KASA's 'Explorer Program'

[StarStreak2109]

My dear fellow Kerbonauts,

I always kind of hesitated to post any mission reports or even videos since I feel dwarfed by the likes of some of the 'power users' in this forum! But I thought, why the heck not, it's only a game...

So without any further ado, here goes nothing:

Might I present the Kerbal Aeronautics and Space Administration's 'Explorer Program'! The Program has nothing to do with Earth's Explorer Program, of course. My imaginary backstory is that the Kerbals in all their industrious ambitions managed to deplet most of Kerbin's natural resources. A global war about the planet's remaining resources could all but barely be avoided, when Wernher von Kerman discovered through a probe that a rich new resource could be found on the other planets in the system. In fact this resource proved so rich that it seemed all energy crises of the future might be avoided.

So in a typical Kerbal-esque way, the nation states of Kerbin banded together and built the Kerbal Space Centre in the Central Province and founded the Kerbal Aeronautics and Space Administration (KASA). All the nations agreed to provide whatever resources could be found to this program. The immediate goal is to find a suitable means to detect and mine this resource, what had meanwhile been dubbed 'Karbonite'. Kerbin only sported minuscule amounts, but initial analyses indicated that on the Mun and Minmus, abundances might be significantly higher.

So this is where we leave of. In a first step, the KASA has built a new space station around Kerbin, which is dedicated to Karbonite research, the KSS. Working there are six scientists and engineers on unravelling the mysteries of Karbonite.

Above you can see the KSS. Apart from the research mentioned above, it also serves as a logistics hub for LKO operations. It consists of the following modules (from top to bottom):

1. Fuel tanks
   
2. Upper logistics module and docking ring for three ships
   
3. Central node, to which the following modules attach
   
   • Left: 'Egeria' Science Module
     
   • Right: 'Hestia' Command and Control Module
     
   • Front and rear: Storage modules (KIS)
     

[*]Lower logistics module and docking ring for three ships

[*]Mission support module (solar cells, batteries and monoprop)

To the station are regularily docked:

1. Two 'Perseus' MPCVs
   
2. ORV (Orbital Resupply Vessel)
   

The station has been launched into orbit by the 'Helios-M' rocket, a pretty standard two stage 2.5m launch vehicle, with a 'Rhea' upper stage. The 'Rhea' is able to deorbit itself after completing its mission to reduce the junk in orbit...

Whenever I introduce a new craft or so, I will show a few pictures of it's construction. In later installments of course also pictures from the flights will be added!

So here's the Helios-M (M for 'Medium', a 'Heavy' variant will also come....):

Let's have a look at the lower stage:

As you can see, it is pretty standard. The core booster is powered by a single KW Rocketry Maverick-V. It is supported by two Ariane-styled Globe X-5 'Thor' SRBs. More interesting is the upper stage.

This stage is powered by a KW Rocketry Vesta VR-9D. Up on top, we see just below the fairing base the guidance and support package, which allows the stage to operate independently from its payload. Just above the engine, you can see the RCS thrusters that help manoeuvering those heavy payloads.

When we pull the payload and the fueltank away, we see the 'heart' of this upper stage:

Just below the fairing base we have the guidance module, some monoprop tanks and batteries.

So, that it is for today, I hope I did'nt bore you. I hope, since we jumped right into an ongoing mission, to show you some in-construction images and some images from my operations in the next installment.

Any questions, comments, feedback or constructive criticism is always welcome!

[Clipperride]

That'sThat's a fine looking station. As for mission reports from "non-power users", I love them. Whilst I enjoy reading of huge and highly complex missions, its great to see what other mere mortals are planning and flying. It gives noobs like myself something a little more realistic to aim for. Having said that, please don't think that I'm putting your efforts down in anyway, I can imagine the effort involved in what you've already done. Looking forward to reading more. Keep up the great work.

Edited September 12, 2015 by Clipperride
Correcting the autocorrect!

[Mister Dilsby]

Yes--this is a perfect mission report, you are reporting the mission! And it's a very nice station, I think the missions to it are going to look great and be very interesting.

[StarStreak2109]

Dear community,

sometimes it is just one of those days. A couple of days after I posted that first report my KSP install went belly-up and I lost my save...

Anyways, let's not dwell...

This way, I can show you my science career game from the beginning. In order to cut down the grind a bit, unlocked the first three tiers of the tech tree by the power of the cheat menu... (Yes, you can slap me now...!)

NRAP-1

The KASA (Kerbal Aeronautics & Space Administration) has been tasked with the evaluation of a new rocket designed for launching light payloads up to two tonnes into low Kerbin orbits. Durin the NRAP phase (New Rocket Assessment Program) test weights are used to simulate payloads.

The rocket in question has been christened the Phobos Alpha. Phobos is the lower stage, whereas Alpha is the name of the upper stage. As pointed out above, it is a light 1.25 m launch vehicle for small-ish payloads of up to two tonnes.

Here we see the NRAP weight. Below it is a small fuel tank with four 'Ant' engines, which are used to deorbit the test weight - since we don't want to leave behind orbital debris, right?! Unfortunately I have snapped the image before setting up the weight correctly to two tonnes.

The alpha upper stage: A pretty simple upper stage, it comes with a guidance package allowing the stage to deorbit as well.

And the lower stage: Again a very simple design, consisting of two half and one full-length fuel tanks, a double-nozzle engine and two small SRB lift the rocket through the denser layers of Kerbin's atmosphere.

The mission

"This is mission control, we have lift-off for NRAP-1, testing out KASA's new Phobos Alpha rocket!"

"Roll program complete, commencing pitch program..."

"We have solid rocket booster separation..."

Under the roar of its main engine, the Phobos climbs out of the clouds, revealing a glimpse at Mun, Kerbin's trusty companion. With luck, we will soon visit that far-off rock, that seems so close sometimes...

Just beyond the tip of Phobos, Jool sparkles faintly in the dark sky...

MECO and stage separation!

Neidon, Urlum and Sarnus twinkle from beyond Kerbol.

And to complete the look at the Kerbol system planets, we also can see Duna, Eve and Moho! What luck!

After the fairing separation, we witness the final orbit insertion.

Shortly after final orbit has been achieved, the rocket stage separates from the payload...

...and fires its engines one last time for the deorbit manoeuver...

...and after the team back at the KSC have performed all required tests, also the payload turns around and deorbits.

Blazing through the upper atmosphere...

Somehow the payload - albeit without the fuel tank and engine - survived reentry...

...and landing...

...well, I won't complain, at least 10 science points came out if it...

Well, that's it for today! I hope I didn't bore you too much. Next time I'll have the first satellite, which is being launched with the Phobos Alpha.

See ya later,

Kerbonauts!

[Sharkman Briton]

Good luck! I hope people like your stuff!