0.24 Kerbal Space Race: Apex Aeronautics vs Kerasian Space Agency

[KerasianSpaceAgency]

Mission 1: Save that Kerbal in a Space Plane!

Save the Kerbal in orbit using a spacecraft launched horizontally from the runway.

Part 8 Update:

Apex Aeronautics (AA) Update: Mission Accomplished!...In a way... Our SSTO achieved orbit and eventually caught up with Malby Kermin. At around 50 meters, we realized a potentially fatal design flaw...there was only room for one Kermin in the cockpit. In order to complete the mission, Jeb offered to give up his seat in the cockpit to save Malby. Jeb was to hold on to the ladder attached to the side of the SSTO. Sadly, on reentry, mission control lost contact with Jeb. His sacrifice in saving Malby shall not be forgotten!!!

Kerasian Space Agency (KSA) Update: We were able to orbit the Mun and back for the first time. This gave us the science we felt we needed to complete the mission, but Apex seems to have beaten us to it. Except they killed Jeb in the process of the rescue and their SSTO was never designed to rescue anyone in the first place. We plan on launching a formal protest over the internet and demand Apex go through the same Kongressioninal hearings as KSA had to when killing Jeb in earlier space race contests.

Current Episode - Save the Kerbal, Part 8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?SMJ4Xoag5Cc

Highlights:

• Malby Rescued by SSTO - 8:50
  
• Contact Lost with Jeb - 23:28
  
• SSTO lands at Kerbin - 27:44
  

We'll be documenting the trials and triumphs of two competing space agencies, the Kerasian Space Agency (KSA) and Apex Aeronautics (AA). These two space agencies will compete to be the first to various objectives around the Kerbol System.

We've started over for Contracts. So in order to achieve objectives, we'll need to get the required techs, get the money, and if necessary, find the right contract in order to complete the mission. We've got some missions in mind, but if you've got some as well that you'd like to see us compete for, let us know!

Full playlist:

Edited September 25, 2014 by KerasianSpaceAgency

[KerasianSpaceAgency]

Mission 1: Save that Kerbal in a Space Plane!

Save the Kerbal in orbit using a spacecraft launched horizontally from the runway.

Our first mission is to complete the Kerbal Rescue contract and we've added our own requirement that the rescue craft must take off from the runway. In Part 1, we've already had about 90 minutes to complete some contracts and are just starting to get the rescue mission and the techs needed to build a space plane.

[KerasianSpaceAgency]

Mission 1: Save that Kerbal in a Space Plane!

Save the Kerbal in orbit using a spacecraft launched horizontally from the runway.

Part 2 Update:

Apex Aeronautics (AA) Update: We have the mission to rescue Malby Kermin. We need to continue completing missions with science benefits to catch up on the technology tree.

Kerasian Space Agency (KSA) Update: We're in the lead on the tech tree over Apex Aeronautics. This includes basic space plane parts. However, we haven't been given the mission to save the Kerbal in Orbit. The only thing we can do for now is complete contracts for money and science for more advanced space plane parts.

[KerasianSpaceAgency]

Mission 1: Save that Kerbal in a Space Plane!

Save the Kerbal in orbit using a spacecraft launched horizontally from the runway.

Part 3 Update:

Apex Aeronautics (AA) Update: We've made technological progress and now have access to space plane parts. After a few failed models, we've completed a successful plane. Some modifications are definitely required to make it a spaceplane.

Kerasian Space Agency (KSA) Update: I think the tech lead has disappeared between us and Apex. We are still attempting to go through missions as fast as possible and gain the prestige (?) required to get the right mission. We successfully put a Kerbal in orbit, but our engineers forgot about trying to get him back. Jeb's orbit does go through the upper atmosphere, so he'll come back eventually, just perhaps not in the time frame he is hoping for.

[KerasianSpaceAgency]

Mission 1: Save that Kerbal in a Space Plane!

Save the Kerbal in orbit using a spacecraft launched horizontally from the runway.

Part 4 Update:

Apex Aeronautics (AA) Update: We've taken the lead over KSA in the tech tree for now. Space plane development continues to make strides. Or...at least we get off the ground for a while. Our space plane set the altitude record for this challenge so far at 7,100km, but then ran into stability issues.

Kerasian Space Agency (KSA) Update: Finally received the mission to rescue Addo Kermin. Made lots of progress on vertical take offs completing missions. Engineers are lagging behind on the development of taking off from a runway. The principle of "When in doubt, add more solid rocket boosters" doesn't seem to apply here...

[KerasianSpaceAgency]

Part 5 Video

Mission 1: Save that Kerbal in a Space Plane!

Save the Kerbal in orbit using a spacecraft launched horizontally from the runway.

Part 5 Update:

Apex Aeronautics (AA) Update: Our tech lead has grown, and some contracts are giving us access to experimental parts. However we are still having issues getting our space plane past around 7k in altitude before our plane literally flips out.

Kerasian Space Agency (KSA) Update: Clearly there are design flaws with the plane we've created. We've shelved our space plane creation for now, and instead elected to complete contracts for science to unlock better parts. Our engineers need some caffeine, or maybe sleep, as this space race is taking a toll on them and it shows...

[KerasianSpaceAgency]

Part 6 Video

Mission 1: Save that Kerbal in a Space Plane!

Save the Kerbal in orbit using a spacecraft launched horizontally from the runway.

Part 6 Update:

Apex Aeronautics (AA) Update: Our new design set altitude and speed records, but for some reason Jebadiah doesn't want to keep testing after that flat spin incident. After some other adjustments, we are able to get into orbit with our SSTO, but with not enough fuel to rescue. A couple of tech upgrades and we will have this challenge done!

Kerasian Space Agency (KSA) Update: We've revamped our space plane and are able to get off the ground, but its clear that these first designs are limited. We haven't been able to get much altitude at all. We are going back to pure science missions to get better engines for our space plane design.

[KerasianSpaceAgency]

Mission 1: Save that Kerbal in a Space Plane!

Save the Kerbal in orbit using a spacecraft launched horizontally from the runway.

Part 7 Update:

Apex Aeronautics (AA) Update: Our SSTO continues to make progress and we've made it to orbit. We are so close to finally rescuing Malby Kerman. He's right outside our window, about 500m away...if only we made enough cockpit space for 2...

Kerasian Space Agency (KSA) Update: We've temporarily halted space plane design in order to progress further along in the tech tree. To accomplish this in one shot, we are going to do something easier than an SSTO design, creating a Mun orbiter. Our new solid rocket boosters should make this goal immensely easy to accomplish...

[KerasianSpaceAgency]

Part 8 Video

Mission 1: Save that Kerbal in a Space Plane!

Save the Kerbal in orbit using a spacecraft launched horizontally from the runway.

Part 8 Update:

Apex Aeronautics (AA) Update: Mission Accomplished!...In a way... Our SSTO achieved orbit and eventually caught up with Malby Kermin. At around 50 meters, we realized a potentially fatal design flaw...there was only room for one Kermin in the cockpit. In order to complete the mission, Jeb offered to give up his seat in the cockpit to save Malby. Jeb was to hold on to the ladder attached to the side of the SSTO. Sadly, on reentry, mission control lost contact with Jeb. His sacrifice in saving Malby shall not be forgotten!!!

Kerasian Space Agency (KSA) Update: We were able to orbit the Mun and back for the first time. This gave us the science we felt we needed to complete the mission, but Apex seems to have beaten us to it. Except they killed Jeb in the process of the rescue and their SSTO was never designed to rescue anyone in the first place. We plan on launching a formal protest over the internet and demand Apex go through the same Kongressioninal hearings as KSA had to when killing Jeb in earlier space race contests.