Episode 33 of the GopherCraft Great Space Race is the launch of the Porcupine I, the rocket covered in landing legs. Jebediah Kerman rides it to orbit, though not cleanly, and the flight uses up most of the money. Basket weighs a trip to Minmus for a contract, then sets course for the Mun instead. When the video ends, the craft is on its way, about a day from a Mun encounter.
All the eggs in one basket
The VAB title bar reads Porcupine I. "This is the thing I was showing you in the last episode." It costs 245,870, and the funds stand at 288,702. Basket has also accepted more contracts, and the list now includes exploring Duna, Ike and Minmus. "I'm kind of putting myself in the hole."
Basket walks through the staging, adds Jebediah Kerman to the Command Pod Mk1, and sums it up: "This is kind of putting all my eggs in one basket, pardon the pun." On the pad at night, Basket recovers it before it ever lifts off. "It was starting to bend as I was talking to you guys, so I didn't want to have a bad launch." The Mission Summary pays back all 245,870 from 247 parts.
A rough climb
The second try goes straight up. "Oh no, oh no, it's not going great." The bottom stage won't fly steady, so Basket drops it early and keeps climbing on the rest. "I'm gonna use up all my money on this one mission." The Porcupine I makes orbit, but a lopsided one, and two short burns tidy it up a little.
Minmus or the Mun
In Mission Control, the funds are down to 42,832. The Explore Minmus contract asks for an orbit, science from space, a landing and science from the surface. "If we go to Minmus and we orbit, we'll get a bunch of money." Back in the map, a Minmus maneuver comes out 12 days long. "That adds so much time."
Where it ends
Basket sets the Mun as the target instead and moves the maneuver earlier. "We'll just go for it, and we'll see if we can get this guy there, and then if we can land." A 22-second burn puts a Mun encounter on the map about a day out.
"To be continued..." comes up with the Porcupine I still on its way. It has not reached the Mun yet, and nobody has landed there and come home.