Children of Destiny, Part 2a: Ups and Downs, Derbin

A tall rocket, with a stepped layout of a small upper section with a nosecone, a wide and very long middle, and a widening bottom with fins and a ring of eight engines; lifts off from the pad.
The first flight of Project Orbiter, Halo A, ascends!
The short upper stage of the rocket flying free of the lower stage, Derbin's cloud layers visible below.
It flies on a larger and more sophisticated rocket than the Virga vehicles, wider and considerably more powerful.
The nosecone with a rocket pack on its back descending into Derbin's atmosphere and burning up.
The satellite is also larger and more sophisticated than Satellite One... but Halo A burns up in Derbin's atmosphere.
A very similar rocket, viewed from above, as it ascends.
Halo B has a somewhat redesigned guidance system, hoping to follow a more efficient ascent profile and reach orbit.
The rocket pack of the nosecone-satellite firing, leaving an orbital stage behind as the clouds of Derbin roll below and Derminmus looks on from above.
The nosecone burning up in the atmosphere.
Unfortunately, it too fails to make orbit.
A rocket with similar upper stages but with five four-engine cores- one cylindrical, the four outer with conical tops ascending.
Halo C, then, has been delayed enough that an even larger lifter is available.
The central core ascending further.
The central core flying backwards as the six-engine upper stage fires, pointed almost horizontally.
It relies on similar technologies to the other rockets, but ideally...
The same nosecone, its rocket and equipment pack firing four of its eight small boosters.
it'll make it to orbit.
The nosecone in Derbin orbit, with Mesbin and Kerbmun tiny in the distance.
Halo C becomes Satellite Two, a relatively long-term orbiter.
Another instance of the eight-engine wide-bottom rocket ascending through Derbin's upper cloud deck.
Halo D, then, is really more an uprated late Virga...
An upper stage pushing through the atmosphere, shedding flames.
Another cylindrical satellite, tiny and with bracing frameworks making up much of its structure, is pushed into orbit by a little rocket with four spherical fuel tanks.
Though it won't go all that much further.
The satellite in Derbin orbit- with Mesbin, Kerbmun, and olive-colored Dermun each visible at about the same size as well as orange Gememma shining down.
High above a huge crescent Derbin, the satellite looking down.
But hey- that's the business of deep gravity wells. Satellite Three soars!
Another five-core rocket ascending from the pad, viewed from above.
Halo E ascends on another multi-core rocket- it's a new type of spacecraft altogether.
A cylindrical satellite with a thinner cylindrical engine being pushed toward orbit by a shorter four-engine pusher stage.
It's a new type of spacecraft- no, for real.
The cylindrical satellite, a conical return vehicle on its front and various antennae and scientific instruments extended from its hull.
Satellite Four carries not only a small return vehicle, to carry film and scientific results back home...
The spacecraft from the back, showing off its four oblong fuel tanks and with Dermun, Mesbin, Kerbmun, and Gememma visible.
But also a wider array of scientific equipment than used on any other spacecraft yet.
The conical return vehicle separating...
The return vehicle has just enough monopropellant fuel and battery power to make its way back down and broadcast its landing spot.
...And descending through the atmosphere, trailing flame.
The question of whether it will even survive remains unanswered, until the flames that wreathe it die down.
The conical return vehicle falling from Derbin's upper cloud layer, one of Derbin's continents stretching out below it.
Then it plummets towards the surface of Derbin...
Descending under three large parachutes to the brown rock-strewn ground.
And opens its parachutes, slowing to a safe touchdown speed.
Almost on the ground, sandy dirt below.
A successful test- even if the film transferral motors failed on-orbit.

Previously...

The Mesbin side of things...

Continued (Don't click yet!)

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