Space Program Overview
X-Plane Program
The sound barrier was once thought to be a hard limit for aviation; a fundamental law of nature, one not meant to be broken. Breaking it? Well, that was the job. It came with risks, it came with rewards, and it brought out the bravest and boldest of all Kerbalkind to pull it off. In an effort to stay toe-to-toe with the Soviets, the program would bust through speed and altitude records like no tomorrow. In the early days it felt like only the sky was the limit. And then we broke that, too.
With the proven capabilities of experimental aviation, brave Pilots pushed every limit imaginable. When an aircraft met its limits, we would design another to push them further, faster and higher.
Pushing the boundaries of the unknown comes at a steep cost, however. Jerauld & Milton Kerman both lose their lives piloting the X-2 "Long Boi" back to the runway. The X-3 memorializes their sacrifice with their names etched into its livery as a reminder to all that this venture is no walk in the park, no ride for the faint of heart; that you may very well come face to face with your demons in the dark. But to meet them and come back alive? Now that's the greatest thrill we could imagine!
Soon, flights like this will become routine, mundane, un-noteworthy. But until then, we'll pave the way forward and into the future, adrenaline ablaze with the undying grit known by all Pioneers alike.
Merkury Program
During the 1950's it rapidly became clear crewed expeditions into space would become necessary; not only a stunt to pull political weight, but a necessary step towards dominating this new frontier. As experimental aircraft capable of great speed and height became heavier and more complex, it became glaringly obvious the program would need to develop an entirely new form of crewed flight; with limited launch capabilities in mind - the idea of a 1-seater "Capsule" came to life.
Early on, the Foundation largely relied on re-purposing de-commisioned ICBM's for crewed flight into space. Instead of military payloads, warheads replaced with crewed spacecraft of similar shape.
The program saw several flights, first suborbitally and then all the way to Earth orbit - right on the heels of the earliest satellites both American and Soviet. Merkury set out to prove expeditions to space were viable, a Kerbal could operate complex machines in zero gravity, and of course, that returning to the Earth safely was possible. The program was short lived in the end, its usefullness as a stepping stone to our presence in space undeniable; opening the path to greater exploration.
Merkury 3 was augmented with a translational thruster pack and controls capable of full movement for the first time. Rendezvous in space was proven possible, pulling weight for its limited capability.
Gemini Program
Originally designated "Merkury B", and largely an upgrade in every regard to the Merkury program, Gemini was the Foundation's first multi-crew spaceflight program. It utilizes a larger 2 stage launch vehicle, 2 seats aboard a larger capsule, and a dedicated service module providing life support to the Kerbals on board as well as a robust thruster pack capable of more impressive free-flight and manevuerability than the program before it. The program's primary directive being to develop skills and operations necessary to make space-flight routine, new milestones were made possible.
As of 1965, Gemini holds the record for most flights under its name, for a variety of uses. Despite no launch escape tower present during lift off, it is highly regarded a safe bet by Gemini pilots past and present.
Largely an operation pressured by tension between the Soviet Union and the United States, Gemini was pushed further than anyone had ever dreamed possible. An ambitious multi-launch effort brought Kerbalkind to Lunar Orbit aboard Gemini in a hazardous, though still monumental fashion. Two flights around the Moon and back provided the Foundation with valuable data regarding solar radiation, communication, and maneuverability in orbit of another Celestial body.
In Lunar orbit, Michael and Scott Kerman had only 2 small porthole windows to view the Earth and Moon from. Once able to undock, the front facing windows provided the two a marvelous yet alien view.
Dynasoar Program
As orbital launch capacity increased to more substantial tonnage, the concept of returning to experimental aircraft as a means of reaching orbit of the Earth was once again introduced. Enter the "Dynamic Soarer" program, putting control back into the hands of our best pilots; finally able to fly their machines themselves rather than merely being a glorified passenger inside of a tin can. This came at greater risks, and as such required greater capabilities for its cost to be justified.
From suborbital mishaps to uneasy flight profiles, the new Dynasoar program did not launch on the right foot. And despite its controversial necessity, the program powered through to Earth orbit regardless!
At its inception, three Dynasoar vehicles were created; each with different mission parameters. The first was merely a test bed for the vehicle, having an empty cargo bay behind the cockpit. This has the intent of being utilized for orbital retrieval, something no other spacecraft is capable of as of yet. The second fitted with highly advanced (for its time) Earth observation equipment, allowing the pilot to capture high fidelity photographs of the surface from orbit - anywhere on the Earth! And the third equipped with a specialized service and docking module suited for the KIV Station.
In Earth Orbit, Dynasoar would be the most maneuverable crewed spacecraft yet developed, capable of utilizing a specially made upper stage called Transtage to drastically alter its orbit for a variety of uses.
KIV Station Program
As crewed spaceflight operation necessitated longer stays in zero gravity, a new field of research and experimentation emerged as a result. What were the effects of long duration stays in outer space? What problems emerge over time? And importantly, what were the best solutions to these new difficulties? A research outpost in orbit of the Earth would look to solve these very questions once and for all, a step most paramount towards Kerbalkinds journey further and further into the black. We must, of course, learn to survive in this hostile environment if our conquest is to go on.
The KIV Research Outpost utilized the upper stage of a Katurn 1 as an integral part of its design. Later on, experimentation with "wet labs" is explored, making use of the empty space a spent fuel tank provides.
The worlds first space station, though intended to be short lived, provided a wealth of information for on orbit habitability. Over the course of several missions, which saw both the Gemini and Dyansoar spacecraft as visitors to the outpost, crews of two and three remained aboard for several months at a time; discovering both the wonders and problems with living and working in zero gravity. The lessons learned will no doubt directly influence future space habitats to come.
Dynasoar visiting the KIV Station with a Gemini crew already aboard, demonstrating orbital resupply - one of the several long-duration experiments that was conducted by Earths first orbital research outpost.
Trinity Program
While other crewed spaceflight programs have focused on learning the ropes of reaching, living, and working in Low Earth Orbit, they have always been at their core a forefront to further ventures into the black. Years of exploration, science, infrastructure, and experience have all led way to our first dedicated extra-planetary program and the mighty Katurn V rocket. Although political tension is the primary reason for its inception and rapid development, the possibilities Trinity provides advancing the United States' conquest of space is undeniably great; politically and scientifically.
Flying atop 7.6 million pounds of thrust is on hell of a ride. In order to reduce G loads on the crew during staging events, the center engines on Stage 1 and 2 shut down mid-flight, smoothing out the ride a bit.
The Trinity program began with the primary objective of landing a crew on the Lunar Surface and bringing them safely back home to the Earth. Having met this goal, the future of Trinity and the Katurn V is still bright. Further expeditions to the Moon are a guarentee, though crewed voyages all the way out to Mars, Venus, or other distant destinations in the Solar System are definitely a possibility. As the largest and most expensive vehicle yet developed by the Foundation, available funding above all else will be the deciding factor on the Katurn V's lifespan in the coming years.
In 1965, Buzz Kerman becomes the first Astral Kerbonaut to step foot on another world, Alan Kerman soon afterwards; this monumental effort merely the first step on the greatest journey of all Kerbalkind.
Suborbital Program
The Astral Foundation's first foray into space exploration was in the use of Sounding Rockets and modified Short Range Ballistic Missiles; all in an effort to understand the developments necessary to pursue future programs in the fields of both Science and Engineering. After all, small steps lead to giant leaps - and destinations through the void of space are further than a hop and a skip away.
This program ran from April 1951 to December 1956, utilizing the following vehicles: Wack Korporal, K-4, Kedstone I, and the KBRM. Many flights were simple up and down flights for the sake of stress testing, scientific endeavor, or classified militaristic purposes.Early Sounding rockets were not very reliable! Despite more mishaps and explosions than successful flights, every failed launch provided a wealth of new valuable lessons for future programs to learn from.
A sub-orbital flight that comes to mind from very early on in the space program would most likely be an image taken from the very edge of space, looking down at the Earth below from the tip of the K-4 rocket
Explorer Program
The Explorer program jump started the Foundation's ongoing quest of understanding the universe around us by providing scientific instruments that could remain in space indefinitely! Though early satellites could not remain powered for very long, technology advanced rapidly. Explorer lived up to its name by sending instruments to various Earth orbits, lunar orbits, and most daringly a venture to the planet Venus as well. The program began in 1955, and continued through 1962.
It did not take long for more capable launchers to lift more complex satellites than the very first Explorers. It also did not take long for Venus to melt the 10th and final probe after entering its atmosphere.
Pathfinder Program
Pathfinder Program, differing from its initial launch vehicle of the same name, was devised with a single purpose in mind; in short, smacking the lunar surface. More than merely a stunt or bragging rights, the instruments on board these Lunar Impactors would collect vital data necessary for the planning and execution of crewed missions to the Moon later on. Small steps towards giant leaps.
Trinity would years later reach out towards the Moon; built from data gathered by Pathfinder. It was unanimously decided a mission profile of crewed lunar impactor was most definitely off the table.
Discoverer Program
The Discoverer program began with a noble scientific achievement in mind: photographing the Earth from orbit. This very quickly turned from the scientific documentation of geography to an instrument of political intrigue, however. Discoverer's intentions became veiled in secrecy, as its instruments were regularly utilized to photograph Soviet activity from orbit. However, this entirely backfired in December of 1961 when a Discoverer satellite and its onboard physical film was intercepted by Soviet crew despite its dangerous-to-reach orbital parameters. The program shut down immediately, remaining classified ever since. Dynasoar would take its place for orbital recon.
Technology was the limiting factor for ensuring Discoverer's true nature remained hidden. The camera would remain in orbit for months; physical film had to be recovered via reentry capsules.
Markiner Program
The Markiner probes followed in the footsteps of Explorer 9 and 10, aiming to collect troves of scientific data on interplanetary space, and much cooler: discovering the true natures of Earth's 2 closest neighbors. Both Mars and Venus have been visited by Markiner probes. First data in space around them was collected via Flyby's and Orbiters, and later on atmospheric probes plunged deep into their atmospheres. Although maintaining communications long enough to reach the surface has been rather difficult thus far, much like how Pathfinder led the way towards Trinity missions to the Moon, Markiner has paved the way for crewed expeditions to other planets.Landing on Venus and Mars has proven quite troublesome indeed, however the fourth Markiner probe successfully landed on the surface of Phobos and Deimos in 1965. Low gravity definitely helping out a lot!
Wanderer Program
In June of 1963, a Katurn 1 lifted from the Earth with its eyes set on bringing a small rover to the Moon. Wanderer 1 would successfully reach the surface 5 days later, hopping gleefully off of its specialized landing platform and beginning its journey accross the dusty regolith of its new home.Wanderer 1 is only able to traverse its surroundings during lunar day, a 2 week period where solar panels are able to keep it alive; sleeping during nightfall, likely dreaming of countless Moon rocks and craters.
Surveyor Program
Before Kerbals set foot on the lunar surface, a series of small landers were designed and launched to collect the final bits of knowledge needed. 4 Surveyors touched down with varying levels of success; Surveyor 4 experiencing an engine failure and falling to the surface at the very last moment, ending up sideways but luckily still in one piece.The first two Surveyor landers touched down on the far side of the Moon, with no direct line of sight or communication with Earth; timing their landings precicely to utilize a relay satellite in lunar orbit.
