Kerbal Science Federation

[aeroz]

Background:

In an attempt to be as scientifically progressive as possible, I will not be using a technology tree for the progression of parts used or experiments conducted. This is a story of the development of a science program, not exclusively space. The research and engineering goals below are what I believe to be the most representative of a logical scientific progression*.

Starting points for the Kerbals in the story:

The equations of motion (particle dynamics) are known.

A general perception of flight mechanics exists.

Program Research & Engineering Goals

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Atmospheric Flight & Science:

Soaring flight – Lift, Drag, and Basic Flight Control: Deflecting surfaces

Powered Flight: Props, Jets, Turbojets, Turbofans

Liftoff, Landing, Maneuvering, Flight time

Single engine, Multi-engine, Straight wings, Swept wings

High Speed Flight: Supersonic

High Altitude Flight

Pressure, Temperature, Density, Clouds

Aerodynamic heating: General

Advanced flight control (manual, remote, and autopilots)

Rocketry:

Engine testing: Solid, Liquid, Multiple ignitions & Ignition conditions, Multistage

Launch Dynamics

Aerodynamic heating: Reentry

Reentry Dynamics

Reentry Targeting

Predicted and Controlled Reentry

Very high altitude dynamics

Automated Control

Orbital & Exploration Science:

Achieve orbit

Remote Satellite Operations

Orbital transfer dynamics

Planetary Science

Space Science

Long range communications

Power Generation: Solar & Thermo-electric

Space Exploration: Impact, Flyby, Landers, Rovers

Manned Operations:

Manned Orbit

EVA

Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, & Docking

Long Duration Manned Missions

Manned Space Exploration

Persistent Presence

Low-energy Propulsion

Long-duration Manned Planetary Exploration

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I will be using kOS, Remote Tech 2, Deadly Reentry, Ferram Aerospace Rersearch, parts from TAC Life Support**, HullCam, B9 Aerospace, DMagic Orbital Science, ScanSat, Raster Prop Monitor, Probe Control Room, Real Chutes, Telemachus, Firespitter, EngineIgnitor, MechJeb 2, Kerbal Engineer, and a few other mods as well. There are also some that maybe I should use but am not because I haven't found them or feel it could take away from the game play - this is for fun after all. I will do my best to not remove debris from orbit - hopefully this will not be that big an issue.

*Thoughts on this progression are welcome. Some aspects may be concurrent, but in text form that is difficult to show.

**The life-support feature will not be enabled simply because I see no reason to worry about running out of power if I don't check in on a station during another longer-duration flight every few hours - a general annoyance when warping through time. Sure, satellites and stations are designed to have an extra power supply, but it isn't meant to be an extreme excess. Perhaps extreme excess generation capability, but not extreme excess storage. I will be checking to make sure, however, that there are more than enough other supplies on the missions when the Kerbals are sent out into space.

Aside: Personally, I have a multitude of ideas on how to make this game more educational and realistic (in the science sense). However, I lack the coding experience needed to implement them. I don't anticipate most of them actually being that difficult to do. If anyone reads this and is interested, I'm more than willing to share. I've been playing this game for a long while now and really believe it has a lot of potential for science education - not just orbits and physics, but most of science given that the right additions are made.

[aeroz]

The engineers at the Kerbal Science Foundation debated with their managerial overlords about the program and its direction for weeks. Insisting that it made the most sense to run before walking, it was decided that a glider of unknown design would be mounted to two drop towers, pointed in generally the desired travel direction, and let loose to theoretically make its way from altitude to the runway safely. They even had ides about how to do it safely!

Twice, the "test pilots" (unlikely Kerbals pulled off the street unwittingly) successfully managed to go exactly nowhere but down, having no forward momentum with which to gain some lift. The engineers after much hesitation came back with a solution: provide a small kick to the glider at the onset. The result was fabulous.

After three near-death experiences, Jeb was left with the amazing desire to continue flying - the engineers had not anticipated this. After Jeb's initial success and willingness, he was formally indoctrinated into the program as lead test pilot.

[aeroz]

Having studied lift more than just in theory as a result of their glider tests, the engineers set out to develop a method of propulsion so that Kerbals too could take to the skies, having been left behind by their distant cousins, the birds that they heard chirping away constantly while they were trying to work. They devised a device that would pull them through the air, operating on the same principles as the wings so roughly attached to the cardboard they called a "body" in the last flying vehicle.

Simply by adding this one part, the Kerbals could now travel vast distances on their planet, though it would still take time. Jeb joyfully tested the contraption using the modified glider, rightly - though blandly - named "Single Prop". He liked to call it "Airplane 1".

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[aeroz]

The engineers and scientists were being pressured to begin doing research since "the funding was meant for science." And while the endless design of the standard issue office catapult was of value, the management was unhappy with the lack of immediately tangible results. Seeking to appease them, the scientists developed a "camera" - an optical system meant for capturing observations for review later - and the engineers designed a new flight system meant for exploration and research. The result was the field research biplane.

Jeb was briefed about the craft and told what not to do based on the groups' observations of his previous flights. He was also given a tutorial on how to use the camera and when. His route would take him down the coast, over some of the grasslands to the base of the mountains, then back home. Tuning out most of what they said, he quickly went from the room to the plane, hopped in, and started the first bit of exploration.

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While the scientists and engineers were thrilled with the data, stories, and images he returned with of the outside world, the managers were thrilled that he returned with an image of the Federation's headquarters.

[aeroz]

After practicing for a while with the biplane, it was deemed an airworthy craft. In fact, the most difficult part about flying the thing was landing it on the ground...softly. It generated so much lift and the wheels were so springy that the plane, no matter how softly or slowly the landing was done, would simply bounce along the ground a few times.

Jeb trained up Bill on how the aircraft handled, but it would be Bill's job to test other aspects of the plane - namely the craft's endurance. Bill's mission was to fly to the northern mountains around them, then back to base. The scientists had encouraged him to use the camera all along the way taking pictures of various land formations and objects that seemed interesting.

Being a little bit slower to pack than Jeb, Bill ended up taking off during the evening, flying as far north as he could and still be able to find a reasonable landing location. There, he would rest until morning.

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At dawn Bill took off again making note of a particularly interesting formation of lakes to the north east of his landing site. Continuing toward the mountains he got his first glimpse of the trees and how prevalent they were in more mountainous areas of their home. He also noticed sandbars, peninsulas, snow - up close, and a multitude of other things.

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Eventually he turned south and headed home using his lake formation as a marker.

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