EAGLE MISSION 1 : LEARN TO FLIGHT THE HARD WAY!
After the successful application of Yuri for the Kerbalnaut Recruitment Program, Yuri started his training with a basic flight training.
Together with Gene Kerman his trainer he will take off in a Learnov 1M plane. This classic lightweight airplane was used during the great war on aircraft carriers and is best known for its folding wings but easy handling.
After some basic flight-plan instructions - Gene assumed Yuri knew how to fly - Yuri received instructions to take off. Quickly the whole expedition escalated due to the radical flight maneuvers performed or at least tried by Yuri.
Yuri stated he tried to perform a "Barrel Roll Take Off Deluxe" but the engine lacked the required power for proper execution - not his fault! Gene held it on the other hand on the total lack of aeronautical knowledge of his student. Although the plane was heavy damaged the wannabe pilot and his somewhat flabbergasted trainer survived - against all odds - without injury.
EAGLE MISSION 2 : FINALLY GETTING SOMEWHERE
After a successful takeoff, which was accompanied by a lot of screaming and the yelling of instructions by Gene from the backseat - who clearly did not want a repeat of the previous mission - Yuri got the hang of it as he flew several easy rounds.
After several rounds Yuri found himself as a real fighter pilot, performing sharp turns while making "phew phew" sounds. Gene, who initially calmed down a bit after the relatively easy start, now started yelling again in a panic that the training was over and we need to prepare for landing.
Despite the sharp turn in which they were during the instruction to land, Yuri performed a perfect runway alignment, which even Gene surprised, by pulling out a steep dive at the last moment.
After a successful landing Yuri stated he want to do something more exciting, his trainer Gene could not fully agree with him from a personal position.
FALCON MISSION 1 : ACC-TEST
As part of the high-speed program, Wernher Von Kerman wants to perform some high acceleration test to see what the influence is on kerbals. Yuri who was bored by the previous simple plane mission volunteer for the risky job.
The test rig existed nothing more than some rockets strapped to a seat and some parachutes for a safe landing. After ignition the idea was that the contraption shoots upwards with great acceleration, the reality was somewhat difference...
After the launch, Yuri tried to perform his "Barrel Roll Take Off Deluxe" which miraculous succeeded by the sheer amount of power strapped to the seat.
After the launch, Yuri tried to perform his "Barrel Roll Take Off Deluxe" which miraculous succeeded by the sheer amount of power strapped to the seat.
The only problem with this unscripted maneuver was that the contraption did not reach enough height for the parachute to properly deploy, resulting in a hard crash.
Although Wernher found the outcome a disappointment, Yuri had a great time!
FALCON MISSION 2 : BREACHING THE SOUND BARRIER
After the "success" of the first high G tests, Wernher Von Kerman wants Yuri to test his new experimental rocket powered plane the Y-3HS designed to go faster than the speed of sound.
The plane had two flimsy jet engines to get it off the runway and in the air and a large central solid rocket booster to get up to high speeds required. Especially the large booster appealed to Yuri.
After reaching a height of 500m the large solid rocket booster was started to get the plane up to terminal velocity.
After several seconds the plane reached a top speed of mach 1.8 almost double the speed of sound and reaching a height of 10km!
Yuri loved the raw power of the plane but was somewhat disappointed that the solid booster quickly ran out of fuel preventing him from going faster. After a high G turn and some barrel rolls, Yuri landed safely at the Kerbal Space Center.
FALCON MISSION 3 : GOING FASTER, GETTING HIGHER
After the success of the Falcon 2 mission, Wernher Von Kerman was eager to go faster and higher. He designed a new high-speed plane - named Y-4HS - it was able to fly higher and had more power. Especially the jet engines which were upgraded from 20kN each to 37,5kN each.
The high power meant the plane could easily take off at a 30-degree angle reaching a height of 8km before it needs to fire its main solid booster engine.
After setting the main solid booster on fire the plane reached a top speed of Mach 2.1 and an altitude of 23,7km. After reaching apoapsis Yuri glided the plane in a left hand turn back towards the main airstrip of the Kerbal space center for a successful landing.
AURA MISSION 1 : LOW ALTITUDE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM TEST
After the high altitude and speed tests, Wernher Von Kerman had confidence enough to present his latest idea. A space going rocket! As the latest Falcon missions showed wings don't work after reaching a particular height, his thought was that a rocket relied only on sheer raw engine-power get us all the way up in space, just the cup of tea of Yuri.
As rockets are generally just one large fuel tank with a nozzle, the potential explosive danger was significant. Some sort of escape method was necessary. The idea was to strap some boosters to the main cockpit and propel the cockpit away in case of an explosion.
To test this idea a special contraption was build, a solid rocket booster with on top the newly designed cockpit. Yuri was called to test the escape method. After countdown the solid rocket was ignited launching the contraption upward with 4g.
The whole sequence of abort was automated and at a height of just 3km the abort sequence was started, decoupling and launching the cockpit of the main rocket.
After apoapsis the drogue and main chute where automatically deployed. Yuri enjoyed the ride and the high G's but was disappointment that the whole system was automated and he could not perform his "Barrel Roll Take Off Deluxe".
AURA MISSION 2 : ZERO ALTITUDE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM TEST
After the success of the mid flight test of the LES, a launchpad escape was also an essential test to make sure the system could reliable used as escape method. A launched escape from this height was expected to be much more risky due to the limited height the parachuted had to deploy.
After ignition of the abort engines the pod went south with a peak altitude of 800m
At the apoapsis the parachutes did not deployed due to - was later found - a loose wire at the automatic attitude deployment system of the chutes. The parachutes where manually deployed by Yuri but critical seconds were lost.
Booth chutes deployed just in time but they had to little time to fully slow the pod down, resulting in a 65km/h landing, much higher than the maximum designed 28km/h.
The heat-shield was severely damaged and Yuri had some bruises, but other than that the escape was successful.
AURA MISSION 3 : TO SPACE !
After the successful LES test's Wernher Von Kerman had confidence enough to present his finished space rocket.
The new rocket was called the AURA-1, it exists of two stages. The first lifter stage is constructed from four tank units and a central fixed main lifter engine providing 480kN of thrust. Four small swivel engines - each providing an additional 10kN of thrust - were installed for steering purposes.
The upper stage exists of a single fuel tank for the main engine which provided 85kN of thrust. Above that, a monopropellant tank and a cargo bay for science and instrumental units were installed. The upper stage is also equipped with RCS thrusters for steering purposes during space maneuvers.
The payload was the MK1 command pod, a small single seated spacecraft equipped with all the necessary stuff to safely land like retro rockets, heat shield, and parachutes.
After a countdown, the AURA-1 successfully left the platform on its way to space. The first stage was successfully separated after shut down.
Although a serious height of 30km was reached at this point the angle of the trajectory was way off due to problems with the swivel engines of the main stage. After some angular corrections, the upper stage was ignited for the insertion into the desired main orbit of 100x100km.
Due to the steering problems, the targeted orbit was not reached but an orbit of 70x90km was instead established, good enough for a stable orbit and to perform some science. Yuri was eager to open the door to make a walk outside but the door was locked by a combination padlock, looks like someone anticipated for some unscheduled action of Yuri's side!
After a single orbit, the upper stage was decoupled and the retropack was fired to start reentry.
After a heated re-entry, a drogue and main chute were deployed for a safe landing.
After landing, Yuri received the combination for the padlock to open the door. For Yuri is was just an other day at the office!
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