Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

[Simon_Jester]

Syrgy Pavylyvych reviews the proposal for a post-lunar shuttle.

"So, you propose something to be launched off... this is a stripped down version of the Vulkan design?"

"Da, Comrade Chief Designer."

"I see a number of obvious problems. For one, look at these figures. Metallic heat shield, density... let me get my slide rule... tsk, tsk. At this weight, the thing will be a solid block of heat shield!"

"We could strap another pair of boosters onto the Vulkan core..."

"Maybe. Always you want to solve your problems by strapping more on, Dmitri. Let's try and save some weight here, all right? We need weight-economical, reusable shielding, I know it'll be a problem but get on it. Bend some ears among material science researchers; we're not in such a great hurry we can't afford to push the limits of the art a little if it gets results. And try to come up with a useful scaled-down design, all right? Something that can at least do more or less everything the Soyuz proposals could, because otherwise they will get the funding."

[PeZook]

Right, gents. Time to ask you for your Spring 1962 plans

And while I know testing precisely engineered urine expelling systems should be fun, good comrade Ivanov should probably concentrate on training up for his Vostok flight this season

EDIT: Remember to include go/no go rules for these seasons with multiple manned flights that use the same system, in case a failure reduces capsule/rocket reliability.

EDIT2: Nobody's fooled by you putting OOC before clearly IC comments, Doomy

[HMS Sophia]

Spring '62:
Scratch the manned Merc launch. No way.

Full research on EVA and Merc: 10MB

Schedule a pair of unmanned merc launches. Lets get this working again.

[PeZook]

Orbital or suborbital launches?

[HMS Sophia]

Orbital or suborbital launches?

Oh, orbital, sorry. Forgot that bit
I'd rather have the director okay this before we go with it, but whatever.

[PeZook]

We'll obviously wait on the Director to rubber stamp carefully consider and evaluate the plan.

[Eternal_Freedom]

No rubber stamp is called for, that is precisely what I was going to propose anyway.

EDIT: OOC: Also, is it weird that I feel really sad and slightly messed-up by OhJesus' fiery death?

[Simon_Jester]

Stupid site crash...

No rubber stamp is called for, that is precisely what I was going to propose anyway.

EDIT: OOC: Also, is it weird that I feel really sad and slightly messed-up by OhJesus' fiery death?

I know how you feel, buddy; I feel real nervousness sending Comrade Cosmonauts up. Speaking of which...

---

Plan Pavylyvych, Spring 1962

Congratulations to all technicians, rocket engineers, machinists, quality assurance specialists, both commissarial and otherwise, and other personnel involved in the noble effort to make good the damage and faults created in our rockets by the bungling of the Derevnya Gadyukino Precision Alloy Tubing Plant! We are now on schedule once again, up to roughly the same standard of hardware reliability as before, subject to a few minor kinks which will need to be worked out within the upcoming weeks.

Also, all personnel are to ensure that they know their own first name, and that this name is properly recorded in the Cosmodrome archives. Let the example of _________ Karzanovski be a warning to all! Anyone on base without a first name must report to local headquarters of the Commienist Party to have a regulation-compliant first name issued to them by certified authorities within one week; after this point, the Party informs me that there will be an end to the amnesty and the existence of firstnameless people on base will not be acknowledged.

---

There is some confusion on the subject of budgeting, PeZook; one of your Spring 1962 screenshots for me says 100 MB, the other says 94 MB. I am proceeding on the basis of the latter.

Under the circumstances, I have decided to wait to do the duration B and higher flights in Voskhod, because Vostok reliability isn't going to be significantly over 80% unless I do an absurd number of test flights, whereas I can reach 80% reliability on Voskhod by sheer R&D.

On the other hand, I want to improve rocket reliability above 85% before launching large capsules, and the boosted A-Series is going to figure prominently in my manned orbital program for at least the next several years. I have already resigned myself to waiting until 1963 or even 1964 to begin work on Proton; sheer expense is a major obstacle.

Pursuant to that, I will be running a pair of satellite launches; this has the ancillary effect of pushing up satellite reliability towards the 98% theoretical limit, which is good for "hardware power-on" stages in later missions.


Budget: 94 MB

Schedule 2 A-Series/Sputnik launches for Fall 1962.
Purchase 1 A-Series rocket and 1 Vostok capsule for flight this season.
(Use the refurbished rocket and capsule from the Launch No One Remembers for the other flight)

Cost of hardware: 14 MB
Remaining budget: 80 MB.


15 MB: Recruit Class II cosmonauts; please note to look through thread for names of cosmonaut candidates. Also, I would like to see a report of the Class II cosmonauts' skills while in basic training if possible; if any really good pilots show up I may decide to pull them out of basic training early to fly Voskhod missions.

Remaining budget: 65 MB for R&D over the year. Should save some of this money for Proton, which needs to be a big part of the budget for 1963.


4 MB for 2 team on A-Series rocket to max its reliability.
10 MB for 5 teams on Voskhod Capsule research
8 MB for 4 teams on Booster Stage research
5 MB for 5 teams on EVA Suit research
R&D expenses: 27 MB

Remaining budget: 38 MB for Fall 1962.

---

LAUNCH SCHEDULING

Go ahead with Ivanov/Dostarovski mission.

If Ivanov/Dostarovski orbital mission is a success, CANCEL the subsequent Nikov/Titov mission- the way this game works, I don't want to play any more Zenobian roulette with these tin cans than I need to.

If Ivanov/Dostarovski orbital mission is a catastrophic failure with meaningful adverse effects on equipment reliability, CANCEL the Nikov/Titov mission.

If Ivanov/Dostarovski orbital mission is a limited failure- one which does not net the prestige bonus but does not impact on equipment reliability, such as a launch aborted on the pad due to booster problems, then GO with the Nikov/Titov mission.

[fnord]

OOC - Simon, are you keeping in mind the morale hits arising from cosmonauts being assigned to a program perceived as obsolete? (Vostok, in this case, since Voskhod is now available)?

[Simon_Jester]

OOC - Simon, are you keeping in mind the morale hits arising from cosmonauts being assigned to a program perceived as obsolete? (Vostok, in this case, since Voskhod is now available)?

Actually, now that you mention it, before PeZook wakes up, I will write an addendum: I should transfer the astronauts not involved in Vostok flights this season into Voskhod. Unfortunately, my good pilots are all assigned to Vostok missions this season...

[Simon_Jester]

IF I can put people in Voskhod without forming flight crews of them immediately, send Ivanovitch to Voskhod program. He could use a pick-me-up.

If I can't put people in Voskhod without forming flight crews of them immediately, he stays unti Fall 1962.

All other cosmonauts are to be transferred to Voskhod in Fall 1962, and we are winding up Vostok; it's too dangerous a piece of hardware for me to relish the idea of doing more orbitals with it, and apparently the very existence of Voskhod is demoralizing to the Vostok cosmonauts.
Spoiler

I didn't think that having a newer capsule in the early stages of development was in itself enough to demoralize astronauts assigned to the older capsule, when no astronauts were yet assigned and there was no way in hell I'd be flying the thing for a while. That actually happens? I'd better be careful about not starting minishuttle research until I'm sure I'm ready, then...

Spoiler

Also, I encourage anyone whose cosmonaut-characters leave the program due to my blundering failure to manage cosmonauts to create new characters and join again as someone else, or as a Murcan astronaut, since they're short on people playing their team, which is sads.

[fnord]

Then, part of the joy of multi-seat crews is compatibility - ie, do they get along, or will shivvage occur at first opportunity? The only way I was able to assemble compatible crews was by trial & error, which got tedious fast.

[fnord]

Damn, missed edit window.

Re: astronaut assignments, per p22 of the BARIS manual, if a given warm body isn't assigned to a flight crew, they head back to the astro/cosmonaut centre, where their morale doesn't seem to degrade as much as being assigned to an obsolete program.

[Simon_Jester]

Then, part of the joy of multi-seat crews is compatibility - ie, do they get along, or will shivvage occur at first opportunity? The only way I was able to assemble compatible crews was by trial & error, which got tedious fast.

Well, I'll do it.

[Simon_Jester]

Ghetto Edit:

So, final order: Pull Ivanovitch and Faaabio out of Vostok into the pool in Spring 1962. Pull all other cosmonauts into the pool in Fall 1962, and I'll try to assemble Voskhod teams.

[PeZook]

I will try to assemble compatible crews for you ; It would be too awkward to include this decision in the LP.

EDIT: Player cosmonauts in this group include Vladimirensky and Yebanov ; Does Karzanovski want back from his inglorious exile?

[Simon_Jester]

Well, for Voskhod, the priority is to have a pilot with high Capsule skill and a "mission specialist" who has either good Docking, good EVA, or just good endurance (for duration flights). Or, ideally, both.

I want all teams assembled on this basis- if they don't have a good pilot they don't fly, but if they don't have a competent mission specialist there's not much for them to do when they get up there.

For the moon missions in the minishuttle, when we get to that point, I would like an opportunity to try and list some teams I want to put together; you can test them yourself and if they don't work out together, I'll deal.

[PeZook]

Well, for Voskhod, the priority is to have a pilot with high Capsule skill and a "mission specialist" who has either good Docking, good EVA, or just good endurance (for duration flights). Or, ideally, both.

Fortunately there's advanced training, and of course EVA/Docking/LEM piloting stages are few and far between, so that 4% addition is not likely to be critical for the overall mission.

[Simon_Jester]

True, but it's something to do with the low-Capsule cosmonauts, and better safe than sorry. As in, if I have to choose between doing my first EVA with someone who has EVA 3 and EVA 1, all else being equal, I will take EVA 3 thankyouverymuch.

I don't see much point in advanced training if it locks cosmonauts down for two years, unless you have someone high-morale who's unlikely to leave in those years except by bad luck (like Comrade Faaabio).

[PeZook]

Advanced training pays off in exactly this sort of situation, when you want to spread prestigious missions around a bit and the cool hi-morale cosmonaut will not have much to do.

EDIT: If nobody else volunteers for the glourious cosmonaut corps in two or three hours I will start simulating, and the Zenobians will get Porfirij Yebanov, Vladimir Vladimirovich Vladimirensky, ___________ Karzanovski and Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz, plus five other generically Russian names.

[Simon_Jester]

Hmmmm.

Well, actually, it would make a lot of sense to put Comrade Faaabio in for extra EVA training on that basis- he's got high morale, he's not otherwise a top candidate for Voskhod flights except for being good at EVA.

If it makes sense in the eyes of the people who understand the game mechanics better than I (I'm trying, I'm trying!) why not?

However, he will not be placed on the list of candidates for the piss-on-Murca-from-orbit system. Sorry to disappoint you, Comrade Faaabio.

...

EDIT: If _____________ Karzanovski does not present a first name before the Fall 1962 season, he will be issued one compliant with Party standards. Um. Um...

Yorgi!

"But... but my name's not Yorgi!"

"IT IS NOW!"

[PeZook]

Voshkhod crews have two people: Capsule pilot/docking guy and LM pilot/EVA guy. So if you assign FAABIO to the second seat, then yeah, he'd be a decent candidate for advanced training, though two years is a pretty long time.

[PeZook]

Okay, rolls for Group II cosmonauts are now closed.

Group II astronauts can still be applied for.

Simulating turn. Expect fiery results soon...ish.

[PeZook]

CHAPTER 6: THE FIRST CASUALTY
Time is: Spring 1962

MISSIONS LAUNCH
VOSTOK VII, APRIL 1962

Murmurs of voices. Work, checklists being read. Even the damn NKVDVDROM officers were not interfering this time. While the People's Space Program was obviously more advanced than anything the capitalists could provide, that young Murcan's fiery death made everyone nervous. They couldn't have a failure. Not on this flight.

"Ivan, everything fine in there?", Syrgy asked the cosmonaut, who by now had spent three hours strapped into his most uncomfortable seat.

"All fine, dear friend. All gauged show green, da! Are we going yet?"

Vasily Mishin, the Chief Designer's second in command, handed him a report from pad crews. The mission was a go.

"Begin countdown.", Syrgy commanded.



"Ten...nine...eight...seven...ignition start...six...five...four...three...two...one..."



The rocket worked marvelously: all systems fired exactly the way they were supposed to. The launch control crew did not cheer just yet, though, even upon seeing the launch vehicle rise dramatically from behind the crimson flag of the Zenobian Onion.

"Farewell, dear friend!", the cosmonaut flying the rocket transmitted, "I will see you in a few hours!"



"Coming up on orbital insertion burn. Staging seems fine...orbital insertion complete."

Syrgy could swear he could hear comissar Omeganski exhale. The first hurdle of the mission was accomplished. A son of the Zenobian Onion was in orbit!

"This is a truly great day, da, comrade Pavylyvych?", the comissar said

"Not quite, comrade comissar. We still have half the mission plan to run, and comrade Ivanov must be brought back safely!"

"Indeed. Continue your work!'



The following hours were...not very exciting. There were tests to run, various checkouts on the spacecraft, and of course observation of the cosmonaut's reactions to microgravity.

Finally, after fifteen orbits, it was time to deorbit.



"We are done with the burn, retropack jettisoned...looks good, a bit long on the burn but within parameters."

"Copy that. Re-entry in fifteen minutes."

Everybody held their breath again, as they listened to the cosmonaut's transmissions.

"Coming up on atmosphere. There is some shaking and vibration...orientation is good...temperature is rising..."

An engineer indicated the spacecraft was coming up on the blackout zone. Syrgy nodded, but suddenly, the speakers delivered the one word everyone was afraid to hear.

"...problem...red hot...there is..."

"What did he say? What is red..."

Further transmission were received, garbled and barely comprehensible, "...fire! On fire, temperature...can't breathe..."

And then, with sudden clarity and calm, "I think this is the end, comrades! Farewell!"

One of the side screens suddenly showed a video feed from one of the tele-lens cameras around the landing site.





Nobody said anything. The capsule engineer got up, switched his console off and walked out.

An NKVDVROM officer followed him. He later reported saving the man from hanging himself.

VOSTOK VIII, JUNE 1962

Code: Select all

Mission scrubbed as per flight rules. Previously undiscovered problems with the heat shield arrangement lead to reduction of the Vostok reliability rating to 40%.

***

[PeZook]

CHAPTER 6: THE FIRST CASUALTIES
Time is: Fall 1962

MURCA

[/size]

THE CAPE

"I am simply tired, Director. There's no longer any glamor in spaceflight. These constant delays, scrubbing missions, safety problems...no, I am not going to change my mind. I think I'll go into politics now."

Johnny von Braun had been attempting to stop Biff McCain, the (so far only) Murcan space hero, from resigning, but the man seemed intent on carrying his plans through. The Director sighed inwardly, back in Thanasia he'd just use the gestapo and...no, that wouldn't be good. Imprisoning and beating up a space hero would be horrible for PR, and it was von Evilstein's method. But first Hardbeef, now McCain...murca was losing astronauts fast...

No. McCain would go. It was nice of the man to give his notice a year in advance, though.

The Director shook hands with the man and returned to his copious amounts of administrative work. Part of him felt glee at the fact the Zenobians had also failed in their orbital attempt, but he shoved such horrible thoughts aside, remembering it wasn't long ago that Murca lost its son, too.

In a way, the two countries were united today. OhJesus's last transmissions could still be heard on the facility's PA system, bouncing off the electrosphere and coming back to haunt his colleagues...

Code: Select all

Current funds: 64 megabucks

Current astronaut roster: 
MODEMJR - CAP 3, LM 0, EVA 2, DOCK 1, END 2 (Mercury/I) ; MOOD: 52
FLASHHEART - CAP 1, LM 0, EVA 4, DOCK 1, END 1 (Mercury/II) ; MOOD: 61
CUNTSER - CAP 3, LM 3, EVA 1, DOCK 0, END 1 (Mercury/III) ; MOOD: 61
MCCAIN - CAP 4, LM 1, EVA 2, DOCK 0, END 1 (Mercury/IV) ; MOOD: 84 - will retire fall 1963
KELLY - CAP 3, LM 1, EVA 0, DOCK 2, END 2 (Mercury/V) ; MOOD: 59
HARDBEEF - CAP 3, LM 0, EVA 0, DOCK 1, END 2 (Mercury/VI) ; MOOD: 39 - will retire spring 1963

OHJESUS - DECEASED, MERCURY IX

Programs running: Explorer, Atlas, Mercury, EVA Suits

Launch pads: 3

Scheduled missions: Launch Pad A, unmanned Earth orbital, Mercury/Atlas
                            Launch Pad B,  unmanned Earth orbital,Mercury/Atlas
                            Launch Pad C, none

ZENOBIA

[/size]

BAIKONUREK

The line of naked young men moved ahead from station to station. It was the yearly medical checkup! Usually a time to joke and jab at each other, but not now. Everyone was sullen.

The burial ceremony had just been completed. Nobody could think or speak of anything else, the damn Vostoks and their constant technical problems.

Well, that and the recent x-ray heat shield analysis of the Voshkhod prototype, which showed the exact same problems as the Vostok defect which lead to Ivanov's death. Nothing was going according to plan, the comissar was going apeshit, stress and depression lurked everywhere.

For Ivanovich, though, things were just about to get even worse.

"Comrade...blow harder! Harder!", the old and cranky doctor yelled at him during the lung capacity test. But try as he might, cosmonaut Ivanovich could not hold the ball up long enough.

"You need more tests, comrade. Stand aside, we'll send you for proper testing, something is up..."

A month later, Ivanovich learned he had the first stages of lung cancer. As he was packing his bag, the man reflected solemnly on his time in the space program, and watched the new group of cosmonaut disembark from a truck.

He could swear a familiar face was amongst them...

Code: Select all

Current funds: 46 megabucks

Current astronaut roster:
FAAABIO  - CAP 2, LM 0, EVA 2, DOCK 0, END 3 (NO PROGRAM) ; MOOD: 78
TITOV - CAP 3, LM 1, EVA 1, DOCK 0, END 1 (VOSTOK/II) ; MOOD: 30
DOSTAROVASKI - CAP 2, LM 0, EVA 1, DOCK 1, END 3 (VOSTOK/III) ; MOOD: 42
NIKOV - CAP 4, LM 0, EVA 2, DOCK 0, END 2 (VOSTOK/VII) ; MOOD: 49

IVANOVICH - GROUNDED BY MEDICAL PROBLEMS, WILL NEVER FLY AGAIN
IVANOV - DECEASED, VOSTOK VII

GROUP II, currently in training:

VLADIMIRENSKY  - CAP 2, LM 2, EVA 1, DOCK 2, END 3
BRZECZYSZCZ - CAP 2, LM 1, EVA 0, DOCK 3, END 3
YEBANOV - CAP 1, LM 2, EVA 4, DOCK 0, END 1
KARZANOVSKI - CAP 4, LM 0, EVA 0, DOCK 0, END 1
DZHANIBEKOV  - CAP 4, LM 0, EVA 1, DOCK 2, END 3
GLAZKOV - CAP 2, LM 0, EVA 0, DOCK 2, END 2
VOLYNOV - CAP 2, LM 0, EVA 0, DOCK 3, END 1
BELYAYEV - CAP 3, LM 0, EVA 1, DOCK 0, END 1
BEREGOVOY - CAP 2, LM 0, EVA 0, DOCK 3, END 0

Programs running: Sputnik, A-Series, Vostok, Booster stage, Cosmos satellite, Voshkhod

Launch pads: 2

Scheduled missions: Launch pad A, Unmanned satellite, A-Series/Sputnik
                            Launch pad B, Unmanned satellite, A-Series/Sputnik

Notes:
Well, that was a lousy season.

Both programs are bleeding astronauts, and now both nations have their first dead heroes. Zenobia is now down to 9 prestige, was hit by another reliability random event, and it looks like comrade Pavylyvych's station could indeed be politically threatened.

It is now 1962, and no human had yet been to orbit and survived to speak about it.