The complete(ish) history of rockets! Recreating the entire space race in KSP!

[Brotoro]

Excellent thread! Keep up the great work!

And I'm getting really annoyed that the "Add to Reputation" button no longer works

[MineAheadTV]

Absolutely sweet thread! Keep it up!

[astropapi1]

Brotoro, right click the "badge" and open it on a new tab.

[DisarmingBaton5]

Can't wait until you get to the manned stuff. Keep up the good work, Mulbin!

[Lazro]

Do Explorer 6, which sent the first pictures of Earth from orbit!

[Brotoro]

Brotoro, right click the "badge" and open it on a new tab.

Thank you, sir! You have alleviated my frustration. Have a kerbal snack in thanks. Now I just have to remember to give Mulbin his tomorrow.

[Scorpi15]

But not the Yellow Mush! Yellow Mush is Kerbal! Yellow Mush is Keeeeeerrrrrrbaaaaaaaaaaalllllll!

[Mulbin]

Do Explorer 6, which sent the first pictures of Earth from orbit!

I will!... soon! Been away but will get a mission out when I can

[Mulbin]

I read up to this point, so I understand how feel the urges to recreate all the human space race in KSP (I tried that, with light part mods up to Ksp 0.19, ending the effort when, from 0.20 onwards, most of the mods I used to keep low part count goes esponentially worst because same updated mods are RAM eaters and my poor laptop is ddying... )

... but back on track: if you wanna more infos on space mission, two sites may be helpful:

http://space.skyrocket.de/directories/chronology.htm - "Gunter's Space Page", chronological list for every year, from 1957 (Sputnik 1 and after), good for a first look at rockets and payloads, before single extendend research launch by launch to find better photos.

http://www.astronautix.com/chrono/index.htm - "Encyclopedia Astronautica - Chronological Index"; not only launches, but a complete (almost) list of EVERY space related events, including a LOT of data about EVERY launch or event related. (Generally I check Gunter's site, first, for a general list, and check Encyclopedia Astronautica for detailed data such orbit incliantion, time of launches and so on...)

Cross-checking both helped me for those "partial-failures" or MEMORABLE failures that does not achieved the expected mission goal, but also are pretty known. In a VERY couple of cases one flight may be reported only on one of those (... some Saturn's launches in eraly development, using the first Saturn I, maybe missing in Gunter's but have a record on Ecyclopedia)

I'm not a "clipping part builder capable" like you... I like more easy design and mods just to help my poor pc to not die, but definitely, if I could have a decent computer soon or after I'd like to try your creations...

(I tried a Gemini of yours, but I endend in a "slide show", 1/2 frame x HOUR ç_ç... not your fault, but my poor pc... ç_ç)

EDIT 1: ... I have also a selected list, year by year, in txt format, done during cross checking from both sites, up to 1966 but really sure only up to 1961, that I used DURING play (memory issues if using both KSP and a browser, always due my poooooooooooor PC...) PM me if you wanna a copy . Only issue on my personal notes is about (like you, here) is to avoid multiple, simila, launches with same or similar hardware (Example: I launched a couple of Thor or Atlas with Agena carrying the various USA Discoverer/Corona/MIDAS/Keyhole spy sats, just for depict the Agena development in every stages, but NOT the whole numbers of launches, because they were SO MUCH that deserved probably a whole save to avoid an orbit clusters unplayable )

EDIT 2: ... In exchange You just could teach me about "advanced clipping engineering": I tried to do something like you, but, even activating part-clipping in VAB, I cannot manage Your AWESOME techniques ç_ç I'm so envy

EDIT 3: ... my english is poor... but I have an explanation: I'm not english. Salute from ITALIA

Thanks! There's some really useful information on those links!

[hunter4hire]

Can't wait for Yuri Gagarin! I hope it will be a video similar to the sputnik one.

Awesome thread, and just amazing builds and work! We all love it, and we hope to see more! You're awesome!

[Mulbin]

Can't wait for Yuri Gagarin! I hope it will be a video similar to the sputnik one.

Awesome thread, and just amazing builds and work! We all love it, and we hope to see more! You're awesome!

Thanks! Been away so had a bit of a break.... Luna rocket launch later tonight!

[UbioZur]

Good job Mulbin. Keep it coming.

I love the image post process to make them old and authentic.

[thatsmessedup]

Nice thread.

[Mulbin]

Date - September 23 1958

Craft - Luna 8K72

Payload - Luna E-1 #1

Launch Site - ???

Mission - Munar Impact

Outcome - Rocket Failure

Mission Notes

The first 3 stage R7 rocket. The first luna probe was intended to impact on the lunar surface. Disintegrated after 92 Seconds.

[FlamedSteak]

Epic thread, I thought it would just be a bog stock run through of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo but it's so much more.

[Lazro]

Just looked up Explorer 6 and realized that it was launched late next year...sorry about that. Great thread!

[Galane]

Find me a stock image of a russian film frame and they won't! Ive had no luck.

With some de-warping in Photoshop these might work, or at least give you something to work with to create faux frames from scratch. http://dragonflyfilms.blogspot.com/2011/04/help-identifying-soviet-35mm-film.html

[Mulbin]

Date - October 11 1958

Craft - Thor DM-18 Able-1

Payload - Pioneer 1

Launch Site - KSC

Mission - Munar Orbit

Outcome - Partial Rocket Failure

Mission Notes

Although Pioneer 1 failed to reach the moon due to an early engine cut-off, valuable data was still gathered on the radiation belts between the Earth and the Moon. This was the furthest a satellite had ever been from earth.

[Mulbin]

Added Pioneer 1 today, things have slowed a little due to real life commitments but hoping to complete 1958 soon. Just the Juno II and SCORE to do!

[Mulbin]

Date - December 18 1958

Craft - Atlas B

Payload - SCORE

Launch Site - KSC

Mission - Low Kerbin Orbit

Outcome - Success

Mission Notes

The first communications satellite. The entire body of an Atlas rocket was used as the satellite itself.

[Mulbin]

Annual summary - 1958

Launches KSA

Manned Launches - 0

Satellite Launches (successful) - 5

Satellite Launches (Partial) - 0

Satellite Launches (Failed) - 18

Launches KSSR

Manned Launches - 0

Satellite Launches (successful) - 1

Satellite Launches (Partial) - 0

Satellite Launches (Failed) - 4

Achievements

First communication satellite - KSA

Orbital Map at Close of Year

[Mulbin]

So that's 1958 finished finally! On to 1959 soon and the race to get a probe to the moon!

[Zorrm]

You've done a really good job with this, I'm very much enjoying keeping up with this here and definitely dig the history that's along with it. Well done, mate!

[Mulbin]

Date - January 2 1959

Craft - Luna 8K72

Payload - Mechta (Luna 1/E1-4)

Launch Site - ???

Mission - Munar Impact

Outcome - Partial Failure

Mission Notes

Due to an early engine cut off Mechta missed the moon by around 5000km. As a result it became the first man made object to escape Earth orbit and become locked into an orbit around the Sun... Mechta now spends eternity orbiting between Earth and Mars.

[Mulbin]

Date - February 17 1959

Craft - Vanguard

Payload - Vanguard 2

Launch Site - KSC

Mission - Medium Kerbin Orbit

Outcome - Partial Failure

Mission Notes

The second successful orbital launch of a vanguard satellite, the mission was partially successful although only limited data was retrieved due to the orientation of the satellite.