This Way Up [stock]

[corinoco]

Now includes .craft file at no extra cost! (doh!)

To explain the design, you\'ll have to read these post-mission comments from Jeb:

• 
  [li]Too quiet in capsule - hard to tell when engines are on. Put engines closer so audible checks can be made - much quicker than reading these silly dial things.[/li]
  [li]Capsule too far off ground - could be major trip hazard when entering capsule. Also Bill is afraid of lifts.[/li]
  [li]Unable to visually check if engine is running. Sometimes I listen to my K-Pod during launch as the screaming from Bill, Bob & mission control distracts me. Would be handy if I could look out window and check if engine is working. Also Bob has never seen a rocket launch as he has always been in the capsule. He would be much happier if he could get to see a rocket launch from up close; he may even open his eyes.[/li]
  [li]Launch is very stressful - it would help to have an in-capsule supply of whisky & cigarettes. Can we also have some meat-paste-in-a-tube? I think it\'s yummy![/li]
  

To address these severe failings the Kerbol Space Program work experience student drew up with the following design:

The This Way Up - named thus as the student wanted to really emphasize which way up the rocket should be placed on the pad.

Design features include:

• 
  [li]Main engines in clear view above capsule. Right above you. Right above. There, just outside that cheap window.[/li]
  [li]Booster engines in clear view above and beside capsule. Easy to hear when they are working! Easy to hear when they separate![/li]
  [li]Large whisky & cigarette storage pod. Conveniently located at the main airlock. We had to make the parachute smaller to fit the meat paste, though.... [/li]
  [li]Convenient ground level access. Rocket control function & stability were compromised, also staging is pretty dangerous with the wreckage spent stages tumbling directly into your flightpath. Nothing that the...[/li]
  [li]Extra powerful RCS thrusters can\'t get you out of the way of. Assuming you turned them on. [/li]
  [li]Extra safe landings! (Provided you remember to save some RCS fuel - remember we made the parachute smaller?) Remember to turn the RCS thrusters on, too[/li]
  [li]Massive post-landing cross-range capability! At about 2m/s top speed, this will save you about 150m worth of trudging (drunk, smelling of cigarettes and meat-paste) back to base.[/li]
  

Despite the revolutionary design, the rocket is fairly simple to fly.

For those who wish to be like Jeb and just fly by the seat of your (admittedly brown) pants, the flight manual is classified.

Everyone else, de-classify the flight manual by clicking the Spoiler below.

Steps to obtain some sort of orbit are:

[list type=decimal]

[li]Place rocket on pad. Check it is the right way up.[/li]

[li]Let Jeb into capsule[/li]

[li]Coax Bill & Bob into capsule by laying a trail of space-cookies; quickly shut and bolt hatch once they are inside.[/li]

[li]Switch on SAS, arm RCS and set throttles to full before launch.[/li]

[li]Ignition! Be ready to steer rocket, as it tends to \'wander\' much like Jeb\'s concentration.[/li]

[li]Slowly pitch to heading 90 - the attached pictures show the rate. Jettison SRBs when they burn out.[/li]

[li]Pitch to level by about 35,000m - accelerate to 2,400m/s[/li]

[li]MECO once apoapsis is above about 80,000m[/li]

[li]Circularize (or ovalize?) orbit at apoapsis[/li]

[li]Seperate booster stage. Be sure to have RCS armed and blip retrothrust right away to avoid colliding with wreckage seperated stages[/li]

[li]Break out the tubes of meat paste, open the whisky and light a cigarette - you\'re in orbit![/li]

[li]When the meat paste, whisky & cigarettes run out, point the capsule in your favourite direction and retro-thrust with the appropriate RCS quad. Leave a little RCS d/v for landing.[/li]

[li]Atmospheric entry is mostly automatic, but try to remember to activate the chute before 1,000m[/li]

[li]At about 100m activate the RCS retros - you will need these to slow down, as the meat paste, whisky & cigarette storage containers are quite heavy and slightly overload the parachute.[/li]

[li]Any remaining RCS fuel may be vented in amusing ways, or be used to propel the capsule if at sea.[/li]

Images of the successful first flight (well, ok, the first successful flight) can be seen here: http://imgur.com/a/0bmDy#0

[corinoco]

*sigh* Now that Jeb has experienced the luxury of meat-paste, whisky & cigarettes in orbit, he wants to be the first Kerbal to get drunk while eating meat-paste and smoking .... ON THE MUN.

[michealv]

lol love the little story that goes with it, well done man