Duna Express

[invultri]

The bigwigs at mission control that there was enough dawdling inside Kerbin SOI and that it is time to do something grander. Without any budget consideration it was decided a crew of 6 kerbals was to visit Duna.

Mission Profile:

• Leave at the first window (around day 230)
• 6 Kerbals to visit Duna and Ike
• Land on the surface in all biomes of Duna and Ike
• Create Duna SOI communication network
  • 4 equatorial communication satellites around Duna
  • 2 polar communication satellites around Duna
  • 4 equatorial communication satellites around Ike
  • 2 polar communication satellites around Ike
  • 2 inner Kerbols communication satellites connecting to Moho, Eve and Kerbin
• Scan Duna and Ike for resources
• Get all the science in/around/on Duna and Ike
• Process research samples

Mission Plan:

• Design craft
• Launch and dock everything together in LKO
  • Launch 1 - Habitation module 1 + Commsats
  • Launch 2 - Main truss
  • Launch 3 - Habitation module 2 + Commsats
  • Dock launch 1-3
  • Launch 4 - Drive section 1
  • Launch 5 - Life support + Lander
  • Launch 6 - Crew
  • Launch 7 - Drive section 2
  • Launch 8 - Drive section 3
  • Cleanup
  • Launch 9 - Inner system relay 1
  • Launch 10 - Inner system relay 2
• Grab Kerbin SOI science
• Depart Kerbin SOI
• Grab Kerbol science
• Mid course correction, set up for periapsis of 2880km, 0 degree inclination
• Enter Duna SOI
• Launch the 4 equatorial communication satellites (make sure to pick from left habitat)
  • Deploy solar panels
  • Deploy comms equipment
  • Point a DTS M1 to the mothership
  • Setup flight computer for insertion into circular orbit at periapsis
• Change inclination of mothership to 90 degrees
• Launch the 2 polar communication satellites (make sure to pick from left habitat)
  • Deploy solar panels
  • Deploy comms equipment
  • Point a DTS M1 to the mothership
  • Setup flight computer for insertion at periapsis, change Argument of Perigee -45degrees +45degrees respectively
• Change periapsis to 60km
• Get Duna high orbit science
• At periapsis start insertion burn, until 20dV is left in drop tanks
• At apoapsis lower periapsis to 20km
• Decouple drop tanks
• Raise periapsis back to 60km
• Get rest of Duna high orbit science (gravioli)
• At periapsis circularize
• Wait for communication satellites to arrive at their orbit
  • Drop equatorial sats to a periapsis of 60km such that each is 90 degrees from each other
  • Tune orbits
• Deploy left resource scanner to scan duna
  • Deploy solar panels
  • Deploy communication equipment
  • Boost orbit to an apoapsis of 500km
  • Circularize at apoapsis
  • Deploy scanners
• Deploy upper relay
  • Deploy solar panels
  • Deploy communication equipment
  • Set each 88-83 to Kerbin, Moho and Eve
  • Set 2 DTS M1 to 2 opposed equatorial satellites
  • Boost orbit to an Apoapsis of 45Mm at south pole
• Deploy lower relay
  • Deploy solar panels
  • Deploy communication equipment
  • Set each 88-83 to Kerbin, Moho and Eve
  • Set 2 DTS M1 to 2 opposed equatorial satellites
  • Boost orbit to an Apoapsis of 45Mm at north pole
• Get Duna low orbit science
• Land at Duna biomes
  • Refuel lander (don't forget the mono propellant)
  • Switch scientist
  • Decouple lander
  • Land in biome
  • Grab science
  • Move science to lander
  • Grab science again (for normal science return)
  • Launch asap to an AP of 55km
  • Fix relative inclination with the mothership
  • Setup intercept
  • Dock
  • Repeat for all 5 biomes
• Setup polar intercept with Ike, setup for periapsis of 55km and an inclination of 90 degrees
• Move mothership to Ike
• Repeat Duna commsat setup for Ike, except a correction burn is needed to change the inclination for the equatorial communication satellites
• Enter Ike SOI
• Enter orbit around Ike, 55km
• Repeat resource scanner deployment for Ike
• Get Ike high orbit science
• Change orbit to 20km
• Get Ike low orbit science
• Land in Ike biomes, make sure to keep enough fuel for the return trip
  • After use the lander can be crashed into Ike
  • Evaluate if 1 or 2 of the drive sections can be crashed into Ike
  • Ditch the monoprop
  • Evaluate slingshot back to Kerbin by using Duna
• Plan return trip around year 3, day 240
• Execute return burn
• Evaluate possibilities to enter Kerbin orbit
  • If enough fuel perform a powered return
  • Maximum safe aerocapture altitude is likely above 55km
  • Might need an intercept before capture, make sure to put mothership on a collision course with Kerbin
• Launch return craft
• Intercept mothership
• Dock
  • Transfer kerbals
  • Transfer science
• Undock
• Land on Kerbin

Mods used:

Spoiler

KSP: 1.1.2 (Unix) - Unity: 5.2.4f1 - OS: Linux 4.1 unknown 64bit
Toolbar - 1.7.12
USI Tools - 0.7.2.1
Community Resource Pack - 0.5.2
Contract Configurator - 1.12
CapCom Mission Control On The Go - 1.0.2.2
Contract Parser - 1.0.3
Contracts Window Plus - 1.0.6.3
Progress Parser - 1.0.4
EditorExtensionsRedux - 3.2.12
Docking Sounds - 2.1.1
Firespitter - 7.2.4
Kerbal Attachment System - 0.5.8
KIS - 1.2.11
KRASH - 0.5.16
KSP-AVC Plugin - 1.1.6.1
Kerbal Construction Time - 1.3.3.7
Kerbal Joint Reinforcement - 3.1.7
NRAP - 1.5.1.1
Docking Port Alignment Indicator - 6.4
Final Frontier - 1.0.10.2467
Precise Node - 1.2.3
RCS Sounds - 5.0
RealChute - 1.4.1.1
RealPlume - Stock - 0.10.7
RemoteTech - 1.7
SCANsat - 1.1.6.1
StageRecovery - 1.6.4
TextureReplacer - 2.4.13
Kerbal Alarm Clock - 3.6.3
UbioWeldingLtd-Continued - 2.3.3
USI Core - 0.2.3
Kolonization Core - 0.2.3.1
USI-LS - 0.4.3.1
UKS - 0.40.3
[x] Science! - 4.18
kOS - 0.20.1

 

Edited June 25, 2016 by invultri
Updated flight plan

[invultri]

The craft in the VAB:

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First launch

Due to the departure date closing in it was decided to get the modules launched in order of completion. First up is one of the hab modules.

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Second launch

The main truss is launched into a parking orbit of 85km

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Third launch

The second habitation module is launched

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Docking the first 3

The first docking operation, mating the truss with the habitation sections (Yes I made a little oeps here)

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Fourth launch

The first of the drive sections. This is pretty much the maximum payload the 2.5 booster line can support. The drive itself ways 110T with its tug weighing 13T. After docking the tug remains attached to act as a counter weight and provide some RCS control on the heavy end of the Duna Express.

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Fifth launch

The life support section (and Duna lander) are the fifth item to orbit. The docking process was interesting due to a planning error in mission control. The life support section could not pass the satellites attached to the habitation modules. They were tossed and the merry chase began to reclaim them.

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Sixth launch

Since the side docking ports will be blocked by the relay satellites the crew is send up early. This will also improve the total schedule by a day. One of the tugs on the main truss has a spare docking port exactly for this purpose. The life support systems were brought online and the kerbals waited for the remaining pieces to arrive.

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Seventh launch

The second of the drive sections. Docking is very slow due to the close proximity, large masses and even though squad did a stellar job increasing the games performance the game is still slowing down to where 1 second for kerbals is about 3 seconds for the player (this ship would not even be possible pre 1.1 so I am quite happy!). The docking itself was fairly relaxing where only small adjustments were needed keeping the docking speed at 0.1 cvel. After taking the monopropellant from the tug it was removed to reduce the partcount a bit.

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Eight launch

Pretty much the same deal as with the seventh launch. Nice and relaxing docking operation.

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Cleanup

With all the major bits joined up the 3 tugs that are still attached can now be removed and de-orbited.

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Ninth launch

The mission still requires the deployment of 2 inner system relays. Launch 9 brings one of then. Its solar panels will complement the main solar panels.

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Tenth launch

Exactly the same as the ninth launch

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Departure

With everything prepared its time to go! After sorting the stage mess the drive engines were activated and the burn initiated. The start TWR was 0.28 which meant the burn lasted for a good minute or 10 in player time.

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Edited June 24, 2016 by invultri
Added more descriptions to the pictures.