ELON KERMAN'S REUSABLE ROCKET - Launch broadcast

[Raptor9]

Along with many other members of the KSP community, I've been following the progress of SpaceX and their Falcon 9 reusable rocket. While currently attempting to land the first stage on a seaborne platform, SpaceX has stated that the eventual goal of the system will be for the first stage to fly back to the launch site. (This was filmed in KSP 0.25, so this design is quite outdated)

Kerbal Space Center Commentator of the following launch broadcast is *Elon Kerman*.

This video is my personal attempt of that goal in KSP. My intent wasn't to recreate the rocket and flight profile of the Falcon 9, but to design an analogous launcher within the KSP world that follows a similar concept. The entire craft (launcher and capsule) is 100% stock parts. I had to record this flight twice since I obviously could not fly both at the same time. I flew a very precise profile to achieve the same staging point in the trajectory, however my thumb was a little slower igniting the second stage in one of the videos, but it's only a split second difference.

LEGAL CAVEAT: The official KSP logo is present in this video but this is not an official video by Squad. It helps create the authentic webcast feel of NASA and SpaceX broadcasted launches.

Plugins:

Trajectories (Atmospheric Predictions) by Kobymaru & Youens

Visual effect mods:

Environmental Visual Enhancements by Rbray89

CoolRockets by Sarbian & Dtobi

Recorded using:

Camera Tools by BahamutoD

Hullcam VDS by Albert VDS

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NEW LAUNCH SYSTEM AND CREW CAPSULE:

I've tweaked the reusable booster and completely redesigned the upper stage along with a brand new crew capsule. These are modelled in concept after the Dragon V2 capsule and Falcon 9 rocket by SpaceX. There are some slight differences. Again, I wasn't trying to build a replica, but a KSP analogue with stock parts to accomplish the same mission concept. Best example of this is the fact the the Falcon 9 does it's boostback burn with three engines, but only lands with the center engine. I had to keep all three engines online while I landed the booster since one LV-T45 doesn't have the power to lift, let alone land, the booster stage.

EV-1X 'Runabout' crew capsule on top of a reusable booster and reusable upper stage

Spoiler

 

Initial gravity turn

 

Booster return flight to KSC

Spoiler

 

Boostback burn

Ballistic fall to KSC

Landing legs deployed

Terminal burn

EV-1X orbital insertion

Spoiler

Rendezvous burn

Map view of the various trajectories after a correction/deorbit burn by the upper stage to reenter the atmosphere over the KSC. The space station is on 27.3 degree inclination at a 100km x 100km orbit.

Rotating tail first

Landing legs deployed

Terminal burn

 

EV-1X flight remainder

Spoiler

 

Docking

Undocking

Thrusting away

Service module jettison

Reentry

Terminal burn

Landed a bit too hard on the left side as you can see

Test pilots climb out

 

 

Edited January 28, 2016 by Raptor9
Added KSP 0.25 disclaimer

[Frank_G]

Very good video. I really like the two different view angles and focus on both the landing launch stage and the ascending capsule.

And i love the precise touchdown.

[Raptor9]

To be fair, "KerbalEssences" had a much smaller target to hit with the barge landing last month.  I had the entire runway, although the objective was to land it immediately adjacent the spaceplane hanger after a 180 degree change in trajectory.

 

Edited December 1, 2015 by Raptor9

[Patupi]

Very cool video. Well done and really keeps the feel of RL rockets! Take some rep man!

PS, what was the music you used as background?

[astropapi1]

Is that Pacific Rim I hear there?

I like the way you did two separate views a lot, and the commentary was a very nice touch. gr8 m8 i r8 8/8

[Raptor9]

Is that Pacific Rim I hear there?!

Yep, sure is.

@Patupi Like astropapi1 asked, it's Pacific Rim.

[Patupi]

And why didn't I recognize that? I'm usually good with movie tunes and I loved that movie (despite the idea being ridiculous. They never talked about big conventional weapons, let alone nuking them except at the end? How come no-one thought to at least try it when things got rough?)

[Raptor9]

The Guardian posted a story about Elon Musk's rocket hitting the ship, and referenced his love of Kerbal Space Program...and a video at the bottom of the page. No way! KSP is everywhere!!

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jan/16/elon-musk-falcon-9-rapid-unscheduled-disassembly

Edited January 16, 2015 by Raptor9

[StrandedonEarth]

That was excellent, and a well done commentary too, sounds just like a regular launch commentary.

[Raptor9]

These are some cool videos that inspired me to try to create an entire reusable launch system, instead of just the booster. I improved the launcher stage, redesigned the upper stage, and created an entirely brand new crew capsule system for this concept.

SpaceX Reusable Launch System

(The Dragon capsule seen here is the current version in use, a new version 2 of the Dragon for carrying people is shown below)

SpaceX Dragon V2

[Raptor9]

SpaceX Falcon Heavy Flight Animation...awesome

[chadgaskerman]

I'm surprised you didn't take inspiration from this...

[Raptor9]

2 hours ago, chadgaskerman said:

I'm surprised you didn't take inspiration from this...

That rocket is neat and all, but it doesn't really do anything for me.  If I need to do a suborbital tourist mission in KSP for a few extra funds, I'll slap a pod on top of a cheap solid booster and send it on it's way.  I don't spend much time, effort or money on suborbital tourist contracts.  (Just my preference)