Tiny, Green, and Big-Headed: Tex Kerman's Kerbal Space Program

[Tex]

"Tiny, Green, and Big-Headed"

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In the beginning, there was nothing but empty space. There was no time, there was no anything.

-flash!-

In an instant, the Universe expanded from an infinitesimally small point- a point no larger than an atom- into what we know as the cosmos today. Every little whirring molecule, every cloud of dust and gas, every space rock, every planet, every star, and every single galaxy, came from that infinitely small point.

Across the eons after that initial fantastic explosion, things began to change. The collections of subatomic particles condensed into more atomic ones, and those atoms fusing into still larger molecules and creating the natural elements, these elements condensing into packets of materials and dispersing across space and time. As these collections of materials grew in size, so to did their gravity. They began to attract one another, bumping into each other and fusing further, once again increasing their own gravity. When enough material collected into a single point, these collections of materials condensed into spherical shapes. When more and more material condensed into these little protoplanetessimal structures, the first stars in the universe were born.

And so the Universe would continue for billions upon billions of years: Eternally condensing and collecting into heavier and heavier structures, stars aligning themselves such as to create great collections of stellar arrangements we call galaxies, and each one of these stars allowing enough material to collect on their stellar disks of gas and rock that worlds formed, an endless variety of planets and moons, comets and asteroids, rings and gas giants.

It is on one of these worlds, a tiny little world orbiting a teensy-weensy little star, that our story begins.

The star known as Kerbol is by all accounts an impossible star. It is impossibly small, impossibly hot, impossibly dense (not having an abundance of it but rather having not enough!), and impossibly inhabited by seven little orbiting bodies, nearly too small for the imagination.

Moho, Eve, Kerbin, Duna, Dres, Jool, and Eeloo. The planetary compatriots to the impossible star.

However, one of these little tiny planets has something special about it. Unique. While a couple of the bodies in the little solar system harbor suitable qualities- Liquid water, habitable temperatures, a suitable atmospheric pressure- None has quite the same appeal as the third rock from Kerbol. The planet Kerbin, a blue planet and covered with nice, balmy land, is host to an impossibly tiny race of creatures known as Kerbals.

Kerbals: Green, tiny, big-headed. These three words, more than anything else, define what a Kerbal is. A Kerbal is green- They are quite conscious to themselves and to their home planet; they would never pick a fight with each other for any significant reason, and they treat their little world with respect and admiration, as all living creatures should. Kerbals are tiny- Their small stature is perfectly befitting of their place in the universe: Little tiny green creatures, running around on a teeny tiny little world orbiting a tiny little star. Make no mistake, however, because while Kerbals are indeed tiny, they make up for it in what they are capable of. Kerbals are quite big-headed: Not just physically (their head volume makes up roughly equal or greater than that of the rest of their body), but mentally as well. Kerbals are beings of grand dreams, of grand schemes and grand means. Kerbals are the creatures that represent the very definition of ambition, of an undying dream.

Kerbals are spacefaring creatures at heart. From the very moment Kerbals gained their awesome sight, they have been gazing up at the universe in wonderment and yearned to travel to those tiny pinpricks of light in the night sky. Kerbals promptly spent their entire history in efficient cooperation: working, calculating, plodding, snacking, thinking, and building. Finally, they are ready.

With their great buildings built, with their feet on the ground and eyes in the sky, they prepare to step forth into their great, fire-spewing machines they've created and fulfill their lifelong dreams.

The Kerbals are going to space.

 

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A letter from the Director's Office:

Spoiler

Fellow Taxpayers,

               My name is Tex Kerman, and I'm the newly appointed Director of the Kerbal Space Program in this parallel universe. Howdy! I wanted to write this letter extending a good, strong, firm handshake to the good people of Kerbin and beyond with a little introduction, a little bit of a dream, and a little bit of pleading for funding because space is so darn expensive.

               As I just said a second ago, for eagle-eyed people like me, my name is Tex Kerman, and I'm the director of the Kerbal Space Program. Now, this may come as a bit of a shock, because I know darn well that a few people have seen me before in this weird multiverse thingy we're living in, with thousands and thousands of versions of Kerbin and the Space Program floating around, being controlled by who knows how many different directors. I've been a pilot and Kosmonaut for a long long time now, about 6 or 7 or 8 years- my memory comes and goes.  I've racked up a lot of flight hours and a lot of time in the classrooms and R&D offices helping design rockets to ride and rodeo on. I've also done a lot of other stuff, but that's besides the main point I'm trying to make.

               This Space Program is in my blood- in all of our blood, I think. You reading this, and me writing this. We want to fly in space, whether or not we have the ability to do so one day. Again, me having done so tens or hundreds of times isn't the point. As Director of this new Kerbal Space Program, I intend to gather together the best minds, or at least the least-worst minds, to design rockets, build rockets, fly rockets, and then analyze rocket debris.  I intend to gather each and every little bit of Science I can gather, I intend to visit each world I can, and I intend to lose as few people in the process as possible. We have a killer team at the KSP, and a fantastic group of pilots. I am establishing a little blog here on these forums to detail the exploits of my space program while we do what we do best- fly in space.

               Thank you for joining me on this historic ride, it's gonna be a fun one.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             -Tex

Featured Image!

K1 "Moho" rocket lifting off at the Kerbal Space Center. Yes, this is the Kerbal Space Center.

 

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-Table of Contents-

Lore[link]

Projects
(=) - Failed Programs // (=) - Ongoing Programs // (=) - Discontinued Programs// (=) - Planned Programs

=Kerman Flight Research Program=
=Project Moho= [link]
=CommNet/Deep Space Network= [link]

Procedures/Flight Manuals[link]

Mission Chronology

Spoiler

KX-1 (Mission Report!)

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Newsflash! Articles[link]

 

 

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Crew Roster

Name	Role	Status	Spaceflights
Jebediah Kerman Valentina Kerman Bill Kerman Bob Kerman	Pilot Pilot Engineer Scientist	Active Active Active Active	0 0 0 0

 

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Statistics

Overall Program Success Rating: 50%
Total Missions: 1
Total Failed Missions: 0.5
Flags Planted: 0
Snack Supply Status: Accepting Donations
Days Since Last Launch: TOO LONG

 

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Mission Report Template

Spoiler

Mission Report XXX

Mission:
Mission Date:

Crew:

Initial Mission Cost:
Funds Recovered:
Net Mission Cost:
Recovery Distance:

Experiments Recovered:
Science Earned:

Total Mission Time:
Highest Altitude Achieved:
Highest Speed Achieved:
Total Distance Traveled:
Highest G:

Notes:

 

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Mission Proposal Template

Spoiler

 

 

Edited July 9, 2023 by Tex

[Tex]

=(Lore)=

Disclaimer!

Spoiler

The following post contains lots of info and text lifted from the official KSP Wiki. However, it is also mixed in with lots of personal, fun headcanon! Consider nothing on this page to be canon!

 

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Kerbal Space Center

Back to Top

The Kerbal Space Center (abbr. KSC), located on Kerbin, is the main area where all management of the Kerbal Space Program happens. It features thirteen buildings and structures on an approximately 25 km² plateau.

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Astronaut Complex

The Astronaut Complex houses many important facilities involved with the overall governing of the Agency. Within this building lies administrator offices, office sections for KSC employees, a visitor's center, a snack bar, and a multitude of classrooms to teach civilian and KSC personnel a wide range of subjects from engineering to geology. This building also houses a recreation room and the classroom portion of the Kerbal Flight Academy.

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Research & Development Facility

The Research and Development Facility is the largest structure in the Kerbal Space Center and consists of several buildings, though none are nearly as large as the Vehicle Assembly Building or the Spaceplane Hangar. Its complex architecture notably includes a two-story tall tunnel through a large building and an elevated hallway connecting two buildings about five-stories up. In the southwest corner is an observatory, presumably for an optical telescope. A separate building on the south side has massive ductwork for a wind tunnel. Nearby is a tank tower similar to that by the launch pad. Scattered around are numerous smaller buildings and quonset huts.

This facility is crucial to the Space Program in that it contains many departments that oversee the development of new space technologies as well as research and analyze samples and photographs obtained during observation periods and experiments.

RD-1

Contains the Dept. of Incoming Parts (takes in and judges part proposals for future use) and the Chemistry Labs (analyzes gasses and chemical samples received from the Geology Dept. (see RD-6))

RD-2

This major research center contains multiple departments, including the Electrics Department (researches electric technology, such as solar panels and RTGs), the Wheel Department (studies function and use of wheels), Cockpit Layout Committee (self explanatory), the Parachute Committee, and the Dept. of Redundancy Department (ensures and makes sure that rockets are reliable and have a good reliability percentage for crew safety).

RD-3

Houses the Secretarial Society (responsible for PR, HR, and all phone calls and e-mails) and the KSC Medical Center (performs regular checkups on all KSC personnel and declares kerbonauts fit or unfit for missions). In the basement lies the Centrifuge and other training facilities, including a full gym and rooms for practicing flag deployment and RCS Jetpack operation)

RD-4

The hub for the entire R&D complex. Contains administration offices, the communication room (which helps coordinate recovery efforts), and 11^1/2 presentation rooms for technology and procedure demonstrations, as well as a stage for Karaoke Night.

RD-5

This entire building is dedicated to the Propulsion and Controlled Explosion Department, and includes blast-proof walls and a state-of-the-art Wind Tunnel/Engine Testing Vent. This is where not only rocket fuels are designed and tested, but also researches the application of monopropellants and Xenon propulsion.

RD-6

RD-6 houses the Geology Department (Studies geological samples from missions and determines their makeup) and the Snack Research Board (develops recipes for delicious and nutritious snacks for astronauts and KSC employees).

RD-7

Easily recognizable for its sizable observational telescope, this building houses the Astronomical Department, which observes celestial bodies and studies their makeup, as well as oversees the functions of any space-based telescopes and cameras.

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Vehicle Assembly Building

The Vehicle Assembly Building, commonly called the VAB (sometimes wrongly "Vertical Assembly Building"), is one of the two craft construction facilities at Kerbal Space Center. It is quite obviously inspired by NASA's real world Vehicle Assembly Building.

It is the KSC's tallest and single largest building, and situated at the heart of the complex. Like its counterpart the Spaceplane Hangar (SPH), the Vehicle Assembly Building is for craft construction. The parts list is the same in both facilities. The Vehicle Assembly Building is structured around an approximately 100 m tall assembly bay tower (108 m including helipad) located at the center of KSC. A wing extends south from the assembly bay tower, itself taller than most buildings at KSC and structured in three tiers. A smaller, lower wing extends a short distance on the north side. On the roof, there are 2 helipads between the skylights. The helipads provide a suitable landing target for VTOL vehicles. On the east face of the assembly bay tower is an 8-leaf vertical lift door[1] approximately 93 m tall. Closed at all other times, during craft assembly the east door is visibly open (giving 50 m clearance) as though ready for the craft to be rolled out. Additionally, on the north, west, and south faces of the VAB are large, yellow, swinging doors which appear to be auxiliary entrances.

Kerbal scientists and workers roam the floor while a gauntlet of ground crew remain stationed at the main east door. Utility vehicles drive in and out and onto cargo lifts set in the north and south interior framework of the VAB. None of this activity interacts with the build process, though scientists appear to examine the craft and workers hammer, drill, tighten, and wrench thin air.

Just to the northwest of the VAB is the retirement monument to the old Mk1 Pod used in the earliest versions of KSP.

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Spaceplane Hangar

The Spaceplane Hangar (sometimes called the “Space Plane Hangar”), abbreviated SPH, is one of the two craft construction facilities at the Kerbal Space Center (KSC).

It is the longest and widest building at the KSC, and second largest overall. It lies at the northern side of the complex. Like its counterpart the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), the Spaceplane Hangar is for craft construction. The parts list is the same in both facilities. The Spaceplane Hangar is oriented diagonally, with the main door facing northeast. It features an air traffic control tower which overlooks the Runway. It makes a challenging target for VTOL landings. There are long, emplaced tanks for fuel and a water tower to the northwest, closer to the Runway, and a large spherical coolant tank to the southwest.

Overall, the building is about 5 to 6 stories tall and features a vaulted translucent skylight roof spanning the interior workspace. The northeast and southwest sides also let light in.

Edited June 8, 2023 by Tex

[Tex]

=(Project Moho)=

Mission Statement:
Project Moho will place Kerbalkind into space for the first time and teach the Kerbal Space Program the fundamentals of rocket flight.

 

 

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Project Goals

Project Moho is not just about taking the first steps into space. This project is about learning how to reach space efficiently and safely. It is said that before you can run, you must learn to walk. And before you learn to walk, you learn to launch multi-ton vehicles into sub-orbital and orbital trajectories. The absolute bare fundamentals of spaceflight are known: Place an object into an orbit. To do this, the payload or spacecraft must be accelerated to Orbital Velocity. However, what is not known is the best methods to do this. Project Moho has three goals:

1.  Prove that spaceflight is possible. Accomplished by successfully reaching orbit and returning to the surface of Kerbin safely.
2. Perform precision re-entries and landings. Accomplished by determining procedures for the timing of retrofire burns.
3.  Perfect orbital insertion. Accomplished by studying the flight characteristics of rocket vehicles, and testing principles for the mechanics of launching spacecraft to determine the proper trajectory to launch and reach orbit.

 

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Mission Proposals

KX-1 (Mission Report!)

Spoiler

Mission: KX-1
Date of Proposal: 09-07-2023
Proposed Mission Date: 09-07-2023 

Mission Objective: Test the K1 orbital spacecraft, as well as the characteristics of its B1 launch vehicle/rocket. KX-1 will hopefully reach orbit.

Flight Plan: 

---

1. Ensure Vehicle Checkout Procedures and Pre-Launch Procedures are completed.
2. Launch K1 orbital spacecraft atop B1 booster rocket.
3. Evaluate performance of the B1 in flight.
4. Upon reaching final orbital trajectory, evaluate remaining propellant/delta-v.
5. Perform tests of Reaction Control System in changing spacecraft orbit/attitude.
6. Perform re-entry and evaluate re-entry conditions and trajectory.

KX-2

Spoiler

Mission: KX-2
Date of Proposal: 09-07-2023
Proposed Mission Date: 09-07-2023 

Mission Objective: Fix problems associated with the K1-B1 rocket, and complete a full and successful orbital test.

Flight Plan: 

---

1. Fix crossfeed issues with K1-B1 by adding separators.
2. Ensure Vehicle Checkout Procedures and Pre-Launch Procedures are completed.
3. Launch K1-B1 rocket
4. Evaluate performance of the K1-B1 in flight.
5. Upon reaching final orbital trajectory, evaluate remaining propellant/delta-v.
6. Perform tests of Reaction Control System in changing spacecraft orbit/attitude.
7. Perform re-entry and evaluate re-entry conditions and trajectory.

 

 

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Project Statistics
Highest Altitude Achieved: 271,481m
Highest Speed Achieved: 1,967 m/s
Total Distance Traveled (Total): 57,253,237m
Experiments Recovered: 0
Science Earned: 0
Initial Total Project Cost: √12,232
Total Funds Recovered: 0
Net Project Cost: √12,232
Average Recovery Distance: N/A

 

---

 

Edited July 9, 2023 by Tex

[Tex]

=(Procedures and Flight Manuals)=

Vehicle Checkout Procedures
The Vehicle Checkout Procedures (VCPs) are used and followed when loading a craft in the VAB and before you hit the green Launch button. The VCPs are meant to ensure that, most importantly, the proper crew members are stowed seated in the spacecraft, there are no staging conflicts, and that all critical mission or recovery hardware is configured properly.

1. Verify the correct spacecraft has been selected.
2. Verify the correct loading of all propellants, especially RCS propellant.
3. Verify that parachutes/recovery hardware are configured properly, if applicable.
4. Verify all action groups are configured properly.
5. Determine the delta-v requirements of the mission, and select and attach the correct launch vehicle/booster rocket.
6. Configure attachment of booster to spacecraft (make sure the shrouding over engines isn't weird, and also adjust the height of the entire vehicle assembly so as to not impinge on the ground).
7. Verify correct placement of all TT18-A Launch Stability Enhancers.
8. Verify all booster control surfaces and engines are configured properly.
9. Verify all stages will perform as desired (checking TWR and delta-v of all engine stages).
10. Run through staging from bottom to top, and correct any conflicts.
11. Verify the proper crew members are seated within the vehicle. If mission is uncrewed, remove Jebediah Kerman from any seats.
12. Record Initial Mission Cost for mission report.
13. Select launchpad and proceed to launch (hit the green button).

Final Countdown Launch Procedures
The Final Countdown Launch Procedures (FCLPs) are used/followed when the final vehicle assembly for a given mission is sitting on the launchpad. This is the last chance to catch any mistakes or problems before launch commit, and therefore very important.

1. Verify that spacecraft control is oriented properly (with North facing left on the NavBall. Personal preference.)
2. Engage SAS.
3. Verify proper propellant loading and battery charge of all stages.
4. Run through staging from bottom to top, and correct any conflicts.
5. Perform full-range test of all control surfaces through pitch, roll, and yaw axes. 
6. Set throttle to launch power.
7. Launch vehicle and refer to Flight Manuals for vehicle controls.

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Flight Manuals
Flight Manuals contain the specifics of how to operate any given spacecraft and/or booster vehicle. Every single rocket behaves differently, but the flight manuals are designed to be followed by even a rookie pilot to successfully fly a mission.

Spacecraft

K1

Spoiler

WIP

Combined Launch Vehicles

K1-B1

Spoiler

1. Launch (NOTE - Vehicle is unstable during early flight)
2. Pitch to 70 degrees by Tick 4 /Atmo 1.
3. Pitch to 60 degrees by Tick 5.5
4. Pitch to 50 degrees by Tick 8.5
5. Pitch to 45 degrees by Tick 11, engage prograde hold
6. ???

 

 

Edited July 9, 2023 by Tex

[Tex]

Mission Report 001

Mission: KX-1
Mission Date: 09-07-2023

Crew: N/A

Initial Mission Cost: √12,232
Funds Recovered: 0
Net Mission Cost: √12,232
Recovery Distance: N/A

Experiments Recovered: N/A
Science Earned: N/A

Total Mission Time: 0y 0d 04:09:00 (4 hours, 9 minutes)
Highest Altitude Achieved: 271,481m
Highest Speed Achieved: 1,967 m/s
Total Distance Traveled: 57,253,237m
Highest G: 4

Notes:

---

KX-1 can be considered a "successful failure." Ultimately, the vehicle was lost. However, a wealth of data was recovered, including experience in following proper procedure and also while evaluating the performance of the spacecraft and booster vehicles.

Early flight proceeded very smoothly. The B1 booster was evaluated and its performance recorded during early flight, including, critically, the procedures used to fly the rocket in a particular way, which have been used to update the K1B1 vehicle flight manual. 

What was not anticipated that, apparently, engine plates do enable crossfeed, which was not known or checked prior to flight. This resulted in Stage 1, using a Reliant engine, to drain the entirety of the fuel from Stage 2, which was intended to use an LV-909 in order to better insert the K1 spacecraft into a stable orbit. This unplanned, long burn resulted in a high suborbital trajectory, culminating in an apoapse of 270km. Stages 1 and 2 were both jettisoned simultaneously while the K1 spacecraft continued into space.

Once at apoapse, the intact K1 spacecraft used its three engines to successfully circularize its orbit, resulting in a final orbit of 267x271km. However, the remaining delta-v suggested that re-entry would be impossible.

After performing the main retrofire, the K1 used its RCS thrusters to lower its periapse to about 69km, after which the engine section was jettisoned. At this point, the mission was officially ended, as there was no way to precisely re-enter the spacecraft. It will eventually burn up.

Edited July 9, 2023 by Tex

[Tex]

Mission Report 002

Mission: KX-2
Mission Date: 09-11-2023

Crew: N/A

Initial Mission Cost: √12,482
Funds Recovered: 0
Net Mission Cost: √12,482
Recovery Distance: N/A

Experiments Recovered: N/A
Science Earned: N/A

Total Mission Time: 0y 0d ??:??:??
Highest Altitude Achieved: ???
Highest Speed Achieved: ???
Total Distance Traveled: ???
Highest G: Impact

Notes:

---

KX-2 was a failure. The B1 booster rocket was updated and several things were fixed, in an attempt to correct some staging issues with the B1 experienced by KX-1. Most importantly was correctly separating stages 1 and 2. 

As the combined K1-B1 vehicle rose past 11km in altitude, control of the vehicle was lost as the control surfaces were unable to maintain stable flight. In addition, the Reliant engine used to power stage 1 has no gimbal capability, and therefore was unable to assist. 

Mission Report 003

Mission: KX-3
Mission Date: 09-11-2023

Crew: N/A

Initial Mission Cost: √12,482
Funds Recovered: 0
Net Mission Cost: √12,482
Recovery Distance: N/A

Experiments Recovered: N/A
Science Earned: N/A

Total Mission Time: 0y 0d ??:??:??
Highest Altitude Achieved: ???
Highest Speed Achieved: ???
Total Distance Traveled: ???
Highest G: ???

Notes:

---

KX-3 was another failure. Unlike KX-2, however, KX-3 DID actually reach a stable orbit. 

KX-3 provided important data about the behavior of the Mk II variant of the B1 rocket, including the fact that it was incredibly unstable until approximately 2-4km into its launch trajectory.  Precise data was also collected during the flight, such as the fact that Stage 2 will ignite approximately 02m 15s after lift-off, and at an altitude of about 39km.

During the flight, experimental attitude/course corrections were attempted to gather data on the performance (to be precise, the EXCESS performance) of the redesigned B1 rocket. For example, shortly after Stage 2 ignition, the throttle was reduced to 33% of maximum power in an attempt to insert into a stable orbit during one complete burn, rather than re-igniting engines at a predetermined apoapse. However, at approximately 04m 40s into flight, the Stage 2 engine was cut to coast to the apoapse of 153km.

The orbit was then circularized to 159 x 150km, and it was noted that 18.18 units of liquid fuel and 22.22 units of oxidizer were remaining in the stage 2 tank. This, though a successful orbital insertion, was not desired, as it was hoped that the K1 spacecraft itself would make the final orbital circularization maneuvers and then go on to perform tests.

Just prior to de-orbiting, the charge in the onboard power supply ran out, rendering the vehicle unresponsive. KX-3 will remain in its orbit. To correct this problem in the future, the probe core was updated to automatically hibernate during time warps.

[Vanamonde]

Why no pics?