Mars-Bound Hokie

Here's my entry. MOHO RING STATION (CRAFT FILE HERE) @Mikenike, does this qualify as a "Kool Kerbal Kraft?" I think it does, since Moho's the hardest planet to reach - let alone put a ring station above.

After so many trials and errors, not to mention countless minutes of using MJ planning the perfect maneuver nodes and hours of construction, I think I made history today. (Probably) the first ever ring station to orbit Moho. And no, I didn't just use the "Set Orbit" command for this ring. I actually did the work. CRAFT FILE HERE (Please let me know how it works out for you).

I think I became the first person in KSP history to put a ring station around Moho. Construction alone took forever, not to mention the agonizing test runs and the paranoia that I may not have the delta-V for the mission.. Eventually, I got tired of waiting for my transfer window and opened a new Sandbox to put this bad boy in action. Through trial and error, I managed to get a working prototype - and yes, I used moar boosters added SRBs to the ascent stage to save delta-V for the trip. It took more than that, as I had to time my maneuver nodes just right. If you want to try it out for yourself, here's the craft file on KerbalX.

ANREY KERMAN'S MISSION LOG: Y56D398 - 5H30M Well, my trip just got a heck of a lot more boring. It would be another six years before I leave Dres' sphere of influence for Laythe, and almost another six after that before I hit Jool's sphere of influence. If I do the math right, I should be at my destination several days after the beginning of Y69. Add the time I would most likely spend exploring Laythe and refueling, and then add the transit time from Jool to Kerbin, I should be back by approximately Y74. That's nearly a total of 20 years for my mission. And the Neptune III wasn't even half that long. I wonder what I'm going to do while I'm waiting for my maneuver node, and while I'm drifting through interplanetary space. At this rate, if Wernher decided to launch a Neptune VII real soon, the crew would already be back home before I even got to Jool - even if they stopped at Ike to refuel. I know I talk a big game and say that I would be the first person to fly solo to Laythe and back; to do what Johnfrid Kerman could not. However, I kind of wish that I get to talk to someone face-to-face during my mission. I don't know how Johnfrid managed to live cooped in that capsule by himself for so long. And the Vall Girls pickup was just pure luck - luck which saved his life. Gus recommended that I talk to family and friends daily - and give occasional mission status reports to the public - while I'm in the plane. I guess I'll be talking to him first. On the plus side, by the time I get there, Laythe would already have at least three new surface outposts and a ring station - along with everything else. It's a shame Mission Control decided to shut down the construction of Odin Station, but at least we'll get a station built after decades. Speaking of shame, my condolences go out to Nathan Kerman's wife and kids. It seemed appropriate that Mission Control would name the new ring station after him, since he was one of the first three kerbals to see Laythe with their own eyes. Even though my plane isn't docking-capable, I can at least rendezvous with the station and explore the interior. Actually, now that I say that out loud, I could spend some time in the Defiant by myself. All I have to do is program the lander to rendezvous with the Neptune VI and I can just hop inside. I can also explore Dres' surface, and even ride in an old fuel truck. While I'm waiting for my node, I can catch up on my pleasure reading - and all the drama going on back in Mission Control. Some of the top stories include, but are not limited to: Mission Control accepting construction contracts involving A surface outpost on Eeloo. A new station around Pol --> and what better than a new ring station. A failed Moho ring station prototype flying around with Eve as a new target. And Mission Control's decided to try again with another model. The Neptune IV landing home in less than a year. Along with the Mun Hopper tagging along with a couple of tourists. The Eeloo tourist plane about to hit its destination in about 1.25 years. After it gets home, the Raven-Remembrance contracts are finally over. The Dirtblood getting upgraded for an expanded planetary exploration mission around Duna To top that, I heard rumors of a rookie pilot lost in retrograde solar orbit. I don't know how she got there, but we're getting her back.

I have 62

Nice. To answer @Castille7's question, one of my habits is that I use the same action group configuration for all my SSTOs. Solar Panels Antenna Bay doors Drills Rapiers NERV/s Ladder/s TCS Science Surface harvester

No. I use Kerbal Alarm Clock to keep track of my missions and contracts - most (if not all) of them ongoing. Missions that I've already completed (e.g. tourist run, construction/expansion jobs) are irrelevant UNLESS: Said completed missions are part of an ongoing contract. Even then, I either write it down on a sheet of paper and/or on the alarm clock. EXAMPLE: the S.S. Remembrance returns home from a long tourist run, but some of them have paid for a trip to Eeloo. At the same time, a few more tourists on the S.S. Raven, currently in-transit to Duna from Jool, have also signed up for Eeloo. Rather than waste time, money, and effort sending separate craft, I wait until the Raven returns to put all the Eeloo tourists (and the necessary crew) in a Poseidon SSTO. Besides writing down who's going on a sheet of paper, I double-check my contract list so I know for sure I'm sending the right kerbals. It's part of a Mission Report thread - but even then, all I need to do is access that thread and read what happened. EXAMPLE: for the Neptune Missions, I know who did what jobs in what spacecraft. This is especially important when I decide to get a team photo when the Neptune IV comes back. As for future missions, I keep all my contracts on the alarm clock so I know exactly how close I am to their deadlines. If I need put off any future missions (e.g. construction contracts), or if I have to wait to get an accurate maneuver node, I set a reminder to go off when necessary on the alarm clock. Man, I wish my alarm clock was empty. What website is that, @razark? Just curious.

I did some canyon jumping on Dres. Donfurt Kerman flying over Dres Canyon. He reported that it was the most fun he had since his time in Jack Mobile Base on Duna. Frocal Kerman, inside the canyon itself.

First of all, who left Val alone at the runway? In order for Kerbal Spaceways to take off, I had to expand the WSS to make it easier for planes to dock with. More specifically, at the station's current configuration, there was a high risk of colliding with a part incoming planes aren't supposed to (e.g. solar panels). Now it was time to add the planes, so I decided to start with a Laythe Ascent Vehicle prototype. Though it has not been to Laythe yet, I have undeniable proof that it can fly to LKO, dock with something, and come back to the KSC. It's also what won me the APPA First Class Award. The LAV has enough delta-V to fly to Ike from LKO, but it can only carry up to three people at a time. After I docked it, I added another module for more spaceplanes. Have fun with that, everyone - and don't forget to leave some ports open. Here's the station now. SAVE FILE HERE

I never said anything about a shuttle. I'm already on it. Stand by.

NAMIN KERMAN'S MISSION LOG: Y55D399 - 0H30M It's me, Namin Kerman. I'm the engineer flying the new aerial probe for Laythe. I figured I'd wait until I made it to Laythe to transmit my first thread entry, but Mission Control told me that a good portion of the public was demanding to hear from me. I was reluctant at first since I'm a pretty shy kerbal, but Mission Control wanted a transmission now while I still had a relay connection. I now have a 15% relay strength, and I'll go dark in a few days. Fortunately, I had already made my fine-tuning burn to Jool and expect to arrive in the planet's sphere of influence in about 1.75 years. Another reason Mission Control told me to make a transmission now is because we lost a crewmember of the Neptune I mission. (He died in a tourist lander, after his ship's separator failed to work before Kerbin re-entry. All occupants were dead upon discovery; no survivors) Below is a eulogy written by his mission pilot, Ludlong Kerman. If you have any respects to pay, please do so by replying to this thread. I didn't know Nathan that well, but Mission Control wanted me to give my own piece. All I can say is that Nathan was someone who loved to take on challenges and was a pioneer for all of kerbalkind. If you want more details about him, I think you'd have better luck talking to his family or his old crewmembers. While we're on the subject of old Neptune missions, I realized that my own mission plan is somewhat similar to the Neptune II mission. While Johnfrid used a single-use lander and I'm in a plane, I couldn't help but notice that some of the starred instructions are similar to what he did. More specifically, I will be: Entering Laythe alone Using a Laythe car to explore an island In my case, I also have to fix a wheel Get picked up by a ship full of girls while I leave my capsule behind Johnfrid left his in Jool orbit, while I'm leaving my plane to refuel itself on Laythe's surface We also know that the Mun Hopper can survive Kerbin re-entry if it: Refuels on Pol first Circularizes its parking orbit at 150 km before re-entry I'm actually glad that I will be going dark soon, because Anrey can't stop bragging that she would be the first kerbal to fly to Laythe's surface and back solo and without any pickups. I swear, if I hear one more brag, I'll request that Mission Control swap her with someone from the Dres exploration crew. Besides that, she's expected to enter Dres' SOI in about 331 days, and it will be another 7 years before the transfer window from Dres to Jool opens. Honestly, I think someone else can do the Kerbin-Minmus-Ike-Pol-Laythe route faster than Anrey can do the Kerbin-Minmus-Dres-Jool route. I hope someone does, then she can shut up. All drama aside, Mission Control has decided to shut down the Odin Station project in favor of a ring station. Sure, it was expensive, but it at least cost less than the sum of the station modules going into a halfway-constructed station. It also has: Crew capacity of 91 Can store and convert ore Also has TCS systems 6 standard docking ports Perfect for ascent planes 400G relay coverage Can generate power The U.S.S. Nathan Kerman, 245 km in orbit of Kerbin. Delivery rockets has 4,281 m/s of delta-V We're working on increasing that in case this fails - or, rumor has it, for sending a ring station to Moho. Imagine that, a ring station above Laythe. I also think it's fitting that it was named after one of the first explorers of that moon. We salute you, Nathan Kerman

I wouldn't move it to Minmus if I were you. You can't move an assembled space station from LKO to Minmus without damaging it, since docked parts tend to wobble and break (especially with the station's current configuration). Besides, it's called the World Space Station, as in it's orbiting Kerbin. Now, if you plan to dock a spacecraft/plane that can fly TO Minmus from the WSS, that would be cool - but be sure to leave some ports open for everyone else.

I got tired of waiting and decided to show my small docking-capable Laythe SSTO prototype. If I had to pick a name for it, I'd go with Hermes. Like a messenger of the gods, he flies up to the heavens and comes down on Earth while carrying scientific data.

Year 55 of my career save. So far, I've sent kerbalkind everywhere BUT: Tylo Yes, I did fly-bys of Tylo, but I never had any kerbals set foot there - or even get in orbit of that moon. Eve The endgame.

The desert landing was merely a test run, since I wouldn't have the luxury of runways when I was flying through Laythe. I DELIBERATELY missed the KSC that one time so I can determine if that plane was suitable for Laythe. The Neptune III itself (the real deal) both started and landed at 0-9 KSC. Thank you, I'm honored. I got more SSTOs ready, including what I am hoping to be a small docking-capable Laythe plane. You want to see them?

Here's my contribution to the W.S.S. (World Space Station). Save file here. Trust me, it works. Apparently, @Jeb-head-mug kerman forgot the scientific instruments My module can hold up to 19 people, and it has: Two regular docking ports One large docking port Okay, here are the pictures This is quite fun, actually. Kudos to you, @Jeb-head-mug kerman

@boolybooly, here's my first entry for the K Prize THE MUN HOPPER (KerbalX Link is for the current model. Pictures below show a previous variant in action) Below is the album for the first successful test run And I didn't stop at LKO. For more details on the Mun Hopper's performance, feel free to read the Neptune Mission Files. What do you think? Also, I have plenty more working SSTOs where that came from.

I built a ring station that's supposed to go to Laythe. I just hope I have the delta-V to get there. Later that day, I landed a Poseidon plane that I had previously launched into LKO as a test for another aircraft (Poseidon in my KerbalX). During the landing, I had a close call with the SPH control tower.

Great job, @BenKerman. What are you going to do next?

Which means that, in order to pass the challenge, you have to go around the planet in less than 80 minutes: Now, that does not mean that you're fine if you cruise at 786 m/s. This average time also includes the time it takes to take off, get up to speed, and land. And yes, your total entry time includes takeoff and landing (up to a complete stop)

JEBEDIAH KERMAN'S MISSION LOG: Y55D231 - 1H45M After waiting for so long, we have made our exit burn from Jool and on our way to Kerbin. We are expected to leave Jool's SOI in about 60 days, and reach Kerbin in 2 years and 152 days. I'm actually a bit jealous that we had to wait an entire high-Jool orbit after Starigh (the tourist engineer) made her exit burn before we did. Besides, I'm starting to get sick of this Poseidon; it's way too large and takes forever to get up to speed. Not only that, it's almost impossible to land anywhere with this thing. If we're taking two tourists or less to Laythe, a Mun Hopper would make sense. If it was a singular tourist, Bill and Val would make a date out of it (with the tourist as a third wheel). Back on Laythe, we got a couple of new items; a surface outpost and a Laythe Ascent Vehicle. I wish good luck to whoever has to control this monstrosity. I hope we make a smaller LAV soon; one that's easier to land. Mission Control also said that the Neptune V crew is approaching Jool from its refueling stop at Duna. They will refuel at Pol before making their transfer burns to Laythe, and then land their planes and do whatever it is they need to before taking off in a Mun Hopper. As for Anrey Kerman, the Neptune VI engineer, she's over a year away from her refueling stop on Dres. I don't know what she is going to do there, since the transfer window from Dres to Jool opens in seven years from now. I heard rumors that Namin Kerman, the engineer flying the aerial probe (part of the Neptune V mission), would attempt to fly around Laythe in less than 80 minutes when she landed - but so far, no confirmation. Then again, one of Bill's friends back home said that he saw someone from BigBen - a stopwatch and timer company - in the software wing of Mission Control. Two days after that, Namin logged a mid-flight software update. I wonder why. Same case for Anrey. Anrey's not alone in her Dres flight; an exploration crew is accompanying her in a Poseidon. Maybe we could launch a single-launch space station to Laythe that the LAV could dock with. Sure, it may cost more than an individual Odin Station part, but it will save us a lot of time and money in the long run.

Tell @nelso that. And this isn't even his best time.