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

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

Post by ChaserGrey »

MURCA FUCK YEEEAHH!

Director, suggest we GO for the Duration D mission and then look at the docking program once we see our new budget. We'd better get a new budget...
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Eternal_Freedom »

"Most assuredly Mr Grey. but first, I'm needed for an epic whiskey binge in celebration - I'll be back in the office in, oh, a month or so."

Lols, I love this character! I'm gonna go off and write up von Braun, Ravensburg and the Haggistani's mammoth drinking contest. Should be fun.
Baltar: "I don't want to miss a moment of the last Battlestar's destruction!"
Centurion: "Sir, I really think you should look at the other Battlestar."
Baltar: "What are you babbling about other...it's impossible!"
Centurion: "No. It is a Battlestar."

Corrax Entry 7:17: So you walk eternally through the shadow realms, standing against evil where all others falter. May your thirst for retribution never quench, may the blood on your sword never dry, and may we never need you again.
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by ChaserGrey »

"An excellent command decision, Sir. I'll just forge your signature on the necessary paperwork then, shall I?"
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Eternal_Freedom »

"Yes, yes...carry on..." Johnny's attention had been grabbed forcefully by the Haggistani astronaut, who was dragging him towards the whiskey store (Formerly Number 7 Fuel Bunker).
Baltar: "I don't want to miss a moment of the last Battlestar's destruction!"
Centurion: "Sir, I really think you should look at the other Battlestar."
Baltar: "What are you babbling about other...it's impossible!"
Centurion: "No. It is a Battlestar."

Corrax Entry 7:17: So you walk eternally through the shadow realms, standing against evil where all others falter. May your thirst for retribution never quench, may the blood on your sword never dry, and may we never need you again.
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Re: Fall 1968 status

Post by PeZook »

CHAPTER 10: THE CHROME AGE
Time is: Fall 1969

Launch windows: Mercury, Venus, Mars

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MURCA
TEDDY SPACE CENTER
The astronauts were running about the tarmac, carrying their colleagues: Edward Ravensburg, Barn Est I and Mike Collins on their backs. They were shouting incoherently, their screams oh joy somewhat slurred thanks to copious amount of celebrating already performed.

It was a glorious couple of months at THE CAPE. Politicoes came and went. There were ticker tape parades throughout Murca, and the media couldn't have enough interviews with the new, great and tough and oiled up space heroes.

Even those verrdamnt stingy congresscritters were a bit more willing to look upon the space program favorably now, and director Von Braun was currently in Washingtoff, attempting to secure a massive funding increase for the spring. Not that his hangover helped much.

Fortunately, he had people to run the day-to-day affairs for him. Including but not limited to keeping the scotch reservoirs stocked up.

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Code: Select all

Current funds: 48 megabucks

Astronauts in XMS-2 program:

Crew I:
OLDS - CAP 3, LM 0, EVA 0, DOCK 3, END 3 ; MOOD: 47 (Pilot)
GORDON - CAP 0, LM 1, EVA 2, DOCK 2, END 3 ; MOOD: 75 (LM Pilot/EVA specialist)
WILLIAMS - CAP 1, LM 3, EVA 1, DOCK 2, END 1 ; MOOD: 80 (Docking specialist)

Crew II:
RAVENSBURG - CAP 3, LM 3, EVA 0, DOCK 0, END 4 ; MOOD: 49 (Pilot) 
COLLINS - CAP 0, LM 3, EVA 4, DOCK 1, END 1 ; MOOD: 100 (LM Pilot/EVA specialist)
BARNESTI - CAP 2, LM 1, EVA 2, DOCK 2, END 4 ; MOOD: 56 (Docking specialist)

Crew III:
BROWN - CAP 4, LM 2, EVA 2, DOCK 1, END 2 ; MOOD: 26
CUNNINGHAM - CAP 1, LM 2, EVA 1, DOCK 0, END 4 ; MOOD: 80
MCCANDLESS - CAP 3, LM 0, EVA 0, DOCK 2, END 2 ; MOOD: 70

Crew IV:
CONRAD - CAP 4, LM 1, EVA 1, DOCK 1, END 3 ; MOOD: 24
ROCKET - CAP 3, LM 0, EVA 2, DOCK 2, END 2 ; MOOD: 85
CHAFFEE - CAP 0, LM 1, EVA 2, DOCK 3, END 2 ; MOOD: 85

Unassigned astronauts:
MAY - CAP 3, LM 2, EVA 2, DOCK 4, END 2 ; MOOD: 77
LOOPY - CAP 4, LM 1, EVA 2, DOCK 3, END 2 ; MOOD: 62
SUITCASE - CAP 3, LM 2, EVA 2, DOCK 4, END 3 ; MOOD: 77
HAISE - CAP 4, LM 3, EVA 0, DOCK 0, END 2 ; MOOD: 72
EISELE - CAP 0, LM 0, EVA 2, DOCK 1, END 3 ; MOOD: 72
SWIGERT - CAP 2, LM 0, EVA 0, DOCK 1, END 1 ; MOOD: 70
ANDERS - CAP 0, LM 2, EVA 2, DOCK 2, END 1 ; MOOD: 62

Other astronauts:
REXMODEM - retired fall 1968
BORMAN - retired fall 1968
KNIGHT - retired fall 1967
FLASHHEART - retired fall 1967
MODEMJR - retired spring 1965
CUNTSER - retired fall 1965
KELLY - retired spring 1965
MCCAIN - retired fall 1963
HARDBEEF -  retired spring 1963
OHJESUS - DECEASED, MERCURY IX
JOHNSON - DECEASED, MERCURY XVI

Programs running: Explorer, Ranger, Mighty Strapons, Atlas, Titan, Mercury, XMS-2, EVA Suits

Launch pads: 3

Scheduled missions: 
Launch Pad A, DESTROYED BY EXPLOSION, 20MB TO FIX
Launch Pad B, Manned earth orbital Duration-D, Prim. Crew III, Bkp. Crew IV, Boosted Titan/XMS-2
Launch Pad C, none
***
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ZENOBIA
BAIKONUREK
"We are doomed! The Murcans have their space bomber force armed and operational, comrade! We must evacuate the cosmodrome immediately, da!"

"This is absurd. I will not break our important work because of PVO Strany paranoia!", Syrgy Pavylyvych had to yell at the man on the other side of the phone. The man was a general in the local air defence garrison, and like most military men around the Chief Designer, he was panicking.

"I have a duty to protect the greatest minds in the Onion! Helicopters are on their way to pick you up right now!"

"Comrade, I answer only to orders from Moosecow, and I received no orders to shut down the program. I would advise you to calm down, before the NKVDVDROM investigates you!", Syrgy yelled into the receiver, Like they did poor comrade cosmonaut Petrov, he thought, careful not to speak out loud. He glanced at the comissar, who was angrily pacing outside the administrative building, smoking cigarette after cigarette, as if waiting for something to happen.

"Comrade! Comrade Chief Designer!", Syrgy's secretary burst into the room, "It's a teletype from Moosecow! The General Secretary is demanding your presence at an emergency Politburo meeting tomorrow morning!"

Syrgy glanced at the wall clock. It was late afternoon. He cursed under his breath...that Murcan spaceplane flight had a lot of people spooked. He was just about to turn and issue several quick orders before catching the first Gazik to the cosmodrome's airbase, when the young research assistant - Razumikhin, Syrgy remembered, the bright fellow responsible for catching problems with Voshkhod avionics a while ago - ran into the office as well, tripping over Syrgy's secretary and landing flat on his face, papers he held in hand scattering all over the office.

"Comrades! Calm down! As they say, hurry slowly!"

Syrgy helped the assistant get up. The young man was shaking, and almost immediately leapt at the scattered papers. He fished one out and shoved it at the Chief Designer. He seemed too upset to say even a single word.

Carefully, the Chief Designer went over the report and frowned. He was aware about problems with unmanned exploration...but this was something new.

"The navigational system?"

"Da!", the assistant finally managed to spit out, "The probe was stored improperly, the temperatures were allowed to get too high, you know how it gets here in Boratistan...and now one fifth of all capacitors are burst! We'll need replacements!", he was waving a huge cardboard card emblazoned with gigantic letters, "But there aren't any! If we want to fix the problem by the launch deadline, we'll need to buy from abroad! From the filthy capitalists!"

Image

Slowly, very slowly, Syrgy reached into his pocket and took out his pills.

He couldn't escape the feeling this day was to be merely the start of a really horrid month...

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Code: Select all

Current funds: 46 megarubloids

Cosmonauts in Lapot program:

Crew I:
KLIMUK - CAP 4, LM 0, EVA 2, DOCK 1, END 2 ; MOOD:89 (PILOT)
LEBEDEV - CAP 3, LM 1, EVA 2, DOCK 1, END 3  ; MOOD: 82 (LM PILOT/EVA SPECIALIST)
BRZECZYSZCZ - CAP 3, LM 2, EVA 0, DOCK 3, END 3 ; MOOD: 46 (DOCKING SPECIALIST)

Crew II:
KARZANOVSKI - CAP 4, LM 1, EVA 0, DOCK 0, END 3 ; MOOD: 47
ZHOLOBOV - CAP 1, LM 3, EVA 1, DOCK 1, END 3  ; MOOD: 67
SMIRNOFF - CAP 2, LM 0, EVA 1, DOCK 3, END 2 ; MOOD: 67

Crew III:
IVANCHENKOV - CAP 3, LM 1, EVA 1, DOCK 1, END 3  ; MOOD: 78
LAZAREV - CAP 1, LM 3, EVA 0, DOCK 0, END 2  ; MOOD: 68
RUKAVISHNIKOV - CAP 1, LM 2, EVA 1, DOCK 2, END 3  ; MOOD: 77

Cosmonauts not assigned to programs:

BORISOV - CAP 3, LM 0, EVA 2, DOCK 1, END 1  ; MOOD: 46
FILLYERESKI - CAP 1, LM 1, EVA 1, DOCK 3, END 1  ; MOOD: 73
NEFARTNYI - CAP 2, LM 2, EVA 1, DOCK 3, END 2  ; MOOD: 62
YEBANOVY - CAP 2, LM 3, EVA 0, DOCK 1, END 2  ; MOOD: 73
GRECHKO - CAP 2, LM 1, EVA 0, DOCK 3, END 1  ; MOOD: 85
KOVALYANOK - CAP 2, LM 1, EVA 3, DOCK 1, END 4  ; MOOD: 77
MAKAROV - CAP 0, LM 2, EVA 1, DOCK 3, END 2 ; MOOD: 67

Other cosmonauts:
MAMETOV - joined the Red Army in 1969. 
PETROV - imprisoned for re-education in Spring 1969
FAAABIO  - retired spring 1969
BEREGOVOY - retired spring 1969
YEBANOV - retired spring 1968
ALEXANDROV - washed out in training, fall 1967
DIGADITCH - left to join the Red Army, spring 1967
NIKOV - retired Fall 1966
DOSTAROVASKI - Forcibly retired, Fall 1964
TITOV - Retired Spring 1964
IVANOVICH - Grounded due to lung cancer
VLADIMIRENSKY  - Deceased, training accident
IVANOV - Deceased, VOSTOK VII

Programs running: Sputnik, Cosmos satellite, Lunar Probe,A-Series, Proton, Booster stage, Voskhod, EVA Suits, Docking module, Lapot, Kicker-B

Launch pads: 3

Scheduled missions: 
Launch pad A, None
Launch pad B, None
Launch pad C, Lunar probe landing
GM Notes:

What's there to say?

MURCA FUCK YEAH :D
Image
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up

It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.
- NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11

Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by PeZook »

Oh, and just to fill everything up:

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Image
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JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up

It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.
- NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11

Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Eternal_Freedom »

Well, with 48 MB I can easily afford the 16 needed for the boosters and Titan.

I also have enough spare to purchase another XMS-2. What do people think on that idea?
Baltar: "I don't want to miss a moment of the last Battlestar's destruction!"
Centurion: "Sir, I really think you should look at the other Battlestar."
Baltar: "What are you babbling about other...it's impossible!"
Centurion: "No. It is a Battlestar."

Corrax Entry 7:17: So you walk eternally through the shadow realms, standing against evil where all others falter. May your thirst for retribution never quench, may the blood on your sword never dry, and may we never need you again.
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by ChaserGrey »

My advice: Do it. I know we were going to start Saturn V but we need to get dockin'.

Might want to form some more minishuttle crews as well. I see a lot of "Manned orbital docking (orbit)" missions in our future.

Edit: In fact, I think we should schedule docking missions starting next season. At least one unmanned, the big question then is whether to pay for another docking module or take the risk of sending a crew up to do an (orbit) mission...
Last edited by ChaserGrey on 2011-08-09 05:33pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Eternal_Freedom »

Ok, plan for Fall 1969:

Procurement:

-1x Titan Rocket (12 MB)
-1x Strap-On Boosters (4 MB)
-1x XMS-2 (30 MB)

Personnel:

PeZook, please assign all astronauts to the Hermes program and form compatible flight crews as required.
Baltar: "I don't want to miss a moment of the last Battlestar's destruction!"
Centurion: "Sir, I really think you should look at the other Battlestar."
Baltar: "What are you babbling about other...it's impossible!"
Centurion: "No. It is a Battlestar."

Corrax Entry 7:17: So you walk eternally through the shadow realms, standing against evil where all others falter. May your thirst for retribution never quench, may the blood on your sword never dry, and may we never need you again.
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Scottish Ninja »

Petr Petrovich Petrov was confused as the two NKVDVDROM men escorting him shepherded him onto the waiting train. Re-education was all well and good, and it certainly explained why he never flew if his skills weren't considered up to scratch, but why would the training facility need to be located in deepest Zyberia? That seemed inefficient! Surely he could just take night classes here at Baikonurek?
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"If the capsule explodes, heroes of the Zenobian Onion will still rain upon us. Literally!" - Shroom
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by PeZook »

EF, I already formed as many compatible crews as I could. The remaining astronauts unfortunately hate each other's guts.

I could still form crews using them, but you'd pay for that in morale.
Image
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up

It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.
- NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11

Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by ChaserGrey »

Let's keep them in reserve for a season or two? Olds and Ravensburg are both pretty close to retiring, and we'll need new shuttle crews. Perhaps with those four 'nauts added into the mix we can come up with some compatible teams?
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Scottish Ninja »

Comrade Engineerski arrived, out of breath, from the budget office - a run he was starting to get his stride in.

To continue as planned as much as possible:

Launch of the Luna will cost 26 MB; leaving us with 20 MB.

This allows for:
2 teams research on the ZiG-105 (14 MB)
and
3 teams research on the Kicker-B (6 MB)

If we delay the Luna launch to next year we can do 5x research on both Zig-105 (35 MB) and the Kicker-B (10 MB) with 1 MB left in reserve.
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"If the flight succeeds, you swipe an absurd amount of prestige for a single mission. Heroes of the Zenobian Onion will literally rain upon you." - PeZook
"If the capsule explodes, heroes of the Zenobian Onion will still rain upon us. Literally!" - Shroom
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by FaxModem1 »

MURCA, FUCK YEAH!

In other news, how bad is that damage to the Luna modules? Do y'all have the funds for it? Or do you just have to go back to researching them some more?

Also, can I join in the next batch of astronauts? With an old or new character, doesn't matter.
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Scottish Ninja »

It's a one-off 10% penalty that we can throw 10 MB at to go away; we don't have to do any more research. It's... not disastrous, but irritating when we're trying to develop a minishuttle and don't have unlimited funds. You can reference my post above for the budget numbers.

Also:

Ghetto edit: Shits! The budget office has made an error; the cost of the Luna probe is 6 MB, not 4, so total hardware cost of the launch will be 18 MB, plus 10 for repairs. This would allow us to do only 2 teams of research on the Kicker-B, not 3, if we wished to continue with Luna launch this year.
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"If the flight succeeds, you swipe an absurd amount of prestige for a single mission. Heroes of the Zenobian Onion will literally rain upon you." - PeZook
"If the capsule explodes, heroes of the Zenobian Onion will still rain upon us. Literally!" - Shroom
Cosmonaut Ivan Ivanovich Ivanov (deceased, rain), Cosmonaut Petr Petrovich Petrov, Unnamed MASA Engineer, and Unnamed Zenobian Engineerski in Let's play: BARIS
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Shroom Man 777 »

The game has changed, son of Flynn! Mang.
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Simon_Jester »

Still here, guys, but I can't come up with a budget tonight. Lemme try to take all this in, and I'll see what I can do tomorrow.
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Mishingun Plans, Fall 1969

Post by Scottish Ninja »

ATTN: Office of the Chief Designer, OKB-1.

From the desk of Vasiliy Mishingun.

The following operational plans are submitted for your consideration:

Fall 1969 Mishingun Plan Alfalfa - Destination: Moon!

Budget: 46 MB

Spend 10 MB to repair the Luna probe. Remaining: 36 MB

Hardware purchases:
1x Proton (12 MB)
1x Luna (6 MB)
Total 18 MB. Remaining: 18 MB.

Research:
2x teams on Lapot (14 MB)
2x teams on Kicker-B (4 MB)

Remaining budget: 0 MB

Mission scheduling:

Pad A: None
Pad B: Lunar Probe Landing (to be scrubbed if this season's launch is successful)
Pad C: None

Mission Go/No-Go Status:

We are GO for Lunar Probe Landing on Pad C

Fall 1969 Mishingun Plan Beets: Full Speed Ahead!

Budget: 46 MB

Do NOT fix the Luna probe. SCRUB the Lunar Probe Landing on Pad C.

Hardware Purchases:
None.

Research:
5x teams on Lapot (35 MB)
5x teams on Kicker-B (10 MB)

Remaining budget: 1 MB

Mission Scheduling:
Pad A: None
Pad B: None
Pad C: Lunar Probe Landing

Missions Go/No-Go Status

We are NO-GO for Lunar Probe Landing on Pad C.

Addendum on Cosmonauts:

No action will be taken with the cosmonaut corps at this time; however, information is requested on availability of the next group of cosmonauts.

Addendum on Budgeting:

The Budget Office is requested to provide an estimated budget for the coming year.

signed, Vasiliy Mishingun

Longer-term objectives - if Kicker-B development continues to outpace Lapot, we may wish to do a test flight of an unmanned advanced Zond craft on a circumlunar flight, so as to test and improve the reliability of the Kicker-B booster module; possibly in Fall of 1970 or Spring of 1971. Either way, we have a relatively highly reliable craft in the 2-man Zond, and one which will take some number of flights to ensure high standards of operation in the ZiG-105. Such a test flight would have a total cost of 28 MB - yikes! That would quickly eat into our budget at a time when we will most likely be trying to get the N1 rocket into operation.
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"If the flight succeeds, you swipe an absurd amount of prestige for a single mission. Heroes of the Zenobian Onion will literally rain upon you." - PeZook
"If the capsule explodes, heroes of the Zenobian Onion will still rain upon us. Literally!" - Shroom
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Simon_Jester »

Comrade, comrade, I'm not dead yet; I will have a budget ready before the night is out...

And da, Zond factors very heavily into my plans. Also, Kicker-B has a more proper name which we should all adhere to, more on that in a later document.
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Scottish Ninja »

Da, da, of course, comrade. I am not trying to steal your job - it is already a Strakhanovite task to build this stupendous N1 of yours. I only wished to provide you with a baseline from which to work when we are both somewhat pressed for time.

signed, Vasiliy Mishingun
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"If the flight succeeds, you swipe an absurd amount of prestige for a single mission. Heroes of the Zenobian Onion will literally rain upon you." - PeZook
"If the capsule explodes, heroes of the Zenobian Onion will still rain upon us. Literally!" - Shroom
Cosmonaut Ivan Ivanovich Ivanov (deceased, rain), Cosmonaut Petr Petrovich Petrov, Unnamed MASA Engineer, and Unnamed Zenobian Engineerski in Let's play: BARIS
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Re: BARIS Progress Report

Post by Simon_Jester »

Baikonurek Cosmodrome
Office of the Chief Designer
May 2, 1969


Image
The General Secretary is displeased...

Syrgy Pavylyvych held the earpiece telephone a short distance from his head. "Da, Your Excellency, I know about the Murcan shuttle, our radars are tracking it. Da, you are right, it is no hoax. Da, da, I know, it is terrible... What? You demand an inspection tour? I will make arrangements at once, Your Excellency!"

Syrgy knew his office was bugged, much as a fish knows that there is water somewhere nearby. And by nature he was not a demonstrative man, or a particularly healthy and lively man. Therefore, he did not leap from his seat and begin cavorting with relief and glee.

Spacecraft Prototyping Facility
Two Days Later


"Syrgy! The Murcans are still up there! They threaten to break our duration record, staying up LONGER than your paleocapsules! This is an outrage! Why is our shuttle not ready?" Not satisfied with his usual habits, the General Secretary reached out and shoved a passing engineerski, tripping him. Shroomanski then took off his shoe and started banging it on a convenient workbench. The one-shoed engineerski groaned and started to crawl away.

"Your Excellency, the reason our shuttle is not ready is that the resources which the Murcans devoted to obsessive development of their new toy, we devoted to practicing the proletarian techniques of spacelabor and perfecting our knowledge of the lunar surface. These are areas where the Murcans are still behind us, and will have to catch up before they can match our achievements. Their position is superficially made to look stronger by this shuttle, but it is like a Hollywood movie facade without the infrastructure and knowledge to support it. Here they must delay, and here we will have ample time to catch up and surpass their momentary advantage."

"Hmph. I, must see what you have for myself. What of the moon rockets?"

"Well, our current planning still revolves around the well-known Proton rocket which has returned so many photochromographoids of the heavenly bodies... Your Excellency, are you all right?"

"Mmmms, heavenly b- da, da. Anyway, those are current plans. What of future plans?"

"I will show you."

"You'd better."

Image

"...Kerosene fuels drive the liquid rocket engines- thirty in the first stage, eight in the second, four in the third. With this we put the rocket into orbit; subsequent stages can be added in various configurations to boost payloads to the moon in what we call "trans-lunar injection." There are also proposals to add additional booster motors, as we have done so successfully with the Semyorka and plan to do with the Proton for early manned lunar missions, which would increase payload even further."

"Impressive. How much can you put into space this way?"

"By design, the unboosted model is capable of lofting ninety tonnes into low Earth orbit. The boosted version, slightly more- the main benefit to the boosters is increased payload that can be sent to the moon and beyond, though."

"Ninety tonnes. Da... you could put a tankski into orbit with such power."

"You could, although..."

"Da! DA! This must be done! The Zenobian people must EXCEL in flying-tankski research, as we did during the Great Patriotic Salvation War!"

"Even as you say, Your Excellency. Perhaps this could be discussed at a later time? The rocket will not be ready for some time."

"Of course. So, the stages..."

Shroomanski's examination of the model was interrupted by a bloodcurdling scream from the other side of the office complex. The General Secretary looked up. "What is this? Are your men under investigation by the NKVDVDROM? Why was I not informed?"

"Ah... Your Excellency, I believe that is not an interrogation, though you would have to check with the commissar. I believe that is simply the computermen's Screaming Room."

"Screaming Room."

"Da. There is considerable challenge in building and programming the computronic mechanisms to control the N-1's many rocket engines and prevent any errors from destroying the rocket. The project is headed by Comrade Maisner, who despite his Zeich ancestry has been a mighty bulwark of the program- it was he who designed the Sputnik beeper array, among many other things."

"How goes it?"

"They are still at work- some problems have been solved, others remain, we are not ready to assemble the rocket, but by all reports the Murcans are unlikely to outpace us significantly. We can do most of our near-future operations with the reliable Proton booster anyway, as well."

"I see. But what does a Screaming Room have to do with any of this?"

"You see, the team is engaged in mighty and endless feats of Strakhanovite technoproletarian labor. It is something of a strain on their nerves, though they make good progress. When the difficulties grow too great for any one man to stand alone, he simply withdraws to the Screaming Room for a brief time, then returns to his tasks. Efficiency has improved considerably with this simple alteration, believe it or not."

"Perhaps we should implement Screaming Rooms in other offices..."

"I am not qualified to say, Your Excellency."

"I will think more on this matter. Anyway, you say that this N-1 is desirable, but not strictly necessary, for the time being, da?"

"Da."

"Then I am satisfied with the rocket program- now, on to the shuttle!"

Image

The General Secretary beheld the shuttle and the form of its hull. "Hmmms. It looks like a cheap shoe. Yes, yes, a shoe which may be taken off of the Earth, and hurled into the very heavens, to the moon! A fine shoe indeed! And so I think it should be called... LAPOT!"

A tiny bit of Syrgy Pavylyvych died inside. But his determination was unaffected- man WOULD reach the moon, and it WOULD be the Zenobian people and the commienist cause. The fire blazed in his eyes even as he acknowledged his superior's request.

"As you say, Your Excellency, though the designation of ZiG-105 is still used in most of our paperwork. And as to the matter of the names of the actual shuttles themselves, individually..."

"There will be more than one?"

"Currently we plan on a fleet of two, or perhaps three, for the opening stages. This allows us to turn shuttles around more quickly, as refurbishment after each successful flight may take quite some time. In the long run, reusable spacecraft will no doubt depend heavily on this factor of refurbishing, and there is much to be learned."

"Da, I see. It would be a shame indeeds to have only one of these magnificent spaceplanes. But what is this about names?"

"Well, Your Excellency, I tentatively submit a pair of names for the first two shuttles, this one here which is currently undergoing assembly and testing of its tubule-transistor electronics and other systems, and the second ones whose airframe is still in the works at the Armor Plate Production Plant."

"The small yet disturbingly advanced one?"

"Precisely. In any case, for the shuttle before us now, I propose to name the vessel of space something which I hope you will find suitably patriotic. In honor of that glourious revolutionary vessel of the seas, that which Lennon himself called the "undefeated territory of the Revolution," I propose that the first of our ZiG shuttles be named... Potemkin!"

Shroomanski's face was unreadable. "I see. The second?"

"In the same vein, I propose that the second shuttle be named after that hero-ship, recipient of the Order of the Red Banner and lately of the Order of the October Revolution, whose guns and sailors led the storming of the Winter Palace in Stasograd... Avrora."

"Hmmms... Acceptable as a preliminary. This will be discussed at a higher level, but I will seriously consider this. These shuttles, they will fly to the moon?"

"They will need help."

Shroomanski glowered. "Help? Help?"

"We are working on it."

"I must see."

"...What is required is a cylindrical module, compatible with either the ZiGplane or an advanced "Zond" version of the Voskhod capsule, which contains fuels, surplus life support, and a powerful rocket motor to boost the capsule to the moon."

"So, this 'kicker' will give our little Comrade Shoeplane the momentum to round the moon?"

"Have the Murcans such a machine?"

"They have mooted an equivalent; I do not know what the state of their progress is, Your Excellency. All reports say that they are behind us. Of course, with their capitalism and degeneracy, they fixate on ideas of mastery and servitude, and thus call it a 'service module.' But after consultation with our local political experticians and Party officials, I believe it better to call it by another name."

"Da?"

"I give you... the COMRADE MODULE!"

Image

Image

"Comrade module... da! DA! Do it! Launch your Zondoids, and your ZiGs, for great justice!"
This space dedicated to Vasily Arkhipov
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Simon_Jester »

Only after writing this did I notice something in PeZook's story post. I don't want to interfere with that, but I wrote the noncanon ending first and I really like it. Either way...


[Noncanon, what I originally wrote to deal with this:]
Baikonurek Cosmodrome
Office of the Chief Designer
May 2, 1969


Image
The General Secretary is displeased...

Syrgy Pavylyvych held the earpiece telephone a short distance from his head. "Da, Your Excellency, I know about the Murcan shuttle, our radars are tracking it. Da, you are right, it is no hoax. Da, da, I know, it is terrible... What? You demand an inspection tour? I will make arrangements at once, Your Excellency!"

Syrgy knew his office was bugged, much as a fish knows that there is water somewhere nearby. And by nature he was not a demonstrative man, or a particularly healthy and lively man. Therefore, he did not leap from his seat and begin cavorting with relief and glee.

[Canon:]
Moosecow
May 2, 1969


Image
The General Secretary is displeased...

Syrgy Pavylyvych stood expressionless, head bowed slightly as the General Secretary bellowed and berated him, answering his rhetorical questions. "Da, Your Excellency, I know about the Murcan shuttle, our radars are tracking it. Da, you are right, it is no hoax. Da, da, I know, it is terrible... What? You demand an inspection tour? I will make arrangements at once, Your Excellency!"

Pavylvych knew profound relief...
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by PeZook »

These are not incompatible, actually. Syrgy was grilled by the Politburo, then rushed back to prepare for the inspection tour.
Image
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up

It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.
- NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11

Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
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Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Simon_Jester »

Anyway, that is the new official name of the Zenobian Kicker-B: the Comrade Module.
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Re: Plan Pavylyvych Fall 1969

Post by Simon_Jester »

Plan Pavylyvych Spring 1969

I greet you all, comrades of the Baikonurek Cosmodrome! Comrade General Secretary Shroomanski's recent visit to the Cosmodrome illustrates the unshakeable commitment of the Zenobian people to the exploration of the cosmos.

Unfortunately, the unmanned robotnik program has suffered a number of setbacks. Much has been accomplished, but less than was hoped. A number of proposals are in the works to accelerate progress, and the Commissariat has been kind enough to deploy additional morale officers to the Unmanned Planetary Lab to encourage the fulfillment of these proposals.

Meanwhile, work on the super-ships that the great comrade Shroomanski so wittily dubbed 'Lapot' proceeds apace. This will be the primary concentration of our efforts in the coming year, although unmanned exploration will not be neglected.

Congratulations to the exceptional work of the teams responsible for the design of the Comrade Module, in particular. If this automated proletarian of space performs its duties as well as the men who labor to design, test, and build it, all will be supremely well with the lunar program!

Budget: 46 megarubleoids

Hardware Procurement
NYET. We are scrubbing the Fall 1969 Luna probe launch, due to damage to the hardware. Will fix this up out of next year's budget, rather than rush-buying unknown foreign components.

Research and Development
5 teams' research on Lapot shuttle: 35 MB
5 teams' research on Kicker-B: 10 MB

Total cost: 45 MB
Remaining budget: 1 MB

Schedule Missions
Schedule lunar flyby on Pad A
Schedule lunar probe landing on Pad B
Schedule Mercury flyby on Pad C

[I may will be canceling some combination of these missions, but I need them scheduled ahead of time]

Mission Go/No-Go Status
Scrub the Pad C lunar probe landing.

We don't have the money to launch without gutting the research program, and we are simply not in that big a hurry to put our probe on the moon. I'd rather push the manned research and try to get Lapot ready by 1970-71 than push the landerbot and wind up falling even further behind in the manned program.
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