UKS MASEC Mission Logs [Picture Heavy] | UPDATE: Back in business, again!

Cashen · July 25, 2013

[TABLE=width: 1000, align: center]

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UNITED KERBIN STATES

Ministry of Aviation, Space Exploration & Colonization

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[NOTE: The following thread is designed to tell a good story in addition to featuring picture-heavy mission logs. In the interest of realism, I plan to take some personal liberties with the Kerbal universe, with respect to its history, technological development and whatnot. The stuff that I make up here is clearly not canonical. Mods featured in the thead will often be portrayed as third-party contracting companies providing the parts in said mods, like KW Rocketry, B9 Aerospace, etc. I'd also like to give credit to jfjohnny5 for making the flag used to represent the United Kerbin States, which I've borrowed from his Customizable Mission Flags thread. Proper credit will be given to anyone else who's material is featured in this thread. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this little piece of fiction I've put together!]

Table of Contents:

Edited March 7, 2015 by Cashen

Cashen · July 25, 2013

Current Kerbonaut Roster

Note: I've changed how decorations are shown here, to conserve space. Each Kerbal will get one decoration for each vehicle type at each celestial body as applicable for their accomplishments, but duplicates will no longer be given: The one decoration will include all the achievements accomplished with that vehicle at that location. The decorations appear in the order that they first received them, and older ones will be updated if a new achievement is added later. In order to get a decoration, the Kerbal must be performing a mission; being a passenger in transit somewhere else does not qualify for a decoration.

Currently Assigned to Kerbal Space Center

[TABLE=width: 100%]

[TR]

[TD]Name

[/TD]

[TD]Occupation

[/TD]

[TD]Decorations

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Wildon Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Geologist[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Jedlock Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Climatologist[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Gilfal Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Biologist[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Matgard Kermin[/TD]

[TD]Engineer[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Wilski Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Engineer[/TD]

[TD]None yet.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Jebediah Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Test Pilot, Project Horus[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Bill Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Test Pilot, Project Horus[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

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[TD]Bob Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Test Pilot, Project Horus[/TD]

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[/TD]

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Currently Assigned to UKS South Polar Base

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[TD]Name

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[TD]Occupation

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[TD]Decorations

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[TD]Dunlie Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Base Commander[/TD]

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[TD]Kennie Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Chief Scientist[/TD]

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[TD]Luski Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Scientist[/TD]

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[TD]Dilden Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Biologist[/TD]

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[/TD]

[/TR]

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[TD]Matt Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Chemist[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

[/TR]

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[TD]Sigbrett Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Oceanographer[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

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Currently Assigned to UKS Kerbin Station

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[TD]Name

[/TD]

[TD]Occupation

[/TD]

[TD]Decorations

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[TR]

[TD]Desbree Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Director of Kerbin Operations[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

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[TD]Neweny Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Chief Engineer[/TD]

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[/TD]

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[TD]Nelgard Kerman

[/TD]

[TD]Chief Scientist

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[TD]Ergee Kerman

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[TD]Engineer

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[TD]Dungard Kerman

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[TD]Scientist

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[TD]Herney Kerman

[/TD]

[TD]Scientist

[/TD]

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Currently Assigned to UKS Mobile Mun Base

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[TD]Name

[/TD]

[TD]Occupation

[/TD]

[TD]Decorations

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[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Mac Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Director of Mun Operations[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Kirmin Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Chief Engineer[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Wehrrigh Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Chief Scientist[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

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[TD]Milmon Kerman

[/TD]

[TD]Engineer

[/TD]

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[/TD]

[/TR]

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[TD]Adwise Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Geologist[/TD]

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[TD]Obcan Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Geologist[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

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Currently Assigned to UKS Minmus Station

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[TD]Name

[/TD]

[TD]Occupation

[/TD]

[TD]Decorations

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[TD]Richbur Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Director of Minmus Operations[/TD]

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[TD]Bartvin Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Chief Engineer[/TD]

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[TD]Jonbart Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Chief Scientist[/TD]

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[TD]Ludzer Kerman

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[TD]Engineer

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[TD]Ludbrett Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Scientist[/TD]

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[/TD]

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[TD]Losy Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Geologist[/TD]

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[/TD]

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Currently Assigned to UKS Laythe Station

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[TR]

[TD]Name

[/TD]

[TD]Occupation

[/TD]

[TD]Decorations

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Milke Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Phase 1 Commander[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

[/TR]

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[TD]Elmon Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Phase 1 Chief Engineer[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

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[TD]Milgas Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Phase 1 Chief Scientist[/TD]

[TD]

[/TD]

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[TD]Ellorf Kerman

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[TD]Phase 1 Engineer

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[TD]Carson Kerman

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[TD]Phase 1 Geologist

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[TD]Thompler Kerman[/TD]

[TD]Phase 1 Climatologist[/TD]

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Edited July 17, 2014 by Cashen

Cashen · July 25, 2013

Chapter 1: When We Left Kerbin

Project Geb

When a species evolves and spreads out across a planet, particularly when they come to dominate said planet, it's a natural part of that evolution that they fragment into various nation-states. This is particularly true when segments of the species become isolated from each other geographically, only to re-contact each other later. However, eventually, it's also a natural part of the species' evolution that they eventually re-unite as one large community, a consolidated planet as it were. Such is the case with the Kerbals. After centuries as distinct nations, the Kerbals have only recently united under a single flag, the United Kerbal States, or UKS. There are no more frontiers to explore, no new territory to discover on the surface of Kerbin. Its land masses are all mapped, and much has been colonized.

There is only one frontier left to conquer, and it is the most difficult, the most technologically challenging one of all. The conquest of space. United as they are, only now do they have the resources, the combined effort able to accomplish such goals. This is the story of their venture out into their solar system.

To oversee such a task in a coordinated manner, the UKS government has created the Ministry of Aviation, Space Exploration and Colonization, or MASEC, and enlisted the help of some of the most innovative companies. The effort has been divided into different projects, each with specific goals, that will compliment each other.

Project Geb

Project Geb, the missions to put the first Kerbals in space, to develop the technologies for those first steps: Getting to orbit, learning orbital mechanics, learning how to return to Kerbin safely, and to learn those basic techniques and skills that will allow for more ambitious manned space exploration projects that will follow.

Project Isis

Working in parallel with Project Geb, Isis concerns itself primarily with unmanned, science-gathering missions, to learn about the other worlds in Kerbin's solar system. What is that liquid on the surface of Eve? How thick is it's atmosphere? What is the composition of the ice-caps on Duna? Is there oxygen in Laythe's atmosphere? These are the questions Isis is expected to answer before Kerbals are sent off to the other planets, to prioritize exploration and to assist in developing the kind of vehicles that can get there and return. Initially, while being announced simultaneously with Project Geb, Isis receives very little staff and funding.

Hiring the First Kerbonauts

MASEC has decided that for Project Geb, they will start out with six Kerbonauts, known as the "Geb Six". The first three, Jebediah, Bill and Bob, are all former military test pilots from the various national air forces prior to Unification. The second three, Milke, Mac and Dunlie, are engineers. The rationale is that the first flights with any new spacecraft will first be done by the test pilot group, and later refinements and more technically complicated missions will be flown by the engineers.

Building a Space Launch Complex

With a unified planet with no national borders, MASEC has free regin to construct their space center anywhere they like, and so an optimum location was chosen on the equator, in order to take maximum advantage of the velocity boost of Kerbin's rotation, as well as on an eastern coastline, so that launches would take place over water. The site chosen was an old air force base with an existing runway, hangar and control tower. The Kerbonaut complex, mission control building, tracking station, as well as a large Vehicle Assembly Building were constructed alongisde.

The recently constructed Kerbal Space Center

Developing the Hardware

The first spacecraft, known as Geb Mk1, will be constructed partly by MASEC's internal engineering team, including the capsule and spacecraft systems. The propulstion systems however will be contracted out, and four companies have been asked to submit liquid-fueled bipropellant rocket engines for static testing, using standardized 1.25 and 2.50m diameters.

The AIES Constellation C6 1.25m engine during static testing

KW Rocketry's Maverick-V 2.50m engine during static testing

In all, nine 1.25m engines and 12 2.5m engines were submitted and put through their paces, with the results displayed below:

[TABLE=class: grid, width: 100%, align: center]

[TR]

[TD]Manufacturer

[/TD]

[TD]Name

[/TD]

[TD]Size (m)

[/TD]

[TD]Thrust (kN)

[/TD]

[TD]Mass (t)

[/TD]

[TD]TWR

[/TD]

[TD]Vac ISP

[/TD]

[TD]Atm ISP

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]AIES Aerospace[/TD]

[TD]Exper-06[/TD]

[TD]1.25m[/TD]

[TD]160[/TD]

[TD]0.85[/TD]

[TD]19.19[/TD]

[TD]370[/TD]

[TD]320[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]AIES Aerospace[/TD]

[TD]Constellation C5[/TD]

[TD]1.25m[/TD]

[TD]200[/TD]

[TD]0.50[/TD]

[TD]40.77[/TD]

[TD]370[/TD]

[TD]320[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]AIES Aerospace[/TD]

[TD]Vulcan-VR1[/TD]

[TD]1.25m[/TD]

[TD]220[/TD]

[TD]1.50[/TD]

[TD]14.95[/TD]

[TD]370[/TD]

[TD]320[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]KW Rocketry[/TD]

[TD]Vesta VR-1[/TD]

[TD]1.25m[/TD]

[TD]120[/TD]

[TD]0.60[/TD]

[TD]20.39[/TD]

[TD]400[/TD]

[TD]350[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]KW Rocketry[/TD]

[TD]WildCat-V[/TD]

[TD]1.25m[/TD]

[TD]230[/TD]

[TD]1.50[/TD]

[TD]15.63[/TD]

[TD]370[/TD]

[TD]325[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]KW Rocketry[/TD]

[TD]Maverick-1D[/TD]

[TD]1.25m[/TD]

[TD]350[/TD]

[TD]2.00[/TD]

[TD]17.84[/TD]

[TD]355[/TD]

[TD]320[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]NovaPunch[/TD]

[TD]RMA-3 Orbital Achievement Device [/TD]

[TD]1.25m[/TD]

[TD]75[/TD]

[TD]0.65[/TD]

[TD]11.76[/TD]

[TD]410[/TD]

[TD]300[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]NovaPunch[/TD]

[TD]KX-2[/TD]

[TD]1.25m[/TD]

[TD]195[/TD]

[TD]1.20[/TD]

[TD]16.56[/TD]

[TD]375[/TD]

[TD]350[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]NovaPunch[/TD]

[TD]F-A30 Aerospike[/TD]

[TD]1.25m[/TD]

[TD]285[/TD]

[TD]2.00[/TD]

[TD]14.53[/TD]

[TD]380[/TD]

[TD]375[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Geb Mk1's launch vehicle will use all 1.25m parts, with a two-stage booster plus the spacecraft, for three engines in all. The AIES Constellation C6 stood out for its outstanding thrust to weight ratio, far surprassing all the others, though its thrust and ISP values didn't fit well with the three stage design. Similary NovaPunch's LF-A30 Aerospike engine was noted for its exceptional ISP in both vaccuum and atmospheric conditions, but it too didn't fit well into the desired booster design, and in the end KW Rocketry, with its more balanced suite of 1.25m engines, swept the contract for the first manned rocket, and all three of its engines will appear, powering each of the three stages. Both AIES and NovaPunch have, however, been instructed to hold on to those designs should their specific properies become useful later. The results of the 2.50m engine testing has not been released yet.

KW Rocketry also won the contract for constructing the propellant tanks, while NovaPunch developed a launch escape tower propelled by solid rockets, which can be seen under testing below.

The Spacecraft's guidance computer, developed as a Joint Venture between Anatid Robotics and Multiversal Mechatronics, has been nicknamed "Mechanical Jebediah" in reference to Jebediah Kerman, who has been chosen to be the first Kerbal in space. However, when learning of the autopilot features, Jebediah protested: "It can show me whatever information I need, it can help me plot manuvers, hell maybe I'll even let it do attitude control now and then, but I will NOT let it touch the engines. If you're going to send me into space, at least give me something to do!" So, early on in development, it became kind of an unwritten code that the autopilot functions were not to be used unless absolutely necessary.

Attitude control would be provided by a set of internal reaction wheels tied to the guidance computer, and power would be provided by a pair of extendable solar panels. With the systems completed, engines tested and the Kerbonauts having gone through rigorous training, it was time to assemble the very first spacecraft. Here we see Geb Mk1 being stacked in KSC's VAB

The Geb Mk1 Spacecraft being assembled in the VAB

Geb Mk1 fully stacked atop its launch vehicle, the Latrans I

It's time to launch some rockets!

Edited August 4, 2013 by Cashen

Cashen · July 25, 2013

Mission: Geb I

Mission Outline & Objectives:

First launch of the Geb Mk1 Spacecaft
First manned launch
Put the first Kerbal into space
Crew: Jebediah Kerman

Jebediah, the brave and sometimes crazy test pilot, will ride the first rocket into space. Time to roll Geb out to the pad and get started.

Geb Mk1 and Latrans I roll out to the launch pad in anticipation of the first space launch.

Liftoff!

First stage separation, just before the gravity turn.

Leveling out after jettisoning the upper booster stage, Geb is on its own now.

Orbit is achieved: 83.036 by 89.149km, Inclination 0.374, Eccentricity 0.004.

Jebediah rolls the spacecraft to get a look at Mun through the viewport.

After circling Kerbin, Jeb burns retro to de-orbit in preparation for a landing off the shore from KSC.

Coming down right on target.

Jeb splashes down and gets out of the capsule, awaiting recovery, the mission a success!

Jebediah Kerman:

Edited May 1, 2014 by Cashen

Cashen · July 27, 2013

Mission: Geb II

Mission Outline & Objectives:

Second manned launch
Reach a circular, equitorial orbit at 75km
Complete five orbits, and attempt a precision splashdown close to KSC
Crew: Bill Kerman

Jeb's first flight completed a single orbit around Kerbin and took less than 45 minutes. For the second flight, Bill will attempt to stay in space for half a day, or five orbits, launching just after sunrise and landing near sunset. He will also attempt to de-orbit more precisely, in order to test how accurately the capsule can be landed through the atmosphere. The goal of this mission is to demonstrate that spaceflight can be an exact science, and to prove that Kerbals can survive longer durations in space.

The second flight of Geb gets ready to launch not long after sunrise.

Liftoff, Bill clears the tower and begins the vertical ascent.

In orbit. Fine tuning the circularization burn allows for a nearly perfect 75km orbit.

Bill completes an orbit and overflies KSC, for the first of several passes.

Sunrise on the final orbit.

A de-orbit burn is executed precisely 92.5 degrees west of KSC. However, Geb's service module engine proves too powerful and the burn is overshot, so Geb turns prograde, burns to correct, then turns back retrograde and jettisons the service module. Let's see how close Bill gets.

Re-entry over KSC, Bill is a little long.

Still not bad though! Bill splashes down just 7km offshore from KSC not long after sunset. Mission successful.

Bill Kerman:

[sPECIAL NOTE: To give credit where credit is due, the precise timing of the de-orbit burn was calculated using this chart developed by alterbaron. 75km altitude was selected as it made reading the chart easier.]

Edited May 1, 2014 by Cashen

Cashen · July 27, 2013

Mission: Geb III

Mission Outline & Objectives:

Third manned launch
Reach a circular, polar orbit at 80km
Complete ten orbits
Crew: Milke Kerman

Geb Mk1 has seen two test pilots, and now it's time for one of the engineers to give it a shot. This time they'll be aiming for an even longer stay in space, nearly a full Kerbin day, and a more challenging polar orbit. This will allow Milke to get a good look at nearly all of Kerbin's varied terrain as it rotates under him.

Milke launches and pitches north after first stage separation to insert into a polar orbit.

Polar orbit successful, circularized at exactly 80km. Inclination is slightly off, 84 degrees. Milke passes over the north pole. Crossing the equator on the other side, the first ever inclination change burn took place, shifting the inclination by 3 degrees, to 87, and consuming half of the remaining fuel. As the mission planners expected, polar orbits cost more delta-v, both in getting into the orbit, and in corrections. Geb Mk1 has just barely enough fuel for this mission.

Not long after, Milke passes over the south pole. He would complete ten orbits over the course of nearly a full Kerbin day.

Eventually as Kerbin rotated underneath, KSC came close to the orbital track again, and while passing over the south pole, Milke de-orbited for a splashdown in the middle of the ocean off of the space center.

After the de-orbit burn and jettisoning the service module, Milke is treated to quite a view of the southern continent and its mountains, at the edge of the polar ice cap.

Re-entry over the ocean, this one a little more severe than the others due to a sharper angle. Minmus is visible as the dot on the horizon.

Chutes deploy and Milke returns to Kerbin, awaiting pick-up back to the space center. Success!

Milke Kerman:

Edited May 1, 2014 by Cashen

Cashen · July 27, 2013

Mission: Geb IV

Mission Outline & Objectives:

Fourth manned launch
Reach a circular, equatorial orbit at 80km
Perform the first Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA)
Crew: Dunlie Kerman

The first three missions of the Project Geb have demonstrated that Kerbals can survive in space rather easily. But launching into orbit and sitting in a capsule is fine and dandy, but in order to get down to the business of living in space, eventually one has to get out of the capsule! To that end, MASEC engineers have developed an addition to the pressure suit - a fully enclosed life support system to allow Kerbals to survive outside of the spacecraft, and additionally, it contains tiny RCS thrusters and a tank of monopropellant to allow them to move about in space independantly. Dunlie Kerman will be the first to test this brand new technology.

Geb 4 sits on the pad ready to launch, with the UKS flag in the foreground.

Dunlie reaches orbit at 80km. By the time orbit is established, it's roughly noon local time. The EVA will wait until the spacecraft comes around and sees sunrise, to allow for the longest period of time in which to work.

Coming around Kerbin again, Dunlie depressurizes Geb, opens the hatch and steps out into the vacuum of space. Many questioned the ability of a Kerbal to function outside of the spacecraft, if they would panic or be unable to control their RCS packs.

Dunlie backs away from Geb. "This is incredible!" he exclaims.

"What a magnificent sensation!"

Dunlie manuvers about the spacecraft, putting his RCS pack through its paces and seeing just how far he's comfortable with moving away from the capsule. "The view from up here is tremendous."

Moving closer again, Dunlie can't help but inspect Geb's service module engine, KW Rocketry's Vesta VR-1

"I can see the launch complex from here!"

Eventually Dunlie is told to get back inside the capsule. Another orbit is completed, which included a slight orbital altitude adjustment from 80km to 75km, followed by a precision de-orbit, trying to replicate the close landing success of Geb 2. Here we see the capsule re-entering over KSC.

Very close to a pinpoint landing. Dunlie won't have to wait long to be recovered!

Dunlie Kerman:

Geb 4 is dedicated to the late Edward Higgins White, the first American to perform a spacewalk during Gemini 4 in 1965, who tragically lost his life 2 years later in the Apollo 1 fire.

Edited May 1, 2014 by Cashen

SuperWeegee4000 · July 27, 2013

Very nice! I like the way you're doing the missions, rostering the crew, and seamlessly incorporating the mods into a background story.

Ronox · July 27, 2013

AHHH! I want more!

Cashen · July 27, 2013

2.50m Booster Development

The results of the 2.50m engine static testing have been released. In all, 4 companies submitted 11 engines for evaluation.

[TABLE=class: grid, width: 100%, align: center]

[TR]

[TD]Manufacturer

[/TD]

[TD]Name

[/TD]

[TD]Size (m)

[/TD]

[TD]Thrust (kN)

[/TD]

[TD]Mass (t)

[/TD]

[TD]TWR

[/TD]

[TD]Vac ISP

[/TD]

[TD]Atm ISP

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]AIES Aerospace[/TD]

[TD]Orbit II[/TD]

[TD]2.50m[/TD]

[TD]300[/TD]

[TD]1.20[/TD]

[TD]25.48[/TD]

[TD]370[/TD]

[TD]320[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]AIES Aerospace[/TD]

[TD]Produl-VR2[/TD]

[TD]2.50m[/TD]

[TD]500[/TD]

[TD]1.80[/TD]

[TD]28.32[/TD]

[TD]370[/TD]

[TD]320[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]AIES Aerospace[/TD]

[TD]Mogul-MP1500[/TD]

[TD]2.50m[/TD]

[TD]1250[/TD]

[TD]5.00[/TD]

[TD]25.48[/TD]

[TD]370[/TD]

[TD]320[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]B9 Aerospace[/TD]

[TD]L2 Atlas[/TD]

[TD]2.5m[/TD]

[TD]120[/TD]

[TD]0.90[/TD]

[TD]13.59[/TD]

[TD]390[/TD]

[TD]300[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]KW Rocketry[/TD]

[TD]Service Propulsion System[/TD]

[TD]2.50m[/TD]

[TD]200[/TD]

[TD]2.25[/TD]

[TD]9.06[/TD]

[TD]410[/TD]

[TD]270[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]KW Rocketry[/TD]

[TD]Vesta VR-9D[/TD]

[TD]2.50m[/TD]

[TD]500[/TD]

[TD]5.00[/TD]

[TD]10.19[/TD]

[TD]380[/TD]

[TD]310[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]KW Rocketry[/TD]

[TD]Maverick-V[/TD]

[TD]2.50m[/TD]

[TD]1300[/TD]

[TD]6.00[/TD]

[TD]22.09[/TD]

[TD]335[/TD]

[TD]285[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]KW Rocketry[/TD]

[TD]Griffon-G8D[/TD]

[TD]2.50m[/TD]

[TD]1700[/TD]

[TD]8.00[/TD]

[TD]21.66[/TD]

[TD]325[/TD]

[TD]280[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]NovaPunch[/TD]

[TD]Orbital Bertha[/TD]

[TD]2.50m[/TD]

[TD]475[/TD]

[TD]3.00[/TD]

[TD]16.14[/TD]

[TD]405[/TD]

[TD]335[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]NovaPunch[/TD]

[TD]SLS-250 Bearcat[/TD]

[TD]2.50m[/TD]

[TD]1400[/TD]

[TD]3.25[/TD]

[TD]43.91[/TD]

[TD]335[/TD]

[TD]290[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]NovaPunch[/TD]

[TD]Bertha Mini Quad[/TD]

[TD]2.50m[/TD]

[TD]1850[/TD]

[TD]6.50[/TD]

[TD]29.01[/TD]

[TD]320[/TD]

[TD]275[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Standouts included the lone submission by B9 Aerospace, for its light weight and extremely low profile. AIES Aerospace produced a nicely balanced suite of engines with good thrust to weight ratios, but again all with identical ISP numbers. KW Rocketry submitted four engines, including the small SPS engine with a poor thrust to weight, but a fantastic ISP in vaccuum, plus their usual trio of engines with ascending thrust and descending ISP; good practice for multi-staged rockets. The real highlight was NovaPunch's Bearcat engine, affording an outstanding thrust to weight ratio. The Bearcat would be selected as the primary engine for all 2.50m booster first stages, both for Project Geb and Project Isis. KW Rocketry would continue to be contracted for all 2.50m diameter propellant tanks.

Project Isis has much less staff and funding than Geb, which has until now enjoyed all of the attention. This is natural since much more attention is focused on manned spaceflight. Both programs rely on the same booster development, however, and Isis will use the first 2.50m booster in its first mission.

Isis I

It turns out that AIES Aerospace makes much more than just rocket engines. They also specialize in unmanned probes and scientific equipment, so much so that almost the complete Isis Atmospheric and Landing Probe (IALP) would be constructed by them.

IALP being assembed in the VAB, here shown affixed to its heat shield.

The IALP body is constructed by AIES Aerospace, and includes a small propellant tank integrated at the bottom, plus four dual-nozzle Des-T5 engines, producing a combined 20kN of thrust. These small descent engines will assist the top-mounted parachute in making landings. The power is supplied by a AIES RAD-R Mini RTG and a 100 unit battery. Also provided by AIES are four scientific instruments, measuing pressure, temperature, the local acceleration due to gravity, and acceleration forces experienced by the probe. A Graphotron 2000 data recording devide, and a Kerbal Engineer flight and data computer are included as well. Lights, telecommunications equipment, laser range finding, as well as a high quality, omnidirectional digital camera with high zoom, provided by Lazor Systems, round out the science package. IALP is intended to eventually fly to other planets and collect data on their atmospheres, gravity, and take photos, all to be transmitted back to Kerbin.

Isis atop of its heat shield and fairing base prior to final assembly and stacking

The fairing would also be constructed by AIES Aerospace, and the NovaPunch Orbital Bertha would be chosen as the upper stage engine. The first test flight of IALP will be to study Kerbin's own atmosphere, as a calibration test of all its systems.

The completed vehicle, Isis inside the fairing and atop the Latrans II Booster.

Mission Outline & Objectives:

First launch of the Isis Probe and 2.50m Latrans II booster.
Reach a circular, equatorial orbit at 80km
Test the Lazor Systems camera by taking photographs of Mun and Minmus
Re-enter Kerbin's atmosphere and collect data down to a sea splashdown

Liftoff just after sunset at KSC.

Lower stage separation and fairing jettisoning prior to final orbit insertion.

Shortly after entering stable orbit, the Lazor Systems Camera turns and zooms to take photographs of Minmus, demonstrating good zoom capabilities.

Later in the orbit, detailed photos of Mun are taken, like this one.

The upper stage de-orbits the probe, and is then jettisoned. The probe then turns to point its heat shield towards the atmosphere. Systems power up to begin recording atmospheric and gravity data.

The heat shield protects the probe from re-entry

Simultaneously, IALP discards its heat shield and deploys its parachute at a height of about 2km. Data recording is going smoothly.

Splashdown. The probe tips over but survives, data intact. Later, the probe would be recovered and taken back to KSC, its mission a success.

Investigation of Kerbin's Atmosphere

Direct Observations from Isis 1

The descent profile, showing Isis' velocity relative to the surface, and the dynamic pressure exerted on it. The strong peak in dynamic pressure shows the peak re-entry effects. The sudden drop off at the end shows parachute deployment.

The temperature and pressure of Kerbin's atmosphere as a function of altitude.

By rearranging the formula for dynamic pressure, and assuming surface velocity is the local air velocity (assuming no wind), we can calculate the density of Kerbin's atmosphere relative to altitude for each data point, which is shown below along with the local acceleration due to gravity.

Atmospheric density and local acceleration due to gravity.

The final analysis involved estimating the molar mass, and hence composition, of Kerbin's atmosphere. Given a calculated surface air density of 1.223054kg/m³, a surface temperature of 19.85C, and a pressure of 1atm, by rearranging the ideal gas law and inserting the proper ideal gas constant (0.088205746m³Ã¢â‚¬â€°atm K^{Ã¢Ë†â€™1}Ã¢â‚¬â€°kg-mol^{Ã¢Ë†â€™1}) we calculate the molar mass of Kerbin's atmosphere to be 29.41kg/kg-mol, which is roughtly consistent with an atmosphere of mostly nitrogen (28kg/kg-mol) with some Oxygen (32kg/kg-mol). Linear interpolation would suggest a composition of 35% Oxygen and 65% Nitrogen, but this obviously is an approximation since it includes several assumptions (Such as Kerbin's atmosphere having only two components).

Edited August 4, 2013 by Cashen

Cashen · July 28, 2013

The Chemistry of Kethane

Kethane is an interesting and essential substance. As far as what it is exactly, that's complicated. There is no one chemical formula that describes it. It's a complex mixture of chemicals. Primarily, though, it contains a large variety of compounds rich in Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen, along with smaller amounts of Nitrogen. At ambient conditions, high purity kethane is a mostly colorless, volatile liquid. The raw material often has a green color associated with it due to dissolved minerals. It can be found in vast underground formations, within porous rock under high pressure and high temperature. In the underground formation it exists as a gas, but typically condenses after produced from a well (when the pressure and temperature drop).

The substance is quite stable under normal conditions, making direct uses somewhat limited. Kethane is the backbone of the rocket propellant industry, however, primarily for two different chemical reactions that can be done to refine it into more useful materials.

The Electrochemical Method

Kethane can undergo a process of electrolysis, whereby a large electric current is passed through the substance to break it into two different materials. One material concentrates the carbon and hydrogen into low molecular weight hydrocarbons. The other fraction is oxygen-rich gas stream that can be condensed as a mild cryogenic liquid. Essentially, the stable, inert kethane is broken down into two higher-energy materials, suitable for liquid fueled bi-propellant rocket engines. This is the basis of Kerbin's rocket industry. When combusted, the exhaust gases are primarily carbon dioxide and water.

The Catalytic Method

This method of processing involves passing hot, gaseous kethane over a rare metal catalyst, which causes it to undergo a chemical re-arrangement of its atoms and molecules into a higher, less stable energy state. The new material is a more viscous and less volatile liquid. The process is endothermic and requires large energy input. Some of that input energy is returned, however, when the refined material is passed over another catalyst where it gives off its energy by decomposing into raw, superheated gases, carbon dioxide and water vapour. This process allows kethane to be processed into a very good mono-propellant for things like reaction control systems.

In addition, raw kethane is often found with dissolved inert gases, particularly xenon, which is only a trace gas in Kerbin's atmosphere. The highly theoretical but promising technology of ion propulsion claims to be able to use this xenon gas as reaction mass in electric engines, and kethane reserves may prove to be the most economical way to obtain the gas in sufficient quantities.

Kerbin's kethane reserves and locations are well known already. How they formed is something of a mystery however. Many Kerbals have theorized that it's organic in nature, matter left behind from previous life exposed to high temperature and high pressure in sedimentary rock. Others propose that it may be primordial, generated early in the solar system's life, which would suggest it may exist elsewhere in the solar system. This theory was given a boost when it was determined by spectral analysis that Jool's atmosphere contains the substance in reasonably large quantities. If kethane exists elsewhere in the solar system, exploration may be made much easier by in-situ resource utilization.

Recently, researchers have discovered that a method of scanning the surface using a complex multi-wavelength scanner can detect and quantify kethane deposits, rather than the older methods of just drilling holes in areas with promising rock formations. This could be exceptionally useful in locating deposits on other celestial bodies, if they exist. So the Project Isis team have pushed for a second launch soon after the first, to put a kethane scanning satellite into polar orbit, and to see if its findings match what is already known about Kerbin's kethane.

Isis II

Mission Outline & Objectives:

Launch the Isis Kethane Scanning Satellite (IKSS)
Orbit should be polar, altitude of 72.5km
Scan Kerbin for kethane to verify the scanning process works

Much like with Isis 1, AIES Aerospace has provided much of the hardware for this mission. While KW Rocketry and NovaPunch focus on building bigger rocket engines, with rumors floating around of 3.75 and even 5m diameter engines in the works, AIES builds small, and IKSS will be equipped with its own small propulsion system, giving it the ability to perform station-keeping and modify its orbit to a degree.

IKSS after assembly in the VAB. Note AIES' small ORB-1 rounded propellant tank with the MODC-2 engine, providing 20kN of thrust and 390 ISP in a vaccuum.

IKSS inside the fairing and stacked atop a Latrans II booster.

Jettosning the fairing, IKSS uses its own propulsion to complete the orbital circularizing. Note KSC in the distance in the lower left. Launch was right at sunrise so as to place the probe in orbit at the night/day terminator.

Two orbital adjustments are made post-launch. One, to tune the inclination to 90, and then again to get the desired altitude and zero eccentricity.

Mission controllers are extatic to find that not only does the scanner work, but its data matches known kethane deposits with high accuracy. This represents an incredible step forward in technology, with much promise for the future!

Edited August 4, 2013 by Cashen

Cashen · July 29, 2013

Geb V

Project Geb has gone more or less as far as it can with the 2-stage, 1.25m Latrans I booster. Seeing the success of Latrans II on the Isis I and II unmanned missions, and knowing that they need a heavier spacecraft to keep pushing the boundaries of what can be done in space, Geb Mk2, which is a fair bit heavier than Mk1, will use this larger, single stage, 2.5m booster.

Mission Outline & Objectives:

First flight of Geb Mk2, an uprated version of the Geb spacecraft
First night launch
Achieve a circular equitorial orbit
Test out the new Reaction Control System and the Lazor Camera
Fly into a high altitude elliptical orbit before returning to Kerbin
Crew: Bob Kerman

The original Geb spacecraft relied on reaction wheels to pitch, roll and yaw. However, MASEC engineers know that in order to do bigger and better things in space down the road, they will need to learn the skills of rendezvous and docking. This requires translational movement, and hence, RCS. In addition, Geb has been fitting with a small docking clamp and a docking camera provided by Lazor Systems. Also, the designers couldn't help but a regular Lazor Camera on it as well, after seeing the success of the camera on Isis 1. Bob Kerman, the only test pilot who hasn't flown yet, will get the first flight.

IGeb Mk2 is assembled in the VAB. Note the reaction control thrusters and monopropellant tank, and the Lazor camera. The docking port is underneath the launch escape tower.

Geb rolls out to the pad atop aLatrans II booster, ready for the first manned night launch.

"Liftoff, the clock is running!"

The booster proves to be over-powered for the lightweight, single person spacecraft. The booster kept burning until all propellant was gone and the orbit nearly circular, which ended up being at 113km. Here Geb turns around and uses its camera to sight the spent booster, which at the time was at about 55km altitude and falling back into the atmosphere. Geb's own fuel tanks are nearly full, still.

At this point mission planners, surprised by how much delta-v the booster provided, and how much remained in Bob's vessel, did some math. Missions to Mun were always planned for the future, and a rough estimate of the delta-v required to get there was known. As it turns out, Geb has enough delta-v to get to Mun. However, there would be no fuel left to get back with, until someone realized that the burn was at the right time and for the right duration, Geb would fly around Mun and be slingshot back to Kerbin, a so-called "free return trajectory". When asking Bob if he would be okay with the new objective, well, he didn't hesitate one bit! So, it was decided. They'd fly to Mun and back.

The course plotting Bob's free return trajectory, a single pass around the far side of Mun.

Bob flies out past Kerbin, shattering the previous record for the Kerbal furthest from home.

Swinging around Mun, Bob becomes the first Kerbal to see Mun's far side. The timing could not be better, as Mun's far side is illuminated.

"What a spectacular sight I have out the viewport right now; Kerbin rising from behind Mun. You guys in Mission Control should see this."

In the excitement of travelling to Mun, everyone nearly forgot about the objective of testing out the RCS system. So Bob fires up the thrusters during the coast back to Kerbin, here using the reverse translation. The systems works just as it was intended.

Bob returns to Kerbin, splashing down in the middle of the ocean at night, waiting to be recovered.

Bob Kerman:

Edited May 1, 2014 by Cashen

Cashen · July 30, 2013

Isis III: Mun Science Package

While Project Geb has gotten more publicity from the general public, Isis is the one that has the scientific community buzzing, with the successful launch of an orbital kethane scanner. With Geb 5's unexpected mission slingshotting around Mun, and the open question of "is there kethane on other celestial bodies?", the Isis project team has pushed ahead an ambitions plan to send a pair of probes to Mun. It will consist of a modified lander, the sort we saw in Isis 1, with it's atmospheric instrumentation and parachute stripped down. Its goal is to measure conditions on Mun's surface, test the meahanics of doing a powered landing, and take photographs. The second part of the mission will be a polar-orbiting kethane scanner.

Mission Outline & Objectives:

Land an Isis Lander Probe (ILP) on the surface of Mun.
Put an Isis Kethane Survey Satellite (IKSS) in polar orbit around Mun.
Confirm or deny the existence of Kethane on Mun

The team behind the Isis project are often at the forefront of engineering. The task here is to launch and deploy both probes from the same launch vehicle, dubbed the "Mun Science Package" or MSP.

The orbiter and lander are stacked together, one on top of the other, prior to enclosure within the launch vehicle.

To deliver such a payload to Mun requires an even larger launch vehicle than what we saw with Isis 2. Essentially it's a Latrans II booster with an upper Mun Injection stage. And, again with the theme of pushing the technological limits, four 1.25m boosters and engines, provided by AIES Aerospace, utilizing a novel technique called "propellant cross-feed", will give an additional first stage boost. The core engine will pull propellant from the boosters.

Launch of Isis 3.

The four radial boosters are jettisoned, and thanks to propellant cross-feed, the core booster has a full load of fuel yet to burn. Note Minmus at the bottom of the picture.

The fairing is shed prior to orbital insertion.

The uppper stage provides the boost to a Mun intercept. The initial trajectory is an intentional impact trajectory.

MASEC has always been aware that polluting space with spent rocket parts is a bad idea, and all designs and mission trajectories have been designed to avoid this whenever possible.

Once Mun injection is complete, and while on an impact trajectory, the two halves of the Mun Science Package separate. The upper stage remains attached to the lander, while the orbiter has its own propulsion. They will now plot independent courses to Mun, while the inter-stage separator will remain on an impact heading and be destroyed.

After going their separate ways, IKSS uses its onboard camera to take a photograph of ILP with the limb of Kerbin in the background.

Both probes make course corrections at the mid-way point, off of an impact trajectory. IKSS adjusts to approach from a high inclination polar direction, while ILP moves to enter an equatorial orbit. Both arrive at Mun at around the same time, and circularize.

IKSS circularizes in a 40km orbit and begins scanning Mun for kethane.

Success! It's true! Kethane is not unique to Kerbin!

Once the surprise and excitement at discovering kethane on Mun wears off, attention turns to the lander. After circularizing in an orbit of just 6km, the upper stage is used to kill horizontal velocity. This proved tricky, as the mass is unbalanced and the burn caused the package to wander off course, requiring several burns and attitude corrections. Once lateral velocity was killed, the upper stage separated from the lander.

The lander then uses its own internal propulsion to bring it down for a landing.

Landing is a success! Kerbals have now landed something on a celestial body other than Kerbin for the first time! Of course, they cannot help but take photographs looking back at Kerbin.

Edited August 4, 2013 by Cashen

Fox62 · July 30, 2013

I'm impressed. The Geb series of spacecraft seem to be rather impressive.

Cashen · July 30, 2013

I'm impressed. The Geb series of spacecraft seem to be rather impressive.

Thanks! That last mission was literally a case of "Huh, I have 1100m/s of dV left. I CAN GO TO MUN WITH THAT!" so it was totally spontaneous.

We won't see much more of Geb though. Geb is supposed to be a conglomeration of the Mercury and Gemini missions, but we're almost to the point of rolling out my Apollo-style missions.

Edited August 4, 2013 by Cashen

Cashen · July 30, 2013

Geb VI & VII

There is one skill left to demonstrate in space before MASEC can look at bigger and better things. Eventually two craft are going to have to meet in space and come together. Can it even be done? Space is a big, big place, and for two craft to come together in the same location, that must be really hard, right? Well, maybe not. Orbital mechanics says that with the right manuvers, it can be actually rather simple. Geb Mk2 with its docking port and RCS was designed for this mission, in fact. Geb V, the famed flight around Mun, was supposed to be just a test flight prior to this mission. So, Geb 6, a Mk1 variant with a docking port attached, will launch first and float in space. Geb 7, the uprated Mk2 with RCS, will use Geb 6 as a target, to rendezvous and dock with.

Mission Outline & Objectives:

Attempt the first rendezvous and docking.
Geb 6 Pilot: Jebediah Kerman
Geb 7 Pilot: Mac Kerman

Jeb will act as a stationary target in space. Mac, the last of the engineer group and the only kerbonaut not to fly yet, will have the task of finding him in space.

Jeb launches first in the trusty Geb Mk1. Been a while since we saw this thing.

Just like his first launch, Jeb gets into orbit and prepares to wait. His only job is to act as a target.

Mac rockets up through the atmosphere shortly after. This is the first time more than one Kerbal will be in space at the same time. Jeb's orbit is low, around 85km. Mac will to to an orbit about 20km higher and wait for Jeb to catch up under him.

At this point, the navigation computer starts bugging out.

Mac: "Wait, what? Stupid MechJeb is trying to plot a transfer burn 11 hours in the future!"

Mac of course knows his orbital mechanics and knows that he should be able to get a transfer on this orbit. After a few tries with the guidance computer, he gives up.

Mac: "KSC, this is 7. Guidance computer is malfunctioning. I'm going to plot this transfer manually."

Mac shows some real skills by eyeballing a transfer that will bring him within 200 meters of Geb 6.

The transfer works, and rendezvous is successful.

Lazor Systems provided this extremely handy docking camera, and with it, Mac is able to get a dock very quickly, again by hand. "This is so easy!" he exclaims.

An unplanned move, something Mac and Jeb had discussed prior to the mission but that was not approved by mission planners: They both go on EVA, and switch capsules. The docking ports are just there for show, too narrow to fit through. Jeb will now de-orbit in Geb 7, and Mac in Geb 6. Note that Mac is on the right, and Jeb on the left.

Shortly thereafter, Jeb de-orbits and splashes down in the ocean.

Mac comes down a short while later.

Jebediah Kerman:

Mac Kerman:

The numbering of Geb 6 and 7 is an intentional tribute to Gemini 6A and 7, the first successful rendezvous in the US space program.

Edited May 1, 2014 by Cashen

Cashen · July 31, 2013

Chapter 2: The Next Giant Leap

Project Aten

At the conclusion of the Geb VI and VII missions, MASEC announced that Project Geb was coming to an end. It had fulfilled all of its primary objectives, and even more; demonstrating the basics of spaceflight, and conclucing that Kerbals can perform very well in space. The skills of launching, orbital mechanics, transfer burns, EVA, rendezvous and docking have all been established. Simultaneously the discovery of kethane on Mun has caused quite a stir. Does this mean it exists everywhere? And still some question the results, thinking they might be false positives. These factors combine to make the next steps in the space program obvious.

We need to go to the moons. Land on them, with Kerbals, and bring them back home. Not just to visit and wander around, but to do science. Bring back samples. Importantly, bring back Kethane from Mun. Is there kethane on Minmus as well? A second science package, identical to the one sent to Mun, is being readied as Isis IV, and will be the next launch, targeting Minmus.

How will we get there?

The fact that Geb was able to get to Mun was a surprise, but it was an extremely simple mission. A free return trajectory, a slingshot around the far side and a return. It will take a lot more lifting power to actually land on Mun, and to land with the equipment and crew needed to do the science missions justice. So the call has gone out to the two largest rocket companies, KW Rocketry and NovaPunch, to submit designs for 3.75m and 5m engines. In addition, the old one-man Geb capsule will be replaced. The new capsule will hold three Kerbals, allowing for teamwork and collaboration in space, and as well to provide them some companionship during longer missions.

And so with that, the next manned spaceflight project, Project Aten, is announced. The first big question to be answered is, how exactly does one get to Mun, land, do work, and come back? What would the hardware look like? Mission planners and engineers come up with three options:

Kerbin Orbit Rendezvous

Two craft would be designed: A lander, designed only to land on Mun and return to Mun orbit, and a vehicle that could carry the lander to Mun and then return with the crew. They would be launched from Kerbin orbit on separate boosters, rendezvous, dock, and go to Mun. Once there they would undock, the lander would do its job and come back, before being discarded and the transfer vessel would return home. This would probably be the easiest mission profile to accomplish right away, because it could be done with existing boosters (Latrans II). This would be the option if there were serious time pressure to get to Mun and Minmus right now.

Direct Ascent

The simplest mission profile would be a single vehicle, launched from one massive booster, that would go all the way to Mun, land, and return. While on the surface seeming simple, it would require the most delta-v, the most propellant, and the largest launch vehicle. Also, the landing vehicle could not be specially designed to perform a landing, would be large and heavy and prone to tipping over. It's unclear if a booster that large is a reasonable goal in a reasonable time-frame.

Moon Orbit Rendezvous

Two vehicles, a command module, and a moon landing module, would launch together in the same booster, travel together to Mun, undock, followed by a landing, return rendezvous, and the trip home. This is the middle-of-the-road approach between the first two options. It would require a large launch vehicle, but one that could be conceivably built in a reasonable time-frame. The lander could be specialized to only carry enough fuel to land and take off, while carrying science and drilling equipment, and the command module only large enough to get home again.

After much debate, the decision settled on Moon Orbit Rendezvous. While technically more complex than Direct Ascent, it would still push the technology envilope in developing heavier launch vehicles, while utilizing the recently developed skill of rendezvous, and since the United Kerbin States have no real competition (the only driver is science), there's not the hurry that a Kerbin Orbit Rendezvous approach would warrant.

The Aten Spacecraft

It didn't take long to develop the Aten Command & Service module. Really, it's not a new design. It's very much an enlarged version of Geb. This time NovaPunch won the contract to design the service module, building both the propellant tank and using the 2.50m Orbital Bertha engine. It also contains a small amount of mono-propellant and RCS thrusters, a small 150L tank for storing a kethane sample, a more sopositicated guidance system and, as always, a Lazor Camera (MASEC engineers have more or less decided to slap that on everything).

The first Aten CSM is assembled in the VAB.

The Moon Lander

Designing a lander is a new challenge for the MASEC design team. While the CSM was easy to come up with, the Moon Landing and Return Module (MLRM) would take time. So it was decided that initially, Aten would be tested by itself, while waiting for the lander to be ready.

The Lupus series Launch Vehicles

A new series of launch vehicles would be introduced, using 3.75m and later 5m engines and tanks. Only KW Rocketry and NovaPunch had engines large enough to meet these criteria, and several different designs were submitted, as shown below.

[TABLE=class: grid, width: 100%, align: center]

[TR]

[TD]Manufacturer

[/TD]

[TD]Name

[/TD]

[TD]Size (m)

[/TD]

[TD]Thrust (kN)

[/TD]

[TD]Mass (t)

[/TD]

[TD]TWR

[/TD]

[TD]Vac ISP

[/TD]

[TD]Atm ISP

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]KW Rocketry

[/TD]

[TD]Wildcat-XR

[/TD]

[TD]3.75m

[/TD]

[TD]1200

[/TD]

[TD]8

[/TD]

[TD]15.29

[/TD]

[TD]370

[/TD]

[TD]275

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]KW Rocketry

[/TD]

[TD]Titan-T1

[/TD]

[TD]3.75m

[/TD]

[TD]2700

[/TD]

[TD]14

[/TD]

[TD]19.66

[/TD]

[TD]315

[/TD]

[TD]270

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]KW Rocketry

[/TD]

[TD]Griffon XX

[/TD]

[TD]3.75m

[/TD]

[TD]3800

[/TD]

[TD]20

[/TD]

[TD]19.37

[/TD]

[TD]310

[/TD]

[TD]260[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]NovaPunch

[/TD]

[TD]Little Mother

[/TD]

[TD]3.75m

[/TD]

[TD]1800

[/TD]

[TD]10

[/TD]

[TD]18.35

[/TD]

[TD]375

[/TD]

[TD]280

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]NovaPunch

[/TD]

[TD]Bearcat Tri-Nozzle

[/TD]

[TD]3.75m

[/TD]

[TD]2200

[/TD]

[TD]4.5

[/TD]

[TD]49.84

[/TD]

[TD]330

[/TD]

[TD]260

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]NovaPunch

[/TD]

[TD]TD-180 Bronco

[/TD]

[TD]3.75m

[/TD]

[TD]2650

[/TD]

[TD]12

[/TD]

[TD]22.51

[/TD]

[TD]315

[/TD]

[TD]275

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]NovaPunch

[/TD]

[TD]Matriarch

[/TD]

[TD]5.00m

[/TD]

[TD]4500

[/TD]

[TD]18

[/TD]

[TD]25.48

[/TD]

[TD]340

[/TD]

[TD]265

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]NovaPunch

[/TD]

[TD]Bearcat 5x

[/TD]

[TD]5.00m

[/TD]

[TD]7500

[/TD]

[TD]19

[/TD]

[TD]40.24

[/TD]

[TD]315

[/TD]

[TD]255

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

The first Lupus, known simply as Lupus I, would be a two-stage 3.75m booster designed purely to get Aten high enough that it can get itself into orbit, for a test flight.

The Lupus I first stage, the L-IA, using the KW Titan-T1, being test-fired.

The upper stage, the L-IVA, using a conical propellant tank designed by NovaPunch, and the KW Wildcat-XR.

The Aten CSM stacked atop a completed Lupus I.

To be continued...

Edited May 27, 2014 by Cashen

Cashen · July 31, 2013

Isis IV: Minmus Science Package

Project Aten has just been announced, and while MASEC already has a spacecraft and the first launcher to go with it, there is lots of development work. Training the kerbonauts for the new missions, component testing, planning what the missions will look like, and designing a landing vehicle. Most of the personnel who worked on Geb have been reassigned to Aten, as its natural successor project. The Isis team however don't require much preparation or planning for this mission, as it's more or less a carbon copy of Isis III, except this time we're going to Minmus.

Mission Outline & Objectives:

Land an Isis Lander Probe (ILP) on the surface of Minmus.
Put an Isis Kethane Survey Satellite (IKSS) in polar orbit around Minmus.
Confirm or deny the existence of Kethane on Minmus.

The only change to the hardware from the last mission was the addition of a set of reaction wheels to the transfer stage. In hindsight, it was probably asking a bit much for the tiny probe's internal reaction wheels to steer that big rocket stage.

Launch of Isis 4, on its way to Minmus. This ascent was tricky. The controllers on the ground waited until Minmus' inclined orbit passed overhead and launched directly into its plane.

Inclination 6.08 degrees. Close enough that a direct injection to Minmus can be made without the need for an inclination change. And they didn't even use any kind of autopilot for the ascent or transfer burn. Someone on the ground earned their pay.

Minmus is a smaller target to hit, so the separation whilst on an impact trajectory had to wait until entering Minmus' sphere of influence, but the procedure was the same. That little separator will smash into Minmus.

And again, IKSS and ILP take separate approach vectors.

The probe circularizes and begins scanning. Unlike Mun, kethane is not discovered right away. Maybe it's not here?

The reaction wheels work beautifully, control during the lateral velocity reduction was smooth, and here the upper stage detaches from the lander, which is falling straight down.

Surprisingly, the Orbital Bertha engine survives the fall when the upper stage crashes and explodes. The first piece of space debris. The lander touches down smoothly.

The decoupler that affixed ILP to the upper stage also survived the fall, initially, and was thrown many kilometers into the air in the blast. Here ILP's camera tracks it on its way back down, before it fell below the horizon and was destroyed, about three and a half kilometers away.

ILP then snaps this incredible photo looking back at the region around KSC, which happened to be in daylight and facing Minmus at the time.

IKSS flies overhead on its polar orbit and snaps a photo of ILP on the ground.

The lander likewise captures IKSS with its camera, though harder to see against the darkness of space.

Eventually, kethane is detcted! So it's true! Kethane is, at the very least, found everywhere within the Kerbin planetary system.

Now begs the question, is kethane found on the other planets as well?

Cashen · August 1, 2013

Aten I

It's time for the first test-flight of the new Aten Command & Service Module.

Mission Outline & Objectives:

First flight of the Aten CSM and the Lupis I launch vehicle.
Achieve orbit, test Aten's systems, and return to Kerbin.
Commander: Milke Kerman
Pilot: Bob Kerman

Aten holds three people but for the test flights, since there is no Moon Landing Module, only two crewmembers are deemed necessary. In this case, Milke will be commanding the mission while Bob does the flying.

The Lupus I launches, with the L-IA lower stage firing.

Pitching east with the L-IVA upper stage.

Aten's own Service Module completes the push to orbit.

A good look at the Aten Command Module.

Milke takes the opportunity to enjoy the view down towards KSC after completing the first orbit. In all, he and Bob would put Aten through its paces over four orbits.

The first design issue pops up. Unlike Geb Mk2, Aten has its RCS thrusters all 45 degrees from the what the guidance computer is using as its axes, and so translational thrusting produces some strange effects. The design team will have to reposition the thrusters to align properly. Also, with the front RCS block in a narrower configuration, translational movement also produced a pronounced wobble, which could make docking difficult. The solution will be to place the front RCS blocks on the service module, as far up as possible (more or less right on the decoupler).

Initial orbit was 88km. A transfer up to 100km then took place, with the first burn using the Service Module engine, but as a test the second burn used only the RCS thrusters, and was very successful! Fine tuning an orbit using RCS is something MASEC will have to keep in mind in the future. Note the 150L kethane sample bottle, intended to return samples of kethane from Mun and Minmus for analysis.

After de-orbiting and separating, the Command Module's camera tracks the Service Module as it begins re-entry.

This targeted re-entry was very long, splashing down almost 20km downrange of KSC. The mission was successful in putting Aten through its paces, and clearly there will be some design changes.

In all, the RCS blocks would be repositioned on the axes properly, the large stack battery would be replaced with a smaller radial one, and some of the other instrumentation would be moved around on the service module.

Milke:

Bob:

Continued Lander Design and Component Testing

Meanwhile on the ground, the design team continues to come up with ideas for a Moon Lander. Shown below is an early design prototype that was assembled while Project Geb was still going, before the mission profile of a kethane sampling mission was discussed. Note the 45-degree offset on the RCS here as well, plus the low profile B9 Aerospace engine.

An early moon-lander concept.

The second iteration (not shown) would add a pair of small kethane drills on the sides, plus a 150L sample bottle and use the heavier lander legs. A third iteration would do away with RCS all-together.

The third iteration of a moon lander, shown during testing and training. This version eliminates RCS entirely, relying on reaction wheels for attitude control and on the theory that all docking maneuvers will be accomplish by the CSM alone. It also uses a slightly larger propellant tank, and replaces the B9 Aerospace engine with the same Orbital Bertha used by the CSM.

At the same time, uprated boosters underwent testing for the second iteration of the Lupus launch vehicle, the Lupus IB. Unlike Lupus I which simply provided a boost, with Aten burning most of its own propellant to get into orbit, Lupus IB is intended to get Aten into orbit by itself, much like Latrans II did for Geb.

Lupus IB upper stage, the L-IVB, using the same engine but with a larger tank

Lupus IB lower stage, the L-IB, using a still-larger tank and a trio of NovaPunch Bearcat engines, the ones that so impressed on Latrans II.

Edited May 27, 2014 by Cashen

SuperWeegee4000 · August 1, 2013

Awesome so far!

Cashen · August 1, 2013

Aten II

While the design team continues to work on the lander, not to mention designing a launch vehicle that can launch the entire two-part spacecraft and send it to Mun or Minmus, Project Aten decides to use the slightly larger Lupus IB to send the Aten CSM on a mission to Mun and back.

Mission Outline & Objectives:

First flight of the Lupis IB launch vehicle.
Achieve orbit, test Aten's systems, including the repositioned RCS.
Burn to achieve an encounter with Mun.
Orbit Mun at low altitude several times and return to Kerbin.
Commander: Dunlie Kerman
Pilot: Bill Kerman

Dunlie and Bill Kerman sit inside the Aten CSM, atop a fully fueled Lupus IB launch vehicle, just before the beginning of their mission to orbit Mun.

The three powerful Bearcat engines of the L-IB stage push the spacecraft into the air, with Mun in the background.

Staging. The L-IIIB stage falls away as the L-IVB ignites.

L-IVB separation prior to final orbit circularizing.

Dunlie and Bill spend three orbits at Kerbin, and test the repositioned RCS. Translational thrusting now only uses half of the thrusters for each axis, saving monopropellant. There is also much less wobble. The design is much improved.

The 850m/s transfer burn to Mun.

Dunlie looking past Bill, seeing Kerbin out the window. "We're a long way from home, Bill."

"KSC, this is 2, we've arrived at Mun, orbit insertion is successful. Our orbit is 21km by 10km. Will be circularizing at the next periapsis. The view out the window is something to see." There's a large suspected kethane deposit in the northern hemisphere but whose southern edge dips across the equator, and this area (which Dunlie is observing out his side window) will be the landing area of a future mission. Part of this mission is to scout that area.

"KSC, we can see Kerbin rising above the horizon in our front windows."

The Isis ground control team command ILP Mun to photograph Aten as it passes overhead.

After five orbits around Mun, Aten II burns to escape and come home. They burn on the near-side of Mun and their trajectory initially takes them out beyond Mun's orbit. Here, Dunlie is able to see Kerbin and Mun at around the apoapsis of their return trajectory.

Shortly before hitting the atmosphere, and on a course for an ocean splashdown, the Service Module is jettisoned.

"Lots of fire outside the windows!" Peak of re-entry heating.

And our intrepid explorers prepare for a routine splashdown. The first Kerbals to orbit another celestial body.

Dunlie:

Bill:

And now for a little science

During the Aten II mission, engineers test a recently developed a Kethane Dual Conversion Module (KDCM), which is able to process kethane using either of the two reaction pathways. For the electrochemical method, it uses electricity applied across two metal plates, an anode and a cathode, to break kethane into the liquid fuel and oxidizer components. The second, catalytic method, uses an electric heater and a rare metal catalyst to process kethane into mono-propellant. The only required input is electricity (and lots of it), which makes it suitable for operations in space.

The KDCM being tested. Above it is a spherical kethane tank with a 12,000L capacity, and below, tanks for fuel/oxidizer, and mono-propellant.

The first test involved filling the Kethane tank, full to 12,000L, and then activating the electrochemical reactor. Kethane is fairly low density, with a specific volume of 500L for every metric tonne. The liquid fuel and oxidizer produced are much heavier, and so have a lower specific volume of 200L per tonne. While the mass is the same afterward, the volumes are correspondingly lower. With the correct ratio of 1.222L of oxidizer for every 1L of fuel, conversion of 12,000L of kethane succeeded in producing 2176.44L of liquid fuel and 2660.09L of oxidizer.

The second test involved the catalytic reactor. The kethane tank was re-filled and pressurized and fed into the reactor. The reaction stopped when the mono-propellant tank filled to its 3580L volume, with 3576L of kethane left over, consuming 8424L of kethane in the process. This process suffers from a lower efficiency than the first reaction, as the mass of kethane consumed, 16.848 tonnes, was noticeably larger than the mass of mono-propellant generated, 14.348 tonnes, the difference being waste material that the reactor vented.

Edited May 27, 2014 by Cashen

SuperWeegee4000 · August 2, 2013

Have you landed on the Mun in .21 prior?

Cashen · August 2, 2013

Have you landed on the Mun in .21 prior?

I did once as a test flight, testing a design very similar to the one that I'm going to be using here: Basically I'm duplicating the Apollo-Saturn V mission profile, since I think it's more interesting and challenging than a direct ascent approach that most people do.

Cashen · August 2, 2013

Aten III

It's official, the lander design shown previously will be the final lander design that Project Aten will use to land Kerbals on Mun and Minmus. A rocket design for the complete package is almost ready. First, MASEC mission planners have one more ambitious mission before the landings can take place. A mission to orbit Minmus, much like Aten II did for Mun, followed by a Hohmann transfer to Mun in order to test the techniques that will be eventually used for interplanetary missions. This will be the first mission to visit more than one celestial body.

Mission Outline & Objectives:

Launch directly into the plane of Minmus' orbit.
Burn to achieve an encounter with Minmus.
Orbit Minmus at a very low altitude, scout possible landing sites.
Perform a Hohmann transfer to intercept Mun.
Orbit Mun for a short while and then return to Kerbin.
Pilot: Jebediah Kerman
Commander: Mac Kerman

This mission will re-unite Mac and Jeb, who performed the first rendezvous and docking during Geb 6 and 7.

Mac and Jeb launch atop a Lupus IB.

L-IVB stage separation. Inclination looks good, nearly exactly 6 degrees.

Mac takes a look back at Kerbin and Mun as they approach Minmus. A minor correction burn using the RCS system got them on a perfect intercept course.

Arriving at Minmus. The capture was done as several burns. Here they are about to burn to get an elliptical capture orbit. Later, an inclination adjustment and lowering of periapsis would be done using RCS thrusters, out near apoapsis.

Jebediah looks out the front window and can see the entire Kerbin planetary system at a glance. This was taken near apoapsis of the initial capture orbit.

Orbit is circularized at 6km. Very low. Low enough that Jeb can see rocks scattered on Minmus' surface quite clearly.

A large kethane deposit exists under this hill, making the flatter region, illuminated on the right, a possible landing site.

ILP Minmus photographs Aten passing overhead.

Aten likewise photographs the probe on the surface below.

Shortly after that, a transfer burn was executed to put them on a course for Mun. Unfortunately the phase and ejection angles didn't line up. The phase angle would have occured while Aten was 180 degrees from the ejection burn point. With an orbital period of 42 minutes, this meant burning 21 minutes ahead of, or behind, the optimum phase angle point. Phase angles move much quicker in this case than they would between two planets with much larger orbital periods. In any case, two correction burns were required during the coast to Mun to get the proper intercept, but it was nevertheless accomplished successfully.

Jeb's view of Kerbin and Mun, as they approach Mun from behind.

In orbit around Mun. The crew spent several orbits around Minmus, but would only complete one full orbit at Mun.

Burning to return home. In all the mission would last over seven days, by far the longest yet.

The peak of re-entry on the command module. Note the service module ahead, also re-entering, just above and to the right of the sun. The pieces of debris flying past in the upper right are the solar panels breaking off of the service module.

Successful splashdown after a very successful mission. Mac and Jeb wait to be recovered.

Since their mission took them to two different celestial bodies, Mac and Jeb get two ribbons for this mission.

Mac:

Jebediah:

The Lupus V

The rocket that will take crews to the moons and back has a name. The Lupus V. The next mission, Aten IV, will be a dress rehearsal of an actual landing on Mun that will take place on Aten V. It will involve an all-up test of the Lupus V, the undocking/redocking maneuver that the CSM and MLRM will have to perform, and a test flight of the MLRM in Kerbin orbit, followed by a final docking.

The massive Lupus V first stage, the L-IC, using five NovaPunch Bearcat engines.

The second stage, L-II, using The Matriarch, a cluster of 19 smaller rocket nozzles in a 5 meter package.

The final rocket would be a three stage design, using the L-IVB from the Lupus IB as the third stage, which would be responsible for performing the moon injection burn. While the L-IVB is build by KW Rocketry, both the L-IC and L-II are constructed by NovaPunch, the same company that build Aten's service module.

A fully assembled Aten-Lupus V vehicle, assembled in the VAB in preparation for Aten IV

Edited May 27, 2014 by Cashen

Specula · August 2, 2013

Wow, nice work on this... I rarely see people going to such extents to catalog their work and show proper readouts and the like. I'll keep an eye out on your thread for more!

UKS MASEC Mission Logs [Picture Heavy] | UPDATE: Back in business, again!

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