Week 2-Slipping The Surly Bonds Of Kerban, To Punch The Kraken In The Face!
As you may all have heard this has been a historic week for our people. We have put the first kerbal into orbit and returned him to the planet. It's been hectic, scary and exciting for all of us involved and one mostly devoid of explosions. Hopefully I can give you some context to the stories you have been hearing in the media.
This week started with a discussion between the engineers, the pilots and I about the possibility of launching our first manned craft. I mostly listened because of my lack of experience but I did make some key points. There was no point in doing a mission unless we could return the pilot to the planet and it was better to orbit the planet than to do a lame sub-orbital flight. That meant we were to get With those two things in mind we did a test with an unmanned pod with a modified version of the Kerman I. We watched as it got about 10 km off the ground and unceremoniously blew up. The same happened again after we thought we fixed the issue. It was then we realized something new was needed to get the kind of weight we had into even the lowest orbit.
Behold, Kerman II!
This was the beginning of the Kerman II launch system, seeing as I had no say in the last system I decided that I should roll up my sleeves and put 6 years of box experience to the test. It turns out that box design and rocket design are actually quite different and my love of angles wasn't quite enough to help me with the redesign. In the end I didn't have much say in the building of the thing, but, while disappointed, I was able to put my time and expertise towards something almost equally as useful.
I took my time to formulate some objectives for the organization. Every organization has a set of objectives and goals and I was surprised to find the ones listed by the last director to simply read "Get stuff into space." I hope my list is a bit more professional than my predecessor so in that spirit, and to assure the public I am not going to be sending feline pilots into orbit I have decided to list them here. This is also in light of certain politicians making challenges to prove we did at least start on a plan before he opened his mouth.
It shall be the policy of the Kerbal Space Program to achieve these goals, in order, and in a time frame to be set by budgetary constraints and other limitations imposed by the board or other managing organizations.
To achieve a piloted ship launch into low kerban orbit, 70 km height.
To achieve a piloted ship launch into stable and reliable orbit, 150 km height.
To achieve a piloted vehicle rendezvous with an automated drone, at least 100 km height.
To achieve a piloted vehicle rendezvous with another piloted vehicle, at least 100 km height.
To achieve EVA transfer of crew from one piloted vehicle to another, at least 100 km height.
To place a permanent station in transfer orbit and obtain a permanent crew, 100 km height.
To achieve a stable orbit around the Mun with a mapping satellite, 100 km orbit.
Secondary goal, map surface of the Mun for landing locations, base locations, minerals and for scientific research.
Secondary goal, land probes on surface to study any irregular phenomena significant to scientific endeavors.
To achieve a piloted vehicle transfer burn to an orbit around the Mun, 100 km orbit.
Secondary goal, send automated landing craft in parking orbit around Mun for future piloted landings.
To achieve a landing on the Mun and to return the pilots to Kerban.
To achieve a permanent base on the Mun for research and resource gathering purposes.
To place a permanent station in transfer orbit of the Mun and obtain a permanent crew, 100 km height.
Signed,
Paul Kerman
Director of Kerbal Space Program...and Boxes
After building the Kerman II, and with our direction now mapped, we were ready to try our first crewed flight. Jebediah Kerman volunteered for the mission, some say out of bravery but those of us who knew him know it was because they kicked him off of the centrifuge for good and he had to get his thrills somewhere. The first attempt wasn't publicized and was designed as a sub-orbital flight to test out the new rocket. We got everything ready and when the time came for launch what greeted us was not a fiery launch but a fiery explosion.
In a moment of panic we rushed out to the pad with the rescue crews and began sifting through rubble, expecting a charred and dead Jeb to be lying at the bottom. After almost an hour of searching we discovered, nothing. We feared that Jeb was incinerated until someone looked up to see Jeb, on the tower, hanging by his suit on the edge with that crazy smile on his face. I will never forget the next exchange, I shouted up at him to ask why he didn't call for help and he replied, "I don't need help, I have everything under control here. You guys need some help? It seems like you're looking for something but I don't know what you expect to find in that hunk of twisted metal."
After getting Jeb down and redesigning the rocket once more we decided to try for another crewed launch. I got the press together, wearing a helmet this time, and gave my speech about the importance of boxes and how it was going to be a historic day to put a kerbal into orbit. Then came the launch a nerve racking moment for all involved, well except for Jeb who I think fell asleep during the count down.
For those of you who came to see the launch in person I thank you. Those who watched it live I also want to thank you. Finally for those of you who missed it...you are whats wrong with our people! Seriously the first member of our species is going into space and you decide to miss it? For what another rerun of Kermanfeld? Anyways if you didn't see the thing there is a link below of the launch.
As you may know this launch wasn't just a success, it was a resounding success. Jeb's quote about being so far up and moving so fast he could "punch the kraken in the face and get away" is already becoming the tag line of our little endeavor. Like clockwork Jeb circled the planet 15 times before returning to the planet. The amount of data and footage we got should keep the media at bay for quite a while. Below I have linked some pictures and unreleased footage we got from the launch.
Second Stage Shot of Kerman II
Jeb's Helmet Cam
Kerbolrise
Parachute Camera, Decending
Descending Kerman II "Kraken Puncher" Capsule
Jebediah Kerman, Crazy Bad Ass
Kerman II "Kraken Puncher" Capsule
We aren't stopping here though, President Falanghe's challenge of "A kerbal on every planet and mun by the end of the decade" is hopefully going to keep us in the money and moving at a quick pace. We are planning multiple launches over the next week to try and knock out our early goals, I have a few teams working on multiple designs and contracting with some outside companies. It's going to be a busy week and not a single box or cat will be involved, don't know to cheer or cry.
As you may all have heard this has been a historic week for our people. We have put the first kerbal into orbit and returned him to the planet. It's been hectic, scary and exciting for all of us involved and one mostly devoid of explosions. Hopefully I can give you some context to the stories you have been hearing in the media.
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