Community Space Program: Control a Space Program Through Text!

[Kerbalsaurus]

Behold! The CSP! Our goal is to land on Mars, no matter how long it takes! But, we want your help doing it. The way this game works is you have to do a mission, and tell us what rocket is launching, what time it launched at at, which day of the month and year, and tell us if the mission succeeded or failed via a dice roll. You have to roll a 20 sided dice (online, of course), and if it's 15 or above, the mission failed. Tell us how it failed, too. Depending on the number, the severity of the fail can vary.

15= Launchpad failure: Same mission can be launched by the next thread.

16= Vanguard Moment: Spacecraft crashes on the launchpad

17= Engine Failure (Atmosphere): Engine fails in the atmosphere.

18 = Engine Failure (Space): Engine fails in space.

19= Comms Failure (probe); Controls Failure (Crew): Spacecraft’s communications break; crew control no longer works.

20= Pressure Build Up: Pressure in a fuel line builds up to an extreme degree, and the spacecraft blows up.

For crewed mission, if there's a mission failure of 16 or 17, you must roll a six sided die. 1-4 means that the crew successfully aborts the mission. 5 or 6 means that the crew is dead.

 

Here's how the progression will work:

X-planes/Sounding Rockets

Satellites

Manned exploration

Lunar Era/ Interplanetary Missions

Manned Lunar Exploration

Space Stations and Surface Bases

Manned Mars Exploration

Beyond

 

Here's the first mission, and this is how the missions will be formatted:

X-1: Break the Sound Barrier

Mission: SUCCESS!

Aircraft: X-1 Plane

3/14/61

Today, on March 14^th, 1961, the CSP has there first launch: The launch of the X-1. To get funding from governments around the world, we have to prove we can fly something. Our commander is American Pilot Warren Barber, and our other pilot is Russian Pilot Basil Konovalov. They take of from the Forum Space Center located in the Philippines, and around 30 minutes after take off, they break the sound barrier, and an hour later, they land back at the runway.

 

Next Mission: X-2

 

Honorable mention for TOTM JAN 2023!

Edited January 3, 2023 by Kerbalsaurus

[Deddly]

Spoiler

Does it have to follow reality? For example, does the next player have to research the X-2 and use realistic names etc? 

How do we pick dates?

 

Edited December 24, 2022 by Deddly

[Kerbalsaurus]

40 minutes ago, Deddly said:

  Hide contents

Does it have to follow reality? For example, does the next player have to research the X-2 and use realistic names etc? 

How do we pick dates?

 

Oh, umm… I guess I didn’t think too well. The X-1 is simply a plane model, and not at all related to the mission. It can probably be used for a high atmospheric test flight. For dates, umm… I’m not quite sure. If we’re reusing a plane, probably 3 days or so until the next flight should do.

 

Good question Deddly. Happy Holidays!

Edited December 24, 2022 by Kerbalsaurus

[Deddly]

It was 18th March, 1961 and Dumphrey Kerman steered the prototype aircraft onto the runway accompanied by the upbeat and slightly off-tune rhythm of a marching band that had only had three days of practise. Everyone who was anyone was there for this glorious day in the bright spring sunlight, accompanied by a considerable number of nobodies who had somehow snuck into the invite-only event. After the dazzling success of the X-1 mission just days earlier, the crowds had gathered to get a glimpse of the much-hyped successor; the X-2. The press had also found their way into the area and many of them were trying to piece together some answers to questions that had thus far gone unanswered. How did they build this X-2 in just a few days? Why did it look identical to the X-1 but with the '1' clumsily scribbled out and the number '2' written next to it in chalk? Why did this supposedly brand-new plane appear to be used? Why did it cost so much more than the X-1?

For now, these questions would all remain unanswered. All eyes were on the airstrip as the X-2 prepared for takeoff.

The mission began flawlessly as the plane rocketed upwards for this high-altitude test. Incredibly, and not at all by design, Dumphrey took the X-2 right up through the upper atmosphere and off into space. The atmospheric engine unsurprisingly failed in the vacuum of space and the plane hurtled back down a few minutes later with an unconscious Dumphrey unable to arrest the descent. The flight ended in tragedy, and the accountants breathed a sigh of relief in the knowledge that the smoking wreckage meant they would no longer have any explaining to do.

 

X-2: High-altitude test flight

Mission: FAILURE! (18 = Engine Failure (Space))

Aircraft: X-1² Plane

3/18/61

[Kerbalsaurus]

X-4: Re-attempt at the atmospheric test flight

Mission: SUCCESS!

Aircraft: X-3 Plane

5/7/61

After the failure of the X-“2”, public interest started to dwindle for the CSP. There was even talk of straight up ending it and letting the U.S. take over. However, the CSP just barely convinced everyone that they can continue to operate. After almost 2 months of work, they build a new plane for the X series. It will just fly into the upper atmosphere, as space oriented engines are still under design. As the aircraft lifts off the runway, the control tower crosses their fingers. A failure of this mission could mean the end of the program. Miraculously, it lives! As Warren Barber lands the spacecraft after a successful mission, funding comes back into the CSP. Our financial future is saved!

 

Happy holidays!

Edited December 24, 2022 by Kerbalsaurus

[Rutabaga22]

XR-1: Launch a small solid rocket to the upper atmosphere.

Mission: SUCCESS!

6/5/61

As public interest continues to slow CSP needs a way to bring it back up. How will they do this? They begin building rockets and broadcast the launches on television! They will also be sending up a small scientific payload for the R&D Branch of CSP. At 3:00 PM Pacific Standard Time a small rocketry team sat in the control tower and began to shout as the rocket began transmitting telemetry data, "5..! 4...! 3...! 2...! 1...! Liftoff!" The rocket's solid rocket booster roared and crackled as the slivery craft shot off the pad. Small tapes flicked up, showing the altitude of the craft. 10 kilometers, 30 kilometers, 60 kilometers!  The tape suddenly stopped, telemetry data stopped coming in. A silence fell over the crew in the tower. Then, as abruptly as it stopped, the data rolled in. The tape shot up, 82 kilometers, 90 kilometers, 100 kilometers! Mission control lit up with glee, a shout rolling over them. They had sent something to space. The tape slowed, 110... 112... 113... 100... 80... 40... 20... 10... 5... Parachute deployed! A naval ship off the coast of California caught the transmissions from it off the coast. Recovery was successful and thousands across the world saw the success of CSP. A significant amount of funding was dropped into CSP due to them carrying an important US payload. 



 

[tajwo]

We're in space? That early?? Ok...

XR-2: Just to prove that it wasn't a fluke, the CSP attempts to send another rocket to suborbital trajectory.

Mission : FAILURE !

7/16/61 (Month/Day/Year, right?)

The rocket lifts off the pad with no issues. Mostly.... It reaches altitudes 1km, 5km, 10km, 15km. Everything was going just as planned. ...for a whole 51 seconds. The rocket's connection begins to weaken somewhere around the beginning of the upper atmosphere before it is completely cut off from the Space Center. Due to the complete loss of communication with the spacecraft, no significant scientific data could be received. The rocket fails to complete most of the mission's objectives. It still reaches space. An investigation begins, and the CSP suspects that the cause of their abrupt loss of contact with XR-2 was 'a single engineer forgetting to recharge the batteries it used.' Search teams are still looking for XR-2s carcass as of 1 week after its launch.

[Deddly]

X-5: attempt at hypersonic flight in the upper atmosphere. 

Mission: FAILURE 

Aircraft: X-3 Plane

61-05-26

 

Just after takeoff, the plane abruptly veered to starboard and entered a death spin, ripping the fragile fuselage apart and crashing town to Earth in a shower of debris and flames. An examination of the wreckage shows that a mouse had chewed through some important linkages and that there was nothing Warren Barber could have done to save himself or the plane - he had lost all control over the craft. 

Public support for the X programme is at an all-time low, and protestors have started arriving at the gate. 

 

Edited December 25, 2022 by Deddly
Date format because I'm allowed to

[Abel Military Services]

X-10-fly to karman line

Aircraft: X-10

Mission: success

1/10/61

After a few months, the R&D make the new plane X-10. It has the best rocket engine, carefully designed wings, and the best Pilot. 

On the morning of October 1st, a bomber carried the plane to the destinated altitude. Then, the plane drop off and it's engine started. The plane ascend quickly. 10, 000m, 20, 000m, 50, 000m, 100, 000m! It has broke the karmen line! What a great achievement! 

Now, the X program is on the headlines. It gets enough funds, and then the next mission is to the suborbit. 

Edited December 25, 2022 by Abel Military Services

[Kerbalsaurus]

4 hours ago, tajwo said:

7/16/61 (Month/Day/Year, right?)

It really depends on where you’re from. I’m from the U.S. of A., and we format days like month/day/year, but I’m pretty sure that other English speaking countries like Great Britain probably do it Day/Month/Year.

[Abel Military Services]

1 hour ago, Kerbalsaurus said:

It really depends on where you’re from. I’m from the U.S. of A., and we format days like month/day/year, but I’m pretty sure that other English speaking countries like Great Britain probably do it Day/Month/Year.

Can I use Year/month/day? I'm a Chinese and I use that. 

[Kerbalsaurus]

Just now, Abel Military Services said:

Can I use Year/month/day? I'm a Chinese and I use that. 

Whatever’s used in your country.

[Rutabaga22]

XR-3: Test of liquid fueled sounding rockets to space and precise landing of a capsule.

Mission: Success!

10/12/61 (M/D/Y)

Pre Mission Status report: After the failure of XR-2 the lead rocket Scientist, Aleksandr Jones, decided to take a rocket engine from one of the X-planes and put it on a sounding rocket. This launch was announced farther in advance to excite the public and lead to more publicity for CSP.

On the afternoon of a chilly day in October the rocketry team sat in the tower once again. They had prepared the rocket, but they now had a rocket engine on top instead of a second solid motor. The countdown began as avionics data was transmitted to the tower. As the countdown finished the rocket flew off the pad, a sonic boom shaking the tower as it punched through the sound barrier. At T +10 minutes the altitude tape shot past 100 kilometers. Data streamed back from the new instruments, old instruments transmitted more detailed info, and a small film camera shot a picture of earth from space. The rocket deployed its avionics and the camera, small compressed gas thrusters pushed the image capsule along through the atmosphere and landed it in the middle of the Pacific ocean. Naval vessels were in the area as it splashed down and rushed to recover it.

Post mission Status Report: Precise landing and rapid recovery has been proved by XR-3, this could allow for future manned rocketry. Putting those compressed gas thrusters on a conical cockpit and then using it on a rocket could allow for high altitude manned spaceflight in the future.

[Kerbalsaurus]

XR-4: 100,000km Downrange

Mission: SUCCESS!

11/22/61

With the success of the XR-3, returning the first thing from space and the first film from space, the CSP will do a similar mission. But this time, they will aim for distance rather than  height. The goal is to land it somewhere in the pacific ocean (we'd launch it into India, but that would also cause a large amount of political issues). We will be using a modified X-Plane engine, as that will carry us the correct distance. The countdown starts, and everyone's on their toes. A failure during the mission would be terrible for the program, especially after the loss of 2 astronauts. Liftoff! The mission goes off without a hitch! The altimeter rises, kilometer by kilometer, until it breaks the karman line. a picture's snapped, experiments are done, and as this is done, it gets ever closer to it's goal. After it splashes in the ocean, naval vessels pick it up. To make more money, we will be selling the return capsule to scientists. all this time though, the CSP begins thinking more about a manned launch to space. While it's predicted to happen in the next few years, the idea is: a man. In a pod. In space. The idea's so crazy it might actually work.

[Deddly]

Refight of the X-10. Re-attempt at hypersonic high-altitude level flight.

Mission: SUCCESS!

Aircraft: X-10 Plane

62-03-04 (YY-MM-DD)

After a long, cold and stormy winter, the first attempt of the new year was in the early spring. Dropped once again from a repurposed old bomber, the previously-flown X-10 quickly got up to speed in the upper atmosphere, exceeding a staggering Mach 6 before making a long, slow turn to bring it around for a perfect landing. The data gained from this flight will help in designing future re-entry vehicles that are capable of handling  the unusual aerodynamic properties at such high speeds and altitudes.

[Scarecrow71]

SAT-ORB-1

Mission:  FAILURE

1962-03-17

Having succeeded with multiple high altitude crewed flights, as well as a few attemptattempting sub-orbital, the CSP greenlights the first launch to put a satellite into orbit.  The CSP decides upon an uncrewed capsule, primarily due to budget concerns with sending a crew up, leaving them there, and then bringing them home.

The capsule used was a mocked version of the X-10, retrofitted with communications equipment to allow for commands to be sent for rocket firing and orbit corrections.  Unfortunately, the communications equipment wasn't installed properly, and the wiring got fried during launch.  The planned maneuver to get i to orbit fired early and on the wrong trajectory, sending the probe into the ground.  The explosion was spectacular, and nothing was recoverable.

[Deddly]

Snack Supplies-1

Mission: SUCCESS!

Craft: Hot-dog stand

1962-03-19

 

Having lost all funding due to multiple recent failures in its space programme, the CSP begins selling fast food to passersby. The side business is lucrative enough to just about keep the space programme running, but they will have to take it much more slowly and avoid overly-ambitious tasks like orbital satellites for the time being.

[Kerbalsaurus]

Snack Supplies 2: On the Grind

Craft: Hot Dog Cart

Mission: FAILURE!

3/22/62

As our vender was passing our hot dogs, he lost control of the stand. As he chased it down the street, a car driving by was not paying attention and hit the hot dog cart. We just got a new license, too. Oh well, we made enough money that we can try to launch another satellite.

[Rutabaga22]

Ad Astra-1: Launch a  satellite to orbit.

Mission: Success! (Testing out my new D20)

4/10/62 (M/D/Y)

Pre Mission Status report: With the success of the XR program, the rocketry team has decided on an orbital flight. Their first orbital rocket will be made of a stretched X-10 tank with a cluster of their X-4 SRBs inside a fairing designed to disintegrate during the heating while it left the atmosphere. This spacecraft will bring in a new wave of world funding and lead to public interest skyrocketing.

The flight crew sat staring out at the rocket from their newly constructed Mission Command Center situated on the coast of Hawaii. They had slightly better computers than they had in the tower and large desks. Michel Blanc, the leader of the comms team, sat at his large desk and sent the command. Red letters suddenly flashed on screen, they read: "Control avionics activated, beginning countdown." 5 minutes later the rocket rumbled off of the pad, a sooty plume following behind it. Their fairing burnt out, a bright blue flash filled the night sky, a signal that the fairing had burned out. A string of data came back, it told Michel that the rocket had reached near it's apoapsis. Another string, the cluster fired, he shouted, "Boosters firing! Watch the altitude, flight!" A hush fell over the control room. 1 minute, altitude still going up, 7 minutes, going up, 15 minutes, going down. At 30 minutes a hoot came from the flight controllers, one yelled out, "She's going back up, we've really done it." After that was a blur, some people cried, some shouted, in one corner of the room someone popped open a bottle of champagne and hit the lead scientist in the head.  
 
Post mission Status Report: The mission was broadcast to millions across the earth, this wasn't just a victory for CSP, it was a victory for all mankind. Reports came in that the Ad Astra was still in orbit and was still transmitting it's universal message, this message was a small beep every 5 seconds. The rocket that launched Ad Astra has been named "Satyr" and there are plans to continue using it in the future. The idea of a crewed rocket has become a common topic throughout the world. The world has been changed in an infinite number of ways after this launch.

[Abel Military Services]

Icarus Satellite- Orbital Sun Observatory

62/9/15(Y/M/D)

Mission Status: Terribly Failed

After the success of the Ad Astra satellite, the government asks us to launch a satellite that can observe the sun. Of course, we don't have that technique, so we just strap a toy telescope on a satellite and puts it on top of a rocket. Some people say that the rocket seems just like an ICBM, but nobody cares. 

After launch, the rocket soars into the sky quickly. But, the Russians found it, thinking that it's an ICBM, and then shoots it down. 

[tajwo]

After the failure of the launch of the Icarus satellite which somehow didn't lead to nuclear war, the CSP planned to launch a second orbital satellite for scientific data gathering. After their final launch for 1962, they plan to begin a crewed suborbital program. There is no official name yet, although there is rumor going around the public that it will be named after one of Saturn or Jupiter's moons. The source or validity of these rumors is yet to be determined, with the CSP making no statement about it.

I seem to be somewhat creatively bankrupt at this time of day

 

Mission: Icarus-2, success!

Year 1962, Month 12, Day 9. (62/12/9)

Spacecraft: Icarus scientific satellite, on top of Satyr II rocket

The launch goes as usual. The rocket manages to enter a suborbital trajectory, and after that successfully completes its orbit burn. It is in a 215km orbit. It runs all of the experiments available to it. The CSP monitors the data it transmits for the rest of the satellite's lifetime. The satellite will operate for about 3 years and 10 months until the batteries inside kick the bucket. It will continue to stay in its orbit for some time after that, before it burns up in Earth's atmosphere. More money is thrown at the CSP. A deadline for the first crewed suborbital rocket launch attempt is set at early 1964. Failing that, another deadline will be set at mid 1965.

 

 

[Kerbalsaurus]

SAT-ORB 2: Biologicals and Whatnot

Mission: SUCCESS

Spacecraft: Satyr Rocket, Babylon Orbital Return Module

2/16/63

With the success of the Icarus satellite, and the goal of putting a man in space, the CSP has to step up their game. Now, we want to put a person in space, but the issue is, we don’t know if people can survive in space, let alone get back. So this mission will send up a dog, named “Kitty” (don’t ask). As the sun rises over the crystal clear Hawaiian coast, the Satyr fires its engines, and flies high into the air. First stage cutoff. Second stage cutoff. Orbit achieved! Kitty’s vital signs rose during launch, and continue to be a bit odd as they float about zero-g. Apparently, fluids, with no gravity, kinda just fly about, making a living thing dizzy. Now, can a creature survive re-entry? Yes! They can! Th heat shield preformed flawlessly, and our little space dog returns back to Earth unharmed. Well, disoriented, but still unharmed.

[tajwo]

SAT-ORB 3: Funky Monkey Friday!! Send a chimpanzee to orbit, in a prototype crew capsule for the future crewed flights to be expected in the years 1964 and 1965. Other tech will also be tested for the upcoming crewed rocket program, such as retro-thrusters and abort systems.

Mission: Success!

Spacecraft: CREM/Mimas (Crewed Re-Entry Module, codename Mimas) on top of the Satyr-B rocket.

Year 1963, Month 3, Day 29.

 

The Satyr-B rocket lifts off the launch pad with no issues. MECO, SECO... everything looking good. The Satyr-B reaches a suborbital trajectory, and completes the orbit circularization burn flawlessly. The chimp named "Kitty No. II" spends about 6 hours in orbit, before the de-orbit procedure begins. Retro-thruster 1 fires. Then 2... 3... and 4. The retro-thrusters detach from the CREM. The de-orbit procedure is complete. The chimp splashes down in the water safely. The rescue team finds the chimp as they left it, in mostly good condition aside from Kitty No. II being tired, scared, hungry and dehydrated. With the success of this mission and the last mission, the CSP begins to consider skipping crewed suborbital flights entirely.

[Deddly]

Recruitment drive

Mission: SUCCESS!

Aircraft: NaN

Year 1963, Month 3, Day 30 and onwards

 

Efforts are now under way to locate and recruit the suitable candidates for future missions to space. Highly motivated and skilled men and women from all walks of life apply for the limited number of positions. Competition will be tough, and only the most appropriate candidates will be selected. Final selection will take place much later, but for now, testing and training begins immediately.

[Abel Military Services]

Project Zeus - orbital laser weapon for non-nuclear attacks and defending. 

Mission: Success 

Rocket: Satyr II

63/4/1

Of course, everybody thinks that it's a prank. But It's not. It's a military satellite that carried a pretty nice laser weapon. It can destroy any place on earth with an order from the CSC. It can also used as a defensing weapon. 

On the morning of the April fool, the new Satyr ii rocket soars into the sky, along with the Zeus satellite. Now, nobody is afraid of enemy attacks. 

Edited December 27, 2022 by Abel Military Services