R-SERIES ROCKET UNVEILED

Today, the first of the new rockets, supposedly designated 'R-1', was moved out of the Vehicle Assembly Building and set up on the launch pad at KSC. Curious and anxious crowds gathered around the perimeter of the Space Center to catch their first look at the pioneering vehicle that will kick the Space Program into life.

One on-looker said, 'It's not as impressive as I thought, but I guess we need to start somewhere.'

In another interview, Gene Kerman stated that this first mission needed to be as simple as possible: 'There are so many unknown variables at this stage, so we have to take things steady. We don't even know how high this thing will go! We can do all the math we want, but in practice... well, that's something different. This is simply a step to prove the effectiveness of rocket motors and, more importantly, data collection for the next phase.'

R-1 sat on the launch pad, waiting to ignite the Space Program

This first launch will be the largest rocket to-date to leave Kerbin soil. R-1 is a RT-10 solid-rocket booster, meaning that once it is fired there is no control of it's motor. Jebediah, one of the test pilots, commented: 'Once that thing's lit, there's no stopping it! One way or another, there will be explosions involved. And whatever happens, I am looking forward to the display!'

The rocket will be steered easterly over the ocean where it will be out of harms way. Once it's burn is complete, it will fall harmlessly into the sea. The data collected will go towards modifying the next phase, R-2.