Vote closed
Per Aspera (Space Agency Plan Quest)
- Thread starter Shadows
- Start date
- Original
July 1st, 1954//Q3 1954
Shadows
Sacred Priestess of the Benevolent Dice Gods
- Location
- USS Civilian, DDG-214
- Pronouns
- She/Her
It seemed as if the IEC could only pick up steam, or so you thought, as summer arrived with its abominable humidity once again. Which, truthfully, made any thoughts of 'steam' whatsoever less than pleasant, given that you generally felt as if you were walking around inside a particularly large boiler. Oh well.
The good news was, of course, that the satellite program was nearing its end, and soon the Cooperative would be able to fully justify its existence to the world. It had been a near thing, the decision on what satellite variant to use - for a while, it seemed as if the engineers would go all-out with it, giving it every bell and whistle they could stuff inside the mass budget. In the end, the middle-road variant won out, and now all there was to do was build the thing and stick it atop a Dawn.
You couldn't wait.
EAST ASIA - The Councils of East Asia have given a press release stating that the Coastal Spine Railway is nearing the quarter completion mark, with limited service connected between stops that would eventually be linked into the greater network. This new railway is expected to enable greater ease of movement and greater feats of industry in the region as travel times and costs are dropped greatly.
MOMBASA - The IEC is nearing completion on a sprawling computing science complex in Mombasa, where teams of scientists lead by Dr. Alan Turing will advance humanity's knowledge of how to better make and use these thinking machines…
SAO PAOLO - The Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre is all but complete, local officials and IEC spokespeople report. The project to build out the centre expanded even out to the local utilities, and the city of Sao Paolo now boasts the most advanced water and power infrastructure on the South American continent…
Resources:
0R (+480R/turn - 35R/turn from payroll/dice purchases = +445/turn net)
59 Political Support
1 R-2 Gale
3 R-4 Dawn
Scientific Advances
Improved Instrumentation - Gain +1d2 bonus to a random field every 2 launches. Gain +1 to AVIONICS immediately.)
Regenerative Cooling - Starts down the path to more powerful and advanced rocket engines.
Second Stages - Can now build 2-Stage Sounding Rockets.
Combustion Instability Research - Turns the initial success roll for a rocket from a >60 to >50.
Engine Cycles - Enables Early Orbital engines.
Mobile Launch Operations - Can launch Sounding Rockets without the need for a launch pad.
Improved Stringer Alloys - New (expensive) alloys improve the performance of structural tanks. (+5 to R cost of Heavy Sounding Rockets and above)
Copper-Chrome combustion chamber alloys - New combustion chamber alloys with higher heat transfer efficiency allow for hotter (and thus more efficient) chamber temperatures, leading to the ability to produce more powerful engines. (Future rocket designs will be higher performing.)
Aluminum-Lithium monolithic tanks - New tank alloys enable lighter, higher performing tankage to be produced for new rocket designs. (Future designs that use Al-Li tankage will be more performant, but more expensive in R terms.)
Scientific/Engineering Specific Field Bonuses
AERO - +9
AVIONICS - +9
CHEM - +11
CREW - +3
COMP - +3
MATSCI - +17
PHYS - +9
PROP - +7
Penelope Carter [The Director] - [+10 to Politics rolls, +2 Politics die, +5R/turn in funding from Connections, reroll 1 failed politics roll per turn]
Sergei Korolev - [+5 to Science and Engineering rolls (unless researching [HGOL][FUEL] projects, then it becomes a -15), +1 Science dice, +1 Engineering Dice. Request:Build an Orbital Rocket within 5 years; build a Scientific Complex in Ukraine within 10 years.]
Rocket Reels - Adds a coinflip for 1 gained political support per quarter; gain an additional flip for every successful rocket launch.
Promises Made (Expires Q1 1955):
Build the Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex X2
Build the Mombasa AND Sao Paolo Scientific Complexes
Build the Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre by 1955Q1.
Conduct Satellite Design Studies and launch the satellite before 1955Q1.
Conduct Jet Research (Phase 2) X2
Do not conduct military rocket launches or research
Operations (5 dice, +3 bonus) (1 type of Rocket may be built at a time)
[ ] Construct an R-1 Beden - Standard Sounding rocket launches are now something of an old hat. Still perfectly useful, of course, and they're not actually that old, but the two stage rockets have stolen some of their thunder. (15R per dice, 3/35, costs 1 Build Capacity until complete)
-[ ] And launch it (free action for Sounding Rockets) (gains Scientific Data, launch experience, results to show the people funding you)
-[ ] And do a recon launch in the North American conflict (gains launch experience)
[ ] Construct an R-2 Gale - The IEC's engineers and scientists have come up with a moderately reliable stage separation system for multi-stage rockets. The Gale has seen active use for two years, now, and is turning into quite the reliable workhorse. (20R per dice, 19/45, costs 1 Build Capacity until complete)
-[ ] And launch it (free action for Sounding Rockets) (gains Scientific Data, launch experience, results to show the people funding you)
[ ] Construct an R-3 Snow - The Heavy Sounding Rocket, now known as the Snow, is ready for construction. It's a sizeable rocket, but thankfully you have a sizeable pad to launch it from. Unfortunately, it won't ever fit on a Stormchaser. (25R per dice, 7/80, costs 1 Build Capacity until complete)
-[ ] And launch it (free action for Sounding Rockets) (gains Scientific Data, launch experience, results to show the people funding you) (Unlocks Weather Observation Campaigns)
[] Construct an R-4 Dawn - The first Orbital-class rocket, the Dawn is capable of lifting 200 kilograms to low Earth orbit. It may be able to do more, in time, but for now that would suffice. It can only launch on the Heavy Sounding Pad or heavier, as yet unbuilt ones. (35R per dice, 69/120, costs 1 build capacity til complete)
-[ ] And launch it (1 Operations dice; specify payload)
–[ ] Sounding payload (inert payload for testing)
–[ ] First Satellite
[ ] Construct a Prototype Spaceplane -
Facilities (8 dice, +10 bonus)
(A maximum of 3 dice may be used on any project - representing 3 shifts of work.)
[ ] Expand the Assembly Complex - A proposal to expand the Assembly Complex to allow for more rockets to be constructed simultaneously has hit your desk. This will significantly up your launch cadence, you are told, and allow for multiple rocket programs to be run in parallel, as well as future proofing you somewhat against the upcoming orbital rockets. (20R per die, 0/350, changes 2 Build Capacity to 1 Program slot, enabling campaigns to be run 'in the background', passively gaining experience and science, +3 Build Capacity)
[ ] Expand the Launch Complex - You have two launch pads (one of which has gone entirely unused, so far) but, soon enough, you expect to need additional pads to account for the maintenance and upgrades the existing ones will certainly need. Getting a head start on that need may be a good idea. (20R per die, 0/350, gain two 500t launch pads)
[ ] Build a Scientific Complex - While there are a significant number of people within the IEC who want to keep the Cooperative's footprint confined to Mogadishu - at least for now - there is definitely an argument to be made for building dedicated facilities in other locations to build up buy-in from the rest of the world by providing them something tangible in return. One of those ideas is for a dedicated Scientific Complex, dedicated to a particular discipline, much like the Soviet closed cities - just not closed. This has the potential to greatly increase your scientific output and your political sway at the same time. (25R per die, opens up new research possibilities, +1d5+5 bonus in the associated field, +1 Education for the region)
-[] Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre (AERO) [CPAL, Int(C)] (425/450)
-[] Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex (PROP) [Int(D),UWF] (293/450)
-[] Beijing Institute for Chemical Research (CHEM) (0/450)
-[] Sydney Microelectronics Research Centre (AVIONICS) (0/450)
-[] Mombasa Computer Science Institute (COMP) [CPAL] (273/450)
-[] New Delhi Institute for Physics (PHYS) (0/450)
[ ] Tracking Station Construction (Phase I) - The first stage of Tracking Stations rolls out the facilities along the equator as best as possible where land exists, and deals with constructing the first of the fleet of tracking vessels the IEC will need to cover all those thousands of square kilometers where there is no land to be had. Thanks to the decision to use converted warships for the base of the tracking vessels, the process will be somewhat quicker, though also more expensive. (30R per die, 183/350, adds equatorial tracking for rocket launches)
Engineering (5 dice, +6 Bonus to All)
[ ] Prototype Spaceplane - Your spaceplane enthusiasts returned to your office with another proposal, building off the back of the design studies they had undertaken through the winter of 1954. Their desire was to create a crewed 'space' plane that would be towed behind or carried underneath a carrier aircraft, be released, and activate a rocket engine that would take it up over the Karman line. It would have a multitude of sensors, of course, and would also need air supplies and likely a heated flight suit to keep the pilot alive and able to work. (0/300, 15R per dice)
[ ] Conduct Design Studies (Alternative Launch Systems) [AERO, PHYS] - Still more of your engineers were talking about investigating different ways of potentially getting to space. Jules Verne stuff. Big guns and space towers and the like. You didn't think them likely to work, but having the knowledge wouldn't hurt. (5R per die, 177/300, ???)
[ ] Conduct Design Studies (First Satellite) (Phase II) [PHYS, FUEL, COMP] - With your first orbital-class rocket nearing design lock, it's time to start thinking about what will go in it. Some are thinking small - essentially a bucket of batteries and a radio transmitting a fixed signal that would nevertheless allow some important science to be done - while others are… somewhat more grandiose. Radiation detection experiments are chief among those.
(Phase II, 15R per dice) (2/200) <- Construction of prototype complete (unlocks First-Generation Science Satellite)
[ ] Balloon Tanks [MATSCI] - A curious phenomenon has been observed with the use of stainless steel for tankage. If made very thin, it is flimsy - but if the material is then appropriately pressurized, it regains significant structural strength, saving greatly on weight at the cost of being much more expensive to manufacture. This could be ideal for some applications that the IEC has in mind where cost is not an issue while performance is, but needs further testing beforehand. (15R per dice, 100/200, unlocks balloon tankage for use in later rockets)
[ ] Lifting Body - Work with the Wind Tunnel and on the Spaceplane studies had revealed a new configuration for air- and spacecraft fuselage design - the concept of the lifting body, where the wing area was minimized to reduce drag at high speeds, with the body itself providing the lifting force used. While not terribly useful for aircraft, it was potentially very useful for spacecraft design. (10R per die, 0/150)
[ ] Nuclear Power Plant Design Studies - Now that initial work had been completed verifying that, at the lab scale, nuclear energy could be used to generate power, now it was time to actually forward that knowledge into a practical, useful form. It would not be cheap, but, hopefully, it would be worth it. (25R per die, 0/500, -30PS on completion UNLESS given WC authorization) (Unlocks 1st Generation Terrestrial Fission Power Plants for the world, leads to Radioisotope Thermal Generators, 2nd Generation Terrestrial Fission Plants, 1st Generation Space-rated Fission Plants)
[ ] Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Applications Studies - A side-effect of the nuclear power studies lead to several of your researchers realizing that the heat a reactor produced could be harnessed for things other than turning a turbine. By passing propellant over a reactor's core housing you would cool the core and heat the propellant alike - and the propellant would be very hot indeed, making it an attractive candidate for being flung out the back of the spacecraft at extremely high speeds. (20R per die, 0/500, -30PS on completion UNLESS given WC authorization) (Unlocks 1st Generation Nuclear Thermal Propulsion for spacecraft)
Science (4 dice, +6 Bonus to All)
[ ] Exploratory Propellant Research (Phase 1) [CHEM] - A group of chemists attached to the IEC came to you with a proposal to conduct an exhaustive campaign characterizing just about as many propellants as they could come up with. While expensive, and dangerous, and potentially deadly, the knowledge gained could also be invaluable for nailing down mixtures and ratios of fuels that could help the IEC achieve its objectives. (15R per dice, 0/150, unlocks fuel mixtures and further fuel development)
[ ] Conduct Materials Research (Phase 4) [MATSCI] - Better alloys and manufacturing techniques would lead to higher-performing engines and lighter rockets, you were told. A fair deal of research had already been done into the subject, giving you a much-improved set of materials with which to build your rockets and engines out of, but there was much more that could be done. (20R per die, 4/300, provides access to new manufacturing techniques)
[ ] Conduct Supersonic Jet Research (Phase 2) [AERO] - With the initial testing of wing geometries underway, your scientists and engineers are wanting to move ahead with engine testing, and are just about ready to put a prototype in a plane and see how it flies with either and both improvements. (15R per die, requires a completed Hangar Complex and Runway to finish, can be started without, 167/320)
[ ] Weather Studies (Phase 4) [PHYS] - With the weather observation program started, keeping it going is now almost a given. The returns have been very valuable for the meteorological community at large, and the PAO has received numerous calls from various localities across the globe asking for the IEC to put up instruments where they are, each hoping to reap the rewards of more accurate weather prediction. (10R per die, requires a 2-Stage Sounding Rocket, requires Mobile Launch Operations, 118/240) (+5 PS on complete)
[ ] All-Sky Survey (Phase 1) [PHYS] - The Science Committee at the WCC put forward the proposal to perform an All-Sky Survey, mapping the entire night sky with telescopes across the world. The first such survey, the Carte du Ciel, had never actually finished, despite starting nearly three quarters of a century ago. With advancements in photography and optics, the science teams predict that they will be able to perform the task… in roughly a decade. First, though, you needed to wrangle observatories… (10R per die, 0/300) (+5 PS, ???)
[ ] Big Ear [PHYS] - The scientists working for the IEC have latched on to the opening the new broadcast regulations have given them, and are clamoring for funding to construct a radio telescope in a remote part of Africa. It might need a bit of infrastructure run out to it, and probably a security force of some sort to dissuade partisans, but it looked doable. Personally, you thought it was also a good excuse to help electrify somewhere that needed it. (20R per die; At least 1 dice must be Facilities, 0/300) (+1 Electrification and Infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa, +2 to PHYS)
[ ] Atomic-powered Ground Launch Concept Studies - The idea of in-space nuclear propulsion, brought down to Earth. This program would study the possibilities for using nuclear power to get from the surface to space, both directly and indirectly. (10R per die, 0/300, -5PS on start, and an additional -10 on completion)
Politics (3 dice, +10 bonus, reroll 1 failure per turn)
Political
[ ] Bothering Councilors - The year's budget is set, but next year's is very much not. You can influence investment priorities if you want to apply enough political pressure to the right people to convince them to fund, say, better roads out of Mogadishu… elementary and secondary schools in Africa… that kind of thing. (-10 PS, roll a quality dice to give options for influencing infrastructure funding, triggers subvote)
[ ] Propagandize for Nuclear Power - As the IEC has gained more and more knowledge on the subject of nuclear power, it's become apparent that if you want to put this knowledge to good use for humanity, you'll need to start working against the (justified) stigma nuclear as a whole has in order to realize its full potential. (-2PS per die) (0/???)
[ ] Propagandize for Space - Now that you've gotten your first orbital class rocket (and soon your first satellite), now is the best time to start touting the benefits of space exploration and access to space to the public. You'll need to find ways of engaging everyone in the idea, and there was no better time to start than now. (5R per die) (0/???)
Outreach
[ ] Rocket Boxes (Phase 5) - The fourth phase of Rocket Box deployment has completed across South America and the Pacific Islands. Next up is Europe; it needs the program probably the least of all the regions under the World Council, but it would be unadvised to not extend it anyway. New factories will be built for the motors and parts in Europe, which should ease logistics in the area. (5R per die, 0/250. Gives Rocket Boxes to every middle-school, high-school and university or equivalent in Europe. Encourages future scientists and engineers - some of whom will even come work with the IEC.)
[ ] Creative Sponsorships - A junior physicist has made the suggestion that by sponsoring the work of fiction authors (particularly science fiction), interest in space, science, and the IEC could be generated outside the bounds of colleges and classrooms. This sparked another suggestion from one of the Outreach department's people - broaden the sponsorship from simply authors to filmmakers and more traditional artists as well. This would help reach even more people than before, they thought. (10R per die, 141/400) (-5R per turn when done, provides additional variable passive PS income and can result in shuffled costs and requests at World Council meetings.)
[ ] Accepting Submissions - The idea has been suggested to you while meeting with your lead scientists and engineers that it might be of value to solicit the public for ideas of what might be done in space, providing something of an auxiliary for the Advanced Concepts Office. Ninety-nine percent of what you receive will be of no use to you, half a percent will be interesting but impossible, and the last half… might just have something to it. That's the estimate, anyway. (1 dice to activate)
[ ] University Rocket Competitions - Now that Rocket Boxes are widely distributed all over the world, there are a number of rocketry clubs at universities everywhere (including the places that did not as yet have Rocket Box coverage). A competition, where the teams design and build their own rockets and then come together to see who did the best in various categories would be an interesting way of keeping interest in the IEC up and scouting for future members. (5R per dice, 0/240)
Personnel
[ ] Engineering Job Fair - (56/150, 5R per dice, -5R per turn on completion. Gain +1 Engineering dice)
[ ] Laboratory Talent Scouting - (0/150, 5R per dice, -5R per turn on completion. Gain +1 Science dice)
[ ] There is Power in a Union - The PAO says you should expand your physical footprint so more people can interact with the IEC. Preparations and initial expansions have already been made, but your facilities unions need more able bodies to do more with. (0/150, 5R per dice, -5R per turn and -5 PS on completion. Gain +1 Facilities dice, +5 to Facilities rolls)
[ ] The Right Stuff - With work underway on several programs that would require the services of skilled and courageous pilots, you would soon need to begin finding them so they could be integrated into the IEC - and someday, they would become your first astronauts. (0/300, 5R per dice, gain astronaut candidates)
The good news was, of course, that the satellite program was nearing its end, and soon the Cooperative would be able to fully justify its existence to the world. It had been a near thing, the decision on what satellite variant to use - for a while, it seemed as if the engineers would go all-out with it, giving it every bell and whistle they could stuff inside the mass budget. In the end, the middle-road variant won out, and now all there was to do was build the thing and stick it atop a Dawn.
You couldn't wait.
HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
EAST ASIA - The Councils of East Asia have given a press release stating that the Coastal Spine Railway is nearing the quarter completion mark, with limited service connected between stops that would eventually be linked into the greater network. This new railway is expected to enable greater ease of movement and greater feats of industry in the region as travel times and costs are dropped greatly.
MOMBASA - The IEC is nearing completion on a sprawling computing science complex in Mombasa, where teams of scientists lead by Dr. Alan Turing will advance humanity's knowledge of how to better make and use these thinking machines…
SAO PAOLO - The Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre is all but complete, local officials and IEC spokespeople report. The project to build out the centre expanded even out to the local utilities, and the city of Sao Paolo now boasts the most advanced water and power infrastructure on the South American continent…
Resources:
0R (+480R/turn - 35R/turn from payroll/dice purchases = +445/turn net)
59 Political Support
1 R-2 Gale
3 R-4 Dawn
Objectives of the World Communal Council
Complete Post-War Reconstruction (25000/200000)
Defeat Partisan Forces
State of the World
(Updated at the end of every Quarter)
Mediterranean/Saharan Africa
Education: 6
Electrification: 5
Industry: 6
Infrastructure: 6
Security: 2
Partisan Activity: 3
Sub-Saharan Africa
Education: 6
Electrification: 5
Industry: 4
Infrastructure: 5
Security: 4
Partisan Activity: 5
Eastern Asia
Education: 9
Electrification: 8
Industry: 10
Infrastructure: 10
Security: 6
Partisan Activity: 6
Western Asia
Education: 8
Electrification: 11
Industry: 11
Infrastructure: 11
Security: 7
Partisan Activity: 8
Australia and New Zealand
Education: 6
Electrification: 7
Industry: 6
Infrastructure: 7
Security: 4
Partisan Activity: 3
Europe
Education: 10
Electrification: 10
Industry: 8
Infrastructure: 11
Security: 6
Partisan Activity: 5
North America
Education: 7
Electrification: 9
Industry: 8
Infrastructure: 8
Security: 14
Partisan Activity: 7 (-)
South America
Education: 5
Electrification: 6
Industry: 6
Infrastructure: 8
Security: 4
Partisan Activity: 3
Pacific Islands
Education: 5
Electrification: 5
Industry: 4
Infrastructure: 6
Security: 1
Partisan Activity: 0
Complete Post-War Reconstruction (25000/200000)
Defeat Partisan Forces
Ministry of Agriculture (5%)
-Subministry for Forestry
-Subministry for Aquaculture and Fishing
Ministry of Transportation (10%)
-Subministry for Sea Travel
-Subministry for Road and Rail
-Subministry for Air Travel
Ministry of Industrial Coordination (5%)
-Subministry for Occupational Health and Safety
Ministry of Energy (8%)
Ministry of Reconstruction and Disaster Relief (27.4%)
Ministry of Health and Welfare (24%)
Ministry of Education (17%)
Discretionary Funding (3.6%)
Council Standards Commission (Negligible)
Interplanetary Exploration Cooperative (1.5%)
Antarctic Exploration Cooperative (0.1%)
(Others)
-Subministry for Forestry
-Subministry for Aquaculture and Fishing
Ministry of Transportation (10%)
-Subministry for Sea Travel
-Subministry for Road and Rail
-Subministry for Air Travel
Ministry of Industrial Coordination (5%)
-Subministry for Occupational Health and Safety
Ministry of Energy (8%)
Ministry of Reconstruction and Disaster Relief (27.4%)
Ministry of Health and Welfare (24%)
Ministry of Education (17%)
Discretionary Funding (3.6%)
Council Standards Commission (Negligible)
Interplanetary Exploration Cooperative (1.5%)
Antarctic Exploration Cooperative (0.1%)
(Others)
State of the World
(Updated at the end of every Quarter)
Mediterranean/Saharan Africa
Education: 6
Electrification: 5
Industry: 6
Infrastructure: 6
Security: 2
Partisan Activity: 3
Sub-Saharan Africa
Education: 6
Electrification: 5
Industry: 4
Infrastructure: 5
Security: 4
Partisan Activity: 5
Eastern Asia
Education: 9
Electrification: 8
Industry: 10
Infrastructure: 10
Security: 6
Partisan Activity: 6
Western Asia
Education: 8
Electrification: 11
Industry: 11
Infrastructure: 11
Security: 7
Partisan Activity: 8
Australia and New Zealand
Education: 6
Electrification: 7
Industry: 6
Infrastructure: 7
Security: 4
Partisan Activity: 3
Europe
Education: 10
Electrification: 10
Industry: 8
Infrastructure: 11
Security: 6
Partisan Activity: 5
North America
Education: 7
Electrification: 9
Industry: 8
Infrastructure: 8
Security: 14
Partisan Activity: 7 (-)
South America
Education: 5
Electrification: 6
Industry: 6
Infrastructure: 8
Security: 4
Partisan Activity: 3
Pacific Islands
Education: 5
Electrification: 5
Industry: 4
Infrastructure: 6
Security: 1
Partisan Activity: 0
1 Launch Stand (0-5 tonne) (+1 Operations dice)
1 Heavy Sounding Rocket Launch Pad (5-30 tonne) (+1 Operations dice)
1 Assembly Complex (+1 Build Capacity)
1 Engineer's Hall (+2 Engineering Dice)
1 University Affiliate (+2 Science Dice)
1 Materials Lab (+5 bonus to projects tagged [MATSCI])
1 Chemical Plant (+5 bonus to projects tagged [CHEM])
1 Electronics Cooperative (+5 bonus to projects tagged [AVIONICS])
2 Construction Union Halls (+2 Facilities die)
1 Publications Office (+1 to all science and engineering fields; coinflip each year to get an additional +1)
1 Hardened Tracking and Observation (T&O) Complex (+3 to Operations)
1 Engine Test Stand (+2 to PROP projects)
1 Isotope Separation and Nuclear Science Facility (Enables Nuclear Technology tree) (fully unlocks 1954Q1)
1 Computational Research Facility (+3 to all rolls)
1 Model 1952 'Stormchaser' Mobile Rocket Launch System (+1 Operations dice)
Advanced Concepts Office (unlocks experimental new programs from time to time)
1 Wind Tunnel (+3 to AERO)
1 Flight Complex (+2 Operations dice, enables the construction and launch of air- and spaceplanes.)
Dnipro Aerospace Metallurgy Centre (+9 MATSCI, +1 Education in Europe)
1 Heavy Sounding Rocket Launch Pad (5-30 tonne) (+1 Operations dice)
1 Assembly Complex (+1 Build Capacity)
1 Engineer's Hall (+2 Engineering Dice)
1 University Affiliate (+2 Science Dice)
1 Materials Lab (+5 bonus to projects tagged [MATSCI])
1 Chemical Plant (+5 bonus to projects tagged [CHEM])
1 Electronics Cooperative (+5 bonus to projects tagged [AVIONICS])
2 Construction Union Halls (+2 Facilities die)
1 Publications Office (+1 to all science and engineering fields; coinflip each year to get an additional +1)
1 Hardened Tracking and Observation (T&O) Complex (+3 to Operations)
1 Engine Test Stand (+2 to PROP projects)
1 Isotope Separation and Nuclear Science Facility (Enables Nuclear Technology tree) (fully unlocks 1954Q1)
1 Computational Research Facility (+3 to all rolls)
1 Model 1952 'Stormchaser' Mobile Rocket Launch System (+1 Operations dice)
Advanced Concepts Office (unlocks experimental new programs from time to time)
1 Wind Tunnel (+3 to AERO)
1 Flight Complex (+2 Operations dice, enables the construction and launch of air- and spaceplanes.)
Dnipro Aerospace Metallurgy Centre (+9 MATSCI, +1 Education in Europe)
Scientific Advances
Improved Instrumentation - Gain +1d2 bonus to a random field every 2 launches. Gain +1 to AVIONICS immediately.)
Regenerative Cooling - Starts down the path to more powerful and advanced rocket engines.
Second Stages - Can now build 2-Stage Sounding Rockets.
Combustion Instability Research - Turns the initial success roll for a rocket from a >60 to >50.
Engine Cycles - Enables Early Orbital engines.
Mobile Launch Operations - Can launch Sounding Rockets without the need for a launch pad.
Improved Stringer Alloys - New (expensive) alloys improve the performance of structural tanks. (+5 to R cost of Heavy Sounding Rockets and above)
Copper-Chrome combustion chamber alloys - New combustion chamber alloys with higher heat transfer efficiency allow for hotter (and thus more efficient) chamber temperatures, leading to the ability to produce more powerful engines. (Future rocket designs will be higher performing.)
Aluminum-Lithium monolithic tanks - New tank alloys enable lighter, higher performing tankage to be produced for new rocket designs. (Future designs that use Al-Li tankage will be more performant, but more expensive in R terms.)
Scientific/Engineering Specific Field Bonuses
AERO - +9
AVIONICS - +9
CHEM - +11
CREW - +3
COMP - +3
MATSCI - +17
PHYS - +9
PROP - +7
Penelope Carter [The Director] - [+10 to Politics rolls, +2 Politics die, +5R/turn in funding from Connections, reroll 1 failed politics roll per turn]
Sergei Korolev - [+5 to Science and Engineering rolls (unless researching [HGOL][FUEL] projects, then it becomes a -15), +1 Science dice, +1 Engineering Dice. Request:
Rocket Reels - Adds a coinflip for 1 gained political support per quarter; gain an additional flip for every successful rocket launch.
Promises Made (Expires Q1 1955):
Build the Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex X2
Build the Mombasa AND Sao Paolo Scientific Complexes
Build the Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre by 1955Q1.
Conduct Satellite Design Studies and launch the satellite before 1955Q1.
Conduct Jet Research (Phase 2) X2
Do not conduct military rocket launches or research
Operations (5 dice, +3 bonus) (1 type of Rocket may be built at a time)
[ ] Construct an R-1 Beden - Standard Sounding rocket launches are now something of an old hat. Still perfectly useful, of course, and they're not actually that old, but the two stage rockets have stolen some of their thunder. (15R per dice, 3/35, costs 1 Build Capacity until complete)
-[ ] And launch it (free action for Sounding Rockets) (gains Scientific Data, launch experience, results to show the people funding you)
-[ ] And do a recon launch in the North American conflict (gains launch experience)
[ ] Construct an R-2 Gale - The IEC's engineers and scientists have come up with a moderately reliable stage separation system for multi-stage rockets. The Gale has seen active use for two years, now, and is turning into quite the reliable workhorse. (20R per dice, 19/45, costs 1 Build Capacity until complete)
-[ ] And launch it (free action for Sounding Rockets) (gains Scientific Data, launch experience, results to show the people funding you)
[ ] Construct an R-3 Snow - The Heavy Sounding Rocket, now known as the Snow, is ready for construction. It's a sizeable rocket, but thankfully you have a sizeable pad to launch it from. Unfortunately, it won't ever fit on a Stormchaser. (25R per dice, 7/80, costs 1 Build Capacity until complete)
-[ ] And launch it (free action for Sounding Rockets) (gains Scientific Data, launch experience, results to show the people funding you) (Unlocks Weather Observation Campaigns)
[] Construct an R-4 Dawn - The first Orbital-class rocket, the Dawn is capable of lifting 200 kilograms to low Earth orbit. It may be able to do more, in time, but for now that would suffice. It can only launch on the Heavy Sounding Pad or heavier, as yet unbuilt ones. (35R per dice, 69/120, costs 1 build capacity til complete)
-[ ] And launch it (1 Operations dice; specify payload)
–[ ] Sounding payload (inert payload for testing)
[ ] Construct a Prototype Spaceplane -
Facilities (8 dice, +10 bonus)
(A maximum of 3 dice may be used on any project - representing 3 shifts of work.)
[ ] Expand the Assembly Complex - A proposal to expand the Assembly Complex to allow for more rockets to be constructed simultaneously has hit your desk. This will significantly up your launch cadence, you are told, and allow for multiple rocket programs to be run in parallel, as well as future proofing you somewhat against the upcoming orbital rockets. (20R per die, 0/350, changes 2 Build Capacity to 1 Program slot, enabling campaigns to be run 'in the background', passively gaining experience and science, +3 Build Capacity)
[ ] Expand the Launch Complex - You have two launch pads (one of which has gone entirely unused, so far) but, soon enough, you expect to need additional pads to account for the maintenance and upgrades the existing ones will certainly need. Getting a head start on that need may be a good idea. (20R per die, 0/350, gain two 500t launch pads)
[ ] Build a Scientific Complex - While there are a significant number of people within the IEC who want to keep the Cooperative's footprint confined to Mogadishu - at least for now - there is definitely an argument to be made for building dedicated facilities in other locations to build up buy-in from the rest of the world by providing them something tangible in return. One of those ideas is for a dedicated Scientific Complex, dedicated to a particular discipline, much like the Soviet closed cities - just not closed. This has the potential to greatly increase your scientific output and your political sway at the same time. (25R per die, opens up new research possibilities, +1d5+5 bonus in the associated field, +1 Education for the region)
-[] Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre (AERO) [CPAL, Int(C)] (425/450)
-[] Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex (PROP) [Int(D),UWF] (293/450)
-[] Beijing Institute for Chemical Research (CHEM) (0/450)
-[] Sydney Microelectronics Research Centre (AVIONICS) (0/450)
-[] Mombasa Computer Science Institute (COMP) [CPAL] (273/450)
-[] New Delhi Institute for Physics (PHYS) (0/450)
[ ] Tracking Station Construction (Phase I) - The first stage of Tracking Stations rolls out the facilities along the equator as best as possible where land exists, and deals with constructing the first of the fleet of tracking vessels the IEC will need to cover all those thousands of square kilometers where there is no land to be had. Thanks to the decision to use converted warships for the base of the tracking vessels, the process will be somewhat quicker, though also more expensive. (30R per die, 183/350, adds equatorial tracking for rocket launches)
Engineering (5 dice, +6 Bonus to All)
[ ] Prototype Spaceplane - Your spaceplane enthusiasts returned to your office with another proposal, building off the back of the design studies they had undertaken through the winter of 1954. Their desire was to create a crewed 'space' plane that would be towed behind or carried underneath a carrier aircraft, be released, and activate a rocket engine that would take it up over the Karman line. It would have a multitude of sensors, of course, and would also need air supplies and likely a heated flight suit to keep the pilot alive and able to work. (0/300, 15R per dice)
[ ] Conduct Design Studies (Alternative Launch Systems) [AERO, PHYS] - Still more of your engineers were talking about investigating different ways of potentially getting to space. Jules Verne stuff. Big guns and space towers and the like. You didn't think them likely to work, but having the knowledge wouldn't hurt. (5R per die, 177/300, ???)
[ ] Conduct Design Studies (First Satellite) (Phase II) [PHYS, FUEL, COMP] - With your first orbital-class rocket nearing design lock, it's time to start thinking about what will go in it. Some are thinking small - essentially a bucket of batteries and a radio transmitting a fixed signal that would nevertheless allow some important science to be done - while others are… somewhat more grandiose. Radiation detection experiments are chief among those.
(Phase II, 15R per dice) (2/200) <- Construction of prototype complete (unlocks First-Generation Science Satellite)
[ ] Balloon Tanks [MATSCI] - A curious phenomenon has been observed with the use of stainless steel for tankage. If made very thin, it is flimsy - but if the material is then appropriately pressurized, it regains significant structural strength, saving greatly on weight at the cost of being much more expensive to manufacture. This could be ideal for some applications that the IEC has in mind where cost is not an issue while performance is, but needs further testing beforehand. (15R per dice, 100/200, unlocks balloon tankage for use in later rockets)
[ ] Lifting Body - Work with the Wind Tunnel and on the Spaceplane studies had revealed a new configuration for air- and spacecraft fuselage design - the concept of the lifting body, where the wing area was minimized to reduce drag at high speeds, with the body itself providing the lifting force used. While not terribly useful for aircraft, it was potentially very useful for spacecraft design. (10R per die, 0/150)
[ ] Nuclear Power Plant Design Studies - Now that initial work had been completed verifying that, at the lab scale, nuclear energy could be used to generate power, now it was time to actually forward that knowledge into a practical, useful form. It would not be cheap, but, hopefully, it would be worth it. (25R per die, 0/500, -30PS on completion UNLESS given WC authorization) (Unlocks 1st Generation Terrestrial Fission Power Plants for the world, leads to Radioisotope Thermal Generators, 2nd Generation Terrestrial Fission Plants, 1st Generation Space-rated Fission Plants)
[ ] Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Applications Studies - A side-effect of the nuclear power studies lead to several of your researchers realizing that the heat a reactor produced could be harnessed for things other than turning a turbine. By passing propellant over a reactor's core housing you would cool the core and heat the propellant alike - and the propellant would be very hot indeed, making it an attractive candidate for being flung out the back of the spacecraft at extremely high speeds. (20R per die, 0/500, -30PS on completion UNLESS given WC authorization) (Unlocks 1st Generation Nuclear Thermal Propulsion for spacecraft)
Science (4 dice, +6 Bonus to All)
[ ] Exploratory Propellant Research (Phase 1) [CHEM] - A group of chemists attached to the IEC came to you with a proposal to conduct an exhaustive campaign characterizing just about as many propellants as they could come up with. While expensive, and dangerous, and potentially deadly, the knowledge gained could also be invaluable for nailing down mixtures and ratios of fuels that could help the IEC achieve its objectives. (15R per dice, 0/150, unlocks fuel mixtures and further fuel development)
[ ] Conduct Materials Research (Phase 4) [MATSCI] - Better alloys and manufacturing techniques would lead to higher-performing engines and lighter rockets, you were told. A fair deal of research had already been done into the subject, giving you a much-improved set of materials with which to build your rockets and engines out of, but there was much more that could be done. (20R per die, 4/300, provides access to new manufacturing techniques)
[ ] Conduct Supersonic Jet Research (Phase 2) [AERO] - With the initial testing of wing geometries underway, your scientists and engineers are wanting to move ahead with engine testing, and are just about ready to put a prototype in a plane and see how it flies with either and both improvements. (15R per die, requires a completed Hangar Complex and Runway to finish, can be started without, 167/320)
[ ] Weather Studies (Phase 4) [PHYS] - With the weather observation program started, keeping it going is now almost a given. The returns have been very valuable for the meteorological community at large, and the PAO has received numerous calls from various localities across the globe asking for the IEC to put up instruments where they are, each hoping to reap the rewards of more accurate weather prediction. (10R per die, requires a 2-Stage Sounding Rocket, requires Mobile Launch Operations, 118/240) (+5 PS on complete)
[ ] All-Sky Survey (Phase 1) [PHYS] - The Science Committee at the WCC put forward the proposal to perform an All-Sky Survey, mapping the entire night sky with telescopes across the world. The first such survey, the Carte du Ciel, had never actually finished, despite starting nearly three quarters of a century ago. With advancements in photography and optics, the science teams predict that they will be able to perform the task… in roughly a decade. First, though, you needed to wrangle observatories… (10R per die, 0/300) (+5 PS, ???)
[ ] Big Ear [PHYS] - The scientists working for the IEC have latched on to the opening the new broadcast regulations have given them, and are clamoring for funding to construct a radio telescope in a remote part of Africa. It might need a bit of infrastructure run out to it, and probably a security force of some sort to dissuade partisans, but it looked doable. Personally, you thought it was also a good excuse to help electrify somewhere that needed it. (20R per die; At least 1 dice must be Facilities, 0/300) (+1 Electrification and Infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa, +2 to PHYS)
[ ] Atomic-powered Ground Launch Concept Studies - The idea of in-space nuclear propulsion, brought down to Earth. This program would study the possibilities for using nuclear power to get from the surface to space, both directly and indirectly. (10R per die, 0/300, -5PS on start, and an additional -10 on completion)
Politics (3 dice, +10 bonus, reroll 1 failure per turn)
Political
[ ] Bothering Councilors - The year's budget is set, but next year's is very much not. You can influence investment priorities if you want to apply enough political pressure to the right people to convince them to fund, say, better roads out of Mogadishu… elementary and secondary schools in Africa… that kind of thing. (-10 PS, roll a quality dice to give options for influencing infrastructure funding, triggers subvote)
[ ] Propagandize for Nuclear Power - As the IEC has gained more and more knowledge on the subject of nuclear power, it's become apparent that if you want to put this knowledge to good use for humanity, you'll need to start working against the (justified) stigma nuclear as a whole has in order to realize its full potential. (-2PS per die) (0/???)
[ ] Propagandize for Space - Now that you've gotten your first orbital class rocket (and soon your first satellite), now is the best time to start touting the benefits of space exploration and access to space to the public. You'll need to find ways of engaging everyone in the idea, and there was no better time to start than now. (5R per die) (0/???)
Outreach
[ ] Creative Sponsorships - A junior physicist has made the suggestion that by sponsoring the work of fiction authors (particularly science fiction), interest in space, science, and the IEC could be generated outside the bounds of colleges and classrooms. This sparked another suggestion from one of the Outreach department's people - broaden the sponsorship from simply authors to filmmakers and more traditional artists as well. This would help reach even more people than before, they thought. (10R per die, 141/400) (-5R per turn when done, provides additional variable passive PS income and can result in shuffled costs and requests at World Council meetings.)
[ ] Accepting Submissions - The idea has been suggested to you while meeting with your lead scientists and engineers that it might be of value to solicit the public for ideas of what might be done in space, providing something of an auxiliary for the Advanced Concepts Office. Ninety-nine percent of what you receive will be of no use to you, half a percent will be interesting but impossible, and the last half… might just have something to it. That's the estimate, anyway. (1 dice to activate)
[ ] University Rocket Competitions - Now that Rocket Boxes are widely distributed all over the world, there are a number of rocketry clubs at universities everywhere (including the places that did not as yet have Rocket Box coverage). A competition, where the teams design and build their own rockets and then come together to see who did the best in various categories would be an interesting way of keeping interest in the IEC up and scouting for future members. (5R per dice, 0/240)
Personnel
[ ] Engineering Job Fair - (56/150, 5R per dice, -5R per turn on completion. Gain +1 Engineering dice)
[ ] Laboratory Talent Scouting - (0/150, 5R per dice, -5R per turn on completion. Gain +1 Science dice)
[ ] The Right Stuff - With work underway on several programs that would require the services of skilled and courageous pilots, you would soon need to begin finding them so they could be integrated into the IEC - and someday, they would become your first astronauts. (0/300, 5R per dice, gain astronaut candidates)
Last edited:
So, rough outline of a plan:
* build a whole bunch of R-4s
* 1 die on Sao Paolo, 3 die on the other two, keep one die in reserve to save money
* All eng dice on the satellite
* Science is probably a mix of jet and weather, to balance the budget?
* Propagandize space is the cheapest politics option, so probably that
* build a whole bunch of R-4s
* 1 die on Sao Paolo, 3 die on the other two, keep one die in reserve to save money
* All eng dice on the satellite
* Science is probably a mix of jet and weather, to balance the budget?
* Propagandize space is the cheapest politics option, so probably that
chaotic-logic
possible impossibility
- Location
- unknown
continue working on the tracking stations is something that needs to be done
I don't think we need additional R-4's at the moment, unless you want to do test flights. Remember, launching a R-4 with a satellite costs us an Operations die. Therefore, assuming we need one die per satellite built, the max we can launch Q4 is three, and, conveniently, we have three R-4's already.
That means we don't have to leave the eighth facilities die idle, and can use it to work on something. The tracking stations perhaps, or maybe Big Ear if we don't want to save it as a promise for next WC meeting.
As for Engineering, the bonuses are high enough that I think we can get away with using 4 dice, but I suppose you're more risk adverse than I am.
I'd recommend working on getting astronauts in Politics. It sounds like we're going to be building that spaceplane next year, and I suspect that the candidates will take time to train once we've got them.
Yeah, it was clarified on Discord that the more we launch a rocket, the higher the probability of success. Since we're limited more by the number of satellites we can make than R-4s, we might as well math it out and launch R-4s in advance to give us an optimal chance of success.
Even with no additional launches, we still have an 87.5% chance of success. I don't think the additional (almost certainly marginal) chance of success is worth leaving dice idle. Those R-4's are expensive when we build them en masse.
Last edited:
[ ] Plan: Satellites and Science
-[ ] Construct an R-3 Snow - (25R per dice, 7/80, costs 1 Build Capacity until complete) (3 Die)
--[ ] And launch everything except one of the Dawns (1 Operations dice; specify payload) (2 dice)
---[] Sounding payload (inert payload for testing)
---[] Advanced latex envelope (spare weather balloon) inflated via technologically-mature capillary action-delayed release fluid reservoir (a fountain pen full of water with a notch cut out of the cap) as an orbital payload mass simulator
-[ ] Build a Scientific Complex (25R per die, opens up new research possibilities, +1d5+5 bonus in the associated field, +1 Education for the region)
--[] Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre (AERO) [CPAL, Int(C)] (425/450) (1 Die )
--[] Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex (PROP) [Int(D),UWF] (293/450) (3 Dice
--[] Mombasa Computer Science Institute (COMP) [CPAL] (273/450) (3 Dice)
-[ ] Tracking Station Construction (Phase I)(30R per die, 183/350, adds equatorial tracking for rocket launches) (1 Die)
-[ ] Conduct Design Studies (First Satellite) (Phase I) [PHYS, FUEL, COMP] (Phase II, 15R per dice) (2/200) <- Construction of prototype complete (unlocks First-Generation Science Satellite) (4 Dice)
-[ ] Conduct Design Studies (Alternative Launch Systems) [AERO, PHYS] (5R per die, 177/300, ???) (1 Dice)
-[ ] Conduct Supersonic Jet Research (Phase 2) [AERO] - (15R per die, requires a completed Hangar Complex and Runway to finish, can be started without, 167/320) (3 Dice)
-[ ] Weather Studies (Phase 4) [PHYS] - (10R per die, requires a 2-Stage Sounding Rocket, requires Mobile Launch Operations, 118/240) (+5 PS on complete) (1 Die)
-[ ] Propagandize for Space - (5R per die) (0/???) (1 Dice)
- [ ] The Right Stuff - (0/300, 5R per dice, gain astronaut candidates) (2 dice)
Ok, so this uses all our dice and I think we've got the budget (my back of the envelope math says it costs 440 R). We get São Paulo done, Long Beach probably done, and Mombasa is a maybe.
We've got a bunch of rockets, 3 of which we'll be launching for weather studies (hopefully), and one just to send up a rocket.
We should have the satellite done this or next quarter (we're limited to 3 dice per project per quarter) and are making progress on the jet, which should be done next quarter.
Working on weather studies, that's about it.
We're getting people hyped for space, considering we're planning on launching the satellite next quarter. Also finding people to fly our crazy supersonics.
Edit: had to sacrifice a R3 die to get the satellite completed (hopefully). We still should have one extra and plenty of gales. Thanks @Hunter531 for the tip that the 3 dice limit only applied to facilities.
Edit2: Fixed the build limit issue and added the pen-weather balloon idea. Thanks @CyberFemme and @C_Z should actually be cheaper now.
-[ ] Construct an R-3 Snow - (25R per dice, 7/80, costs 1 Build Capacity until complete) (3 Die)
--[ ] And launch everything except one of the Dawns (1 Operations dice; specify payload) (2 dice)
---[] Sounding payload (inert payload for testing)
---[] Advanced latex envelope (spare weather balloon) inflated via technologically-mature capillary action-delayed release fluid reservoir (a fountain pen full of water with a notch cut out of the cap) as an orbital payload mass simulator
-[ ] Build a Scientific Complex (25R per die, opens up new research possibilities, +1d5+5 bonus in the associated field, +1 Education for the region)
--[] Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre (AERO) [CPAL, Int(C)] (425/450) (1 Die )
--[] Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex (PROP) [Int(D),UWF] (293/450) (3 Dice
--[] Mombasa Computer Science Institute (COMP) [CPAL] (273/450) (3 Dice)
-[ ] Tracking Station Construction (Phase I)(30R per die, 183/350, adds equatorial tracking for rocket launches) (1 Die)
-[ ] Conduct Design Studies (First Satellite) (Phase I) [PHYS, FUEL, COMP] (Phase II, 15R per dice) (2/200) <- Construction of prototype complete (unlocks First-Generation Science Satellite) (4 Dice)
-[ ] Conduct Design Studies (Alternative Launch Systems) [AERO, PHYS] (5R per die, 177/300, ???) (1 Dice)
-[ ] Conduct Supersonic Jet Research (Phase 2) [AERO] - (15R per die, requires a completed Hangar Complex and Runway to finish, can be started without, 167/320) (3 Dice)
-[ ] Weather Studies (Phase 4) [PHYS] - (10R per die, requires a 2-Stage Sounding Rocket, requires Mobile Launch Operations, 118/240) (+5 PS on complete) (1 Die)
-[ ] Propagandize for Space - (5R per die) (0/???) (1 Dice)
- [ ] The Right Stuff - (0/300, 5R per dice, gain astronaut candidates) (2 dice)
Ok, so this uses all our dice and I think we've got the budget (my back of the envelope math says it costs 440 R). We get São Paulo done, Long Beach probably done, and Mombasa is a maybe.
We've got a bunch of rockets, 3 of which we'll be launching for weather studies (hopefully), and one just to send up a rocket.
We should have the satellite done this or next quarter (we're limited to 3 dice per project per quarter) and are making progress on the jet, which should be done next quarter.
Working on weather studies, that's about it.
We're getting people hyped for space, considering we're planning on launching the satellite next quarter. Also finding people to fly our crazy supersonics.
Edit: had to sacrifice a R3 die to get the satellite completed (hopefully). We still should have one extra and plenty of gales. Thanks @Hunter531 for the tip that the 3 dice limit only applied to facilities.
Edit2: Fixed the build limit issue and added the pen-weather balloon idea. Thanks @CyberFemme and @C_Z should actually be cheaper now.
Last edited:
chaotic-logic
possible impossibility
- Location
- unknown
one of the alternatives to weather rockets would be us looking at using ballons instead
Actually, that limitation is for Facilities dice only, so we can, and indeed should, put more dice on the satellite.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Ok, so Charlie and I got talking about test masses we can launch before our proper satellite, and we've come up with a really hilariously dumb but still kind of useful test mass that three engineers could throw together after work in two hours:
Take a weather balloon out of storage, just the gas bag.
Grab Edward's fountain pen and cut off the top of the cap off.
Tape the hole you inflate the balloon through to the cut down cap.
Fill the fountain pen with water.
Wrap the weather balloon around the fountain pen, with the fountain pen pointing up.
Plop this sucker into the payload bay of the R-4's upper stage.
When this thing launches, it will make it to orbit. Once in freefall, the water will pool on the sides of the fountain pen's barrel due to surface tension, which will bring it into contact with the feed, where capillary action will wick it to the nib, where the vacuum will cause it sublimate into gas, which will inflate the weather balloon.
The result? A big while ball in orbit that's very visible, and that we can eyeball for drag measurements. For the most minimal amount of effort imaginable, lmao. The sort of seat-of-your-pants engineering that really characterized this era of spaceflight.
Also, this will make fountain pens Space Age, which is the greatest result I could ask for. In this era the Parker 61 will not be a failure if I have anything to say about it.
Take a weather balloon out of storage, just the gas bag.
Grab Edward's fountain pen and cut off the top of the cap off.
Tape the hole you inflate the balloon through to the cut down cap.
Fill the fountain pen with water.
Wrap the weather balloon around the fountain pen, with the fountain pen pointing up.
Plop this sucker into the payload bay of the R-4's upper stage.
When this thing launches, it will make it to orbit. Once in freefall, the water will pool on the sides of the fountain pen's barrel due to surface tension, which will bring it into contact with the feed, where capillary action will wick it to the nib, where the vacuum will cause it sublimate into gas, which will inflate the weather balloon.
The result? A big while ball in orbit that's very visible, and that we can eyeball for drag measurements. For the most minimal amount of effort imaginable, lmao. The sort of seat-of-your-pants engineering that really characterized this era of spaceflight.
Also, this will make fountain pens Space Age, which is the greatest result I could ask for. In this era the Parker 61 will not be a failure if I have anything to say about it.
- Location
- the Republic
- Pronouns
- He/They
I think test-launching at least one R-4 prior to the first satellite launch would be really prudent. 87.5% is a great percentage, but better to be safe than sorry.
Shadows
Sacred Priestess of the Benevolent Dice Gods
- Location
- USS Civilian, DDG-214
- Pronouns
- She/Her
You can build only 1 type of rocket at a time til you expand your assembly complex.
[] Plan: (Lightly) Inflated & Ready for Launch
-[] Construct an R-4 Dawn (35R per dice, 69/120, costs 1 build capacity til complete) (3 dice)
--[] And launch it (1 Operations dice; specify payload) (2 dice)
---[] Sounding payload (inert payload for testing)
---[] Advanced latex envelope (spare weather balloon) inflated via technologically-mature capillary action-delayed release fluid reservoir (a fountain pen full of water with a notch cut out of the cap) as an orbital payload mass simulator
-[] Build a Scientific Complex (25R per die)
--[] Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre (AERO) [CPAL, Int(C)] (425/450) (1 die)
--[] Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex (PROP) [Int(D),UWF] (293/450) (3 dice)
--[] Mombasa Computer Science Institute (COMP) [CPAL] (273/450) (3 dice)
-[] Tracking Station Construction (Phase I) (30R per die, 183/350) (1 die)
-[] Conduct Design Studies (First Satellite) (Phase II) [PHYS, FUEL, COMP] (15R per dice, 2/200)
-[] Conduct Supersonic Jet Research (Phase 2) [AERO] (15R per die, 167/320) (3 dice)
-[] Weather Studies (Phase 4) [PHYS] (10R per die, 118/240) (1 die)
-[] Propagandize for Nuclear Power (-2PS per die) (0/???) (2 dice)
-[] Accepting Submissions (1 die)
440 R, -4 PS, good odds of us getting to orbit.
[] Plan: (Lightly) Inflated & Ready for Launch (less-nuclear option)
-[] Construct an R-4 Dawn (35R per dice, 69/120, costs 1 build capacity til complete) (3 dice)
--[] And launch it (1 Operations dice; specify payload) (2 dice)
---[] Sounding payload (inert payload for testing)
---[] Advanced latex envelope (spare weather balloon) inflated via technologically-mature capillary action-delayed release fluid reservoir (a fountain pen full of water with a notch cut out of the cap) as an orbital payload mass simulator
-[] Build a Scientific Complex (25R per die)
--[] Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre (AERO) [CPAL, Int(C)] (425/450) (1 die)
--[] Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex (PROP) [Int(D),UWF] (293/450) (3 dice)
--[] Mombasa Computer Science Institute (COMP) [CPAL] (273/450) (3 dice)
-[] Tracking Station Construction (Phase I) (30R per die, 183/350) (1 die)
-[] Conduct Design Studies (First Satellite) (Phase II) [PHYS, FUEL, COMP] (15R per dice, 2/200)
-[] Conduct Supersonic Jet Research (Phase 2) [AERO] (15R per die, 167/320) (3 dice)
-[] Weather Studies (Phase 4) [PHYS] (10R per die, 118/240) (1 die)
-[] Propagandize for Nuclear Power (-2PS per die) (0/???) (1 die)
-[] Propagandize for Space (-5 per die) (0/???) (1 die)
-[] Accepting Submissions (1 die)
445 R, -2 PS, mostly same odds of us getting to orbit. Very slightly less wiggle room next quarter for budget but a trivial difference.
-[] Construct an R-4 Dawn (35R per dice, 69/120, costs 1 build capacity til complete) (3 dice)
--[] And launch it (1 Operations dice; specify payload) (2 dice)
---[] Sounding payload (inert payload for testing)
---[] Advanced latex envelope (spare weather balloon) inflated via technologically-mature capillary action-delayed release fluid reservoir (a fountain pen full of water with a notch cut out of the cap) as an orbital payload mass simulator
-[] Build a Scientific Complex (25R per die)
--[] Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre (AERO) [CPAL, Int(C)] (425/450) (1 die)
--[] Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex (PROP) [Int(D),UWF] (293/450) (3 dice)
--[] Mombasa Computer Science Institute (COMP) [CPAL] (273/450) (3 dice)
-[] Tracking Station Construction (Phase I) (30R per die, 183/350) (1 die)
-[] Conduct Design Studies (First Satellite) (Phase II) [PHYS, FUEL, COMP] (15R per dice, 2/200)
-[] Conduct Supersonic Jet Research (Phase 2) [AERO] (15R per die, 167/320) (3 dice)
-[] Weather Studies (Phase 4) [PHYS] (10R per die, 118/240) (1 die)
-[] Propagandize for Nuclear Power (-2PS per die) (0/???) (2 dice)
-[] Accepting Submissions (1 die)
440 R, -4 PS, good odds of us getting to orbit.
[] Plan: (Lightly) Inflated & Ready for Launch (less-nuclear option)
-[] Construct an R-4 Dawn (35R per dice, 69/120, costs 1 build capacity til complete) (3 dice)
--[] And launch it (1 Operations dice; specify payload) (2 dice)
---[] Sounding payload (inert payload for testing)
---[] Advanced latex envelope (spare weather balloon) inflated via technologically-mature capillary action-delayed release fluid reservoir (a fountain pen full of water with a notch cut out of the cap) as an orbital payload mass simulator
-[] Build a Scientific Complex (25R per die)
--[] Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre (AERO) [CPAL, Int(C)] (425/450) (1 die)
--[] Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex (PROP) [Int(D),UWF] (293/450) (3 dice)
--[] Mombasa Computer Science Institute (COMP) [CPAL] (273/450) (3 dice)
-[] Tracking Station Construction (Phase I) (30R per die, 183/350) (1 die)
-[] Conduct Design Studies (First Satellite) (Phase II) [PHYS, FUEL, COMP] (15R per dice, 2/200)
-[] Conduct Supersonic Jet Research (Phase 2) [AERO] (15R per die, 167/320) (3 dice)
-[] Weather Studies (Phase 4) [PHYS] (10R per die, 118/240) (1 die)
-[] Propagandize for Nuclear Power (-2PS per die) (0/???) (1 die)
-[] Propagandize for Space (-5 per die) (0/???) (1 die)
-[] Accepting Submissions (1 die)
445 R, -2 PS, mostly same odds of us getting to orbit. Very slightly less wiggle room next quarter for budget but a trivial difference.
Strunkriidiisk
THE LEGEND
- Location
- Canada
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[] Plan Satellite Rush
-[] Construct an R-4 Dawn - (35RPD, 69/120) 1 die 35R 53%
-[] Launch R-4 Dawn - 1 die
--[] [Payload] First Satellite if completed, or sounding payload
-[ ] Build a Scientific Complex - (25RPD, 0/450 each)
--[ ] Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre - (425/450) 1 die 25R 86%
--[ ] Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex - (293/450) 3 dice 75R 68%
--[ ] Mombasa Computer Science Institute - (273/450) 3 dice 75R 54%
-[ ] Tracking Station Construction (Phase I) - (30RPD, 183/350) 1 die 30R
-[ ] Conduct Design Studies (First Satellite) (Phase II) [PHYS, FUEL, COMP] - (15RPD, 2/200) 5 dice 75R 98% // (20RPD, 2/300) 5 dice 100R 75%
-[ ] Conduct Supersonic Jet Research (Phase 2) [AERO] - (15RPD, 167/240?) 4 dice 60R 97%
-[ ] Creative Sponsorships - (10RPD, 141/400) 2 dice 20R
-[ ] The Right Stuff - (5RPD, 0/300) 1 die 5R
400R
-[] Construct an R-4 Dawn - (35RPD, 69/120) 1 die 35R 53%
-[] Launch R-4 Dawn - 1 die
--[] [Payload] First Satellite if completed, or sounding payload
-[ ] Build a Scientific Complex - (25RPD, 0/450 each)
--[ ] Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre - (425/450) 1 die 25R 86%
--[ ] Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex - (293/450) 3 dice 75R 68%
--[ ] Mombasa Computer Science Institute - (273/450) 3 dice 75R 54%
-[ ] Tracking Station Construction (Phase I) - (30RPD, 183/350) 1 die 30R
-[ ] Conduct Design Studies (First Satellite) (Phase II) [PHYS, FUEL, COMP] - (15RPD, 2/200) 5 dice 75R 98% // (20RPD, 2/300) 5 dice 100R 75%
-[ ] Conduct Supersonic Jet Research (Phase 2) [AERO] - (15RPD, 167/240?) 4 dice 60R 97%
-[ ] Creative Sponsorships - (10RPD, 141/400) 2 dice 20R
-[ ] The Right Stuff - (5RPD, 0/300) 1 die 5R
400R
Strunkriidiisk
THE LEGEND
- Location
- Canada
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Plan Satellite Rush
-[X] Construct an R-4 Dawn - (35RPD, 69/120) 1 die 35R 53%
-[X] Launch R-4 Dawn - 1 die
--[X] [Payload] First Satellite if completed, or sounding payload
-[X] Build a Scientific Complex - (25RPD, 0/450 each)
--[X] Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre - (425/450) 1 die 25R 86%
--[X] Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex - (293/450) 3 dice 75R 68%
--[X] Mombasa Computer Science Institute - (273/450) 3 dice 75R 54%
-[X] Tracking Station Construction (Phase I) - (30RPD, 183/350) 1 die 30R
-[X] Conduct Design Studies (First Satellite) (Phase II) [PHYS, FUEL, COMP] - (15RPD, 2/200) 5 dice 75R 98%
-[X] Conduct Supersonic Jet Research (Phase 2) [AERO] - (15RPD, 167/240?) 4 dice 60R 97%
-[X] Creative Sponsorships - (10RPD, 141/400) 2 dice 20R
-[X] The Right Stuff - (5RPD, 0/300) 1 die 5R
400R
-[X] Construct an R-4 Dawn - (35RPD, 69/120) 1 die 35R 53%
-[X] Launch R-4 Dawn - 1 die
--[X] [Payload] First Satellite if completed, or sounding payload
-[X] Build a Scientific Complex - (25RPD, 0/450 each)
--[X] Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre - (425/450) 1 die 25R 86%
--[X] Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex - (293/450) 3 dice 75R 68%
--[X] Mombasa Computer Science Institute - (273/450) 3 dice 75R 54%
-[X] Tracking Station Construction (Phase I) - (30RPD, 183/350) 1 die 30R
-[X] Conduct Design Studies (First Satellite) (Phase II) [PHYS, FUEL, COMP] - (15RPD, 2/200) 5 dice 75R 98%
-[X] Conduct Supersonic Jet Research (Phase 2) [AERO] - (15RPD, 167/240?) 4 dice 60R 97%
-[X] Creative Sponsorships - (10RPD, 141/400) 2 dice 20R
-[X] The Right Stuff - (5RPD, 0/300) 1 die 5R
400R
[X] Plan: Satellites and Science
-[X] Construct an R-3 Snow - (25R per dice, 7/80, costs 1 Build Capacity until complete) (3 Die)
--[X] And launch everything except one of the Dawns (1 Operations dice; specify payload) (2 dice)
---[X] Sounding payload (inert payload for testing)
---[X] Advanced latex envelope (spare weather balloon) inflated via technologically-mature capillary action-delayed release fluid reservoir (a fountain pen full of water with a notch cut out of the cap) as an orbital payload mass simulator
-[X] Build a Scientific Complex (25R per die, opens up new research possibilities, +1d5+5 bonus in the associated field, +1 Education for the region)
--[X] Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre (AERO) [CPAL, Int(C)] (425/450) (1 Die )
--[X] Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex (PROP) [Int(D),UWF] (293/450) (3 Dice
--[X] Mombasa Computer Science Institute (COMP) [CPAL] (273/450) (3 Dice)
-[X] Tracking Station Construction (Phase I)(30R per die, 183/350, adds equatorial tracking for rocket launches) (1 Die)
-[X] Conduct Design Studies (First Satellite) (Phase I) [PHYS, FUEL, COMP] (Phase II, 15R per dice) (2/200) <- Construction of prototype complete (unlocks First-Generation Science Satellite) (4 Dice)
-[X] Conduct Design Studies (Alternative Launch Systems) [AERO, PHYS] (5R per die, 177/300, ???) (1 Dice)
-[X] Conduct Supersonic Jet Research (Phase 2) [AERO] - (15R per die, requires a completed Hangar Complex and Runway to finish, can be started without, 167/320) (3 Dice)
-[X] Weather Studies (Phase 4) [PHYS] - (10R per die, requires a 2-Stage Sounding Rocket, requires Mobile Launch Operations, 118/240) (+5 PS on complete) (1 Die)
-[X] Propagandize for Space - (5R per die) (0/???) (1 Dice)
-[X] The Right Stuff - (0/300, 5R per dice, gain astronaut candidates) (2 dice)
-[X] Construct an R-3 Snow - (25R per dice, 7/80, costs 1 Build Capacity until complete) (3 Die)
--[X] And launch everything except one of the Dawns (1 Operations dice; specify payload) (2 dice)
---[X] Sounding payload (inert payload for testing)
---[X] Advanced latex envelope (spare weather balloon) inflated via technologically-mature capillary action-delayed release fluid reservoir (a fountain pen full of water with a notch cut out of the cap) as an orbital payload mass simulator
-[X] Build a Scientific Complex (25R per die, opens up new research possibilities, +1d5+5 bonus in the associated field, +1 Education for the region)
--[X] Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre (AERO) [CPAL, Int(C)] (425/450) (1 Die )
--[X] Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex (PROP) [Int(D),UWF] (293/450) (3 Dice
--[X] Mombasa Computer Science Institute (COMP) [CPAL] (273/450) (3 Dice)
-[X] Tracking Station Construction (Phase I)(30R per die, 183/350, adds equatorial tracking for rocket launches) (1 Die)
-[X] Conduct Design Studies (First Satellite) (Phase I) [PHYS, FUEL, COMP] (Phase II, 15R per dice) (2/200) <- Construction of prototype complete (unlocks First-Generation Science Satellite) (4 Dice)
-[X] Conduct Design Studies (Alternative Launch Systems) [AERO, PHYS] (5R per die, 177/300, ???) (1 Dice)
-[X] Conduct Supersonic Jet Research (Phase 2) [AERO] - (15R per die, requires a completed Hangar Complex and Runway to finish, can be started without, 167/320) (3 Dice)
-[X] Weather Studies (Phase 4) [PHYS] - (10R per die, requires a 2-Stage Sounding Rocket, requires Mobile Launch Operations, 118/240) (+5 PS on complete) (1 Die)
-[X] Propagandize for Space - (5R per die) (0/???) (1 Dice)
-[X] The Right Stuff - (0/300, 5R per dice, gain astronaut candidates) (2 dice)
[X] Plan: (Lightly) Inflated & Ready for Launch
-[X] Construct an R-4 Dawn (35R per dice, 69/120, costs 1 build capacity til complete) (3 dice)
--[X] And launch it (1 Operations dice; specify payload) (2 dice)
---[X] Sounding payload (inert payload for testing)
---[X] Advanced latex envelope (spare weather balloon) inflated via technologically-mature capillary action-delayed release fluid reservoir (a fountain pen full of water with a notch cut out of the cap) as an orbital payload mass simulator
-[X] Build a Scientific Complex (25R per die)
--[X] Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre (AERO) [CPAL, Int(C)] (425/450) (1 die)
--[X] Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex (PROP) [Int(D),UWF] (293/450) (3 dice)
--[X] Mombasa Computer Science Institute (COMP) [CPAL] (273/450) (3 dice)
-[X] Tracking Station Construction (Phase I) (30R per die, 183/350) (1 die)
-[X] Conduct Design Studies (First Satellite) (Phase II) [PHYS, FUEL, COMP] (15R per dice, 2/200) (5 dice)
-[X] Conduct Supersonic Jet Research (Phase 2) [AERO] (15R per die, 167/320) (3 dice)
-[X] Weather Studies (Phase 4) [PHYS] (10R per die, 118/240) (1 die)
-[X] Propagandize for Nuclear Power (-2PS per die) (0/???) (2 dice)
-[X] Accepting Submissions (1 die)
-[X] Construct an R-4 Dawn (35R per dice, 69/120, costs 1 build capacity til complete) (3 dice)
--[X] And launch it (1 Operations dice; specify payload) (2 dice)
---[X] Sounding payload (inert payload for testing)
---[X] Advanced latex envelope (spare weather balloon) inflated via technologically-mature capillary action-delayed release fluid reservoir (a fountain pen full of water with a notch cut out of the cap) as an orbital payload mass simulator
-[X] Build a Scientific Complex (25R per die)
--[X] Sao Paolo Aerodynamics Centre (AERO) [CPAL, Int(C)] (425/450) (1 die)
--[X] Long Beach Propulsion Research Complex (PROP) [Int(D),UWF] (293/450) (3 dice)
--[X] Mombasa Computer Science Institute (COMP) [CPAL] (273/450) (3 dice)
-[X] Tracking Station Construction (Phase I) (30R per die, 183/350) (1 die)
-[X] Conduct Design Studies (First Satellite) (Phase II) [PHYS, FUEL, COMP] (15R per dice, 2/200) (5 dice)
-[X] Conduct Supersonic Jet Research (Phase 2) [AERO] (15R per die, 167/320) (3 dice)
-[X] Weather Studies (Phase 4) [PHYS] (10R per die, 118/240) (1 die)
-[X] Propagandize for Nuclear Power (-2PS per die) (0/???) (2 dice)
-[X] Accepting Submissions (1 die)
Last edited:
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Plan: (Lightly) Inflated & Ready for Launch
I think we want to start grinding the nuclear PS cost reduction ahead of the next Council session.
I think we want to start grinding the nuclear PS cost reduction ahead of the next Council session.
- Location
- the Republic
- Pronouns
- He/They
[X] Plan: (Lightly) Inflated & Ready for Launch
Any questions about this plan? Just Google "C_Z inflation".
Any questions about this plan? Just Google "C_Z inflation".
BRB convincing Cyber to write the world's worst omake.