Ussari Space Program! A highly [unstable] modded 64K career from behind the iron kertain!

[CatastrophicFailure]

Comrade Political Officer said:

Obsolete ethanol technology has been retired in favor of safe, powerful kerosene fuel! Until domestic production can reach full capacity, a number of complete launch vehicles have been sourced from KSC to continue advance into space! Behold, new Krasniyy Ivan-series booster!

Comrade Political Officer said:

Greetings Comrades! Is dawn on brand new day! In wake of previous minor launch irregularity, Imperium has declared new policy of Détente! No more shall we engage in open competition with industrious but misguided foreigners, now we engage in trade! McKerbal's opens in Kermangrad! Solpugids play 'Wind of Change' in Crimson Square! We shall export ethanol, political rhetoric, and internet videos of bad drivers! We shall import blue jeans, cowboy hats, and ridiculously unhealthy snack foods! And rocket engines...

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

Comrade Political Officer said:

Krasniyy Ivan based on simplicity and reliability, no more reliance on inefficient, antiquated solid rocket boosters!

Comrade Political Officer said:

Inaugural launch shall lift Director Kermanev Memorial Space Telescope plus inert test mass, totaling over 6.5 tonnes, well beyond capabilities of Stolitsa launcher

Comrade Political Officer said:

Krasniyy Ivan fully powered by kerosene/liquid oxygen fuel mixture. Primary thrust comes from four LV-T30 engines. New engines are so powerful, output has been detuned to 90%!

Comrade Political Officer said:

Non-gimballing main engines are augmented by four Coxwain vernier engines for attitude control

Comrade Political Officer said:

When main fuel tank reaches 60% at approximately 15km altitude, two of four main engines automatically shut down to maintain proper thrust-to-weight ratio for control.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Stages are separated by ullage motors before single LV-T45, also running on kerolox, ignites.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Fairings are jettisoned at 90km, revealing advanced new Kermanev telecope on top of 4-ton test mass!

Comrade Political Officer said:

Payload is placed into 145x104km orbit at 43* inclination. With considerable fuel still remaining, second stage is discarded with de-orbit motors. First launch of Krasniyy Ivan is complete success!

Comrade Political Officer said:

Kermanev telescope then proceeds under own power to final 1300km orbit, and immediately sends back first orbital picture of Sun..

 

 

Comrade Political Officer said:

...possibly burning out sensitive camera equipment.

 

 

Edited December 1, 2015 by CatastrophicFailure
test

[PanzerAce]

This and Manley's RP-0 play through are making me seriously consider giving it a crack....

[CatastrophicFailure]

Wow mentioned in the same breath as Scott Manley

But yes, I really can't recommend the upscaled mods enough if you're looking for more challenge in the "easy things" (and I use the term loosely) like just getting into orbit. I'm thinking of having a go at RP-0 myself once 1.1 comes out.

[CatastrophicFailure]

 

Extra launch added to the manifest just for GarrisonChisholm

Comrade Political Officer said:

Greetings Comrades! Maiden flight of Krasniyy Ivan was complete success, but Imperious Academy of Sciences has decided more testing is necessary before booster can be committed to kerballed launch.

 

Spoiler

Comrade Political Officer said:

Second launch of Krasniyy Ivan occurs shortly after dawn on Year 2, Day 228. Launch clamps release after main engines are verified to be running properly.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Payload for launch is Technology Demonstrator 2 package. Rocket is outfitted with numerous sensors and new science payloads to verify performs. Onboard camera provides stunning view of eastern Ussari and Nihacima!

Comrade Political Officer said:

Fairings are jettisoned just before staging at 89 kilometers. Flight profile is still being dialed in with powerful new lifter! Booster will mostly burn up in atmosphere and land in unpopulated area. Probably.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Here we see upper stage of TDEM-2 assembly. At top is long-term research satellite being launched under contract. Below that is re-entry probe to test landing systems for future Eve mission. Below that is 1-ton lead test mass, and beneath that is 500kg Communication from High Altitude Orbit system.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Here is shown CHAOS equipment bay and dust collection experiment package attached directly to Krasniyy Ivan second stage.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Upper stage burns to initial 185x160km orbit at 50* inclination. Kermangrad Cosmodrome launches will now insert into higher, 50 degree inclination, rather than previous 43 degrees, to avoid downrange population centers and Gytepian territory.

Comrade Political Officer said:

After initial system check out and science experiments, second stage re-ignites to boost orbit to 650km as specified by contract.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Once proper circular orbit is achieved, Kraniyy Ivan spins up for stability, research satellite is released and communications verified.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Upper stage has limited hydrazine attitude control fuel and so must maneuver conservatively. After satellite release, engine is refired again and perikee dropped to 200km. Results from science experiments are loaded into experimental data-return hard drive in re-entry probe for recovery on Kerbin. Re-entry maneuver is calculated, and Krasniyy Ivan moves to proper attitude before again spinning up and releasing return probe. Return probe will fire small de-orbit motors at proper time.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Meanwhile, at lowest latitude of 50 degree orbit, second stage engine fires for fourth time and burns remaining fuel to exhaustion, resulting in 1500x200km orbit with apokee high over northern hemisphere. High inclination and long range omnidirectional antenna will provide excellent communication coverage for future missions, including coverage of Kerbin's north pole. Lightweight CHAOS system will be launched aboard all flights with available payload mass for minimal cost over initial launch price. Due to high inclination of launch site, orbits will naturally be of much greater variety than equatorial launches, so space debris is of minor concern. High-altitude pseudo-kolinaya oribts also more efficient than massive cost of geostationary network.

 

 

Comrade Political Officer said:

Unfortunately, re-entry probe developed problems shortly after separation and contact was lost. Engineers are currently pouring over limited data returns, but are suspecting a NullReferenceException error lead to a Critical Existence Failure. With primary goals accomplished, mission is still considered impressive success.

 

Edited December 1, 2015 by CatastrophicFailure
ARGH IMGUR!

[GarrisonChisholm]

Extra launch added to the manifest just for GarrisonChisholm

...wow, that was.. so awesome. ...like a Boston-creme doughnut to a diabetic... - Thank you!

[GarrisonChisholm]

...I just had to watch this again. -- too good.

only 1 more day of night-shift!

[CatastrophicFailure]

I am pretty happy with how that turned out, actually. I usually lack the patience (and skill) for videos, but maybe I'll have to throw the odd one in the mix. I'm going in to the doctor to get declawed in a few hours, then I'm off for a full week, so I'm hoping for lots of updates then!

[MatterBeam]

I love what you are doing here. The designs are inspiring and the wacky setting is endearing.

I hope you keep this up and help populate the x6.4 report section. I mean, it's only one step away from RSS, where the big boys play

[CatastrophicFailure]

Comrade Political Officer said:

Greetings Comrades! Today we gather to celebrate historic flight of Tercella Kerman, first Ussari in orbit! Old technology has been left by side of road, brave Tercella's spacecraft has been mounted to modern, reliable, Krasniyy Ivan booster!

Spoiler

 

Comrade Political Officer said:

As always, pair of engines shut down at 60% kerosene remaining, to maintain proper TWR for control in middle atmosphere.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Once fully depleted, first stage separates at approximately 70 kilometers. Flight profile has been optimized for single LV-T45 Swivel engine and low (.90) initial TWR.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Once free of atmosphere, heavy launch escape tower is jettisoned.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Despite challenge and adversity, after flawless launch Ussari Space Program has finally achieved goal of putting Kerbal in space!

Comrade Political Officer said:

Brave Tercella's pod is placed into final orbit of 151x118km at 43* inclination and mission is cleared for at least five orbits! After battery of initial science experiments and diplomatic exchange as craft passes near Kerbal Space Center, fearless Tercella prepares for next milestone!

Comrade Political Officer said:

During next pass over Kermangrad Cosmodrome, Tercella embarks on record-setting extra-vehicular activity, remaining outside of capsule for some twenty minutes and performing numerous highly successful experiments and equipment tests. Television footage from on-board camera beamed back to Kerbin will no doubt become famous historical document!

Comrade Political Officer said:

After numerous successes during historic EVA, brave Tercella begins planned reentry procedure on third orbit while passing over traitorous rebel province of South Erakonia

Comrade Political Officer said:

Following uneventful reentry, stalwart Tercella lands softly on bank of Vulgar River, not far from Cosmodrome!

 

Comrade Political Officer said:

Having surmounted great challenges, dream of putting Ussari in space and returning them safely to Kerbin has finally been realized! From this humble beginning Glorious Ussari Union will no doubt maintain status as world leader of space innovation!

In very short time, brave Dibella Kermanov shall continue to set records by becoming first Kerbal to fly in space twice, on endurance-testing three-day flight!

 

Edited December 1, 2015 by CatastrophicFailure

[GarrisonChisholm]

Too, too cool. Many thumbs up. (meta-hominid)

*gifts billions of Krubles to Ussari Cosmodrome for accelerated production of fascinating documentary videos*

[CatastrophicFailure]

Comrade Political Officer said:

Greetings, Comrades! Only simple release tonight, for even Glorious Ussari Union must fulfill mundane contracts by deadline!

Yet another reliable Krasniyy Ivan launch puts payload into standard parking orbit.

Spoiler

 

Comrade Political Officer said:

Payload is navigational satellite to be deployed under contract, along with another test re-entry pod and now-standard CHAOS package. Contract satellite deployed soon after reaching orbit.

Comrade Political Officer said:

 

 

 

Navsat burns to circular 2800km orbit using onboard hypergolic engine.]/quote]

Comrade Political Officer said:

Hitching ride on propulsion unit are several components of next-generation crewed spacecraft, tentatively dubbed "Zarya," for in-space testing.

Comrade Political Officer said:

NavSat is flawlessly deployed to proscribed orbit, completing contract.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Meanwhile, Krasniyy Ivan upper stage burns remaining fuel to high-altitude eccentric orbit over north pole.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Extremely long dwell time above horizon and long-range omnidirectional antennae will ensure excellent communication with future launches. Increasing numbers of asteroids have been noticed wandering into Kerbin SOI. These may be targets for further investigation. To check for proper papers.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Re-entry capsule is able to initiate de-orbit burn this time, only to inexplicably loose contact again. Capsule is later recovered on ground with science data intact. This, too, will require further investigation.

 

 

 

test

Edited December 1, 2015 by CatastrophicFailure

[Shania_L]

Wow, that is certainly an asteroid invasion you have there, is that 5 of them? or are some of those elliptical grey traces craft/debris leaving Kerbin SOI?

I use custom asteroids and have yet to even get a single rock approach Kerbin SOI, do you use custom asteroids or are you on the stock spawner?

[CatastrophicFailure]

I love what you are doing here. The designs are inspiring and the wacky setting is endearing.

I hope you keep this up and help populate the x6.4 report section. I mean, it's only one step away from RSS, where the big boys play

Many thanks. I finally got caught up on your own series only to find it's ending

Too, too cool. Many thumbs up. (meta-hominid)

*gifts billions of Krubles to Ussari Cosmodrome for accelerated production of fascinating documentary videos*

I've a bit of a backlog ATM so there's lots ahead, and some truly annoying frustrations.

Wow, that is certainly an asteroid invasion you have there, is that 5 of them? or are some of those elliptical grey traces craft/debris leaving Kerbin SOI?

I use custom asteroids and have yet to even get a single rock approach Kerbin SOI, do you use custom asteroids or are you on the stock spawner?

just stock 'roids. Think I'm up to 6 or 7 now. If I find one wandering thru the system I tend to track & keep it if it's gonna stick around. Much easier than trying to chase one down from escape velocity.

[CatastrophicFailure]

Comrade Political Officer said:

Greetings, Comrades! Today, we return to Mün with pair of cutting edge missions!

First, Müna 8 blasts off on prototype enhanced Krasniyy Ivan launch vehicle! Main engines have been tuned to produce 100% rated thrust, and core fuel tank has been stretched from 12.8 to 16 meters, raising cargo capacity to LKO to around 7 tonnes.

 

Spoiler

 

Comrade Political Officer said:

What happened to Müna 7, you ask? This, we do not speak of.

But if we did, we would say that we are on tight contract deadline and Müna 8 was simply completed first.

 

Comrade Political Officer said:

KI-E first stage performs flawlessly!

Comrade Political Officer said:

Müna 8 is placed into typical 148x121 parking orbit at 50* inclination. Various experiments and sensors are now deployed, and another reentry test pod is released.

Comrade Political Officer said:

However, once again, reentry test pod quickly suffers critical existence failure, this time leading to quantum singularity in fabric of space-time that comes within RatSquirrelFish's whisker of completely annihilating reality and corrupting save file. Once Universe is is recovered, engineer responsible is sent to especially nasty part of Kerberia!

Comrade Political Officer said:

Meanwhile, a maneuver is planned that will perfectly insert Müna 8 into orbit assigned by contract.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Standard Krasniyy Ivan upper stage burns remaining fuel to provide initial impulse to Müna 8!

Comrade Political Officer said:

Then efficient on-board hypergolic engine fires to complete burn. It is noted at this time that on-board engine, while efficient, is somewhat lacking in thrust...

Comrade Political Officer said:

Still burning...

Comrade Political Officer said:

Still burning......

Comrade Political Officer said:

STILL burning.........

Comrade Political Officer said:

After nearly 15 minutes of low TWR burning, Müna 8 is now on course for Münar intercept, but capture orbit is completely wrong and will require several days of complex maneuvering to reach contract-specified orbit. More engineers shall be relocating.

Comrade Political Officer said:

After long lesson in orbital mechanics, Müna 8 finally achieves proper orbit, completing contract!

Comrade Political Officer said:

Yet we shall not be stymied by minor technical difficulties, good Comrades! While Müna 8 was still maneuvering, Müna 7 lifted off from Kermangrad Cosmodrome in record turn-around!

Comrade Political Officer said:

KI-E booster again performs flawlessly, and upper stage finishes insertion. Müna 7 is heavy lander intended for long-term research on Münar surface!

Comrade Political Officer said:

Efficient Cryogenic Transfer Stage boosts Müna 8 to intercept much more quickly!

Comrade Political Officer said:

Final systems check as lander departs Kerbin.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Müna 7 soon settles into temporary parking orbit around Mün to await proper window for descent.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Featuring much more powerful engine than Müna 6, Müna 7 makes easy, uneventful landing deep in Far Side Crater.

Comrade Political Officer said:

After again waiting for Münar noon, lander beams back high-quality pictures from surface and begins collection of scientific data.

Comrade Political Officer said:

Mün is much less flat and boring here!

Comrade Political Officer said:

Only small amount of data is initially returned, however. Müna 7 has been designed to store science for eventual collection by robotic sample return mission!

Comrade Political Officer said:

Meanwhile, Müna 8 has one more task. Autonomous propulsion stage is decoupled at apomün and burns remaining fuel to establish collision course with Mün!

Comrade Political Officer said:

Half a ton slams into Münar surface at two kilometers per second! Waiting Müna 8 records seismic disturbance and returns science to Kermangrad.

 

 

Comrade Political Officer said:

However, energy released by impact is insufficient to fulfill contract. With less than 20 days remaining until contract expires, solution must be quickly found!

 

Edited December 1, 2015 by CatastrophicFailure

[MatterBeam]

When will ussari comrades claim the Mun with their red boots?!

Also, engineer relocation program seems to be very very effective...

I have a feeling these contracts are being bound by some General back in HeadQuarters and failing them will mean that the Space Center team is going to be recycled... Literally

[CatastrophicFailure]

Boots on the Mün will... take some time. Despite the successes of the robotic space program, the crewed program continues to suffer setbacks....

[CatastrophicFailure]

[quote name='Comrade Political Officer']Greetings, Comrades! After minor under-performance of previous seismic impact test, our brilliant engineers have worked long nights to bring solution before contract expiration. Behold, first released footage of new heavy-lift Ussari launch vehicle, Krasniyy Ivan Ultra! In development for some time, what was to be experimental launch carrying useless test mass becomes gambit to fulfill contract! CHAOS hardware has been quickly adapted to provide necessary guidance to impact Mün with nearly 10 tonnes! Footage has been compiled here to traditional Ussari Naval hymn!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjZ7xTsS_j8

[quote name='Comrade Political Officer']Initial analysis of data confirms that Krasniyy Ivan Ultra will be capable of placing over 20 tonnes in LKO, 6.5 tonnes to TMI, and smaller payloads beyond Kerbin SOI without use of extra transfer stage!

[quote name='Comrade Political Officer']It is mixed bag however, good Comrades. As planned, Krasniyy Ivan Ultra upper stage successfully impacts Mün with 9.5 tonnes of mass remaining, traveling at over 3 kilometers per second only hours before contract expires. But upon searching for carrier signal from Müna 8 on surface to begin seismic data transmission, all is silent. Both Tracking Station and orbiting Müna 7 are unable to find any trace of lander. It is as if Müna 8 has completely disappeared. Further study of this aberration will have to wait, however, as now we must focus on upcoming historic three-day flight of brave Dibella Kermanov!

Edited December 1, 2015 by CatastrophicFailure

[Shania_L]

20 tonnes to LKO? Wow ..... somebody just put the big boy trousers on!!

As ever another beautiful video, I dont know how long it takes you to do all the camera shots and that (also the custom graphics too) but it is definitely worth the effort! one impressed reader here :)

Looking at that craft on the pad I would have expected serious wobble between the core and the two boosters flapping about like wings, yet the vid shows them rock steady. The only connections I can see are the separators and a pair of struts at the top, what kind of magic is this??

Where is your impact experiment coming form? I know Interstellar had one but you are not running that, crashing stuff into stuff is something even I can do!

[CatastrophicFailure]

I spent waaaay to long on that. Took days to collect all the footage (since, like the title says, highly unstable and I get maybe one launch per crash), was worried I wouldn't have enough. Probably could have used the whole song after all. And thanks :cool:

I use KJR and some upgraded struts from Stock Revamp (I think). At some point Squad fixed their wobbly joints too I thought. More details on the new launcher will come with its next payload.

Impactor contracts come from the [URL="http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/114087-1-0-Impact!-impact-science-and-contracts-v1-2-0-With-Asteroids-7-9-15"]Impact![/URL] mod. Works with asteroids too!

[CatastrophicFailure]

Quote

Comrade Political Officer: 

This is a test! This is only a test!

Quote

 

Comrade Political Officer:

... and title fixing.... and sig work... and bugrit but there's gotta be an easier way to post pics....

 

 

[GarrisonChisholm]

This is a really sad development- with the forum changes, I can no longer see images while at work (the time when it is oddly most convenient for me to check the forums).  I will check from time-to-time to see if the situation amends itself...

[CatastrophicFailure]

Are they blocked or something? They do seem slow to load to me. How about this latest one from last nite?

[Shania_L]

Got there in the end, but boy did it take a long time to load them all. Well all except your 17th Nov post anyway that one is still showing the code line rather than youtube vid (garrisons youtube link is displayed)

 

Pictures came out ok, but unless we reduce quality/number of posts per page then this isnt really going to work

This forum update is displaying more posts per page, so that would account for a decent chunk of extra loading time.

Edited November 30, 2015 by Shania_L

[GarrisonChisholm]

44 minutes ago, CatastrophicFailure said:

Are they blocked or something? They do seem slow to load to me. How about this latest one from last nite?

Alas no, just as Shania said, the only imagery I can see is the YouTube link for the video of yours that I re-posted.

 

I used to have to jump through a little hoop to see images at work; some posters would show a link called "Java Script Disabled", and when I clicked that link my PC would prompt me for 20 minutes of "personal time", which when accepted would then show All the images on any forum page that I then loaded.  Now however I have been unable to find that magic extension anywhere.  :\

Edited November 30, 2015 by GarrisonChisholm

[CatastrophicFailure]

Wow, yeah now that the forum otherwise seems to be running "normally," the pic load time is pretty obnoxious. I've got another update to post tonight, I'll see if maybe using the spoiler option helps. I reeeeeeaaly don't want to have to resort to imgur albums