Blue Moon: Redux

[Kerbalsaurus]

OCTOBER 19^TH, 2023 - ESA SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Since the dawn of the space age, the U.S. and Russia have had total space superiority. Even China in recent times has started to expand their influence in the cosmos. They watched as the U.S., Russia, and China took off to the skies, carrying up space stations and Moon missions, all while they were stuck to Earth. Well not anymore. Today, the European Space Agency (ESA) has announced their plans to carry the first independently launched European Astronauts to space, as well as begin to host their Moon program alongside the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Artemis Program. The ESA has announced their vague plans for the program, involving the long forgotten Advanced Crew Transportation System (ACTS) spacecraft, and their future spacecraft design Smart Upper Stage for Innovative Exploration (SUSIE). Other plans include a European space station in LEO and LLO, a re-usable lunar lander (probably also SUSIE or some variant), and a Moon base on the Surface. A new age of space exploration has been ushered in. The superpowers of the world are no longer alone in space. It's time for all nations to collaborate and set out to the stars, for the future of all mankind. It's time for the age of the blue Moon.

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Looks like I pressed the redo button. I somehow corrupted the original save for this, and CERTAIN MEMBERS kind of ruined my motivation to make it. Also, I feel it got stale, and wasn't very realistic. So, to make myself feel better, I'm re-doing the whole thread. See you in the next update, whenever that might be.

[TwoCalories]

Nice to see Blue Moon back, I was wondering where it'd gone!

[Kerbalsaurus]

APRIL 19^TH, 2024 - First Flight of the Ariane 6

Today is an important day for the ESA, as today is the first flight of the Ariane 6! The Ariane 6 is the new premiere rocket of the ESA, capable of flying huge payload sizes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), and Low Lunar Orbit (LLO). The first stage is powered by a single French made Vulcan 2.1 engine, and the 4 P120c Liquid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) will provide some extra thrust. The second stage is powered by a single Vinci Engine. This specific stack is called the Ariane 6-4 (I get its unrealistic to have the Ariane 6-4 fly first, but this is my mission report so ). In early afternoon Kourou, the Ariane 6 lifts off the pad, marking a new era of space exploration.

"And liftoff of the Ariane 6, carrying with the new dreams of the ESA!"

"Go for SRB sep" (Ignore the flames as best you can)

"Stage 2 sep, coasting to Earth apogee."

"MES of the Vinci Engine. Go for orbit."

And the Ariane 6 successfully puts its first payload into orbit! It isn't really anything special, just a little commsat. But what it means is important. As we speak, a test boilerplate of the ACTS is currently in development, expected to be finished in mid 2025. The future of the ESA is coming in quick. However, the efforts the ESA is putting in have not gone unnoticed. China has announced their own plans for landing a man on the Moon in the early 2030s, with the goal of beating the ESA. It appears the world has entered a second Space Race.

[TwoCalories]

Not gonna lie, it's still a nice commsat. Also, will the other giants of the spaceflight industry (US and Russia) have any appearance, even though this report is about ESA?

[Kerbalsaurus]

9 hours ago, TwoCalories said:

Not gonna lie, it's still a nice commsat. Also, will the other giants of the spaceflight industry (US and Russia) have any appearance, even though this report is about ESA?

NASA will definitely have an appearance, as this is happening at the same time as the Artemis Program. Russia will appear at some point, but I'd rather hold off their appearance due to... current world events.

[Kerbalsaurus]

NOVEMBER 21^ST, 2024 - Artemis Performs Crewed Lunar Flyby!

For the first time since 1972, humans have visited the Moon! Although only a flyby, this means NASA's Artemis Program is well underway to landing humans back on the Moon. The ESA has issued formal congratulations to NASA on their great achievement, and express their gratitude for being able to aid NASA on this achievement, as they're the ones who constructed Orion's service module. The experience gained from this mission is beneficial to the ESA though, as the data the service module sent back to Earth will be helpful in construction of the ACTS spacecraft. For the first time ever, the Moon is in reach to somebody besides America.

NASA astronaut Christina Koch captures this photo of the Moon

[Kerbalsaurus]

AUGUST 4^TH, 2025 - ACTS Boilerplate Flight (ACTS 1)

Surprisingly to everyone at the ESA, the ACTS boilerplate is done early. It's launching around the same time it should've been finished. The boilerplate contains many of the systems that will be used on the actual ACTS spacecraft, due to have its first flight early next year. The flight will only last about one day, but during that time some of the most important events of the program will take place. Every system, from propulsion to cooling, will be tested this flight. Anything that goes wrong or abnormally can be noted, and a found solution will be applied to the many ACTS under construction.

Hundreds of spectators have gathered in Kourou today, most notably the president of France. France is the largest investor in this program, and they want to make sure that this program is worth the billions being put into it. At exactly 9:00, the mighty engines of the Ariane 6 lift ACTS 1 high into the air, marking the beginning of the ESA's lunar program.

"Liftoff! Liftoff on ACTS 1, the first mission in the European Lunar Program!"

Acts 1 continues into the air with no problem at all, proving the Ariane 6 is a more reliable vehicle than the public likes too pretend.

"Orbit confirmed on ACTS 1!"

The ESA had done it! They're one step closer to launching their very first (independent) astronauts into space! Immediately, ground teams begin testing the spacecraft. ACTS is thoroughly wringed out during its flight, and by the end all of the systems have been found with close to no issues. The spacecraft turns retrograde, and the most important test begins: re-entry.

It's tense, but in the end...

ACTS safely returns! It's an exciting day for the ESA, and the success of the mission brings hope to future flights of the ACTS program. The U.S. sends official congratulations, but China remains remarkably silent. Wonder what's going on there... Even so, the ESA is sure that they may in fact be able to launch the ACTS very first crewed by next year! Only time will tell.