The Sky is Not the Limit - UPDATE: NEW THREAD OUT!

[TwoCalories]

2 minutes ago, Kimera Industries said:

I'll work something out. Simple probe from the startup company Kimera Industries, putting them on the path to greater success and recognition. 

The requirements say it must be capable of insertion into Mun/Minmus orbit, does that mean you'll put it on a flyby and it gets into orbit itself? Or that it must do the burn for a flyby all the way from LKO?

Ideally, I'll put it on a flyby and the probe can enter Mun/Minmus orbit by it's own engine power. But that's kind of been changed since @Kerbalsaurus's entry doesn't have much in the way of propulsion, but it is easy enough to put in Mun orbit by the J-3B (Jovian-5 upper stage). So if it's small enough, it doesn't need a circularization stage, but some form of propulsion would be ideal.

Edited November 22, 2023 by TwoCalories
Woot! Page 5!

[Kimera Industries]

Just now, TwoCalories said:

Ideally, I'll put it on a flyby and the probe can enter Mun/Minmus orbit by it's own engine power. But that's kind of been changed since @Kerbalsaurus's entry doesn't have much in the way of propulsion, but it is easy enough to put in Mun orbit by the J-3B (Jovian-5 upper stage). So if it's small enough, it doesn't need a circularization stage, but some form of propulsion would be ideal.

It's probably gonna be a compact little lander (gonna see how far I can stretch the Dv), so I can design it to circularize on its own with its propulsion. I know @Kerbalsaurus's entry is destined for The Mun, but mine can head to Minmus I hope? How does a super tiny sample-return mission sound? Basically just do some science and then return it with a micro rocket containing a heat shield/ parachute.

[TwoCalories]

20 minutes ago, Kimera Industries said:

How does a super tiny sample-return mission sound? Basically just do some science and then return it with a micro rocket containing a heat shield/ parachute.

Whatever you wanna do, as long as it fits the requirements.

[Kimera Industries]

2 hours ago, TwoCalories said:

Whatever you wanna do, as long as it fits the requirements.

Awesome. Time for some shenanigans...

[TwoCalories]

Interlude 1-3 are redone. Interlude had a particularly big change to it...

It took almost three hours of work, so I hope it was worth it. Actually, for me it will be worth it, because the redone vessels are operational now (not just dummy rockets) and can be used for any future international spaceflight shenanigans.

A new chapter will come soon!

-TwoCal

Edited November 23, 2023 by TwoCalories

[Kimera Industries]

On 11/22/2023 at 6:42 PM, TwoCalories said:

It took almost three hours of work, so I hope it was worth it.

Great work! It was worth it. Quality over quantity. 

My rideshare payload is coming along well. The BlueJay 1 sample-return Minmus lander, I'm sure it could work for The Mun, but I won't test that just yet because I am a little stressed about the return capsule's heating problems. The smallest probe core on your tech tree is just a little too wide for the .6m heat shield. I just realized the return capsule doesn't even need a probe core since as long as you are piloting it you can recover it. I'll figure something out, don't worry. Also, the weight limit is 12 tons! The only thing I can think of that fits in that space and weighs that much without part clipping is full ore tanks, but that makes sense because when I test payloads I use ore tanks and often end up way overdoing it, resulting in a very overpowered rocket. 

Here's a rough timeline of BlueJay's development:

Early today: Build it

Later today: Refine it

Tomorrow: Upload it

And after that? Feel free to use this ship as much as you want! It's a simple way to get some science points and our new private space company, Kimera Industries, needs all the publicity it can get.

Edited November 25, 2023 by Kimera Industries

[Kimera Industries]

Spoiler

Don't judge I made this at 11 am on Paint 3D

Kimera Industries proudly presents...

The BlueJay 1 Sample-Return Kerbin Moon lander!

(Artist's rendering)

Now, you can get a steady supply of fresh Mun rocks or mint ice cream! This all-purpose vessel (disclaimer: vessel should not be used for anything other than its intended purpose) can be used to pick up a few quick science points, anytime! Now, with patented Surviv-o-Matic^TM technology, you can actually get these samples back to Kerbin!

(Artist's rendering)

And not only that, but they can impact the ground at potentially non-lethal speeds!

(Artist's rendering)

The BlueJay 1: Bringing you joy and science since today.^TM

KerbalX:

Spoiler

https://kerbalx.com/Kimera_Industries/BlueJay-1

[TwoCalories]

2 hours ago, Kimera Industries said:

Don't judge I made this at 11 am on Paint 3D

If you aren't happy with it, you can always change it. Just send me a DM or something. But I think it looks good!

***

We at KASA are excited for the possibilities that this craft holds. Even if Kimera Industries is not selected for this flight, we hope that we can build some long-term partnerships with you and other private companies.

***

In other news, KASA is beginning to design the Kerbin space station. We have a general design in mind, and we just have to figure out how to make it fit our technology restraints.

[Kimera Industries]

1 minute ago, TwoCalories said:

If you aren't happy with it, you can always change it. Just send me a DM or something. But I think it looks good!

Thanks! I like it too, and it'll work for me for a while. It's about the best I can do with the resources I have, so I'm content.

[TwoCalories]

15 hours ago, Kimera Industries said:

Also, the weight limit is 12 tons!

I just noticed that. Yeah, the weight limit may not be that accurate because the Engineer Report was giving me really weird readouts. I probably should have used the KER readout instead, but all the designs seem to be pretty light so far anyway.

[TwoCalories]

I almost forgot what day it was! Happy thanksgiving to all of you (who celebrate it)!

I would've done a special chapter if I'd planned it better, but all my Kerbonauts are out somewhere eating turkey. Oh well.

[Kimera Industries]

38 minutes ago, TwoCalories said:

I would've done a special chapter if I'd planned it better, but all my Kerbonauts are out somewhere eating turkey. Oh well.

Imagine that! My Kosmonauts are making history! 

Spoiler

Well, it takes place in late May- early June. Besides, Thanksgiving is an American holiday.

Also, that was a joke. No harm was intended, and it is meant to be a silly, funny statement. Do not take it seriously.

[TwoCalories]

@adsii1970, sorry to have to tag you again in this thread, but the TOTM prefix seems to have disappeared again. I didn't edit any of the tags, and I'm not sure what is going on.

[TwoCalories]

The new Jovian-5C has finished construction and is undergoing final tests and fittings before being rolled out to LC-39A. Can anyone guess what the payload is?

A new chapter is coming... soon...

***

EDIT: Also, the due date for the rideshare payload is now firmly placed at tomorrow! This is the last, and I repeat, last chance to submit a payload, and for real this time!

Edited November 24, 2023 by TwoCalories

[Kimera Industries]

7 hours ago, TwoCalories said:

Can anyone guess what the payload is?

Well, if there is a payload in the rocket, we can see from the shadow of the launch tower on the fairing that the shadow below should show the top of the rocket. However, the shape doesn't quite match up with the fairing, so if the shadow FX for the fairings is broken (which is likely) I'd say based on the shape that it's MOSS. Could be completely wrong about this, just a guess. 

[TwoCalories]

21 hours ago, TwoCalories said:

the due date for the rideshare payload is now firmly placed at tomorrow!

Unfortunately, tomorrow has arrived. The rideshare payload submissions are now closed. @Royalswissarmyknife, I'm really sorry that I had to end the event before you could finish your submission, but there will be more craft submission opportunities in the future. I learned a lot from this rideshare event, and I'll apply these lessons to the future submission events to make it go a bit more smoothly than this one.

I'll select the winner of the rideshare event via chance, and I'll make sure it's fair for the two contenders. The selected craft will be revealed in the next chapter.

[Kimera Industries]

35 minutes ago, TwoCalories said:

There will be more craft submission opportunities in the future. 

Will it eventually reach the point where vehicles are being submitted? Probably a long way away even if so.

[TwoCalories]

4 hours ago, Kimera Industries said:

Will it eventually reach the point where vehicles are being submitted? Probably a long way away even if so.

Definitely, but it'll probably be a while until then since I'm trying to do a more "realistic" progression.

[Kimera Industries]

52 minutes ago, TwoCalories said:

Definitely, but it'll probably be a while until then since I'm trying to do a more "realistic" progression.

Makes perfect sense, that's why I figured it would take a while.

Hey, I've had this idea to make a mission report following Kimera Industries like this thread follows KASA. Could they exist in the same story? That way I could fly my ships how I want and focus on the private company without it getting in the way of this thread, but the co-ops between the two would still influence both. It's totally fine if you don't want to, it's just a wild idea.

Edited November 26, 2023 by Kimera Industries

[Kerbalsaurus]

On 11/24/2023 at 3:11 PM, TwoCalories said:

The new Jovian-5C has finished construction and is undergoing final tests and fittings before being rolled out to LC-39A. Can anyone guess what the payload is?

A new chapter is coming... soon...

My guess is... a space station?

[TwoCalories]

43 minutes ago, Kimera Industries said:

Hey, I've had this idea to make a mission report following Kimera Industries like this thread follows KASA. Could they exist in the same story? That way I could fly my ships how I want and focus on the private company without it getting in the way of this thread, but the co-ops between the two would still influence both. It's totally fine if you don't want to, it's just a wild idea.

That's a good idea, but I feel like if we make them the same timeline, it may lead to conflicting timelines/timeline issues, and it'll be a bit of a hassle for both of us.

[Kimera Industries]

2 minutes ago, TwoCalories said:

That's a good idea, but I feel like if we make them the same timeline, it may lead to conflicting timelines/timeline issues, and it'll be a bit of a hassle for both of us.

That's totally fair. It'll be in its own world, then.

[TwoCalories]

This Week at KASA: Rideshare Payload Announcement!

Spoiler

Over a year ago (Kerbal time), KASA called all private space programs for their best satellites and landers to fly aboard a Trinity mission. Three programs answered the call, but unfortunately, due to the short development window, only two finished their vessels on time. Those two companies were small startup companies Raptor Aerospace with their compact satellite, MOSS...

On 11/4/2023 at 6:07 PM, Kerbalsaurus said:

...and Kimera Industries, with their bold sample return lander, the BlueJay.

On 11/23/2023 at 7:08 AM, Kimera Industries said:

However, only one could be chosen to fly aboard Trinity-7. And with the throw of a dice, it was decided that the company chosen would be...

Spoiler

...drumroll, please...

Spoiler

...Raptor Aerospace! Congratulations to them, as well as the owner of the company, @Kerbalsaurus Kerman, as the MOSS will be flying on Trinity-7, which is the next flight!

Also, to Kimera Industries and the unnamed company that couldn't make the deadline, do not worry, for there will be more opportunities for your ship to fly onboard a KASA vessel, even beyond the Trinity program. Maybe one day, we will see private vessels launch from the KSC. But that's in the future. For now, let's give a round of applause to all of our private agencies. Even if you weren't selected, the ambitious vessel designs shown by all of you have shown KASA some great initiative.

 

Edited March 4 by TwoCalories

[Kerbalsaurus]

27 minutes ago, TwoCalories said:

This Week at KASA: Rideshare Payload Announcement!

  Reveal hidden contents

Over a year ago (Kerbal time), KASA called all private space programs for their best satellites and landers to fly aboard a Trinity mission. Three programs answered the call, but unfortunately, due to the short development window, only two finished their vessels on time. Those two companies were small startup companies Raptor Aerospace with their compact satellite, MOSS...

...and Kimera Industries, with their bold sample return lander, the BlueJay.

However, only one could be chosen to fly aboard Trinity-7. And with the throw of a dice, it was decided that the company chosen would be...

  Reveal hidden contents

...drumroll, please...

  Reveal hidden contents

...Raptor Aerospace! Congratulations to them, as well as the owner of the company, @Kerbalsaurus Kerman, as the MOSS will be flying on Trinity-7, which is the next flight!

Also, to Kimera Industries and the unnamed company that couldn't make the deadline, do not worry, for there will be more opportunities for your ship to fly onboard a KASA vessel, even beyond the Trinity program. Maybe one day, we will see private vessels launch from the KSC. But that's in the future. For now, let's give a round of applause to all of our private agencies. Even if you weren't selected, the ambitious vessel designs shown by all of you have shown KASA some great initiative.

 

We at Raptor Aerospace are ecstatic to have been chosen! While the MOSS is basic, it’s both cheap, reliable, and designed with frequency in mind. We hope to work closely with KASA on more projects in the future!

[TwoCalories]

Chapter Eighteen: A Home in Orbit

Spoiler

Now that the space race is over and the Mun and Minmus programs are cancelled, it's about time we focused on our home. There was also a load of Trinity technology just kind of kicking around, since we were going to go for at least six more missions before the unexpected cancellation. And even though the government confiscated at least half of our remaining inventory of Trinity rockets for some reason, we still have plenty.

We were basically set up for a station, too. We had developed all the necessary technology, and we even had some basic habitats made, since we flew a hab module on the last two Trinity flights.

So, with one of our last Jovian-5 boosters and lots of newly researched technology, we built Roadhouse Station!

In the background at LC-39A, Roadhouse waits on the launchpad. On LC-39B, Trinity-7, also known as Roadhouse-2, prepares for launch.

"Liftoff of Space Station Roadhouse, Kerbalkind's first home in orbit!"

The fairing pops off, and SS Roadhouse is revealed!

Meanwhile, at the KSC, Roadhouse-2 prepares for launch. The crew consists of CDR (Commander) Valentina Ride K., Engineer Irene Aver K., and Scientist Bob Collins K. After SS Roadhouse completes one whole orbit, Roadhouse-2 takes flight.

You know, I just realized that those maintenance buildings are kind of far off from the launchpad. They don't even connect to the base! Eh... Probably nothing. What could it be, anyway? Some buildings designed to cover up something the government doesn't want us to see, like an artifact of some sort? Pfft. That's ridiculous.

Topping off the circularization burn...

Roadhouse-2 is released! In the payload space of the J-3B, you can see a carrier rack containing four of Raptor Aerospace's MOSS satellites. These satellites will be destined for the Mun, and we hope to use them to strengthen our Deep Space Network and help keep in comms with the network of probes in Munar orbit.

The MOSS satellites will wait in LKO as control is handed over to Raptor Aerospace's MCC. A later update will cover the MOSS sats making their way to the Mun.

Roadhouse-2 conducts a short plane change as the J-3B + MOSS Carrier Rack fade into the distance.

Some time later, Roadhouse-2 is preparing to dock.

...and we're docked!

After pressurizing the docking adapter, the crew can settle in and unpack supplies and such. SS Roadhouse has more than double the amount of habitat space as the Trinity Hab/Lander assembly.

Engineer Irene Kerman conducts an inspection EVA.

Shortly after the first orbit, however, a problem revealed itself. The KSC engineers had underestimated just how much Electric Charge the station consumed as it went around its orbit. On the sunlit side of the planet, it was fine, as the large solar arrays provided plentiful power. On the dark side, however, the station ran out of EC before it was even halfway to sunlight! The crew evacuated to the Roadhouse-2 CSM and remained docked as Mission Control assessed the situation. It seemed that a power module would be needed. The engineers quickly began planning the construction of a new module stuffed with batteries. It would also contain extended life support, and maybe a docking node.

For now, though, the station is in a roughly okay shape, other than the electricity issues. The crew attempt to continue operations as normal and ration electrical power. We'll have to wait and see how long it takes for the battery module to be rolled out... in the meantime, the crew will spend a total of 100 days in space, starting now.

A sunrise on the crew's home for the next three months.

Author's Note:

Spoiler

Hello, all! This was actually a really nice mission to do, and it was pretty laid back. Hopefully, SS Roadhouse will be an outpost on orbit for until a larger, more advanced station is developed.

Also, @Kerbalsaurus gets a cookie for correctly guessing the payload of the Jovian-5C in the earlier post.

 

Edited March 4 by TwoCalories