YARP Down Under (Meanjin Space Complex) - Craft files and screenshots inside (First Orbit achieved!)

AssidiousBlue · July 11

Quote

I would like to acknowledge the Jagera And Turrubul people, the traditional custodians of the land on which I game. The lands and waters of Meanjin (Brisbane) have been a meeting place for thousands of years, and it is from this place that I look up to the sky at the same stars they have viewed for thousands of years. I acknowledge their Elders, Past Present and Emerging, and particularly welcome and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders to this thread.

Yet another (Down Under) RP1/RSS/RO Playthrough, this time based in Meanjin (Brisbane) on the Australia East Coast.

Key Goals

~~Get off the Launchpad~~
~~Complete Suborbital Science and X-Planes~~
~~Try to make almost every launch a progression (No repeat missions until full rewards to grind Confidence / Rep, so can only do one "Intermediate" mission before tackling next "Difficult" versions)~~
~~Get To Orbit~~

Stretch Goals (Please offer suggestions)

Complete Light Satellites
Open a new Cape York Launch Complex for Geostationary Operations
Custom leaders representing Australian and Aboriginal leaders taking the reins

Key Challenges

I haven't managed this before
RP1/RO is Hard and can be grindy
Meanjin isn't that much closer to the equator than Woomera (Australian geography is a bit... Weird. Perth is further north than Sydney? Thanks, Mercator Projection!)

Mod List:

Spoiler

Key Points:

RO/RP-1 Express install
RSS-reborn https://github.com/RSS-Reborn/RSS-Reborn/wiki/Installation
Blackrack's Volumetric Clouds and Deferred Render

Parts:

UKSPACE https://github.com/seymonsters/SmallBritishSteps
Smart Parts

Quality of Life:

Better Time Warp Continued
Speed Unit Annex (Speed, Height etc. on Navball)
The Janitor's ClosetWaypoint Manager
ZTheme (KSP2 style theme)
kOs
Kerbalized National Flags and Space Agencies and ID Flags and Decals
Automated Screenshots & Saves
Historian Expanded

Full List from CKAN:

Advanced Jet Engine (AdvancedJetEngine v2.20.0)
AlphaMensae's Modular Launch Pads (ModularLaunchPads 2.7.0)
AtmosphereAutopilot (Fly-By-Wire) (AtmosphereAutopilot v1.6.1)
Automated Screenshots & Saves (AutomatedScreenshots 0.8.5.7)
B9 Aerospace Procedural Wings - Fork (B9-PWings-Fork 3:0.45.1)
B9 Part Switch (B9PartSwitch v2.20.0)
BahamutoD Animation Modules (BDAnimationModules 1:v0.6.7.1)
BetterTimeWarpContinued (BetterTimeWarpCont 2.3.13)
Breaking Ground (BreakingGround-DLC 1.7.1)
ClickThrough Blocker (ClickThroughBlocker 1:2.1.10.21)
Community Category Kit (CommunityCategoryKit v112.0.1)
Community Resource Pack (CommunityResourcePack v112.0.1)
Conformal Decals (ConformalDecals 0.2.14)
Contract Configurator (ContractConfigurator v2.10.0.0)
Custom Barn Kit (CustomBarnKit 1.1.22.0)
Editor Extensions Redux (EditorExtensionsRedux 3.4.5)
Express Install Realism Overhaul/Realistic Progression 1 (RO/RP-1) (RP-1-ExpressInstall v2.0)
Ferram Aerospace Research Continued (FerramAerospaceResearchContinued 3:0.16.1.2)
Filter Extensions - Plugin (FilterExtensions 3.2.9)
Firespitter Core (FirespitterCore v7.17)
Firespitter Resources config (FirespitterResourcesConfig v7.17)
Hangar Extender (HangerExtenderExtended 3.6.0.2)
Harmony 2 (Harmony2 2.2.1.0)
Historian Expanded (Historian-expanded 2:v1.8.0)
HUD Replacer (HUDReplacer 1.2.11-beta)
ID Flags and Decals (IDFlagsandDecals 1.4.1)
Kerbal Alarm Clock (KerbalAlarmClock v3.14.0.0)
Kerbal Changelog (KerbalChangelog v1.4.2)
Kerbal Joint Reinforcement Continued (KerbalJointReinforcementContinued v3.7.5.0)
Kerbal Renamer (KerbalRenamer v1.7.0.0)
Kerbalism (Kerbalism 3.19)
Kerbalism - RealismOverhaul Config (Kerbalism-Config-RO v1.2.19.0)
Kerbalized National Flags and Space Agencies (KerbalizedFlagpack 1:03Aug21)
Kopernicus Planetary System Modifier (Kopernicus 2:release-1.12.1-206)
kOS: Scriptable Autopilot System (kOS 1:1.4.0.0)
KSC Switcher (KSCSwitcher v2.1.0.0)
KSP Community Fixes (KSPCommunityFixes 1.35.2)
KSP Wheel (KSPWheel 1:0.16.14.33)
KSPBurst (KSPBurst v1.5.5.1)
Low Graphics (RP-1-ExpressInstall-Graphics-Low v1.0.0.0)
Lunar Transfer Planner (LunarTransferPlanner v1.0.0)
Making History (MakingHistory-DLC 1.12.1)
MechJeb 2 (MechJeb2 2.14.3.0)
ModularFlightIntegrator (ModularFlightIntegrator 1.2.10.0)
Module Manager (ModuleManager 4.2.3)
ModuleDepthMask (DepthMask 1.1.3)
NEBULA Decals Continued (NEBULADecalsContinued 0.1.3)
Patch Manager (PatchManager 0.0.17.6)
Procedural Fairings (ProceduralFairings 1:v6.6.0.0)
Procedural Parts (ProceduralParts v2.5.9.0)
RCS Build Aid (RCSBuildAid v1.0.6)
Real Antennas (RealAntennas v2.3.1)
Real Fuels (RealFuels 1:v15.9.0.0)
Real Plume (RealPlume 2:v13.3.2)
Real Solar System (RealSolarSystem v20.1.2.0)
Real Solar System Textures - 4096 x 2048 (RSSTextures4096 v18.6.1)
RealChute for Stock (RealChuteForStock v1.4.9.4)
RealChute Parachute Systems (RealChute v1.4.9.4)
RealHeat (RealHeat v5.1)
Realism Overhaul (RealismOverhaul v17.10.0.0)
Realistic Progression One (RP-1) (RP-1 v3.9.0.0)
ReStock (ReStock 1.4.5)
ReStock+ (ReStockPlus 1.4.5)
Retractable Lifting Surface Module (RetractableLiftingSurface 0.2.1.2)
RO Capsules (ROCapsules v2.4.0.0)
RO Engines (ROEngines v2.9.0.0)
RO Heatshields (ROHeatshields v1.2.0.0)
RO Library (ROLib v1.9.1.0)
RO Solar (ROSolar v2.1.2.0)
RO Tanks (ROTanks v2.10.0.0)
ROFilterExtensionConfig (ROFilterExtensionsConfig 1.0)
ROLoadingImages (ROLoadingImages v1.0.0.0)
ROUtils (ROUtils v1.0.1.0)
RSS DateTime Formatter (RSSDateTimeFormatter v1.12.1.0)
Shabby (Shabby 0.3.0.0)
SimpleAutopilot (kOS-SimpleAutopilot V1.1.1)
Smart Parts (SmartParts 1.10)
SmokeScreen - Extended FX Plugin (SmokeScreen 2.8.14.0)
Solver Engines plugin (SolverEngines v3.14.0)
SpaceTux Library (SpaceTuxLibrary 0.0.8.6)
Speed Unit Annex (SpeedUnitAnnex 1.6.0)
Staged Animation (StagedAnimation v2.0)
SXTContinued (SXTContinued 2:0.3.29.9)
Test Flight (TestFlight v2.9.0.0)
TextureReplacer (TextureReplacer v4.5.3)
Textures Unlimited (TexturesUnlimited 1.5.10.25)
The Janitor's Closet (JanitorsCloset 0.3.8)
Toolbar Controller (ToolbarController 1:0.1.9.11)
Transfer Window Planner - Fork (TransferWindowPlannerFork v1.9.1.0)
TweakScale Redistributable (TweakScale-Redist v2.4.8.3)
Ven's New Parts (VenStockRevamp-NewParts v1.16.0)
Ven's Stock Part Revamp Core (VenStockRevamp-Core v1.16.0)
Waterfall Core (Waterfall 0.9.0)
WaypointManager (WaypointManager 2.8.4.2)
ZTheme (ZTheme v1.1.3)

Custom Space Centre (From LaunchSites.cfg) - Also need to do localisations

Spoiler

        Site
       {
           name = au_Meanjin
           displayName = #RSS_Site_meanjin_name//AU - Meanjin Space Center
           description = #RSS_Site_meanjin_desc//The land and rivers of Meanjin have been a meeting place for thousands of years. Now, Kerbals will meet here to Launch to the Sky.
           PQSCity
           {
               KEYname = KSC
               changeGrassColor = true
               latitude = -27.38405
               longitude = 153.1165
               repositionRadiusOffset = 0
repositionToSphereSurface = false
               lodvisibleRangeMult = 6
               reorientFinalAngle = -243.1165
           }
           PQSMod_MapDecalTangent
           {
               radius = 500
               heightMapDeformity = 0
               absoluteOffset = 0
               absolute = true
               latitude = -27.3839
               longitude = 153.1167
           }

(Still fine-tuning the launch site. Until recently it has been on a bit of a slope, so although the end of the runway is on the ground, the VAB floats above a pond. Slowly moving eastward to try and avoid this, and have re-oriented the runwayto face East properly)

Additional configuration Modifications:

Spoiler

RSS_CommNet_Stations.cfg:

Added Following:

City2
{
name = LaunchSiteTrackingStation
objectName = AU - Meanjin
lat = -27.3840
lon = 153.1165
alt = 100
}

Edited August 17 by AssidiousBlue
Orbit Achieved!

AssidiousBlue · July 11

Table of Contents:

Craft Files:

Please Note: In addition to the standard RP-1 mods, These craft often use the UKSPACE mod by seyMonster, as well as Smart Parts mod to automate some staging

Sounding Rockets
1. Wawal 1- Early Sounding Rocket
2. Wawal 3 and Wawal 4 - Early sounding rockets, two stages
3. Wawal 5 - Early sounding rocket with 75L Sounding Payload
4. Crow 1 - Early Aerobee rocket
5. Wawal-Crow 1 - Karman line capable sounding rocket with 75L Sounding Payload
6. Wawal-Crow 3 - Karman line capable sounding rocket, with 75L: sounding payload and Basic Biological Sample
7. Wawal Heavy-Crow 1 - Low Space capable sounding rocket with 115L sounding payload and Basic Biological Sample
8. Wawal Heavy-Crow 4 - Updated low space with 75L sounding payload
9. Wawal 3-AJ Crow -Updated low space with 75L sounding payload, capable of 300km+
10. Wawal3-AJ Crow 1 - Low space altitude sounding rocket with 75L sounding payload
11. Wawal 3-AJ Crow 4 - Low space altitude sounding rocket with 75L sounding payload, 500km+
Early Guided rockets
1. Bulualum-1 - Basic guided rocket with recoverable avionics and Early Film
2. Bulualum-2 - Basic Guided rocket
3. Bulualum-3 - BasicGuided rocket
4. Bulualum-4 - Basic guided rocket with recoverable avionics and Early Film
5. Bulualum-6 - Basic guided rocket with recoverable avionics and Early Film
6. Bulualum-8 - Downrange guided rocket with 500L sounding payload
7. Bulualum-16 - Downrange guided rocket, capable of 6000km downrange contract with 500L sounding payload
8. Bulualum-17 - Orbit-capable guided rocket with 50L sounding payload and mass spectrometer
X-planes
1. Juwanbin-1 - Early rocketplane, capable of 20,000m or Mach 1.2 missions
2. Juwanbin-1B - Early ocketplane with upgraded engines
3. Juwanbin-1C - High altitude rocketplane with upgraded XLR engines and cockpit, reaction control system
4. Juwanbin-1/B - Upgraded Rocketplane
5. Juwanbin-2/A Supersonic jet plane
6. Juwanbin-2/B Mach 2 jet plane
7. Juwanbin-2/C Pending
8. Juwanbin-3 Stratospheric research, subsonic jet plane
9. Juwanbin-4/A Suborbital and hypersonic spaceplane
10. Juwanbin-4/A with droptanks and pink foam covering

Edited August 17 by AssidiousBlue
Updating index

AssidiousBlue · July 11

Today, we start on our steps to space.

It's 1951. Despite becoming citizens three years prior, The aboriginal people will not be recognised as part of 'the people' of Australia for another 16 years. Nonetheless, near the mouth of the Meanjin River, a group of engineers and scientist group together to start reaching for the stars.

With only 10 researchers, work begins on researching post-war rocket engines including upgrading the "Sprite" engine, recently imported from the UK.

Meanwhile, in the VAB a sounding rocket is proposed to test said de Haviland Sprite. Although not requiring pressure-fed tanks, the concentrated HTP (High Test Peroxide) nonetheless causes safety concerns and requires specific handling. A new launch facility commences construction in order to launch the "Wawal 1" ("Crow" in the Yugura Language) which will be fitted with a telemetry unit, temperature sensor and barometer, with a small parachute package to hopefully to recover the craft intact. Simulations suggest success will be possible, presuming the engine has survived the three-month sea voyage and the tailfins are large enough to withstand the high dynamic loads. A Surplus "Tiny Tim" solid rocket will provide the initial boost before a sustained burn, aiming to reach the upper atmosphere over Qunadamooka Country and Moreton Bay.

(First Launch to follow)

AssidiousBlue · July 12

Launch 1:

After construction of LC1 - Wawal, and a period of integration, the first launch of the Wawal 1 was performed on 13th May, 1951

Shortly after launch, the Sprite suffered a loss of thrust, resulting in a maximum altitude of just under 20,000m, falling short of expectations, Additionally, due to incomplete use of the propellant, the parachute failed to adequately slow the vehicle resulting in a hard touchdown and complete loss of the vehicle.

With lessons learnt, and a subdued celebration for their first launch at least making it of the pad, construction begins on a second LC intended for the much larger, "Bulualum" ("Pelican" in the Turubul language) launch vehicle. Nonetheless, wit the performance data more science was required, and additional scientists joined the program. Perhaps they can start designing a plane

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Wawal-1

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
6.0	0.0	0.0

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	42888
LC1 - Wawal	10 Engineers / __ Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	Under Construction
R&D - Post-war Rocketry	50 Scientists / 55% Complete

Edited July 13 by AssidiousBlue

AssidiousBlue · July 13

Launch 2:

After the engine failure of Wawal, the second sounding rocket was quickly intergated and rolled out to LC-1. and a period of integration, the Wawal 2 was launched on 12th June, 1951

This time, the Sprite engine burnt to completion, reaching an apogee shy of 50,000m but for the first time recovering data from a vehicle in the high atmosphere.

Despite sucessful deployment of the parachute system, the vehicle still suffered a hard touchdown resulting in loss of the engine, although the science core was recovered sucessfully.

The Spirte engine, having finally proved some reliability, would nonetheless have its results challenged by a new import from the testing grounds of the USA

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
7.9	3.9	15.6

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	33746
LC1 - Wawal	10 Engineers / 15.5% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	Under Construction / 31%
R&D - Post-war Rocketry	50 Scientists / 86% Complete

Edited July 13 by AssidiousBlue

AssidiousBlue · July 13

A Tale of Two Crows:

After the sucessful Wawal 2 flight, work began on an extended, 2.5-stage version for testing in-flight staging and ignition of the sprite engine. A new series of parts incorporating timing were developed, with these so-called "Smart Parts" able to use simple logic and timing gates to control staging through flight. Additionally, after reviewing the flight data and on-ground testing, a new generation of post-war rocketry was unlocked and work began on integrating rocketry with atmospheric flight

Meanwhile, as part of a joint training program with the USA, Kerbodyne imported one of their QAC-Corporal based sounding rockets. After a quick paint job and integration with the Meanjin Team's telemetry, it was rolled out of LC-1 to "Show these Australians a real rocket"

Although burning shorter than planned, nonetheless the "Crow" reached 59,00m on its first launch - soundly beating the record set by the Wawal 2 flight.

Furthermore, despite residual fuels the american parachutes successfully recovered the vehicle intact, allowing an intact motor to be analysed for the first time.

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Crow-1

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
7.7	4.3	25.3

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	35718
LC1 - Wawal	10 Engineers / 16.6% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	Under Construction / 82%
R&D - Supersonic Plane Development	50 Scientists / 36% Complete

Edited July 13 by AssidiousBlue

AssidiousBlue · July 13

A Tale of Two Crows - Part 2

With the engine reconditioned, the Americans quickly turned around a second launch, whilst the Australians worked on their 2.5-stage design. The Crow flight 2 successfully launched...

But again fell short of the planned burn time, and failed to reach the Karman line. Perhaps the prolonged burn time - well in excess of the rated burn time - would prevent reaching the Crow's goals.

Finally, flight Wawal 3 would demonstrate the advanced staging that would be required to eventually reach out into the stratosphere...

Completing its 1.5 stage burn, the vehicle coasted to a height of nearly 20,000m before firing its ullage motors, then lighting the second Sprite engine.

After burn-out the payload reached the edge of space, with an apogee of 96,000m

In the background, the researchers finalised the technology and plans for their first supersonic crewed flight, then began looking into lightweight aluminium tanks.

Meanwhile, a new facility was working on something substantially... Bigger, with lessons learned from the competing sounding rocket programs and the spoils of a horrible war.

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Wawal-3

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
10.5	8.3	41.1

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	35718
Hangar	5 Engineers / 25% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	17 Engineers / 19.6% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	35 Engineers / 10.6% Efficiency
R&D - Supersonic Plane Development	60 Scientists / 1.6% Complete

Edited July 13 by AssidiousBlue

AssidiousBlue · July 13

A Tale of Two Crows - Part 3

Having outperformed the Americans with the demonstration of the Wawal 3, the locals hatched a plan to be the first to break the Karman line. By using a different catalyst, the Hydrogen Peroxide would burn more efficiently allowing similar thrust, but higher specific impulse. By slightly underfilling the first Sprite stage, using DSpr-2 configuration, and timing the second stage ignition to minimise the chance of ignition failure, calculations suggest they would make 100,000m mar. But would they succeed on the day?

After a successful Launch

And second stage burn-out

Wawal 4 was successful in crossing the Karman Line!

Now with a proven sounding rocket, it was time to do some science, starting with the recovery from a sub-orbital flight

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Wawal-4

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
24.4	14.0	64.0

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	19163
Hangar	5 Engineers / 25% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	17 Engineers / 20.6% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	35 Engineers / 11.0% Efficiency
R&D - Post-war Mat. Science	60 Scientists / 15.4% Complete

Edited July 13 by AssidiousBlue

AssidiousBlue · July 14

With the confirmation that the Australians had a usable sounding rocket, and the expansion of aerospace activities, it was clear that the organisation needed to grow. And to Grow, it needed clear leadership. This triggered a search across the Commonwealth, looking for someone who could provide the inspiration for a multi-racial team, as well as the technical skills and scientific knowledge. Although there were several promising candidates, many of them were spoken for - either swept away from Europe in the aftermath of World War 2, or deep in the Soviet Politburo.

One candidate was identified from India, who had recently completed his PhD. thesis at CalTech on Direct Measurements of Skin Friction. As Such, Satish Dhawan was recruited to lead the burgeoning Meanjin Space Complex.

Under his leadership, three more Wawal flights (Wawal 5, 6, and 7) would be quickly launched, testing sounding payloads in the upper atmosphere over Quandamooka Country, east over Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) and Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), and north towards K'Gari (Fraser Island) respectively.

It was clear that to do useful science at or beyond the Karman line, the current technology had reached its limits. Using Dr Dhawan's and the team's understanding of materials science, as well as his connections to the USA, however, a new option would soon be trialled.

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Wawal-5-So75

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
35.0	12.7	126.5

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	20132
Hangar	5 Engineers / 25% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	7 Engineers / 23.3% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	45 Engineers / 13.7% Efficiency
R&D - Post-war Mat. Science	88 Scientists / 98.9% Complete

Edited July 14 by AssidiousBlue

AssidiousBlue · July 14

Quote

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain" - Vivian Greene

Come launch day, it rained. All eyes were on the surrounding weather stations, watching the storm over over the coast. Lightning Flashed. It was in a brief break in the weather the MSC's latest sounding rocket was launched with the goald to break not only the Karman Line, but reach out into the true reaches of space

As the rocket climbed past 5000m, and broke through the cloud layer, skin surface readings reported back the change in temperature. At burnout into coast, all was nominal, the Sprite Dsp2 now well-understood and reliable, and the new aluminium tanks meaning it was coasting to a higher point before second stage.

Here, then, was something new - a partnership with the USA allowing use of the XASR-1, an evolution of the WAC-Corporal engine, lofting high-pressure Aluminium tanks. Although a new variant, there was some experience with handling the hypergolic fuels and the process of lighting mid-flight from the previous Crow 1 and 2 flights. This was the Wawal-Crow, using a combination of engines from the new world and the old, and it would reach 1,500m/s and 190,000m, breaking several records in the process

As the instrument package fell back to Earth, the science team couldn't help but wonder what the view would have looked like. Still, having surpassed the mission goal of 130,000m the team was elated, and program confidence was inevitably building. Several more Wawal-Crow rockets were put into production.

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Wawal-Crow-1-So75

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
68.3	19.8	291.8

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	201148
Hangar	5 Engineers / 25% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	7 Engineers / 23.3% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	45 Engineers / 15.0% Efficiency
R&D - Early Tracking	94 Scientists / 43.3% Complete

Edited July 14 by AssidiousBlue

AssidiousBlue · July 14

Wawal-Crow 2 launched successfully, following a near-identical trajectory to Wawal-Crow 1, and returning more information about low space. Once again the instrument packaged was retrieved successfully.

As the program achieved its goals, focus moved towards learning about the effects of high altitude on biological samples with a view towards the upcoming high-altitude manned flights. After nearly complete integration, a new package was rushed over from R&D - a biological container, with samples provided by international labs (it was not felt appropriate to use Australian native fauna). The slightly modified Wawal-Crow 3 launched the first biological experiments.

However, the 30 seconds into the flight, the second stage XASR-1 (which had performed perfectly on the previous two flights) failed to ignite and although the biological samples were recovered, the team learned nothing that couldn't have been achieved with surplus war materiel and a warm jacket.

Still, it was rocket science, and failure is expected. Dr Dhawan was known for protecting his teams, taking responsibility for the failure while highlighting the Team's sucesses. A slightly reduced staff started members being pulled in preparation for Launch Complex 2's debut, work began on Wawal-Crow 4.

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Wawal-Crow-3-Bio-So75

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
65	8.0	309

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	200138
Hangar	5 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	10 Engineers / 25.5% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	50 Engineers / 18.0% Efficiency
R&D - Early Mat. Sci.	100 Scientists / 10.9% Complete

Edited July 14 by AssidiousBlue

AssidiousBlue · July 14

After nearly a year in integration, it was finally time to launch a new class of rocket - Bulualum ("Pelican" in the Yugarabul Language).

Using an XLR41 engine designed and manufactured by the USA, as well as an early near-earth avionics core to provide guided flight, the intention was to demonstrate the capability of returning film from low space. With the Autopilot engaged, and a calculated "Classic" ascent profile aiming for 20o through a 40% turn shape, the rocket was launched on 1st September, 1952

Lift-off was a success

At 450m/s, the rocket developed a roll oscillation, however as the rocker passed maxQ it stabilised, and Fairing deployment went successfully

As the vehicle passed into low space, the instrument package and film was staged separate from the launch vehicle, testing in-space staging for the first time.

Launching high over the ocean, the film camera captured the launch vehicle high above the coastline and the break-up on re-entry.

Experiencing nearly 10G of acceleration, the broad profile slowed the vehicle rapidly and successfully, and the design demonstrated the ability to use centre of mass as an orientation mechanism during re-entry. After losing radio contact over the horizon, chute deployment was confirmed, and the recovery craft rapidly approached, recovering the craft.

After the failure of the Wawal-Crow 3, the success of the first Bulualum launch was widely celebrated and work began on a second vehicle - this time with improved, aluminium tanks and basic reaction thrusters to provide in-space orientation. Of course, interest in the planetary photography was high, although sadly did not reach the front page of the newspapers - instead featuring a 10pc defence levy as part of plan to constrain the budget, a schoolgirl starting holidays, and stories regarding the rising cost of living. It was not, however, the only notable aircraft flight before the end of the year.

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Bulualum-1

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
110.5	15.2	331

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	18942
Hangar	2 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	10 Engineers / 26.5% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	53 Engineers / 19.1% Efficiency
R&D - Early Mat. Sci.	100 Scientists / 19.55% Complete

Edited July 14 by AssidiousBlue

AssidiousBlue · July 16

As LC2 worked on the upgraded Bulualum, Wawal-Crow 4 was launched to deliver the first biological experiment packaged to the upper atmosphere.

The rocket exceeded expectations, reaching apogee above 200km.

Unfortunately, the duration of the flight exhausted the battery supply shortly before re-entry resulting in descent without telemetry. Thankfully, the parachutes deployed automatically and the precious biological samples were recovered.

The engineering team quickly went to round up additional "volunteer samples" for a series of flights to help the science team fully understand conditions in the upper atmosphere and low space. They also put in more battery and prepared for a series of high-altitude and low-space missions. Thius followed Walwal-Crow 5, and 6 launched east and wesstward, respectively

But in the background, another program had been running, working on a project to break new barriers. Specifically, the sound barrier.

Aboard the Juwanbin-1 ("Bird" in the Yagera Language) or J-1, Elaine had been performing ground and glide tests in preparation for an historic attempt on the airspeed record

Sucessfully launched from a borrowed Stratofortress, pilot Elaine Barnes pressed the ignite button on the two ASSn-1 "Snarler" engines mounted to the rear of her rocketplane, intending to climb to 12000m before leveling out and attempting to break Mach 1.

Despite the prior ground testing, one of the two engines failed to light, resulting in significantly lowered thrust. Elaine, recognising the asymmetric thrust and inability to perform the planned flight, immediately sought to salvage the team's reputation. She might not break the sound barrier, but she could still set a record. she angled the plane upwards, reaching 15,000m in crewed flight.

With the remaining engine now well beyond its planned firing time, she angled her craft for a steep descent over Minjerribah, and as the engine flamed out, making several turns and lining up on the runway

Ultimately, she deployed her 'chutes short of the runway and came to a safe, if embarrasing, stop. The civilian first pilot above 15,000m

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Juwanbin-1

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
131.3	32.7	392.2

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	12899
Hangar	10 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	10 Engineers / 28.3% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	50 Engineers / 21.2% Efficiency
R&D - Early Mat. Sci.	100 Scientists / 34.76% Complete

Edited July 17 by AssidiousBlue

AssidiousBlue · July 17

While the J-1 was recovered from that somewhat... ignoble landing, reconditioned and loaded ready for air launch, the Wawal-Crow program continued a series of launches, including;

Wawal-Crow 7 launching a 75L Sounding Payload above 180 km (Sounding Rocket - Difficult)
Wawal-Crow 8 launching a Biological Return Sample and Sounding Payload to 120km ("First" Low-Space Biological Sample)

Cheekily, the engineers at LC1 managed to both of these with identical rockets. This pleased the scientists, because of the additional biological samples. The samples themselves may have been less happy, although they were saved aa second trip into vacuum due to a loss of thrust on the Wawal-Crow 8's second stage. As the science program was hoping for higher flights and heavier payloads, the Wawal-Crow team started working on a heavier sounding rocket to set new milestones - which of course meant a larger launchpad.

Meanwhile, Elaine prepared for the second J-1 Flight. Once more airdropped, the ASSn1 engines were fired

Only for one of them to suffer a 50% performance loss. Hoping to nonethless break the sound barrier in sustained flight, Elain climbed to 14,000m before levelling out. The Mach number slowly climbed, and Elaine held the plane level...

And at flame-out, she had sustained Mach 1.2 for over 30 seconds in level flight. A controlled descent followed.

And successful landing - although not on the centre line. It may have been several years after the Americans, Soviet and British, but it was a headline worth celebrating.

Amidst celebrations, the plane was rolled back into the hangar for a refit. The performance of thee Snarler had been suboptimal, but even with optimum performance there was a limit to how high and fast it would be able to push the J1. Thankfully, there was scope to improve the engine. Make it faster, Stronger. Make it Scream...

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Juwanbin-1

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
191.5	42.4	691

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	10372
Hangar	10 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	17 Engineers / 29.5% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	53 Engineers / 23.4% Efficiency
R&D - Early Mat. Sci.	100 Scientists / 34.76% Complete

Edited July 17 by AssidiousBlue

AssidiousBlue · July 17

Featuring a heavier kick stage, a redesigned booster stage with 3x de Haviland "Sprite" engines, and an extended payload, the first launch of the "Wawal Heavy-Crow" planned to take a small biological sample and large sounding payload into the vacuum of space above 140km.

It quickly accelerated to supersonic speed, lofting the sustainer stage to a minimum apogee of 40km.

Using the carefully timed staging process pioneered with the Wawal-Crow, the second stage flew ignited successfully, although as it fell away the residuals from the first stage caused a rapid, unplanned disassembly of the lower tank and pretty backdrop for the second stage successfully into low space, reaching 250km for the first time.

Payload and nosecone separated, successfully re-entering the atmosphere. As it fell, observers noted a bright trail and scientists noted a period of communication blackout - something to investigate further in the future.

With chute deployment confirmed, the payload was retrieved from the subtropical forests west of Meanjin and scientist got to work analysing the effects of space on living organisms. With that complete, the researchers felt that it was more important to prioritise an advanced biological sample return mission, and diverted resources towards completing the prepatory work necessary to launch on an upcoming Bulualum flight.

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Wawal-Heavy-Crow-1-Bio-So115

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
213.2	51.7	813.4

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	10545
Hangar	10 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	17 Engineers / 29.6% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	53 Engineers / 23.5% Efficiency
R&D - Early Sci.	110 Scientists / 0% Complete

Research Queue:

Early Material Science - 58.8%

Integration Queue:

Wawal Heavy-Crow 2 (Bio/So 75L)
Bulualum 2 (Film, RCS test and recovery)
Juwanbin 1b (Snarler->Screamer upgrade)
Wawal Heavy-Crow 2 (Bio/So 75L)

AssidiousBlue · July 19

With the increasing pace of launches, and the increasing complexity of the rockets it was clearly time to get some outside help. As a "Middle Power" aligned with the USA in Oceania, Australia would need help in sustaining the growing space program and it would be diplomatic faux pas to employ the Russian Design Bureaus. A tender was put out for a Main contractor to partner with in advancing scientific research, and two minor contractors to assist with the ongoing X-plane and rocketry development.

Perhaps guided by the Director's previous experience with Caltech, JPL was selected as the lead research partner to fast-track the science packages for the upcoming suborbital flights. Meanwhile, Bell Aircraft Company was selected to assist with improving turnaround of the Juwanbin series of x-planes, and Rocketdyne to assist in the rocketry program.

The Wawal Heavy-Crow launch 2 planned to deliver a sounding payload to above 180km - although the less capable Wawal-Crow would occasionally break this threshold it was hoped the heavier rocket would surpass it easily. A secondary payload would continue to research the effects of high altitude and low space flight on biological samples.

Unfortunately, the second stage failed to ignite properly, and the range safety officer was forced to destroy the vehicle to ensure it would not fall onto the nearby islands.

The team at Launch Complex 2 were determined not to suffer the same mistake, carefully preparing for the launch of Bulualum 2. On a slightly cloudy day, the countdown began for the launch of the updated design featuring aluminium tanks and a pressurised nitrogen reaction control system intended to demonstrate control in the vacuum of space.

Ascent guidance was engaged, the engine ignited, and the rocket launched into a low space, suborbital trajectory

however just prior to fairing separation, the rocket began to tumble. The payload was hastily ejected.

Initially the RCS failed to fire due to a cross-feed being stuck in the closed position. Engineers sent repeated firing instructions, and eventually the valve opened, and the payload was able to orient itself prograde, perform a series of simple roll manoeuvres before it began re-entry

Finally landing under parachute 600km downrange.

Returning planetary photography from the high atmosphere and low space, as well as biological samples and temperature data over the oceans, the research team had plenty of data to analyse. Additionally, with the successful demonstration of attitude control in low space, work could begin on the next vehicle with a new second stage, more powerful reaction thrusters, and a further downrange capability.

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Bulualum-2 (Note the decoupler was incorrectly "tweakscaled" too small in the photos above and (should be) correct in the linked craft file)

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
251.3	60.6	1054.2

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	7954
Hangar	10 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	10 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	60 Engineers / 24.8% Efficiency
R&D - Early Sci.	110 Scientists / 28.4% Complete

Research Queue:

Early Material Science - 58.8%

Integration Queue:

Juwanbin 1b (Snarler->Screamer upgrade)- Mounting to aircraft
Wawal Heavy-Crow 3 (Bio/So 75L)
Wawal Heavy-Crow 4 (Bio/So 75L)
Bulualum 3 (Film, RCS and 2nd stage test)

Edited July 19 by AssidiousBlue

AssidiousBlue · July 20

While the rocket program was having setback and success, the Juwanbin team had prepared for a third flight, intending to demonstrate the improved "Snarler" engines at a modest altitude between 10 and 12.5km. Once successful, an extension to the flight would see Elaine climb sharply, hoping to reach 20km and test the control surface authority in high-altitude supersonic flight.

The initial drop was successful, with engines both lighting

sustaining supersonic flight in a steep climb, 10km was passed, and then after flame out amore moderate climb rate was maintained to pass 25km

An unplanned parachute deployment almost forced elain to bail over the bay, but a quick-thinking Elaine cut the 'chute. She would now need to bleed off speed, and land without the parachute to slow her down.

Lining up the runway... Flaps deployed

And down on the centreline, coming to a stop at the perfect location. Well done Elaine!

With that, Elain had fulfilled the flight objectives, led a crewed flight to 25km, and briefly began collecting supersonic flight data for further analysis. As the Juwanbin 1 was recovered, plans began on a new vehicle intended to push the flight envelope to stratospheric heights, and ultimately a successor to the J-1. As the x-plane program expanded, it was clear a flight director would be required however at this stage the program funding would not allow the building of several new craft. Instead focus was given to recruiting a suitable flight director.

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Juwanbin-1b

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
302.5	60.9	1205.3

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	7938
Hangar	10 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	10 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	60 Engineers / 23.8% Efficiency
R&D - Early Sci.	110 Scientists / 37.9% Complete

Research Queue:

Early Material Science - 58.8%

Integration Queue:

Juwanbin 1b recovery
Wawal Heavy-Crow 3 (Bio/So 75L) - Rolling to Pad
Wawal Heavy-Crow 4 (Bio/So 75L)
Bulualum 3 (Film, RCS and 2nd stage test)

AssidiousBlue · July 20

After the The Wawal Heavy-Crow launch 2 failed to deliver a sounding payload to above 180km, the Wawal Heavy-Crow 3 had a more successful launch reaching over 300km at apogee.

With that, the scientists felt they had all the data to proceed with a more advanced biological experiment. Other parties remained interested in just how far they could push the sounding rocket technology, advocating for higher targets and larger payloads of "sounding equipment".

Engineers were reassigned from LC1 to the Hangar and LC2 to share their experience with the wider aerospace program whilst the Wawal Heavy-Crow 4 was stripped of its scientific equipment and parachutes, and its avionics were upgraded. This more simplified would maintain a steady cadence through the rest of the suborbital science program, but wouldn't carry a scientific payload again for some time.

Spoiler

The Wawal Heavy-Crow will continue to launch every ~90 days, doing alternating sounding rocket (intermediate) and sounding rocket (difficult) contracts until the next major upgrade; these launches will be summarised at the end of each post under "routine launches" until there is a significant update to the craft

Elain prepared for the next flight of the Juwanbin-1, aiming to reach 20km at supersonic speeds, and then accelerate to approximately Mach 2.

Unfortunately there was a loss of thrust in one of her engines, meaning the mission was at risk. Managing a very steep climb at just above Mach 1, Elaine then levelled out, hoping the crippled engine would be able to meet their objectives

Success! reaching a maximum of Mach 2.5 briefly before guiding the craft down to the runway for another soft landing. It seemed, however, that even the upgraded Screamer engines were problematic, with good thrust but a short firing time.

As the Juwanbin-1 was recovered to the hangar, The program considered its options - Upgrade the J-1 further, perhaps with a new engine? Or focus on Jet development to allow more time in the upper atmosphere? Ultimately, the team worked on first replacing the Screamer engines, and seing how far the J-1 could be pushed

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Wawal-Heavy-Crow-4-So75

Routine Launches:

TBA

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
360.3	66.5	1454.8

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	13710
Hangar	15 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	5 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	60 Engineers / 26.8% Efficiency
R&D - Early Sci.	110 Scientists / 78.6% Complete

Research Queue:

Early Material Science - 58.8%

Integration Queue:

Juwanbin 1b - engine replacement
Wawal Heavy-Crow 4 (So 75L)
Wawal Heavy-Crow 5 (So 75L)
Bulualum 3 (Film, RCS and 2nd stage test)
Wawal Heavy-Crow 6 (So 75L)

AssidiousBlue · July 20

As the rocketplane testing continued, this time with freshly rebuilt engines, The Juwanbin 1 this time took aim for a new altitude and speed record

However, the rocketplane overshot the target, and Elaine begin to suffer from the effects of altitude sickness and hypoxia. A rapid descent before she blacked out saved her from being the program's first casualty.

The rapid descent brought with it a new speed record, briefly pushing 3.1 Mach. Now well-practiced at gliding into MSSC, the plane and pilot were recovered successfully.

In light of the near-disaster, the Science team completed its analysis of the Biological samples retrieved by the Wawal-Crow sounding rockets, and resumed work on high-altitude and high-speed flight. The team at Launch Complex 2 rapidly modified the design of the Bulualum 3 in order to fast-track the advanced biological samples. Clearly a few crickets and an invasive mouse was insufficient to completely understand the effects of high altitude on larger mammals. The last minute change did set back the rocket, but with extra engineers from the experienced Wawal team and some new recruits joining, delays were minimised.

Craft File: TBA

Routine Launches:

Wawal Heavy-Crow 4 - Sounding Rocket (Difficult) (230km)
Wawal Heavy-Crow 5 - Sounding Rocket (Intermediate) (230km)

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
432.9	66.6	1745.3

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	1.793
Hangar	10 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	5 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	75 Engineers / 29.3% Efficiency
R&D - Supersonic Flt.	150 Scientists / 45.6% Complete

Research Queue:

Early Material Science - 58.8%

Integration Queue:

Juwanbin 1b - engine replacement
Wawal Heavy-Crow 5 (So 75L)
Bulualum 3 (Film, RCS and 2nd stage test)
Wawal Heavy-Crow 6 (So 75L)

AssidiousBlue · July 21

Although the J-1 flights had demonstrated the ability to reach unprecedented heights and speeds, each individual flight was brief. It was understood that much more time at altitude and supersonic speed would be required, and the rocket equation is a harsh mistress. Carrying all of your fuel and oxidiser with you takes lots and fuel and oxidiser.

So why carry the oxidiser, when it's just floating around? By using atmosphere-breathing engines, the amount of oxidiser you "carry" is limited only by you ability to compress it. Sure, it's contaminated by that nasty nitrogen, but that won't necessarily be a bad thing - lighter atomic mass in the exhaust can increase the speed of the exhaust. Thus work began on a supersonic jet plane, to be the Juwanbin-2

To balance the effort required ensure some longevity with the next x-plane, extensive design and testing was performed, including simulated air drops, multiple engine and cockpit configurations, and trans-sonic flight. Some simulations suggested disaster...

Others were more successful

Although the final airframe would require additional engine development, work started on the initial airframe build for Juwanbin 2

Spoiler

Design Note;

The Juwanbin-2 is based off the F-104 Starfighter, however I found the wind loading using the original's wings too small for reasonable lift with FAR / KSP. I ended up in quite a few flat spins.

So the wings are a bit longer, and we have a previous generation engine going in (J57 rather than J75 which is two nodes away) a I ultimately made the horizontal stabiliser an all-moving wing, due to a lack of pitch authority. I'm happy with the overall look and feel it retains the "stubby" wing look and overall feel.

That said the flaps give such a strong down-pitch it seems I have to use afterburner to take-off, and landing is quite... hairy. suggestions would be welcome

Craft File: TBA

Routine Launches:

None this time

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
432	59.6	1745.3

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	10564
Hangar	7 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	5 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	78 Engineers / 29.4% Efficiency
R&D - Supersonic Flt.	150 Scientists / 50.6% Complete

Research Queue:

Early Material Science - 58.8%
Early Rocketry
Mature Supersonic Flight

Integration Queue:

Bulualum 3 (Film, RCS and 2nd stage test)
Juwanbin 2 - (No engine)
Wawal Heavy-Crow 6 (So 75L)

AssidiousBlue · July 22

In order to advance the suborbital science program, R&D had rushed out an advanced biological package onto the upcoming Bulualum 3 flight. the intent was to spare any pilots from further altitude complications without substantially delaying the high-altitude and supersonic crewed missions.

However Bulualum 3 had already been planned to test an experimental 1st stage using a Veronique engine improved from Europe. The delay for the more complex integration was filled by one further flight of the J-1b. It was clear the current technology would not allow the team to push the altitude higher, so this time the goal was simple; go as fast as possible and try to break the crewed speed record.

Halfway through the burn, Elaine climbed to 18km, and passed 900m/s, but it was clear that at this altitude the drag forces were increasing too quickly to allow substantial progress towards hypersonic flight. Either a new engine or new airframe would be required to reach Mach 3, and likely a much higher crew ceiling. Thus, she headed back to the runway and the plane was recovered for re-tooling.

All eyes, therefore, turned to the launch of the Bulualum 3 flight, which had multiple mission goals, including

Using RCS in low space to orient the craft and spin-stabilise for injection burn
Demonstrate the Veronique Second stage in low space
Inaugural flight of the Advanced Biological Sample (Bio2) to 200km and 2,200m/s

With these weighty goals, it was rolled out to the launch pad at LC2 and guidance was engaged

Successfully launching into the high atmosphere, the second stage deployed successfully.

Building spin using RCS, the second stage settled using spin motors repurposed as ullage motors, and the Veronique carried the payload from an initial apogee of 100km, to a peak of 189km, along with an orbital velocity in excess of 3,000m/s.

It began to precess as the vehicle re-entered into the earth's atmosphere, and the aerodynamic forces began to break the vehicle up

but thankfully the core film and advanced biological containers returned under parachute.

The data would be go a long way towards upgrading the supersonic jet program, and the near-failure would inform design changes around a dedicated advanced biological package with an additional sounding payload .

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Bulualum-3

Routine Launches:

None this time

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
429.7	63.1	1757.4

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	12160
Hangar	7 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	5 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	78 Engineers / 30% Efficiency
R&D - Supersonic Flt.	150 Scientists / 89.8% Complete

Research Queue:

Early Material Science - 58.8%
Early Rocketry
Mature Supersonic Flight

Integration Queue:

Wawal Heavy-Crow 6 (So 75L)
Juwanbin 2 (no engine)
Juwanbin 1 (recovery)
Bulualum 4 (Bio2/So200)

AssidiousBlue · July 22

Whilst engineers worked on integrating the next generation of jet engines to the new airframe, several routine launches of the Wawal Heavy-Crow continues, setting gradually higher altitude records records.

Then it was time to launch the Bulualum 4, with an advanced biological sample and sounding payload, intending to complete the mission to demonstrate complex life could be sent to space, and return safely. After the previous near-breakup this craft was designed with a more streamlined reaction control system, and the ability to detach the payload for re-entry.

Spoiler

Previous text:

At the last moment, a safety officer noted that Unfortunately, there was a propellant loading error resulting in insufficient reaction gas to spin-up the second stage, and hasty modifications to the loading sequence were made, delaying the launch. Even after rolling out to the launchpad, however the problems continued, requiring a change in drivers to ensure a successful launch.

After fixing these "drivers", the Bulualum 4 was finally launched.

But after the second stage separated, something went wrong; the Veronique failed to detached from the stage separator, leading to an uncontrolled tumble after the ullage motors fired. although reaching a new height for an advanced biological sample of 233km, and achieving the downrange target of greater than 600km, there was significant concern around the integrity of the sample

As the sample began to re-enter the atmosphere, it successfully oriented itself to protect the payload, and rapidly decelerated to subsonic speed, and parachute deployment was confirmed.

It was at that stage, that one final glitch appeared and the spacetime continuum unwound. After the stutter, the Bulualum was found once again on the launchpad, the capstone mission unselected, and the team thoroughly confused as to what, exactly, had happened. All agreed that the rocket should be rolled back to the pad, and a solution found before more progress was undone

I've recently changed out my graphics card from a GeForce RTX to a Radeon 7600 XT, and to say the result has been disappointing would be an understatement. Facing multiple crashes per launch of the Wawal;-Crow and then the Bulualum is incredibly disheartening.

I thought it might have been a tweakscale issue, so tried the alternated tweakscale redistributable with no success, only an error on load.

I suspect that it was because of Automated screenshots and Autosaves interacting with unity or the graphics driver. For now I have had to now stop the automatic saves and screenshotting, but if anyone knows a reason a 2024 era graphics card would crash a unity game, please let me know.

Sadly, this substantially slows down the creation of screenshots, so there may be a few less in the posts. Unless I decide to change the card back, that is. Additionally, somewhere along the line my historian extended config file got version-mixed, so the following screenshots are mediocre.

Having recovered from "the great driver glitch", the Bulualum 4 was rolled out to the pad once more, this time without reality glitching and reliving the same day multiple times.

After a successful launch, the booster lifted the craft to 60km before fairing and then stage separation

The craft was spun up before a sucessful ignition of the Veronique engine

the craft reached an apogee of over 190km and more than 400km downrange, demonstrating the ability to launch mammals into low space. The return, however...

Re-entry was a bit firey, with the leading payload reaching quite extreme temperatures, and the sample sustaining almost 15G of deceleration

Relieved the mission was finally done, and the Suborbital science program had achieved its capstone mission, focus returned to the x-plane program and the upcoming flight of the Juwanbin 2 supersonic jet. In the background, further Bulualum rockets would obtain planetary photography and low space biological science, but a true breakthrough in rocketry was required before the program could achieve the dream of a crewed spaceflight.

Spoiler

Further Bulualum flights to obtain planetary photography in nearby biomes will be in the "Routine Flights" section

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Bulualum-4

Routine Launches:

Wawal Heavy-Crow 6 (Sounding Rocket Difficult 280km)
Wawal Heavy-Crow 7 (Sounding Rocket Intermediate 280km)

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
483.6	63.2	1902.8

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	18149
Hangar	30 Engineers / 55% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	5 Engineers / 30.3% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	65 Engineers / 31.2% Efficiency
R&D - Early Rocket.	150 Scientists / 37.45% Complete

Research Queue:

Early Rocketry
Mature Supersonic Flight

Integration Queue:

Wawal Heavy-Crow 8
Wawal Heavy-Crow 9
Juwanbin 2/A (J57 engine)
Bulualum 5 (Film/Bio2/So200)

Edited July 23 by AssidiousBlue

AssidiousBlue · July 23

Finally, the second vehicle of the x-plane program was rolled out of the hangar for its inaugural flight, aiming to demonstrate low supersonic flight and return.

After Elaine's experiences in the simulator, the engineering team modified the craft, and the flaps no longer cause the dramatic pitch-down on take-off. Elaine climbed to an altitude of 18000m, before levelling off and beginning her first supersonic run.

Completing a series of passes over the Meanjin Space Centre, Elaine demonstrated flight controls in transonic and supersonic conditions as well as the effects of sustained flight at 450m/s.

As Elaine ran down the fuel heading inland, she brought the plane down under low power, landing successfully and becoming the first person to fly both a rocket and jet plan at supersonic speeds.

Engineers and scientists poured over the data, already working on the next generation of supersonic craft, aiming to fly higher, faster and further than ever before.

In the background, the Bulualum 5 was being integrated, intending to once again launch an animal into space. And finally, after 9 successful launches in a row, the Wawal team was ready to unveil an update to their venerable sounding rocket line.

Spoiler

This is an edit of the previous post. I had significant issues with an updated graphics card, with frequent crashes - mostly at random but particularly around screenshots. A fresh driver install _seems_ (touch wood) to have stabilised things.

Overall, I flew this mission a total of six times, and mid way through that, modified the craft to have two J57 engines as the single engine variant as unable to sustain supersonic level flight and it seemed silly after all that effort to be unable to retrieve any science or complete a contract.

The Wawal Heavy-Crow has also complete the last altitude it can reliably obtain, so there will be small update to the craft in the next post. Although it can reach 380km occasionally, it is dependant on good engine rolls, so often falls short by 5-10km, and rarely overshoots.

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Juwanbin-2A-J57x2

Routine Launches:

Wawal Heavy-Crow 8 (Altitude Sounding Rocket Difficult 330km)
Wawal Heavy-Crow 9 (Altitude Sounding Rocket Intermediate 330km)

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
521.1	56.1	2181.1

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	25804
Hangar	10 Engineers / 55% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	8 Engineers / 31.8% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	85 Engineers / 35.8% Efficiency
R&D - Early Solid.	160 Scientists / 0% Complete

Research Queue:

Mature Supersonic Flight 56.07%
Avionics Prototypes
Basic Solid Rocket Engines
Basic Rocketry

Integration Queue:

Bulualum 5 (Film/Bio2/So200)
Wawal 3-AJ Crow 1
Wawal 3-AJ Crow 2
Juwanbin 3 (No engine)

Edited July 26 by AssidiousBlue
Finally finished the mission without a crash

AssidiousBlue · July 26

Launching out of LC2, the Bulualum 5 aimed to perform planetary photography on a westward launch, hoping to cover more than 600 km downrange and test the idea of a retrograde orbit

Although still using the now-obsolete dual-skin tanks and nitrogen gas RCS, the second stage deployed ignited, successfully, acquiring images over Quandamooka country westward towards the red centre of Australia.

However, the Veronique engine suffered an engine shutdown approximately halfway through the burn. Although the craft reaced low space, it failed to reach the mission goal of 200km, and re-entered in the Gunggari language region of South-West Queensland

The team went back to the launch complex disappointed, but planning on incorporating more updated technology into the next flight. Management re-evaluated their research goals, and decided to double-down on electronics, materials and pushing the x--planes as quickly as possible

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Bulualum-4

Routine Launches:

None this time

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
511.7	16.3	2192.5

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	21926
Hangar	10 Engineers / 55% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	13 Engineers / 32.7% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	85 Engineers / 38.0% Efficiency
R&D - Mat. Supersonic.	200 Scientists / 73% Complete

Research Queue:

Avionics Prototypes
Sattelite Era Electronics
Satellite Era Materials Science
Hypersonic Flight
Basic Solid Rocket Engines
Basic Rocketry
1956-1957 Solid Rocket Engines
1956-1957 Orbital Rocketry

Integration Queue:

Wawal 3-AJ Crow 1
Wawal 3-AJ Crow 2
Bulualum 6 (Film/Bio2/So200)
Bulualum 7(Film/Bio2/So200)

Edited July 28 by AssidiousBlue

AssidiousBlue · July 28

As the program pivoted to x-plane research, the Wawal team rolled out their updated sounding rocket, the Wawal 3-AJ Crow.

With the upgraded Spite-3 engine powering the Wawal booster stage, and an upgraded AJ10 second stage motor, it cruised higher than any previous rocket, reaching over 400km for the first time

Previously unforeseen was interference with the radio signal as the rocket passed high above the atmosphere. Although taking a second stage to the x-plane and Bulualum programs working towards crewed spaceflight, the Wawal team replaced the previous barometer and thermometer equipment with a newly packaged Mass Spectrometer for the next flight, as well as using the new "stringer" tanks

It soared to almost 460km, but revealed a devastating truth; the data from the mass spectrometer began to return overwhelming levels of ionised particles, so much so that the instrument had become saturated. Although the simple electronics of the sounding payload were unscathed, the levels of radiation would be potentially lethal. This far higher level of radiation than expected would significantly change the mission planning for crewed flight as it became apparent that lifetime radiation doses would need to be minimised, lest their early astronauts die of radiation sickness.

Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Wawal-3-AJ-Crow-1-So75

Routine Launches:

Featured launches as above

Post-Launch Statistics

Reputation	Science	Confidence
511.7	16.3	2192.5

Post-Launch Facilities

Funds	21926
Hangar	10 Engineers / 55% Efficiency
LC1 - Wawal	13 Engineers / 32.7% Efficiency
LC2 - Bulualum	85 Engineers / 38.0% Efficiency
R&D - Avionics Prototypes	200 Scientists / 0% Complete

Research Queue:

Avionics Prototypes
Satellite Era Electronics
Satellite Era Materials Science
Hypersonic Flight
Basic Solid Rocket Engines
Basic Rocketry
1956-1957 Solid Rocket Engines
1956-1957 Orbital Rocketry

Integration Queue:

Wawal 3-AJ Crow 2
Juwanbin 1/C
Bulualum 6 (Film/Bio2/So200)
Bulualum 7(Film/Bio2/So200)

YARP Down Under (Meanjin Space Complex) - Craft files and screenshots inside (First Orbit achieved!)

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