RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR

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CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/23/2015 3:42:34 PM)
Q3 1961 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $17,793.1 $6,087.8 $3,912.2 Actions Launch manned suborbital Vostok Events Successful suborbital Vostok mission Analysis Under the house rule, the successful completion of the Zenit/Vostok missions now allows for the continuation of the manned Vostok flight program. The house rules also require that I fully man the Luna 3 development until it reaches maximum reliability, or it is flown. This give me an incentive to fly the Luna 3 mission and free up some of my research personnel. However, I’m concerned about the NASA program, so I want to get a man into space immediately. While my plan was to duplicate Gagarin’s flight, skipping a suborbital flight and go straight to a manned orbital mission. However, this is very risky, with a 20% reliability penalty associated with this strategy. Because of the inexperience of the mission control personnel, and my earlier Zenit failure, I opt for the safer, but more expensive and time-consuming strategy of launching a manned suborbital mission. Of note, the game’s “Buzzopedia” notes that the USSR historically skipped the manned suborbital flight, because unlike the Mercury capsule, the Vostok was highly automated, so a Vostok manned suborbital mission was not as crucial. [image]local://upfiles/43164/0348F3FC395C43AA853C6C0C1E696698.jpg[/image]

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/23/2015 4:14:12 PM)
Q4 1961 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $14,873.5 $6,087.8 $3,912.2 Actions Launch manned orbital Vostok Construct Level 2 Cosmonaut center Construct Level 3 SET center Events Successful manned orbital Vostok mission NASA performs a successful uncrewed Mercury suborbital flight test Analysis My budgetary burn rate is increasing. I would like to get the Vostok and Luna2 and Luna 3 programs closed to save money. I begin building additional infrastructure this quarter. Specifically, I believe I need to have more trained cosmonauts for the Lunar program. Currently, I only have 7 cosmonauts, which is marginally enough, only if there is no attrition. To support the 9-10 cosmonauts I believe are necessary for an aggressive lunar program, I begin construction on a Level 2 facility. Similarly, the 13 flight controllers I have allows is the bare minimum required for lunar missions. To support the additional flight controllers I need, and to give the necessary 4 years of training, I begin constructing a level 3 mission control center. The Mercury test flight indicates that the Soviet program is 6-12 months ahead of the US manned program. Image, Vostok 1 [image]local://upfiles/43164/EB220C45521B42FE8F0DA9FD46CED078.jpg[/image]

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/23/2015 5:15:13 PM)
Q1 1962 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $10,528.7 $5,408.6 $4,591.4 Actions Close Vostok Close R-7 Vostok Construct Level 3 VAB Launch Luna 3 Events The Luna 3 launch fails, due to a fuel leak that destroys the vehicle and pad. NASA achieves a speed record with the X-15 Analysis With the successful Vostok orbital flight, I decide to close down the program, as well as its associated R-7 booster program While I consider keeping it open to execute a duration flight, I ultimately decide that the still-relatively untrained flight controllers makes this a riskier proposition than I would like. Rather, I will perform the duration flight using the LK-700. The Vostok program raises the USSR prestige to 13246, ensuring the budget will be maximized during the upcoming budget cycle. While this takes a lot of pressure of the requirement to fly superfluous missions, the political role made at the beginning of the budget cycle require the Luna 3 mission be flow, to free up my SET personnel. The VAB level 3 is begun, to allow the start of research on the UR-700 booster. The loss of the first Luna 3 mission is unfortunate, and is simply an example of bad luck, as the system reliability for the Molyna was high, and the mission control staff were very capable. A bit of historical trivia: The image below is of the loss of the Cygnus spacecraft in October 2014. The cause of the loss was possibly a failure in the AJ-26 engines. However, the rest of the story is that the AJ-26 is refurbished and modified NK-33, which were built as part of the USSR’s N-1 project. It a twist of history, an engine that is directly derived from an engine that destroyed all of the USSR’s N-1s forty years later also destroyed an American rocket. http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/iss/nasa-aj26-turbopump-likely-to-blame-for-loss-of-orb-3-antares/ Image-Communism: The gift that keeps on giving [image]local://upfiles/43164/78BDA679F384498BB160D939592FF9C6.jpg[/image]

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/23/2015 6:42:42 PM)
Q2 1962 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ 10,013.1 $6,385.6 $3,614.4 Actions Launch Luna 3 Events The Luna 3 probe has a 94% reliability, the Luna 2 probe is at 89 % and the Molyna booster is at 79% reliability and the Proton K booster is at 83% reliability. NASA successfully launches the orbital Mercury mission, and opens the Ranger 3 lunar impactor program Analysis I briefly consider using the Proton K booster for the Luna 3 mission and simply closing down the Molyna program. The unexpectedly rapid development of the Proton K has resulted in a booster that is now more reliable than the Molyna, and with a greater lift capacity. However, the Molyna is less expensive to launch, so I will use it for the Luna series, and then close the program. My minor gamble pays off, and the Luna 3 probe successfully returns the first photos of dark side of the moon. (Image). In a minor historical footnote, the film used by Luna 3 came from recovered American reconnaissance balloons the Soviets recovered. The balloons used a temperature and heat resistant film that the Soviets could not produce. Being unable to manufacture it, and needing film with these characteristics for the Luna 3 flight, they re-purposed the film for use by the Luna 3 probe. (http://www.damninteresting.com/faxes-from-the-far-side/) NASA’s launch of the manned orbital Mercury mission before flying a suborbital flight is a bit of a surprise. Although it confirms my estimate that the Soviet program is between 6-12 months ahead of the US, it appears that the US is on the low end of that estimate. The inefficiencies that the military and political diversions have forced upon the USSR’s program are significantly cutting into its lead. [image]local://upfiles/43164/7E0953494C5E4A3E9B8CCA395D942AB1.jpg[/image]

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/23/2015 10:24:43 PM)
Q3 1962 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $8,980.4 $6,170.4 $3,829.6 Actions Launch Luna 2 Events Successful Luna 2 impactor mission Analysis My budget situation is not bad. However, to open the LK-700 program will cost over $22,000. To have sufficient funds on-hand for the opening will require conservation of funds now, so to not delay the opening of the program. Because of this, I am not opening any additional programs to replace the now-closed Luna 3 and Vostok programs. Rather, I will concentrate on building infrastructure and training my controllers and SET personnel Image-Luna 2 releasing sodium tracking gas [image]local://upfiles/43164/0E42A62046F4413EBA87189ACFE6E9A3.jpg[/image]

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/23/2015 10:51:16 PM)
Q4 1962 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $10,710.1 $5,626.4 $4,373.6 Actions Close Luna 2 program Close R-7 Molyna booster program Events NASA opens Project Gemini Analysis According to the house rules, the successful flight of Luna 2 means that all political and military restrictions are lifted from the Soviet program. However, the impending end of the budget cycle means that I can’t take advantage of my new-found managerial freedom, as a new dice roll at the beginning of next quarter will likely re-jigger the priorities. NASA's opening of Project Gemini also shows that my lead is shrinking. Theoretically, NASA can use a Gemini-derived spacecraft to reach the moon. Currently, the Soviets have no space projects open, except for the Proton, which doesn't have a payload to deliver.

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/23/2015 11:38:29 PM)
Interregnum -1964 According to the house rules, the Soviet player must roll a dice at the beginning of the Q1 1964 turn. My roll is a "6", which is modified to a 5 because the Soviets have achieved four or more goals ahead of the US. This means that the Politburo, led by Leonid Brezhnev, have made the military program a main goal. Each year I will be required to fly at least one successful Zenit mission. I must also develop the Proton K to 88 % reliability. These restrictions represent the diversion of resources to the military program, or researching areas of interest to the military. At this point, the Soviet program is in fairly good shape. The Proton rocket is already at 85% reliability, so the military restrictions above don't effect it much. More problematic is the house rule that mandates the loss of my top two human rocket designers, along with my top unmanned rocket designer. This rule is to simulate to effect of the in-fighting between Korolev and rival designers. The requirement to fly Zenit missions will also be problematic, as it will take away both resources and one launch window each year. The necessary infrastructure to support the lunar program is built, and the and personnel needed to support the lunar program have been hired and are substantially trained. In terms of learning objectives, a student at this point will hopefully have learned about some of the challenges faced by Korolev in trying to plan and resource a program when he lacked sufficient political support for the lunar landing. I would be interested in hearing of modifications to the house rules that might further illustrate the challenges faced by Korolev. If anyone has any ideas, please post them here.

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/26/2015 5:01:55 PM)
Q1-2 1963 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $14,388.6 $7,689.9 $18,560.1 Q1 $5,901.6 $10,260.7 $15,989.4 Q2 Actions Q1 Open UR-700 Booster program Q2 Open LK-700 program Q2 Open Mars 69 program Q2 Open Krechet spacesuit sub-program Events NSTR Analysis At the beginning of Q1, I have insufficient funds to start the LK-700 program. However, the completion of the upgrade of the VAB allows me to start the UR-700 booster program. Unfortunately, I must also open the R-7 and Vostok/Zenit program, as the military focus will require a Zenit flight each year. The requirement to keep the Zenit program open also means that I can only have the LK-700 program and one other program open without undertaking some expensive upgrades to my headquarters. In Q2 I open the Mars 69 program, as well as the LK-700 program. The purpose of the Mars 69 program is primarily to provide additional prestige, and thereby political support for funding for the lunar missions. I expect that the anticipated lengthy development time for the LK-700 and UR-700 booster will prevent many flights during the current budget cycle, so the Soviet program will have to fly Mars and Venus missions to generate political and thus financial support for the lunar flights. Image-LK-700 [image]local://upfiles/43164/F7DA35ADAA9E45C188C3AE91B22468BF.jpg[/image]

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/26/2015 8:48:18 PM)
Q 3-4 1963 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ 16,803.5 $10,494.4 $15,755.6 Q3 $26,127.4 $10,494.4 $15,755.6 Q4 Actions Q3 Fly Zenit mission for the military Events At the end of Q3, the UR-700 booster is at 68% reliability, the LK-700 is at 51%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 42%, and the Mars-69 probe is at 49% reliability. The mandatory Zenit mission is successful NASA successfully launches the Biosatellite Analysis Development of the LK-700 and Krechet are proceeding slowly.

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/27/2015 11:08:20 AM)
Q1 1964 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $41,483.0 $10,494.4 $15,755.6 Actions Q3 Fly Zenit mission for the military Events At the end of Q1, the UR-700 booster is at 70% reliability, the LK-700 is at 55%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 50%, and the Mars-69 probe is at 55% reliability. Analysis Development of the LK-700 and Krechet are proceeding slowly. The slow development is one of the risks of the revolutionary Vostok to LK path that I took. My strategy was to make a revolutionary, not evolutionary technological step. However, such a strategy, by bypassing a more incremental technological approach, can slow development.

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/27/2015 11:31:11 AM)
Q2 1964 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ 57,038.6 $10,494.4 $15,755.6 Actions NSTR Events At the end of Q2, the UR-700 booster is at 73% reliability, the LK-700 is at 59%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 55%, and the Mars-69 probe is at 61% reliability. Analysis At the current rate of development, the UR-700 will be safely flyable in approximately 18 month/6 quarters. The LK-700 will be flyable in approximately 6-7 quarters, the Krechet-94 spacesuit will be safely flyable in 6 quarters and the Mars-69 probe will in approximately 5-6 quarters. Based on this, the tentative flight schedule is to fly the Mars-69 probe first, with a Q3 1965 lauch date. A 9 month long mission, it will be completed in Q1 1966, leaving Q2-4 1967 for developmental flights of the LK/UR-700 system. If successful, these missions should generate sufficient prestige/political support to allow me to maximize the Soviet space program budget for the 1967-69 lunar landing program.

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/27/2015 11:49:13 AM)
Q3 1964 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ 67,462.5 $10,494.4 $15,755.6 Actions Q3 Fly Zenit mission for the military Events At the end of Q3, the UR-700 booster is at 75% reliability, the LK-700 is at 63%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 60%, and the Mars-69 probe is at 66% reliability. NASA opens the lunar orbiter and Apollo program. Analysis The mandatory Zenit spy satellite mission is successful. The next mandatory annual Zenit mission will be flown in Q2 1965 to free up the remainder of the year for the Mars-69 flight. The opening of the Apollo program before any Gemini flights indicates that NASA is operating a large and expensive program. However, I believe, based on their lack of flights, that the Soviet program remains ahead of the NASA program.

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/27/2015 12:29:53 PM)
Q4 1964 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ $81,918.1 $10,494.4 $15,755.6 Actions NSTR Events At the end of Q4, the UR-700 booster is at 77% reliability, the LK-700 is at 66%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 65%, and the Mars-69 probe is at 72% reliability. NASA successfully flies the Ranger Lunar impactor mission. Analysis The current development rates for the Mars-69 probe means that it is on track for a Q3 1965 launch, after the Q2 Zenit launch. Image-Mars 69 probe [image]local://upfiles/43164/3A7F337E810F45808A0C2FA048BC3901.jpg[/image]

rommel222 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/27/2015 8:12:10 PM)
Greetings to All, The AAR reads like a historical documentary and will be a reference for students in my History of Space Exploration course. I will encourage fellow physics faculty to follow as well. Is this also posted or linked to the Slitherine BASPM forums? [sm=00000945.gif]

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/28/2015 10:02:20 AM)
I have a link to the Matrix AAR over at the Slitherine webpage ( http://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=226&t=67834 ) But I didn't duplicate the thread.

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/28/2015 5:22:18 PM)
Q1-2 1965 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $97,473.7 $10,494.4 $15,755.6 Q1 $108,567.5 $10,494.4 $15,755.6 Q2 Actions Q2 Fly successful Zenit spysatellite mission Q2 NASA flies an extended duration I flight Events At the end of Q2, the UR-700 booster is at 81% reliability, the LK-700 is at 72%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 73%, and the Mars-69 probe is at 78% reliability. Analysis The current development rates for the Mars-69 probe means that it is on track for a Q3 1965 launch, after the Q2 Zenit launch. NASA flies an extended duration I flight. I assume this is a Mercury flight, in which case I expect NASA to close down the Mercury program.

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/28/2015 5:25:44 PM)
Q3 1965 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ 120,817.8 $10,494.4 $15,755.6 Q3 Actions Q3 Successful launch of Mars 69 probe Events At the end of Q3, the UR-700 booster is at 82% reliability, the LK-700 is at 74%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 76%, and the Mars-69 probe is at 81% reliability. NASA opens the lunar Surveyor program Analysis The overall reliability of the Proton K/Mars-69 system is 82% in Q3. While the launch is successful, the overall probe reliability is lower than I would like, especially given that the mission lasts for three quarters. Image Mars-69 TPI [image]local://upfiles/43164/CB73277FFEC0410485BB1B77B5348BE4.jpg[/image]

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/28/2015 5:29:06 PM)
Q4 1965 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $138,083.1 $10,494.4 $18,865.3 Q4 Actions Q4 Successful Mars orbital insertion of Mars 69 probe Events Mars-69 achieves Martian orbit Analysis In terms of the budget, the Soviet program is doing well. The savings from lower rate of flight should leave enough for an aggressive LK-700 test and lunar flight program in the 1966-68 timeframe. Image-Mars-69 in orbit [image]local://upfiles/43164/B2D920D0F3A54A3E805BD241DB344577.jpg[/image]

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/28/2015 5:49:43 PM)
Q1 1966 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ 156,248.3 $10,494.4 $18,865.3 Actions Q1 Successful Mars 69 mission completion Events Mars-69 successfully maps the Martian surface and completes its mission At the end of Q1, the UR-700 booster is at 85% reliability, the LK-700 is at 79%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 79%. NASA successfully launches an uncrewed suborbital Gemini flight test. Analysis With the successful conclusion of the Mars-69 mission, I will have the USSR open up Luna 17 to get additional detail of the lunar surface before conducting the LK landing. At this point, there is no indication that NASA has tested a lunar capable booster or capsule. As the UR/LK-700 are both at 805 reliability, it is probable that the Soviet program is far ahead of NASA.

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/28/2015 6:10:17 PM)
Q2 1966 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ $156,248.3 $10,494.4 $18,865.3 Q2 Actions Q2 Launch mandatory Zenit spy satellite Q2 Upgrade HQ to level 2 Q2 Open Luna 17 program Q2 Close Mars-69 program Events At the end of Q2, the UR-700 booster is at 86% reliability, the LK-700 is at 80%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 81%. Analysis I upgrade the HQ to allow me to open one more program. With my positive budget situation, and the UR/LK-700 program at 80% reliability, I can consider running two simultaneous space probe programs. However, to do so will require upgrading the headquarters, as that will put me over the 3 program limit for a level 1 headquarters.

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/28/2015 6:39:44 PM)
Q3 1966 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ $169,093.4 $10,653.6 $18,706.1 Actions Q2 Unmanned suborbital launch of LK/UR-700. Events At the end of Q3, the UR-700 booster is at 87% reliability, the LK-700 is at 82%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 82%. The Luna 17 probe is at 81%, and the rover is at 42%. The UR/LK-700 overall system reliability is 84% LK-700 failed during the reentry phase. Analysis My test plan will be to do two unmanned flights: a suborbital and orbital. This way I can fly and improve the system without risking cosmonauts. My budget situation and lead over NASA gives me the luxury of taking my time at this point. That also gives me the opportunity to provide additional training to some controllers. Right now, the UR/LK-700 is only 9 months behind the flight schedule drafted in Q1 1955, so it is tracking pretty well, especially given the the effect of the mandatory Zenit spy satellites have had on the flight schedule. Unfortunately, the LK-700 failed during the reentry preparation step, costing a whopping -12% in reliability to the LK. It may take a year for the program to get back on track after that failure. Worse, it will likely seriously cut into my lead over the NASA program. [image]local://upfiles/43164/0732791874DF4C6DB7D01E99A6D6FD4E.jpg[/image]

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/28/2015 7:17:55 PM)
Q4 1966 and Q1 1967 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ 186,549.5 $10,903.6 $18,456.1 Q4 $210,154.2 $11,342.6 $32,407.4 Q1 Actions Q4 Open Venera 7 Events Q4 NASA performs an uncrewed orbital flight test of the Gemini system Q1 NAS Opens Mariner 5 Mars fly-by program Q1 Mandatory Zenit spy satellite is launched At the end of Q1, the UR-700 booster is at 92% reliability, the LK-700 is at 75%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 85%. The Luna 17 probe is at 87%, and the rover is at 61% and Venera 7 is at 72% Analysis The failure of the LK-700 has put a serious crimp in the Soviet program. Only if cosmonauts had been lost would it have been worse. Venera 7 is opened to provide additional mission and prestige in case the LK-700 delay becomes worse. Although the USSR manages to maximize its budget in the budget cycle, there is nothing to spend it on until the LK-700 reliability is improved

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/28/2015 7:39:08 PM)
Q2-3 1967 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ $241,131.6 $11,372.6 $32,377.4 Q2 $272,762.5 $11,341.9 $32,408.1 Q3 Actions NSTR Events At the end of Q3, the UR-700 booster is at 92% reliability, the LK-700 is at 79%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 87%. The Luna 17 probe is at 90%, and the rover is at 73% and Venera 7 is at 76% Q3 NASA opens the Pioneer solar program. Analysis The lapse in the flying has resulted in an employee leaving. Unfortunately, it was one of the better controllers. Fortunately, I have a bit of a cushion in terms of trained controller personnel. However, I will have to increase the salary of the department, to avoid any further losses.

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/28/2015 7:54:17 PM)
Q4 1967 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ $304,770.6 $11,396.9 $32,353.1 Q4 Actions NSTR Events At the end of Q3, the UR-700 booster is at 93% reliability, the LK-700 is at 80%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 88%. The Luna 17 probe is at 91%, and the rover is at 77% and Venera 7 is at 78% NASA flies the Gemini orbital flight. Analysis Based on the reliability ratings, I will plan on flying another suborbital LK-700 mission in 2Q 1968. The Luna 17 probe will be flown in Q1 1968. The good news is that NASA has only flown the Gemini orbital flight. I estimate that they will need at least one more year to get Apollo in a flight status, and a year past that for lunar flights. Image-Luna 17 Rover [image]local://upfiles/43164/8602CE916DA54834990FB17B438F6185.jpg[/image]

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/28/2015 8:12:54 PM)
Q1 1968 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ $329,417.8 $11,396.9 $32,353.1 Actions Launch Luna 17 Events At the end of Q3, the UR-700 booster is at 93% reliability, the LK-700 is at 82%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 89%. The Luna 17 probe is at 92%, and the rover is at 79% and Venera 7 is at 80%. Successful Luna 17 mission NASA successfully flies the Pioneer 2 lunar orbiter NASA opens Pioneer Venus Orbiter and Project Apollo Analysis NASA previously opened Project Apollo, so I assume this is the Apollo lunar program instead of just the earth orbit test program. I still estimate that the Soviet program is 1-2 years ahead of the NASA lunar program. Luna 17 images of Moon (http://mentallandscape.com/C_Luna17_Horz22.jpg) [image]local://upfiles/43164/755F9009DD784550A91920AC737B5272.jpg[/image]

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/28/2015 8:49:29 PM)
Q2 1968 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ $342,163.4 $13,455.4 $30,294.6 Actions Close Luna 17 program Open Luna 15 program Launch LK-700 unmanned suborbital mission Events At the end of Q3, the UR-700 booster is at 93% reliability, the LK-700 is at 84%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 89%. Venera 7 is at 81%. Luna 15 is at 78% reliability. The overall UR/LK-700 reliability is 88%. NASA performs the Gemini spacewalk LK-700 unmanned suborbital mission is successful Analysis Despite having a 84% reliability, the LK-700 suffered two problems during the test flight. Fortunately, both were successfully managed. [image]local://upfiles/43164/21CEAFCF0B19495AA41168685E5359D2.jpg[/image]

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/28/2015 8:50:49 PM)
Q3 1968 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ $342,163.4 $13,455.4 $30,294.6 Actions Launch LK-700 unmanned orbital mission Events At the end of Q3, the UR-700 booster is at 96% reliability, the LK-700 is at 90%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 90%. Venera 7 is at 83%. Luna 15 is at 80% reliability. The overall UR/LK-700 reliability is 88%. LK-700 unmanned orbital mission is successful NASA completes an unmanned suborbital Apollo test flight NASA completes a Mariner 5 Venus flyby Analysis With NASA’s suborbital Apollo flight, it appears that the US program is closer to the Soviet than I anticipated. However, to the best of my knowledge, NASA has not yet done a rendezvous and docking, both of which should be vital for the Apollo lunar landing program. Therefore, I still believe the Soviet Union is about one year ahead of the US. However, I will have to push, to the limits of safety, the UR/LK-700 timeline. NASA also beat the Soviets to Venus, conducting a flyby this quarter. [image]local://upfiles/43164/AA15771C1D71444580E688496D43F7DC.jpg[/image]

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/28/2015 9:15:49 PM)
Q4 1968 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ $373,446.2 $14,192.9 $28,557.1 Actions Launch LK-700 unmanned orbital mission Mars 2 Orbiter opened Luna 15 mission flown Events At the end of Q3, the UR-700 booster is at 97% reliability, the LK-700 is at 90%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 90%. Venera 7 is at 84%. Luna 15 is at 83% reliability and Mars 2 is at 76%. The Luna 15 successfully returns a lunar soil sample Analysis I have a one Quarter pause in the LK-700 flight schedule to finish training a flight crew and conduct some training on the controllers. I launch the Luna 15 lunar sample mission to fill the gap in the schedule. This flight will also help support the LK-700 lunar landing program. While I would like to get the Venura 7 craft launched, the 2 quarter mission will not fit into the ambitious flight schedule I am planning for the LK-700 beginning next quarter. Luna 20 Image [image]local://upfiles/43164/7CEC446CC9804C1F8B62D348BD50E080.jpg[/image]

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/29/2015 12:54:59 AM)
Q1 1969 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ 381,888.3 $14,161.2 $29,588.8 Actions Launch manned LK-700 orbital flight Events At the end of Q1, the UR-700 booster is at 97% reliability, the LK-700 is at 93%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 90%. Venera 7 is at 85%. Venera 9 is at 78% reliability and Mars 2 is at 79%. The overall UR/LK-700 system reliability is 95% Analysis The manned LK-700 flight is successful. The Soviet lunar program is back on track, albeit a year later than hoped [:(] [image]local://upfiles/43164/D5893859BA1A44AF8B3C3765C2F18ED2.jpg[/image]

CV60 -> RE: Teaching the History of the Space Race: A Soviet AAR (11/29/2015 1:40:08 AM)
Q2 1969 Expenditures/Budget(Current Funds/Expenditures/Quarterly Balance) $ $395,386.6 $14,161.2 $29,588.8 Actions Launch manned LK-700 Level I duration with EVA Events At the end of Q2, the UR-700 booster is at 97% reliability, the LK-700 is at 96%, the Krechet-94 spacesuit is at 91%. Venera 7 is at 86%. Venera 9 is at 80% reliability and Mars 2 is at 81%. The overall UR/LK-700 system reliability is 95% NASA opens the Venus multiprobe NASA completes a duration II flight NASA completes an EVA NASA completes a suborbital Apollo flight Analysis The manned LK-700 flight is successful. The EVA is intended as a test of the Krechet-94, to maximize its reliability before embarking on a lunar mission. The NASA suborbital Apollo and Duration II with EVA flights indicates that the US is trying to regain lost ground. Once they perform the rendezvous mission, NASA will be able to begin testing the LEM. While the Soviet space program is ahead, an aggressive NASA could conceivably launch a risky lunar mission in one year, assuming the LEM is ready by then. HOwever, it is more likely that NASA is 18-21 months from a lunar landing mission. [image]local://upfiles/43164/4BB6C25A61874916AD87C409265CE6E8.jpg[/image]

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