czokletmuss

Yeah, I know. I'm not waiting for the Moon colony in 2030 or something like that, I was talking about the long term. From a certain point of view, sure. But the same applies to individuals - you think you or me are so important in the "grand scheme of the humanity"? There is 7 bilion more poeople here. So why do you get up every day? Because you're not a philosophical point of view, you're a living being. And so humanity (probably) won't just sit here and wait for the exctinction. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'

Yeah, I know: - Let's spend few hundred billions on a war, no, two wars in the Middle East. Or maybe three, you never know what Iran is going to do. - Okay. - Let's spend few billions to send people back to the Moon. - This is truly irresponsible in these tough times, our economy is in serious debt and our spendings (blah blah) Funny thing though - it's much easier to justify killing other people outside our borders than going out to space But it's not only the problem of USA, most countries doesn't care about the space since all the voters are down here and they want "free" health care, "free" education system, "free" highways, social care etc. It's really easy to justify almost everything before you will convince someone to spend some money on a space exploration. Not that I'm judging the USA, I too would have some doubts about funding NASA if my country has such big problems with the economy (even if this is half a penny for every dollar).

Come on. Ocean's acidification and oxygen depletion will directly influence all societies and the food chain. Extreme weather - floods, droughts, hurricanes - with the rising temperature can not only destroy buildings but will have a great impact on food price. Remember the food riots? http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2013/mar/06/food-riots-new-normal It seems that you like to play advocatus diaboli or you just negate everything less spectacular then supernova. But really, not only asteroids or black holes can wipe out the humanity, global temperatur rise +5C will be very challenging too. Don't even get me started on peak oil. If we want to evolve we need to expand*. Or we can just sit here and wait for the inevitable. * In the long term; currently we can barely afford small station 300km above the ground.

You can read about various dangers here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction_event And there is enough carbon to create irreverisble changes (in the thousands of years scale) - there is a very good webiste about it but only in Polish, you can read more even on the wiki though. And I totally agree - why leave Africa? The ice age hasn't ended yet, the savanna's climate is warm and pleasant, there's plenty of food. We should stay here forever. Is Europa or Asia more habitable than Africa? Why should we go there? You're talking like one of these "farmers" who think we can grow our food. Nonsense! Everybody knows that hunting and gathering is the only way! Bottomline: humanity acts like a parasite. We need more and more resources and all of them are finite. And it's not about habitabilty, we're not going out there for a vacations. Staying on these planet forever will inevitably lead to our extinction.

Randezvous with 40km comet in retrograde solar orbit? Global warming a la Venus? Atomics used in a global war? Mutated supervirus? Lack of natural resources?

Meh, MechJeb can achieve more circular orbit Seriously though, that's a great day for COTS and Orbital Sciences of course. I wonder if there will be a mod with Cygnus for KSP

Maybe this? VASIMR engine. More info in the addon request thread: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/25354-REQUEST-VASIMR-engine

Is anyone interested in creating the VASIMR engine? It will be on the ISS since 2015 after all. I put more details in my mod request thread: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/25354-REQUEST-VASIMR-engine?p=309588#post309588

Use adapters? Look how pretty ships you can build with BobCat parts:

How can I calculate the delta-V? MechJeb shows nothing

Yes, I noticed that the buttons work! Kudos for Snjo and you, now the IVA-only missions will be possible AND plausible

One of the devs mentioned once that there will be few "eras" in the career mode - early space age (50-60), middle space age (60-80), late (80-90), modern (90-2010) and futuristic (2020+) or something like this. Besides: COMPUTER! Mr. bac9, you've just won the KSP :applause:

This is incredible pack! Why the Squad didn't hire you yet?

I'm glad you like it guys. I hope that grammar doesn't bother you but editing will take some time and I want to revive this story first and then worry about the grammatical correctness. Now I have two questions: 1) Do you have any suggestions concerning the story? Too many pictures maybe? 2) Would you mind if sometimes there will be a "chapter" which will consist only pictures?

And to Eve and Duna.

CHAPTER 3 MUN SURFACE – MINMUS LANDING *** - Welcome back. How was your Mun landing? You are the first to walk its surface after more then 20 years after all. - It was incredible! I've never… - I'm sorry to interrupt but the Director Bob requires formal report from the landing and LAMGML behaviour during flight immediately. All crew members presence is required in the main crew module. - Reports, huh. And so begins the great adventure, am I right Jeb? - Yeah. Tell him we're coming. - Commander, shall I prepare the inflatable modules for a test deployment? - What? Oh yes, yes, please do it. - Engines operational, trajectory confirmed. Are we GO for a trans-Minmus injection, commander? - Yes, let's do this. - And engines stop. How are we lookin'? - We spent 167m/s for the transfer whether according to the mission's plan we should have used 100 m/s, commander. - Hmm, that's not good. - It also seems that we will have to make at least one course correction. - I don't get it. This is supposed to be the most advanced ship ever built, right? So how come that it's less accurate then old “Kadmosâ€Â? - But commander, we're calibrating the reaction wheels and ASAS. This is one of the reasons why we are visiting Mun and Minmus in the first place. Captain's log, entry 1. Or should I wrote - “commander's logâ€Â? I think I will stay with the old version, it brings some good memories. And bad memories too. A lot of bad memories. Well, mostly bad memories but to be honest, “Kadmos†was the best experience in my life. Yes, we were on the verge of failure since we enter the Jool system, but to be there and be able to see all those wonders – it was worth it. We're on our route to Minmus, yesterday we were on the Mun. This was very special experience, to walk there once again after all these years. Ned and Sid seem to be very excited about our trip to Minmus, Sid especially as the low gravity environment expert. Not all of us spent the last decades on worthless activities, as it turns out. I'll have to study – fortunately we have a huge amount of movies, e-books, audio books and songs here. The e-library is much better then on “Kadmosâ€Â. But will it suffice? After all our journey probably will be twice as long. There are always stars and surface of the bodies which we can study form the parking orbit. And there there is the Sun. - BERTY, could you repeat please why we are on the inversed orbit again? - To check the autopilot system, commander. - Yeah. Okay – Sid, come with me. This time we're going with this Orson, he can use some training. BERTY, start pumping the fuel. - Affirmative. - Separation confirmed. See you soon, “Proteusâ€Â! - There is no need for this commander, I can assure you that I'm present on every vessel including the LAMGML. - You don't get it BERTY, this is… just something you say, you know, in the situations like this. - Are you referring to the so called superstitions? - What? No, it's just the part of the way we do it, like saying “godspeed†and so on. - Oh, I understand. Godspeed. From Middle Kerbish phrase “Kod spede†- “may Kod cause you to succed†- specifically from “Kod†plus “spedeâ€Â, subjunctive of “speden†to prosper. Does saying these words increase our chances for success? - I'll explain it to you when I'll be back, okay? - Affirmative, commander. - And touchdown! Initiating Lazor system. - Done. Okay, you can go out guys, you gonna love this. - My miniLazor works fine, everything seems to be okay. - All right. Sid, take your time but remember that we're here to check out our equipment, the real exploration will begin as soon as we leave the Kerbin SOI. - I know Jeb, I know. But I think I'll perform one extra experiment. - What are you talking about? - You'll see when we're back on orbit. - And? What are you gonna to do? - Just watch. - Sid! What are you doing?! Stop! - Are you insane?! - Take it easy. I calculated everything – this jetpack TWR and delta-V will let me go down there and back again without any problem. - You better be right and not die on impact 'cause when you're back I'm going to personally strangle you, you stupid egghead! - I'll be all right, you'll see. - Ok, I'm loosing vertical and horizontal velocity, everything's fine. - This is a bad idea, I'm telling you. What's your fuel level? - Almost half of the tank. Just a few meters more… - Sid, talk to me! - I did it! The first Kerbal to land on a celestial body WITHOUT ROCKET. Hell yeah! - I think you have a sever case of a midlife crisis, you moron. Don't ever do it again! - Okay dad. - You will randezvous with us on our next orbit, you hear me? - Yup. - And turn on your lights, the night will fall soon. - What's the situation? - Err… I have 18% fuel left and I'm coasting to apoapsis. I tried to randezvous you but it cost me too much fuel so you will have to randezvous with me. - Don't spend fuel on inclination corrections! Just reach stable orbit and left the rest to us. (…) - Sid, report! - Well, the good news is that I've reached an orbit! Single Kerbal to orbit – SKTO, what do you think? - And the bad news? - I have no fuel left. I mean, zero. I can't move. Help? Please? - I told you! Frak this, we're coming for you! - Where are you? I can't see you! - I'm turning on the emergency lights. Hold on! - Listen guys, you see this small mountain over there? We're loosing altitude so I think that… - Maybe you should have thought about this earlier, don't you think Sid? - Ok, I'll move the ship so that you can grab something and get onboard. Ready? Now! - Crap, I missed it! I'm drifting away! - Frak! Orson, take care of the ship, I'm going for him. - So who was right after all, Sid? - You! You were right, you were right! Just take me from here, we're falling on this damn rock! - First you will apologize. - I'm sorry! Jeb, come on, we're 5 kilometres above the ground! - And promise me that you won't do anything like this unless you will get the approval from your superior, that is me, Bill, Bob or… - Jeb! - Okay, I think you learned your lesson. Hang on, pal. MISSION STATUS ***

But less contractors = smaller influence on the labour market = less voters work for NASA = lesser incentive for the Congressmen to care about the NASA at all since it won't help them be re/elected. So in the long term it would kill the agency I'm afraid If only NASA get some money from the military spendings... USA, build rockets not bombs! Err, it doesn't sound that good.

Thank you

Wow, that looks amazing! I can't wait to recreate this:

Are you going to make some nuclear engine for this pack?

Hi fusty, if you want some screens you could use some from my AAR thread: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/24560-AAR-The-Grand-Tour-AAR-Jool-of-Kerbol-system?p=306690&viewfull=1#post306690

Hmm, I've never noticed this thread. It may be quite useful for my AARs

Do you include the gravity assists from Ike?

Even if it will be cancelled NASA will have the know-how, blueprints and personel capable of building such a huge rocket. Read this article about quest to recover the Saturn V engine http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/01/saturn-v-moon-rocket-engine-firing-again-after-40-years-sort-of/ Plus there is a small possibility that with a LEO payload that big the next space station or the first spacecraft assembled on orbit won't take years like the ISS did.

CHAPTER 1 KERBAL SPACE CENTER - LOW KERBIN ORBIT *** - DOCKING COMPLETED. - So here it is, the Low And Medium Gravity Modular Lander. Very elegant, don't you think Jeb? - Dragons were pretty too. - Oh, this again. You have to concentrate on the present, old friend, you can't live in the past. Carpe diem! In a few hours you will be in the KSC, preparing to the launch. - We'll visit the Mun again and it has been quite a long time since we've been there, ain't we buddy? Aren't you happy? - I'll be when we achieve stable orbit. - Don't be so grumpy. Or is it because of Bob? You know that we all will be living together for a few years, don't you? - Leave me alone, Bill. I understand what this means better then you, so don't patronize me. - Jeb, Jeb. A legend like you should smile more. Remember, “over the hill†only applies where there's gravity! - Huh. - That's what I'm talking about! Even if this is just a pout, it's a good start. Come on, let's review the delta-V budget once again. - Again? I'm on this space station for almost two months and there's nothing but training and paperwork. - Hahaha, and what did you expect? You're in a much better shape right now, physically and mentally. Come on, there is work to do. *** - Look's like your cab has arrived. - Soyuz TMA-MJx2. Could've been worse. - Remember, after the mothership reaches the low orbit… - …the new and completely safe Dragon will be launched to deliver the rest of the crew – yeah, I remember. - Ok Jeb, see you soon. Fly safe! - Take care, Bill. *** - So. Dervey, right? - Sir? - Your name, son. - Yes sir! - Your name is Dervey? - Yes sir! - Huh. These new ones are certainly more disciplined then in my days. - Sir? - Nothing, nothing. *** - You seem to be quite nervous. Which flight it is? - Sir? - Your flight, how many times have you landed in this? - 18 times sir. - Nice. - Including the simulator. - Oh? And, you know, in real life? - Once. - Once you say? - Don't worry sir, thanks to the MJ autopilot there won't be any problem. - Autopilots, assistants and computers everywhere! It's not surprising that there ain't any good pilots nowadays. *** - Sir? What are you doing? - Relax. - Sir?! You've just turned off the autopilot! - Take it easy, you can always turn it back on. - No, I can't! It has to be reset and I didn't train this procedure. - Well, we don't have much of a choice now, do we? I'll show you how it should be done. - Sir, don't touch the controls. I'm the pilot and I'm obliged to… sir! - Oops. Strange, it has never done this before. Is this an x2 version? - No, this is Soyuz TMAx3! - Good thing we didn't need the orbital module anyway. - We're losing power! - Chill, we're still flying half a ship. Now, be a good boy and let me recalibrate the… - Sorry, wrong button. There, we're good now. - We're burning! - But we're on course and we still have a heatshield. We have a heatshield, right? - Yeehaa, welcome back, high-G! - I can't breathe! I can't breathe! - Stop panicking, be a man goddammit! We're almost there. Okay, I don't see any flames. I'm decoupling the service module. - Hmm. Could you remind me what this alarm means? - Altitude alert! We're falling down! - Now, where's this button… - 800 meters! 500 meters! - …I can swear that it was somewhere here… - 400 meters! 200 meters! - …telemetry, RCS, radar… and parachute. See, I told you… - 120 meters! We're going to…! - Piece of cake. And we're here ahead of time also. Are you going out or what? - I… I'll wait for the rescue team, sir. - I hope that you've learned something today, son. - Good old KSC. But they could've done something with the grass. Does nobody take care of the lawn anymore? - Soyuz TMA, do you copy? - Hi there. We've just landed, you can send some help here 'cause your pilot isn't feeling very good. And if you're coming anyway, bring some sandwiches, I'm frakin hungry. Now, shall we start rolling this baby out of the VAB or what? *** Crap. Stupid, stupid, stupid! How could I forget to switch my watch to the summer time?! My memory used to be better. And my legs. And my lungs too. Damn, it's hot here. Very smart, Sid, very smart. What's next, you'll be late for your own funeral? Dammit... One thing is sure, this is a bloody big ship. - Guys? Work, dammit… - Sid? - Wait for me! I'm outside, don't start the engines! - Pal, you were running this whole time and you're alive? Nobody can say that the kerbonauts aren't tough. - Very funny. - I guess I'll have to call for a ladder. You want some cold lemonade too? *** - All right, everyone is in the ship, everything is ready, so I say we start. Do you hear me, Mission Control? - Loud and clear. - That was quite a marathon, Sid. - Shut up. And give me some ice. - Berty, are you ready? - Affirmative. Shall I commence the countdown? - You shouldn't run so much in your age, you know. - For the love of Kod, I'm younger than you Ned! - Yes. Hush there. We're about to start the new adventure, more challenging, dangerous and exciting then our mission onboard the “Kadmosâ€Â. We will boldly go where no Kerbal has gone before – again! - T minus 5. - Hold on boys, we're back in the game! - Ignition. - We have liftoff! The journey of the “Proteus†has began! MISSION STATUS ***