Nirur Torir, I am offering the services of my SEA satellites for $750 (assuming that I get to keep the results of the launch; I am also offering to give you complete control of the satellite and sole access to its results for $3000) Anyhow, here is my provisional (I am going to have limited internet access for the next 16 hours or so) turn:
Research:
Dr Smith will improve the reliability of the AC thruster (free)
Lab 1 will increase the efficiency of the AC thruster (-$1000)
Lab 2 will develop electronic safety measures with the help of Konrad Becker (-$1000)
Lab 3 will develop a 3 person space capsule (-$1000)
Research cost:$4000
Design:
Recalculate the Redstone II using new fuel tank technology. (I might make another design but that depends on the answer to the question below)
Construction:
None this year.
Production:
2 Redstone II (-$1550)
2 SEA satellites (-$2000)
Production cost: $3550
Launch:
Launch 1&2: launch a Redstone II with a SEA satellite on it into LEO. Have the SEA satellite study space radiation levels and distributions, with special emphasis on the kinds of radiation that are most harmful to human beings. Share the results obtained with CHASE.
Astronauts:
Recruit 2 astronauts with $2000.
Other:
Announce that ASTRO will send probes past Mercury and Venus in the next 4 years.
Total cost:at least $9550
Now, 10ebbor10, the $2000+ question: If my lander is 4m high say, do I need to put 4m of free hull space in the carrier rocket? Also, if I wanted to make something like the Gemini or Apollo modules, what should I research?