Jump to content

Project: Summer

Chel

By Chel
in KSP1 Mission Reports

 Share

Recommended Posts

Chel

Chel

Posted
Posted

It began, like so many others: A small solid rocket booster, attached to a command pod, a parachute, and some science gear. But we are moving past that, because that's how every space program starts. We are moving on to something else, something... different. 

Chapter 1: Who said that we can't have rocket planes?

"I don't think this will work. I mean, it's so off balance! How can you have a rocket engine on such a small plane!" The engineers pleaded with the design team on a cold morning. "Well, if we don't try it, we won't know if it works or not. It's better to try and have a chance at success than not trying at all", one of the designers, Kroslev, said to the skeptical team. "Ok, we'll give it a go, but if this doesn't work then I'm not being held accountable for it" the lead engineer said. 

Approximately 7 hours later, the small craft was ready.

"This is Kami Kerman, requesting takeoff for test flight, over"

"Tower to Kami. You are clear to takeoff. We wish you luck, over"

"Roger that, Kami out"

As Kami began to touch different buttons, turn dials, and so on, she said a prayer. And then she flicked the 'FIRE ENGINE' switch

https://photos.app.goo.gl/R2UNf5YfwMqUM3s48

A massive kick rocked the small plane, giving Kami a jolt. If it were not for the safety harness that she was contained in, she could of been easily thrown out of the cockpit by the force. 

She flew higher and higher, faster and faster, until the fuel was empty and the engine stopped.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YJDwMBdPsrDyY3FP9

Now she just needed to land it. In flight, the Dotso-1 was incredibly stable and responded easily to the controls. But without thrust and with the center of mass changed as a result of all fuel being used up, it was incredibly nose heavy.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tu8UjcdCFyVPYXWU7

It appeared that she would hit the ground hard, but could relax as she heard the sound of parachutes deploying.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Wh1rztdyHGRxhgsx8

After landing, and taking some readings and doing experiments, she made her way out of the Dotso-1, proceeded to plant a flag, and was promptly transported back to the KSC

https://photos.app.goo.gl/pMVVjrvSkFBauXD26

She never looked so thrilled and excited in her life. No doubt that this first flight would serve as a basis to develop bigger, better, and faster things.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Chel

Chel

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Chapter 2: 'Up down, up down'

It was a new day on Kerbin. The sun had just come up, the water was beginning to turn from pale gray to a deep blue, all was quiet. Until suddenly, the surface shook as the force of engines launched the newest rocket up into space. The engineers had worked on small, suborbital rockets, but this one was designed to orbit Kerbin and return.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MMe9dsgCAJweMkycA

The rocket flew higher and higher, making it's way out of the atmosphere

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vyeKvGbVhtRwSHLRA

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zx321aEeL9KG2QNv6

With the first stage expended of fuel, the second stage ignited a smaller engine, propelling the craft into orbit

https://photos.app.goo.gl/yvBaViNXREyfrwcN9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VVDvvuw5KYX9gyCi7

Being in orbit, Valentina Kerman could look down upon the planet, absolutely amazed as just roughly 30 minutes ago, she was boarding the rocket. Now she was in orbit, in a state of freefall, but being held up by the momentum.

After roughly an hour, she was given the order by Mission Control to initiate a burn to come back down

https://photos.app.goo.gl/imJhBhfeyE4i4PJr6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/GouVhz7f639qiuw9A

https://photos.app.goo.gl/twv4SjwqhvZSGZTL9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ifM7zucddhULmXMj9

Sorry for the low quality of this chapter, I was really tired last night 

Edited by The_Cat_In_Space
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Barzon

Barzon

Posted
Posted (edited)

Why is it blocked? I can see from your posts (In the complaining thread) that you use one of your schools computers, but surely you would have your own computer to play KSP on? Which would have Imgur unblocked? Because I don't see how you would install KSP on a school computer?

Edited by Barzon Kerman
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Chel

Chel

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Chapter 3.5: Rocks in space

They had been planning for months. Testing engines, doing experiments, with countless hours in the simulator. Now it was all up to one kerbal. No, it isn't who you think it is, Jebediah isn't even this story at all! It is, the one, the only, Kami Kerman! Landing a plane with one wing ripped off? No problem! Going to orbit and then coming back down without a heat shield? Mind you, a bit toasty, but no problem!

She sat in her small capsule. No vision, encased inside of a fairing, relying wholly on her instruments to guide her. She felt honored to be the first Kerbal to visit the Mun, but also scared. What if she failed? Was killed? Stranded on the Mun?  No, she wasn't thinking about those things. She had a mission to accomplish

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3BcnsatgpautPrDH7

Flicking the switches, pressing the 'ENGINE FIRE' button, everything just seemed so natural. As if it were done before. It was, of course, done before, through countless tests of different rocket designs that she flew into orbit. But nothing as big as this. 8 SRBs, with a powerful engine underneath. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/H6F9wVdddVkmd6YM6

Kami saw that the speedometer was displaying upwards of 600m/s, and she had only launched about 10 seconds ago. Such was the acceleration provided by those powerful rockets.

Then, the violent rumbling stopped, as the SRBs ran out of fuel. Ejecting them, she was now comfortably at an altitude of 17,000 meters.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/22w3qovF17oSLLFL9

Using RCS to keep the rocket upright, she cruised into orbit

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ewHpAdrB37CXbmhK7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NvTbN1RkR9rtzNqj8

Once safely established with the Apoapsis and Periapsis, Kami began plotting maneuver nodes to receive an encounter with the Mun

https://photos.app.goo.gl/4CKgeKXBufLzc8eb6

After an intercept had been reached, Kami fired up the engine again and started accelerating 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/vu3wxYTvP2iKS27n7

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xSYNN8kEPK8nLbEt6

With the burn done, she just had to wait a couple of days to reach the Mun. Eating, chatting, and even drawing at one point, she made the time pass quickly, and was informed that the ship was nearing the Mun

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VkDzBUwd7ykkNnRG9

Firing engines yet again, Kami made a nice, eccentric orbit around it

https://photos.app.goo.gl/txadGWJmS1iyqqSw6

With the main engine depleted of fuel, the stage was cast away into the vacuum of space, orbiting the Mun

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bDrpEeLXhiLvS7RF6

Now Kami had to find a landing point on the crater-packed surface

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...