Mission 3: Rocket tests series KV-1 (vaguely based on V-2 bumper tests)
Objective: Liquid rocket flight testing, atmospheric and space data collection (gravity, temperature, radiation, magnetic fields, etc.), solid fuel rocket booster testing, LKO (Low Kerbin Orbit) attempt.
Launch 1 mission parameters: KV-1 vertical launch and vertical ascent to maximum altitude.
Payload: various scientific instruments bolted onto the side.
With the sun rising, the scientists for once were pleased... there were no bloody kerbalnauts lounging around anywhere near, or better still in their shiny new rocket (though some of the scientists thought it a pity their were no kerbalnauts in the rocket, as this one's final destination was to crash into the ground at several hundred meters per second).
The engine starts successfully and roars to life as a split second later the docking clamps all release. KV-1 thunders into the sky
As the rocket climbs it gains speed
at 46,000m KV-1's fuel is spent
KV-1 reaches a maximum altitude of 436,000m
At t:+00:17:09 KV-1 crashes on Kerbin and is destroyed
Debriefing, Launch 1:
Launch performed as expected, deltaV not quite high enough to achieve LKO. Data on upper atmosphere and space around Kerbin being examined.
Launch 2 mission parameters: KV-1A vertical launch and curved ascent for LKO attempt using new solid fuel boosters. Boosters shall power initial ascent through the thickest parts of the atmosphere, main engine will power the rest of the flight. Target orbital altitude is 100km circular
Payload: various scientific instruments bolted onto the side.
A few hours later, KV-1A is set up on the launch platform, ready for launch. The new solid fuel booster rockets strapped to its sides.
The solid fuel boosters are ignited, and when thrust levels for all 4 boosters are confirmed at nominal, the launch clamps are released
As the fuel runs out in the boosters, the main engine is ignited but held at minimum thrust. The boosters are jettisoned and 5 seconds later the main engine throttles up to full power
As the rocket hits an altitude of 60km the engines shut off, so the rocket can coast to its targeted 100km apoapsis. The scientists notice that something is wrong when the rocket flies past the targeted altitude
Scrambling to figure out why the KV-1A missed the target alititude, the scientists examine the flight computer only to find that it has been switched off, and that the manual control light is blinking green. Looking up at the manual control booth the scientists are enraged to discover Jebediah Kerman waving to them from the booth. After security drags Jebediah off, the scientists try to salvage the LKO attempt, but it is of no avail, all the fuel in KV-1A is spent and the projected flight path will send the rocket crashing back to Kerbin
At t: +00:35:50 KV-1A crashes into the far side of Kerbin
Debriefing, Launch 2:
Calculations showed that KV-1A could have easily reached LKO with addition of solid rocket boosters if it wasn't for Jebediah's meddling. Data from this launch is also being examined.
Debriefing, Mission 3:
These series of launches accomplished a few things, for one thing the magnetosphere theory was shown to be valid, and Kerbal scientists now have a better understanding of the composition of the upper atmosphere and the space vacuum in LKO. As far as rocket design advances, both liquid and solid fuel engines have been flight tested and proven functional. Kerbal scientists have also learned that the kerbalnauts should not be allowed with in 1000 paces of mission control and must never be allowed to actually fly any further craft. The decision has been made to rig future manned flights with dummy controls so the kerbalnauts think they are in control, when in reality all operations will be handled by flight computers.