[AAR] The Grand Tour - Voyage To The Planets

[tom1499]

Ooohhhhh 'classified' stuff. Things are going to get interesting. Well more interesting than before I mean.

[Guest]

This is great.

However, with everything that HAS gone wrong, I am highly doubting that the landing will go well, either.

[Mekan1k]

Ok. Brilliant chapter, however I have 2 questions.

1) What are those reactor-style things on the fusion-pinch engine's tanks? What mod are they from, and do you have a link so I can get them?

2)How much more epic are you trying to make this story? It is setting the bar really high for the rest of us!

Edit: Also, why don't they have acceleration couches or some equivalent? Like a jell-bed couch, or a water tank to help off-set the direct acceleration.

[BostLabs]

Ok. Brilliant chapter,

Agreed!

2)How much more epic are you trying to make this story? It is setting the bar really high for the rest of us!

LOL! Somehow I don't think my story, that started as a mission report, is going to come anywhere near this level.

[ste1701]

Amazing story! Where have you found that heatshield? Thank you

[Rhyunix]

For one second I thought that this story had a 6 star rating is funny cause it deserves it!

[czokletmuss]

Also, why is "Director" Captain Bob Kerman good at paper pushing? Does that help the mission?

I probably didn't make it clear enough but this (crew list) is supposed to be Jeb's note, not an official document.

Ok. Brilliant chapter, however I have 2 questions.

1) What are those reactor-style things on the fusion-pinch engine's tanks? What mod are they from, and do you have a link so I can get them?

2)How much more epic are you trying to make this story? It is setting the bar really high for the rest of us!

Edit: Also, why don't they have acceleration couches or some equivalent? Like a jell-bed couch, or a water tank to help off-set the direct acceleration.

1) Here you go: http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/bace-0-18-4-v-1/

2) What can I say? The journey has just begun

3) They do! I believe it was even mentioned somewhere in the prologue. However, the command module looks like this:

So our brave pilots have it the hard way

Amazing story! Where have you found that heatshield? Thank you

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/31251-The-Icarus-Project

Remember, the Grand Tour is powered by v.0.20.2 KSP!

[Rhyunix]

You should really change your "rocketry enthusiast" bit to "BOW DOWN TO POLISH WRITERS"

[czokletmuss]

Speaking of whom - if you like hard s-f, you would love Jacek Dukaj. He's almost on par with Stanislaw Lem - and sometimes even better! You can get a free sneak peak into his work here on his page. I have all his books There was even nominated to Oscar animation based loosely on one of his novel:

End of OT

[silentdragon]

As always, amazing story! But i got a question: Do you write the story based on what happened in-game during the playthrough or do you have a precise script for everything?

[czokletmuss]

AAR = After Action Report

I've some plans but, as always, reality mess with them a lot. So while I have every operation (descent, ascent, randez-vous) more or less planned, I play the game, watch the results and then I write about this. For instance, check out the aerobraking in Eve's atmosphere or orbit injection burn in the previous AAR (Jool of Kerbol system) - I totally didn't expect what happened.

[czokletmuss]

UPDATE

No new chapter today folks. However, I will show you a little sneak peak into what's coming:

Also check out my new AAR "The Space Race": http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/43528-AAR-The-Space-Race

The Space Race

Docufiction/mockumentary AAR

Which superpower is going to win the Race - Kerbal States or Kerbal Union?

Does the first generation of kerbonauts really have the right stuff?

Will kerbalkind ever reach the Mun?

INCREDIBLE TALE OF COURAGE, POLITICS AND ROCKETS!

And one more thing: would someobody like to make me a new banner for the Space Race (like one of these made by chobit-389 which I have in my signature)?

Edited July 30, 2013 by czokletmuss

[BostLabs]

Pride goth before a fall, Bob.

This is exciting!

Checking out SpaceRace next.

[daveboy2000]

That kinda looks like a kerbal falling...

[czokletmuss]

CHAPTER 13

LOW EVE ORBIT; GILLY LANDING

***

BERTY v.2.0.8: Eve Lander within range. Initiating system boot. Checking.

BERTY v.2.0.8: All systems operational. Automatic Miner Unit online. Transferring data. Executing mining protocol 001/E-G/A.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Eve Lander ready for docking. “Proteus†will commence aerobraking in 3 hours and 35 minutes.

***

BOB: And?

ROZER: All systems nominal, sir. Orbit injection burn won't take long.

BOB: Good.

BOB: :sigh:

ROZER: I'm sorry sir, with delta-V that big we need quite an acceleration.

BOB: Don't worry captain, we're not here on vacations; it's good to have decent artificial gravity for a change.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Eve Lander ready for docking. “Proteus†will commence aerobraking in 3 hours and 30 minutes.

BOB: Excellent. Captain, wake me up when we're there, I think I'll take a nap.

ROZER: Yes sir.

ROZER: Sir?

BOB: Hum? Are we there yet?

ROZER: Affirmative. We are docking in 5 minutes to the wet workshop.

BOB: Good, good. Remember, our first task is to prepare rovers for descent. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we could take care of the lander itself. Am I right, doctor?

JOHNDON: Well, uh, as a robotics s-s-specialist I would advise proceeding carefully, one can never be s-s-sure that…

BOB: Doctor?

JOHNDON: Uhm, yes. Err. Of course if the good of the mission requires it, I will do my best to prepare the rovers as s-s-soon as possible.

BOB: Excellent.

***

BOB: Have you finished?

JOHNDON: Yes. Err. I mean, technically…

BOB: Great! Let's proceed then, doctor.

JOHNDON: I… :sigh: Yes, d-d-director.

BOB: And so it goes, the first probe to land on Eve! Isn't this exciting?

ROZER: It surely is, sir.

JOHNDON: With all due respect, I'm not s-s-sure that…

BOB: Please, doctor, do not spoil such a great moment. Think about all the scientific wonders which this little robot will unveil for kerbalkind today! And how data obtained by it would help us perform flawless Eve landing.

JOHNDON: Err.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Eve Rover 1 has entered the atmosphere. Beginning aerobraking.

BERTY v.2.0.8: All systems operational. Parachute opened.

ROZER: Sir? Shouldn't the rover have a codename?

BOB: What for?

ROZER: It is believed that nameless vehicles are, well, unlucky. Sir.

BOB: Huh. I always though you are above such superstitious nonsense, Rozer. It was science and kerbal ingenuity which brought us here, not some abstract concepts like luck. Am I right doctor?

JOHNDON: I, uhm, I think…

BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. Contact with the rover lost. Establishing connection.

BOB: What? Is it normal? Jonhdon?

JOHNDON: It's weird, sir. Unlike the aerobraking, the last few kilometers sh-sh-shouldn't…

BOB: Well then do something! We can't loose this rover, we need its data!

BERTY v.2.0.8: Establishing connection. Eve Rover 1 not responding.

ROZER: Is it some kind of mechanical failure?

JOHNDON: I don't know, the pressure and temperature are…

BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. Eve Rover 1 endangered. 30 seconds to impact. Establishing connection.

BOB: What? Johndon!

JOHNDON: Sir, if we don't s-s-send the commands to the r-r-rover before the landing…

BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. Eve Rover 1 endangered. 20 seconds to impact. Establishing connection.

BOB: Then what? It'll crush? No way! Do something, now!

JOHNDON: I'm t-t-trying!

BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. Eve Rover 1 endangered. 10 seconds to impact. Establishing connection.

BOB: Do something, do something!

JOHNDON: I d-d-don't know, m-m-maybe a lightning…

BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. Eve Rover 1 endangered. 5 seconds to impact. Establishing connection.

BOB: No!

BERTY v.2.0.8: Warning. Eve Rover 1 has landed. Impact velocity 58,4 m/s. Critical mission failure. Probe lost.

BOB: Frak!

JOHNDON: I'm s-s-so sorry, d-d-director.

ROZER: A quarter billion… What was the speed in kilometers per hour, BERTY?

BERTY v.2.0.8: 210,24 km/h. It was very unfortunate landing.

BOB: Shut up, both of you! BERTY, don't mention this to commander for now, we'll fill the mission report back in the mothership. Do you understand?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Affirmative.

BOB: You, Johndon – you're going to prepare another one.

JOHNDON: Yes s-s-sir.

BOB: ASAP! And no more failures.

JOHNDON: I w-w-will d-do my b-b-best.

***

PATLIE: Copy that, “Proteusâ€Â. Are you ready?

SID: I was born ready, son. How are you feeling professor?

MALLOCK: I'm fine, thank you. Spending some time in microgravity can only help, as I imagine.

SID: Oh I'm sure it will. I'm so excited that we will have this rare opportunity to study body from the asteroid belt! It will vastly improve our understanding of the processes which take place in the very beginning of solar system formation.

MALLOCK: Well, as a geologist I can't imagine better place to spend a weekend. How long will our journey take once again?

PATLIE: Slightly more than 26 hours, professor.

MACLORF: Hmm, yes. Well, good that I brought some audiobook with me.

SID: Really? I have some good ol'fashion b-class science fiction. I can't help it, I just love these cheap movies. What did you take? Something about cosmology or tidal effects on small bodies or…

MALLOCK: “Gone With The Solar Windâ€Â. You know, alternative history romance. Ahem.

SID: Oh. Well, de gustibus non est disputandum, as they say. Err, have a good time then.

***

BERTY v.2.0.8: Automatic Miner Unit within Gilly's sphere of influence. Executing orbit insertion burn.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Orbit insertion burn completed. Low Gilly orbit achieved. Initiating scanning.

BERTY v.2.0.8: KE-S210 Compact Survey Unit operational. Automatic Mineru Unit switching to standby mode.

***

PATLIE: Wake up, gentlemen.

MALLOCK: Don't do it Scarlett, he's not your true lov… Ahem. Huh? Are we there yet, Mr.. Patlie?

SID: Hey professor, check this out! You can easily see Gilly. Wow, ain't she magnificent.

MALLOCK: Blimey, this is incredible!

PATLIE: We still have some time before orbit insertion burn and landing, so take your, err, time.

MALLOCK: Most impressive. Where are we landing?

PATLIE: Actually, it doesn't really matter – we can easily change our landing site several times in a microgravity environment like this.

MALLOCK: Splendid.

SID: I say we land on top of this mountain-like formation. You can do it?

PATLIE: In almost zero-g? No problem.

PATLIE: And touchdown! “Beta†has landed!

JEB: Copy that. Good work, kid.

SID: Woo-hoo!

MALLOCK: Astounding, really astounding!

BERTY v.2.0.8: I'm happy that the next mission objective is completed. Please remember about EVA protocol and be careful while leaving the vehicle. Gradient of the hill is estimated to be equal to 72,43 degrees.

***

SID: I'm leaving the vehicle. Wow. Horizon is incredibly close, this is truly an alien environment.

JEB: Sid, the first words!

SID: Oh crap! Can I repeat this?

BERTY v.2.0.8: The First Step recording completed.

JEB: Nevermind…

SID: I said I'm sorry, Mister “One Small Step For Kerbalkindâ€Â. It's hard to find words sometimes, you know?

JEB: I know. At least put the flag properly.

SID: Ha! I won't say whose flag was blown over by the engines exhaust on Moho.

JEB: We were in a hurry because of Maclorf, if you don't remember. Now stop talking and do your job.

SID: I knew it – I'm the first person ever on this new world and the first thing I do is to argue with some old fart.

JEB: Your talking about the propellant for your one-jetpack-to-orbit idea?

SID: Hey, I almost forgot about it! Thanks, Jeb.

JEB: You are welcome, egghead.

SID: I love you too.

SID: There we go. Damn it's pretty. Too bad the radiation will render it white in no time.

MALLOCK: Mr.. Sidely! Could you help me with this hatch?

SID: I'm coming. Alright - it's science time!

***

BERTY v.2.0.8: Topographic data collected. Initiating kethane scanning. Executing inclination change.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Kethane pocket detected, commander.

JEB: More good news? It seems that's one of these lucky days.

***

BERTY v.2.0.8: Aerobraking. Eve Rover 2 on course.

BOB: This time it'll make it. Right, doctor?

JOHNDON: P-p-probab-b-b…

BOB: Oh shut up. BERTY, status report.

BERTY v.2.0.8: Aerobraking completed. All systems operational. Parachute opened. Final descent in progress.

ROZER: I hope we won't lost this one.

BOB: Quiet. BERTY?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Final descent completed. Eve Rover 2 has landed and its fully operational.

BOB: What about the data?

BERTY v.2.0.8: Scientific equipment online. Initiating data transfer.

BOB: Yes! Well done, doctor, well done. It's all yours now – stick to the plan and explore as much as you can. We have, err… how much time do we have BERTY?

BERTY v.2.0.8: 119 minutes until batteries expire.

BOB: Yeah, pity there is too dark for solar panels. Good luck, Johndon.

JOHNDON: Thank you, d-d-director.

BOB: Come on, Rozer, we have work to do. It's time to prepare the real thing for landing.

MISSION STATUS

***

CREW ASSIGNMENTS

LAMGML “Alfaâ€Â

1. Cpt. Rozer (pilot)

2. Dr Johndon (engineer)

3. Director Bob

LAMGML “Betaâ€Â

1. Cpt. Patlie (pilot)

2. Prof. Sidely (scientist)

3. Prof. Mallock (scientist)

Edited August 1, 2013 by czokletmuss

[Rhyunix]

Really good chapter! Poor Johndon, I sense abuse. You did screw up an underline but in the fray of images and writing, I don't think you wouldn't of made some mistake

[czokletmuss]

Where?

Yeah, that's the problem of the big chapters - I probably spend more time polishing the post and images than writing AND playing :>

[Rhyunix]

Don't feel bad - frankly Its some kinda magic that you haven't made that many mistakes. Its where proteus is scheduled to aerobrake in 3hrs30

[RogueMason]

This is the little underlining mess-up:

BOB: Doctor?

JOHNDON: Uhm, yes. Err. Of course if the good of the mission requires it, I will do my best to prepare the rovers as s-s-soon as possible.

u]BOB: Excellent.

Also, great chapter, once again

[Commander Zoom]

I really like the use of the blur effect on Eve's surface, simulating the thick atmosphere. (In the BBC series, of course, they used a rippling effect to suggest both that and the incredible heat.)

Really looking forward to the addition of atmospheric effects to KSP, if our computers can handle it - clouds on Kerbin, etc etc.

My own mission writeup of my first Minmus landing suggested that each touchdown and takeoff would be accompanied by a big white cloud of steam, as the ice boils away under the hot exhaust (and quickly refreezes).

[czokletmuss]

Hmm, for some reason I can't edit this post now. Weird. I would take care of this ASAP though.

@Commander Zoom: Yup, more effects would improve immersion significantly. Right now there is close to zero difference between landing on Moho or, say, Mun or Dres. Textures are different, sure, and gravity varies but terrain and the actual landing procedure is exactly the same. Wouldn't it be cool if ice-covered bodies will make landing more risky (braking ice triping the lander)? What about high temperature on the iluminated side of Moho? Clouds and stuff would be really great too and like you said, landing on Eve should resemble this:

[Designer225]

Things looks good: Sid and Maclorf (Shouldn't the second person be Mallock?) landed on Gilly, and a rover has finally landed on Eve. However, by looking at Bob's actions, I'm doubt that the landing on Eve is gonna be successful. Bob isn't helping Rozer and Johndon.

Anyway, great chapter!

I'm still planning (finally from the days of being passively playing KSP) the Duna mission, and I'll probably need a total rewrite on stuff. A video would probably show what I've done now.

[Itsdavyjones]

good chapter, cant wait for more.

[RocketPilot573]

I'm glad you started this up again! Great chapter as always!

[czokletmuss]

Maclorf (Shouldn't the second person be Mallock?

BERTY: Warning. Typo detected.

CZOKLET: Crap! Initiate editing protocol. And next time use this "quality control" thingy, will you BERTY?

BERTY: Affirmative.

Edited August 1, 2013 by czokletmuss