A Spacetime Oddity: My Kerbal Space Program

[Tex]

For as long as Kerbalkind can remember, the cosmos seemed a treasure just out of arm's reach. Many nights have been spent by our ancestors gazing at the night sky with a burning in our hearts and a glazed bliss in our eyes. Impossible, it seemed, that we would ever manage to reach that goal which evolution has denied from our species. But no longer!

The Kerbal Space Program was founded with the intention of reaching for the stars (metaphorically and literally), furthering our understanding of the universe, prove our collective courage and intelligence, and realize the very goal of Kerbalkind: Sail amongst the stars like our ancestors have been dreaming of doing. With that goal in mind, let us take the first small steps and giant leaps into the space age!

CONTENTS

Section 1: Agency Information

Active Crew Roster

Kerbal Space Center

Section 2: Mission Reports

-Newsflash!- Chronology

Space Programs

Stayputnik Program

Kommercial Satellite Program

Active Crew Roster

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Pilot

Veteran[/td]

[td]Jebediah Kerman, Jr.

Status: Unassigned

Ranking: 0 Stars

Total Missions: 0

-Flights: 0

-Spaceflights: 0

Background: Jebediah "Jeb" Kerman graduated first in his class at the Kerbal Flight Academy, and has passed the psychiatric evaluation exam "by the skin of his teeth," earning a reputation for being an eccentric and reckless pilot. However, his track record speaks for itself, and his prowess as an aviator is second to none. He is often first on the list when it comes time to test new equipment, and has been known to sneak himself onto launches and flights, replacing the intended pilot or astronaut. [/td]

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Pilot

Veteran[/td]

[td]Valentina Kerman

Status: Unassigned

Ranking: 0 Stars

Total Missions 0

-Flights: 0

-Spaceflights: 0

Background: Valentina has never been the sort of person who was particularly interested in the practical applications of space travel, but has a determination unlike any other pilot. After once being told that female Kerbals could never master something so complex as a jet aircraft, Valentina promptly made history by becoming the first female Kerbal to ever recieve her aviation license, and used said license to pave the way for female Kerbals in aviation and spaceflight. [/td]

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Scientist

Veteran[/td]

[td]Bob Kerman

Status: Unassigned

Ranking: 0 Stars

Total Mission 0

-Flights: 0

-Spaceflights: 0

Background: Bob Kerman was born curious. As a child, he was into searching and researching absolutely everything he could about anything imaginable, and as such naturally became curious about space. While other kosmonauts might be in it for the prestige, or the chance to make a difference, Bob wants to fly into space simply because he wants to learn about the heavens.[/td]

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[td]

Engineer

Veteran[/td]

[td]Bill Kerman

Status: Unassigned

Ranking: 0 Stars

Total Missions 0

-Flights: 0

-Spaceflights: 0

Background: Bill has a passion for building and inventing. Working with scale models all his life, even going so far as to create a model rocket enthusiast club, Bill attracted the attention of the Space Program when it was discovered that one of his model rockets launched higher than an early KSP test rocket of a larger size. Naturally, he was hired and and has proved himself an invaluable asset. [/td]

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Kerbal Space Center

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The location from which all future launches shall occur, and all data and experiments analyzed.

Astronaut Complex

The Astronaut Complex houses many important facilities involved with the overall governing of the Agency. Within this building lies administrator offices, office sections for KSC employees, a visitor's center, a snack bar, and a multitude of classrooms to teach civilian and KSC personnel a wide range of subjects from engineering to geology. This building also houses a recreation room and the classroom portion of the Kerbal Flight Academy.

Research & Development Facility

This facility is crucial to the Space Program in that it contains many departments that oversee the development of new space technologies as well as research and analyze samples and photographs obtained during observation periods and experiments.

RD-1

Contains the Dept. of Incoming Parts (takes in and judges part proposals for future use) and the Chemistry Labs (analyzes gasses and chemical samples received from the Geology Dept. (see RD-6))

RD-2

This major research center contains multiple departments, including the Electrics Department (researches electric technology, such as solar panels and RTGs), the Wheel Department (studies function and use of wheels), Cockpit Layout Committee (self explanatory), the Parachute Committee, and the Dept. of Redundancy Department (ensures and makes sure that rockets are reliable and have a good reliability percentage for crew safety).

RD-3

Houses the Secretarial Society (responsible for PR, HR, and all phone calls and e-mails) and the KSC Medical Center (performs regular checkups on all KSC personnel and declares kerbonauts fit or unfit for missions). In the basement lies the Centrifuge and other training facilities, including a full gym and rooms for practicing flag deployment and RCS Jetpack operation)

RD-4

The hub for the entire R&D complex. Contains administration offices, the communication room (which helps coordinate recovery efforts), and 11^1/2 presentation rooms for technology and procedure demonstrations, as well as a stage for Karaoke Night.

RD-5

This entire building is dedicated to the Propulsion and Controlled Explosion Department, and includes blast-proof walls and a state-of-the-art Wind Tunnel/Engine Testing Vent. This is where not only rocket fuels are designed and tested, but also researches the application of monopropellants and Xenon propulsion.

RD-6

RD-6 houses the Geology Department (Studies geological samples from missions and determines their makeup) and the Snack Research Board (develops recipes for delicious and nutritious snacks for astronauts and KSC employees).

RD-7

Easily recognizable for its sizable observational telescope, this building houses the Astronomical Department, which observes celestial bodies and studies their makeup, as well as oversees the functions of any space-based telescopes and cameras.

Vehicle Assembly Building

As the name implies, this is where rockets and their payloads are assembled preceding a mission. Also contains a small area where kerbonauts are prepped for their missions.

Spaceplane Hangar

Houses any and all vehicles pertaining to aeronautical flight, including mantainence and refuelling systems. Also houses a debriefing room, and the entire building is shared with the Kerbal Flight Academy.

-Newsflash!- Chronology

A collection of all -Newsflash!- articles, from oldest to newest.

Back to Top

- - - - - - - - - - -

 

July 26, 2015

 

July 29, 2015

August 1, 2015

August 2, 2015

 

August 4, 2015

 

August 5, 2015 (#1)

 

August 5, 2015 (#2)

Edited June 8, 2023 by Tex

[Tex]

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-Newsflash!-

KERBAL SPACE PROGRAM ANNOUNCES STAYPUTNIK SERIES

July 26, 2015

By Jaybree Kerman

In a highly-anticipated turn of events, the Kerbal Space Program announced today the initiation of a brand-new series of space missions, the Stayputnik Program.

This expected program has been in the planning phase "for several days at this point," confirms an anonymous source in the Program. The source also went on to confirm that the Program's goals and mission requirements have also been in the works. "It's been changing a lot, and mostly they've had to switch things around because the rocket parts they ordered didn't get there in time."

The Stayputnik Program, the first ever series of missions in the Space Program's history, will include several unmanned launches of space probes, otherwise known as "satellites." Mission planners say these probes will be placed into Kerbin orbits at various altitudes, and are meant to test the ability of the Program to launch hardware into space.

More on this story as it develops.

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Edited July 26, 2015 by Maximus97

[Tex]

Stayputnik Program

"Taking the first steps into a future of exploration, knowledge, and minimal explosions. If possible."

-Mission Statement

Program Description and Goals

The Stayputnik Program was designed in order to prove the idea that Kerbalkind is capable of space travel. As the very first space program ever conceived, the Stayputnik series of missions is the training bed for KSP personnel to learn the procedures and methodology of space travel. As such, the program has several distinct objectives.

1. Test mission control procedures for managing space exploration missions.
   
2. Test rocket and spacecraft technologies for future adaptation and use.
   
3. Prove that space travel is indeed possible.
   
4. Photograph Kerbin from extra-atmospheric situations.
   
5. Take scientific measurements of various space environments.
   

List of Missions

• Stayputnik 1
  
• Stayputnik 2
  
• Stayputnik 3
  

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Stayputnik 1

Mission Status: SUCCESS

Mission Date: July 29, 2015

Total Science Earned: 39.4

Debriefing: Stayputnik 1 was a complete success. The lifting booster, the K1, has been proven to be adequately suited for delivering small payloads to LKO. Minor flight error early on; overzealous pitching of spacecraft nearly resulted in loss of control. Problem fortunately resolved. Much of orbital stage fuel was unused, but unfortunately unable to recovered at present. Possible future project.

Mission Photographs

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Stayputnik 2

Mission Status: SUCCESS

Mission Date: August 1, 2015

Total Science Earned: 17.2

Debriefing: Stayputnik 2 has successfully attained HKO. Transmitted data includes gravity and temperature readings from an orbit larger than the Mun's, and updated model of the K1 rocket has performed flawlessly. The vehicle featured larger side-mounted boosters, a more powerful first-stage engine, and an entirely new middle stage for orbital insertion. The K1 performed so well that the second and third stages have not yet been jettisoned for possible recovery in the future.

Mission Photographs

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Stayputnik 3

Mission Status: SUCCESS

Mission Date: August 5, 2015

Total Science Earned: 20.4

Debriefing: Stayputnik 3 has become the first Kerbal object to be placed outside of Kerbin's SOI, and as such has already sent temperature and gravity data. The K1 rocket used to propel the probe is unchanged from earlier launches, though all of its fuel was finally used in the launch.

Mission Photographs

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Edited August 6, 2015 by Maximus97

[Tex]

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-Newsflash!-

STAYPUTNIK 1 IN ORBIT AROUND KERBIN

July 29, 2015

By Jaybree Kerman

Important newsflash!

The Stayputnik 1 probe, named... Stayputnik 1, has successfully attained what is known as "Low Kerbin Orbit,' or LKO.

The historic announcement came just this afternoon when the KSP PR Department confirmed that the launch of the mission had been a total success and the probe was operating nominally.

The probe, made up of two seperate probe cores, sort of brains for the satellite, includes for transmitting antennae, four AA batteries, and a thermometer and Gravioli detector attached to a small metal truss. When asked to confirm if "Gravioli" particles are even a real thing, the KSP Research and Development center released no statements.

This launch paves the way for all future Kerbal spaceflight missions to follow, and it is confirmed that tens of contracts have already been offered to the Space Program by private companies to put their own hardware, and their name, into space to perform all sorts of tasks from communications relaying to scientific experiments.

Stayputnik 1 atop a yet-unnamed rocket.

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Edited July 29, 2015 by Maximus97

[Tex]

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-Newsflash!-

STAYPUTNIK 2 REACHES ORBIT, SPACE PROGRAM CELEBRATED

August 1, 2015

By Jaybree Kerman

By some accounts, the successful launch and mission of Stayputnik 2 is even more important than the first Stayputnik launch earlier in the week.

Mission controllers celebrated the launch, which proved the Kerbal Space Program's capability to handle multiple launches in a small time frame, as well as several other goals. Not only is reliable space travel possible, analysts say, but the capabilities of the upgraded K1 rocket (as the Stayputnik launch vehicle was recently christened) have far exceeded expectations.

It is reported that the mission was executed so flawlessly that both stages meant for orbital insertion and maneuvering remain attached to the Stayputnik probe for possible future use, as there is still large amounts of fuel remaining in the upper stages.

Whether or not the Stayputnik probe will continue to function beyond providing scientific measurements in High Kerbin Orbit, or HKO, is still up for debate. However, this important mission goes to show how Kerbal ingenuity can make something truly special.

Stayputnik 2 moments after liftoff.

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[Tex]

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-Newsflash!-

SPACE PROGRAM ANNOUNCES ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH PROGRAM

August 2, 2015

By Jaybree Kerman

It has just been announced that the Kerbal Space Program, which has consisted of two spaceflight missions at this time, is beginning a new program that will engage in research of conditions within the atmosphere!

The program will utilize the Kerbal Flight Academy facilities and maintain a fleet of jet aircraft, flown by Kerbonauts who will use the opportunity to gain experience in managing complex systems in regards to operating machinery such as air- and spacecraft. The Space Program will investigate the undertaking of contracts regarding conditions within Kerbin's atmosphere, such as measuring temperature conditions at a specific location.

It is also speculated that the program will be able to train new Kerbonauts by having them fly alongside the program's veterans to help them learn the business of spaceflight.

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[Tex]

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-Newsflash!-

KERBAL SPACE PROGRAM: MANNED SPACE PROGRAM "IN THE WORKS"

August 4, 2015

By Jaybree Kerman

Short newsflash!

The Kerbal Space Program announced today that plans for a manned space program are underway. It is yet unclear as to what the exact nature of this new and exciting chapter in space exploration will pertain, but an anonymous source has the inside details.

"As far as I know, it's being called the Project," the source said. "I know they've been having meetings about the program, and of course the employees already hired for jet flights and things are being considered. I think they keep postponing meetings because they run out of snacks in the meeting rooms."

It can be expected that the Program would be apprehensive about sending a Kerbal into space, as the feat has never been attempted before. Though previous spaceflights have shown that it is possible to place small objects into orbit, no tests have yet been done to prove that retrieving items from space is possible, nor launching things heavier than a Stayputnik probe.

More on this story as it develops.

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[Tex]

Kommercial Satellite Program

"Charging money for accepting your money. And putting your money in space.

-Mission Statement

Program Description and Goals

The Kommercial Satellite Program was enacted to create a bond between the Kerbal Space Program and the average everyday multimillionaire, whose assets have proven invaluable in funding the Space Program. This program, created for the purpose of putting commercial satellites into orbit for profit, as well as gaining experience and furthering our understanding of how the business of spaceflight works, is the cornerstone for a longstanding relationship between science and money. The program has a few main objectives:

1. Carry out contracts for spaceflight missions.
   
2. Research and share results of various experiments conducted in space.
   
3. Improve existing spaceflight technology.
   
4. Assist in the funding of the Space Program.
   

List of Missions

• PBDBD-Tin Can
  
• 
  

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PBDBD-Tin Can

Mission Status: SUCCESS

Mission Date: August 5, 2015

Total Science Earned: 17

Debriefing: PDBDB-Tin Can was successfully placed into LKO. Equipped with a specially designed container that contained several samples of Kerbin objects, the contracted data has been received by the Kerbal Space Program, and the probe is now sending data to controllers at Probodobodyne, Inc.

Mission Photographs

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Edited August 5, 2015 by Maximus97

[Tex]

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-Newsflash!-

FIRST COMMERCIAL SATELLITE LAUNCHED

August 5, 2015

By Jaybree Kerman

Just yesterday, Probodobodyne, Inc. became the first ever private company to have their name on a satellite launched by the Kerbal Space Program!

The probe, PBDBD-Tin Can, was launched into an eccentric and equatorial low Kerbin orbit. On board was a specially designed compartment that contains several specimens of Kerbin materials for study.

After broadcasting data back to the Kerbal Space Center, the probe's scientific content has been delegated to the mission controllers at Probodobodyne to continue studies. The mission helped fund the main Space Program and stock sales for Probodobodyne have gone up.

This is the first of a line of commercial satellites that the Space Program will launch, and there is an infinite number of possiblities are out there!

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[Tex]

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-Newsflash!-

STAYPUTNIK PROGRAM ENDS IN TRIUMPH!

August 5, 2015

By Jaybree Kerman

Important newsflash!

The Stayputnik series of missions has today ended in complete success with the launch of Stayputnik 3, Kerbin's first probe to be sent outside of the sphere of influence (SOI) of Kerbin.

The probe, identical in makeup to the first two Stayputnik satellites, was launched using a rocket identical to that of Stayputnik 2, one that has finally managed to use up its entire reserve of fuel. The K1 turned out to be a much more powerful rocket than most had initially assumed, and it is also speculated that the K1 will be put aside for heavier launches after the upcoming manned space program goes into effect.

While not all space programs may end in complete success, the Stayputnik program is one of the lucky few, and serves as an example to be followed.

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