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Kerbin Aerospace Research Agency


TheKosmonaut

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In the years following a surge of violence all over the world, Kerbin elected to establish a non-military space program. Having the various branches of military bodies disband their own space programs, they concentrated the effort under a single roof made the Kerbin Aerospace Research Agency. 

Not all missions will succeed, not all will end in triumph. But through trial and tribulation, Kerbin will grow from a fledgling pool of little green men into a space-age species of science, exploration, and adventure. 

We follow KARA from its humble beginnings, with the first two series of rockets under their program: 

 

Rocket 1, Series 01, Variant Able (Mobile)
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Pictured; Dr. Leonid Kerman supervising in the foreground as tests on the platform were run, Dr. Henry Kerman in the background is also running through checklists. 
Also seen: A hangar crew wandering aimlessly, running the clock till their shifts end.

Originally called the Mjolnir Rocket Artillery Platform (MRAP), this rocket was designed to be a light vehicle to follow a small squad of Kerbal through rough terrain and quickly fire from hillsides. The military spec of this rocket had moving fins and a heavy explosive warhead. With a range of 30 kilometers, it was a formidable, cheap weapon. 
Due to the military advances in rocket artillery, KARA was able to procure a number of them for their own program. While several were used as part of the Able series, some were also adapted to work as upper stages for future designs.

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Pictured: Able-1 in flight, heading north from the KSC for its first test flight.

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Rocket 1, Series 01, Variant Baker
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Dr. Leonid Kerman goes to retrieve a replacement timing mechanism for the science module

Not only had the Army sold its spare rockets to KARA, but the Navy as well. Seeking to one-up the Land Forces contribution to the space effort, The Kerbin Naval Force sought to give their Poseidon Missile System to KARA for free. 

Intended to be a Sea-Launched or Submarine launched missile, the Poseidon was a massively successful weapon for the Navy in its earlier years. However, the Poseidon was made obsolete by advances in cannons that were mounted on ships in the years following. As a result, the Poseidon was soft-retired from service after only 10 years, leaving a large surplus stockpiled in warehouses around the naval yards. 

The Baker didn't see many flights as it was soon fitted with an interstage joint allowing the Able to be attached on top, creating the Charlie Variant of the 101 series. 

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Baker-2 sitting on the pad as it readies for its mission into space, usually they reach 180km to 210km.

Rocket 1, Series 01, Variant Charlie
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Dr. Sigfred Kerman overseeing the installation of the upper stage onto the primary booster. 

After the successes of Able and Baker rocked the world, KARA was given additional funding beyond its phase-1 startup budget and was allowed to move into slightly more advanced techniques for spaceflight. The Charlie was simply the combination of Able and Baker into the first two-stage rocket on Kerbin. Not only was this the first two-stage rocket, it was also the first to employ Reaction Control Systems when in space. The first photos of Kerbin from high in space were taken by the Charlie variant rockets.

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Dr. Sigfred and Leonid, assembling the Charlie rocket.

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On 9/23/2017 at 12:33 AM, Skylon said:

Very cool! I like the pictures in the VAB/hangar, they are very well composed. Keep it up, I'm looking forward to it!

Thanks, Skylon! Been playing KSP since.. before there was a moon and so it's made me have some very long sessions of staring at the VAB and/or SPH screen. I just wish I could have some more freedom of movement in the VAB, which is why most of these are taken in the SPH.

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