DMSP-The beginning of a space program. [Final Chapter] Chapter 33-When the clock hits zero.

[DMSP]

For everyone's notice:

The Topspin flights are coming tomorrow.

In the meanwhile, we finally have a new page!

Yay!

[galaxyguy]

Topspin?

[DMSP]

12 hours ago, galaxyguy said:

Topspin?

Yep!

Chapter 9-Topspin!

Jebediah "Jeb" Kerman had been working at KSC for almost 80 days when he was selected for the first space flight.

After 1 day and 2 hours of training, he was ready.

The ground teams did not want to come close to Topspin-1, named by Wernher after most of the simulations ended in the top part spinning off into oblivion.

He climbed up the rickety ladder and looked into the cramped, dark capsule.

Hmmm. Jeb thought. Maybe this isn't the best idea...

The BadS side of him thought: Boom explosions yeah rockets boosters go!

Jeb thought: What a good point.

 

"Alright," Gene spoke in the Mission Control building "Let's check the checklist."

"Booster"

"Go"

"Guidance"

"Yep"

"FIDO"

"Go"

"Recovery"

"Go"

"CapComm"

"We're go flight"

"This is Mission Control. We are go for launch."

Crowds across KSC cheered. They counted down with the timer.

20.

The staff gazed.

10.

Jeb sweated.

5.

The rocket creaked.

3.

2.

1.

0.

"Liftoff, we have a liftoff!."

Off Topspin-1 went.

It struck through the layers of the atmosphere, Jeb being struck against the cabin walls.

Jeb couldn't talk or think. The only thing in his head was Wow, it smells like modelling glue in here!

Soon enough, the rocket ran out.

Jeb's capsule was launched from the First Stage, which was doomed to fall into the blue ocean.

And then Jeb was in space.

It was a historic moment. Finally, a Kerbal touching the stars.

Jeb could see the wonderful curve of Kerbin.

The capsule rotated a bit.

"By Moho, it's full of stars!"

After surviving the fiery reentry into the Atmosphere, Jeb's capsule flew downwards.

He pulled the chutes, and plopped into the sea, about 160 Km South East of the center.

 

A small aircraft was deployed to Jeb. Fully fueled, it departed for the small capsule that was Topspin-1.

Eventually, Val, who was piloting the plane remotely, spotted Jeb's capsule in the waves.

She brought it down carefully and slowly, gently hitting the water.

And the pontoons came off.

Jeb swam to the aircraft, and got on board.

He started the engine, hoping this thing would take off without the pontoons.

It didn't.

 

Jeb was running out of Snacks and his homemade fishing rod out of metal from the aircraft, string from his parachutes and a Jutsnack on the tip.

Out of options, Mortimer Kerman went to the upcoming @Cupcake... Landers company.

Soon, Val was taking a rescue "Gnat" to Jeb's position.

After a very long time flying, she arrived and plopped the lander into the sea.

She was surprised how waterproof the cabin was.

Jeb swum to her, and climbed in, cold and wet.

Val raced to get friend back home.

After several assurances that he'd be fine, Val changed course for the aircraft storage center on Insular Airfield.

She safely landed and taxied to a new parking zone.

"Val, I just want to thank you for bringing me home." Jeb hugged her, feeling there was nothing else to do.

"You're most welcome." She replied.

Bob wasn't a good pilot, but yet somehow he was put in the KSC's fastest Jet and was sent over to pick the two up.

Once Bob arrived, he climbed into the back with Jeb.

Val looked back at her lander.

Then she took control of the aircraft.

Soon they were heading home.

Later, Gene told Val that she would be next.

She would be on Topspin-2.

[DMSP]

Chapter 9.5-Val's Topspin!

Val was very excited to be going to space.

Just 92 days ago, she had found those 550 Funds.

She still couldn't believe it had been so long.

But she strapped herself in Tospin-2, and rocketed off into the unknown.

Only a few minutes later, she was clipping space.

"Ok Val, you're go for the EVA, but get back in as soon as possible." Gene told her.

"What type of EVA is this?" She yelled.

Mort responded, "It's a publicity stunt, now go!"

"Val, you're drifting, get back to the capsule!"

Val struggled. She was already in the atmosphere, and the capsule was tumbling.

She turned on her RCS pack, maneuvering to the capsule.

She grabbed on at 50,000 Meters.

A harrowing 3 minutes later, Val was shooting towards the space center.

Her drag chutes deployed just in time.

When she touched down, she walked towards Mission control.

But then she walked back.

"Thanks buddy!" She said to the empty, lifeless capsule.

And that was it for the Topspin flights.

[Angelo Kerman]

Pretty neat the see the progression of your space program!

[DMSP]

6 hours ago, Angel-125 said:

Pretty neat the see the progression of your space program!

Thank you!

It has been fun, that's for sure!

[Mister Dilsby]

Neat stuff, like that you went to get Jeb rather than just clicking 'recover'

[DMSP]

1 hour ago, Kuzzter said:

Neat stuff, like that you went to get Jeb rather than just clicking 'recover'

Well, Invisible recovery crews are for later!

Just basic spaceflight technology for now.

[RocketSquid]

I have a capsule that I want to preserve, so it may be even harder for me.

[DMSP]

4 hours ago, RocketSquid said:

I have a capsule that I want to preserve, so it may be even harder for me.

Good luck!

Lugging a capsule will be hard. Maybe KIS?

[RocketSquid]

9 hours ago, DMSP said:

Good luck!

Lugging a capsule will be hard. Maybe KIS?

Probably KIS/KAS. The other problem is that the capsule may end up being hurt by a game-breaking mod update, so I'll have to remove the docking port (which is the only part from that mod) and put it in a KIS container. Since it will be landing at an alternative landing site, I'm considering constructing a small base there.

[DMSP]

20 minutes ago, RocketSquid said:

Probably KIS/KAS. The other problem is that the capsule may end up being hurt by a game-breaking mod update, so I'll have to remove the docking port (which is the only part from that mod) and put it in a KIS container. Since it will be landing at an alternative landing site, I'm considering constructing a small base there.

That's a good idea. Bases are cool.

Anyway, on to:

Chapter 10-100 Days of Space.

The weather on Kerbin was strange.

It wasn't there.

So Threeos-1 was launched to find out more about it.

Sitting on an Omega E, it blasted off into the heat of another midday at KSC.

The turn East was normal, and the launch proceeded as planned, without a hitch.

Threeos-1 ended up in a good stable orbit mapping the Weather patters over equatorial Kerbin.

But at launch 33, this was getting boring.

 

Luckily, another step had been made. Ever since Linus's division had been dissolved, the Muna program had been cancelled.

But Wernher couldn't think of a good name, and it was only until an intern said "Continue Muna!" that another probe was heading to the Mun.

The launcher was massive.

It was more than 30 meters tall!

The flight controllers had problems controlling the sluggish beast, but they eventually got it high enough for "The Turn".

The second stage did its job, and after just 25 minutes, Muna-4 was going to the Mun!

Soon, it crossed into the Mun's gravity well, descending down to the surface, with hopes of a soft landing ahead.

The target was set.

Speed 500. Altitude 5,000.

Speed 450. Altitude 3,300.

Speed 300. Altitude 1,000.

Eventually it was realized that Muna-4 would not survive the landing.

And the Mun had a new crater.

 

Soon the 100th day of space came. 100 days of this space center and program.

Satellites were turned off. New ones were needed.

But first, it was time to reach orbit! Flatspin-1 was prepared.

Bob Kerman, a scientist under Wernher, was chosen to make the flight.

He really didn't want to be on this flight. But Jeb and Val couldn't go, and there was no one else.

He was pressed down by the Gs of acceleration.

Ground crews cheered as he rocketed up into the sky.

Bob just got more frightened. Looking at his altitude and speed, he realized he could not make orbit.

"Flight, Bingo Fuel." Bob announced. "I repeat, Bingo Fuel."

It wasn't much. Mort sighed at the loss of more funds on a useless mission.

But Bob wasn't done.

"Flight, I'm using the retrograde system to boost me to orbit!"

Kerbals across Kerbin gasped as Bob staged the capsule.

And Bob became the first Kerbal in orbit.

 

6 orbits later...

A rescue mission couldn't be sent. Bob was running out of snacks.

He got permission to do an EVA, and looked down at his home.

Was this how he would die? Cold, and alone, in space?

Suddenly he had an idea.

"Tell the recovery crews to get ready!"

Soon enough, a fiery capsule was seen over the skies.

Bob touched down about 430 Kilometers from the KSC.

Jeb went to pick the new Hero up.

[Mister Dilsby]

Brilliant! Nice job, Bob! I thought for sure "you'd get out and push" to orbit, then fire the retros to go home. But reversing it was even cooler!  

[DMSP]

36 minutes ago, Kuzzter said:

Brilliant! Nice job, Bob! I thought for sure "you'd get out and push" to orbit, then fire the retros to go home. But reversing it was even cooler!  

I was thinking of pushing once the lifter failed to preform, but I realized there wasn't enough time!

I'm putting whatever I can find of that lifter at the bottom of the dumpster.

[DMSP]

Chapter 11-To touch the Mun.

The Kerbal Space Program was quiet that day. A few people buzzed around, some fueling pipes were tested, and Jeb took a ride in the repair rover.

But it was also the day of Muna-5's launch, a great cause of excitement! No one was excited though...

Following in Muna-4's footprints, or rather, smoke trails, Muna-5 shot up to the Mun.

Some of the flight controllers had trouble controlling the rocket (again) but they got it into orbit and onward to the Mun just fine.

As Muna-5 headed out, the launchpad was speed prepared for the launch of some new CommSats.

Comms-2 and 3 would lift off and would be able to provide constant communications around the near Kerbin System.

The first part of the liftoff was completely normal, the rocket rising to 100 meters in a few seconds.

Only when it passed 111 meters did a technical malfunction occur. Some wiring embedded in Comms-2 accidentally took the altitude, 111, as a reset code, causing Comms-2 to assume command over rocket control.

The flight controllers noticed all of their controls go horizontal.

They tried to regain control, but C-2-3 tipped west.

Gene yelled "Wait for Clear-1 Mark, and then try to save the Satellites!"

Soon, guidance shouted the Clear-1 Mark, and the rocket staged.

The second stage struggled against gravity to slow itself down and not hit the SPH.

The out of control first stage hit the ground, causing foul smelling gases to spread across KSC.

The second stage was able to slow down enough to enable payload safety, but it couldn't dodge the SPH.

The photographers were all either cowering in fright or running away in terror to take any pictures, but it went somewhat like this:

1) Second Stage clips edge of Space Plane Hanger

2) Second Stage shuts down and looses engine.

3) Second Stage hits the ground and explodes into a fireball, damaging the SPH doors.

4) The fairing breaks apart, creating a loud snapping sound heard for kilometers.

5) After the smoke rises, people see Comms-2 and 3 casually sitting there.

 

Meanwhile, above the Mun...

 

Flight Controllers soon had to ignore all going on outside and prepare for the Muna-5 landing.

The Muna-5 team instructed it to fire its engines high above the surface, to shave off some nasty velocity.

When the four rockets cut off, the spacecraft slowly started to gain velocity. It wasn't until 6,000 meters that the rockets ignited again.

Soon the Third Stage ran out of fuel, and it was discarded to become a new miniature crater on the surface.

The final stage maneuvered to hit the landing target, eventually hitting zero horizontal velocity 200 meters from the landing point.

Not bad.

Slowly it inched down, heading towards the powder getting kicked up by the light jets.

Then something strange happened. The antennas retracted, and Engine B cut off.

Soon, all that was left of Muna-5 was its control core, laying sadly on the Mun.

If it could be sad...

Not the best first Mun landing, but definitely something to improve on in the future.

 

After the near disaster of Flatspin-1, mission control was very careful before another Kerbal went back up there. Once the New Lifter was ready to go, Flatspin-2 was pushed out to the pad.

Bill, who sat in the little can up at the top, was needed for this mission. Val and Jeb were arguing over who would launch next but no, it had to be Bill.

The booster didn't do as much of the work as the engineers wanted, but Flatspin-2 still had enough Delta V to orbit.

Soon, Flatspin-2, carrying Bill and an Unnamed Satellite arrived in LKO.

Bill went on an EVA and began construction of the satellite (He came to the conclusion it would be called "BillSat-1").

Bill, being very good at his job, constructed BillSat-1 in only 23 minutes.

Bill was not very pleased with the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator that he was tasked to attach to the end. Sure, the suit blocked all of the radiation, but it was a slightly glowing box of Plutonium 238.

But Bill did his job well, and it was online within the hour.

With nothing else to do in orbit, he waited for BillSat-1 to drift, and fired his retrorockets.

Bill splashed down a few hours after he left, leaving a nice little satellite in orbit.

With popularity rising, DMSP now had a set goal.

Before the end of the year, A Kerbal needed to set foot on the Mun.

[Tangle]

Well done! #Billsat

 

Why #?

No reason. 

[DMSP]

4 hours ago, Tangle said:

Well done! #Billsat

 

Why #?

No reason. 

Thanks!

#Wut?

[Choctofliatrio2.0]

This is great! Is this in sandbox?

[DMSP]

4 hours ago, Choctofliatrio2.0 said:

This is great! Is this in sandbox?

Yes, I can't handle Career, and I wish this was in Science Mode.

When 1.1 comes around, I will reset in Sandbox (From where I left off of course).

Actually I should do that now...

[DMSP]

Everyone who's reading, I've been very busy IRL, and I have cleared out some time this weekend or on Friday to work on the next chapter. Hang on!

I also was busy with It's So Classic!

Edited March 1, 2016 by DMSP

[DMSP]

Chapter 12-Cosmic Obliteration.

"What do you mean they're gone?" Gene asked, getting more and more agitated.

"Yep. Everything." One of the controllers responded.

The KSC was in a frenzy. A solar storm had been detected a few hours ago, and satellites had been turned off. Right after it was over, Radio Operators turned their radio dishes to the skies to regain contact.

And there was nothing but static.

Every single satellite was gone. Even Pioneer 5, which had been millions of kilometers away.

"What do we do?" Wernher asked Gene.

After pondering for a moment, Gene replied: "We keep going."

 

So Muna-6 was built from scratch. Strapped on a brand new Benzene class lifter.

Probably the best looking rocket yet, many were sad to see it go.

In fact, when surveys were taken later, 96% of KSC staff liked this rocket.

It didn't take long for it to reach orbit.

The first burn put Muna-6 into a high elliptical orbit.

And then it shot up to the Mun.

Muna-6 was a new lander design, and since all the old ones had failed, it was necessary for something larger.

The transfer was uneventful, and landing went as planned.

Stage 3 flew away, leaving Muna-6 to fend for itself.

The rocks were new for the mission controllers, but since none were in the way, the kept coming right on the landing site.

Kerbin held its breath. The KSC staff were turning pink.

[Command initiate: 2 Meters reached. Engine shutdown. Landing Confirmed]

It was a madhouse. Parties broke out across Kerbin, and Mission Control was going insane! Even Gene was jumping with the rest of the staff.

Scientific operations started, and data flowed back as soon as the Radio Antennas picked Muna-6 up.

The mission was declared a outstanding success, with everything from the Lifter, Transfer stage and even the Radio Antenna working far better than expected.

 

The Benzene lifter was seen again, this time the Iodobenzene Variant.

It was more than enough for low kerbin orbit.

Some were wondering what the payload was.

It was the Rene Target Spacecraft, heading to LKO to provide a docking place for Topspins 3 and 4.

It was soon in orbit, and deployed two makeshift satellites to try to fill up the orbital gap.

TriSat-1 and CubeSat-1 deployed and went off in search of glory and wealth.

And then CubeSat-1 was left behind.

Oh well.

Edited March 3, 2016 by DMSP

[Angelo Kerman]

Ze satellites, zay are gone! Vat happened to ze satellites?

[DMSP]

13 minutes ago, Angel-125 said:

Ze satellites, zay are gone! Vat happened to ze satellites?

What are you talking about?

No satellites are gone! It was just light from Venus hitting a reflective weather balloon and refracting off swamp gas!

"Jim, grab the tranquilizers, he knows!"

[Angelo Kerman]

I must tell ze press! I must- *thump* zzzzzzz.....

[Mister Dilsby]

"What do we do?" "We keep going." Now THAT'S a Gene Kerman line right there