"Wolff von Meutha Aerospace Exploration Agency" Part 8 updated! [26 Jan 2016] A couple yards under the shores, by Jules Kerman

[chicobaptista]

Welcome to the Wolff von Meutha Aerospace Exploration Agency! We are proud to offer the most exclusive solutions to all your space-related issues. Please take a seat, enjoy your beverage of choice and relax. Our spacial consultant will arrive shortly to assist you. In the meanwhile, please enjoy this short summary of our Agency's history.

 

[This is my first ever mission report. I intend these to be a record of my missions, but for storytelling purposes it is supposed to be a recollection of the agency's past. As I'll also be recording my failures, this may be a refreshing case of honesty for the agency PR department, or just another charming way in which kerbals are different from humans (in my world at least). The Missions and vessels will also be shared by the Gameframer mod, so their names are actually links to their respective Gameframer pages]

 

Mod list

Spoiler

mks lite

usi exploration

usi life support

usi survivability

karbonite

scan sat

kerbal stats

orbital science

gameframer

stage recovery

mechjeb

extraplanetary launchpads

kerbal alarm clock

deep freeze

precise node

kerbal inventory system

kerbal attachment system

contract configurator

science alert

tac fuel balancer

kerbal construction time

hyper edit

engineering tech tree

kerbal engineer

universal storage

KSP Trajectory Optimization Tool

OSE workshop

final frontier

Mission log

Spoiler

 

• Part 1 - Almaren I (Successfull)
• Part 2 - Almaren II (Successfull)
• Part 3 - Almaren III (Successfull)
• Part 4 - Almaren IV (Successfull)
• Part 5 - Almaren V (Successfull)
• Part 6 - Almaren VI (Failed)
• Part 7 - Almaren VII (Successfull)
• Part 8 - Almaren VIII (Successfull)

End Index

 

Part 1

As the sun rises on the horizon, a flurry of activity can be seen on the newly built Vehicle Assembly Building. It is a exciting moment for kerbalkind, as the most brilliant minds of Kerbin assemble with a single objective: reach for the stars! Or for the Kerbol system, whichever happens to be closer.

With heavy initial investments in vertical rocket building but not neglecting R&D, the new facilities are ready for their first rocket.

 

Kerbal Construction Time initial facilities

Spoiler

VAB

1)0.7 BP/s

SPH

1)0.1 BP/s

R&D

Research 1.5 sci/86400

Devel. 1 sci/day

 

 

Project Almaren 

The first Project of the Agency, Project Almaren's objectives are to launch several unmanned probes to illuminate [bonus points to anyone who gets the references in the naming scheme] the initial steps into space. Its final objectives are to put satellites with mapping capabilities on polar orbits of Kerbin, Mun and Minmus.

 

Illuin mk0

Little more than a old engineer's calculator sitting atop a trashcan filled with explosives, the Illuin mk0 still took a forthnight to build. At the last second, Wherner burst into the room demanding that at least some barometers be attached to the rocket. A bright young engineer also suggested to attach some silk blankets to enable recovery of the rocket with its precious data. Thus was born the first rocket of Wolff von Meutha Aerospace Exploration Agency!

Spoiler

After hauling it to the launchpad on a wheelbarrow for nearly twenty minutes, all kerbals ran to the old bunker before igniting the explosives. Then came a system check of the barometers to ensure that they were in fact functional (that would've been embarrassing).

 

Three...two...one...Ignition!

 

Almaren I

Mission objectives:

1. Test the capacity of rockets to go up!
2. Get pressure readings of the launchpad, low atmosphere and landing site.
3. Test parachutes.

 

After a heart-stopping moment, the rocket started its ascent to the skies! Quickly, the second barometer recorded the atmospheric pressure at low altitude. Soon after, the trashcan finished exploding all the explosives, letting the atmosphere brake the rocket. At maximum altitude, the silk blankets were armed to deploy at 0.5 atmospheres and the probe core shut down to conserve power. At 4500 m the chutes deployed partially and fully opened at 1000 m, ensuring a soft landing! The probe core was turned on again and the final barometer recorded the atmospheric pressure at the landing site. After recovery, the eggheads at the R&D facility were astounded to find that they had in fact landed in a patch of tundra! Who knew that moss and reindeer could live so close to the equator? This rocket science thingy was already changing well established scientific paradigms! Next question to be answered: are there in fact ups and downs in space?

Spoiler

 

 

Mission successfull!

 

Also, some rewards by the World First Association:

Flight results

Spoiler

 

Now it was time to spend some science! The eggheads decided to look into new ways to explode things in a more controllable manner and started researching Propulsions Systems (1 science, 1 day). Also, new ways of getting the delicious, delicious science were devised, as well as batteries and other electrical shenanigans to keep the juice flowing (Basic Science, 3 science, 3 days and Electronics, 10 science, 10 days). The same bright engineer that suggested strapping the silk blankets also wanted to look into different ways of making sure that the craft doesn't explode when coming back to the surface, so we let him, because why not? (Survivability, 5 science, 5 days). 

Edited January 28, 2016 by chicobaptista
updated OP with new information and general reformatting

[chicobaptista]

 

Part 2

Kerbal Construction Time facilities

Spoiler

VAB
1)0.7 BP/s
SPH
1)0.1 BP/s
R&D
Research 1.5 sci/86400
Devel. 1 sci/day

After analising the pressure data, the eggheads at R&D figured out that mixing liquid fuel and oxidizer resulted in surprisingly more controllable explosions, and finished their research of new Propulsion Systems. Quickly, the engineers developed the prototypes of the new LV-T30 "reliant" engine and the matching FL-T200 fuel tanks. Also, they developed an adapter, the FL-A5, in hopes of building more sturdy probes. The costs for the prototypes mounted to a grand total of 10500 funds.

In the next morning, an avalanche of letters announced a most welcome surprise: industry giants were dying to make partnerships with the Wolff von Meutha Aerospace Exploration Agency! After some deliberation, the board of directors decided to accept two contracts, to formally test the performance of the "Flea" solid fuel booster, that had already proved successful and to haul the Mk2-R radial parachute into an atmospheric flight. Having done both these things in the past and planning to reuse the the same basic launch system, the board was confident in their abilities to successfully complete both these contracts. As Flight Director Gene Kerman said "It may be a bit low-profile, but maybe it's just the sort of job we need right now."

Spoiler

The engineers, under the guidance of Dr. von Kerman, designed a new probe, this time to go ever higher and hopefully reach the lofty altitudes of Kerbin's stratosphere.

 

Illuin mk1

Spoiler

By reusing the parts from Illuin mk0, all that remained to be fabricated was the new liquid fuel propulsive system. Feeling more confident in this whole not-exploding business, the VAB crew managed to finish the rocket in less than 6 days.

 

The launchpad also needed some time to be refurbished, so even if there was another rocket ready to be launched it would not have been possible.

 

In the meanwhile, the eggheads at R&D finished unveiling the secrets of Basic Science and Survivability. The floats and the Oceanography Bathymetry suggested a new idea: making a submersible probe and using the floats to recover it afterwards. The engineers went right into developing new blueprints to explore this new concept.

 

The new rocket, being considerably larger, needed more interns pushing the wheelbarrow. After almost one hour of grueling toil, the director's board decided to invest in a more efficient system to transport rockets from the VAB to the launchpad in the future.

Almaren II

Mission objectives:

1. Get even higher! Hopefully to high atmosphere!
2. Get pressure readings of high atmosphere and the landing site.
3. Test a water landing.

After the countdown, came the shout: "Ignition!" and Illuin mk1 clawed its way to the big blue above. As the solid booster was expended there came the big moment, the activation of the liquid fuel engine. It worked wonderfully, and Illuin leapt to the skies, achieving a maximum altitude of 31.6 km after its fuel was expended. Measurements were taken of the pressure on high altitudes, the chutes armed for deployment and the probe core shut down to conserve power. The chutes automatically released at 4500 m and fully deployed at 1000 m, gently landing the probe on the water. The probe was reactivated and a final pressure measurements was made of Kerbin's water, just before Illuin was recovered by the boat crews.

Spoiler

 

Mission successful!

Flight results

Spoiler

 

The contracts were completed successfully, and new World First records were achieved, bringing in loads of funds and reputation to the agency's coffers.

Hyped by another successful launch, the scientists at the R&D labs started working on improving the liquid fuel propulsion systems (Basic rocketry 1.25, 10sci, 10 days) and developing more powerful probes (Unmanned Tech, 15 sci, 15 days).

Edited January 10, 2016 by chicobaptista

[chicobaptista]

Part 3

Kerbal Construction Time Facilities

 

Spoiler

VAB
1)0.7 BP/s
SPH
1)0.1 BP/s
R&D
Research 1.5 sci/86400
Devel. 1 sci/day

The director's board decided to keep establishing closer relations with the other Aerospace industries, and accepted another contract, this time to test a Mk2-R radial parachute while flying under very specific conditions. The board also thought that this was an excellent opportunity to practice high precision flying for targeted ballistic probe trajectories in the future.

Spoiler

Following on the engineers' proposed design of an oceanic probe, prototypes were commissioned for the new Submersible Oceanography and Bathymetry device and the Inline 1.25 inflatable float. Engineering also found a way to attach an old tape recorder and wire it to the probe core, creating a rudimentary flight computer for basically free, calling it the ER-7500. All in all, the prototypes amounted to another 10000 funds.

With all these shiny new parts to play with,  Illuin mk1.5 was designed to be an oceanic probe and the whole rocket was to be recovered by the end of the mission. The fuel tanks would serve as ballast to submerge the probe.

Illuin mk 1.5

Spoiler

While the VAB crew was building the new rocket, the eggheads at the R&D finished researching new batteries (Electronics) to allow for longer flights. Also funky new lights!

After 8 days of construction, Illuin mk1.5 was ready to roll out. The new automated system proved to be no faster than the intern-driven whellbarrow. On the other hand, it freed the interns to perform more important tasks, such as bringing koffee to the Mission Control room, so the board members were most pleased. 42 minutes and 37 seconds after leaving the VAB, Illuin mk 1.5 was ready to launch!

Almaren III

 

Mission objectives:

1. Test the new liquid fuel propulsion system
2. Get bathymetry readings from shallow and deep water.
3. Test the new inline inflatable floats.

Soon after the liquid engine started, the thrust proved insufficient to keep the rocket's trajectory pointing up. Luckily, that wasn't the mission objective, and as soon as the rocket was over water the engine was shut down and the parachutes armed for automatic deployment at 0.5 atmospheres, roughly 4500 meters. Being built before the development of the new batteries, the probe core was shutdown to preserve electric power. After a successful landing, the probe was turned on again and bathymetry readings performed. Unfortunately, the probe itself remained far too buoyant to submerge, and readings from the deeper waters eluded the Agency. So far, the predictions of Jules Kerman in his "Twelve Thousand Miles Under the Sea" remained firmly in the realm of science fiction.

Spoiler

 

Flight results

Spoiler

 

 

Mission partially successful!

 

Edited January 10, 2016 by chicobaptista

[chicobaptista]

Part 4

 Kerbal Construction Time Facilities

Spoiler

VAB
1)0.7 BP/s
SPH
1)0.1 BP/s
R&D
Research 1.5 sci/86400
Devel. 1 sci/day

The R&D team completed their research of new engines and expanded their selection of fuel tanks (Basic Rocketry 1.25). The engineers, led by Chief of Operations Gus Kerman, eagerly developed prototypes for the fl-t400 tank and the lv-t45 gimbaling engine. Following the principle of  "moar boosters!", a tr18A stack decoupler was also developed. Remembering their previous research on electronics, a z-100 battery pack was constructed to allow for longer probe flights.
All in all, it amounted in another 7100 funds spent in prototype development.

 

The board of directors also approved more investments in the R&D section to allow for quicker development of new technologies as well as improved the production efficiency of the VAB. The infrastructure of the KSC was now as follows:

 

Kerbal Construction Time Facilities

Spoiler

VAB
0.95 BP/s
SPH
0.1 BP/s
R&D
Research 1.5 sci/86400
Devel. 2 sci/day

A new rocket, Illuin mk2, was put into production. Its goal was a simple one: get to space!

Illuin mk2

Spoiler

The new development capabilities of the R&D building soon beared fruit, as the scientists designed a new probe core that could, with ingenuous application of gyroscopes, control its own attitude and hold its orientation, hopefully allowing for more precise manouvers (Unmanned tech). Unfortunatly, testing of this new technology would have to wait for a new rocket, as Illuin mk2 was already nearing completion.

 

After nearly 5 days, Illuin mk2 was ready! Just before dawn, it was rolled out to the launchpad, to avoid launching in the dark. This pleased extremely the media crews, which had gathered from all over Kerbin to witness this great event: For the first time, kerbals would try to reach space itself!

 

Almaren IV

Mission objectives:

1. test batteries
2. test vectoring engine
3. get to space!
4. test reentry resistance

After a routine solid fuel booster activation, the new t-45 engine started pushing Illuin further up. Mission Control gave the rocket a slight nudge to the east to avoid falling back on top of the KSC.
As apoapsis reached 72 kilometers, the engine was cut off and as Illuin got out of the denser atmosphere, at 56 kilometers altitude, the engines were once again started and the rocket oriented horizontally due east to shallow the descent trajectory and so give more time to the atmosphere to slow down the craft before lythobraking back at the surface of Kerbin.
After a few more seconds, the Mission Control room burst into cheers and clapping! Illuin mk2 had reached space! Pressure readings were made to confirm that space was indeed a vacuum, and not filled with an ether substance, as had been suggested before.
After a few seconds, the first kerbal-made object in space reentered the atmosphere. Turns out that to remain in space it is needed not only get really, really high but to move really, really fast too.

As Illuin plunged into thicker atmosphere, plasma began to be formed around the craft, providing pretty fireworks for anyone watching. And boy there were watchers. Nobody really knew if the craft would survive reentry, or slow down enough to allow the chutes to be deployed and not be torn to shreds.

To general relief, moments after the  rocket went subsonic, the chutes deployed successfully, and the rocket made a soft landing on the water. The inflatable floats ensured it stayed afloat until the boat crews could retrieve it.

Spoiler

 

 

Media outlets from all over Kerbin broadcasted the great news: We have reached space!

Flight results

Spoiler

 

Mission successful!

Elated by yet another resounding success, the scientists decided to investigate the mysteries of temperature in space, developing more scientific instruments to get more and more science and, in the process, figure out how to safely bring probes and kerbals back into the atmosphere without burning up(Thermodynamics, 15 science, 7 days and 3 hours). Also, following the new official policy for rocket development, they started looking into moar boosters! (Solid rockets, 15 science, 7 days and 3 hours.

Meanwhile, as the engineers excitedly returned from watching the successful mission, work began on developing the prototypes suggested by Unmanned Tech, a better probe core and a plethora of small parts for electric generation, orbital maneuvering and recovery from the DERP system. Although initially thought for use in emergency recovery of kerbals from space, the engineers thought that these parts may prove very useful in conjunction with small probes and satellites. Also, a new RADAR based altimetry sensor was developed, to be put in a polar orbit to create a precise map of the surface of Kerbin, as well as new seismic devices.

All in all, the prototypes amounted to an investment of 61800 funds, a huge amount of money for the incipient space program. However, the excitement of having sent a probe to space was enough to convince the board of directors. The chief financial director, Mortimer Kerman, however was far from pleased, and determined to find new ways to reduce the costs of space exploration. 

Secretly, he began to draft a proposal to make use of aerodynamic flight capable vessels that could drop simple experiment probes and be fully retrieved back at the KSC.

 

Edited January 10, 2016 by chicobaptista

[chicobaptista]

Part 5

 Kerbal Construction Time Facilities

Spoiler

VAB
1)0.7 BP/s
SPH
1)0.1 BP/s
R&D
Research 1.5 sci/86400
Devel. 1 sci/day

With the success of the previous mission, the board of directors issue a new objective: not only reach space, but stay there!

Utilizing the newest technology, a new satellite was designed, and engineering was confident in it's capabilities to reach orbit. Also, a new RADAR sensor was strapped to it, hoping to take advantage of an polar orbit to map the heights of Kerbin's surface.

 

Ormal mk1

Spoiler

 

The new parts needed some more time to be produced, and scratch building the lifter stage each time was also proving itself to be very time-consuming. The bright engineer that developed the innovative solutions, such as parachutes and other survivability breakthroughs, proposed a new concept: a standardized series of lifters, able to be mass easily (and cheaply) produced and capable of lifting a set payload to Low Kerbin Orbit. On the next board meeting, Mortimer vigorously defended the proposal, foreseeing the economic benefits that a standardized recoverable lifter system would entail. The engineer was given his own team and told to get to it. His name was Bill Kerman.

After little more than a week, Ormal mk1 was ready and during the next hour it was rolled out to the launchpad. By the time it got there it was already dark, but confident in their ability, Mission Control decided to make it their first evening launch.

 

Almaren V

Mission objectives

1. test DERP monopropellant engine
2. test DERP photovoltaic panels
3. test suborbital launcher recovery
4. achieve polar orbit
5. map altimetry of kerbin

The launch procedure and gravity burn went smoothly. The new probe core gyroscopic system had enough attitude authority that coupled with the new LV-T45 ginballing engine ensured complete control during the initial phases of the launch. When the liquid fuel was finally expended, Ormal's apoapsis was at 80 kilometers high. The lifter stage was decoupled and would, hopefully, be recovered when it landed back, and not burn up in the atmosphere. The new DERP monopropellant engines were lit up to complete the Orbital Insertion Burn. It seemed that it would not be enough, and that Ormal would dive back and lythobrake in Kerbin's surface. However, with the last drops of monopropellant, Ormal achieved a 97 km x 71 km elliptical trajectory. It would officially fall forever around Kerbin without ever reaching the ground. Wolff von Meutha Agency had put the first artificial satellite in orbit around Kerbin!

Spoiler

 

 

However, as Ormal's fuel stores were completely depleted, it could not deorbit itself, and as such the first space debris was also produced at the same time. That got several heads scratching as to what would be the consequences of cluttering Low Kerbin Orbit with uncontrollable objects and how could it be avoided. Mort, of course, was also considering how much would it cost.

 

Flight results

Spoiler

 

Mission successful!

 

 

[chicobaptista]

So, I know updates seem more irregular, but Real Life (tm) has kicked in hard. I started on a new job yesterday and also begun, with my wife, our own small business.

Fear not, however. I've played well beyond this, like 10 more drafts of updates are planned to catch up with the game, as I was trying to build a buffer for this occasion.

The next one is almost ready and should be up by this evening. For anyone reading, thank you! And I hope you enjoy this at least half as much is I enjoy writing it.

Cheers!

[chicobaptista]

Part 6

Kerbal Construction Time Facilities

Spoiler

VAB

1)0.7 BP/s
SPH
1)0.1 BP/s
R&D
Research 1.5 sci/86400

Devel. 1 sci/day

The eggheads at the R&D building finished their research on what is heat, how it can be measured, how to stop it from making things go boom (Thermodynamics) and also how to make other things go booomer (Solid rockets).

With this new knowledge in hand, Engeneering developed prototypes for the 2-hot thermometer and a bigger version of the "flea": the RT-10 "hammer" solid fuel booster, amounting for another 3400 funds.

 

With the new booster, Bill and his team finished designing the first on the series of reusable lifters, the Aeglos-1, capable of lifting a payload of 1 ton nearly to Low Kerbin Orbit, with only about 100m/s needed from the payload to finish orbit insertion. It is essentially a t-45 reliant engine with 3 lf-t200 fuel tanks on top and two radial chutes to allow for recovery and a disposable rt-10 "hammer" on the bottom to add that extra "omphh" and get the lifter going.

 

So, engineering built a new probe, Illuin mk3, with the new thermometer added in the basic Illuin mk2 design and extra monopropellant to get readings from High Kerbin Orbit and return.

 

Illuin mk3

Spoiler

While the assembly was going on, the board pushed for more contracts, to dilute the expenses of launching new rockets and an easy one was accepted: test a TR-18A decoupler landed at Kerbin.

Spoiler

Immediately the VAB received orders to slap one on the bottom of the new Aeglos-1 lifter to fulfill the contract at the programed Almaren VI launch, which pushed the building time from 5 days and 3 hours to nearly 6 days. The assembly crew would be a bit overworked, but no big deal. Or so it seemed.

 

Just as the new rocket was being rolled to the launchpad, Bill Kerman burst into Mission Control, demanding to talk to Gene immediately:

 

"What's the fuzz Bill?" said Gene, looking at the flustered engineer.

 

"You ne-need to ca-cancel this la-launch Gene!" stuttered the engineer. "It will go bo-bo-bo-boom!"

 

"Of course it will go boom Bill, it's a rocket! That's what rockets do: go boom!"

 

"No Ge-Gene! You don't un-un-dersta-and. It'll go...go...go boom on us!"

 

"What are you talking about Bill? Your team made a great work and we are very confident on all of you. The simulations showed a better launch profile than we could ever hope for!"

 

Bill, now that the conversation went into his field of expertise, lost nearly all his stutter and spoke with confidence:

 

"Not all simulations Gene! I was ru-running a few more on my free time at Snack-time just now and discovered a hu-huge failure  on the new design that the board pu-pu-pushed on us!"

 

"Ok Bill, hang on a second. Attention Flight Operators, this is Mission Control! Abort the roll out, I repeat, abort the roll-out. I want that rocket back at the VAB! Now Bill, this better be good..."

 

Simulations runned by Bill Kerman on his few spare hours showed that the stack decoupler addition created launch stability issues, making for a very early gravity turn and rocket orientation issues (such as pointy end to the ground). However, the board insisted on completing the contract and instead pressured the engineers to try and counteract the issue. So the rocket was rolled back and new fins added to the bottom of the solid booster stage, despite Bill's grumbling to the contrary.

 

[They were legit for real simulations =P. KCT has this option and while I was tinkering with the Illuin mk3 in the VAB I took it for a spin. Surprisingly, the original design didn't work anymore and I didn't want to take any risks with the real rocket. So I took it back to the VAB and made some adaptations. Here's to hoping it'll work! If it doesn't then, well... we all fail sometimes right? Luckly this one is uncrewed, so no kerbalcides...this time.]

 

To avoid further delays, the ignition sequence was initiated as soon as possible, resulting in a night launch this time.

 

Almaren VI

 

Mission objectives:

 

1. test Aeglos-1 lifting capabilities
2. get barometer and thermometer readings from high kerbin orbit
3. test reentry from HKO

 

"Three...Two...One...Aaand, launch!" boomed Gene's voice over the radio.

To Mission Control horror, just a few seconds after ignition the rocket began to tilt due north. In a desperate attempt to regain control, the solid fuel booster was decoupled and the liquid engine activated, hoping that the engine gimbal would be enough to point the rocket in the right direction. Unfortunatly, this low in the atmosphere, the TRW of Aeglos-1 was too low, and the rocket continued to tilt. In panic, Mission Control decoupled the payload, hoping to at least recover the valuable instruments, but once again catastrophe hit! Aeglos-1 continued in contact with the payload, and pushed it to the ground. After only 37 seconds, the mission ended in complete failure and all hardware destroyed. The only positive aspect of it all was that the rocket didn't hit any kerbals and the mission was still unkerbaled. The incident got the engineers thinking of ways to safely decoupe the payload and retrieving it back to the surface in the event of another launch failure before kerballed missions can be even considered. Maybe a Launch Abort System, activated by a Big Red Button? Hmmmm...

Also, the embarrassed Directors Board decided that never again shall be attempted a last minute change in the mission profile to cater in to a contract, no matter how profitable it may be.

 

 

 

Mission album

Spoiler

 

Flight results

Spoiler

 

Mission failed!

 

The disaster also prompted new investments in infrastructure, and therefore, 2 points were spent in improving the assembly line of the VAB and 1 more on science development.

 

[chicobaptista]

Part 7

Kerbal Construction Time Facilities

Spoiler

VAB
1)1.05 BP/s
SPH
1)0.1 BP/s
R&D

Research 1.5 sci/86400

Devel. 2 sci/da

Pouring over the design blueprints of the Illuin mk3 and what telemetry could be recovered from Almaren VI, engineering decided that the explosion caused by the decoupler destabilized the launch, and as the hammer doesn't have any gimbaling capacity, the probe core authority was insufficient to keep  the rocket oriented right. By the time the liquid engine was activated, gravity already had a grip on the rocket, and the low TWR of the second lifter stage prevented recovery. The proposed solution was to dial up the power of the "reliant" engine to give the rocket a bit more of control. However, only a launch stabilizer system would have prevented the disaster of Almaren VI and as such, no decouplers shall be tested on launch as a first stage. Posterior simulations showed a much improved launch, with only a little manual steering required during the gravity turn.

A new Illuin mk3 was then put in the works.

 

Confident in this launch, the board gave the go-ahead for Mortimer to accept a new contract, this time to gather scientific data from space.

Spoiler

After another four days, the brand new Illuin mk3 was rolled out to the launchpad.

Almaren VII

Mission Objectives:

1. test Aeglos-1 lifting capabilities
2. get barometer and thermometer readings from high kerbin orbit
3. test reentry from HKO
4. try to precision landing near the ksc

 

The launch went beautifully, without any incident. The Aeglos-1 lifter pushed the apoapsis to  approx. 250 km and then was decoupled to allow for recovery back on Kerbin. At apoapsis, Illuin made its Orbit Insertion Burn into an 267 km x 70 km elliptical orbit. At apoapsis, Mission Control remotely activated the scientific experiments, getting temperature and pressure readings from High Kerbin Orbit and burned retrograde to set the periapsis just below Kerbin's surface, aiming a pinpoint landing on the KSC. As Illuin passed the 75 km mark, the photovoltaic panels were retracted, the chutes armed, the orientation changed to retrograde and the probe core was shut down to conserve power. Now, all Mission Control could do was hope that the probe didn't burn on reentry. As Illuin screamed through the atmosphere, heat began to build up in the sensitive scientific instruments, coming dangerously near to permanently destroying them. However, as it slowed down due to the atmosphere, so did the heating subside to safe levels. After a while, Illuin zoomed above the KSC and the old Island Runway and finally deployed its chutes, landing softly on the ocean east of the Space Center, where it awaited for the recovery crews led by Gus Kerman.

 

Mission Album

 

Spoiler

Mission results

Spoiler

 

Mission Successful!

 

[RA3236]

#1 other person reply.

Great report, looks really good!

[chicobaptista]

40 minutes ago, RA3236 said:

#1 other person reply.

Great report, looks really good!

Hey there! 1st reply from somebody else! Hope you didn't feel obligated to do it because of my post in your thread,  hehe

Thank you for the kind words! Really glad you liked it. There's a lot more in the works, so stay tuned!

[chicobaptista]

Part 8

Kerbal Construction Time facilities

Spoiler

VAB

1)1.05 BP/s
SPH
1)0.1 BP/s
R&D
Research 1.5 sci/86400

Devel. 2 sci/day

After sucessfully taking a probe to High Kerbin Orbit, the Board of Directors decided to finally retry the ill-fated Almaren III and get bathymetry readings from deep under Kerbin's water. To do such, a new probe was designed, the Illuin mk3.5,which would be built in less than a day.

 

Illuin mk3.5

Spoiler

While the VAB crew was busy, the R&D department started looking into new ways to attach stuff to the rockets (General Construction, 5 science, 2 days & 3 hours; Strap-on boosters, 25 science, 12 days & 3 hours) and into more powerful equipment to transmit data (Basic long range antennas, 15 science, 7 days & 3 hours)

 

Almaren VIII

Mission Objectives

• Obtain temperature and baromether readings from Kerbins Shores
• Obtain bathymetry from deep Kerbin's shores
• Test variable ballast with the flotation systems

 

After liftoff and a early turn, the rocket zoomed towards the shore, decoupling the now empty solid booster and using its tiny monopropellant engine to slow the fall and get to deeper waters. When it could not be delayed further, the  chutes were manually deployed and Illuin mk3.5 landed softly in the water. To Mission Control delight, it began to sink right away, and once it got to the bottom, aquired its bathymetry readings. Immediatly after, its floats were deployed and the probe rose back to the surface to be retrieved. Fortunately, no Krakens were found near the KSC, but the Board of Directors decided to not tempt fate.

 

Mission Album

Spoiler

 

Mission Results

Spoiler

 

 

Mission Successful!

 

With the success of the mission, Doktor von Kerman delegated his brightest intern, Bob Kerman, to a task force assigned with bridging the gap between the VAB and R&D crews (Engineering 101, 15 science, 7 days & 3 hours) as well as develop the existing means of atmospheric flight to use in the Space Program (Aviation, 15 days, 7 days & 3 hours)