[PROJECT DESIGNATION: LUNAR PROGRAM INITIATIVE]
Status: Mixed
OVERVIEW:
Lead Scientist: Dr. Eliya
Facillity: Nevada Energy Complex
Division: Neuro-Energy Interaction Unit
(2000-19-11)
Phase three went off smooth. RCNR unit SELENE-3 successfully launched unmanned.
The launch sequence went normal and stable, with a clean seperation in the atmosphere during exit. RNCR succesfully powered the entire flight, (though orbit had a few issues)
going beyond the moon before returning.
VLP engaged as per usual during flight, but notably at T+06:03 minutes, it reached a perfect lock as it successfully exited the atmosphere. Thus, the rocket did not enter standard orbit patterns, it completely rejected orbital mechanics and stabilized itself into a fixed directional line.
The movement baffled us, the rocket simply did not follow the laws of physics, it aligned to the moon but not as exactly as intended.
Despite the successful mission, the system flagged with a failure condition. Navigation autonomy was completely compromised and the vehicle did not decelerate for orbit insertion at the lunar approach. It instead executed a non-standard angular correction maneuver slingshotting itself around the lunar perimeter WITHOUT orbital capture.
Immediately following the lunar pass, VLP re-engaged stronger that it ever had before, reversing the vehicle without engine burn increase. The trajectory stabilized into a full return vector. The return path was abysmally faster than the launch trajectory.
This is thanks to the breaking of physics, as well as the power produced by the RCNR, turning a 10 day ordeal into a 30 minute mission, as we intended,
During re-entry, SELENE-3 re-established a lock on the same Mediterranean reference before ground control set the co-ordinates for splashdown. So despite being technically successful:
Manual navigation authority was comrpomised, the vehicle did not follow the laws of physics and ground control could not influence flight beyond setting the co-ordinates.
Despite the repeated warnings and issues, high command immediately agreed to phase 4. I tried to get them to abort the human testing phase, but the board simply replied with, "If it works without error, we scale it."
I am greatly worried.
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