Rediscovery Redone: A space program from the ashes of another

Watermel00n · December 4, 2023

An old project of mine, redone in future me style.

The old thread if anyone needs it.

It had been 12 years since the 5th Kerbin War ended and 14 years since the last space program ended. Kerbals have always had a habit of worldwide conflicts, having fought 5 in the last 100 years. However, the Fourth Kerbin War had been the worst of them all. In the end, the Kermarian Federation won, but at what cost? Retired director of the old Space Program John Kerman brings the old kerbonauts and scientists back together, but with the economy in ruins and decades of work destroyed, will they be able to succeed in bringing Kerbalkind to space for good?

"Complete" Timeline taken from the old thread(mostly)

Spoiler

KE - Krater Expedition (you'll see later)

Evolution of kerbals +first civilisation

230000 BKE - Kerbals evolve

180000 BKE - Kerbals use stone weapons

170000 BKE - Kerbals hunt large prey

100000 BKE - Kerbals make fire

76000 BKE - Kerbals build first underground shelters to hide from the meteorites that hit from 76000 BKE - 69000 BKE

50000 BKE - First cave art found. Kerbals still live primarily underground

34000 BKE - First civilization found, the Kerbonian Cave Kingdom. Housing was underground and farming was done on the surface.

30000 BKE - Kerbonians wiped out by barbarians.

Kerbland Republic

30300 BKE - Kerbonian caves inhabited by the Kerbish, who make the first republic. They elect 5 councils who vote on decisions.

28000 BKE - Kerbish caves expand to present - day Kerfrica. Wheels invented.

27900 BKE - The Great Bluetown fire breaks out, suffocating ~6000 kerbals.

27800 BKE - Kerbish revolution breaks out. All 5 councilkerbs are executed.

27790 BKE - Kerbish state of Oklon separates from Kerbland to make the Oklon republic. War breaks out.

27750 BKE - Kerbland-Oklon war ends. Meanwhile, more invaders attack from the north.

27730 BKE - The invaders, a group of tribes from the north, take multiple Kerbish forts.

27690 BKE - Bunwed, the second largest city in Kerbland surrenders. Kerbish escape to Roundria.

27680 BKE - Kerbland's capital falls. Dark ages begin.

Industial Ages

2500 BKE - Kerblish living in Roundaria sail to Kermaria with a fleet of 56, but only 22 reach their destination due to storms.

2000 BKE - Kerblish establish many cities in Kermaria

1000 BKE - Kerblish and Keroocians discover coal at around the same time.

400 BKE - 99% of kerbals live underground. Kerbals have evolved bigger eyes to see underground. Iron found by Keroocians.

231 BKE - Kermarians steal the secret of how to smelt iron in an epic heist.

83 BKE - Kermarians invent first widely used steam engine.

68 BKE - Steam train invented in Kermaria which runs along an underground tunnel.

53 BKE - Steam-powered machinery in factories become common.

2 BKE - Practical steam carts invented.

1 AKE - The Krater expedition starts. Krew must wear special eyewear to avoid permanent eye damage from the sun.

25 AKE - Krater expedition ends. Discovery of many species of grass. Desertlands discovered.

67 AKE - Expensive exotic goods such as spices become more common as Kerbals expand their rail system

120 AKE - Kerblish drive over the the Desertlands and sail up the Kile river. First contact with Keroocians.

125 AKE - Kerblish trade with Keroocians and both nations benefit.

140 AKE - 80% of Kerbals live underground. Population has hit 40 million.

153 AKE - 20 ships from Keroocia sail to the Kervon sea to start a colony.

167 AKE - Kervon colony fights for independence.

171 AKE - Kervon is now a nation and is kommunist.

179 AKE - Kervon has a population of 6 millon kerbals out of 50 million kerbinwide.

200 AKE - Kervon and Kermaria disagree about the Koot peninsula, well known to be a good spot for gold mines.

Kerbin Wars

201 AKE - Kervon declares war on Kermaria. 1st Kerbin War starts.

207 AKE - Kermarians driven out of Koot by the Kervonian navy.

209 AKE - Kermarians surrender. Kervonians take Koot. Total deaths: ~120000 kerbals

223 AKE - Kermaria launches surprise attack on Kruh Island in the Koot peninsula. 2nd Kerbin war starts.

229 AKE - Kervonians destroy more than 90% of the Kermarian navy, forcing them to surrender. Total deaths: ~320000 kerbals.

250 AKE - Oil is widely used. 50% oil comes from the Kery Coast. High prices are charged on Keroocia.

259 AKE - Keroocia invents planes.

261 AKE - Keroocia bombs the Kermarians in the coast, 3rd Kerbin war starts.

267 AKE - 3rd Kerbin War ends with a stalemate. Total deaths: ~500000 kerbals

268 AKE - Roundria declares independence from Kermaria, situation with Keroocia too tense for Kermaria to care.

269 AKE - 4th Kerbin War starts. Roundria launches first probe.

272 AKE - 4th Kerbin War ends with a stalemate. Total deaths ~430000. Roundria sends first probe to orbit. St this point living conditions in both sides are horrible due to mass infrastructure destruction on both sides

276 AKE - 5th Kerbin War starts. Roundria send kerbal to orbit, space station and mun probe. Kerblish space initiative Kerbin Space Exploitation Company starts

278 AKE - Fearing Roundria would side with the Keroocians and orbitally bomb Kermaria, Kermaria takes Roundria by force. All rockets are destroyed.

279 AKE - KSEC goes out of business due to bankruptcy. Keroocia begins invasion of the Kermarian mainland.

280 AKE - Kermaria launch nuclear bombs to stop the invasion. However, the bombs poison the atmosphere and water supply, forcing the survivors underground. Fifth Kerbin War ends.

284 AKE - Kerfrican Federation formed, comprising of most of the survivors of the Fifth Kerbin War. Only about 60 million kerbals remained from the orginal 90 million kerbals before the start of the war.

289 AKE - Kerbal Topside Exploration Program started. The program comprises many radiation suits, rovers and aircraft.

292 AKE - Kerbal Space Program, a division in KTEP is formed. (Present Day)

Chapter 1: Into Space

"I've always believed that Kerbalkind was meant to be in space." John Kerman chuckled as the rickety car drove onto the "launch pad". The new KSC was a old abandoned airbase once used to test missiles and experimental aircraft. Standing on the launch pad was a small stubby rocket, created out of the fusion of an aircraft fuselage and a missile. "This probe's a mere fraction of what the Roundarians used, y'know? They once put a space station in orbit in a single launch!"

The Orbit-All-Ready was remotely controlled by the equipment in the cabin behind the driver's seat. Hopefully the rocket wouldn't do anything weird. "Nathanael, are all systems ready?" John asked. "I can't tell, these systems are prehistoric. Only thing I can tell is that the rocket hasn't fallen over yet." Nathanael complained. "Whatever, you only live once. Herbrett, start the launch sequence." John began counting down loudly.

"Uh, starting engines, everything looks like it's holding up..."

"Launch clamps released! That sure does fly like a rocket! Just like the good ol' days..."

"Releasing manual control. Starting gravity turn..."

"Staging in a few seconds..."

"John, the probe's flipping!" John pushed Herbrett aside and hit the button reading "Disengage Launch Sequence".

"It's a shame we didn't put reaction wheels on this thing, but I think we got this under control."

"One final push..."

Just like that, the new KSP had placed their first satellite into orbit. Now the only way they could go was up.

Edited December 8, 2023 by Watermel00n
typos

Watermel00n · December 5, 2023

Chapter 2: The Ascender

Year 1, Day 29

The new KSP has been planning their next move, and they decided to go big or go home. This is the Ascender Capsule, manufactured by AtomicTech, a major contender in the post-war aerospace sector. While the capsule had been a scrapped project from the old program two decades ago, AtomicTech was able to secure blueprints as well as manufacturing components from the warehouse. The Ascender Capsule can hold two kerbals as well as some basic flight instruments. Before the KSP can launch the capsule to orbit, they first have to test the abort system.

"John, I think it's working!"

"Successful abort system fire! The capsule is still intact."

"Let's just drive to the capsule and check it out."

"I can't see any damage. I think we're good to go!"

Later that evening, John and the growing team of 28 employees held a meeting. "Now that we have a crew capsule, we can attempt to visit whatever the old program left in orbit. The most prominent of these is the Hope Orbital Research Platform. Although the radio equipment used to communicate with the station have long been destroyed, we can try to establish comms to this station. However, we would need to send a crewed vessel to install the equipment within the station." Herbrett blurted, "Why do we have to put the equipment inside the station when we can just attach a utility module to the station on the outside?" Herbrett continued, "We can use those grabbers that you brought to work today, Nathanael. That way, we won't need to worry about whether the station's docking ports still work." John interrupted Herbrett, "Enough talk! Let's get to work!"

Watermel00n · December 29, 2023

Chapter 3: Grabbers and Dockers

Year 1, Day 67

Almost a month had passed, and the KSC crew were finally ready to launch the prototype Ascender 1 Capsule. Furthermore, they had also been able to recruit some of the old kerbonauts from the old space program. Powered by 2 Swivels and 4 small SRBs on launch, the Ascender Launch Vehicle, dubbed the "Turbo-Yeeter" was easily the largest rocket to launch in the past decade, being nearly twice the height of the largest Kermarian ICBMs. This capsule will be launched unmanned without an abort system to conserve delta-vee.

"Ignition of the Swivels was successful!"

"Clamps away!" Due to the rising news of the new space program, a large crowd had gathered on a tour bus nearby. If anything went wrong, it wouldn't look too good for the space program.

Everything was going well until fairing separation, where one of the clamshells struck the right solar panel of the Ascender Service Module. Luckily, the other solar panel should be sufficient for this mission.

John watched the command screen in apprehension as the capsule began its orbital burn. If the engine failed or the capsule wasn't able to reach orbit, that meant having to drive across hundreds of kilometers of uninhabited terrain.

until the screen lit up: "O R B I T C O N F I R M E D" Although the rest of the KSC krew were celebrating like mad, John simply thought to himself: " at least this thing reaches orbit." Next, a course was set for HORP.

A few hours later, Ascender 1 arrived at HORP. Now it was time to reveal its secret weapon...

A big pogo klaw stick!

Upon coming into sight of the capsule's cameras, the HORP was revealed to have two intact solar arrays. It also seemed to have some sort of fuel storage module. Regardless, the Ascender capsule maneuvered into position thanks to Siggel Kerman, a shuttle pilot for the old space program. He soon determined where to latch on to...

And the capsule found its mark! Now with a communications system and a compatible docking port, the station should be ready for crewed missions!

The capsule successfully landed in the mountains where a recovery crew was quickly sent out. Luckily, despite the fact that they had to chase away a kougar to stop it damaging the capsule, the capsule was completely intact. Now the only thing to fix was that pesky fairing.

Watermel00n · January 13

Chapter 4: Our First Crew

The Ascender 2 is the first Crew Variant of the Ascender Capsule. Featuring a launch escape system, the Ascender 2 has the minimum amount of flair with the lowest possible cost.

Hudman (PLT), a retired Air Force pilot, and Geneson (ENG), the luckiest (or unluckiest) KSC janitor, are assigned for Kerbalkind's first space mission in over a decade, after rushing through the Kerbonaut training.