Not Missiles:
Lunar Probe: 3-1 (+2%)
Kishmaraaf:
Two-Man Capsule: 4, 2 (+6%)
Kicker: (+1%)
Pegasopolis:
Boosters: 3+1, 1+1, 4+1, 4+1, 3+1 (+20%)
Lunar Probe: 4+1, 6+1, 4+1 (17%)
October 6, 1961
Pegasopolis Lunar Satellite Flyby
Rushing: -2%
Two-Stage Rocket: 91-2%
Interplanetary Satellite: 90-2%
Rainbow hates being in second place. But being third would be even worse. So her engineers cut a few corners, what's the worst that can happen?
Absolutely nothing, that's what. Being fast wins again.
Mission successful. For performing the second lunar flyby, next year's budget increases by 4.
November 2, 1961
Kishmaraaf Lunar Probe Landing
Rushing: -1%
Two-Stage Rocket: 91-1%
Lunar Probe: 85-1%
Photo Reconnaissance: 65-1%
Kishmaraaf is still the leader and now they will land something on the moon for the first time! Only a matter of time until Kishmaraaf people walk on moon, too.
Or perhaps it was only a matter of time until a rocket caught fire on the pad. What is left of the probe lands on the concrete in pieces.
Next year's budget decreases by 6.
November 12, 1961
Not Missiles Lunar Satellite Flyby
Rushing: -1%
Two-Stage Rocket: 90-1%
Interplanetary Satellite: 90-1%
If the ponies can do it, so too can the changelings. They even took their time getting it ready.
Piece of cake. Love-cake. That was sent into space. And to the moon. My point is everything worked.
For lunar flyby number three, Not Missiles gets a 3 MB boost to its budget.
November 14, 1961
Not Missiles Lunar Probe Landing
Rushing: -1%
Two-Stage Rocket: 91-1%
Lunar Probe: 84-1%
Photo Reconnaissance: 65-1%
If this one doesn't catch fire on the pad, they'll already be ahead of Kishmaraaf.
The rocket does not catch fire on the pad and the probe is off and away towards the moon. It successfully reaches lunar orbit.
But the engine burn to de-orbit cuts out early, leaving the probe in an erratic orbit, doomed to eventually impact the surface.
Not Missiles loses 6 budget.
December 7, 1961
Kishmaraaf Orbital Docking
One-Stage Rocket: 87%
Boosters: 85%
One-Man Capsule: 83%
Docking: 50%
A Stalwart Citizen: 30%
Kishmaraaf has big plans for boosters. Don't even need them this launch but testing is testing, and citizen is stalwart.
And capsule is unreliable! The capsule's engine fails to ignite, leaving the stalwart citizen plunging back to earth. At least heat shield and parachutes are up to high Kishmaraaf standards.
For failing to even reach orbit, Kishmaraaf suffers a 10 budget loss.
December 13, 1961
Pegasopolis Mars Flyby
Interplanetary Satellite: 91%
Millions of miles away, if a robot could think, maybe it'd be worried about its luck.
But its hypothetical fears turn out to be unfounded. Back on Earth, Pegasopolis receives the most detailed images ever of the red planet.
For getting the first Martian flyby, Pegasopolis gets 8 more budget. Unfortunately there are no canals to swim in, so your interplanetary pool party will have to wait.