My Kerbal Space Program

[Tex]

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It is now year 0; the clocks and calendars have been reset with the birth of the Kerbal Space Program. The Kerbal Space Center has been constructed and its facilities prepped for launch. The ground crew has been hired, and there are hundreds of applicants for Kerbanaut positions. Eight have been selected.
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-Mission Statement-

To explore, discover, and study the area of space within the gravitational influence of the star Kerbol, improve technologies and techniques involving space and air travel, and share the emotions and beauty of space travel to the common public.

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I find that in previous mission report threads I maintained, I seemed to lose interest after a while. I suspect that it was mostly due to the fact that I was over-reporting, and trying to keep meticulous records of everything made the experience less enjoyable. So, this time around, I'm sticking with a policy to leave out all the boring nitty-gritty of spaceflight business, and only report the real interesting stuff and the important things. Hopefully that'll make for a more enjoyable read!

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Featured Image

The far side of the Mun as captured by Fredson Kerman on Explorer 9.

-Table of Contents-
Space Programs
(=) - Failed Programs
(=) - Ongoing Programs
(=) - Discontinued Programs

=Explorer Program=

 

Newsflash! Articles
JEBEDIAH KERMAN BECOMES 1ST KERBAL IN SPACE
EXPLORER 8 SUFFERS PARTIAL DISINTEGRATION...
KERBAL SPACE PROGRAM ENTERS AIRCRAFT SECTOR...
KERBAL SEES FAR SIDE OF THE MUN... 

 

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Crew Roster
Kerman, Jebediah - Pilot - Active
Kerman, Bill - Engineer - Active
Kerman, Bob - Scientist - Active
Kerman, Valentina - Pilot - Active
Kerman, Miling - Engineer - Active
Kerman, Dicy - Scientist - Active
Kerman, Gertina - Pilot - Active
Kerman, Fredson - Pilot - Active

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Statistics

Overall Program Success Rating: 100%
Total Missions: 10
Total Failed Missions: 0
Total Science Points Spent: 378
Unique Number of Vessels: 11
Flags Planted: 1
Kerbanaut Photos Taken: 4
Kerbanaut Selfies Taken: 0
Snack Supply Status: Accepting Donations
Days Since Last Launch: TOO LONG


 

[Tex]

Newsflash!

EXPLORER 5 SURVIVES CATASTROPHE, JEBEDIAH KERMAN BECOMES 1ST KERBAL IN SPACE

July 1, 2016

Explorer 5, the fifth and currently latest mission in the pioneering Explorer space program, has survived a partial spacecraft disintegration on re-entry from suborbital flight, making pilot Jebediah Kerman the first Kerbal to survive the trip into space!

Explorer 5 is the culmination of four previous Explorer flights. Explorer 1, also piloted by Jebediah, was the first manned launch of a rocket-powered craft, K157X, and during the mission tested launch and recovery procedures. Explorer 2 was piloted by pilot Valentina Kerman, using an upgraded rocket booster, K184X, and conducted several science experiments in the upper atmosphere of Kerbin. Explorers 3 and 4, piloted by Gertina and Fredson Kerman, respectively, used variations of a liquid-fueled rocket, the K149X-A and B to reach even higher speeds and altitudes.

Explorer 5 used the latest liquid-fueled rocket, the K161X, and amazingly, prior to the launch, the wrong engine was attached to the first stage of the rocket, which caused it to begin pitching westwards instead of east, towards the Ocean. Unable to right the spacecraft, mission control decided to improvise with the new trajectory.

Jebediah Kerman successfully adapted to the new flight profile, and continued with it once the first stage was jettisoned. Once in space, Jebediah performed several brief experiments in microgravity before burning once more to achieve as close to a safe re-entry trajectory as possible.

However, the SC-9001 Science Jr. module onboard the craft exploded during re-entry, and caused the mystery goo compartment below it, with heat shield, to slam into the capsule where Jebediah was sitting. Jebediah was forced to steer the badly crippled spacecraft to keep it aimed down, and kept the heat shield on during the remainder of re-entry. Once the drogue parachutes were deployed, the heat shield and goo canisters were jettisoned and no data was recovered from them. Jebediah landed safely in the desert to the west of the KSC, triumphant and safe.

Jebediah Kerman with what remains of the Explorer 5 spacecraft.

[lajoswinkler]

Yay, grayscale!

[Tex]

Unfortunately, the Newsflash! studio only prints in black and white!

[DaMachinator]

He looks surprisingly complacent.

[Tex]

MY pilots are the epitome of calm, cool, and collected.... Ignoring the fact that their machinery undergoes catastrophic disintegrations from time to time.

[Tex]

Newsflash!

EXPLORER 8 SUFFERS PARTIAL DISINTIGRATION, 'FIRST' MISSIONS CURSED?

July 1, 2016

Explorer 8, the eighth and now most recent mission in the pioneering Explorer space program, suffered a partial spacecraft disintegration almost identical to that of the earlier Explorer 5 mission that sent Jebediah Kerman into space. 

Explorer 8 was another 'first' for the Kerbal Space Program, as it was to be the first mission where a Kerbal, in this case pilot Fredson Kerman, completed any number of orbits around Kerbin in a pressurized space capsule. The launch and the majority of the mission was successful, the only hitch being the re-entry. Unlike the previous incident, however, the cause of the disintegration and explosion this time was attributed to testing of the automatic pilot program which would allow space pilots to automatically fix their spacecraft to certain headings without the need for manual control input. However, the system was found to be flawed, as it drained power reserves very rapidly. In fact, had Explorer 8 not been equipped with state-of-the-art AA batteries, it is likely the system would have starved the spacecraft of power.

Explorer 8 was meant to repeat some of the failed experiments from the Explorer 5 mission, but in similar circumstances, the data was unable to be retrieved. The SC-9001 Science Jr. module appears to have deficiencies in its heat shielding, and cannot adequately withstand the temperatures of re-entry. The usage of this module is discontinued until the quality control problems can be addressed. Experimental Engineering, the manufacturer of the "Science Jr.," were unavailable for comment.

The unfortunate incident has led to speculation from some who say that historic 'first' missions are cursed to some form of catastrophe or another, as both the first manned spaceflight AND first manned orbital missions were both victim to disaster.

While pilot Fredson Kerman was the first to actually complete an orbit around Kerbin, fellow pilot Gertina Kerman could have held the honor, as her flight profile for Explorer 7 actually was originally a complete orbit. However, her mission was prioritized on high-altitude flight and science, and as such, she does currently hold the record for the furthest distance from the surface of Kerbin every traveled by a Kerbal.

[DaMachinator]

Make sure none of the Science Jr is sticking through the heat shield. You may have to offset the shield down by a tiny amount. Also, try closing the doors before reentry. 

[Tex]

22 minutes ago, DaMachinator said:

Make sure none of the Science Jr is sticking through the heat shield. You may have to offset the shield down by a tiny amount. Also, try closing the doors before reentry. 

Don't worry, the last explosion was probably caused by too much wriggling about with the "retrograde hold" mode on SAS. I have a sneaking suspicion that if I were to do it manually, then I wouldn't have it explode as much. Even still, plot point! c:

[Mr. Quark]

Maximus, You're a moderator? The more you know

[DaMachinator]

8 minutes ago, Mr. Quark said:

Maximus, You're a moderator? The more you know

You're horrible. 

 

[Mr. Quark]

Just now, DaMachinator said:

You're horrible. 

lol

[Tex]

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Saturday, July 02, 2016
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KERBAL SPACE PROGRAM ENTERS AIRCRAFT SECTOR, NEW SCIENCE POSSIBLE
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Kerbal Space Center- Officials at the Kerbal Space Center have announced today that the Kerbal Space Program is opening a new sector of research focused on collecting scientific readings from various locations on the surface of Kerbin, and will be using atmospheric jet aircraft to carry out research operations.

The Kerbal Space Program, before, focused solely on operations in space and high-altitude flight using rockets and spacecraft. However, with new advances in vehicle technology, the Program is beginning its first operations using aircraft to gain further practice for Kerbanauts in collecting scientific readings, as well as improve current ideas and technology regarding aerodynamics.

The Ka18 Skylark is a three-engined jet aircraft, equipped with the latest in scientific instruments: Mystery goo canisters, two thermometers, and a powerful antenna to transmit data back to mission controllers at the Kerbal Space Center.

The Kerbal Space Program is confident that the use of jet aircraft will allow many new possibilities in operations both domestically and perhaps in future spacecraft design, or re-usable vessels for ferrying Kerbals and cargo to various places in the solar system.
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NEWSFLASH! Gets Makeover, Color Printer

Fans of popular news outlet NEWSFLASH! will be pleased to know that the company has received a budget increase, and has used its funding to secure new journalism tech never before seen in its nearly two years of operation. In addition to the ability to print in color, the outlet has also increased its ability to create a newsletter with multiple articles. While sometimes its editors run out of ideas, and use cop-out methods to discontinue articles in order to save space for more pressing issues, the ability to print multiple. . . . . . . [CONTINUED ON PAGE 2]

[Tex]

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Saturday, July 02, 2016
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KERBAL SEES FAR SIDE OF THE MUN, SETS NEW RECORD FOR CONSUMPTION OF SNACKS
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Kerbal Space Center- New reports from the Kerbal Space Center say that pilot Fredson Kerman, the first Kerbal to orbit Kerbin, has also become the first Kerbanaut ever to leave the gravitational influence of Kerbin on his trip around the Mun on Explorer 9!

This astonishing mission was completed with the help of the Mk III version of the KO145 "Exploration" booster, previous versions of which flew on earlier Explorer program missions. The booster featured bigger fuel tanks, extra stabilizer fins, and better strutting than previous versions, but a spokesperson for the engineering department said that "we forgot to put the stupid antenna inside the spacecraft again." No word on whether or not the edit will be made for future "Exploration" boosters.

The far side of the Mun as captured by Fredson Kerman on Explorer 9.

For once, the mysterious "First Curse" which affected Explorers 5 and 8, seems to have had no adverse affect on this mission. In fact, the only cause for alarm during the mission seems to have been low fuel supplies during the final few retrograde burns to send the Explorer 9 spacecraft back into the atmosphere. In addition, purely by chance, Explorer 9 also holds the honor of holding the closest splashdown distance from the Kerbal Space Center, which greatly aided recovery efforts. Only three fishing boats were required to bring the capsule back.

The work done by Fredson Kerman, quickly becoming a figurehead for the pilot corps, is a major building block for future missions to the Mun.

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Rumors Aren't Enough: Who Runs the Kerbal Space Program?

Ever since the Kerbal Space Center was established, there has been a disconnect between what the Program knows and what the Kerbal public at large knows about day-to-day operations. One of the most famous issues on the minds of many is just who actually owns or operates the Space Program. While there are many theories and rumors about who the REAL boss is, nobody can seem to come to come to a consensus as to who it is actually pulling the strings.

There is certainly no shortage of guesses. One likely candidate is scientist Wernher von Kerman, chief egghead at the Space Program, and a pioneer in rocket technology whose advancements made solid and liquid rocket propellant a possibility, and by extension all future space operations. Another candidate is Gene Kerman, famed mission controller and flight director that is responsible for the overseeing of the actual mission portions of spaceflight activities. Certainly someone with an above-average knowledge of administrative procedures.

There are also several other ideas that Kerbals have, and just to name a few: Mortimer Kerman, the head accountant of the Space Program, Jebediah Kerman, pilot and entrepeneur, and a mysterious figure by the name of . . . . . . . [CONTINUED ON PAGE 2A]

 

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Snack Production At All-Time Low, Study Shows

Snacks: The main staple for busy Kerbals on the go. Consumed by shopkeepers and Kerbanauts alike, the ubiquitous Snack has had just a great an impact on Kerbal diet and nutrition since the invention of water. However, a new study shows that, while Kerbal populations and Snack demand grows, Snack production just keeps getting lower and lower.

Snack manufacturers cite many reasons as to why the shortage occurs: Lack of cultivated ground to grow important crops, embezzlement, increase in per Kerbal Snack consumption. Whatever the reason, Snack manufacturers are currently in a scramble to come up with new methods of production, storage, and distribution to help sate the growing demand. . . . . . .  [CONTINUED ON PAGE 2D]

[DaMachinator]

The paper kerbal keeps losing everything except the front page of my newspaper