Extended Kerbol Grand Tour by eloquentJane

septemberWaves · August 29, 2016

This is my entry for the Extended Kerbol Grand Tour challenge.

The Plan

Spoiler

Launch Astarael and its independent landing vehicles.
Load Astarael with its cargo in Kerbin orbit, and send up the crew.
Land on Mun and Minmus with the Ranna LPL and return it to Astarael. Then transfer to the Eve system.
Land on Eve with the Saraneth HAAV, and return the crew module to Astarael. Land on Aden and Neith with the Ranna LPL and return it to Astarael. Leaving towed cargo in Gilly orbit, land Astarael on Gilly and refuel, then return to Eve orbit. Then transfer to Moho.
Leaving all cargo in Moho orbit, land Astarael on Moho and refuel. Return to Moho orbit and dock with cargo. Then transfer back to the Eve system.
Leaving towed cargo in Gilly orbit, land Astarael on Gilly and refuel. Return to Gilly orbit and dock with cargo, then return to Eve orbit. Then transfer to the Duna system.
Land on Duna with the Kibeth HPL and return it to Astarael. Land on Ike with the Ranna LPL and return it to Astarael. Leaving towed cargo in Nyke orbit, land Astarael on Nyke and refuel. Return to Nyke orbit and dock with cargo, then return to Duna orbit. Then transfer to the Mios system.
Land on Mios with the Kibeth HPL and return it to Astarael. Land on Serc with the Ranna LPL and return it to Astarael. Leaving towed cargo in Glac orbit, land Astarael on Glac and refuel. Return to Glac orbit and dock with cargo, then return to Mios orbit. Then transfer to Dres.
Leaving all cargo in Dres orbit, land Astarael on Dres and refuel. Return to Dres orbit and dock with cargo. Then transfer to the Richell system.
Land on Richell with the Belgaer HAAV and return the crew module to Astarael. Leaving towed cargo in Iber orbit, land Astarael on Iber and refuel. Return to Iber orbit and dock with cargo, then return to Richell orbit. Then transfer to the Plock-Karen system.
Land on Plock, Karen, and Beros with the Ranna LPL and return it to Astarael. Leaving towed cargo in Kyx orbit, land Astarael on Kyx and refuel. Return to Kyx orbit and dock with cargo, then return to Plock-Karen orbit. Then transfer to the Neidon system.
Land on Thatmo with the Ranna LPL and return it to Astarael. Leaving towed cargo in Nissee orbit, land Astarael on Nissee and refuel. Return to Nissee orbit and dock with cargo, then return to Neidon orbit. Then transfer to the Urlum system.
Land on Polta, Priax, and Wal with the Ranna LPL and return it to Astarael. Leaving towed cargo in Tal orbit, land Astarael on Tal and refuel. Return to Tal orbit and dock with cargo, then return to Urlum orbit. Then transfer to the Sarnus system.
Land on Hale and Eeloo with the Ranna LPL and return it to Astarael. Land on Slate with the Ranna LPL (equipped with additional descent module) and return it to Astarael. Land on Tekto with the Kibeth HPL and return it to Astarael. Leaving towed cargo in Ovok orbit, land Astarael on Ovok and refuel. Return to Ovok orbit and dock with cargo, then return to Sarnus orbit. Then transfer to the Jool system.
Land on Vall and Bop with the Ranna LPL and return it to Astarael. Land on Tylo with the Ranna LPL (equiped with additional descent module) and return it to Astarael. Land on Laythe with the Kibeth HPL and return it to Astarael. Leave all remaining cargo in Jool orbit. Land Astarael on Pol and refuel, then return to Jool orbit.
Transfer to Kerbin. Return crew to Kerbin to complete the mission.

Here is Astarael in Kerbin orbit (without its cargo):

Its far from my best work aesthetically, but it's the only thing I've ever been able to make so far that can complete a mission of this scale.

The naming scheme for the mothership and its landers comes from Garth Nix's The Old Kingdom book series.

Edited September 8, 2016 by eloquentJane

septemberWaves · September 8, 2016

Part 1: The Launch of Astarael

Before the mothership Astarael can set off on what is possibly the longest and most extensive mission ever attempted by Kerbalkind, it must be assembled in Kerbin orbit. One launch is needed for Astarael itself, followed by five launches of its cargo.

Astarael

Spoiler

Here is Astarael on the launch pad. No single rocket exists that is capable of launching Astarael to orbit. Instead, a pair of super-heavy Sarnus-derived stacks must be used.

Here is the vessel data at launch.

Liftoff!

Astarael begins its gravity turn.

At this point I decided to switch control of Astarael to the Mk3 drone core at the front of the vessel, to ensure that the autopilot oriented the vessel correctly.

To clarify, the reason there is solid fuel on board is because the decouplers use it.

The vehicle had been swaying from side to side, so at this point the engine gimballing was limited to 15%.

Some things began to heat up. I think it was the solar arrays and the refinery. This wasn't a lasting issue, however.

At this point I decided to raise the intended apoapsis to 100km.

I don't quite know what happened with the aerodynamic effects here, but it looks kind of cool in any case.

Main engine cutoff as the intended apoapsis is reached.

Stage separation.

Now out of Kerbin's atmosphere, the autopilot prepares for the circularisation maneuver.

Solar arrays and radiators are extended.

Circularising.

Completing circularisation burn.

Once the circularisation burn is complete, the upper stages of the launch vehicles are jettisoned. Fully fuelled and without cargo, Astarael has about 7.25km/s of delta-v (not including locked LF+O supplies for the landers.).

Astarael is capable of a powered landing on Moho, as well as all other non-atmospheric bodies with less gravity than Moho. This means that it can refuel in any planetary system. There are separate landers for the places that Astarael cannot go, and they will be launched independently.

Kibeth High Pressure Lander

Spoiler

The Kibeth HPL is one of the two main landing vehicles for Astarael. It is designed to land on most celestial bodies with significant atmospheres. It is launched on a Tano X1 rocket.

Here is the vessel data at the launch pad.

Liftoff!

Beginning gravity turn.

Approaching booster cutoff.

Booster cutoff and separation.

Main engine cutoff as intended apoapsis is reached.

Stage separation.

Fairing separation. Here the Kibeth HPL is revealed.

Solar panels are deployed and the autopilot prepares for the circularisation burn.

Circularising.

Finalising circularisation burn.

Circularisation complete.

The Kibeth HPL is now in Kerbin orbit.

Ranna Low Pressure Lander

Spoiler

The Ranna LPL is the second of the two main landing vehicles for Astarael. It is designed to land on all celestial bodies with negligible atmospheres. It is launched on a Tano AC.

Here is the vessel data at the launch pad.

Liftoff!

Beginning the gravity turn.

Approaching main engine cutoff.

Main engine cutoff.

Stage separation.

Second stage engine ignition.

Engine cutoff as intended apoapsis is reached.

Fairing separation, and the reveal of the Ranna LPL.

Once out of the atmosphere, solar panels are deployed and the autopilot prepares for the circularisation burn.

Circularising.

Circularisation complete.

Ranna LPL Heavy Descent Modules

Spoiler

In order to have enough delta-v to land on Tylo and Slate, the Ranna LPL needs a separate descent module for each one. These descent modules are both launched on a Tano Heavy, with its upper stage modified to include an OMS (powered by LF+O).

Here is the vessel data at the launch pad.

Liftoff!

Beginning gravity turn.

The engine on the central core is limited to 80% thrust, whilst the boosters are at 100%.

Booster cutoff.

Booster separation.

Main engine cutoff as the intended apoapsis is reached.

Interstage fairing separation.

Stage separation.

Fairing separation.

This vehicle has no reaction wheels, so the OMS on the Tano upper stage must be used for control.

Once out of the atmosphere, solar panels are deployed and the autopilot prepares for the circularisation burn.

Circularising.

Finalizing circularisation burn.

Stable orbit achieved.

Belgaer and Saraneth Heavy Atmospheric Ascent Vehicles

Spoiler

The Belgaer HAAV is designed for Richell, whilst the Saraneth HAAV is for Eve. These are the only two atmospheric bodies that the Kibeth HPL cannot land on. They are launched together on a Jool 5B rocket because sending them individually proved to be significantly more expensive.

Here is the vessel data at the launch pad.

Liftoff!

Luckily I realised quite early that I had neglected to configure the autopilot. I quickly fixed that error.

Beginning gravity turn.

Booster cutoff.

Booster separation.

Main engine cutoff as intended apoapsis is reached.

Stage separation.

Fairing separation.

Here the two HAAVs can be seen. The one at the front of the vehicle is Saraneth, and the one situated behind it is Belgaer. Saraneth also has a descent module and heat shield.