Mission 12: Sigma 6After our last successful mission we should finally be ready to deploy communications equipment in low orbit, a circular orbit between 83,618 and 93,618 kilometers is selected as it seems easily in range for the rocket as well as the limited power of our antennas.
Been there, done that, But more circular!R&D have come up with something that will prevent those abysmal launch failures.
Reaction wheels, and Steerable winglets.We also now have access to a new short range antenna which won't break in the atmosphere, some fairings to protect craft from drag, and something called a cockpit, which Jebediah tells us is basically a command pod with extra large windows "so you can see the explosions better", but it looks rather more flimsy than the pod does. Wernher tells us that the Koviets have produced something called a probe core and also have developed radio control, but we haven't got a clue how those work yet, they're represented by those crossed out images in the tech tree.
The new rocket is readied, The tail fins are replaced with steerable winglets, a reaction wheel is added to the first stage, an omnidirectional antenna is added and finally a good pod is added to the command pod, the extra drag from the goo should be manageable with the new reaction wheel and winglets.We lose a little dV, however the smoother ascent will save us fuel.
Slightly different tail decoration! Nervous Seanner? Don't worry, you'll be ok. The gravity turn is going well, what are you so scared of?I'm not surprised it's cold, at -70C (Would I still have gotten the rest of the data after retrieval if I transmitted?)
Pushed the Apoapsis too high, will need to wait to complete burn. Don't let go!.Burn completed, but electricity is running out.Mission accomplished.Using the first stage for the deorbit burn has provided extra charge for the capsule. The unused Abort stage, and the unneeded solid retros are ejected.We're passing over the KSC as the moon rises.Our low reentry speed means we avoid severe aerodynamic heating, the goo pod survives easily.A moonlight splashdown close to the space center.Mission successful."I'm already cold from the flight, I don't see why this water sample was so important"Total science gathered.(also counting 11 from the water Seanner collected)Another successful mission, our next science unlocks all require either 45 or 90 so another mission is required before we can grab anything, Power problems keep coming up so electricity is highly recommended. A note about the disabled research options, We're totally committed to manned spaceflight for the time being, all robotic and unmanned stuff is being pursued by the Koviets, perhaps in future we could trade technology?
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Topic: Bills Rocket Program - Interlude 1: KSSR launches Kaputnik & Mission 12: Sigma 6 (Read 5676 times)