Planet Jam 2 Space Race with 4 Friends: A Comprehensive Competitive Mission Log

[LittleBitMore]

Me and some friends have been doing a Planet Jam 2 space race for a little while (with mods like NFT, FFT, EPL, and stuff to make exploration feasible and fun), and we've been having a blast stranding ourselves around the system. The participants are me, @Ultimate Steve ("Steve"), @aziazukra ("Azia"), and a fourth member by the name of C Hizzle who's not on the forums.

Here's the forum post for the system:

How we play is we set some internal rules for days between launches (because KCT was difficult to work with for us for some reason), set some difficulty rules (for Planet Jam 2 we did double fund rewards because Armstrong scared us), do some missions, write down all the relevant information of important mission events on the spreadsheet, and then organize everything by in-game date to see who's progressing the fastest.

It started out as just me and Azia, and we played for a week or so. Eventually we got bored for a few months, and then became obsessed with the space race again later (we both have ADHD). Once we started it back up, this attracted the attention of Steve and C Hizzle (who were in the same discord server as us where we were showing off our cool things). They currently haven't played as far, but their accomplishments are amazing even as early into the race as they are.

This mission report will be the saga of all 4 space agencies battling against eachother to dominate the Ilio-Pyri system. The agencies are as follows:

In the mission reports below, if you see "[No image yet]", it means one wasn't found in the archives, but eventually someone will screenshot that craft file or stage a redo of some part of the mission in order to make sure there's not many holes in the report.

Without further ado, let's get started.

WARNING: This entire thread will be spoiler-heavy by default due to the nature of the Planet Jam 2 system, and I will only use spoilers for extremely spoilery parts. If you're interested in the PJ2 system, please play it first.

Y1, D1

The Upgrade - EEEEEE

The first launch of the race comes from EEEEEE, who launched a Science Upper called "The Upgrade", which went up and grabbed sciences. This was a noticeable upgrade from not going up and not grabbing sciences.

Eisenstate 1 - AQUA

AQUA launches the same day with a similar upgoing craft, the Eisenstate 1, which collected sciences as well.

Test Vehicle Alpha - AAA

AAA starts their career crewed, and their first launch is not a launch at all, but rather, a pad test, where Carmack Kerman sits inside a capsule to make sure all systems are operational and all preparations are made before actually risking lives in the name of science.

[No image yet]

GooSat 1 - NSP

NSP, like the overachievers they are, sent an intern to walk outside and do some science before their first launch, allowing them to achieve orbit on their first launch with the GooSat 1, which reportedly barely made it to orbit.

 

Y1, D26 (the launch dates, for the time being, are spread out by 25 days)

The Upgraded Upgrade - EEEEEE

EEEEEE launches The Upgraded Upgrade, which was nearly identical to the Upgrade, if not for the upgraded science equipment.

Eisenstate 2 - AQUA

AQUA attempts to launch a satellite, the Eisenstate 2, and fails. It didn't quite have the dV required to get to orbit. It did take some nice pictures though.

Test Vehicle Alpha - AAA

Carmack Kerman becomes the first kerbal to fly in a rocket after AAA sends him to the upper atmosphere and back. Carmack returned safely.

GooSat 2 - NSP

A similar mission to the GooSat 1, but with added Science Jr's. There was a secondary goal to land back on Armstrong, but this failed.

[No image yet]

 

Y1, D51

The Lithobrake Micro - EEEEEE

EEEEEE launches the Lithobrake Micro-- a manned Science Upper with the brave pilot Soup McKerb. She's returned safely, and much science is acquired.

 

Y1, D52 (I don't know why everyone else waited a day)

Alkane 1 - AQUA

AQUA launches the Alkane 1, a similar mission to the Lithobrake Micro or Test Vehicle Alpha, launches Ron McGregory into the stratosphere, and safely splashes him down afterwards. The chutes were not deployed prematurely. That was intentional. Totally.

Test Vehicle Beta - AAA

AAA launches the Test Vehicle Beta, a more advanced Science Upper which left the atmosphere with Carmack Kerman, who was returned safely.

Aldrin 1 - NSP

Notebook Space Program tries something dangerous and controversial. Ci Kerman is strapped to a pile of boosters and sent on a one-way trip to the surface of Buzz, with no active return plans in place.

 

Y1, D53

Aldrin 1 - NSP

Ci Kerman lands on Buzz, which will be his home and his home only for the forseeable future.

 

Y1, D75

Aldrin 2a - NSP

Ci Kerman rejoices as a rescue ship meets up with him in the space around Buzz, ending his 24 day isolation in space.

 

Y1, D76 (the launch times are all approximated, expect more of this)

Pilbontum Spench - EEEEEE

Pilbontum Spench is the first satellite with a genuine robotic probe core. It procedurally generated a lovely name for itself.

 

Y1, D77

Test Vehicle Beta - AAA

An upgraded version of the previous Test Vehicle Beta. This version includes more science, and a different victim: Calgas Kerman.

[No image yet]

 

Y1, D92 (i timewarped too far)

Eisenstate 3 - AQUA

The Eisenstate 3 is AQUA's attempt at a robotic computer-controlled satellite. It successfully orbited, with some minor (read: incredibly distracting) graphics glitches.

 

Y1, D101

The Lithobrake 2 - EEEEEE

While intended to be a crewed Armstrong orbiter, EEEEEE's the The Lithobrake 2's dV requirements were not met, and the orbiter failed. Soup McKerb was successfully returned alive though.

[No image yet]

Aldrin 3 - NSP

Notebook Space Program designs a two-way Desmet lander, and launches and lands it on Desmet with the brave and talented pilot King Kool Aid Kerman.

Y1, D102

Science Hopper - AAA

AAA's The Science Hopper was a small Science Upper designed to travel to the ocean and return science. This is also noteworthily the first mission with two Kerbals on board: Carmack Kerman and Calgas Kerman.

Alkane 2 - AQUA

The Absolutely Queer Union of Astrophysicists sends their first kerbal to space: Beverly von Remigen is sent past the Kerman line of Armstrong and returned safely.

[No image yet]

 

 

That's it for now! I'll add more posts later addressing the next several days, but right now it's 1:30AM and I'm tired.

As of right now, Steve (NSP) has played up to Y1 D292, C Hizzle (AAA) has played up to Y1 D331, I (AQUA) have played up to Y2 D424, and Azia (EEEEEE) has played up to Y5 D214.

Edited June 14, 2023 by LittleBitMore
send was hit prematurely, so i had to edit in half of the post. also, fixed accidentally misgendering Soup McKerb

[LittleBitMore]

Y1, D126

The Bullet - EEEEEE

EEEEEE breaks ground by launching The Bullet, whose mission is officially described as "Crash into something other than Armstrong", something unique for its time.

[No image yet]

 

Y1, D127

The Bullet - EEEEEE

The Bullet does not end up crashing into anything, instead capturing around and soft-landing on Desmet.

Armstrong Explorer 1 - AAA

Contrary to its name, the unmanned Armstrong Explorer 1 does not explore Armstrong, but rather explores Buzz, transmitting science from space around it, running out of electricity, and hard landing on Buzz.

Eisenstate 4 - AQUA

The Eisenstate 4 is a Science Upper designed to attain so much up that it reaches high space around Armstrong.

Burner 1 - NSP

NSP takes the first leap interplanetary as they launch the Burner 1, a manned Roid Ranger which carried Cicici Kerman to Dord and Garner, let them EVA jetpack to the surface, and brought them back to Armstrong. (Most of the events of this mission were not put on the timeline, but happened after Y1 D127.) Cicici Kerman is left in Armstrong orbit until a safer return method is developed.

 

Y1, D151

The Lithobrake 3 - EEEEEE

The Lithobrake 3 is EEEEEE's attempt at manned orbit. This mission was a failure, as orbit was not attained, but luckily Soup McKerb was recovered safely.

[No image yet]

 

Y1, D152

Armstrong Explorer 2 - AAA

The Armstrong Explorer 2 is the Armstrong Areospace Agency's unmanned Desmet lander, which successfully launched on this day.

[No image yet]

 

Y1, D153

Armstrong Explorer 2 - AAA

The Armstrong Explorer 2 lands on Desmet successfully, transmitting science from the north.

Eisenstate 5 - AQUA

AQUA's first robotic satellite, Eisenstate 5, is successfully launched to low Armstrong orbit. It runs out of electricity while transmitting science.

[No image yet]

Aldrin 4 - NSP

Notebook Space Program performs another manned Buzz landing with Raynie Kerman in the Aldrin 4 spacecraft. After some biome hopping, Raynie discovers something terrifying, and flies home.

[No image yet]

 

Y1, D176

The Lithobrake 3.5 - EEEEEE

The Extraterrestrial Explosives Experimentation Examination and Exploration Enthusiasts launch the The Lithobrake 3.5, a successful manned orbit of Armstrong. Soup McKerb is sent to space, left there for a little bit, and returned safely.

Burner 2 - NSP

NSP sends a second Roid Ranger, this time with more powerful and efficient engines, to a tour of several roids. The Notebook Space Program's technology is advancing scarily fast.

 

Y1, D177

Alkane 1 - AQUA

AQUA sends a kerbal to space to perform some studies and return the experiment data. Ron McGregory is safely returned, as are the sciences.

[No images yet]

 

Y1, D178

Armstrong Explorer 3 - AAA

The Armstrong Explorer 3 is an unmanned Buzz lander sent to retrieve more science and perform further studies of Armstrong's closest neighbor.

[No images yet]

 

Y1, D179

Armstrong Explorer 3 - AAA

The Armstrong Explorer 3 successfully (but harshly) lands on Buzz, and transmits science back to Armstrong. Strange things were detected, and a crewed expedition is deemed important for the future understanding of Buzz.

 

Y1, D185

Burner 2 - NSP

After flying by several small asteroids (these events were not written down on the sheet), the Burner 2 with Raynie Kerman in stow lands on Lu. Raynie Kerman becomes the first to plant a flag on another planet. Afterwards, she returns to low Armstrong orbit, and is left loitering in orbit with Cicici Kerman until NSP can develop a safe enough return method.

 

That's everything up to Y1, D200. I or another participant will make the next 100 days soon.

[Whirligig Girl]

yay!! YAY!!!!

excellent report so far, seeing that progress has been really cool.