

bump

 

[Oesophagus]

bump >> mission status update incoming.

Also, a million pardons to Burning Bridges for hijacking his LP, but it's his damn fault for introducing KSP to me, thus forcing me to spend two days playing it non stop. So there