DMSP

Well, good that that's fixed. I have no idea about super technical stuff!

Blocked Front Wheel?

About the payload, send it to me, I can get Private-4 flying sometime soon. And the images, do you have bad wifi? They might not all load if that's the case. They are all still uploaded on Imgur so I'll check.

666-Illuminati+The Man downstairs... Banned!

Absolutely correct!

Almost one month now. I'm still here, and I hope you keep making this story.

Well, I think I may not use it soon, but I promise that I will use it. Yep! Thank @max_creative because he gave them to me! I'm in love with the simplicity and complexity (at the same time) in the design!

So am I. It will be servicing the public, Buzzsaw Aerospace and the Space Program for many years to come.

Thanks, and there will be some, trust me! And also, I'm calling @max_creative, @KerbalOmmex, and @OrbitalBuzzsaw. See why below! Anyways, I present the longest chapter ever: Chapter 30-Private-3 and Artemis A. The success of the two Duna probes before was a huge kick for the program, allowing for the final pre-window probe, Overseer-3, to be constructed. It launched like usual, on a Butane lifter. The probe would end up around Ike. The launch was going fine until a minute of so in, when the first emergency in a couple dozen launches took place. "Gene, this is Booster." A Kerbal spoke in mission control. Gene responded immediately. "Go ahead Booster." "We've lost Engines 3,4,5 and 6." "Moho." The booster struggled upwards for a bit, but eventually it was decided to ditch it and try to make orbit with Stage 2. The stage burned low through the atmosphere, gaining speed and climbing. Eventually, once all the fuel was spent, the heated fairings were ditched. Overseer-3 made it to orbit by using its two separation solid rocket boosters. It would await in orbit until the ground crews decided to send it onward or not. A couple days later, it was realized that the Butane production line had a slight flaw. This would delay Private-3 indefinitely. So Private-3 was off the list until Valentina suggested making a few new solid rocket boosters, throwing them together, and sending it into space. So the "Valentina Solid Fuel Lifter" was born. With representatives from Creativity Aerospace, Buzzsaw Aerospace, and Ommex Industries watching, Private-3 lifted off on the most revolutionary booster in existence. Cheers filled mission control as it passed Max-Q and headed upwards, everything nominal and ok. The second stage created a massive light show for everyone watching. Eventually Private-3 vanished into the blue, headed towards the black. The Valentina got the Theodore Von Kerman space telescope, OreSat, and the PANCAKE-1 constellation into orbit. Only minutes after orbit was achieved, the Theodore Von Kerman Space Telescope (TVKST) was separated and burned to reach a 4,000 x 75 kilometer orbit. Half an orbit later, the Private-3 stack ignited its engine once again, for a Munar intercept. As Private-3 cruised to the Mun, the TVKST arrived at its apoapsis, and entered a circular orbit. It soon began its multiple astronomy tasks. Private-3 then began the slow climb, and then its slow fall to the Mun. Leaving the stack behind, OreSat entered orbit around the Mun a little more than 5 hours after lifting off on the stack. And the scanning begun. The Private-3 stack, now only the PANCAKE-1 constellation, used the gravity well of the Mun to get in a extremely high orbit for no fuel whatsoever. And roughly a day later, Private-3 entered a circular orbit high over Kerbin. This is where the fun began. The 12 Pan satellites were deployed. Their solar panels unfolded, and immediately began transmitting everywhere. the constellation began "talking" to Overseers 1 and 2, along with all of the Mun probes, and the Stationary link. What was left of Private-3 began a retroburn, which put it on a collision course with the Mun, ending the Private-3 mission. The Pan satellites slowly drifted away from each other, but they had become the first of Kerbin's sat constellations. The "Valentina" had worked so well that it was immediately put as the lifter for the next test, Artemis A. Artemis A was the first of the Artemis missions. This one was an unmanned one to test the future command module of the hopeful Kerballed Missions to the Mun. Off it went. Artemis A reached orbit safely, to begin its short trip around Kerbin. Less than an orbit later, it deorbited. Reentry was nominal, and Artemis A parachuted safely a couple kilometers away from the coast of Kolonia. The mission was a complete success, testing all of the systems a real Mun command module may use, along with pressure testing the 3 Kerbal command module and stress testing the Valentina booster. With so many recent victories, ground control gave the go for Overseer-3 to do its escape burn. It ended up on a great trajectory to Duna, which would make it arrive a hundred or so days after Overseers 1 and 2 got to Duna. Off it went, into the void.

@Raptor9, The EV-5 Drifter looks amazing! I'm sure it would be very useful for a Asteroid Mission!

First of all, I'm back! No idea, I just don't clip them. Always on the outside. Yes, don't worry, space exploration will always be #1 here, but there will be more plot developments including the Katax-Kolonia developments. Unfortunately it is a tiny bit too late to change it completely off from where we are now, but I always will have Space Exploration as my goal. I do like Nuclear war, though... Sweet! Wassuuup is too good! Well, live your dreams guys. If you're hopeful, chapter up by tonight. #30!

Thank you! Not again! Call in the defenses this time! Xenon powered nukes! Aww, darn, an Angel-125 ran world may not be the worst idea. But new Titan rockets are 100% good! Thank you! I never thought of it until the launch. Heck, when I was doing the boostback burn was when I thought of going to Duna, that probe wasn't actually supposed to go anywhere! Instant plot developments FTW!

Oh well. Poor SpaceplaneAddict. Anyone else have some nice lifters I can use for total destruction peace and love? Message to all: In the past 10 seconds DMSP-The beginning of a space program hit 10,000 views. When I first started this story, I expected something that I would write for a few chapters, get a reply or two, and then it would probably die off. Never would I imagine the story would get to this point, and that I would have awesome people like you guys reading and sticking with me. It elates me so much that I hear you have fun reading this. Thanks for sticking by guys, I am so thankful for you. So onward to 15,000! Chapter-30 in a week. Oh, and it would be unfair to leave you guys without something to look at for the week. Here's a map of all Countries (Blue on good terms with Kolonia, Green is indifferent, and Red is what Kolonia's government considers "enemies", but the Kolonia government can be a bit crazy at times). Red crosses are Airbases and Yellow Crosses are Heliports. Oh and a friendly reminder, these borders are fixed, and no RP when I am out, but feel free to speculate! See you in a week. DMSP Out.

Oh don't worry, it only involves Tsar Bomba Delivering peaceful probes to explore the Kerbol System! Nuclear Annihilation Yay! Thank you, now if I'm right, you've left quite a few epic ones yourself! I mean that Purple Pyramid on Eve is pretty Ominous. I learn from the best. Fineeeeeeeeee.

Well we'll see how the relations are between Kolonia and Katax. And no! We don't know how many fourth walls could be damaged!

Notice: Chapter 29 for The Beginning of a Space Program is out, and Taking on Tylo Part 4 (the finale) will follow shortly.

These are all the correct emotional responses! @Andem, @UnusualAttitude, @Angel-125, and @KerbalOmmex, the Chapter below holds the answers! Oh, and look, Private-3 is in two launches. Wait till next Sunday to see it! Sorry guys for the wait, Real life has been tough these past few days. I'll try to get another chapter later today but then I am leaving on a 6 day trip with no Wifi, and thus, no The Beginning of a Space Program. For now, I can leave you with one of the longest chapters yet. Chapter 29-Under the fear of Fire. Bill awoke to a scream. The scream was coming from a male Kerbal, but it was ever so high pitched and he could hear the fear in it. The fear in a scream. The next thing that came to Bill's mind was his confusion. It was funny how sleeping in different places, or even facing directions out of the norm can make you forget where you a-- Wait. He was in the Astronaut Complex. His room had had a leak, yes, a Water Pipe leak, and he was sleeping in Bob's room. Bob. Bill shot up and looked across the room, at Bob, who was now deathly still. He got up, and making sure not to hit Bob's Grass Samples, shook his friend awake. "Bob!" He whispered, "Bob!" A groan came from the now awake Bob. He opened his eyes wider than usual, looked around, and realized he was safe. The KSC was safe. He then looked Bill in the eyes. "Bill, I had the most awful dream." Bob shook his head remembering it. "What happened?" Bill asked. Ignoring the question, Bob just said, "Governor Test 1B is rigged." It had been half an hour since Bill woke up, and now he was driving to the Astronaut Complex from the Spaceplane Hanger, bringing a Rat rover, as Bob was not ready to walk. He was still in partial shock from the dream that night, It had just been too realistic. Bob got on the rover, and Bill already knew where to drive. They were going to inspect Governor-1 themselves. Driving up to the door opposite of the launchpad, they hopped out and went inside. Governor-1B was lying in two pieces, the first stage, and the second stage, with the payload. What the payload was, Bob didn't know. They walked up to Wernher, who was inspecting the rocket before the final construction phases. "Bob, Bill!" he shouted, "Nice to see you!" He walked away from the rocket and met up with them. "Wernher." Bob was absolutely serious. The lead scientist heard the mix of feelings in his voice and his smile faded. He was now wondering the standard question. "Is everything ok?" "What's in the fairing?" Bill asked. "I installed scientific instruments there two nights ago, the fairings were closed last night." "And who closed them? Was it you?" Bob questioned. "No." He paused for a second. "That's a good question. Who closed the fairings?" Bob noticed the anomaly. "Open them. Now." "Bob, I'm going to need permission from Gene and the Kolonia military to do that. It will delay the launch!" "I'll explain it, but if I think what is in there is in there, we won't need explaining." Wernher eventually nodded. He walked away and called a few of the engineers. He came back, still reluctant about doing this. "I'll call you in a few minutes. You can head out or stay if you want." Bill nodded and they walked outside to their rover. About 18 minutes later, Bob picked up his phone. "Wernher?" "Bob, Bill, come here now. You need to see this." Gene shook his head at the news. "So this is a Nuclear Warhead?" He asked the three in front of him. In almost complete unison, all three responded "Yes." Wernher gave more details. "It's a Xenon ignition cloud with four of the most high-tech plutonium reactors I have ever seen. The irradiated cloud would create an incredible nuclear mushroom cloud, not to mention the fallout." Gene had a look of shock on his face. "Any idea how it got there?" Bill took this one. "No, but I have a hunch on who it was. That military representative you told me about, it could have been him." Bill also had a question for Gene. "What are we doing with the warhead?" Gene pondered for a moment. "We'll store it away in the bunker. Disarm the Xenon reactor and remove the Plutonium. Figure this out. I'll have a talk with the representative." At a similar time the next morning, Governor-1B's booster was brought out to the launchpad for a static fire. This was absolutely important, because it the engines vectored like they had in Bob's dream, this launch could have actually been the end of the space program. The booster ignited, stationary on the pad. Many Kerbals, including Bob, Bill, Val, Jeb, Gene, Mort, and Wernher were staring intently with binoculars. And then it happened. The engines vectored west. Bob could almost imagine the nuclear explosion that would have followed afterwards. Gene shook his head as the booster shut down. "I talked to the representative, he admitted to placing the weapon, but said it was just to test it exploding over the sea. He is wondering why we haven't launched the missile yet." Bob sighed. "This could have been the end of the space program. Sure, I understand our military wants to bomb the mulch out of the United Katax Union and to take their new space center and claim it as Kolonia's, but I can't believe they think it's ok to place Nuclear Warheads, especially live ones, on our rockets!" "I helped with the disposal of the warhead," Jeb told them, "And I made sure that it will now be threatening anybody ever again. I hope." Gene nodded. He then headed towards mission control. There was a massive mission coming up. Even with the threat of a Nuclear Fire, space exploration must go on. They can never be afraid. The next next next day, the very same Kerbals were lining up, and for a good reason! This was the first real test of a full Reusable Booster Mk1 and was also the first probe that would be going to another planet, Duna! It was a big day for the space center. And it was a big rocket. The crowds yelled out the countdown. 3. 2. 1. Off it went! Screaming, shouting and generally just trying to make noise, they watched the rocket head up, towards the blackness of space, and towards the red dot called Duna. Within minutes, the first stage was out. It was extremely high powered to get the payload out the atmosphere whilst keeping itself on a good trajectory to head back home. Everything went nominal. The control systems were working fine, and the rocket was doing well. But what was coming up was the most dangerous part of the flight. Boostback. The second stage, along with Overseer-1, the first probe that would ever go to Duna, continued onward, safely arriving in a 83 km parking orbit. But the ride was not over for the booster. It was now fighting the flames of reentry. The crowds were silent, until one shouted "There!" and pointed up at a small orange dot. That was the booster. Immediately cameras, binoculars and many curious eyes were looking at the booster. The airbrakes soon had deployed, and at 1 kilometer, the descent rocket ignited. The crowds watched in a mix of Excitement, Worry and Awe as the booster descended on a whitish-blue flame, and at a fairly fast speed, hit the ground. But then the smoke settled. Gene couldn't see the screen. A second after the smoke settled, history changing words rang out. "Flight, this is control. B1 has landed!" Cheers broke out, and we'll leave the KSC crowds to their celebrating. In LKO, Overseer-1 separated from the second stage. And ignited. The RT-5 Flea Upper Stage propelled Overseer-1 out of Kerbin's grasp, and with some help from the probe, towards Duna, even though it was a full 120 days from the transfer window. Oh well, who needed that small bit of extra fuel anyways. With the sudden rush to prepare another probe to make the public happy, the launch schedule was completely reorganized, pushing Governor-1 back 5 more launches, along with messing up the rest of the schedule. But, launching on top of a Butane, Overseer-2 headed up. Another success under the program's belt. And later that night, the RT-5 put on another light show. These two probes would arrive at Duna in only a couple hundred days, right about when the actual Duna transfer window opened. If anything headed over on that window, Overseer-1 and 2 would be there to track those things right in. Back on Kerbin, Sammin Kerman, one of the new pilots, tested the C-1 Lifting Body aircraft. It flew like a charm. Named "Tech-1 (Flight in C Sharp)" it was the first in the Tech Series, and was soon stationed at Black Krags. Something good for once.

Also, everybody, I have confirmed that the spacecraft I first saw by Polaris was the Genesis II "Space Station" (is it a space station?). A slightly touched up photo of the moon I took Friday night is below. By the way, when I took this photo, I had forgotten to open the window, so it's slightly fuzzy and weird. What a sight.

Awesome stuff! What a jumble! Glad you (mostly) got everything through. Hard and Good work!

@Cydonian Monk, how did you get Scatterer to make that low-atmospheric haze? I may use it later. Thanks!

Yes! Head to Sarnus and set up a colony on Tekto that would allow for a large amount of Sarnus Exploration.

Well, I have no idea about any of my equipment, @Green Baron and @cantab. Over the next couple of weeks I am going back to find out as much as I can. I think that I have a 16 mm eyepiece and a 25 mm eyepiece. Well, I headed across the apartment to another window, and found Jupiter. My "rig": Celestron 6SE, Hand, Phone. Pretty advanced. I wasn't able to find the accurate positions of the moons online, so I am guessing (in order from Jupiter) that those are Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. The phone was unable to catch the equatorial cloud bands but that is alright, I just want to say I could see them. The clouds of Jupiter are amazing. I got pretty close to finding NGC 188 but cloud cover took over the view and I called it off for the night. I've added a few northern targets that I will try to look at, they are NGC 40 (Bow Tie Nebula), NGC 4236, M81 (Bode's Galaxy), M82 (Cigar Galaxy) and NGC 7023 (Iris Nebula). They should all be visible from my window. In two days I will be able to see the Moon above those stinking apartments (from the Jupiter window, not the Polar one) and there will probably be plenty of contrast on the surface. Looking forward to it. If the weather holds up I will be heading out on Friday night, with my targets being Saturn, Mars, the Andromeda Galaxy (with M110), The Crab Nebula, NGC 55, The Triangulum Galaxy, NGC 147 and Finally NGC 185. I'll probably run out of time before I see everything but oh well. Wish me luck.

Yup, weekend is good for that. Until then, my Polar Window it is. Unfortunately I have nothing but the window until Friday at the earliest. I do have a spot, out a couple kilometers from the city, in the fields, that will have dark skies (nothing comparable to a desert, of course, but pretty dark) and I will be able to see plenty there. Slow internet *gasp* How have you kept your sanity? Ok, that's fine. I'll Well that isn't the best news, but I'll still look around at some of the stars. NGC 188 looks promising and hopefully I can get something out of it. I have two, one is 25 mm, the other is 25x magnification (???). 25x was much more powerful, how many millimeters was it? Yep, basic knowledge, but thanks for the reminder anyway! I'm hoping to get a solar filter that will prevent a) heat buildup in the telescope and b) well, will keep my sight intact. Shoot, that kinda sucks. It says that a 6 inch telescope can see it fine but you're right, in a city there may be added issues. Yup, I'm actually quite happy with my two satellites, because they brought the number of satellites I have seen up to 100! Yahoo *imagine party streamers flying* That must have been amazing. Nice job spotting such a small dot! Heh, once I was looking at Orion and saw two satellites cross paths. That was really interesting because the chances of that happening must have been really small. I'm really pumped to see Andromeda with my telescope! Hopefully it will be above the horizon. Yep, I've been keeping an eye out for Iridium flares but have seen nothing as of right now. Thanks for the websites! Thank you to everyone who has replied! On another note I will be able to angle my telescope to see Jupiter, I'm praying for a good view! You guys rock, happy star watching, gazing, or observing.

It was perfect time to see a satellite from what I know. After sunset but not too long after. Also I couldn't see the satellites with my eyes when I looked at the location where they should have been. Hi! Thanks for the welcome, but you're 1647 posts to late! Heh. Wow! That's quite a bit of time! Don't worry, the window is always open. Didn't know what convention currents were involved. Cool stuff, thanks for telling me! Really!? Again, I didn't know that. As my luck would have it the plane of the ecliptic is below the horizon when looking out of my window so no planets for me Yes, the Atacama had he best skies I ever saw. Now that I think of it I saw the Andromeda Galaxy there for the first time. Yep, guessed it. Betting it was something like a Iridium satellite, a soviet sat or a piece of debris. Kinda doubting Iridium but who knows. Andromeda, unfortunately, is too far down for me. My window only allows me a certain range and the apartments around also restrict me even more. I do have two! One is turn left at Orion, which I find amazing, and another one which I can't remember the name of but has a couple hundred pages and is seasonal for Spring and Summer. Thank you for the luck, I can't wait to finally bring Astronomy out of the tour groups and the Internet and finally into my own hands. Thank you for the awesomely detailed response! Have a good one!

Hey all! I have never really posted on this forum much because I don't have much to offer here-but I finally got my first telescope a few days ago and I may be showing up quite a bit now. Aright, before the question, a backstory. So at the moment I am unable to get out of the city center to go to a darker area. This is because of school and lack of availability. My window, interestingly enough, points directly North, so I have a great view (I do have to look farther up, I'm in a Central European city) of Polaris. Now, I was searching for NGC 188 (using my 6inch Celestron 6se) and saw a small light, roughly what I'd think a small satellite would look like shoot across. Took less than a second. After failing to find NGC 188 (I think my alignment is off) I went back to Polaris and saw another one streak across. They had no trails, were white, and just flew across the viewpoint. Definitely not meteors. So is this possible, it was the right time to see a satellite and I was thinking that I would be able to see a small polar satellite streak across in my telescope. So what were those lights? My other question, is since I am pretty limited to viewing (only a couple of degrees around Polaris [I'm guessing 10 degrees]), what is there to see in the night sky there? Thanks for reading guys, and see you back here!