Rocket Design Agency - A Playtesting Quest

[4WheelSword]

 

[4WheelSword]

War Progress - Slight advantage Cathay
New Alleghany deploys observers to Cathay in cautious move towards involvement!
August 1959 saw the first NA developments overseas. A large group of observers, mostly made up of officers from the Navy, Air Force and Army, deployed to the region with a small security detachment. Their stated objective was to observe the conflict and to ensure that Europan forces were conducting the war with the proper civility. Protests were lodged at the Dyskelande, Akitsukini and Caspian embassies about the deployment as it was claimed that it would threaten stability in the region if the developing nation became involved in 'the business of Empires'.
The later months of 1959 also saw the first cities recaptured by Cathayan insurgents. Declaring themselves independent from both Cathay proper and Europan controls, these 'Free Cities' were the location of grim massacre and brutal oppression in the opening days of local control.
At the same time, Akitsukini forces in the region continued to expand, and the first confirmed shoot-downs of aircraft by missile were achieved. In terms of technological progress, the Cathay conflict was a proving ground for many of the last decades developments.

Meanwhile, NASA was busy placing another satellite into high orbit. One of the last planned scientific launches, the Prometheus launcher and payload both functioned perfectly.

But there was still planning to do for the soon to be flown lunar mission. Could NASA catch up with the Caspians? Only time would tell.

What sort of flight is this?
[ ] Lunar Flyby
[ ] Lunar Orbiter
[ ] Lunar Impactor

 

[4WheelSword]

With a plan for a lunar mission being drawn together, the question came up of whether it would be bolder in spirit to simply repeat the Caspian achievement of a lunar probe or to go on and build upon their achievements. Or rather, to build on the achievements that NASA knew about at least. There weren't a whole lot of ways of knowing what was going on up in orbit yet. Perhaps that should be changed…

But first, the moon. An orbiter was selected, a plan to not just fly a probe past Gaya's shining companion, but to send it atop a small, restartable rocket motor so that it could slow itself just enough to circle that heavenly body forever more.

It was very poetic, but it came with a whole host of technical difficulties unlike anything the team at NASA had ever faced before. An engine that would be expected to fire more than once. A controllable, guidable spacecraft. And a way of tracking and communicating with a spacecraft far deeper into space than NASA ever had before. And although all had their solutions, they added up to one hell of a challenge.

But if there was anything NASA was prepared for, it was a challenge.

Define your orbiter:
[ ] Simple, cheap, disposable - batteries and a couple of experiments.
[ ] Complex, pricey, lasting - solar power is the hot new thing.
[ ] Advanced, budget-breaking - A return mission with a film camera.

The Space Race - How should it play out:
[ ] Vote for your favourite future from a series of options
[ ] Random Dice Rolls for that random element
[ ] Option ? - Write in.

 

[4WheelSword]

The challenge was met with a payload scarcely larger than that of the Hope series experimental satellites, but which was more capable and longer lasting than anything that came before it. With solar panels, it would operate for weeks in orbit around the moon, relaying data, images and other wonders, all at less than a quarter-ton. Well, other than the rocket engine, a tiny BRMJ design with just enough thrust to have a noticeable effect on the satellite. This would both launch it from Gayan orbit onto it's Lunar journey, and also emplace it firmly in orbit at the other end.

The joys of pressure-fed hypergolics as a restartable system. The mathematicians were working overtime to see if they could figure out a route, now that the engineers had done their job.

Spoiler: Lunar Orbiter

Distributed configuration
5 x basic science, 1 x complex science.
Early Dish
YPR Control
Basic solar panels (2PPD)
Orbiter Motor
Structural Steel Tank (.175M, 3.5M, 875kg)
Post-process modifier: -5%M/5%C
Power per day: 2
Mass: 4.4
Cost: 10.08
Stats: -1 stability, +2 control

Delta-V - 5505m/s

Fairing: 1.1M, .55C

But is the moon what the people want? It's scientifically exciting, yes, but as the orbiter sits atop it's Artemis L on a late November afternoon, an article is released in Albia that surveys gayan's all across the world and discovers what it is they are actually excited for. With the ESA considering spaceflight, the Caspian moon mission and Akitsukini surprises, what will the future hold?

Artemis-Lunar Phase 1

Pre-flight - 2d10+1
Ignition - 2d10+1
Lift-off - 2d10+4
Max-Q - 2d10+4
Staging Event - 2d10+1
Please roll the above.

What does this survey find?
[ ] Peoples minds are filled with stories of moon bases and science!
[ ] Hearts swell at the idea of human spaceflight.
[ ] There is a fear that weapons will soon orbit overhead.
[ ] One day, people will be able to see each other across oceans!

 

[4WheelSword]

An all-in-one TLI rocket/Science Orbiter with folding communications and power systems.

 

[4WheelSword]

A failure to launch is, in the modern day of the 21st century, a slang phrase that is utilised to mean many things. A young person not yet managing to move from their parents house. A project that never quite makes it into fruition. But few consider that the phrase first became part of popular parlance thanks to the 1950's, NASA, and the Artemis program. Not only did it display a marked inability to get off the ground, but it did so so violently that the main headline across several major papers in New Alleghany was 'A Failure To Launch' as 1959 came to a close.

Artemis-Lunar did not make it to the moon. Artemis-Lunar did not make it to orbit. Artemis-Lunar did not even make it off of the ground. A split second after the spark was lit beneath the towering rocket, the flame travelled up into the main tank and turned the entire structure into a bomb which shook the blockhouse several miles away. When the smoke cleared, the pad was a ruin and the largest piece of debris remaining was smaller than a man. The mission was, to say the least, a failure.

Great Game Progress -
NASA - Orbital Bio-science
ESA - Lunar-Flyby
Caspia - Lunar Flyby
Akitsukini - Suborbital Bio-science

An Albian magazine released an article as 1959 ticked away that proposed the future according to the people of the world (though especially those of Albian itself). In it, stories abounded of a future where the four 'Great Players' (as the article called them) had raced for the moon - and had made it. It was the Great Game, the first to the moon and the first to claim it for their own.

The article claimed that one day there would be multinational bases on the lunar surface. Only time would tell if that were the case, as the so called 'Great Players' took their first steps. By the first month of 1960, all had made it to space - two monkeys in space, two probes around the moon. But what would be the next step in that great journey? And who would be first?

What will you work on in Q1 1960?
[ ] Work on the Artemis - A 50% success rate is not good enough but it can surely be made more reliable.
[ ] Begin development of a new rocket, a larger rocket that can at least lift Astrocaphe Phase 2.
[ ] Space Camp Development Program - Still a major design goal, even if the people want the moon.
[ ] Write in.

 

[4WheelSword]

War Progress - Advantage Dyskelande - Caspian Rumours
The War in the East continued with Europan Coalition forces pushing deep armoured thrusts into warlord heartlands. As Alleghanian observers watched, these columns of Tiger and GIAT-20 tanks punched through decade-old Caspian vehicles and rolled into towns with hatches open.
They were not welcomed warmly, and were often met with improvised explosives, but nonetheless these areas were occupied by the coalition.
Rumours began to spread amongst the front-line forces that there were Caspians on the other side of the wire. Newer tanks and fighters began to arrive in Cathay - jets taking to the skies for the Cathay forces for the first time. Were the Caspians willing to turn this from proxy war into hot conflict? Perhaps only time will tell.
Just as much scuttle-butt was being spread about the Akitsukini forces that had joined the coalition. Were they deploying more forces than agreed? Had they brought new, experimental warheads for the tactical missiles that had thus far stayed in reserve? Had they, in fact, been made the subject of a Cathayan bounty and were not being hunted by air and ground unit alike? Perhaps, indeed, only time would tell.

Back in New Alleghany, down at the Cape, all attention was being paid to Artemis. The first stage had failed twice in four flights and, sadly enough, the lunar attempt had proved that fault couldn't solely be said to lie with the two strap-on boosters that lofted the heavier variant. It was an unacceptable success rate with such a limited budget and it needed to be improved to at least, oh… 75% was the estimate the tea was working with. Fortunately, there were a few options available.

The need was only reinforced when Discovery 2 failed to make its intended orbit, and the Army was left without its second, much desired 'scientific' mission. At least the rocket made it into the air this time.

How will the work proceed?
[ ] Minor redesigns (max reliability boost +1)
[ ] Engine and Fuel replacement (max reliability boost +2)
[ ] Full first stage rework (max reliability boost +3)

The Army is demanding another launch. How does NASA respond?
[ ] You'll have to wait for Crown 3
[ ] We'll shuffle them up as much as possible.
[ ] As soon as you have another payload, we'll fly it.

 

[4WheelSword]

"Of course I understand the importance… Yes, the Presidents have made it perfectly clear that national defence is our top priority, and I agree with them." Brad said down the phone, attempting to ward off the anger of a Colonel Michaelson who had been put in command of the Crown program, "But we have other missions to fly. No, I'm not trying to blow you off. No Colonel. No. No, I agree. No. But that doesn't mean- No, of course. Yes Colonel. I'll see what I can do."

Brad put the phone down gently and fought the urge to throw something. Managing a national spaceflight program was becoming more complicated than just playing with big, expensive toys, and he was no politician. This was going to become frustrating.

Not as frustrating as Artemis was being, however. With three failures of the rocket, it was time to do something radical. Something radical was looking like a full first stage redesign. That would allow them to switch to a less horrific fuel - and maybe build a new set of systems into it at the same time.

It was just such a shame after Prometheus had proven so reliable.

Pick a new fuel
[ ] RP-1/LOX - Kerosene. Stable and easy.
[ ] Aerozine 50/N2O4 - Hydrazine mix for hypergolic results.
[ ] Liquid hydrogen - So cold, so efficient, so much work.

How will the engine be developed?
[ ] Convert a design - Simpler but less efficient.
[ ] A new small engine to cluster
[ ] A new large engine as a single system.

 

[4WheelSword]

The new stage would use RP-1, it was decided, the same kerosene derivative that the Artemis upper stage utilised to fly up into orbit proper. It was stable, it was safe and while it maybe wasn't the most efficient design it would hopefully not blow great holes in itself on the way up.

The redesigned rocket could still make orbit - just. On six of the smaller motors it had a little less thrust and a little less capability. But it could make it to orbit with the same payload and that was enough.

But it would take two months to get the new engine and stage design ready for flight and there were two more launches between now and then that would need the Artemis to fly, and that meant two more of the old design, the old fuel. NASA might get lucky and be able to put two more vital payloads into space. Or they could delay their launches, not waste the money or hardware. But that meant pushing back everything by two months. That was a hell of a long time to wait and waste. But it might prove so important, especially with congressional focus on their failings.

What will NASA do?
[ ] Fly the Astrocaphe test but not the Navy payload on an Artemis L.
[ ] Don't fly either, we're not wasting money.
[ ] Fly both. We can't cope with the delay.

EPL X-19 Rocket Motor

Spoiler

Fuel type: RP-1/LOX
Cycle: Gas-generator (1M, .3M mass flow)
Injector: Shower
Nozzle: Atmospheric (1.2M)
Upgrades: Single Axis Vernier (+1 control)
ISP: 255
Thrust: 160kN
Mass: 2.3
Cost: 4.5

NASA Hermes-L

Spoiler

Payload - 6 Mass (1.5 tons)
Stage 2 Mass - 77 Mass (19.25 tons)
Stage 1 Mass - 249.73 Mass (62.4 tons)
Total Mass - 332.49 Mass (86 tons)
Stage 2 Thrust - 241kN
Stage 1 Thrust - 960kN
Stage 1 Delta-V - 2655m/s
Stage 2 Delta-V - 6994m/s
Total Delta-V - At least 9,649m/s

Stage 1 Design
Engine - 6 x EPL X-19, ISP: 250 (13.8M/27C)
Stage - 11M (22C) Structural Steel, 220M fuel (58,300kg)
Avionics: Basic Beam Riding (2.45M, 4.9C)
Control: Small fins (1.24M, 1.24C)
Separator: Explosive Bolt (1.24M, 0.62C)

Stage 2 Design
Engine - 1 x LRM-4-V, ISP: 385 (2.2M/4.4C)
Stage - 3.5M (7C) Structural Steel, 70M fuel (17,500kg)
Avionics: Basic Beam Riding (0.92M, 1.84C)
Separator: Explosive Bolt (0.38M, 0.19C)

 

[4WheelSword]

The most common armoured vehicle of the Cathayan warlords during the 1950's, the Caspian T-40-75 was a mid-40's design. The -90 upgraded the gun and radio facilities and, although slower due to the larger turret, it saw great use as a command tank during the same conflict.