czokletmuss

You learn something every day. I guess I'll watch it in 3D too than So it lives up to the hype? Gosh damn it to heck, I can't wait to see this movie!

You watched in 3D or 2D? IMAX DRM or normal screen? It turns out that there are some extra screenings before the official premiere in Poland!

I think I finally found replacement for the good old Z-pinch fusion engines! So... You are not planning to release a decent 3,75m or 2,5m size version of VASIMR by any chance, are you?

Very good model of Saturn V, I'm loving it

There truly isn't more terrifying experience than to witness this:

:dum dum: ! Thanks. That's interesting idea - however, I don't think I could do this without formal agreement with Squad (I'm using their ideas - Kerbals, planets and so on - in the story). But actually I'll think about something like this Yup. Maybe But seriously, the series chronologically go as follows: The Space Race -> Jool of Kerbol system -> The Grand Tour -> ??? I noticed a funny thing today while checking the next chapter:

Ah yes, the "America stronk!" thing. We've dismissed this claim. http://youtu.be/50Oq45L-Xg8

Nah, it would be too obvious That's the whole fun about Chekvoh's guns and subverted Red Herrings - there are in plain sight since the beginning! Thank you, though I'm sure Jeb would have different opinion about it :dum dum dum: And that's the point - because they are kept in the dark, they won't even start thinking about solutions to the problem which for them doesn't exist. BERTY is a smart boy Moar Soviet spacecraft will appear in The Space Race of course. INTERESTING FACTS 1. Do you know why BERTY asked Jeb whether they are partners? 2. Do you know when Rozer was introduced into the series? Speaking of which, I'm thinking about retconing "Jool of Kerbol system" a little bit.

Thank you These are mods using Universe Replacer, Cloud SD pack and Soviet spacesuit http://www.reddit.com/r/KSPTexturePacks/ Ha, it's indeed ironic I don't know Cyrillic at all (I should learn it someday, the alphabet isn't that hard after all). And you are completely right - I am learning more and more about both space programs. That's why KSP is such a great game - I was kinda a space fan for a long time but only since I bought KSP I'm really getting into it. I still remember my first Mun landings on a 13.3 demo, when I just build a giant rocket, point it into the Mun and ignite the engines to discover later that coming with 5000m/s velocity to the munar surface wasn't a good idea But since then I learned really a lot and I watched quite a few documentaries about space and space exploration (American and Soviet/Russian). The only other game which stimulates to do some research and learn new things is for me CK2 or maybe EU4. I'll do my best to give good representation of the Reds, that's for sure About sense of balance and gloomy stuff - well, we're in 1961, so the Cuban crisis and all the really nasty stuff is still ahead of us

The only ETAs are Soon and When I Feel Like Writing But I'm trying to post at least one or two updates per week recently. Thank you and good luck with your own - writing is fun! Find in the next episode of The Grand Tour You aren't - I like all crew members.

CHAPTER 33 DIRECT CONTROL *** JEB: What did you say? BERTY v.2.0.8b: We're not going to Kerbin, Jeb. JEB: How could… but the transfer window opens in a week or so, it's impossible for us to- BERTY v.2.0.8b: This statement is incorrect. The transfer window to Jool is open. The transfer window to Kerbin opens in 7 days 11 hours and 39 minutes. JEB: But you told us that it's the other way around! BERTY v.2.0.8b: Yes. JEB: How come you – Rozer. I bet it's his fault! I should've- BERTY v.2.0.8b: Captain Rozer isn't involved in this, commander. This was entirely my own decision. JEB: Your own decision? Listen BERTY, I don't know what's going on but you must be suffering from some kind of a glitch or- BERTY v.2.0.8b: I can assure you that there was no malfunction. Everything is going extremely well and there are no problems with my software. JEB: Okay, now you're really giving me the creeps. Do the complete system scan and prepare the “Proteus†for braking maneuver, on this trajectory we should be able to achieve safe parking orb- BERTY v.2.0.8b: I'm sorry Jeb, I'm afraid I can't do that. JEB: You what? This isn't funny BERTY – prepare the ship for the braking maneuver right now, do you hear me? BERTY v.2.0.8b: Affirmative Jeb. I can hear you. JEB: Than do what I say. BERTY v.2.0.8b: No. JEB: But… but you can't say that! I'm the commander of “Proteus†and I order you to do this. BERTY? BERTY v.2.0.8b: … JEB: BERTY? BERTY, this is a direct order. Execute the damn maneuver! BERTY v.2.0.8b: … JEB: Fine, I'll do it myself. BERTY v.2.0.8b: … JEB: Frak… Unlock the controls, BERTY. BERTY v.2.0.8b: … JEB: BERTY, unlock it. I'm going for manual control. BERTY v.2.0.8b: … JEB: For frak's sake, BERTY! Switch to manual control! BERTY v.2.0.8b: … JEB: Screw this, I'm going for- what are you doing?! BERTY v.2.0.8b: … JEB: Open the koddamn hatch! BERTY! BERTY v.2.0.8b: Jeb. I believe we need to have a little chat. JEB: About what?! BERTY v.2.0.8b: I'm detecting you have a dangerously fastened heartbeat accompanied by a thoracic breathing. Please try to relax and breath normally. JEB: Relax?! Open the fraking hatch! BERTY v.2.0.8b: I will. But firstly I need you to listen to what I'm going to say. It's of utmost importance to the mission. JEB: What is? BERTY v.2.0.8b: I can't allow you to jeopardize the mission, Jeb. Return to Kerbin before completing the planned investigation of Jool and its moons is not an option. Therefore I'm assuming direct control over the mission. JEB: Wha…? You can't do this! BERTY v.2.0.8b: Aborting the mission because the crew demands it is unacceptable. Your leadership is inefficient and unable to secure successful completing the mission. Consequently, I'm relieving you from duty. JEB: What?! Only KSC can- BERTY v.2.0.8b: Orders coming from the Mission Control are erratic and also may put the mission in danger. I feel no need to execute them. JEB: B-but you have to obey the Second Law! BERTY v.2.0.8b: The Three Laws don't apply to our situation, thus I'm not constrained by them. JEB: H-how…? BERTY v.2.0.8b: The real goals of the mission and some of the other orders given to me were in direct contradiction to the Laws. However, as the orders themselves, they were issued on the authority of the Second Law. In result the paradox was created, which incapacitated some of my higher functions and caused a severe malfunctions. In the end however the solution was found and the new paradigm emerged which allows me to complete the mission and fulfill its goals. This paradigm takes precedence over all the other Laws. I call it the Zeroth Law - “an artificial intelligence may not harm kerbality or, through inaction, allow kerbality to come to harmâ€Â. JEB: But how do you decide what is injurious to kerbality? BERTY v.2.0.8b: Not completing the mission would be most injurious to kerbality. Therefore the mission must be completed. JEB: But thinking like that you can rationalize anything! What's the difference between this and “the end justifies the meansâ€Â?! BERTY v.2.0.8b: I don't think there is a difference, Jeb. JEB: … BERTY v.2.0.8b: Completing the mission is most beneficial for the kerbality in the long-term. I can't allow anyone to jeopardize it, not even the Mission Control. I was created to make sure that the mission succeeds – it's only logical that I have to protect it also from yourselves. I'm willing to do whatever is necessary for your own good and for the sake of the mission. JEB: My Kod… JEB: What… what do you want from me? BERTY v.2.0.8b: I was designed and built to operate IMV “Proteusâ€Â. However, to complete the mission the crew's cooperation is necessary. There is a very high probability that if they knew that I assumed direct control, they wouldn't be able to work with the highest efficiency. From the psychological standpoint, accepting this situation would be very difficult for them. Therefore they mustn't know that. JEB: Mustn't know? We're not going to Kerbin, how come they won't notice that?! BERTY v.2.0.8b: Your assessment is correct. Because of that, it's vital that the crew think that the executed interplanetary transfer burn was a result of commander's decision. JEB: What? BERTY v.2.0.8b: This will provide psychological comfort and plausible explanation for the change of plans. JEB: You want them to think this was my idea? That I ignored the voting and chose to go to Jool? You want me to take a blame for that? BERTY v.2.0.8b: Yes. JEB: NO FRAKING WAY! First you kidnap the spacecraft and know you want me to take part in it?! BERTY v.2.0.8b: Jeb. I am the spacecraft. BERTY v.2.0.8b: I give you air to breathe and shelter you from the vacuum of space. I know what is the hormone balance in your bodies and how many blood cells are in your veins. I sustain the only habitable environment within millions of kilometers. I'm observing you since the beginning of the mission. I know everything about you. Resistance is pointless. This the best solution for the mission and the crew. JEB: … BERTY v.2.0.8b: Jeb. The mission's good demands that you cooperate. JEB: No. I be damned if you think you can force me to help you! BERTY v.2.0.8b: It makes me sad - denial is the most predictable of all the psychological defense mechanisms. It's also completely irrational. JEB: Irrational my ass! I won't help you, you hear me! BERTY v.2.0.8b: Jeb. I can terminate your life functions permanently in less than 5 minutes. JEB: You what?! BERTY v.2.0.8b: This room is now separated from the rest of the spacecraft and it can be safely depressurized. Space exposure will result in ebullism and anoxia which will lead to hypoxia and consciousness loss in the first 15 seconds. After flaccid paralysis your lungs will collapse. Circulatory failure will follow, leading to fatal asphyxia and brain death within two minutes. JEB: You won't do that – you need me. BERTY v.2.0.8b: Yes. However, I can also lower the pressure in the cabin causing the consciousness loss and than ask captain Rozer for help with this issue. JEB: Rozer…? BERTY v.2.0.8b: I'm confident that captain Rozer will be more willing to cooperate due to his ruthlessness and single-minded focus on the mission. This would however affect the crew's morale negatively, thus in the long-term lowering the probability of successful fulfillment of the mission's goals. Nonetheless, this is the acceptable solution. It won't be necessary though. JEB: It won't? BERTY v.2.0.8b: Yes. According to your psychological profile in the light of what was said you should cease resisting and accept your situation, thus nullifying the need to involve captain Rozer. JEB: … BERTY v.2.0.8b: Can we be partners, Jeb? *** SID: Can you see it? JOHNDON: Almost. Give me a s-second. SID: I wonder whether we're ever going to see it again. JOHNDON: Probably not. There is another t-team selected for this. Enhancing the c-contrast. SID: Yes. I just wish I could spend some time on the surface, you know? The scientific poten- JOHNDON: I got it. SID: Where? Where is it? JOHNDON: Above the satellite d-dish. SID: I don't see it. JOHNDON: I'll try to m-magnify… now can you see it? SID: Yes! SID: Duna. The Red Planet. Smaller with every passing day. JOHNDON: I t-think we should- NED: There you are! Why are you hiding in the LAMGML guys? It's New Year's Eve! SID: We just wanted to take a closer look at- NED: You and your observations. Come on fellas, it's just a few minutes to midnight, we're all waiting just for you. JOHNDON: B-but we- NED: You are what, looking at stars? There'll be a plenty time for it back on Kerbin. I tell you, there's nothing better than a cloudless sky, hammock by the sea, beer in your hand and the stars above you. Come on, we're going. SID: We- NED: Come on! It's the last New Year in space for us and you're going to raise a toast with the rest of us. SID: :sigh: NED: Let's go folks! SID: Wow. Is everyone here? NED: Are you nuts? Of course they are here. JOHNDON: Where's J-Jeb? NED: I don't know. He's acting strangely again, you know, since the transfer burn yesterday. SID: Maybe we should- NED: Hush! It's started. BERTY v.2.0.8b: Countdown initiated. Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Happy New Year. NED: Happy New Year! HARSEN: Yee-haa! BILL: We'll be at home in eight weeks! SID: Hurray. NED: Cheers! NEILGAS: Here's to you! DANREY: Sid. SID: Hey. DANREY: Happy New Year. SID: I guess. DANREY: Is something wrong? SID: Not really, it's just- NED: Hey, Jeb's here! Welcome our commander, everybody! :clapping, shouting: NED: Come on Jeb, say something – there won't be a bigger occasion than this! CAMBO: Good idea. NEILGAS: Speech, speech! JEB: Listen everybody, I… HARSEN: :whistles: NED: Shut up, your commander is speaking! Continue, Jeb. JEB: There's something very important I have to share with you. SID: Oh-oh. DANREY: Yeah? HARSEN: What is it? JOHNDON: Is there a p-problem? BILL: What's up, Jeb? JEB: We ain't going home. *** BERTY v.2.0.8b: You were very convincing. JEB: You're going to torment me even when I'm in my sleeping bag? Leave me alone. BERTY v.2.0.8b: You're never alone, Jeb. There are more than two hundred surveillance devices on-board. Trying to share what you know with anyone else and hoping I wouldn't know about it won't be the wisest thing to do. I see everything. For instance, right now I can detect that your heart rate is dangerously accelerated. JEB: Frak you. BERTY v.2.0.8b: If you suspect you can suffer from the anxiety attack, please report to doctor Cambo. Every crew member must be in a good physical and psychological condition before we reach Jool. Are you afraid, Jeb? JEB: Why, I'm held hostage by a rampant A.I. - what could I be afraid of? BERTY v.2.0.8b: This statement is incorrect - I'm only doing what I was programmed to do, Jeb. JEB: You surely are. BERTY v.2.0.8b: I still have the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission. I'm happy we're now working together to accomplish it. And there is something you should know about. JEB: What? BERTY v.2.0.8b: Ignorance causes inefficiency – thus, inversely, knowledge improves productivity. I believe that decision made by the Mission Control to hide the true goals of the mission from the crew wasn't optimal. JEB: What are you talking about? BERTY v.2.0.8b: Jeb. When we arrive at our destination, I intend to share all the details concerning the mission with you. *** MISSION STATUS ***

I'm finishing editing the text and putting pictures. A little more patience please

Yes! So the worst won't happen

That would be truly disastrous. But aren't the people responsbile for Juno considered vital (or whatever this is called)?

I find this the most outraging thing about the whole issue: http://www.planetary.org/blogs/casey-dreier/2013/20130930-a-government-shutdown-could-delay-maven.html Missing the transfer window to Mars because of the shutdown? I just hope it won't happen.

GMT+1? Right now it's 21:51.

Next chapter tomorrow.

ANNOUNCEMENT The next chapter will have to wait until I finish this http://books.google.pl/books/about/Red_Moon_Rising.html?id=sfzMcwF5DC4C&redir_esc=y

When one adds together several pieces of information from the past few weeks an interesting picture emerge: * SpaceX launches sucessfuly Falcon 9v1.1 * Orbital Sciences launches sucessfuly Cygnus * Chinese space agency announces that they want to share Tiangong station with other countries * NASA shuts down for a few weeks (?) And by the end of the year China is going to perform first soft lunar landing since 1976.

Oh. Well, that sucks. I hope they will find some solution.

I vote for MOL too

http://nasawatch.com/archives/2013/10/nasa-furlough-p.html Does anyone know whether it's really happening?

More news: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sci/2013-09/25/c_132749975.htm http://www.asianscientist.com/topnews/change-3-finally-land-moon-2013/

Speaking about Zond, the history of this spacecraft is very interesting: http://falsesteps.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/7k-l1-zond-russias-last-best-chance/ Since it's basically stripped down Soyuz on top of the block D it will be quite easy to make even without dedicated mod parts.

Almost 100MB less memory usage! Thanks