KSP: Cold War

[KerbEagle 6]

Author's Prenote

This is my KSP program. Throughout this series of logs, there will be references to another program, the KKSP. The KKSP is my brother's program (which I will eventually post logs of as well), and we are doing a mini-Space Race between us to see who is better.

As towards the writing itself, I will try to put pictures up, but for the most part I don't want to take too many; this is a writing thing with some images, not an image thing with some writing. Thanks, and enjoy.

Prologue to a Program

It had started with a dream. The stars had been held so tantalizingly close to the Kerbal people, but they lacked the mental stamina to reach it. At least, they lacked it until the year 1954. It had been a slow year, but a race between the two largest nations on the planet, the Republic of Kerbal and the Kerbal's Socialist Union led to an accidental discovery. After a long night of gulping down hard liquor, a young Kerbal scientist decided that the KSU's plane was slower than the Republic's, and began trying to figure a way to give his nation an edge. "Borrowing" some solid and liquid state fuel from a nearby gas station (why they had solid fuel is still under historical debate), the young scientist created a small rocket. After test firing the solid-state one, and narrowly avoiding the damage it caused when it smashed into a small building, and test-firing the liquid-state one, he came to a sudden revelation: the immense power of these fuels could be enough to propel something out of the atmosphere (for those wondering if the KSU won, they didn't; the thing sent on fire promptly).

The KSU quickly began a space program, the Kerbal's Kosmonaut Space Programme, or KKSP. Suddenly realizing that they were behind the ball, the Republic began its own, the Kerbal Space Program, or KSP. The two programs began working simultaneously in the hopes of beating each other to the stars, and beyond...

"Starscraper" Program

Objectives

1) Create a delivery system

2) Deliver a probe to Kerbin orbit (low-mid)

3) Deliver a probe that is capable of transmitting data to Kerbin orbit (L-M)

4a) Deliver a probe capable of transmitting data and infinite lifespan to Kerbin orbit (L-M)

4b) Create "Data-net" by delivering three (3) probes to Kerbin orbit (L-M)

Goal

The primary goal of the Starscraper program was to create a delivery system that could take objects from Kerbin to low to mid atmosphere, which would become the basis of future missions into deeper space. After that, the KSP's directors hoped to create what would be called the "Data-net". This data-net intended to provide the KSP with valuable information, such as weather conditions, radiation in space, and the like. With this data-net, the KSP would be able to accurately predict future situations and send up more and more advanced craft into space with less pre-mission effort.

Delivery System

The delivery system designed for the Starscraper Program was created in a top-secret simulations cycle code-named "Project Trashbin". It took four major designs and several revisions of the designs before an effective delivery vehicle was created: the "Trashbin Delivery System", or TDS (see picture below). The TDS was broken into four stages (picture shows five; clerical error on behalf of staging team). Stage One was the solid-state boosters and the support stands that would keep the ship from falling over pre-launch. The booster would help get the TDS into sub-orbit, but the main amount of work was done by Stage Two. This stage composed of the main liquid-state engine which would push the ship to actual orbit. After that, Stage Three, by use of a lower power liquid-state engine, would push the system into orbit. At the start of the stage, four solar panels would deploy to provide charge for the probe's body until it reached a stable orbit. At this point, the probe itself would be released and be on its own. Unfortunately, this meant that both probe and delivery system would be stranded in space until disposed of.

Image(s)

A picture of the TDS. Shown here in the "Starscraper 1" configuration.

Next

The KSP launches its first probe into space, but the KKSP is not far behind...

[OUScooby]

Cool! I like the idea of the space race with your brother. Will this thread follow the progress of both the KSP and the KKSP, or does the KKSP have their own thread?

[KerbEagle 6]

The KKSP might have their own thread, just for the sake of simplicity, but I might just keep it all one thing and edit the titles so one knows what space program is doing what. Depends on how long each post will be.

... To be honest, I sorta shot myself in the foot with the title of the thread anyways. What the heck; let's just make it one big thing. I'll make a very Soviet post with my brother's progress (and pictures!) to give you an idea on how the Cold War is going. I also intend to have the manned missions a bit more descriptive towards the mission itself. We'll see where this takes us.

[KerbEagle 6]

KKSP

"Zvezda" Program

Objectives

1) Create a delivery system

2) Deliver a probe to Kerbin orbit (L-M)

3) Deliver a probe capable of transmitting data to Kerbin orbit (L-M)

4a) Deliver a probe capable of long-term life and data transmission to Kerbit orbit (L-M)

4b) Deliver several probes to Kerbin orbit (L-M) in order to track space/atmospheric conditions

Goal

Similar to the goals of their opposites, the KKSP hoped that early probes would serve as a stepping stones to future operations. In many ways, both programs were running on the same program plans. However, the execution of these were to be far different. Another thing of note is that the KKSP was mainly directed towards propaganda victories, hoping to create something that would prove the scientific domination of the Kerbal's Soviet Union over the Republic of Kerbal. Not only did the program hope to prove that the KSU could put something in space, but it also hoped to prove to the Republic that the KSU had the capability of creating ballistic missiles more advanced than what the Republic could make. Later in the program, however, science was meant to take over in order to further the idea of scientific domination. It can be noted that the KSP's "Data-net" and the KKSP's idea of a space/atmospheric tracking system were extremely similar. The idea would not be lost on the KSP once the Zvezda program was completed...

Delivery System

While the KSP began work in "Project Trashbin", the KKSP began work on a delivery system of their own. It was known as "Project Kerbal's Ball", and it hoped to do the exact same thing that the future Trashbin Delivery System was to do: Create a delivery system that is capable of taking satellites to low-mid Kerbin orbit. Initial designs, however, were known for instability and unusual design flaws (see image 1 below). However, it was later in the first day of the program, roughly the same time the KSP figured out their own delivery system, that the KKSP managed to figure out their design. The "Zvezda Delivery System", or ZDS, appears similar to the TDS, except that the ZDS is taller, has two more solid-state boosters, and is one stage larger (see image 2). Otherwise, it functions identically to the KSP's TDS. The First Stage is made up by six solid-state boosters, capable of counterbalancing the enhanced weight on the delivery system. The next stage is a liquid stage booster of immense power meant to push the ship further up. After that, the next stage has a less powerful but more fuel-economic engine meant to push the ship towards a stable orbit. At this stage, four solar panels are deployed. The next stage is a small engine with little power but immense fuel efficiency that is meant to adjust the ship into that stable orbit. After that, the probe is released.

KSP

Starscraper One

November 5th, 1955

The same day as the creation of both the Zvezda delivery system and the Trashbin delivery system, the KSP managed to launch their first probe first. It was afternoon, the sun beginning to draw down and darkness approaching. The KSP knew their deadline, and they knew that they couldn't wait any longer. It was a race with no prize for second place. The platform was cleared, and with a roar the four solid-state engines took to life as "Starscraper One" rushed to the skies. The first stage put the ship in low orbit, but it was the second that pulled it into the realm of space. KSP was flying relatively blind; they had no picture, no data transmission-they had to hope that the remote control unit they had put in the delivery system's design would receive their commands accurately enough. Not long after the ship reached roughly seventy thousand meters above sea level, the final stage took control and pushed at a painstakingly slow pace towards a solid low orbit. Finally, at seven minutes and twenty six seconds into the mission, the probe was released (see image 3). Starscraper One was the first Kerbal anything into space, and it was thanks to the KSP and the Republic of Kerbal.

KKSP

Zvezda One

November 5th, 1955

Literally half an hour after launch for the KSP, the KKSP readied their first probe onto the launch position as well. Zvezda One was launched as the sun began to set, and streaked towards the stars. The enhanced weight of the delivery system meant that the boosters did not push the ship as far into the atmosphere as Starscraper One. However, by the time the ship had reached the next stage, it was far enough to where that next stage pushed it into space. The stage afterwards began to push it towards a stable, low orbit, but there wasn't enough fuel. It fell to the final engine, almost a design afterthought, to push the ship into low orbit. Because of the enhanced stress on the ship, there was no time for the orbit to be perfect, just enough for any probe launched not to fall back into Kerbin's atmosphere. At fifty-six minutes into the mission, Zvezda One was launched (see image 4). For want of half an hour (though, in order for it to have won hands-down, it should have launched an hour earlier), it was the first launched probe for the KKSP, but the second launched probe for the Kerbal people. It was an embarrassing failure, but enough to serve as a minor propaganda victory. For those who saw it as it was, they immediately went back to work planning the next probe launch.

Images

Needless to say, the KKSP had some early design flaws. It would take some time, and some less-than-savory tactics, for them to regain some initiative.

An image of the "Zvezda Delivery System", or ZDS. Shown here with in the "Zvezda One" configuration.

The first probe into space, Starscraper One is launched into orbit. The probe survived for an additional fifteen minutes post launch until the charge dies out. It currently is still in orbit around Kerbin, a testimony to its design.

Zvezda One is launched into space. Like Starscraper One, it still exists in orbit after an additional fifteen minutes of battery life.

Next

The race intensifies as both programs begin similar goals, which brings to the forefront the fear of a mole inside the KSP...

Edited June 29, 2013 by KerbEagle 6