michal.don

Yup, I'm an idiot Everything is correct, so, here's the badge: It seems I should design a new "test pilot" mission, pronto Michal.don

What a station The docking port extension is quite wobbly, but the boost maneuver worked, so, why not. Beautifully complex mission, and an over-engineered design, what's not to like here Only one question - I can't find the part of the video where you dock the old hab part into the shuttle and take it back to Kerbin, could you please point that out for me? Thanks! Welcome to the challenge! Nice to see an old concept brought to life! And in your version, it looks like a pretty capable machine, the launch stack took it almost all the way to orbit! You also seem to manage precision landing pretty well, too, which is almost the hardest part of most of the shuttle missions here. I'm looking forward to seeing more! Here's the first badge, congratulations: And another one completes the Laythe mission (one of us! one of us! one of us!)! With a twist of going a bunch of other places Great mission, creative transfer method (two shuttles docked? You don't see that every day), lots and lots of flybys and gravity assists and a Tylo landing, that's a serious achievement. There's downside, I have pretty much nothing left to plan for the Jool system.... Seriously though - very good job, and a very well earned badge: Welcome to the challenge! I'm looking forward to seeing your take on Buran, we haven't had that one here for a while. Mods are no problem, just do not use any too overpowered engines. Anything else is fair game A solution to every problem - just add a few SRBs Good to see your shuttle has substantial payload capacity, and can fly pretty well even with cargo. But before awarding the badge, I'll have to ask for a few more screenshots. Could you please provide screens showing: - the final orbital parametres of the fuelpod orbit? (Ap and Pe to check the tolerances) - the resource tab of the pod (just to make sure you did not use any fuel from the pod) Thanks! Yes, the missions have to be completed in the correct order. This is an essential rule in this challenge. Don't worry, you'll get to stationbuilding soon Michal.don

Sorry for a slight delay in reviewing guys, I should be able to get to your entries tomorrow. I just had a quick look, and it looks there are a few very interesting missions... Thanks for your patience, Michal.don

Ah, I completely missed the small windows on the left, I'm so used to collecting science with action groups I dod not pay any attention to those..... In that case, you're the first one to get this new badge, congratulations to you! Michal.don

Yup, that one works. Looking good, I'd just like to ask for one more specific screenshot - could you please provide one (possibly from the VAB) where I can see the three science experiments? Thanks!

I know that feeling, real life cutting in my KSP time..... An awesome polar base you have there, sleek deployment method, and an elegant design, extra points for that I know this mission is quite exhausting, but I hope you had fun doing that, and it wasn't too much of a chore. Here's your badge, a well-earned one: Sorry for the confusion about the missions, but I had to insist on them being separate ones - if I allowed excessive mission merging, someone would certainly try completing all of the Kerbin missions in one launch, and I do not want to encourage that (even if it would probably be awesome ). Yeah, landing in Duna's thin atmsphere is tricky, but it seems you managed quite fine. Also, an engine module on the outpost can surely come in handy Good mission, here's your badge: You mean "last one so far", I hope We'll be going back to Duna sooner or later Interesting lander design. And by intersting, I mean LEM-kind-of-ugly, so thumbs up for NASA-ish approach And, of course, bonus points for landing the shuttle, too! Well managed Eve visit, too, and an interesting approach by aerobraking the sats into their orbits. So, another Duna badge for you, congrats! Yup, I burned to death many, many times trying to get that one right, too Unfortunately, the album link is not working for me. Could you please try to fix it? Thanks! Michal.don

So, after quite a while, I admit, there is a NEW MISSION, EVE STS-1! Eve presents a whole new set of challenges, so this is probably not the last mission dedicated to this new world. And, again we have a race for eternal glory of being the first one to claim the new badges! Details in the OP, below the Jool mission. Enjoy, Michal.don

Oh, that's nice to hear then You don't have to wait until the design is 100% finished though, I'm sure the folks there would appreciate some WIP look at your shuttle - it looks really well! Anyway, good luck with your orbiter, looking forward to seeing you over there, Michal.don

Well, from my shuttling experience, there is not a certain, fool-proof way to get any shuttle to land where you want it to land. It depends on the design, on the possibility of maintaining high AoA (you seem to have this one covered), and on your knowledge of consequences of each maneuver. And the last thing comes from flying your shuttle, a lot. Generaly, if you are well-experienced with your machine, I'd go for a direct descent which will put you on the right hemisphere, and if you have enough wing surface (which it seems you have), you'd be amazed how much you can influence the trajectory. After flying several dozens of missions in my shuttle, I could land it on the runway, even from high, inclined orbit, about 80% of my attempts, with the rest not being too far off. Even in the high atmosphere, you should be able to change the inclination by several degrees, and by changing the angle of attack the length of your glide. By the way, if you want a few missions to practice, and maybe a few ideas what to do next, there happens to be a shuttle challenge, which I happen to run, and I don't recall you flying there - you might find some of the stuff there interesting, and get some pointers from other shuttle maniacs that hang around there Michal.don

That's possible, but they have to be two separate missions. So, please, pay attention to the rules of each mission, so I don't have to disqualify it later

Sure, all the Duna and Jool missions can use ISRU. You probably could use it on the Mun too, but since the d-V requirements are not that high, it would probably be a waste of payload space. And it ends with a proper style Interesting engine configuration, but hey, if it works..... The remaining d-V of 3000+ m/s may seem kind of low for ions, but on a Munar orbital outpost? More than enough for any orbit corrections, you'd be surprised how cheap they are at this altitude Great mission and report, here's your badge: The Jool mission will really test the capacity of your shuttle, but I think it stands a good chance of succeeding. We'll see soon I guess Another well executed mission, and even with a detour to Ike. I guess the second vessel can be counted as a "support vehicle", which is allowed by the rules (although it was expected that the support will go the other way ) Here's your badge, and I'm looking forward to seeing more: Michal.don

I'll need to see a screenshot of the proposed design - I'll definitely won't allow anything that just takes the shuttle along for a ride - the shuttle has to remain an important piece of the mission. This is properly crazy, and it will certainly be allowed to use in the missions

These things might come later, expect something along the lines of "Duna STS-1", with a small twist Could you be a bit more specific please? I might allow some creative use of "fairing payload bay", but no slapping huge payloads on the LV, that's a no-go. Not cheating at all, Soyuz capsules are fair game in my view

Also.... testing a new mission, It's sure about time I released a new one. I just have to check a thing or two, to make sure it's not too complicated What could it be?

Well executed series of missions, and a great out-of-the-box thinking on the EEV design I like the compact designs, and using two separate capsules looks great in the screenshots! So, you're cleared to continue on the LOP-G, here's your badge: Michal.don

Buy all the pants in the entire world, and all the new ones being produced. Just for the fun of eventually living in a world where nobody can wear any pants.

Sure, why not? The rules don't say anything about mass requirements. And it will be refreshing to see something on the other end of the mass spectrum Are the modules going up in a smaller shuttle, or will the cargo bay be a bit empty every time?

To be honest, as the creator of the last "mission of the week", my feelings were along the same lines - "wow, is the mission creating subforum really that dead?" I don't even know whether anybody actually played this one. And I certainly do not take this thread as a criticism of my work. I sort of agree with the point, that unfortunately, not many people appreciate the mission builder (at least on these forums, I don't know about steam).

Yup. I just needen the screen, so you get the badge now Oh, stupid Michal.don, stupid.... You're right, I somehow missed that one. Anyway, it looks like your shuttle is Mun-capable, despite the low TWR (I wonder how Duna will go? ). All the parts of the report look fine, payload is ok too. Now I'm curious about the next mission - precision landings with low TWR are tricky - ask Neil Armstrong.... Michal.don

Just kidding But I don't think there are many people around here that share your... ehm... strong sentiment Michal.don

Don't worry my friend, you are not forgotten, I just did not have that much time, and was doing the enties page-by-page. But finally, your time has come Alright, now I can see what the thing on the back of your shuttle is doing - interesting concept of an external service module - I like it The mission looks flown without a hitch, and the crew got home safe, so the result is a nice new badge for you - congratulations!  Thanks for summing that up for me, I wouldn't have put it better The only thing I remember a bit differently is KJR - I think I allowed it for "stock" entries since the autostrut mechanism was introduced, but I'm not completely sure, I'll have to dig through the older pages a bit..... So, now I'm up to date, so go shuttling again guys Michal.don

Now, this is looking good It looks like the network will need a bit of maintenance in the future, but the CommSats have plenty of fuel left. A tip for future synchronous/stationary networks building - the altitudes do not have to be perfect, but the orbital periods do. And you can have them displayed by KER in the "orbital" tab so, here's a badge for you: I have to agree, the telescope looks great, and the pictures it takes are pretty cool Since I completely get the urge to make a telescope that actually works, I have no issue with the modded part. I have to admit I do not like the decoupling tanks with a few thrusters that you use as MMUs, but they are fine by the rules, so hey, why not I just have to ask you to provide one more screenshot - I could not find the inclination of the orbit anywhere, so I'm not sure whether the mission is "commander" worthy. Thanks! This one is also absolutely fine, and nice improvisation with the missing landing gear What is the TCA you were asking about in your edit? I'm not familiar with the name. Also, applesauce, I guess I should be able to get the next page quite soon, hopefully. Michal.don

Alright, moving on: Well, I'm afraid that's going to be a no-go from me. Slapping engines and stuff on the pod just makes it too easy - you have to reach the precise orbit on 1b and do the docking on 2b with the shuttle, not the pod. So, sorry, but no badges for this one. Next page reviews coming in a while.

Hmm... I have to admit, I lost the feeling for stock transfer values a bit since I plunged into 1.3.1. Realism Overhaul, where 2700 m/s doesn't even take you to the Moon....

1) Thanks, I hope you understand the reason why I asked you to do this 2) I used HE for testing too, but since the "Set orbit" option was included in the "Cheat menu", I do not need it anymore - have you tried that? HE caused me a fair share of problems, so I was glad I could get rid of it....