[AAR] Because It's There (Chapter 13 – 03/29/15) Münshot 2: Minmus Boogaloo

[GreenWolf]

Because It's There

A Tale of Cosmonauts and Rockets (but mostly Cosmonauts)

About This Story

This is a heavily modded, 0.90 career mode after action report, presented in the form of a Kerbal Broadcasting Station documentary. Because of the way the story is presented (more specifically, the interviews with retired cosmonauts), and because each chapter is only minimally planned in advance, previous chapters may be changed and edited to conform with later events (i.e. the death of a cosmonaut who gave an interview).

Modlist

Currently installed mods:

• Action Groups Extended (250+ action groups plus in flight editing? Yes, please.)
  
• Active Texture Management (Makes KSP load faster and use less memory.)
  
• Ambient Light Adjustment (Let there be light!)
  
• Atomic Age (Nuclear rocket is best rocket.)
  
• B9 Procedural Wings (Floppy multi-part wings be gone!)
  
• Better Buoyancy (Improves water physics.)
  
• Contract Configurator (Config file based contract creation system.)
  
• Contract Pack: Remote Tech (Contracts for Remote Tech.)
  
• Contract Pack: SCANSat (Contracts for SCANSat.)
  
• Crowd Sourced Science (Makes science less boring.)
  
• Distant Object Enhancement (Enhances the visibility of distant objects.)
  
• Diverse Kerbal Heads (A texture pack full of heads.)
  
• Docking Port Alignment Indicator (Indicates the alignment of docking ports. Duh.)
  
• Editor Extensions (More editor tools.)
  
• Ferram Aerospace Research (Better aerodynamics.)
  
• Field Experience (Kerbals gain experience while in-flight.)
  
• Final Frontier (Ribbons.)
  
• Flight Manager for Reusable Stages (Time traveling stage recovery system.)
  
• Hullcam VDS (Hull mounted cameras.)
  
• Infernal Robotics (Make my spaceship move!)
  
• Intake Build Aid (Helps with setting up intakes on planes.)
  
• K2 Command Pod (Adds a stock-alike two person command pod.)
  
• Karbonite (ISRU.)
  
• Kerbal Alarm Clock (An alarm clock.)
  
• Kerbal Attachment System (Attach things to other things.)
  
• Kerbal Engineer Redux (Calculates rocket delta-v so I don't have to do it by hand.)
  
• Kerbal Flight Data (Lots of useful data.)
  
• Kerbal Joint Reinforcement (Strengthens joints to reduce wobbling.)
  
• Kronal Vessel Viewer (Makes blueprints.)
  
• Part Wizard (Adds some useful tools to the editor.)
  
• Precise Node (Allows for fine tuning of maneuver nodes.)
  
• Procedural Fairings (Makes fairings.)
  
• RasterPropMonitor (Adds some nifty displays to stock capsules.)
  
• RCS Build Aid (Helps with setting up RCS.)
  
• Remote Tech (Signal delay and communications networks.)
  
• SCANSat (Makes nifty maps.)
  
• Ship Manifest (Useful for moving stuff around.)
  
• Stage Recovery (Recovers stages.)
  
• Stock Bug Fix Modules (Fixes bugs.)
  
• Surface Lights (Stock-alike lights for self-illumination. Very shiny.)
  
• TAC Life Support (Snacks.)
  
• Trajectories (Shows atmospheric trajectories.)
  
• Transfer Window Planner (Delicious porkchop plots.)
  
• USI Kolonization System (Lots of useful stuff for building bases and colonies.)
  
• Vanguard Technologies (Go skydiving.)
  
• Vessel Viewer (Adds some more functionality to RPM displays.)
  
• Waypoint Manager (See waypoints while in flight.)
  
• WernherChecker (In editor checklist to keep me from forgetting things. Like parachutes.)
  

Plus assorted dependencies (Regolith, Community Resource Pack, Toolbar, Module Manager, Firespitter Core, etc...)

Mods that are being considered for inclusion:

• Extraplanetary Launchpads (Build rockets on the Mün.)
  
• Karbonite Plus (Some more doodads for Karbonite.)
  
• KeepFit (Exercise.)
  
• Modular Rocket Systems (Lots of cool stock-alike parts.)
  
• RLA Stockalike (More cool stock-alike parts.)
  
• Station Science (Science for space stations.)
  
• Stockalike Station Parts Expansion (Adds some nice stock-alike space station parts.)
  

Chapter List

Introduction

Chapter 1: Liftoff

Chapter 2: Testbed

Chapter 3: Miracles

Chapter 4: Get Ready...

Chapter 5: Get Set...

Chapter 6: GO!

Chapter 7: First Steps

Chapter 7.5: Münstay

Chapter 8: Preparations

Chapter 9: Groundwork

Chapter 10: Rescues

Chapter 10.5: Intensive Probing

Chapter 11: MARC of a Rebel

Chapter 12: Surprises

Chapter 13: Far from Home

Cosmonaut Roster

[TABLE=class: grid, width: 500, align: center]

[TR]

[TD]Name[/TD]

[TD]Role[/TD]

[TD]Program Joined Under[/TD]

[TD]Program Left Under[/TD]

[TD]Reason for Leave[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Jebediah Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Pilot[/TD]

[TD]Excelsior[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Bob Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Scientist[/TD]

[TD]Excelsior[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Bill Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Engineer[/TD]

[TD]Excelsior[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Thomplin Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Pilot[/TD]

[TD]Excelsior[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Obdorf Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Scientist[/TD]

[TD]Excelsior[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Ronbal Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Engineer[/TD]

[TD]Zenith[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Lusey Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Engineer[/TD]

[TD]Zenith[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Romal Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Pilot[/TD]

[TD]Zenith[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Nelvey Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Pilot[/TD]

[TD]Zenith; Münstay[/TD]

[TD]Zenith[/TD]

[TD]Medical Leave[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Hankin Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Engineer[/TD]

[TD]Zenith[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Jermin Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Pilot[/TD]

[TD]Zenith[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Kenbree Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Scientist[/TD]

[TD]Zenith[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[TD]???[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Other KSA Personnel

[TABLE=class: grid, width: 500, align: center]

[TR]

[TD]Name[/TD]

[TD]Role[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Gene Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Administrator and Flight Director[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Wernher von Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Chief Rocket Designer[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Ambrose Kerman[/TD]

[TD]VAB Engineer[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Argus Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Deep Space Radar Operator[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Samson Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Crew Safety Advisor[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Fitzgerald Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Spaceplane Hangar Engineer[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Zeke Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Chemist and Karbonite Expert[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Mission Log

Excelsior 1

Launcher

: Rocket 2

Payload

: Excelsior Series A Command Module

Crew

: Jebediah Kerman, Pilot

Mission

: Suborbital flight to ~5000 meters

Mission Status

: Success

Excelsior 2

Launcher

: Rocket 2b

Payload

: Excelsior Series A Command Module

Crew

: Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

Mission

: Suborbital flight to ~11000 meters

Mission Status

: Success

Excelsior 3

Launcher

: Rocket 3

Payload

: Excelsior Series A Command Module

Crew

: Jebediah Kerman, Pilot

Mission

: Suborbital flight to ~22000 meters

Mission Status

: Success

Excelsior 4

Launcher

: Rocket 3

Payload

: Excelsior Series A Command Module

Crew

: Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

Mission

: Suborbital flight to ~33000 meters

Mission Status

: Success

Excelsior 5

Launcher

: Rocket 3

Payload

: Excelsior Series A Command Module

Crew

: Jebediah Kerman, Pilot

Mission

: Suborbital flight beyond the atmosphere

Mission Status

: Success

Excelsior 6

Launcher

: Rocket 5

Payload

: Excelsior Series B Command Module

Crew

: Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

Mission

: Orbital flight

Mission Status

: Failed; Failed to make orbit, crew recovered after suborbital flight

Excelsior 7

Launcher

: Rocket 5b

Payload

: Excelsior Series B Command Module

Crew

: Jebediah Kerman, Pilot

Mission

: Orbital flight

Mission Status

: Success

Zenith 1

Launcher

: Rocket 6

Payload

: Zenith 1 Command Module,

Satellite 1

Crew

: Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

Mission

: Flight to High Kerbin Orbit, first EVA, deploy

Satellite 1

Mission Status

: Success

Zenith 2

Launcher

: Rocket 7

Payload

: Zenith 2 Command Module,

Maxwell 1

Kerbin Altimetry Recorder

Crew

: Romal Kerman, Pilot

Mission

: Flight to Polar High Kerbin Orbit, visual observation of Kerbin, deploy

Maxwell 1

KAR

Mission Status

: Success

Commercial R7 Launch

Launcher

: Rocket 7

Payload

:

Satellite 2

Crew

: None

Mission

: Deploy

Satellite 2

Mission Status

: Success

Zenith 3

Launcher

: Rocket 7

Payload

: Zenith 3/4 Command Module

Crew

: Nelvey Kerman, Pilot

Mission

: Rendezvous and dock with

Zenith 4

Mission Status

: Failure; Successful rendezvous, failed docking; Command module destroyed during reentry, crew survived with severe injuries

Zenith 4

Launcher

: Rocket 7

Payload

: Zenith 3/4 Command Module

Crew

: Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

Mission

: Rendezvous and dock with

Zenith 3

Mission Status

: Partial Success; Successful rendezvous, failed docking; Command module deorbited by downmass tug, crew rescued by

Zenith 5

Zenith 5

Launcher

: Rocket 7

Payload

: Zenith 5 Command Module, Downmass Tug

Crew

: Jebediah Kerman, Pilot

Mission

: Rescue Thomplin Kerman, attach downmass tug to

Zenith 4

Mission Status

: Success

Commercial R7b Launch

Launcher

: Rocket 7b

Payload

:

Satellite 3

Crew

: None

Mission

: Deploy

Satellite 3

Mission Status

: Success

Zenith Station

Launcher

: Rocket 7b

Payload

:

Zenith Station

Crew

: None

Mission

: Place

Zenith Station

in 250 kilometer equatorial orbit

Mission Status

: Success

Zenith 6

Launcher

: Rocket 7c

Payload

: Zenith 6 Command Module

Crew

: Jermin Kerman, Pilot; Ronbal Kerman, Engineer

Mission

: Dock with

Zenith Station

Mission Status

: Success

Münshot 1

Launcher

: Liberty

Payload

:

Prosperity

Orbital Propellant Depot

Crew

: None

Mission

: Dock with

Zenith Station

Mission Status

: Success

Safety LES Test

Launcher

: Safety LES

Payload

:

Safety

Crew Transport Vehicle

Crew

: Jebediah Kerman, Pilot; Hankin Kerman, Engineer; Lusey Kerman, Engineer

Mission

: Test the

Safety

's Launch Escape System

Mission Status

: Success

Münshot 2

Launcher

: Liberty

Payload

:

Delivery

Space Tug

Crew

: Romal Kerman, Pilot

Mission

: Dock with

Zenith Station

Mission Status

: Success

Münshot 3

Launcher

: Liberty

Payload

:

Prosperity

Orbital Propellant Depot

Crew

: None

Mission

: Dock with

Zenith Station

Mission Status

: Success

Münshot 4

Launcher

: Liberty Heavy

Payload

:

Discovery

Reusable Münar Lander

Crew

: Thomplin Kerman, Pilot; Kenbree Kerman, Scientist

Mission

: Dock with

Zenith Station

Mission Status

: Success

Münshot 5

Launcher

: Liberty Heavy

Payload

:

Safety

Crew Transport Vehicle

Crew

: Jebediah Kerman, Commander; Romal Kerman, Space Tug Pilot; Ronbal Kerman, Mission Engineer; Kenbree Kerman, Mission Scientist

Mission

: Dock with

Zenith Station

, perform Münar flyby, place

Prosperity

Orbital Propellant Depot and

Discovery

Reusable Münar Lander in Münar orbit

Mission Status

: Success

Münshot 6

Launcher

: Liberty Advanced

Payload

: 2 Portable Science Modules,

Maxwell 2

Münar Altimetry Probe

Crew

: None

Mission

: Dock with

Zenith Station

Mission Status

: Success

Münshot 7

Launcher

: Liberty Heavy Advanced

Payload

:

Safety

Crew Transport Vehicle

Crew

: Jebediah Kerman, Safety Pilot (Temporary); Thomplin Kerman, Commander; Jermin Kerman, Space Tug Pilot; Bill Kerman, Mission Engineer; Obdorf Kerman, Mission Scientist

Mission

: Land on the Mün

Mission Status

: Success

Münar Orbital Surveyor

Launcher

: Liberty Advanced

Payload

: Münar Orbital Surveyor

Crew

: None

Mission

: Place the Münar Orbital Surveyor into polar orbit around the Mün, dock the

Liberty Advanced

upper stage to

Zenith Station

and refuel it

Mission Status

: Success

Belltower 1

Launcher

: Liberty Advanced

Payload

:

Belltower 1

Crew

: None

Mission

: Place

Belltower 1

into orbit, dock the

Liberty Advanced

upper stage to

Zenith Station

and refuel it

Mission Status

: Success

Belltower 2

Launcher

: Liberty Advanced

Payload

:

Belltower 2

Crew

: None

Mission

: Place

Belltower 2

into orbit, dock the

Liberty Advanced

upper stage to

Zenith Station

and refuel it

Mission Status

: Success

Belltower 3

Launcher

: Liberty Advanced

Payload

:

Belltower 3

Crew

: None

Mission

: Place

Belltower 3

into orbit, dock the

Liberty Advanced

upper stage to

Zenith Station

and refuel it

Mission Status

: Success

Zenith Station Resupply Mission

Launcher

: Liberty Advanced

Payload

: Boxes of assorted spare parts

Crew

: None

Mission

: Dock with

Zenith Station

Mission Status

: Success

Münshot 8

Launcher

: Liberty Heavy Advanced

Payload

:

Safety M

Crew Transport Vehicle

Crew

: Romal Kerman, Commander; Jebediah Kerman, Space Tug Pilot; Bob Kerman, Mission Scientist; Hankin Kerman, Mission Engineer

Mission

: Land on the Mün

Mission Status

: Success

Münstay 1

Launcher

: Liberty Heavy Advanced

Payload

: Münar Fuel Tanker

Crew

: Jermin Kerman, Commander; Lusey Kermin, Mission Engineer

Mission

: Refuel the

Discovery

and the

Delivery

Mission Status

: Success

Zenith Station Resupply Mission

Launcher

: Liberty Advanced

Payload

: Portable Service Module

Crew

: None

Mission

: Deliver Portable Service Module to

Zenith Station

Mission Status

: Success

Kerbin Orbital Observer

Launcher

: Liberty Advanced

Payload

: Kerbin Orbital Observer

Crew

: None

Mission

: Place the Kerbin Orbital Observer into a polar orbit

Mission Status

: Success

AMS/MinMAX

Launcher

: Liberty Heavy Advanced

Payload

: Advanced Münar Surveyor and Minmus Multispectral Altimetry Explorer

Crew

: None

Mission

: Place AMS and MinMAX into polar orbits around the Mün and Minmus

Mission Status

: Success

Münstay 2

Launcher

: Liberty Super Heavy

Payload

: Münar Autonomous Resource Collector and skycrane

Crew

: None

Mission

: Deliver MARC and its skycrane to

Zenith Station

Mission Status

: Success

Münstay 3

Launcher

: Liberty Super Heavy Advanced

Payload

: Münar Fuel Lander

Crew

: None

Mission

: Deliver the Münar Fuel Lander to

Zenith Station

Mission Status

: Success

Münstay 4

Launcher

: None

Payload

: Münar Fuel Lander, MARC and its skycrane

Crew

: Jermin Kerman, Space Tug Pilot

Mission

: Bring the Münar Fuel Lander and MARC and its skycrane to the Mün

Mission Status

: Success; Unexpected change in mission plan due to crew mutiny

Mission Patches

Excelsior Program Mission Patch

Zenith Program Mission Patch

Project Münshot Mission Patch

Edited March 30, 2015 by GreenWolf
Chapter 13

[Sampa]

this is awesome. You are hereby ordered to continue this series!

[GreenWolf]

this is awesome. You are hereby ordered to continue this series!

Thanks. Chapter 2 will be up in a little bit, I just have to do the formatting for it. Chapter 3 should be incoming sometime later this week.

Also, I'm going to be taking advantage of this reply to move the first chapter out of the topic (so I can link to it properly).

Introduction

Fifty years ago, kerbalkind took its first small steps off of Kerbin and out into the wider universe. But while we all know the stories of the first Mün landings, very little is actually known about the people, technologies, and events that took us there. That is, until now. To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Excelsior 5, the KSA has released previously unavailable documents relating to the agency's early spaceflight programs. KBS has also been granted several exclusive interviews with many current and former KSA personnel. Now, KBS is proud to present, Because It's There: The Untold Story of the KSA.

Chapter 1: Liftoff

The Kerbal Space Agency began as the brainchild of His Greenness, Supreme Dictator for Life (Until His Untimely Death in a Pogo-Stick Accident), Joey S. Kerman. In his now famous speech to Kongress, His Greenness explained the logic behind its creation.

"Kongresskerbs, some of you have asked me why I want us to go to space. The answer is very simple: Because it's there. For thousands of years, kerbals have gazed up at the night sky, wondering if there are any snacks there. I say we should find out. We go to space to find the answers to the important questions. Questions like, 'Is Minmus really made of pudding?' and 'Are those seas of soda on Laythe?' Also, I was bored, and this seemed interesting." – His Greenness, Supreme Dictator for Life (Until His Untimely Death in a Pogo-Stick Accident), Joey S. Kerman

Unfortunately for the fledgling space agency, it would have to accomplish all of this on a shoestring budget. The Kerbal government had no money to fund a space program, having spent most of it on high performance pogo-sticks.

However, what it lacked in funds, the agency more than made up for with talent. Using what little budget he had and large amounts of snacks, Administrator and Flight Director Gene Kerman managed to assemble a team of Kerbin's smartest scientists, its best engineers, and its greatest pilots.

"I remember the first time I met him, after applying to be a cosmonaut. He called me into his office for an interview, asked me what kind of experience I had. I told him I'd been a test pilot for ten years, that I'd been one of the first kerbals to break the sound barrier in controlled flight. That kind of thing. We talked for a while. At the end, he looked me straight in the eye and said, 'Jeb, we need pilots. Not just good pilots, not even great pilots. We need the best pilots there are. So tell me, are you that pilot? Do you have what it takes to go to space?' And I said, 'I don't know. Guess we'll have to try it and find out.' That's how I became the first cosmonaut." – Cosmonaut Jebediah Kerman, Pilot

The rockets that would carry these cosmonauts into space would be designed by Doctor Wernher von Kerman, a kerbal considered by many to be the father of modern rocketry.

"He was a genius. If it hadn't been for him, we'd still be playing with fireworks. There will probably never be another rocket designer of his caliber. Certainly not in my lifetime. Of course, he was absolutely awful at naming things." – Ambrose Kerman, VAB Engineer

The effort to place a kerbal into space was called the Excelsior program. The Excelsior program was to consist of six missions using progressively larger rockets and attaining greater heights each time, ultimately culminating in an orbital flight. Each mission would carry one cosmonaut to altitude, along with several scientific instruments. The position of pilot for each mission would rotate between the KSA's two pilots, Jebediah Kerman and Thomplin Kerman.

"Jeb was going to be the pilot for the first mission. This would have also made him the pilot for

Excelsior 5

, which was going to be the first mission to space, while I would pilot

Excelsior 6

on the first orbital mission. Of course, we all know that things didn't work out that way." – Cosmonaut Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

"Sitting in that tiny capsule atop several tons of explosives – because really, the R2 wasn't much more than a controlled explosion – sitting there, waiting for the countdown to finish and the engine to ignite – it was the longest ten seconds of my life." – Cosmonaut Jebediah Kerman, Pilot

Excelsior 1 worked perfectly. The Rocket 2 successfully carried it to an altitude of approximately 5000 meters before detaching from the capsule. The capsule splashed down safely in the ocean east of KSC, and was successfully recovered. The Rocket 2 used in the launch was lost when it splashed down at high speed, due to a lack of parachutes.

Excelsior 2 also went swimmingly. The capsule, containing Thomplin Kerman, was lofted to an altitude of around 11000 meters atop a Rocket 2b. The launch stage detached correctly, and both capsule and rocket splashed down safely east of KSC and were recovered.

The next mission, Excelsior 3, went smoothly, successfully reaching an altitude of 22000 meters, although the capsule and rocket touched down very close to the VAB, which concerned some of the mission controllers.

"When they realized that the capsule was coming down over the VAB, mission control started freaking out. They were afraid that I would hit the edge and roll off, or that the parachute would get caught on a ledge. And even if I landed safely on the roof, they'd still need to get a helicopter to get the capsule down. It was a pretty close thing, too. Ended up landing about 20 meters away from it." – Cosmonaut Jebediah Kerman, Pilot

Excelsior 4 achieved a height of over 33000 meters, touching down safely west of KSC.

The next mission was Excelsior 5, which would use the same Rocket 3 used in the previous two missions to escape the atmosphere on a suborbital trajectory, carrying cosmonaut Jebediah Kerman into space.

"Was I angry that Jeb got to be the first kerbal in space? No, not at all. After all, I was going to be the first kerbal to achieve orbit. At least, that's what we thought at the time." – Cosmonaut Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

Excelsior 5 successfully reached an altitude of almost 80 kilometers. At this height, the atmosphere is thin enough to allow an orbit with negligible atmospheric drag.

"The view from space is breathtaking. With no atmosphere to get in the way you can see so many more stars than you can on Kerbin. And Kerbin. Kerbin is beautiful. From that high up you can easily see the curvature of the planet. As you ascend, the horizons just fall away, curving back beyond the planet. It's amazing." – Cosmonaut Jebediah Kerman, Pilot

However, Excelsior 5 was more than a sightseeing trip. The capsule carried several instruments to study the environment, and the descent back into the atmosphere would be used to test the aerodynamic properties of the capsule.

"Once I reached apoapsis, I was supposed to detach from the R3 launcher and orient the capsule for reentry. The idea was to try and control the reentry vector by using the small amount of lift generated by the lifting body effect on the capsule. It worked, too. I ended up landing almost a kilometer away from the R3, unlike previous flights which landed almost on top of it." – Cosmonaut Jebediah Kerman, Pilot

The string of successful missions that had begun with Excelsior 1 ended with Excelsior 6. The command module of Excelsior 6 was larger than those of previous flights, due to new instruments being carried aboard. This new command module would be placed into orbit by the three stage Rocket 5, which consisted of a Rocket 1 first stage, a Rocket 3 second stage, and a Rocket 4 orbital insertion stage. For stability reasons, three fins had been added to the second stage.

"It was the fins. They made the rocket too stable. To make orbit, I was supposed to pitch the rocket down along the 90° direction – basically, turn it east – decreasing the pitch as I got higher. But the fins kept the rocket pointing straight up, and I couldn't get the rocket to turn. Once I got up into the higher atmosphere, the fins lost most of their control, so I was able to turn using reaction wheels. I tried to do the orbit insertion, but I'd wasted too much fuel going straight up. I ended up with an apoapsis of about 100 kilometers and a periapsis of 40 kilometers. Too deep inside the atmosphere." – Cosmonaut Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

The fins were changed into control surfaces for Excelsior 7, which successfully reached orbit and safely reentered, landing in the ocean west of KSC. Its pilot was Jebediah Kerman.

Edited February 28, 2015 by GreenWolf
Guess

[GreenWolf]

Chapter 2: Testbed

The Excelsior Program was succeeded by the Zenith Program. The Zenith Program consisted of several orbital flights, all meant to test technologies and procedures necessary to go farther – to the Mün, and beyond. Additionally, under the Zenith Program, the KSA recruited five more cosmonauts, bringing the total number to ten.

"Unlike Excelsior, there wasn't a lot of reuse of hardware in Zenith. All the Excelsior missions – except for six and seven – used the same command module design, and there was a lot of reuse of rockets in design and flight. R3 was mostly just a longer R2, R4 was basically R2 with a different engine, and R5 was literally just an R1, an R3, and an R4 stuck together. But Zenith used different hardware for almost every launch. It wasn't so much a spaceflight program as it was a bunch of different one-off missions with a common goal." – Ambrose Kerman, VAB Engineer

The first Zenith mission was flown by Thomplin Kerman into a High Kerbin Orbit. It used a Rocket 6 as the launch vehicle, and used a modified Excelsior 6 command module. A commercial satellite was carried on top of the command module as a secondary payload. The mission goals included studying the space in HKO, delivering the satellite, and performing the first EVA.

"The R6 is a monster. It's based off of the R5, but you wouldn't know that from flying it. The orbit insertion stage is a lengthened R4 and the launch stage is a lengthened R3, but that's not where the real difference is. See, the R5 used a single small SRB as a boost stage to give the rest of the rocket enough height and speed to get to orbit. But the R6 uses four larger strap-on SRBs as a boost stage." – Cosmonaut Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

These strap-on boosters nearly destroyed the vehicle during launch.

"So the SRBs ignite, and the whole ship starts accelerating. The G-forces are tremendous. And remember, I can't see a thing, since the whole command module is enclosed in a fairing because the satellite being carried on the nose is such a weird shape. The whole rocket is vibrating violently, and I'm worried that it's going to shake itself apart. CAPCOM is saying something about dynamic pressure rising, and I can hear someone at mission control saying the nose is wobbling." – Cosmonaut Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

Telemetry from the launch shows that a few seconds before SRB shutdown, the nose of the rocket had begun to wobble from side to side, causing a huge increase in dynamic pressure.

"Afterwards, control tells me that the nose of the rocket almost broke off during launch. Which would have sent me careening straight into the SRBs." – Cosmonaut Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

The rest of the mission proceeds nominally, with satellite deployment and EVA going as planned

"Going on EVA for the first time ever was incredible. In the command module, you only have this tiny little window in the door. But when you're outside, you can see everything. It's just you, alone in the suit, floating 300 kilometers above Kerbin. It's so peaceful. There isn't a better view to be found in the universe." – Cosmonaut Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

Zenith 1 safely splashes down east of KSC. However, the incident during the launch causes Gene Kerman to place a moratorium on the further use of SRBs on crewed vehicles

Work began immediately on a liquid fueled replacement for Rocket 6. The result was Rocket 7, a massive launcher that would easily be able to fulfill the KSA's needs.

"The R7 was a paradigm shift from all previous launch vehicles. It took the long, spindly fuels tanks with single engines that had categorized previous launch vehicles, and replaced them with wide, short tanks with engine clusters. Whereas previous vehicles had been reusing older suborbital rockets as stages in an orbital rocket, each stage in the R7 was designed from the beginning to be used in an orbital launcher. And most importantly, the R7 dispensed with the solid rocket motors used in the R5 and R6, replacing them with liquid fueled boosters." – Ambrose Kerman, VAB Engineer

The new launch vehicle was first used to place Zenith 2 and its piggyback payload into a highly inclined orbit. Zenith 2 featured yet another redesign of the command module, and carried with it a small mapping satellite.

"

Zenith 2

was my first flight as a cosmonaut. I had previous flight experience as a high-speed pogo-stick test pilot, but nothing can really prepare you for that moment when the engines light and you start to accelerate away from the launchpad. And the R7 is a powerful machine. On launch, the four core engines and the two booster engines are putting out a total of 1.29 million Newtons of thrust, giving the whole thing a thrust to weight ratio of 2.21." – Cosmonaut Romal Kerman, Pilot

The primary mission of Zenith 2 was to test the new long duration command module. As this could be done in any orbit, the Maxwell 1 Kerbin Altimetry Recorder mission was folded into it, using the Zenith as a carrier. Because this would put the Zenith into a polar orbit, a secondary mission of making visual observations of the planet was also added to the mission profile.

"Ascent and orbital insertion went perfectly, leaving the Zenith in a circular orbit 497 kilometers above Kerbin, with an inclination of approximately 80°. I deployed the satellite, then waited for it to reach a safe distance before doing another burn to lower my periapsis to 200 kilometers. After circularizing at 200 kilometers, the secondary mission began. Which basically meant enjoying the view for the next two days." – Cosmonaut Romal Kerman, Pilot

Zenith 2 safely landed a few kilometers south of the KSC.

The hardware for the next Zenith mission would take time to develop and build, and with another R7 already ready to launch, the KSA made the decision to use it to launch another commercial satellite.

The next Zenith mission was the Zenith 3/Zenith 4 orbital rendezvous and docking test. It would make use of yet another new command module, and would test the new reaction control system and docking mechanisms. Zenith 3 would be flown by Nelvey Kerman, while Zenith 4 would be flown by Thomplin Kerman.

"Was I nervous? Of course I was! No one had ever attempted rendezvous and docking before, and now I was going to try to do it on my first mission! No pressure, right?" – Cosmonaut Nelvey Kerman, Pilot

Zenith 3 launched first, placing itself in a 250 kilometer equatorial orbit. Zenith 4 launched shortly afterwards, inserting itself into a 100 kilometer parking orbit.

"The idea was for me to sit in the lower orbit until the phase angles were right. Then, I would do a burn to raise my apoapsis to 250 kilometers and bring our relative velocities to 0." – Cosmonaut Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

The rendezvous went fine, with Thomplin managing to bring the vessels within a kilometer of each other. However, it was at this point that the problems began.

"I couldn't see him. We were on the night side of the planet, and neither of us had running lights. And our docking cameras didn't work, because some idiot had installed them underneath the docking adapters. So we had to rely on instruments." – Cosmonaut Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

Thomplin began bringing Zenith 4 towards Zenith 3, successfully bringing them within ten meters of each other using just the instrumentation.

"I could just see the outline of his ship against the planet. At this point, we were close enough that if you'd stuck your hand out of the airlock, you could have touched the other ship. We started final docking maneuvers, thinking that we were going to pull it off." – Cosmonaut Nelvey Kerman, Pilot

But it was not to be. The two ships made multiple docking attempts, each time coming within centimeters of docking, but unable to dock the two ships.

"It was the rotation. See, as we orbited the planet, the ships would rotate with respect to the orientation direction. We'd line up the ports and begin an approach, only to have the port rotate away. We tried to point along the north/south nodes, but we even then, we couldn't line up the velocity vectors correctly, because the RCS wasn't balanced properly. Lateral translation would change our forward motion, screwing up the approach." – Cosmonaut Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

Mission control called for a mission abort, and ordered the two cosmonauts to return home. As the two cosmonauts prepared for reentry, KSA engineers had already started looking for solutions to the docking problem and begun preparing the next Zenith missions, which were planned to carry multiple cosmonauts into space in a single command module.

Edited February 28, 2015 by GreenWolf
Reasons

[GreenWolf]

Chapter 3: Miracle

After Zenith 3 and Zenith 4 had failed to dock several times, mission control called for an abort to the test, and ordered the cosmonauts to come home. Zenith 3 would return first, followed by Zenith 4 a few hours later.

Or at least, that was the plan.

"I used the RCS in the command module to deorbit and set myself up on a trajectory that would splash down east of KSC. Reentry went fine, and everything seemed fine. Then, when it came time to deploy the parachutes, nothing happened. I tried deploying them again, and still nothing happened. And then I realized that I didn't have parachutes." – Cosmonaut Nelvey Kerman, Pilot

During assembly in the VAB, the engineer responsible for installing the parachutes on Zenith 3 and Zenith 4 had been on sick leave. Due to an administrative oversight, no one else had been tasked with installing them, and so the two craft had been launched into space with no way of coming back.

"I didn't panic. I only had a few thousand meters left to act, and if I wanted to live, I couldn't afford to panic. Instead, I began firing the RCS, desperately trying to shed enough speed to survive lithobraking. I hit the sea going somewhere around 50 meters per second. The command module just disintegrated around me. Somehow, I survived." – Cosmonaut Nelvey Kerman, Pilot

Although Nelvey survived, he was far from unharmed. Most of the bones in his body were broken, and he had severe internal bleeding. If he hadn't splashed down right off the shore from KSC, he would have certainly died from his injuries. As it was, KSC first responders were able to stabilize him, and the cosmonaut was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery.

To make matters worse, the same oversight that had destroyed Zenith 3 had also left Zenith 4 without parachutes. Fortunately, Zenith 4 had not yet started its deorbit burn when this was discovered, and the reentry was aborted. However, now Thomplin Kerman was stranded in orbit, with no way to get home.

"I wasn't too worried. I had enough supplies to last me half a month, and I knew from past turn around times that it would take KSA less time than that to get something up to me. Honestly, I was more concerned about Nelvey." – Cosmonaut Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

Thomplin was correct in his assumption. KSA already had an R7 ready, and the two person Zenith 5 command module, which had been scheduled for testing on the next launch, was quickly refitted into a rescue craft. Jebediah Kerman, as the most experienced pilot at KSA, was chosen to fly the rescue mission.

"The original mission plan for the

Zenith 5

was for me and Bill to fly it into orbit for a flight test. What happened instead of that was, the Zenith was rushed to launchpad with most of its nonessential systems missing and a downmass tug strapped to the nose. I was supposed to fly it up to

Zenith 4

and dock if I could. If I couldn't I was supposed to get close enough for Thomplin to EVA over." – Cosmonaut Jebediah Kerman, Pilot

Zenith 5 made the ascent to orbit as quickly as possible. Once in orbit, Jebediah rendezvoused with Zenith 4, carefully bringing the two craft closer together.

"The plan was for Jeb to perform the rendezvous, and then for me to close the distance. Once I was close enough, Jeb would detach from the R7 upper stage and begin docking, since the RCS on his craft was properly balanced." – Cosmonaut Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

"The docking went incredibly smoothly. Tom pointed

Zenith 4

's nose along the north-south direction, keeping it from rotating, and then I slid in from above, killing lateral velocity with RCS. Once I was directly above the docking port, all I had to do was make a small RCS burn forwards." – Cosmonaut Jebediah Kerman, Pilot

"Compared to the difficulties I'd had docking with

Zenith 3

, the docking with

Zenith 5

went perfectly. Once we were docked, I crawled over into

Zenith 5

, then we undocked, leaving the downmass tug attached to

Zenith 4

." – Cosmonaut Thomplin Kerman, Pilot

Jebediah and Thomplin then returned to Kerbin in Zenith 5. Once they had safely reentered, the downmass tug attached to Zenith 4 deorbited the derelict ship.

Following the parachute debacle, the manned spaceflight program was put on hold until the internal investigation was finished. However, an unmanned commercial launch did happen during this time, with Satellite 3 being placed into orbit by the new Rocket 7b.

The internal investigation concluded shortly after this. Its final conclusion was that the primary reason for the loss of Zenith 3 was administrative incompetence in the engineering department. It recommended sweeping reforms of this department, and an overhaul of its safety procedures. Once these were completed, the Zenith program could continue.

To make up for the loss of Nelvey Kerman, who was on indefinite medical leave following his crash in Zenith 3, two more cosmonauts were selected, Kenbree Kerman and Jermin Kerman. There were now active 11 cosmonauts working for KSA.

The first launch of the continued Zenith program was Zenith Station, an orbital space station, and by far the largest payload carried by a Rocket 7 up to that point in time. Zenith Station was placed into an equatorial, 250 kilometer orbit, and was launched uncrewed.

The next launch after that was Zenith 6, which would carry Jermin Kerman and Ronbal Kerman up to Zenith Station to become its first crew. This launch proceeded smoothly, and the two cosmonauts were able to successfully dock to the space station.

"We didn't have any problems with the docking. The unbalanced RCS on

Zenith 3

and

Zenith 4

that had kept them from docking had been corrected in

Zenith 5

, and then refined even further in

Zenith 6

." – Cosmonaut Ronbal Kerman, Engineer

Once Zenith 6 was securely docked to Zenith Station, the two cosmonauts detached the Rocket 7b upper stage that had put the station in orbit. The stage was then deorbited and recovered.

However, even as the Zenith program reached new heights, both figuratively and literally, it was nearing its end, as Gene Kerman and Wernher von Kerman prepared for the successor to Zenith: Project Münshot.

Using the technologies developed and tested during the Zenith program, they planned to send cosmonauts to the Mün. Wernher von Kerman outlined the basic plan behind Project Münshot in this memo to Gene Kerman.

PROJECT MÃœNSHOT

1. Launch Kerbin propellant depot
   
   
2. Send up crew vehicle to dock with it and refill it
   
   
3. Crew vehicle returns to Kerbin with crew
   
   
4. Place Münar propellant depot in Kerbin orbit
   
   
5. Send up space tug to Münar propellant depot
   
   
6. Send up crew vehicle to dock with space tug
   
   
7. Space tug places itself, the Münar depot, and the crew vehicle on a free return trajectory to the Mün.
   
   
8. Space tug arrives at moon, crew vehicle undocks
   
   
9. Space tug performs orbital insertion, places Münar depot into orbit
   
   
10. Space tug returns to Kerbin
    
    
11. Send up Münar lander to Kerbin depot
    
    
12. Send up another crew vehicle to refill depot and tug
    
    
13. Tug takes lander to the Mün
    
    
14. Tug returns to Kerbin
    
    
15. Send up a crew vehicle to dock with tug
    
    
16. Tug carries crew vehicle to the Mün
    
    
17. Crew vehicle docks with lander, transfers cosmonauts
    
    
18. Landing
    
    
19. Cosmonauts return to crew vehicle
    
    
20. Tug takes crew back to Kerbin
    
    

Total Launches Required

: 8

Edited February 28, 2015 by GreenWolf
Sticking KVV generated blueprints inside spoilers until I can shrink them

[Sampa]

Great job on that rescue mission, and glad that unlucky Kerbonaut survived his ROUGH water landing!

[GreenWolf]

Great job on that rescue mission, and glad that unlucky Kerbonaut survived his ROUGH water landing!

When I realized that he didn't have parachutes, I thought he was a goner. Out of desperation, I had him EVA right before the capsule hit the water. Amazingly, he bounced.

Since KSP doesn't simulate injuries, he's perfectly fine (he actually got a level up out of it). But since surviving a crash at 50 m/s would leave anyone a wreck, I've put him on medical leave (he's still on the roster, but he won't be flying missions anytime soon.)

[Sampa]

When I realized that he didn't have parachutes, I thought he was a goner. Out of desperation, I had him EVA right before the capsule hit the water. Amazingly, he bounced.

Since KSP doesn't simulate injuries, he's perfectly fine (he actually got a level up out of it). But since surviving a crash at 50 m/s would leave anyone a wreck, I've put him on medical leave (he's still on the roster, but he won't be flying missions anytime soon.)

good move...might also want to add psychological shock!

- - - Updated - - -

You might consider using Vanguard's parachute mod in the future for such an occasion...emergencies...lose the ship, but you can ensure the Kerbal's survival and safety from harm

[GreenWolf]

good move...might also want to add psychological shock!

- - - Updated - - -

You might consider using Vanguard's parachute mod in the future for such an occasion...emergencies...lose the ship, but you can ensure the Kerbal's survival and safety from harm

I looked at Vanguard when I was downloading mods for this, but I can't remember my exact logic behind not getting it. If/when I start doing spaceplane stuff, I'll probably get it. For a rocket, most of the problems will happen at launch, and I doubt that FAR would be kind to any Kerbals who ejected at Mach 2. For things like this, where I forgot to put parachutes on the capsule, I'd have to remember to put the Vanguard parachute on, which kind of defeats the point.

As for psychological shock, well, I can tell you that Nelvey isn't going to come out of this without some serious therapy.

[Sampa]

I'm not so sure about your logic toward FAR, I'm positive that you should be able to eject a kerbal at mach 2 and have him/her survive with little to no problems (given that you give the parachutes enough time to actually open). Yeah, I know that I would be forever changed by such events (if and when ou use him again in this series, you should write in a fact of constant distrust for those in the VAB and the ships they put out)

[GreenWolf]

I'm not so sure about your logic toward FAR, I'm positive that you should be able to eject a kerbal at mach 2 and have him/her survive with little to no problems (given that you give the parachutes enough time to actually open).

Interesting. I'd have figured that the dynamic pressure from ejecting at those speeds would crush a Kerbal. Guess FAR doesn't model that. Regardless, I'd prefer to use launch escape systems over ejection seats for rockets. Expect to see one on the next crewed launch.

Yeah, I know that I would be forever changed by such events (if and when ou use him again in this series, you should write in a fact of constant distrust for those in the VAB and the ships they put out)

I don't think any of the cosmonauts really trust the VAB. They all know that a rocket is little more than a controlled explosion with some fancy doodads on it.

[Sampa]

I was just saying that based on real life...I will still need to test it out personally (GREAT...ANOTHER project on my plate).

And true they would be distrustful of that, but I think he could be further distrustful with the capsule itself, more than the rocket (PTSD ref?)

[Wabbit]

This is really cool, I'm gonna keep up with this.

[GreenWolf]

I was just saying that based on real life...I will still need to test it out personally (GREAT...ANOTHER project on my plate).

If I remember correctly, the number of people who have survived ejection at supersonic speeds can be counted on one hand. But then again, I doubt many people have survived 50 m/s collisions, so perhaps Kerbals are just more durable than humans?

And true they would be distrustful of that, but I think he could be further distrustful with the capsule itself, more than the rocket (PTSD ref?)

I was thinking that when he finally recovers, he could become an advocate for KSA's very neglected spaceplane program. He probably won't fly in a rocket again though.

This is really cool, I'm gonna keep up with this.

Glad you like it. Chapter 4 should be up tomorrow or the day after that. In the meanwhile, have this Project Münshot mission patch.

It's supposed to be a flag sized PNG, but imgur keeps converting my PNGs to JPEGs. You can convert it back using GIMP, but the originally transparent background will be solid white (like it is in the JPEG).

Update: I managed to get the PNGs uploaded to imgur and have edited the links in the topic to reflect this. Turns out, you can't upload PNGs to imgur from an iPad.

Second edit: Wow, looking at the thread on my PC, those blueprints from Kronal Vessel Viewer are HUGE. I'll have to go back and shrink them down when I have time.

Edited February 27, 2015 by GreenWolf

[Specialist290]

Still working my way through this, (I really should devote more time to thoroughly reading over these Mission Reports in the near future) but I have to say I'm enjoying this immensely. The writing is quite good, and the tone has just the right balance between whimsical humor and serious reporting that I personally think is important to the "kerbal" mindset. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this tale as it unfolds

[GreenWolf]

Still working my way through this, (I really should devote more time to thoroughly reading over these Mission Reports in the near future) but I have to say I'm enjoying this immensely. The writing is quite good, and the tone has just the right balance between whimsical humor and serious reporting that I personally think is important to the "kerbal" mindset. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this tale as it unfolds

I'm glad you like it. My tone when writing fiction tends to be relatively serious, with the occasional bit of humour thrown in to lighten the mood. When writing about KSP, this works really well, and tends to be pretty easy to do, since space can be incredibly dangerous, while the kerbals are almost inherently funny. The important thing, at least in my mind, is to avoid the Cerebus Rollercoaster (DANGER: TV Tropes link!).

[GreenWolf]

Chapter 4: Get Ready...

Project Münshot was KSA's most ambitious undertaking so far. It would require the development of four new spacecraft with very different functions and roles, as well as a launcher to put them into space.

The first of these were the orbital propellant depots, codenamed Prosperity, which would be placed in orbit around Kerbin and the Mün. These depots were critical to any attempt to go to the Mün, as without these the reusable space tug and lander would be impossible.

"The

Prosperity

– Wernher wanted to name it Orbital Propellant Depot 1, but we'd stopped letting him name things by that point – the

Prosperity

was the key to the whole thing. Without it, we couldn't have had the reusable lander or the space tug, and that would have meant throwing away hundreds of thousands of kredits worth of hardware with every mission." – Ambrose Kerman, VAB Engineer

The final design of Prosperity would dictate the design constraints of all of the other craft. However, the vehicle most affected by Prosperity's design was the R7-Derived Multirole Launch Vehicle, dubbed Liberty, which would be used to place it, and all of the other hardware for Project Münshot, into a 250 kilometer equatorial orbit around Kerbin.

"

Liberty

had to be able to lift the 30 ton

Prosperity

module into orbit, preferably with all or most of its fuel. When this proved to be nearly impossible to achieve using current hardware, the design constraints were loosened. In the end,

Liberty

would carry the module into orbit empty, then transfer most of the remaining fuel in the insertion stage into the module. Since launches of other Münshot hardware using the

Liberty

would almost certainly leave extra fuel in the upper stage, it was decided that the upper stage would be designed to be able to dock with and refuel the

Prosperity

module, to make up for its inability to carry the entire thing to orbit fully fueled." – Ambrose Kerman, VAB Engineer

With the design of the propellant depot and the launch vehicle completed, the next step was the crew vehicle. This spacecraft, called Safety by the design team, would need to be able to carry 3 kerbals to and from orbit, and house them during their journey to the Mün and back.

"Unlike previous crew vehicles, which had been combined command/service modules,

Safety

was composed of three separate modules, only one of which would return to Kerbin. This was because previous vehicles had only had to deal with very minor reentry heating on returning from LKO, while

Safety

would be reentering at far higher Münar return velocities, with correspondingly greater heating. It was more economical to just shield the command module and ditch everything else instead of trying to bring everything back." – Ambrose Kerman, VAB Engineer

The three modules which comprised Safety were the command module, which housed the crew and would return to Kerbin, the service module, which carried the electrical systems, most of the life support, and some of the monopropellant, and the orbital module, which carried the rest of the monopropellant and the docking adapter. A launch escape system was mounted on top of all of this, which would be jettisoned before orbital insertion.

The next vehicle was the Delivery Space Tug, which would carry all of the necessary hardware from Kerbin orbit to the Mün. The design constraints for the tug were relatively light, with the most important being the ability to deliver approximately 30 tons to Münar orbit and return to Kerbin.

The final vehicle was the Discovery Reusable Münar Lander. Of all of the vehicles, this was the one with the most rigid specifications.

"We went through at least three different designs before

Discovery

was settled on. The lander had to be able to carry two cosmonauts from Münar orbit to the surface and back, and it had to be able to do it in a single stage. Additionally, it was decided that it would also have to be able to carry a small amount of cargo down to the surface. During the design process, this cargo was almost always a detachable science module, although rovers and other pieces of small hardware could also be carried." – Ambrose Kerman, VAB Engineer

One month after the launch of Zenith 6, Münshot 1 was ready to launch. It would carry the first Prosperity module into orbit and dock it to Zenith Station.

The module was inserted into a 100 by 150 kilometer parking orbit, where it waited to perform its rendezvous burn.

â€Â

Prosperity

has a dry mass of about 5 tons, pretty much the same as Zenith Station. It’s about the same length, too. So watching through the window as it autonomously docked was more than a little unnerving.†– Cosmonaut Jermin Kerman, Pilot

The module successfully docked to the station’s starboard docking port, carrying 475 units of fuel and 575 units of oxidiser.

Once the Prosperity module was docked, the Liberty upper stage that it had launched on was deorbited.

However, it was at this point that KSA mission controllers realized that they had lost all telemetry from Satellite 3.

â€ÂWe have no idea what happened to it. Once it had been placed into the correct orbit, we had mostly just left it to its own devices, since it wasn’t our satellite. But we had been tracking it on the KSC’s Deep Space Radar, and we’d been getting a constant stream of telemetry data from it. But no one was really watching it. Sometime between the launch of

Zenith 6

and the launch of

Münshot 1

, it just disappeared. Our best guess is that it had an encounter with the Mün and crashed into it. But no one knows.†– Argus Kerman, Deep Space Radar Operator

The next item on the launch manifest was the Safety Launch Escape System Test.

â€ÂThere’s a certain irony in it. Solid rocket boosters were banned from use in manned launches over safety concerns, and now here we were using smaller solid rocket motors to try and make a rocket safer.†– Cosmonaut Lusey Kerman, Engineer

Edited February 28, 2015 by GreenWolf

[Sampa]

Very nice...can't wait to see the manned flights to mun

[GreenWolf]

Chapter 5: Get Set…

The next piece of hardware to be launched was the Delivery Space Tug. It would be flown into orbit and docked to Zenith Station by Romal Kerman. Due to the low thrust to weight ratio of the Liberty’s upper stage engine, Münshot 2 would fly a modified ascent profile, using the Delivery’s engines to assist with orbital insertion.

â€ÂThe

Liberty

just wasn’t as powerful as we had hoped it would be. While it was a definite advancement over the R7, it still had difficulties in placing Münshot hardware into orbit. Part of the reason for this was because the Münshot hardware ended up being a lot heavier than expected, and part of it was because of inherent limitations in the

Liberty

launcher itself. But it got the job done, and that’s the important thing.â€Â– Ambrose Kerman, VAB Engineer

CAPCOM (Thomplin Kerman)

:

Münshot 2

, all system are a go. Beginning final countdown. Launch in 5… 4…

Romal

: SAS on. Throttle to full.

CAPCOM

: 3… 2…

Romal

: Beginning engine startup.

CAPCOM

: 1...

Romal

: Ignition!

CAPCOM

: Liftoff!

– Recording of

Münshot 2

prelaunch dialogue

Romal

: Engine shutdown! Orbit insertion complete.

CAPCOM (Thomplin Kerman)

: Looking good,

Münshot 2

. GUIDO says you can mess with the new flight computers now.

Romal

: ‘Junk Systems Inc.’ They sound reliable.

Once in orbit, it was just a matter of waiting for the correct phase angles and then performing a small prograde burn.

â€ÂOnce we had the rendezvous planned, I moved the remaining fuel from the upper stage into the empty tanks on

Discovery

. Once that was done, I jettisoned the empty stage and left it in the parking orbit.†– Cosmonaut Romal Kerman, Pilot

Now with tanks nearly full of fuel, Discovery began its rendezvous with Zenith Station.

â€ÂRomal handled the

Delivery

like a pro, docking it to the station’s nadir port on the first try. Watching him fly, you almost forgot that the

Delivery

was a several ton spacecraft flying along at a couple thousand meters per second.†– Cosmonaut Ronbal Kerman, Engineer

The next thing to go up was the second Prosperity module. This one would only be staying at Zenith Station temporarily, before being towed out to the Mün by Delivery.

â€ÂRendezvous didn’t go as planned, and the module ended up making its closest approach about 100 kilometers away from the station. So I had to go out in

Delivery

and catch the darn thing before it drifted too far away.†– Cosmonaut Romal Kerman, Pilot

â€Â

Prosperity

has its own RCS, which turned out to be good and bad. During the final docking approach with the station, I kept having to fight with the module’s own RCS. Finally, I just cut the thing loose and let it dock separately from me, which actually worked pretty well.†– Cosmonaut Romal Kerman, Pilot

Next up was the Discovery lander. It would be flown up half empty, using a similar ascent profile to Delivery, atop the new, four booster Liberty Heavy.

CAPCOM (Jebediah Kerman)

: Remember, your RCS tanks are nearly empty to save launch mass, so don’t try anything fancy. Romal will dock with you in orbit and bring you into the station.

Thomplin

: I know how to fly a spacecraft, Jeb.

CAPCOM

: Just making sure you don’t forget. Wouldn’t want you to run out of RCS and get stuck up there.

– Recording of

Münshot 4

prelaunch dialogue

â€ÂThe plan called for me to take

Delivery

out and dock with

Discovery

once it was near the station. Of course, it wasn’t until

Discovery

had already finished its rendezvous burn that we realized that we needed to move some things around to do this.†– Cosmonaut Romal Kerman, Pilot

Unlike Delivery, which had jettisoned its Liberty upper stage before its rendezvous burn, Discovery was still carrying its partially full upper stage. Having already filled its own tanks from the upper stage’s fuel, Discovery would transfer the remaining fuel into Delivery’s extra fuel tanks before ditching the stage.

The next launch would be the Safety crew vehicle, piloted by Jebediah Kerman. With all of the other experienced pilots already in space, the role of CAPCOM for this mission would be filled by Nelvey Kerman, who would have been the pilot for Münshot 5 if he had not been injured in Zenith 3.

Jebediah

: You sure you’re up for this Nelvey?

CAPCOM (Nelvey Kerman)

: Hey, I’m not the one in the rocket. I might not be able to walk yet, but I can talk just fine.

Jebediah

: You should’ve been the one going to the Mün.

CAPCOM

: But I’m not, and there’s not much any of us can do about it. Quit moping over me and act like a cosmonaut, damnit! You’re going to the Mün, Jeb! Now, are you ready to get this bird into space?

Jebediah

: Let’s do it.

CAPCOM

: All systems are a go. Beginning final countdown. Launch in 5.. 4…

Jebediah

: SAS on. Throttle to full.

CAPCOM

: 3… 2…

Jebediah

: Beginning engine startup.

CAPCOM

: 1…

Jebediah

: Ignition and…

Both

: Liftoff!

– Recording of

Münshot 5

prelaunch dialogue

Once in orbit, Münshot 5 began its rendezvous with Zenith Station.

Once in range of the station, the upper stage was jettisoned, leaving it in a parking orbit near the station. The Safety capsule then began its docking approach.

Edited March 1, 2015 by GreenWolf
I will never get the formatting right on the first try

[GreenWolf]

Very nice...can't wait to see the manned flights to mun

Barring any rapid unplanned dissassemblies, the Münar flyby should happen in chapter 6. Landing will either be in 6 or 7, depending on how much text the flyby takes up. Throw a few more Münshot missions in for chapter 7/8, and then we transition to either the Münstay Program or Project Iceclimber. Say two to three chapters for each of those. After that, I can't really say what I'll do, since interplanetary missions will depend on phase angles and technology limitations.

[Sampa]

Barring any rapid unplanned dissassemblies, the Münar flyby should happen in chapter 6. Landing will either be in 6 or 7, depending on how much text the flyby takes up. Throw a few more Münshot missions in for chapter 7/8, and then we transition to either the Münstay Program or Project Iceclimber. Say two to three chapters for each of those. After that, I can't really say what I'll do, since interplanetary missions will depend on phase angles and technology limitations.

I might suggest that some of your mun shots prior to landing have the primary mission of equipment and lander testing prior to fully commiting to an actual landing? Just for the sake of crew safety...

[GreenWolf]

I might suggest that some of your mun shots prior to landing have the primary mission of equipment and lander testing prior to fully commiting to an actual landing? Just for the sake of crew safety...

The time table on Münshot has been somewhat accelerated. Assuming Münshot 6 is the landing mission, I'll have cut out two of the expected 8 launches. This is because I pulled two of the crew vehicle/refueling missions, partly because I ended up with more fuel in orbit than I expected. I've also cut down the number of Kerbin-Mün-Kerbin trips the tug has to make, by having it take the lander and the depot out to the Mün together.

Is this being done at the expense of crew safety? Not really. Like Apollo, most of the Münshot hardware has been tested in orbit. The main difference is that all of the Münshot hardware tested is going to actually be used for the real thing. Also...

[Sampa]

Sweet, next round is munar orbit mission?

[GreenWolf]

Chapter 6: GO!

With all of the necessary equipment docked and waiting at Zenith Station, it was time for Münshot 5 to make its trip to the Mün. The commander of Münshot 5 would be Jebediah Kerman, while Romal Kerman would be the space tug pilot. Ronbal Kerman would be mission's engineer, while Kenbree Kerman would be the mission specialist. Nelvey Kerman would act as the primary CAPCOM, with Bill Kerman filling the role of secondary CAPCOM.

"The original timetable for Project Münshot had been accelerated somewhat, with several missions ending up being merged into

Münshot 5

. The plan was for the

Delivery

to place

Discovery

,

Safety

, and

Prosperity

onto or close to a free return trajectory around the Mün. Once they entered the Mün's SOI,

Safety

would undock from

Delivery

and continue on its free return trajectory, while

Delivery

would perform an orbital insertion burn, drop off

Prosperity

and

Discovery

, then return to Kerbin orbit." –

Münshot 5

CAPCOM Nelvey Kerman

However, a little bit of assembly was required before they could begin.

"The Münshot hardware had been docked to

Zenith Station

pretty haphazardly, using whatever ports were closest and available. So we had to play a little bit of musical chairs before we could head out to the Mün." – Cosmonaut Romal Kerman, Pilot

Once all the pieces were in place, it was time to undock.

With their Trans-Münar Insertion burn calculated, it was time for one last bit of "musical chairs".

With everything finally in place, Münshot 5 was given a go to perform its TMI burn.

CAPCOM (Nelvey Kerman)

: Everything looks good on our end. You have a go for burn in one minute.

TUG (Romal Kerman)

: Copy that, CAPCOM. We will begin our burn in one minute.

SAFECOM (Jebediah Kerman)

: We're cutting it a little close aren't we?

TUG

: The Mün's not going anywhere. If we missed this burn, we could just do it on our next orbit.

CAPCOM

: Romal is correct, Jeb. You wouldn't even have to recalculate your burn, that's how little difference one orbit would make. Burn in T-minus 30 seconds, by the way.

TUG

: Fasten your seatbelts, gentlemen. We'll be accelerating at the incredibly high rate of one meter per second per second.

CAPCOM

: 20 seconds.

TUG

: SAS on. Reaction Control System engaged.

CAPCOM

: 15 seconds.

TUG

: Flight plan loaded. Navigation computers online.

CAPCOM

: 10 seconds... 9... 8...

TUG

: Vessel viewer loaded. Displaying structural integrity.

CAPCOM

: 7... 6... 5...

TUG

: Priming ullage motors.

CAPCOM

: 4... 3... 2...

TUG

: Activating ullage motors.

CAPCOM

: 1...

TUG

: Ignition!

CAPCOM

: GO!

TUG

: Throttling up to full. We are on our way.

CAPCOM

: Godspeed,

Münshot 5

. Good luck, and fly safe.

– Recording of

Münshot 5

pre-TMI burn dialogue

With the insertion burn complete, it was merely a matter of waiting to enter the Mün's SOI.

CAPCOM (Bill Kerman)

:

Münshot 5

, telemetry indicates that you have entered the Mün's sphere of influence. You should detach the

Safety

vehicle before you reach periapsis.

SAFECOM (Jebediah Kerman)

: Copy that, CAPCOM. We will detach shortly.

CAPCOM

: Be advised that

Delivery

will lose contact with KSC and

Safety

while it is behind the Mün.

TUG (Romal Kerman)

: Understood, CAPCOM.

– Recording of

Münshot 5

pre-separation dialogue

"After

Safety

detached, I was supposed to perform a small braking burn to lower my periapsis to 100 kilometers. Then, when I reached periapsis, I would perform another burn to insert myself into Münar orbit and circularize. I'd make another burn a few minutes after that to put myself on a return trajectory to Kerbin. However, from a little bit after the insertion burn to about five minutes before the ejection burn, I would be out of contact with both KSC and

Safety

." – Cosmonaut Romal Kerman, Pilot

As he came around from behind the Mün, Romal was treated to one of the more spectacular views in the Kerbin system.

"Kerbinrise. That's what they call the photo. And it's an accurate name. Watching Kerbin come up over the horizon, only a little bit bigger than the Mün appears from it... it was amazing. Some people say that it's the most important photo from space ever taken. I don't know about that, but I do know that it was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." – Cosmonaut Romal Kerman, Pilot

To conserve delta-v, Delivery would aerobrake at Kerbin, using the planet's upper atmosphere to slow itself down.

At the same time this was happening, Safety was continuing on its near free return trajectory. Upon reaching apoapsis, it performed a small braking burn with its RCS thrusters to lower its periapsis deep within Kerbin's atmosphere.

"Our reentry trajectory was actually quite shallow. This was intentional, since we were going to reenter with the orbital module and the science module still attached. Taking a shallow trajectory allowed us to do this, since we bled off most of our speed in the upper atmosphere, where the compressive heating isn't as bad." – Cosmonaut Jebediah Kerman, Pilot

Münshot 5 landed safely several hundred kilometers west of KSC, somewhat off course, but otherwise unharmed. In doing so, its crew had become the first kerbals to enter the sphere of influence of another celestial body, and had demonstrated the feasibility of traveling to the Mün.

[Specialist290]

Nicely done! Now the eyes of Kerbin watch as the next intrepid crew makes their way towards a Munar landing...