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TheEpicSquared

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    Epsilon Aerospace Inc. - Albatross 1 Rocket Flight 1 Successful (Submit a payload!)

    in KSP1 Mission Reports

    Posted

    Epsilon Aerospace Progression Update: 03/04/17

     

    Epsilon Aerospace has completed the assembly process of Flight Item 1 (FI-1) and performed static test fires for the first time at its newly built launch complex on Omelek Island (I'm not very creative, am I).XgZHlFq.png

    Location of launch site on Gael:Qxfkhiv.png

    The first stage was held down by launch clamps as it was fueled for a full-duration static fire test, to ensure that the engine was up-to-scratch.

    The Maverick-1D engine ignited at the planned time, slowly ramping up to full thrust. Sound-triggered cameras captured the views of the contraption.zr4BqPt.png

    The stage was tested on different throttle settings until the propellant ran out. After safing the booster, it was rolled inside the VAB and the launchpad was inspected.

    The second stage static fire commenced the same time the following day.yPdp4XZ.png

    The Vesta VR-1 was not producing as much thrust as normal, but this was planned. The nozzle was very big, as it was designed to operate in space. But because it was being fired just above sea level, efficiency was reduced.yXbOye8.png

    The same assemblies used for the test fires would be used on the first flight of the Albatross 1. These consisted of the first stage: Core 1 (C1) and the second stage: Upper Stage 1 (US1).

     

    After a week, the first operational flight item was assembled. This particular rocket was, rather humorously, called "What Could Possibly Go Wrong?".

    The first launch would lift a university-made cubesat into orbit. The target orbit was a 2 degree inclined circular 150km orbit. The satellite was called DemoSat-1. It consisted of a cube, holding all the avionics, and four antennae. It was purely a demostration satellite, and so it was perfect that it was paired with a demonstration rocket.

    Launch #1: DemoSat-1:

    Spoiler

    Flight Item 1 on the launchpad, ready for flight:snbkfm6.png

    The countdown was nominal. 

    At T-1 second, the Maverick-1D ignited, and it reached full thrust at T±0 seconds, and at the same time the launch clamps released the rocket, and it lifted off. Remotely triggered cameras captured the liftoff just after launch clamp release.f9eGSHV.png

    5n761oe.png

    The gravity turn was started, captured by the onboard cameras.neekaTf.png

    Unfortunately the vibrations from the engine prevented the first stage cameras from functioning, and the next images came well after stage separation.vZUltie.png

    Xkmb71I.png

    A few seconds later, images started to come back from the first stage. It showed that it was intact and tat the parachutes had deployed.MdCTKdo.png

    A few minutes later, it splashed down safely. Recovery teams were sent out.8nT6TMw.png

    At the same time, the Vesta on the second stage had shut down, and the fairings had separated, revealing the DemoSat-1 payload.m3sTb7K.png

    The satellite was deployed successfully a few minutes later.htJuLUn.png

    Ground stations couldn't contact DemoSat-1, for some reason, but that had nothing to do with the Albatross 1, so the mission was a success.

     The launch manifest now looked like this:

    *VEHICLE* *FLIGHT NUMBER* *FLIGHT ITEM* *CORE NUMBER* *UPPER STAGE NUMBER* *PAYLOAD* *PROVIDER*

    Albatross 1 Flight 2 (FI2) (C2) (US2): Epsylon Scan-Sat 1 by @Oliverm001x

    Albatross 1 Flight 3 (FI3) (C3) (US3): Flesba TNASS by @StupidAndy

    Albatross 1 Flight 4 (FI4) (C4) (US4): N/A

    Albatross 1 Flight 5 (FI5) (C1 (first stage reuse)) (US5): N/A

     

    Epsilon Aerospace is also working on a more powerful lifter, separate from the Albatross 1. This new lifter will be revealed shortly. Further development of the Albatross 1 will likely be abandoned in favour of the new, more powerful lifter, however payloads already submitted will be launched on the Albatross 1.

     

    Commercial operations, starting with the Epsylon Scan-Sat 1, will commence shortly.

    Through Hardships to the Stars [Chapter 32 - Something Big II]

    in KSP1 Mission Reports

    Posted

    CHAPTER 31: SOMETHING BIG

     

    Following the successful maiden launch (and landing) of the Reusable Space Tourism Vehicle (RSTV), the KSP was eager to start commercial operations. The PR section had been quick to let the media in on this new way to space, and a mind-boggling amount of kerbals had applied for the first commercial launch of the RSTV.

    The first five customers were Antop, Eily, Munner, Doly and Kaly Kerman. After enduring several days of training, they were finally ready for their ride into space. The KSP had gotten a huge amount of money, with each customer paying 50,000 kerbucks. This cost would eventually drop as more people signed up for the ride.

    The five intrepid space tourists boarded the vehicle inside the VAB.ArfQa5Y.png

    The RSTV was then rolled out to the launchpad, as usual.bEhny5v.png

    Launch occurred soon after. The five tourists were beginning the ride of their lives.bmSKCyc.png

    The Vector exhaust plume became nearly invisible as the rocket rose through 11 kilometers.Q3VNnKI.png

    The target apoapsis of 106 kilometers was reached one minute and 15 seconds into flight. Rufroca.png

    The capsule promptly separated, as planned. The passengers felt a slight jolt as the docking mechanism released the booster.VXIxUU8.png

    At this altitude, the seat belt sign was turned off and everyone inside hurriedly unfastened themselves, enjoying the freedom of microgravity for as long as they could.

    The capsule soared through the Kerman Line.rXXFxWU.png

    The bluish structures, called "nebulae", according to the scientists, were eerily pretty out the window. BcdOGv9.png

    The booster could be seen floating beneath the capsule.5DV3a2M.png

    Eventually, apoapsis was reached, three minutes and 31 seconds into flight.2NScFCH.png

    The passengers all strapped themselves back in at 65 kilometers and the grid fins deployed to keep the capsule steady.KEz8xPc.png

    Reentry offered some high g-forces, but the training meant that the descent was still a piece of cake for the kerbals inside.NsfOgFT.png

    Then, an alarm went off.5ExPy27.png

    Apparently a grid fin was stuck. Luckily, they were only used to stabilize the craft during the most stressfull part of reentry, and with that over, the grid fins didn't do much anyways.XUkNebU.png

    Everyone was nervous as the craft fell. Would the engines safely land the capsule?

    With a jolt, the engines ignited, instantly slowing down the craft.oG8x2Fs.png

    oIliOlW.png

    Then the legs deployed. The emergency abort system was still active. At the slightest indication of a failure, the parachutes would deploy.

    Luckily, everything was going well so far.uNZ4wQ7.png

    The automated throttle system on the capsule was doing wonders, and the capsule was descending at a stable rate.EIV6K5R.png

    The spacecraft neared the ground...BTpN40O.png

    And then, with the ever-so-slight jolt of the landing legs absorbing an impact, the capsule was safely on the ground.uip6FGw.png

    The engines shut down and the komputer automatically started safing all the systems on board. The passengers had just experienced the ride of their lives.

    Meanwhile, the Booster Recovery team at mission control started prepping the booster for landing as soon as separation occurred. 

    The grid fins were deployed at 63 kilometers.Z3IVvNj.png

    Reentry was a lot more stressing on the booster, because of the additional mass.pPGV6wB.png

    At 2.6 kilometers, the Vector started up, putting immense loads on the tank. It was clearly weakening, but wasn't breaking.i0ONl9z.png

    So far so good.

    The landing legs deployed at 1 kilometer above the surface. The rocket was still plummeting to the ground at over three quarters of the speed of sound. Would it make it?S3fsoBa.png

    The Vector increased power to full throttle, rapidly slowing the craft down. However, it was still experiencing large g-forces.4p689rF.png

    Finally, the rocket slowed down enough for g-forces to back to normal. The booster was now descending at a steady 16 m/s.GGgNTUL.png

    The booster neared the surface.JH5JZol.png

    And then it landed.qiExybS.png

    Dust was still visible in the air, as it had been thrown around by the Vector exhaust.

    The booster looked surprisingly intact, despite the hot reentry and the high g-forces. Perhaps it wouldn't be as hard to reuse as previously thought.YQDUMcN.png

    The booster and capsule had landed within a few meters of each other. This was a textbook mission, and Hardfield had no issues whatsoever with filing it under the "successful missions" section of the log. Recovery teams were sent out immediately, for both the booster and the capsule.bkbGQT7.png

    6tkItEU.png

    ***

     

    Meanwhile, the Tracking Station guys had discovered that a less-than-optimal Jool transfer window had opened. Preliminary calculations showed that if launched within a few days, a Jool probe could conduct flybys of both Vall and Laythe before entering Jool orbit.

    So a spacecraft was designed. It consisted of a Vall lander, named the Vall Stationary Explorer:hnjaZqc.png

    And a Laythe lander, the Laythe Stationary Explorer:aLLBkey.png

    These two landers didn't sport many science instruments, as the whole project was an experiment. Therefore, the KSP didn't want to use an overly huge amount of money that could be a complete waste.

    The two landers were attached to an orbiter, called the Jool Explorer:JPSDvRs.png

    The Jool Explorer spacecraft was powered by two RTGs, and its propulsion system consisted of a single "Dawn" ion thruster. The Dawn was chosen because it was efficient enough to conduct multiple burns, so it could conduct scientific flybys of Jool's moons several times before running out of propellant. 

    Speaking of science, the Jool Explorer was fitted with considerably more scientific instruments compared to the landers, because the potential scientific bounty out at Jool orbit was so much more than on the surface of one of its moons.

    Due to its mass and its destination, The Jool Explorer spacecraft + lander combo needed to be launched by a Kerbol 1.aRmTb5c.png

    wYKIAAP.png

    The mighty rocket, which had taken kerbals to the Mun, was rolled out to the launchpad over the duration of several hours.h98N9Z8.png

    Then, the center Ratite, and the four surrounding Vectors, ignited, easing the giant contraption off the pad.UwcXQlr.png

    Press cameras captured astounding images of launch.DbXcecG.png

    Helicopter chase cams also got wonderful views of the ascending rocket.ndwWWGF.png

    The gravity turn was going well.gE6HZwi.png

    aJHdjBJ.png

    Some seconds later, the first stage separated and the second stage Rhino ignited.AmyFsAD.png

    eAJbOJk.png

    Fairing separation was successful.cOWWOSD.png

    Soon, orbit was reached, fairly monotonously. 

    As planned, the transfer maneuver did include a Vall and Laythe encounter.gbcgHYU.png

    The second stage started the burn.5IaSxBO.png

    It ran out of propellant before completing the transfer, so the ion engine on the spacecraft continued.GHZ6m9v.png

    gMrmERv.png

    The burn was completed successfully, resulting in first a Vall flyby 850 kilometers above the surface (the Vall lander would be detached some time before closest approach), and then a Laythe flyby with a periapsis of 60 kilometers, just 10 kilometers above Laythe's atmosphere (the Laythe lander would use the atmosphere to aerobrake, before landing on the second pass.p8TjOUJ.png

    The first part of this mission was complete.

    ***

    With two successful missions, Hardfield should have been able to relax.

    But he couldn't. Something was bugging him. The Hybridium had said "something big" was coming. Hardfield couldn't stop fretting about this. What could it be? He hadn't told Caldos about it, for whatever reason.

    However, nothing much had happened. He was beginning to wonder if it had all been a bluff.

    A frantic knock at his office door snapped Hardfield out of his thoughts.

    "Come in!"

    "Sir, you've got to see this, sir!" Lodfurt exclaimed. Without waiting for a response, he slapped a picture onto Hardfield's desk.OEPA6KB.png

    "What is it, Lodfurt? I don't see anything unusual."

    Lodfurt pointed to the outermost ring. "We just picked up this... thing with the Kerbol Space Telescope. It's clearly some type of celestial body..."

    "An asteroid?" Hardfield asked.

    "No, it's much too massive. We have no idea what it is! We can only assume it's a rogue planet of some sort, that made its way into our system."

    Just then, an intern bolted into Hardfield's office. "Mr Lodfurt, more images just came in!" Trembling a little, the intern continued, "I think you'll want to see these... they just came in from the Kerbol Space Telescope..."

    Another picture was put on the desk.pPzeZDz.png

    "By SQUAD... it's..."

    "Oh, Hardfield... you have no idea what you just got yourself into..."

    Epsilon Aerospace Inc. - Albatross 1 Rocket Flight 1 Successful (Submit a payload!)

    in KSP1 Mission Reports

    Posted

    21 hours ago, StupidAndy said:

    how high can you lift it?

    About 500km. Unfortunately, it'll have to wait until a more powerful lifter is developed. It shouldn't take long, however, so it'll still launch within a few weeks. :) 

    That puts the current launch manifest as:

    Flight 1: Albatross 1 + DemoSat-1 by @TheEpicSquared (me)

    Flight 2: Albatross 1 + Epsylon Scan-Sat 1 by @Oliverm001x

    Flight 3: Albatross 1 + Flesba TNASS by @StupidAndy

    Flight 4: N/A

    Flight 5: N/A

    Update out in about two hours! :) 

    Epsilon Aerospace Inc. - Albatross 1 Rocket Flight 1 Successful (Submit a payload!)

    in KSP1 Mission Reports

    Posted · Edited by TheEpicSquared

    On 4/1/2017 at 0:45 AM, StupidAndy said:

    snip

    Thanks for the payload, however Epsilon Aerospace is not certain if the Albatross 1 has the performance to lift your satellite into a geostationary orbit. You can either make your payload lighter, or wait some time longer, and it will be launched on a future iteration of the Albatross 1. :) 

    19 hours ago, Oliverm001x said:

    snippety snip

    Thanks for the payload. It will be launched  when commercial operations commence. :) 

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