Kerballo 13 - A KSP Story

[KAL 9000]

Kerballo 13 Crew:

Commander: Jebediah "Jeb" Kerman

Munar Module Pilot: Bob Kerman

Command Module Pilot: Bill Kerman

CAPCOM: Valentina Kerman

Flight Director: Gene Kerman 

Booster Engineer: Wernher von Kerman 

EECOM: Bobak Kerman 

GUIDO: Gus Kerman 

Mission Day 1: T-Minus 5 minutes to launch

"Alright, final checks. K-IC first stage?"

"Go."

"K-II second stage?"

"Go."

"K-IVB third stage?"

"Go."

"CSM?"

"Go."

"MEM?"

"Go."

"Abort tower?"

"Go."

"All systems are GO for launch. T-minus 5...4...3..."

--Meanwhile, in the command module--

"And That's how I got--"

--Back at Mission Control--

"Booster Ignition."

The might Sarnus V rocket rose of the pad, slowly at first, but then faster and faster. Soon, the first stage burned out and was separated.

"Stage 2 ignition."

"Roger that, KSC, we confirm."

"KSC, engine 3 has cut out early. Stage 2 engine 3 has cut out early."

"Roger."

"Is there any chance of RUD?"

"Probably not. Increase power to the remaining engines to compensate."

Despite the glitch, Kerballo 13 was soon in orbit and on its way to the Mun.

[KAL 9000]

Part 2: The Disaster

"13, KSC, Wernher wants you to stir your 'O2 Cryo Tanks'."

"Copy that, Val."

Bill found the section of the control panels labeled "O2 Cryo Tanks".

"Which one does he want us to stir?"

"2, he says."

Bill found the subsection labeled "Cryo Tank 2" and pressed the buttons labeled "Arm Cryo Stir" and "Second Arm - Are You Sure You Want To Do A Cryo Stir?". Finally, he threw a switch marked "Begin Cryo Stir".

Electrical signals raced down wires leading from the control panels to the Command Module's main computer. Its processors recieved the message as to what translates to "Cntrl: Bgn Cr Str. Tnk: 2. Arm 1: 1. Arm 2: 1." It then sent the message "SMC: Bgn Cr Str. Tnk: 2. -CMC.". The service module computer, upon receiving the command, ordered the motors in Cryo Tank 2 to begin the stir. All this happened in a matter of milliseconds. As the electrical impulses reached the motors, a tiny gap in the insulation of the wires created a spark, which happened to occur inside a tank of PURE OXYGEN. You can guess what happened next.

BOOM!

"13, that sounded like an explosion from our hidden microphones inside the ship. Did Jeb fart again?"

"You have hidden-- Never mind. That's a negative, KSC. Jeb did not fart again."

"KSC, Jeb. I didn't fart--" Jeb paused for a moment and checked his readouts. "KSC, we have a problem."

"Roger that, 13, we're working on it, whatever it is."

"KSC, we-- um, we appear to be venting something into space."

[KAL 9000]

"Understood, 13."

--At the KSC--

Gene turned to his staff. "What are our options, team?" A cacophony of sound erupted from Mission Control, each controller having thier own idea. A message from the crippled spacecraft interrupted them.

"We have a Main Bus C undervolt, repeat, we have a Main Bus C undervolt. Oxygen levels in tank 2 are falling rapidly and fuel cells 1 and 3 are down. Tank 1 is beginning to drain, too."

Most of the flight directors had reached a consensus that an abort was necessary. Gene asked, "Could we use the MEM [Munar Excursion Module] as a lifeboat?"

"No, that'd never work."