Disastrous year for manned space flight

Not a single mission that left the ground with astronauts on board has seen those astronauts return safely back to their home bases. The resulting chaos has left the space race wide open with agencies previously to be at a disadvantage not launching people this year and hence not suffering from the general carnage.

The first manned mission to launch was from Smaug Inc., whose crew of Anna Rivetti, Ben Mezera and Gunther Koska left Earth on the 11^th of December on a mission to orbit the earth and attempt a spacewalk. While the launch itself was perfect, the main engine on the three person capsule failed to fire correctly and sent the craft into a spin while not providing enough thrust to allow the craft to achieve Earth orbit. The craft was still tumbling as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and the craft broke up at a height of ten miles above the ocean. As a result of the failure, Smaug Inc.'s three person capsule program will need to be researched again.

Next up was a launch from SARSA on the 15^th of December. SARSA's William Baxter, Thomas Wills and Deborah Ferrari were sent on a mission to make a lunar pass (presumably on a proving mission for a later lunar landing timed to beat the South African's government deadline of the 31^st December 1968). Again lift off went smoothly, but the first signs of trouble again occurred as the craft attempted to make the major mission burn that gets the craft on its way to the moon. Initial attempts to get the craft to fire its main engine has no results until mission control on the ground reminded the crew that the controls had been designed to be fail-safe and that the main engine safeties need to be switch to Ready to Burn before the pilot's controls are unlocked to permit the pilot to fire the main engine¹. The craft then passed by the moon and returned to the vicinity of Planet Earth. However as the craft attempt to adjust its trajectory to safely return its flight path to a standard earth orbit, the main engine burn control stayed in the Burn position even as pilot Baxter attempted to control the burn. As a result of the misfire the capsule re-entered Earth's atmosphere rather than achieving its desired orbit. The resulting high speed entry caused the heat shield of the craft to fail and the loss of another set of brave astronauts. SARSA's three person capsule thus joined the list of programs needing to be re-researched.

ASA launched a four capsule on a mega-stage rocket on the 21^st of December. Captain Ken Ross, Dr. Venus, Jock Campbell and Co-Pilot Chuck were sent on another proving mission to pass by the moon in preparation (one assumes) for a later lunar landing. As with the Smaug Inc. and SARSA missions, the lift-off proceeded smoothly and in ASA case, the capsule also smoothly entered the extended orbit that increases the apogee of the earth orbit so that it passes by the moon. However problems then arose while the crew checked out the capsule systems. Despite the crew's experience they were unable, initially, to solve the problems (which the crew were reluctant to fully explain to ground control). However a quick consultation with the manufacturers of the capsule allowed the crew to bypass the faulty system². The rest of the flight proceeded smoothly until the recovery of the capsule off of the coast of Queensland. Initial investigations suggest that the design of the floatation collar that is supposed to keep the capsule upright and afloat while the recovery ships arrived on scene have a major design flaw. It seems that the collar deployed on touchdown as designed but caused a major breach in the hull integrity of the capsule. The capsule sank almost instantly, taking the brave crew with it to the bottom of the sea.

Missions scrubbed following the disasters

Both Smaug Inc. and SARSA both scrubbed the mission that was to follow the doomed flights from those agencies. One wonders how many of the ten flights (across all the agencies) for next year will also be scrubbed.

Smaug Inc lands on the moon

A lunar probe launched by Smaug Inc landed on the lunar surface on the 10^th of December reprising Smaug Inc.'s successful lunar probe landing of last year.

GOSsiP successful

Although only an unmanned sub-orbital mission to test out its Liquid Fuel Strap-On rocket engine (strapped onto a two-stage rocket) and its three person capsule, GOSsiP's only mission of the year was complete success. The success of the unmanned missions this year may go a long way to prove the benefits of robot technology for the future of space flight.

SHADO awarded profits

After what seems to have been a major boardroom struggle, the parent organisation of SHADO has awarded SHADO the profits from the hit TV program Astronauts: Do you have what it takes?. It seems that many of the tasks that the contestants have been set derive directly from both SHADO's research facilities and from its astronaut training program. As a result the $5,000,000 profits from the TV program have been awarded to SHADO³

Fuel Shortage reappears

Although supplies of rocket fuel improved during 1966, it seems that the suppliers have still not been able to expand supplies. In the resulting scramble for contracts GOSsiP was unable to secure sufficient supplies to allow it to launch more than one mission during 1968. Fortunately for the organisation it seems that GOSsiP is the only agency planning just one launch next year.

Integrated Circuits helps SARSA's satellites

In what is being billed a major advance, SARSA has announced that it has a method to space harden the recently developed Integrated circuit. The advance is expected to allow much increased reliability into SARSA's interplanetary probes and satellites⁴.

Smaug Inc.'s directors demand launch pause

The continuing investigation into the causes of the engine failure of Smaug Inc.'s has reached the accountants and directors of the corporation. As a result of the continued focus and analysis, the directors have demanded that Smaug Inc. refrain from any launches of any kind during 1968. The auditors have questioned the reliability of both the research results and of the accounts of the research division and have demanded that the division re-write the annual report in its entirety⁵.

Big science boost for ASA

Despite the final result, the big media circus surrounding ASA's recent missions has resulted in a big boost to science education in Australia. As a result the exam results from Australia's schools and universities has dramatically improved. However some claim that the improved R&D results will come more from a sighting of Dr. Von Graun in the Australian capital of Canberra⁶.

Auditors block over-expenditure

The auditors for several of agencies have noted attempts by the research divisions to spend money on program which were already at the maximum possible safety factor achievable by research and development work. As a result they block the additional expenditure and insisted that the funds remain as cash available for other uses⁷.

Launch Calendar

The provisional calendar for launches planned in 1968 (assuming none of the missions are rushed or scrubbed) is as follows:

5^th Dec

SHADO

7^th Dec

SHADO

11^th Dec

GOSsiP

15^th Dec

Smaug Inc.

17^th Dec

Smaug Inc.

20^th Dec

SARSA

23^rd Dec

SARSA

27^th Dec

ASA

29^th Dec

ASA

31^st Dec

ASA

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Last updated: December 21, 2021 at 19:38 pm

31 October 2017

Launch Schedule is for 1968

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No successes in 1968 either

Continuing the trend from 1968, there was no successful completed missions during 1968. The closest to success is another in the long line of planetary explorers launched by SHADO. This probe is on its way to Mars and will (assuming that it completes its work at Mars) continue onwards to Venus. SHADO's other mission was an attempt at a lunar probe landing. However, despite an almost perfect launch and its safe arrival in the vicinity of the moon, the probe did not respond when commanded to leave Lunar orbit and approach the lunar surface. It appears that a control valve has jammed on the probe preventing the main engine from firing. The probe continues to orbit the Moon.

SARSA's budget halved after failing to land a person on the moon by the end of 1968

Unsurprisingly the two planned missions from SARSA have been scrubbed. As a result of this failure to obey the orders of the South African Government, SARSA's budget was halved as a sign of disappointment.

Failure of GOSsiP's three man capsule prevents orbit

The attempt by GOSsiP's Maja Hansen, Curtis Adamson and Kristian Swenhaugen to join SARSA's Wei Engel as the only living astronauts to have circled the earth was thwarted by a malfunction in their three person capsule. When the craft attempted to enter Earth Orbit (having been lifted perfectly by a combination of a two stage rocket with additional liquid fuel strap booster rockets), the main engine of the capsule failed to ignite. The crew were able to use the manoeuvring jets to align their capsule for a re-entry and the crew was safely recovered from the South Atlantic¹.

Australia challenges GOSsiP and SHADO with the biggest firework yet!

After the problems of last year ASA scrubbed two of the three missions it was planning for 1968. The remaining mission was to be a Lunar Probe launched on one of ASA's mega-stage rockets. While the rocket did leave the launch pad successfully, the rocket exploded 37 seconds after liftoff at a height of twenty miles. The sound of the explosion was heard in both Perth and Sydney on opposite of the Australian continent².

GOSsiP takes a leaf (monkey)³ out of SARSA and SHADO's book

It seems that GOSsiP has been learning from the experiences of the other agencies and has announced that it too has the capability of performing an animal test instead of trying a manned flight. The reaction of the brave crew rescued from the South Atlantic have not been recorded⁴.

Saboteurs still work inside Smaug Inc.

Despite a major exercise to vet all of the scientists and crew working for Smaug Inc.'s space division, it seems that the South Africans⁵ have again been able to gain information about possible flaws in the Smaug Inc.'s three person capsule. It seems though, that as a repeat customer, South Africa is only requesting the transfer of $10,000,000 from Smaug Inc. to SARSA⁶.

Dr. Von Graun's world tour continues

It seems that Dr. Von Graun is attempting to be as even handed as possible (or possibly to collect as many pay checks as possible. He has now been seen at the South Pacific resorts commonly frequented by scientists, engineers and officials from SHADO⁷.

Problems hit SARSA's three stage rocket

A major problem with the piping and control valves in SARSA's three stage rocket mean that either the rocket's fuel systems will need a redesign or its next launch will be significantly more dangerous as the problems in the fuel system are ironed out⁸.

Australia's rockets rated as perfect

A review of the launch procedures of Australia's rockets have been rated as A+ by the Australian Engineering Safety Board. The board complemented the agency on the thoroughness of the pre launch checks and have asserted that they are confident that the next launch will go without a hitch⁹.

Launch Calendar

The provisional calendar for launches planned in 1969 (assuming none of the missions are rushed or scrubbed) is as follows:

5^th Dec

SARSA

10^th Dec

SHADO

14^th Dec

GOSsiP

21^th Dec

ASA

23^rd Dec

ASA

27^th Dec

ASA

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Last updated: December 21, 2021 at 19:38 pm

31 October 2017

Launch Schedule is for 1969, Clarify footnote 4.

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