Polaris Initiative: Phase 2

DunaManiac · October 4, 2019

The third module of outlook station is ready for launch.

We have liftoff of Outlook Station Fuel Tank #2

A nearby aircraft took this picture of the rocket flying over the park.

Stage separation of the boosters (long after they had run out).

Fairing separation.

The second separation has successfully separated.

If you look closely you can see the station.

We are very close to the station.

Coming in for our final approach!

Docked!

The tug has separated from the station.

Now that I think about it, I think that the core module is too short. We may need an extra module...

As for the tug, it deorbited and was set to land in the ocean to the east of the KSC.

Reentry. I don't know if you can see it, but down there is the KSC peninsula.

Splashdown! We left the toxic waste for the military to clean up. :cool:

DunaManiac · October 5, 2019

The fourth module of Outlook Station, Outlook Station Fuel Tank #3 is ready for launch!

We have liftoff!

We have just crossed over to the Federational park.

Stage separation. We dropped them over the park, but hopefully their momentum will bring them over the park.

Fairing separation.

Core stage separation.

Orbit!

Preparing to slow down to 0 m/s relative to the station.

Roughly 400m away from the station.

Here we are! The module has reached it's final stop at outlook station.

Stage separation.

Coming in for the final approach.

Docked!

Now as for the tug, it was set to splash down at the Attica sea, but due to some improbable luck...

It exploded on a small stretch of land roughly a kilometer wide. Now that is a precision landing!

DunaManiac · October 7, 2019

Thank you for 500 views readers!

(sorry if I sound full of myself).

DunaManiac · October 8, 2019

It's time for another episode of...

Flying Fuel Tanks! This is your host... Jebediah Kerman, talking about the latest launch to Outlook station. Here is Gus Kerman on the mission.

Hey all! I'm here to talk about our latest mission, Outlook Station Fuel Tank #4!

After waiting for the correct launch window, the launch site is alligned with the station.

We have liftoff of ~~another uneventful fuel tank launch~~ exciting mission.

the launch site had heavy cloudcover as it ascended.

Stage separation confirmed!

Stage separation.

The payload is revealed, revealing the same payload I have used for 4 missions.

Orbit!

After creating a burn that will put us back on a close intercept with the station, we did a small plane change.

The spacecraft now has a intercept of 0.1km

There was a problem in the avionics, so we started the burn a little late, so we needed to compensate for it.

Stage separation confirmed!

The spacecraft has almost docked...

aaannnd we are docked!

The tug separated from the station,

the tug reentered over the desert,

and splashed down into the ocean, making a radioactive No Go zone for kilometers away.

And that's it for flying fuel tanks! This has been Jebediah kerman, signing off.

(If you want me to continue flying fuel tanks, I will. If you don't I won't).

KerballingSmasher · October 9, 2019

You decide, it's your series!

DunaManiac · October 10, 2019

The 6th module of outlook station, (finally a break from fuel tanks), is Outlook Core Extension Module, is ready for launch!

We have liftoff from Tut-Un Jeb-Ahn Launch site!

Booster separation!

Payload reveal

Stage separation confirmed.

Orbit!

And now for the "Polaris Maneuver" where the Polaris undocks from the module it is going to deliver,

Then turns around and docks to the module,

Then the polaris and the module both undock, and the Polaris makes preparations to rendezvous with Outlook Station.

As the Polaris drifted around Kerbin, it got locked in a 1:1 resonance with Terra station, every orbit it would come around and pass within 70km of Terra Station, even though they are inclined.

We have reached closest approach,

We have slowed to a stop relative to Outlook Station, the crew waited until morning to dock.

And Docked!

After waiting at the station, the Polaris undocked from the station, and prepared to reenter Kerbin's atmosphere.

After entering the atmosphere, the Polaris jettisoned the service module.

Reentery...

Parachute semi-deployment,

And thus ended Polaris 4 carrying the Outlook Station Extension Module, the first Polaris launched from the desert launch site and the first module delivered to Outlook station from a Polaris.

(And hopefully the last)

Note: The next launch, which will be a fuel tank will be narrated in the Flying Fuel Tank Format.

Edited October 10, 2019 by DunaManiac

DunaManiac · October 12, 2019

It's time for another episode of,

FLYING FUEL TANKS

This is your host, Jebediah Kerman, with a special guest today, Mortimer Kerman! The former financial Director of the Offical Kerbal Space Program!

This mission was too costly, the launch site is being worn down by 3.8576% every launch, eventually I'll need to pay for a new launchsite which will cost even more money-

Ahem?

Oh, yes. Here are pictures of the launch.

Here's the Overly Expensive rocket taking off from the desert launchpad.

Here is the boosters separating from the Rocket, oh what a waste. They could've been reusable.

The rocket didn't achieve orbit but got a good intercept with outlook station.

The payload has been revealed!

Stage separation.

Here is the rocket, which has slowed to a stop close to the station.

The fuel tank maneuvered closer to the station, within 30 meters of the station.

Docked!

The tug, with it's extremely expensive RTGs undocked from the station to it's doom.

Reentery!

Luckily, the tug's probecore and RTG's survived, and didn't pollute a Federational Park with radioactive Blutonium.

And that's all for Flying Fuel Tanks! This is Jebediah Kerman,

And Mortimer!

Signing off!

DunaManiac · October 14, 2019

The second to last module and the last fuel module is ready for launch!

And we have liftoff of Outlook Station Fuel Tank #6!

Stage separation confirmed.

Stage separation.

Current suborbital trajectory.

Payload reveal!

Orbit!

Finally after rendezvous with Outlook station, the module waited until day to dock.

Stage Separation confirmed.

Docked!

After docking the tug undocked from the station in preparation for reentery.

Reentry.

And with the crash of the tug, the 6th radioactive zone was created. These zones are each 70 square miles in length, and blutonium has been found even farther away. Luckily these zones have been a great interest to Federation Scientists, the radioactivity has created some odd specimens, including a strange kraken-like creature that recently escaped a lab. Launches have been delayed until the creature has been caught.

DunaManiac · October 17, 2019

Breaking news: Under pressure from the Kerbin Federation Department of Environmental Protection, and the Desertian Green Party,

RTG'S HAVE BEEN BANNED

After the escape from a laboratory, a kraken-like creature was on the loose. Two days of searching finally found the creature, which was attempting to disassemble a missile at the KSC.

The public outcry was so great, that RTG's have been banned for anything intended to crash into Kerbin, this includes: Anything that is intended to be sent to KEO and anything designed to crash into or land on Kerbin.

(Brought to you by Official Kerbin News: The world's most reliable news source)

Despite the negative publicity, the final module of Outlook Station has been launched.

And we have liftoff of the final module of Outlook Station, the Short Term Habitation Module.

Stage separation confirmed.

Our planned intercept.

Payload reveal!

Stage separation.

We have achieved orbit!

The spacecraft has parked next the station.

Stage separation.

Docked!

As for the tug, notice the solar panels, they are the new kind of disposable tug, without the RTGs.

The tug reentered and crashed into the desert.

And with that, Phase 1 ends with a bang! Phase 2 begins tomorrow...

DunaManiac · October 19, 2019

Phase 1 Overview:

Number of Launches: 19

Bodies Explored: Kerbin

Flags Planted: None

Bases: None

Stations:

Terra Station:

Crew: Bill Kerman, Bob Kerman

Number of Modules: 4

Function: a small science station, a proving ground for the Polaris Initiative

Status: Functional

Outlook Station

Crew: Unmanned.

Number of Modules: 9

Function: A fuel outpost, a steppingstone for future missions.

Status: Functional.

DunaManiac · October 22, 2019

Phase 2 begins...

Mun and Minmus

Edited October 22, 2019 by DunaManiac

DunaManiac · October 22, 2019

The first launch of Phase 2 is a test launch. Phase 2 is going to be about reusability.

First: Some context.

The budget of the Polaris initiative was rapidly declining. The costs of launching massive expendable boosters as was planned was no longer possible. The Polaris Initiative needed a way to conserve funds in the face of the "RTG Scandal" and the launch site close to a park. At this rate, the Polaris Initiative would go the way of the OKSP and earlier attempts at spaceflight.

Jebediah: I need some ideas, no matter how outrageous.

Thompeone: We could... give our boosters wings and fly them back to base.

Jebediah: Too expensive.

Munwise: How about creating boosters that are less expensive?

Jebediah: that would only be a temporary solution. In Phase 4 we'll need to create a colony, remember?

Jeblie: How about, we put parachutes on our boosters, so that we'll be able to recover and reuse it, so we don't have to keep building them.

Jebediah: Great! Let's test it!

And thus, the Rigel 2 Reusability test was created. This launch is no different than the previous Rigel launch, which plans were delayed, but it is crewed and it's boosters have parachutes.

And we have liftoff of the first crewed Rigel launch.

Stage separation confirmed. The stages have parachutes on them so they won't be destroyed. (They were removed from existence when they hit 20km, does anybody know any reusability mods I could use?)