AssidiousBlue Posted August 8 Author Share Posted August 8 Focussing on the effects of supersonic flight on airframes, Elain flew the Juwanbin 2, this time intending to sustain 500m/s Passing 80km east of Meanjin, she turned north, performing a series of high-G turns over the waters east of K'giri (Fraser Island). Then turning south, maintaining supersonic speeds at 15km above K'giri, sustaining above Mach 1.5 back towards Meanjin. On descent, Elaine had to cut the throttle as she approached Mach 2 - Temperature readings suggested the engines were running far overtemp, and pushing to 600m/s would cause them to fail, explosively. A new generation of jet engines would be required to push the speed envelope - or a return to rocketplanes. Perhaps, both? With the harsh radiation environment revealed, the Wawal program was extended to launch higher and measure the extent of this "belt" of radiation. With gradual improvements in tooling and component weight it was felt this was achievable, even if they would have to double the altitude of their flights. Despite this, their next launch suffered an engine ignition failure, and although some mass spectrometer data could be returned from the upper atmosphere it was an inauspicious omen for the Wawal team. Despite rushing a replacement, the Wawal 3-AJ Crow 3 failed to reach the target altitude, falling short at 415km. To get more out of their rocket, they would need to upgrade the avionics, then fuselage - everything. Craft File: Nothing new this time Routine Launches: Wawal 3-AJ Crow 2 - Engine Failure (Attempting High Altitude Sounding Rocket - Difficult (430km)) Juwanbin-2/A - Collecting Supersonic Flight data Wawal 3-AJ Crow 3 - (Attempting High Altitude Sounding Rocket - Difficult (430km)) Post-Launch Statistics Reputation Science Confidence 529.6 24.7 2421.7 Post-Launch Facilities Funds 28715 Hangar 15 Engineers / 55% Efficiency LC1 - Wawal 13 Engineers / 37.1% Efficiency LC2 - Bulualum 85 Engineers / 35.8% Efficiency R&D - Satellite Era Electronics 200 Scientists / 6% Complete Research Queue: Satellite Era Materials Science Hypersonic Flight Basic Solid Rocket Engines Basic Rocketry 1956-1957 Solid Rocket Engines 1956-1957 Orbital Rocketry Integration Queue: Bulualum 6 (Film/Bio2/So200) Wawal 3-AJ Crow 4 Juwanbin 1/C Wawal 3-AJ Crow 5 Bulualum 7(Film/Bio2/So200) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssidiousBlue Posted August 8 Author Share Posted August 8 After an engineering review of the previous two failures of the Wawal 3-Heavy Crow, the next airframe was modified to use internal bracing for the tanks, substantially reducing their weight, as well as upgraded and lighter avionics. The additional space allowed incorporation of more batteries, ensuring adequate liffespan to return data from high above Meanjin. After aa successful low-atmospheric flight, the second stage lit and lofted the payload to above 500km, a first for the program! Meanwhile, The upgraded Bulualum 6 with similar "Stringer" tanks launched southeast from Meanjin, Passing southeast, and returning planetary photography in low space over the warm and cool subtropics of the Australian East Coast The probe splashed down nearly 800 km south of meanjin, achieving a record distance from the launch facility. Spoiler I'm not sure what happened, but despit being just under 20t with a 20t avionics core, the Bulualum-6 lifts off with too much mass to control. To fulfil the contract requirement of "maintain sufficient control for the first 50s" I had top jettison one of the fairings before liftoff. Ultimately the Bulualum series is reaching it's capacity, although we may be able to push it to greater distances with upcoming nodes there is a historical rocket family that is more appropriate. An this time, I'm fairly sure we won't follow Prospero's example and give up the magic Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Bulualum-6 https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Wawal-3-AJ-Crow-4-So75 Routine Launches: Wawal 3-AJ Crow 5 - (High Altitude Sounding Rocket - Intermediate (430km)) Post-Launch Statistics Reputation Science Confidence 586.4 33.0 2800.5 Post-Launch Facilities Funds 42995 Hangar 10 Engineers / 55% Efficiency LC1 - Wawal 5 Engineers / 39.6% Efficiency LC2 - Bulualum 105 Engineers / 39.2% Efficiency R&D - Satellite Era Electronics 200 Scientists / 39% Complete Research Queue: Satellite Era Materials Science Hypersonic Flight Basic Solid Rocket Engines Basic Rocketry 1956-1957 Solid Rocket Engines 1956-1957 Orbital Rocketry Integration Queue: Juwanbin 1/C - Mounted to Aircraft Juwanbin 2/a Bulualum 7 (Film/Bio2/So200) Wawal 3-AJ Crow 6 Wawal 3-AJ Crow 7 Bulualum 7(Film/Bio2/So200) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssidiousBlue Posted August 9 Author Share Posted August 9 The desire to fly further, faster, higher led to the Juwanbin team returning to their first craft, making upgrades to the airframe, and importing a pair of XLR35-RM-1 engines. By incorporating a pump-driven engine the airframe could be further lightened as the fuel no longer required pressurisation. Finally, reaction control thrusters developed for the Bulualum program were incorporated to enable high-altitude manoeuvring, and introduce pilots to reaction control thrusters for the first time. The Juwanbin 1/C was launched high to the east of Meanjin, with the plan to fly high in the stratosphere and if possible to the operational limit of 70km Unfortunately only 1 second into the planned burn, one of the two engines failed. AS this version only allowed a single ignition, Elaine flew the craft with half thrust - similar to the earlier Snarler/Screamer engines of the 1/A and 1/b versions Levelling out at 40km, elain tested the RCS system although the atmosphere remained thick enough that the conventional flight control surfaces remained useful Elaine successfully glided down into the MSC with the mission technically a success, although once again the engine failures hampered the mission. To make matters worse, the routine Bulualum-7 flight to perform advanced biolocial scieence on a suborbital trajectory failed with substantial engine loss. With two aircraft now operational, it was time to expand the pilot program, and renovations were made to the newly dubbed "Astronaut" complex. With the increasing pace of launches and flights, as well as the trials and tribulations of engine failures, insufficient avionics control on the latest Bulualum craft, and the inability of the second stage to meet downrange and speed-based goals it was clear that the leadership structure was insufficient. Reaching out for experienced leaders, Gene Kratz was appointed to be flight director Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Juwanbin-1C Routine Launches: Bulualum 7 - (Failed - insufficient speed by ~400m/s: Advanced Biological Suborbital Experiment) Post-Launch Statistics Reputation Science Confidence 634.1 38.2 2818.6 Post-Launch Facilities Funds 466 Hangar 10 Engineers / 55% Efficiency LC1 - Wawal 5 Engineers / 40.2% Efficiency LC2 - Bulualum 100 Engineers / 34% Efficiency R&D - Satellite Era Electronics 200 Scientists / 71% Complete Research Queue: Satellite Era Materials Science Hypersonic Flight Basic Solid Rocket Engines Basic Rocketry 1956-1957 Solid Rocket Engines 1956-1957 Orbital Rocketry Integration Queue: Juwanbin 1/C - Retrieving & Reconditioning Wawal 3-AJ Crow 6 Bulualum 8 Wawal 3-AJ Crow 7 Bulualum 8 (Bio2/So200) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssidiousBlue Posted August 10 Author Share Posted August 10 After refurbishing the Juwanbin 1C, and replacing the failed engine, Elaine was once again launched towards Meanjin With both engines providing the necessary thrust, she flew to a new record height of 57km, and record speed of Mach 5! With work on the upgraded Astronaut complex, a third x-plane was being developed to demonstrate sustained high-atmosphere flight at subsonic speeds., and the Juwanbin-2 was upgraded to use a heavier, stronger J75 engine to push beyond Mach 2 in atmospheric flight. With those airframes in the hangar, it was time to refuel and push the flight ceiling for the Juwanbin-1, and fly it to 70km, very near the edge of space. Climbing at a steep angle, The expected apoapsis soon passed 70 km, and as Elaine pitched down to prevent overshooting, she was forced to cut the throttle. As se was travelling slower than expected, Elaine flow a long shallow glide over the Jumpinpin channel between north and south Minjerribah Finally touching down with the aid of a parachute Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Juwanbin-1C Routine Launches: Wawal 3-AJ Crow 6 - (High Altitude Sounding Rocket - Difficult (480km)) Bulualum 8 - (Advanced Biological Suborbital Experiment 1 of 2) Post-Launch Statistics Reputation Science Confidence 854.5 44.6 3570.7 Post-Launch Facilities Funds 14551 Hangar 20 Engineers / 55% Efficiency LC1 - Wawal 5 Engineers / 41.4% Efficiency LC2 - Bulualum 100 Engineers / 38.2% Efficiency R&D - Satellite Era Mat. Sci. 200 Scientists / 12% Complete Research Queue: Basic Solid Rocket Engines Hypersonic Flight Basic Rocketry 1956-1957 Solid Rocket Engines 1956-1957 Orbital Rocketry Integration Queue: Wawal 3-AJ Crow 7 Bulualum 8 (Bio2/So200) Juwanbin-3/A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssidiousBlue Posted August 10 Author Share Posted August 10 With the new flight director, tension mounted between the veteran Astronaut Elaine, and the new "class" stepping up to the test program. It was decided that Elaine would take the most promising pilot, Lorraine on a mission to demonstrate Mach 2 supersonic flight for sustained durations, using the Juwanbin-2. The mission was successful, holding 625m/s for a full 5 minutes. However towards the end of the flight the craft became critically low on fuel, and being designed for speed not glide slow the pilots diverted to Archer Airfield, west of Meanjin. Although local crowds and the military base enjoyed the sight of the "Highly Advanced" plane coming to rest amongst the subtropical trees, in the resulting disciplinary hearing Elaine was bumped from the upcoming J-1 flight in favour of Lorraine. The next flight was an attempt at hypersonic flight, aiming to find the optimal flight plan to achieve 2000m/s in level atmospheric flight. Despite a textbook flight and tricky instrument landing under a low cloud deck, Lorraine was able to demonstrate that the current J-1 would be unable to obtain such speeds. Nonetheless, she quietly became the second fastest pilot in the world A Quiet celebration; Bulualum 9 completed the last planned suborbital testing of biological samples, and with Wawalx3-AJ Crow 8, sounding rockets were routinely making 500km. The existing launch facilities had reached the limit of sounding rocket technology, and the team was eager to move onto their next challenge. Craft File: Nothing new Here Routine Launches: Wawal 3-AJ Crow 7 - (High Altitude Sounding Rocket - Intermediate (480km)) Bulualum 9 - (Advanced Biological Suborbital Experiment 2 of 2) Wawal 3-AJ Crow 8 - (High Altitude Sounding Rocket - Difficult (530km)) Post-Launch Statistics Reputation Science Confidence 935.7 52.0 4026.4 Post-Launch Facilities Funds 39894 Hangar 20 Engineers / 55% Efficiency LC1 - Wawal 5 Engineers / 42.9% Efficiency LC2 - Bulualum 100 Engineers / 41.9% Efficiency R&D - Satellite Era Mat. Sci. 245 Scientists / 77% Complete Research Queue: Basic Solid Rocket Engines Basic Rocketry Hypersonic Flight 1956-1957 Solid Rocket Engines 1956-1957 Orbital Rocketry Integration Queue: Juwanbin-3/A Juwanbin-1/C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssidiousBlue Posted August 13 Author Share Posted August 13 With the suborbital science program completed, and the crewed flight program continuing apace, it was time to work on increasing downrange capacity. The Wawal LC was tooled up to provide one final launch in preparation for expanding the Bulualum program to orbital rocketry, and training a new batch of Engineering graduates before they moved onto the bigger rockets. Wawal 3-AJ Crow 9 - with minimal instrumentation, it achieved an altitude record of 694km And successfully recovered several hundred kilometres downrange. With that triumphant last launch, the Wawal LC was wound up and the engineers reassigned to either the Bulualum booster program or the x-plane Hangar - to work on the rockets that would take crew to space, or alternatively the technology that would keep them alive to return. With the focus turning to newer material technology, an alternative supplier made a bid to outdo Bell, and Douglas Aircraft Company was selected as a secondary contractor - their isogrid tanks were felt likely to be an essential step in maximising the delta-v. But of course, it was the pilots that the public would see - not the dozens of engineers required to ready each flight, nor the hundreds of scientists gathered to work out the technology required. And one of those pilots wanted to set an airspeed record with a Jet Aircraft. Craft File: Nothing new Here Routine Launches: Featured above Post-Launch Statistics Reputation Science Confidence 901.0 53.2 3730.6 Post-Launch Facilities Funds 39894 Hangar 20 Engineers / 55% Efficiency LC1 - Wawal - Closed - LC2 - Bulualum 110 Engineers / 41.5% Efficiency R&D - Basic Solid Rocket Engines 245 Scientists / 0% Complete Research Queue: Basic Rocketry Hypersonic Flight 1956-1957 Solid Rocket Engines 1956-1957 Orbital Rocketry Spoiler Because of the penalty for early research, it is slightly faster to do this rather than straight to hypersonic flight And I may have missed something, forums kept crashing when I went to post over the weekend Integration Queue: Bulualum 6 (So 500) Juwanbin-3/A Juwanbin-1/C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssidiousBlue Posted August 13 Author Share Posted August 13 With two pilots, the x-plane program pushed to increase the flight cadence. They began training in the "X-15" cockpit, simulating the first pressurised cockpit capable of surviving re-entry from low space, and taking crew beyond the Karman Line. The training program was intense - both in the preparation, but also the relationship between the two pilots. Elaine would resent Lorraine as a late-comer, taking all her hard work for granted. Lorraine felt that Elaine was overbearing, and would not let her live down that emergency landing on a routine flight. But Elaine would show her how it's done. By air-launching the J2, she would have more fuel and altitude to break the 700m/s barrier. After the airlaunch, she maintained altitude at 13km, hoping to optimise the J75 performance. With afterburners engaged, as she passed Mach 1.8 the engine thrush increased, offsetting the increased drag. Passing 600ms, the airframe began heating, but not uncontrollably. Finally, passing 700m/s elaine gently throttled the afterburner, maintaining level supersonic flight at Mach 2.4. As she look out and starboard, the moon hung high in the sky. She wondered; with all her accomplishments, would she be the first to go there? or would she be forced to pass the mantle on to a newer, younger pilot? Lorraine would show her how it's done. There was more to the test program than just speed - and being first does not always mean best. As she looked down from stratospheric heights from the new Juwanbin-3, she saw the Meanjin Space Center far below. She wondered; could she live up to the oppurtunity? Could she deliver for the hundreds of engineers, scientists, and staff of the base below - let alone the country, and the world? Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Juwanbin-3 Routine Launches: Bulualum 6 - Failed (second stage shutdown after 1 sec, failing to reach 140km - payload retrieved successfully) Post-Launch Statistics Reputation Science Confidence 1039.2 58.2 4038.0 Post-Launch Facilities Funds 40069 Hangar 20 Engineers / 55% Efficiency LC1 - Wawal - Closed - LC2 - Bulualum 110 Engineers / 44.5% Efficiency R&D - Basic Rocketry 266 Scientists / 24% Complete Research Queue: Hypersonic Flight 1956-1957 Solid Rocket Engines 1956-1957 Orbital Rocketry Integration Queue: Juwanbin-3/A (Recovery) Bulualum 7 (So 500) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssidiousBlue Posted August 14 Author Share Posted August 14 The Bulualum program was hard at work, expanding their launch facility and launching larger, longer-range rockets. To co-ordinate the design, Arther "Al" Cleaver travelled out from the united kingdom, bringing with him experience from developing the Spectre and Sprite engines flow by the Wawal and x-plane programs. There was some tension in bringing an man from the heart of the former British Empire and colonial power to the integrated team at Meanjin. Although there was certainly cultural shock, great people can work together, and MSC was developing a team of great people. Bulualum 9 and 11 were successful, launching sounding payloads far downrange as the team developed lighter materials, more efficient engines and grew the understanding of the required flight profile. They launched a series three-stage of rockets consisting of the Bulualum 1st and 2nd stage, and a Wawal (Aerobee) third stage The team worked closely with McDonnel Aerospace with their expertise in isogrid tanks to minimise weight and maximised fuel. The historic LC, however, was now running at maximum size - larger facilities would be required if the team wanted to build rockets bigger than the 25m-tall Bulualum 12, which already dwarfed its launch stand. Reliability issues plagued the rocket family, with one of the two Veronique second stage engines failing to ignite on both the Bulualum 12 and 13 flights, dropping the payload south of Vanuatu more than a thousand km short of the downrange target. But with every failure, knowledge is gained. With every flight, the team narrowed the flight profile. Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Bulualum-8-So500 (Flights 11 - 13, missnamed) Routine Launches: Bulualum 11 - Above, Success (Downrange Distance LV Development (Difficult) 240km) Bulualum 12 - Second Stage Failure, Primary Mission Success (Downrange Distance LV Development (Difficult) 320km) Bulualum 13 - Second stage failure, Third stage failure, Primary mission failure Juwanbin 2/B - Mach 2 science flight - elaine Juwanbin 1/D (XLR 25, Drop tanks) - High altitude Science flight Lorraine Juwanbin 1/D (XLR25, no drop tanks) Post-Launch Statistics Reputation Science Confidence 1045.9 50.9 4863.7 Post-Launch Facilities Funds 18160 Hangar 60 Engineers / 55% Efficiency LC1 - Wawal - Closed - LC2 - Bulualum 112 Engineers / 44.5% Efficiency R&D - '56-'57 Orbital Rocketry 323 Scientists / 66% Complete Research Queue: 1958 Orbital Rocketry 1959 Orbital Rocketry Integration Queue: Bulualum 14 (So500) Juwanbin 4/A (XLR25x2) Bulualum 15 (So500) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssidiousBlue Posted August 14 Author Share Posted August 14 Despite the frequent engine failures, particularly with the Veronique engine, scientists and engineers worked on improving engine power and reliance. Ideally, the second stage would be optimised for high-altitude and vacuum efficiency without sacrificing thrust to weight ratio. The existing technology was coming close however - Bulualum 14 reached 1600km downrange, far the minimum mission requirements. This was primarily due to the two Veronique engines performing to spec, although one failed just prior to the end of the burn, causing a spin. After RCS regained control, the final payload was spin-stabilised and the AJ45 pushed the final payload to more than 5000m/s Bulualum 15 flew a similar trajectory, as plans were finalised for the AJ10 and Agena. This flight was the most successful yet; although tracking was lost over the Pacific Ocean, the last telemetry contact estimated a downrange distance of over 6000km - almost all the way to south america! Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Bulualum-8-So500 (Flights 14-15 missnamed) Routine Launches: Bulualum 14 - Downrange LV Distance 420km Bulualum 15 - Downrange LV Distance 500km Post-Launch Statistics Reputation Science Confidence 1078.2 50.9 5198.7 Post-Launch Facilities Funds 18738 Hangar 70 Engineers / 85% Efficiency LC1 - Wawal - Closed - LC2 - Bulualum 106 Engineers / 54.8% Efficiency R&D - '58 Orbital Rocketry 323 Scientists / 66% Complete Research Queue: 1958 Orbital Rocketry 1959 Orbital Rocketry Integration Queue: Juwanbin 4/A (XLR25x2) Bulualum 16 (So500) Bulualum 17 (So500) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssidiousBlue Posted August 16 Author Share Posted August 16 With the Bulualum program on the verge of an orbital vehicle, it was time to test life support systems designed to go to space for the first time. To that end, a new airframe was unveiled - The Juwanbin-4. Although both pilots wanted to be the first to fly, Lorraine's experience at high altitude and more reliable landings was felt to be the safer option The 4/A was completed before the planned engine was ready, so a pair of XLR25 engines were used. By demonstrating the fully throttleable engines - and the ability to be re-ignited multiple times - they would allow greater pilot control, but also more options with regards to launch profiles, being able to reduce thrust through the thick lower atmosphere but throttle up as the vehicle climbed towards space. It was unclear, however if the airframe would be able to reach the Karman line with the underpowered engines. The vehicle struggled to gain lift and angle of attack and transonic speeds, but as Lorraine used the Hydrogen peroxide-powered reaction control thrusters, to maintain an angle of attack, the apoapsis gradually increased. At 50km altitude, the stars came out. At 60km, she engaged the HTP-powered reaction control system. Apoapsis climbed beyond 70km... beyond 80km, a new record... 90km... For the first time, a pilot had flown to space. Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Juwanbin-4A Routine Launches: None Post-Launch Statistics Reputation Science Confidence 1146.7 53.7 5208.6 Post-Launch Facilities Funds 19338 Hangar 70 Engineers / 85% Efficiency LC1 - Wawal - Closed - LC2 - Bulualum 106 Engineers / 55.1% Efficiency R&D - '58 Orbital Rocketry 323 Scientists / 68% Complete Research Queue: 1958 Orbital Rocketry 1959 Orbital Rocketry Integration Queue: Bulualum 16 (So500) - Rollout Bulualum 17 (So500) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssidiousBlue Posted August 16 Author Share Posted August 16 With Bulualum 15 finally flying sucessfully after the multiple failures of second and third stage engines, the team pushed for a higher reliability engine for both booster and upper stages. The AJ10 was introduced to meet this demand. The rocket was rolled out to the pad, with the team quietly confident that they would met, and beat, the downrange milestone of 3000km. Second stage ignited successfully, carrying the vehicle above the Karman line. Prior to the final stage, the RCS toggled a spin program to stabilise the final stage and pointed downrange. Finally the vehicle departed over the horizon, and radio contact was lost. The team awaited for news from the Americans, who if all went well would send word via Ham radio. A long 30 minutes passed before... Success! contact had been established with Cape Canaveral in Florida. Not all was perfect, however, as telemetry indicated the vehicle had overshot its apoapsis target, resulting in insufficient velocity to achieve orbit, and the vehicle was losing altitude rapidly. As the sounding payload burnt up over the south coast of Cuba, the team celebrated nonetheless. They were within spitting distance of achieving orbit, and the true beginning of the space age Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Bulualum-16-So500 Routine Launches: None Post-Launch Statistics Reputation Science Confidence 1177.5 54.3 5210.1 Post-Launch Facilities Funds 19156 Hangar 70 Engineers / 85% Efficiency LC1 - Wawal - Closed - LC2 - Bulualum 106 Engineers / 55.1% Efficiency R&D - '58 Orbital Rocketry 323 Scientists / 68% Complete Research Queue: 1958 Orbital Rocketry 1959 Orbital Rocketry Integration Queue: Juwanbin-4/A recovery Juwanbin-1/D-Cancelled Bulualum 17 (So50, Tiny Solar Panel) Juwanbin-2/C (RJ67) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssidiousBlue Posted August 17 Author Share Posted August 17 After Lorraine was selected for the altitude mission, Elaine set her sights on a different goal. One more familiar. Elaine wanted to be the fastest pilot alive, and she had a plan. Having previously flown the Juwanbin-1 with drop tanks to achieve altitude records, she and the engineers worked on a daring plan; using drop-tanks to significantly increase burn time, she would use them to climb to just under 40,000m before commencing a shallow, powered dive to achieve 2000m/s, then throttle-down to hold speed. In order to avoid burning up from the intense atmospheric heating, the vehicle was coated in an ablative armour - pale pink, or all things - which would assist in thermal control. One of the two engines cut-out at 5 minutes, and failed to re-ignite. Elaine feathered the throttle on the remaining engine to keep her speed hypersonic for the duration of the test The ablative coating worked well, and Elaine circled the MSC, controling the craft's energy to ensure a soft touchdown Finally, she disembarked from the craft to be met with applause - she was officially the fastest pilot alive, setting a record that would last until the next era in human spaceflight. The Juwanbin program had demonstrated high altitude and hypersonic flight, and taken pilots to the edge of space. Although it would continue a series of flight to push these boundaries, with both Elaine and Lorraine logging additional flight time hypersonic and above the Karman line, the program had completed all of its goals and soon lost public interest, and thus funding. Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Juwanbin-4A-drop-Pink Routine Launches: None Post-Launch Statistics Reputation Science Confidence 1196.6 34.3 5220.7 Post-Launch Facilities Funds 15035 Hangar 70 Engineers / 85% Efficiency LC1 - Wawal - Closed - LC2 - Bulualum 106 Engineers / 57% Efficiency R&D - Early Avionics & probes 323 Scientists / 6% Complete Research Queue: Satellite era science 1959 Orbital Rocketry Entry, descent and landing Integration Queue: Bulualum 17 (So50, Tiny Solar Panel) Juwanbin-2/C (RJ67) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssidiousBlue Posted August 17 Author Share Posted August 17 The capstone development goal was 6000km downrange with a mere 50L of sounding payload. Having achieved that distance with 500, the team integrated an experimental "solar panel" to enable ongoing in-orbit collection of data, should they be successful in achieving orbit. With this lighter payload, Bulualum-17 was launched with an otherwise identical configuration to Bulualum-16. Once again, the spin-stablised third stage ignited and took the vehicle over the horizon. If all went well, they would hear from the Americans at Cape Canaveral in 40 minutes. Scientists and engineers waited with baited breath.. Before the expected time, however, they received word from un unexpected source - DSS 14 at Goldstone sent a telegram saying contact had been established, giving an approximate direction. There was a quick rush to calculate the required height. For the vehicle to be over the horizon at that angle, it would have to be at least 3000km meant an apogee of 5000km, and a periapsis of at least 148km. As messages of contact and congratulations came in from Cape Canaveral; then Bermuda; then Grand Canary and Madrid, Spain; Kano in western Africa; Johannesburg in south Africa; Tananarive Madagascar, before final confirmation from the west coast of Australia; Carnarvon confirmed acquisition of the vehicle passing over the west coast. As the sun set over the MSC, telescopes aimed upward confirmed an astonishing sight - a new body orbiting high above, the first artificial "Sattelite" Spoiler Was expecting a newspaper but it didn't trigger. Craft File: https://kerbalx.com/AssidiousBlue/Bulualum-17-So50_Solar Routine Launches: None Post-Launch Statistics Reputation Science Confidence 1271.9 34.4 5220.7 Post-Launch Facilities Funds 19313 Hangar 20 Engineers / 85% Efficiency LC1 - Wawal - Closed - LC2 - Bulualum 160 Engineers / 57% Efficiency R&D - Early Avionics & probes 344 Scientists / 16% Complete Research Queue: Satellite era science 1959 Orbital Rocketry Entry, descent and landing Integration Queue: Bulualum 18 (So500) Juwanbin-4/A - Prep for airlaunch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssidiousBlue Posted August 17 Author Share Posted August 17 (edited) -----Intermission---- Just wanted to take a moment here to thank those who've liked the topic and downloaded the craft files. At this stage, I have completed the goals I set out to achieve, including reaching orbit in RO/RSS/RP-1 for the first time. This is obviously not an "expert" run, but I hope that it is useful to document the steps and provide craft files in case anyone else wants to follow along. A couple of things I have learnt along the way DO NOT update mods or hardware during a playthrough if you can help it More about rocket engine history than I knew before More about UK/Australian space history than I knew before A new appreciation of just how important mass savings are and how material technology was an essential part of developing rockets, even if less obvious than the engines and propellants I knew the V-2 used ethanol, didn't realise how late it was until they used kerosene One of my disappointments is that I couldn't use a "Black Arrow" rocket to get to orbit. The Gamma-8 engine is locked behind '59 orbital engines, and the FAR flight model almost universally topples any design that looks similar to the original Black Arrow. I may try again once I have unlocked that node, but as it is a bit of a dead end am unlikely to build an LC for it. I also expected to be able to use the baby sergeant based solid rocket motors earlier, but given doing an explorer-1 style launch needs several nodes of both engines and solids, it was much easier to use an AJ-10. Similarly the XR-99 is late enough that I just used a pair XLR25 to get the hypersonic contract completed ASAP. At this stage I might take a short break and play some modded KSP, but I suspect it will take some time getting used to the stock parts again. Those procedural parts are great fun, but can absolutely see why the base game doesn't use them. Playing Juno: New origins seems to show that they are just too steep a curve compared to the structure the parts give. Anyway, if anyone has some good suggestions about where to take the series, please let me know. I'm not sure I will get all the way to deep space, but it would be nice to get to at least lunar probes. My first goal will be LEO satellites, though, so stay tuned! Cheers, Lauren (AssidiousBlue) Edited August 17 by AssidiousBlue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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