Reconstruction - a 0.23[.5][.24.2] career mode story

[S4qFBxkFFg]

I had some ideas about what happened in pre-game time on Kerbin - the main theme is that it's a very post-war society which due to terrible experiences in the past has undergone near-complete demilitarisation (including destruction of ALL aerospace technology ).

Essentially, Kerbin has achieved loose political unification and voluntarily imposed military restrictions more severe than Versailles-treaty levels on itself.

Only recently have attitudes softened to the point where a space programme is feasible.

Fortunately, for various reasons, the demilitarisation process wasn't that complete, and there are a few bits of useful hardware (e.g. missile boosters) turning up, as well as a few kerbals who still have a vague idea of how they work...

(I might turn this into a full-scale fanfic, depends on when 0.24 comes out.)

Edited August 25, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[S4qFBxkFFg]

First Flight!

Essentially nothing more than a wiped-down missile booster ("accidentally" preserved from pre-treaty missile stocks) with a capsule and parachute attached.

Intended to fly to a few km in altitude while turning east before splashing down in the ocean.

Thrust reduced to 50% and fuel reduced to about 25% of maximums in an attempt to limit or avoid explosiveness.

Wernher wanted to use an LV-T30 and FL-T200 because it would be more controllable, but Gene disagreed, saying reducing splashdown weight would be more important. We let Jeb decide, and he took Gene's advice - the reduction in thrust and fuel was Wernher's idea though.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Jebediah Kerman

Result: Success

Status: Recovered

Details: Tilted 10° east immediately after launch, achieved M1.4+ and altitude in excess of 9300m. Parachutes deployed at approximately 200m/s airspeed. Splashed down almost 7km off the coast and recovered safely. Due to pilot forgetfulness, no scientific data was collected until after parachute deployment; flight nevertheless considered to be successful.

Edited January 5, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[S4qFBxkFFg]

Now that our engineers have perfected decouplers, there's no need to have anything below the pod retained to splashdown.

The large engine plus small fuel tank will make for a very short flight, but we should be able to get a good idea of how liquid fuelled rockets behave.

Bob's up for this one, we're hoping he remembers to make a report at some time *before* going into splashdown configuration.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Bob Kerman

Result: Success

Status: Recovered

Details: Attempted similar flight profile to Vulcan 1a although altitude and speed were much reduced due to the low amount of fuel. While splashdown was again achieved safely, pilot was unable to re-enter the capsule after conducting EVA due to the flotation movements of both pilot and capsule. Water EVAs will be avoided until this problem can be solved.

Edited January 5, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[S4qFBxkFFg]

The only difference from 1b is the larger fuel tank - the intention is to slowly increase the range capability until we get something that can achieve orbit.

This time the capsule will be landing west of the space centre.

Also, Bill's first flight.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Bill Kerman

Result: Success

Status: Recovered

Details: Westward flight was altered to a south-west direction to avoid landing in mountains. First reports from Kerbin's upper atmosphere.

Edited January 5, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[S4qFBxkFFg]

Mystery Goo!

The 1c capsule has been equipped with two goo canisters to allow more experimental data to be gathered without expanding flight envelopes.

Jeb is back in the pilot's seat for his second flight; we should probably think about hiring some more kerbonauts.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Jebediah Kerman

Result: Success

Status: Recovered

Details: A short-range flight, goo recovery definitely provides useful scientific data, but adding the canisters at the front of the rocket has reduced stability when the rocket is not pointing close to its velocity vector. It is believed that careful piloting will prevent this reoccurring (Jeb, this means you). Of significant scientific interest is that we have discovered tundra-like areas close to KSC; however, we have no idea what this means.

Edited January 15, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[Naten]

Sounds great! I love the way you're doing this.

[S4qFBxkFFg]

The only change from 1d is the use of the LV-T45 engine - the thrust vectoring should help with control.

Newly recruited pilot: Genevin Kerman.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Genevin Kerman

Result: Success

Status: Recovered

Details: This flight went for maximum altitude - over 57km in this case. This was still within the upper atmosphere, so unfortunately we still don't know exactly how high it goes. Despite not pitching or yawing, the landing site ended up a few km west of the launch pad - we should have realised that Kerbin's rotation would have had an effect and will have to remember this when our rockets go higher...

Edited January 15, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[S4qFBxkFFg]

Sounds great! I love the way you're doing this.

Thanks!

I am now in the unique(?) position of hoping 0.24 doesn't arrive too soon so I can make some progress with this.

[S4qFBxkFFg]

This flight will serve to test two technologies - the Globe 1 strap-on solid boosters (with radial decouplers) and the in-flight laboratory.

Another heat shield has been added below the lab - we're hoping it isn't necessary though.

If it doesn't fall over on the pad, everything should be fine.

Bob seems like the best choice here.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Bob Kerman

Result: Partial Success

Status: Recovered

Details: During a 45° ascent on an eastward heading, everything went OK until the boosters were jettisoned - it appears this design is too unstable (probably due to the centre of mass being so far forward) and the craft flipped 180°, only stabilising once its speed dropped below Mach 1. The lab also didn't survive splashdown. All in all, some major redesign work is required.

Edited January 15, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[S4qFBxkFFg]

Redesign of Vulcan 1 series, optimised for stability.

Extra parachutes may mean the lab actually survives splashdown this time.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Jim Kerman

Result: Partial Success

Status: Recovered

Details: Whether it was the fins or the redistributed CoM, the rocket remained stable during the ascent to an altitude of over 100km. Some data was collected (and transferred by the pilot to the capsule), but the lab still did not survive splashdown despite the extra drogue chutes.

[S4qFBxkFFg]

Pad test, not capable of flight, intended to ground test new 2-kerbal pod.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Genevin Kerman, Mildred Kerman

Result: Success

Status: Recovered

Details: The crew had nothing but praise for the larger capsule, although we think it's mostly because they can hold hands if they get scared. The test was more scientifically productive than was expected - apparently we can collect useful data while sitting on the launch pad - who knew?

[S4qFBxkFFg]

If we hadn't accepted that the lab module needed some sort of cushioning, this could have just gotten silly. Three of these landing legs should do the trick.

Looking at the science collected so far, a trip to the highlands is called for; these winglets should get the rocket going in the right direction.

This will be Mildred Kerman's first flight.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Mildred Kerman

Result: Failure

Status: Recovered

Details: As the vehicle was delivered to the pad in the late afternoon, it was decided to wait until dawn before launch, to ensure adequate light. It was not realised that the capsule would be consuming electricity the whole time, and moments after launch this was discovered due to zero SAS effectiveness. Some winglet control capability was retained and the rocket was able to turn towards the higher ground west of KSC.

After stage separation, the upper stage's gimbal provided insufficient control, and the vehicle made a parachute descent into mountainous terrain. The landing legs had sufficient strength to withstand the impact, but the vehicle toppled, destroying the lab module and causing the capsule to separate and start rolling downhill. After several seconds, the pilot panicked and vacated the capsule, both rolling to a stop within a few seconds.

A small amount of scientific data was gathered by the pilot (who appears to have escaped injury) who then waited by part of the vehicle until recovery.

Edited January 19, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[S4qFBxkFFg]

The solutions to the problems encountered by 2b seem obvious - wider-spaced legs, and more batteries.

Jim Kerman has been selected for this mission - the objective being identical to 2b.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Jim Kerman

Result: Partial Success

Status: Recovered

Details: Excess drag from the landing leg beams significantly reduced the vehicle's range, but also enabled a tail-first landing to be made with ease, and without any damage. Recovery from the grasslands west of KSC was uneventful.

Edited January 19, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[S4qFBxkFFg]

Similar to the 2b design, it should be safe enough when attempting to land on the flatter ground to the south.

This flight will also allow evaluation of the Wildcat-V engine.

Bill's second flight.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Bill Kerman

Result: Partial Success

Status: Recovered

Details: The engine performed satisfactorily, but vehicle range was less than expected - more fuel and more stages are probably required. This was another splashdown, although the scientific data recovered indicated grasslands - this may warrant further investigation.

Edited January 25, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[S4qFBxkFFg]

Some design changes were made to improve flight/landing characteristics; the radial parachutes are probably not helping much compared to more cushioning from landing legs.

Also, with engine gimballing and careful piloting, winglets or fins don't seem to be necessary either.

More fuel, and strap-on boosters should extend range and the stability enhancers permit an extended pre-launch period.

We're hopeful that this design can serve for most suborbital missions - Genevin gets the first flight.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Genevin Kerman

Result: Failure

Status: Vehicle Destroyed, 1 Fatality (Genevin Kerman)

Details: During ascent, the vehicle tilted northwards with the intention of landing as close to the North Pole as possible. Shortly after solid booster separation, stability was lost, and the vehicle pitched almost tail first but recovered before lower stage separation. The vehicle then entered a ballistic trajectory above the atmosphere towards the north polar regions. Atmospheric re-entry failed to slow the vehicle sufficiently and debris shedding was observed before non-survivable impact (greater than 500m/s) with the surface in a nose-first attitude.

Edited May 9, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[S4qFBxkFFg]

The one thing we were hoping would never happen, just did. There have been credible political threats that the Kerbal Space Program may even be shut down as a result.

Therefore, we need something positive - the Vulcan 3 series is intended to reach orbit and return its pilot safely.

Recent events demonstrate the necessity of careful re-entry vehicle design; here, there is no attempt to recover much more than the capsule.

Stabilising winglets have also been reintroduced.

To avoid exposing the batteries to air flow, they have been mounted inside a service compartment, just below the capsule.

Despite not being next in the rotation, Jebediah has been selected for this mission. If it doesn't work, it might be our last.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Jebediah Kerman

Result: Success

Status: Recovered

Details:

This mission went exactly as planned - initial ascent and booster separation were uneventful, and the lower stage was able to provide a significant portion of the necessary delta-v to achieve orbit. The upper stage used approximately half its fuel to finish reaching a stable orbit and perform a selection of manoeuvres including raising/lowering apsides and a minor inclination change to bring the vehicle's ground track over KSC.

In orbit, a number of EVAs were performed, and several observations of Kerbin's equatorial regions were made. One full orbit was completed, during which the vehicle was observed passing overhead KSC at between 70-80km altitude.

After overflying KSC, the vehicle travelled approximately 3/4 of the way around Kerbin before a deorbit burn was made; adjustments to the vehicle's trajectory were made during initial re-entry so as to reach the surface near KSC.

Once aerodynamic effects overcame the ability of the reaction wheels to turn the vehicle, the capsule separated from the upper stage.

Re-entry was successful, without significant visible heating effects, and the capsule descended by parachute to a landing site 40-45km west of KSC.

Edited March 17, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[S4qFBxkFFg]

The same basic design as 3a, but with the following innovations:

Solar Panels - used to recharge the batteries, these should allow an extended stay in space, limited by food/oxygen/water supplies.

Streamlined Nose Fairing - to protect the capsule/panels during ascent.

Engine - the upper stage is now powered by the Vesta VR-1 - slightly heavier, but better isp. Upper stage fuel has also been reduced, but the lower tank has been extended. Booster thrust has been reduced to 80%.

This time, an inclined orbit is the objective - therefore the plan is to turn south-west after launch.

Jebediah will be out of rotation for several weeks on publicity duties, but the space program continues - this mission will be crewed by Mildred.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Mildred Kerman

Result: Success

Status: Recovered

Details:

Mostly uneventful, pilot turned north-west instead of south-west, but it didn't really matter. Not a productive flight in terms of scientific value, but several useful technologies have been shown to work.

As upper stage fuel was limited, it was not possible to land close to KSC, however, recovery was still successful.

More upper stage fuel, and increased maximum deflection of control surfaces would be useful.

Edited January 26, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[S4qFBxkFFg]

The LOCOM satellite is designed to maintain a communications network close to Kerbin; we're hoping it can get into a useful orbit before passing over the horizon and losing its link to KSC.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: n/a

Result: Failure

Status: Vehicle Destroyed

Details: Communications were lost due to staging (thus losing the dipole antennae) before the Communotron antennae were deployed. The vehicle then re-entered atmosphere and was destroyed on splashdown.

Edited January 26, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[S4qFBxkFFg]

Identical to 1a, maybe it will work this time.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: n/a

Result: Success

Status: Orbiting Kerbin

Details: Vehicle was launched successfully, and achieved a stable orbit. Over several orbits (as communications were only possible with line-of-sight), this was adjusted to a 250km altitude near-circular orbit.

Despite the successful launch, the satellite is expected to eventually fail due to overheating. R&D think this can be solved by adding radiators - any further LOCOM launches will be delayed until they are available.

Edited January 26, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[S4qFBxkFFg]

This should keep everyone off our backs for a while - we're going to the Mün!

It's the biggest rocket we've ever launched, and the first flight using the HGR-57 "Radish" crew capsule - given the unprecedented distance from Kerbin, there should really be two Kerbals on board in case something goes wrong.

Based on discussions with our Kerbonauts, lights have been added to the vehicle to aid in orientation while on EVA on the darkside of Kerbin/Mün. A deployable communication dish is also in place so we have a better idea of how things are going before actually recovering the capsule.

The idea is that when leaving low Kerbin orbit, the vehicle enters a figure-8 trajectory around the two bodies - if we get it right, they should make it back to re-entry without needing any more delta-v. Wernher calls it a "free" return trajectory. Bill asked if that meant he doesn't get flight pay for this mission.

Joining Bill is our newest recruit - Bartdrin Kerman.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Bill Kerman, Bartdrin Kerman

Result: Success

Status: Recovered

Details:

Probably our most significant mission yet - for the first time, Kerbals have been closer to another celestial body than to Kerbin and for the first time, the dark side of the Mün has been observed.

The mission essentially went as planned - launch and Kerbin orbit insertion no longer seem to hold any surprises; a mostly circular orbit (within the LOCOM satellite's 250km orbit) was established before waiting until the best time for Münar transfer. A free return trajectory was established, meaning the mission theoretically needed no more propellant to circle the Mün and return to Kerbin's atmosphere. A target of 30-40km was selected for Kerbin periapsis.

The journey to the Mün was largely uneventful but some useful data was collected from this hitherto unexplored part of near-Kerbin space. The new communication dish worked as expected, able to both communicate directly with KSC and relayed through LOCOM 1b.

Close to the Mün, the most valuable observations were made of the "dark" side as this was the area over which the vehicle reached periapsis (under 40km altitude). No insurmountable obstacles to a landing were immediately apparent.

Return to Kerbin was as uneventful as the outward journey, some minor course corrections were made to increase periapsis and therefore reduce atmospheric heating on re-entry. Perhaps as a result, one pass through the atmosphere, plus burning the remaining propellant retrograde at periapsis, was insufficient to avoid exiting the atmosphere.

Shortly after the second re-entry, the capsule was separated. Immediately afterwards, it became obvious the capsule's reaction wheels were barely sufficient to overcome atmospheric buffeting and it was difficult to orient the base towards the airflow. As the crew assessed the situation, they eventually realised this problem was exacerbated by the lack of a heatshield, apparently forgotten by the Vulcan 4 design team (they claim to have been under the impression the capsule had integral shielding). In any case, the capsule survived re-entry and was successfully recovered. (A particular landing site was not targeted on this occasion.)

Edited January 29, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[borisperrons]

I relly enjoyed reading all of this, nice writing! Hope we'll see some other mission

[S4qFBxkFFg]

1c - Radiators and deployable solar panels have been added - two small fixed panels have been retained for backup.

1d onwards - This design looks adequate for the task - no need to change it until the constellation is complete.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: n/a

Result: Success

Status: Orbiting Kerbin

Details:

Satellites 1c through 1f were launched in sequence and manoeuvred into roughly circular equatorial orbits at 250km altitude. Their relative longitudes were adjusted such that they formed a pentagon centred on Kerbin and orbital speeds were matched to achieve as close to 44 minute orbits as possible, to preserve this arrangement.

While the pentagonal configuration was viable, the decision was made to launch one more satellite to improve the robustness of the network by shortening transmission distances and increasing the clearance between the lines-of-site and Kerbin's horizon. Incidentally, LOCOM 1b appears to be coping with heating effects and we hope will reach a state of equilibrium before sustaining mission-threatening damage.

We now appear to have a reliable communication network capable of supporting missions in the near-Kerbin region of space - this is expected to encompass most of the way to the Mün's orbit, with the exception of the higher/lower latitudes of Kerbin. One of the tasks of the next Münar mission will be to determine the distance at which communication with Kerbin is no longer possible.

If desired, we have tentative plans for LOCOM satellites in highly elliptical polar orbits to allow communication with the rest of Kerbin's surface.

Edited February 9, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[S4qFBxkFFg]

We have a new pod/lander - the "Spud" - this ground test while checking out the science instruments on the runway should allow Jim to get a feel for it.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Jim Kerman

Result: Success

Status: Recovered

Details: This pod gives a better view than the other two that have been tried - we're seriously considering using it in landers or perhaps a long-duration station orbiting Kerbin.

Edited February 9, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[S4qFBxkFFg]

Our second Münar mission, with the same flight profile as 4a, will continue study of the Mün and surrounding space with some additional instruments - mobile lab, mystery goo, and an altimetry sensor. The reach of the LOCOM network will also be verified with dish and omnidirectional antennae.

The 4 Globe I boosters have been exchanged for 3 of the newer Globe Vs

Bartdrin and Bob have been selected as crew; despite the two flights in a row for Bartdrin, he appears sufficiently well rested while our attention has been directed at the LOCOM missions.

MISSION REPORT

Crew: Bob Kerman, Bartdrin Kerman

Result: Success

Status: Recovered

Details:

Ascent and Münar transfer went as planned although it was not foreseen that the middle stage would remain in orbit around Kerbin - we should probably figure out a way of stopping this happening in the future, or how to fix it if it does.

The LOCOM network is inadequate for supporting missions to the Mün and Minmus - communication via its satellites was impossible from approximately half-way between Kerbin and the Mün.

The mission was scientifically productive, if perhaps not as pioneering as 4a.

Return and re-entry were successful; enough fuel was retained to provide some braking, and the capsule's heat shield did not fully ablate. The improved capsule maintained a tail-first attitude during the supersonic phase of re-entry without the need to use the reaction wheels although at slower speeds there was still a pronounced turn to a side-on position relative to the airflow. This did not appear to have any significant effect although the crew described it as slightly disconcerting.

The capsule landed several hundred km east and slightly north of KSC near a shore; recovery was uneventful.

Edited February 9, 2014 by S4qFBxkFFg

[Orionkermin]

Hey nice satalite network I can never synchronize mine so well.