Space, the final frontier. A KSP AAR

NeonSamurai · 01-21-13, 05:18 PM

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.

NeonSamurai · 01-21-13, 07:24 PM

Mission 4: Rocket tests series KV-2
Objective: Multi stage liquid fueled rocket testing.

Launch 1 mission parameters: KV-2 vertical launch and vertical ascent to maximum altitude. KV-2 is a two stage rocket

Payload: various scientific instruments contained inside the nose cone of stage 2.

Another day dawns and the new KV-2 rocket stands ready on the launchpad

Stage 1 engine ignition is a go and KV-2 Lifts off into the air

As the rocket reaches an altitude of 13km fuel runs out in stage 1

At t:+ 00:00:55 the stage two successfully separates, but the stage 2 engine refuses to ignite despite multiple attempts.

Stage two falls back to Kerbin and crashes.

Looking around for some sort of evidence of kerbalnauts messing with the launch, the scientists cannot find any reason for the launch to have failed.

Debriefing, Launch 1:
The cause for the engine failure was undetermined.

5 further launches were attempted with this rocket, all resulting in failure during the second stage, In 3 of the launches, stage two exploded on ignition, in one launch the stage 2 engine pulsed to life and exploded a fraction of a second later, the last launch failed to ignite on separation but did ignite, stutter fired for 2 seconds then cut out as it plunged nose down back to Kerbin.

Several different theories were proposed, such as their being a flaw with the engine design, or their was not enough insulating cheese in the engine system (or any cheese for that matter), or that it had to do with the wrong Koodoo chants being given before launch. One particularly dimwitted scientist suggested that the problem may have to do with the loss of gravitational forces on the rocket during engine shutdown, creating a micro gravity situation, which cause the liquid fuels to float away from the motor inlets and entering a slushy state of gas, liquid, and solid. These "ullage" gasses were what was causing the failures with the second stage. He proposed adding micro thrusters to stage two, which would fire just before main engine ignition, to push the liquid fuel back against the inlets.

Of course he was taunted mercilessly by the other scientists for being a total knee biter, until he demonstrated he was right by showing the other scientists telemetry data from the stage two fuel tank which showed fluctuations in the fuel. Grudgingly the other scientists decided to fit ullage motors to the second stage of launch 7, along with a redesigned ignition system, The rocket is re-designated as KV-2A

Launch 7 mission parameters: KV-2A vertical launch and vertical ascent to maximum altitude.

Payload: various scientific instruments contained inside the nose cone of stage 2.

Main engine for stage 1 is a go, and as with the previous 6 launches, it takes to the air without problem

As before stage 1 runs out of fuel and the scientists prepare to go to stage two

Everyone holds their breath as the ullage motors fire with stage separation

2 seconds later stage 2's engine roars to life, all readings nominal. A cheer rings through mission control!

As the fuel runs out, scientists look at the calculated apogee for stage and are stunned
The craft manages to reach a staggering 2175km altitude, even thought it has 3/4 the fuel capacity of the KV-1

Signal is lost from KV-2A 20 minutes before reentry due to the power running out. Radar shows it crashing just off the coast

Debriefing, Launch 7:
Launch 7 is a stunning success. Kerbal scientists can't believe the altitude achieved even though KV-1 has 1.33333 times the fuel of KV-2A and KV-2A is functionally heavier after the fuel weight difference is calculated in, due to carrying two rocket engines (KV-1 weighs 6.81 metric tones (with fuel), and KV-2A weighs 6.26 metric tones), yet KV-2A hit an altitude almost 10 times as high as KV-1.

The scientist who found and came up with the solution to the ullage problem suggested that this was due to the effect of having a multi-stage craft, as it is able to shed excess weight during flight, and use a more efficient upper stage rocket engine designed for high altitiude, vastly increasing it's total potential DeltaV. But the other scientists felt the result was because of the new Koodoo priestess they found for this flight. The brilliant young scientist was later chased off by a roving mob of torch and pitchfork wielding scientists, who had decided that the one thing they hated more than those blasted kerbalnauts, was a smartypants.

Debriefing Mission 4:
This mission demonstrated the need for ullage motors during flight for multi stage rockets, it also demonstrated how much more efficient staged rocket designs are. On another note the Van Kerman radation belt theory was shown to be valid thanks to the extreme altitude KV-2A reached

NeonSamurai · 01-21-13, 08:16 PM

Mission 5: KR-A1 "Altan"
Objective: insert the first artificial satellite into a stable circular kerbin orbit
Mission Parameters: The 2 stage KR-A1 will follow a vertical launch and curved ascent profile to a circularized orbit with an apogee and perigee of 200km
Payload: NASKO Satellite

The KR (Kerbal Rocket) series (and likely all future series including manned craft) will be fitted with our newest computer control system known as mechjeb (it would seem Jebediah bribed some scientists to name the computer system after him, but contrary to the marketing, it is not based off his brain, but off of the brain something far smarter, your average organ grinder's monkey).

The assembled KR-A1 awaits dawn and its liftoff window.

T -00:00:10

Booster engine ignition and liftoff

KR-A1 climbs steadily away from the launch pad

As the boosters near the shut-off point, the main engine ignites and throttles up. Seconds later all 8 boosters are jettisoned.

KR-A1 continues to climb higher under stage 1 main power

Stage two separates successfully as the ullage motors fire, 3 seconds later stage 2 main ignites and comes to full power

As KR-A1 clears the atmosphere and coasts to the target apogee the aerodynamic payload fairings are jettisoned revealing the NASKO satellite.

As the KR-A1 reaches the desired apogee, the RCS (Reaction Control System) thrusters fire for a few seconds to allow main engine re-ignition, which starts the burn to bring the perigee up to match the current apogee (200km)

and circularize the orbit

When the orbit is circularized and stable satellite NASKO is released

Satellite NASKO (Not A Sputnik Knock Off) deploys its antennae, making it the first artificial satellite in orbit around the planet Kerbin. It's beeping is designed to annoy Kerbals world wide by cutting into their favorite radio broadcasts with utterly meaningless beeping (set in random beeping patterns for added confusion and annoyance).

As programmed so as not to litter in space, Stage 2 rotates retrograde and fires its engines one last time

putting it on a path of reentry 10 minutes later, crashing into the ocean

NASKO, thanks to its isotope generator, will be able to beep for centuries, provided nothing hits it (or angry radio listeners don't shoot it down). It's orbital period is about 40 minutes, with a flat east bound orbit along Kerbin's equator

Debriefing, Mission 6:
The mission was a complete success, NASKO is in perfect orbit, and its broadcast beeping will ruin radio listening for Kerbals for decades to come.

NeonSamurai · 02-11-13, 01:27 AM

As a heads up, I do plan on continuing this. RL has me pretty busy, plus many of the mods I use have been updated with new parts, or I have found other (or new) mods. As a result I am busy working on those.

Next couple of missions will include:
Putting a mapping satellite into polar orbit and fully mapping Kerbin
Something involving planes and the north pole & maybe visiting some easter eggs
First manned rocket mission
Rocket plane to LKO
Probe to the Mun

02-11-13, 03:59 AM

Wow I like this alot. What mod specifically is it that is giving you the payload fairing parts and gets rid of the tower??

I wil lcontinue to observe

02-11-13, 04:01 AM

Oh and on that note, what site are you using for your screen caps?

NeonSamurai · 02-11-13, 09:32 PM

I am using imageshack.us

The fairings come from this mod (which IMHO is a must have) http://kerbalspaceport.com/0-18-1-kw...ry-overhauled/

If you want custom mission fairings you can make em here
http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/...ingLink-plugin

This mod gets rid of the tower
http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/...bliterator-1-1

01-21-13, 05:18 PM	#1
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

01-21-13, 07:24 PM	#2
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	Mission 4: Rocket tests series KV-2 Objective: Multi stage liquid fueled rocket testing. Launch 1 mission parameters: KV-2 vertical launch and vertical ascent to maximum altitude. KV-2 is a two stage rocket Payload: various scientific instruments contained inside the nose cone of stage 2. Another day dawns and the new KV-2 rocket stands ready on the launchpad Stage 1 engine ignition is a go and KV-2 Lifts off into the air As the rocket reaches an altitude of 13km fuel runs out in stage 1 At t:+ 00:00:55 the stage two successfully separates, but the stage 2 engine refuses to ignite despite multiple attempts. Stage two falls back to Kerbin and crashes. Looking around for some sort of evidence of kerbalnauts messing with the launch, the scientists cannot find any reason for the launch to have failed. Debriefing, Launch 1: The cause for the engine failure was undetermined. 5 further launches were attempted with this rocket, all resulting in failure during the second stage, In 3 of the launches, stage two exploded on ignition, in one launch the stage 2 engine pulsed to life and exploded a fraction of a second later, the last launch failed to ignite on separation but did ignite, stutter fired for 2 seconds then cut out as it plunged nose down back to Kerbin. Several different theories were proposed, such as their being a flaw with the engine design, or their was not enough insulating cheese in the engine system (or any cheese for that matter), or that it had to do with the wrong Koodoo chants being given before launch. One particularly dimwitted scientist suggested that the problem may have to do with the loss of gravitational forces on the rocket during engine shutdown, creating a micro gravity situation, which cause the liquid fuels to float away from the motor inlets and entering a slushy state of gas, liquid, and solid. These "ullage" gasses were what was causing the failures with the second stage. He proposed adding micro thrusters to stage two, which would fire just before main engine ignition, to push the liquid fuel back against the inlets. Of course he was taunted mercilessly by the other scientists for being a total knee biter, until he demonstrated he was right by showing the other scientists telemetry data from the stage two fuel tank which showed fluctuations in the fuel. Grudgingly the other scientists decided to fit ullage motors to the second stage of launch 7, along with a redesigned ignition system, The rocket is re-designated as KV-2A Launch 7 mission parameters: KV-2A vertical launch and vertical ascent to maximum altitude. Payload: various scientific instruments contained inside the nose cone of stage 2. Main engine for stage 1 is a go, and as with the previous 6 launches, it takes to the air without problem As before stage 1 runs out of fuel and the scientists prepare to go to stage two Everyone holds their breath as the ullage motors fire with stage separation 2 seconds later stage 2's engine roars to life, all readings nominal. A cheer rings through mission control! As the fuel runs out, scientists look at the calculated apogee for stage and are stunned The craft manages to reach a staggering 2175km altitude, even thought it has 3/4 the fuel capacity of the KV-1 Signal is lost from KV-2A 20 minutes before reentry due to the power running out. Radar shows it crashing just off the coast Debriefing, Launch 7: Launch 7 is a stunning success. Kerbal scientists can't believe the altitude achieved even though KV-1 has 1.33333 times the fuel of KV-2A and KV-2A is functionally heavier after the fuel weight difference is calculated in, due to carrying two rocket engines (KV-1 weighs 6.81 metric tones (with fuel), and KV-2A weighs 6.26 metric tones), yet KV-2A hit an altitude almost 10 times as high as KV-1. The scientist who found and came up with the solution to the ullage problem suggested that this was due to the effect of having a multi-stage craft, as it is able to shed excess weight during flight, and use a more efficient upper stage rocket engine designed for high altitiude, vastly increasing it's total potential DeltaV. But the other scientists felt the result was because of the new Koodoo priestess they found for this flight. The brilliant young scientist was later chased off by a roving mob of torch and pitchfork wielding scientists, who had decided that the one thing they hated more than those blasted kerbalnauts, was a smartypants. Debriefing Mission 4: This mission demonstrated the need for ullage motors during flight for multi stage rockets, it also demonstrated how much more efficient staged rocket designs are. On another note the Van Kerman radation belt theory was shown to be valid thanks to the extreme altitude KV-2A reached __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

01-21-13, 08:16 PM	#3
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	Mission 5: KR-A1 "Altan" Objective: insert the first artificial satellite into a stable circular kerbin orbit Mission Parameters: The 2 stage KR-A1 will follow a vertical launch and curved ascent profile to a circularized orbit with an apogee and perigee of 200km Payload: NASKO Satellite The KR (Kerbal Rocket) series (and likely all future series including manned craft) will be fitted with our newest computer control system known as mechjeb (it would seem Jebediah bribed some scientists to name the computer system after him, but contrary to the marketing, it is not based off his brain, but off of the brain something far smarter, your average organ grinder's monkey). The assembled KR-A1 awaits dawn and its liftoff window. T -00:00:10 Booster engine ignition and liftoff KR-A1 climbs steadily away from the launch pad As the boosters near the shut-off point, the main engine ignites and throttles up. Seconds later all 8 boosters are jettisoned. KR-A1 continues to climb higher under stage 1 main power Stage two separates successfully as the ullage motors fire, 3 seconds later stage 2 main ignites and comes to full power As KR-A1 clears the atmosphere and coasts to the target apogee the aerodynamic payload fairings are jettisoned revealing the NASKO satellite. As the KR-A1 reaches the desired apogee, the RCS (Reaction Control System) thrusters fire for a few seconds to allow main engine re-ignition, which starts the burn to bring the perigee up to match the current apogee (200km) and circularize the orbit When the orbit is circularized and stable satellite NASKO is released Satellite NASKO (Not A Sputnik Knock Off) deploys its antennae, making it the first artificial satellite in orbit around the planet Kerbin. It's beeping is designed to annoy Kerbals world wide by cutting into their favorite radio broadcasts with utterly meaningless beeping (set in random beeping patterns for added confusion and annoyance). As programmed so as not to litter in space, Stage 2 rotates retrograde and fires its engines one last time putting it on a path of reentry 10 minutes later, crashing into the ocean NASKO, thanks to its isotope generator, will be able to beep for centuries, provided nothing hits it (or angry radio listeners don't shoot it down). It's orbital period is about 40 minutes, with a flat east bound orbit along Kerbin's equator Debriefing, Mission 6: The mission was a complete success, NASKO is in perfect orbit, and its broadcast beeping will ruin radio listening for Kerbals for decades to come. __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

02-11-13, 01:27 AM	#4
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	As a heads up, I do plan on continuing this. RL has me pretty busy, plus many of the mods I use have been updated with new parts, or I have found other (or new) mods. As a result I am busy working on those. Next couple of missions will include: Putting a mapping satellite into polar orbit and fully mapping Kerbin Something involving planes and the north pole & maybe visiting some easter eggs First manned rocket mission Rocket plane to LKO Probe to the Mun __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

02-11-13, 09:32 PM	#7
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	I am using imageshack.us The fairings come from this mod (which IMHO is a must have) http://kerbalspaceport.com/0-18-1-kw...ry-overhauled/ If you want custom mission fairings you can make em here http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/...ingLink-plugin This mod gets rid of the tower http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/...bliterator-1-1 __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

02-11-13, 03:59 AM	#5
reignofdeath Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Wow I like this alot. What mod specifically is it that is giving you the payload fairing parts and gets rid of the tower?? I wil lcontinue to observe

02-11-13, 04:01 AM	#6
reignofdeath Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Oh and on that note, what site are you using for your screen caps?