LEAP: Little Exploratory Aerospace Program

[LittleBitMore]

--OVERVIEW--

I'm going to play a career mode save in OPM, as LEAP: Little Exploratory Aerospace Program. I created this to give myself some set goals and hold me to them.

In this new mission report, I plan to complete these goals:

• I want to use planes and spaceplanes more often. I'm terrible at this and I often ignore the plane parts as long as I can.
• I want to land EVERYWHERE. So far, even in Sandbox, the furthest I've gotten without cheats is an Ike landing. I want to change this. I need something or someone to push me to go more places, and a mission report is the perfect thing. If I ever get far, OPM will leave me without the ability to run out of places to go.
• I want to use stations and planetary bases more often. I ignore these when I play Science and Career even though I could totally use them more.
• I want to finally catalogue everything about all my missions as perfectly as I can, which I've been wanting to do for the longest time (I've been searching for mods to do it for me but I didn't find any). This is a great way to do it.
• I want to keep a save, for good. I leave behind all my saves when I go to a new modlist, and I want this to stop. I want to have a save so important, I learn how to get a new install specifically to save this forever. Ergo I make this mission save so it's not just me keeping me to it-- it's you guys, too.
• I want to return to writing. I have been ignoring my background in writing, which I have dabbled in a little, and now is a good time to try it out again by turning this mission report into an entertaining book-style format, btu with images as well.

This is the complete modlist.

Spoiler

NOTE: I had to install a few things manually and not with CKAN, and so CKAN might not know they exist. I will provide a short list of mods I know CKAN missed, and then the list CKAN provided.

• Kopernicus 1.10 Bleeding Edge (may cause some issues)
• Outer Planets Mod (for 1.9.x)

Ckan's List:

• B9 Animation Modules (B9AnimationModules v1.7.0)
• B9 Part Switch (B9PartSwitch v2.16.0)
• Chatterer (Chatterer 0.9.99)
• Chatterer Extended (ChattererExtended 0.6.2)
• ClickThrough Blocker (ClickThroughBlocker 1:0.1.10.11)
• CommNet Relays (ContractConfigurator-CommNetRelays v2.1.0)
• Community Category Kit (CommunityCategoryKit 5.1.0.0)
• Community Resource Pack (CommunityResourcePack 1.3.0.0)
• Community Tech Tree (CommunityTechTree 1:3.4.1)
• Contract Configurator (ContractConfigurator 1.28.0)
• Contract Pack: Bases and Stations Reborn (ContractConfigurator-KerbinSpaceStation 2:3.7.2.2)
• Contract Pack: Clever Sats (ContractConfigurator-CleverSats 1.4)
• Contract Pack: Exploration Plus (ContractConfigurator-ExplorationPlus 2.0.1)
• Contract Pack: Field Research (ContractConfigurator-FieldResearch 1.2.1)
• Contract Pack: Kerbal Academy (ContractConfigurator-KerbalAcademy 1.1.10)
• Contract Pack: Tourism Plus (ContractConfigurator-Tourism 1.5.2)
• Crew R&R (CrewQueueTwo 1.1.10.4)
• Deployable Engines Plugin (DeployableEngines 1.2.1)
• Distant Object Enhancement Continued (DistantObject v2.0.0.2)
• Distant Object Enhancement Continued default config (DistantObject-default v2.0.0.2)
• Extraplanetary Launchpads (ExtraPlanetaryLaunchpads 6.7.2.0)
• Ferram Aerospace Research Continued (FerramAerospaceResearchContinued 3:0.15.11.4)
• Filter Extensions - Plugin (FilterExtensions 3.2.5)
• Firespitter Core (FirespitterCore v7.15)
• Fuel Tanks Plus (FuelTanksPlus 2.0.2)
• Hide Empty Tech Tree Nodes (HideEmptyTechNodes 1.1.2)
• HullcamVDS Continued (HullcamVDSContinued 0.2.0)
• Kerbal Alarm Clock (KerbalAlarmClock v3.13.0.0)
• Kerbal Attachment System (KAS 1.6)
• Kerbal Construction Time (KerbalConstructionTime 1:1.4.7.14)
• Kerbal Engineer Redux (KerbalEngineerRedux 1.1.7.2)
• Kerbal Inventory System (KIS 1.26)
• Kerbal Joint Reinforcement Continued (KerbalJointReinforcementContinued v3.5.1)
• Kerbal Planetary Base Systems (KerbalPlanetaryBaseSystems v1.6.12)
• Kerbal Reusability Expansion (SpaceXLegs 2.8.6)
• Kethane Mining (Kethane 0.10.3)
• kOS: Scriptable Autopilot System (kOS 1:1.2.1.0)
• KRASH - Kerbal Ramification Artifical Simulation Hub (simulation mod for KSP) (KRASH 0.5.33)
• Kronal Vessel Viewer Continued (KVVContinued 0.1.1)
• KSP AVC (KSP-AVC 1.4.1.5)
• MagiCore (MagiCore 1.3.2.3)
• Mark IV Spaceplane System (MarkIVSpaceplaneSystem 3.1.1)
• MechJeb 2 (MechJeb2 2.10.0.0)
• Mk2 Stockalike Expansion (Mk2Expansion 2:1.8.8)
• Modular Rocket Systems (ModularRocketSystem 1.13.2)
• Near Future Construction (NearFutureConstruction 1.2.2)
• Near Future IVA Props (NearFutureProps 1:0.6.2)
• Near Future Solar (NearFutureSolar 1.2.2)
• Near Future Solar Core (NearFutureSolar-Core 1.2.2)
• Physics Range Extender  (PhysicsRangeExtender 1.19.0)
• PlanetShine (PlanetShine 0.2.6.3)
• PlanetShine - Default configuration (PlanetShine-Config-Default 0.2.6.3)
• RasterPropMonitor Core (RasterPropMonitor-Core 1:v0.31.4)
• SCANsat (SCANsat v20.2)
• ScienceAlert ReAlerted (ScienceAlert 1.9.8.9)
• SmokeScreen - Extended FX Plugin (SmokeScreen 2.8.14.0)
• SpaceTux Library (SpaceTuxLibrary 0.0.3.9)
• Station Science Continued (StationScienceContinued v2.6.0)
• Stockalike Station Parts Expansion Redux (StationPartsExpansionRedux 1.3.5)
• The Janitor's Closet (JanitorsCloset 0.3.7)
• Toolbar Controller (ToolbarController 1:0.1.9.4)
• Trajectories (Trajectories v2.3.4)
• TweakScale - Rescale Everything! (TweakScale v2.4.3.19)
• Waypoint Manager (WaypointManager 2.8.2.6)
• Zero MiniAVC (ZeroMiniAVC 1:1.1.0.1)
   

In the spoiler is image proof of the difficulty settings I've changed from default, as well as a list of changes. default. PLEASE NOTE that I despise upgrading facilities, so I used the debug menu at the very beginning of the game, once, to max out the facilities. In turn I've lowered the funds rewards all the way down to 60%, which i've never done before, as a kind of compensation.

Spoiler

The changes from default difficulty are as follows:

• Revert Flights has been disabled.
• Respawn Crews has been disabled.
• Funds has been lowered to 60%.

--UNIQUE TOUCHES--

Throughout the mission report I'll be doing my best to keep the mission report unique and fun for both me and you guys. In this section I'll describe what I'll be changing to make it more unique.

I will do my best to create unique and interesting flags for each important mission, mainly those which are manned, as mission patches. I will plaster all the flags all over the sides of the craft.

One thing I should note is that I occasionally write books, and it would be easiest if I put this in a kind of book-ish format, even though it is a mission report. This is because I want to give the characters actual character instead of just having them be another expendable crew. I am going to do my absolute best to keep it closer to being a book than being a roleplay, which I have noted is against the KSP forum rules.

On the topic of providing more insight into crew, I can spice up my mission report by splitting up the different specializations into smaller categories, to make it more interesting. In-game there will still only be Pilot, Engineer, and Scientist, but over here I'll list all the kerbals and their special narrowed occupation. I'll follow my pre-set rules for crew, unless it's an emergency. This should make it so I vary my crew for different vessels more often.

• Pilot
  • Aircraft Pilot (at least one is required to fly spaceplanes, aircraft, helicopters, shuttles, etc.)
  • Spacecraft Pilot (at least one is required to fly normal spacecraft and rockets)
  • Specialized Pilot (pilots with specialized purposes, which are specified in the list of Kerbals. can generally only fly specific types of craft, or with specific capsules)
• Engineer
  • EVA Specialist (brought on missions to repair or build things with KAS on EVA, or to reair wheels, repack chutes, or other such stuff)
  • Communications Engineer (required on missions that are not in Kerbin's SOI, to simulate them controlling how the relays bounce signal)
  • Long-term Maintenance Worker (brought to stations or bases, there must be at least one for a station or base to be considered functional. also for improving ISRU)
• Scientist
  • Field Scientist (general scientist brought to reuse experiments, transfer experiments, etc.)
  • Laboratory Worker (brought to keep labs running and to use the labs)
  • Long-term Scientist (brought on bases or stations for long-term science, but not inside the laboratory. there must be at least one for a station or base to be considered functional.)

Kerbal list:

Spoiler

Jebediah Kerman - Pilot - Spacecraft Pilot

Bill Kerman - Engineer - EVA Specialist

Bob Kerman - Scientist - Field Scientist

Valentina Kerman - Pilot - Aircraft Pilot

Expect me to update somewhat often, and don't be afraid to say "MOAR!!", because I may forget this exists and i might need to be brought back to it.

Edited July 20, 2020 by LittleBitMore
Modlist: Removed RemoteTech and dependent mods.

[LittleBitMore]

PROLOGUE

Spoiler

It isn't often thought about, how most space programs start. Nobody often thinks about who started them and why. Most of them are started because someone rich looks to the stars, or a miliary company designates a branch to space exploration (and weaponry).

In this case it was neither of these options. In fact, it's rather bland. There were no militaries involved, and no billionaires in the picture. Just one Kerbal and a large bonus earned from an accounting company.

On a warm sunny day, somewhere near the equator, an everyday Kerbal decided to take a hike. He wasn't rich, but he wasn't poor either-- he was comfortably in the mid-upper section of the middle class. This nameless Kerbal was very very happy indeed-- recently he completed an amazingly large accomplishment at Kerbal Accounting Company. Everyone at his job loved the idea, as did his boss-- inevitably granting him a bonus of 30,000 funds! He quickly took a few sick days from his job to enjoy himself on a vacation to a foreign and sophisticated country.

Before he went on his vacation, he decided to go on a long walk on the beach, so he could fulfill the requirements he set for himself on a dating site (why else go on a vacation across the world?). As he wandered, he spotted some abandoned buildings in the distance-- they seemed to be very large and sophisticated buildings, but it was obvious there was nobody there.

As the nameless Kerbal entered the largest and tallest building, he spotted something: what looked like a barrel with some sort of cone on one side. There were several parts like this, which looked as if they had once been on a shelf of some sort, but it had broken and dropped the unknown objects onto the floor. Where some of these mysterious objects should have been were black smoldering blasts.

Curious, he tipped the barrel onto its side and looked over it. It was far too heavy for him to move properly, so it was forced to be left in an orientation in which the cone was on the side opposing to the building door. This barrel looked extremely boring, and so he began to walk away.

The nameless Kerbal tripped on a pole of some sort that was left lying around. Stumbling to a halt, he confusedly wonders what he had tripped on. It seemed to be an average everyday metal pipe, which he picked up and started messing with. After opening a dial, a sheet of fabric shot out of one side.

Aha! It was a flag!

But why would anyone need a flag nowadays?

He looked over at the barrel, and had a silly idea. So silly it might just work.

What would the barrel do, if I whacked it with this flag?

And so, with a CLANG, the flag landed on the barrel at a large force, denting it slightly. Nothing happened. The Kerbal, annoyed at such an outcome--

fWOOSH

The barrel sprang to life, shooting fire out behind it with such power the Kerbal was blasted away from it. The barrel shot out of the buildings at great speeds. Astonished, the kerbal stood up and ran to the door to see what had become of the barrel.

It was flying! In the sky!

And this kerbal had a realization: this wasn't a normal barrel, and that flag wasn't a boring old flag. Those other parts weren't boring or weird either-- they were fins, crew compartments, engines, parachutes. This was an assembly building designed for rocketry!

And this Kerbal had an idea. An idea related to his news reporter friend who lived nearby.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5,000 funds later, the Kerbal watched from his home as that same friend announced the start of something new, something extraordinary, something both the reporter and every watcher out there-- including the nameless Kerbal-- knew was so Kerbal nobody could forget it:

There was now a company designated to reaching and exploring space. An initiative, if you will. Or, perhaps, a space program. There was a boss for that very space program who was hiring "kerbonauts" and rocket builders to help Kerbalkind reach space and beyond.

That very program was called LEAP: the Little Exploratory Aerospace Program.

Yeah, it's just a prologue, no actual missions going on yet. I'm playing as we speak, so it'll come out soon.

[LittleBitMore]

REPORT 1

Year 1, Day 1, 0h 0m

(NOTE: I was streaming this to my friends on Discord and so during the first flight there is a pesky marker saying I was streaming.)

Spoiler

The boss, after hiring several engineers to build rockets, some scientists to research craft, and 4 kerbonauts to board craft, began his endeavours towards space.

The engineers were shortly ordered to build the best rocket thy could with the resources at hand. They came up with the Match 1, a small and weak craft designed to hop up and go down without exploding.

Jebediah Kerman, currently the only kerbonaut able to pilot a rocket, stepped forwards in place of Bill Kerman (EVA specialist), Bob Kerman (field scientist), and Valentina Kerman (aircraft pilot) as the pilot. So he boarded and was brought to the launch pad.

Jebediah hit the "STAGE" button and went up with extreme force.

Due to an engineer's bright idea to add an instrument on the back, the spacecraft nearly uncontrollably flew directly north very quickly.

After the rocket fuel was spent, Jebediah quickly did his best to pull up the rocket, to no avail. He was headed straight into the ocean. All he could do now was hope, and hit the science button.

Jebediah remembered there existed a helpful tool called a "parachute", which was put into the staging sequence as if it were an engine. Once the spacecraft slowed down enough for safe parachute firing, he fired it and did more science on the way down.

Due to unknown reasons, the craft was too heavy for the parachutes given to it, and it broke up when it splashed down. Due to more unknown reasons, the water was super bouncy today and Jebediah experienced several splashdowns in rapid succession, destroing nearly the entire craft.

After Jeb returned, he brought back mildly bountiful science thanks to his quick science button pushing, and successfully allowed the boys over in the Research and Development Facility to unlock several new parts, like liquid fueled engines, heat shielding, science gear, cargo bays, and other goodies.

The whole world buzzed with excitement as the space program began.

Soon, a rocket scientist who worked building the next craft accidentally leaked the designs to the world, inspiring more and more excitement for what was to come.

I would have made this much longer but I was short on time. Ideally I would have launched at least 3 or more rockets per report, but not today.

Edited July 21, 2020 by LittleBitMore
tpyoes

[Venturer2Space]

Loving it so far, can't wait to see more!  

[LittleBitMore]

Due to life, I'll be noticeably less active, but I won't forget about this.

[Misguided Kerbal]

Woah, this is cool! 

Suggestion: have you considered VSR or Restock?

[kerbodog]

On 7/21/2020 at 9:11 AM, LittleBitMore said:

Cool design!

[LittleBitMore]

Ok, I promise this hasn't been forgotten. I haven't had a lot of time recently, but I'll get another one out before Tuesday.

[KerballingSmasher]

23 hours ago, LittleBitMore said:

Ok, I promise this hasn't been forgotten

Well, that's good. 

[LittleBitMore]

This hasn't been forgotten, but right now I can't continue this for several reasons. Motivation, real-life events, and technical difficulties are a few of them.

might need to be cancelled, I'll see later

sorry if i got your guys' hopes up. I'll still be participating in challenges and stuff, hopefully.

Edited August 15, 2020 by LittleBitMore

[Maria Sirona]

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!! PLEASE LET THIS NOT BE DEAD PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!

[LittleBitMore]

nah, it's pretty dead, sorry mate. I had life happen, as well as a computer wipe at some point, so it's been both forgotten and probably vaporized in the wipe