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Butterflies and Hurricanes Challenge! [revisited and improved]


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After the squad introduced us 1.2 with its new communication and relay system, we discovered many new possibilities.

It was interesting to revive old probes, connecting kerbals that are separated by billions of kilometers from each other and making every meter on any planet or moon, a place, with great connection.

But we often forget about relay, sometimes people don't even launch it, they simply use antennae attached to their craft.

But what if we took the opportunity, and made a challenge out of it?

 

K8umkQy.png

I present you the “Butterflies and Hurricanes” challenge!

Despite that you might think that it is an easy and boring challenge, you may face a lot of interesting situations, and discover something you didn't know about relay.

I will start from rules because they will affect the whole challenge.

1.You have only 80 500 funds and If you will spend more, you basically fail the challenge (reusable rockets are allowed)

2.Using mechjeb and other calculative mods is allowed, though no cheat mod can be used in this challenge (Alt+f12 counts as a cheat). And if mod adds some kind of infinite propulsion it is also considered cheating.

3. If you made the whole challenge with some money left it means you are a cheater it means that you have completed the challenge, quite well.

Back to the challenge itself.

 

n7sEKvy.png

You have to put 6 satellites in 170 000 m orbit (a bit lower or higher also counts). Into orbits with different inclination of 30,-30,0,50,-50 and 90. They need to have the RA-2 antenna 

The final step is to put 2 satellites into a very high orbit of 7 000 000 m orbit (higher or lower also counts) You have to design these 2 satellites to have powerful antennae like RA-15.

 

After you've set up all the satellites you have to perform a first task of your relay system- you need mark all anomalies and space centres (like baikenbanour and etc.) 

You will end up with a relay covering the whole kerbin surface.

In case that you've already made a relay around kerbin try to do so with other planets/moons.

In such case orbital altitudes may be random, but inclinations must be done according to the challenge.

8SacZZb.png

Send your screenshots! Have fun! Invent cool relay designs! 

ooLvLY0.png

Now to the scoring system:

I made it different from many other challenges.

Here is it:

There is  factors that will make up your challenge:

Launcher design (reusable, SSTO, launch from water, launched via plane, lifted with air balloon)

Relay design (more than 10 parts on the satellite, decorative use of other parts for looking good, a copy or an analog to the real relay)

Perfectionism (ideal orbits, ideal inclination, ideal landmarks)

Fund economy (lower than the certain amount given in the challenge, reusablilty)

Perfect funding (the given fund amount is spent perfectly with 0 funds left)

Other planets/moons ( add 2 to your score if you visited other planets, add 1 if it is Kerbin's  in moons)

Visited at least one landmark that you've made during the challenge (each visited location is a factor point)

 

The more factor points you have, the better you did the challenge.

Leaderboard itself

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

...

 

This thread may be necroposted, but I think I edited enough of it to be clearly different to the previous one.
If this is out of forum rules,I ask  moderators such as @Vanamonde, messenge me, so I could edit it enough.
Please don't lock this.
 
Edited by cratercracker
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46 minutes ago, qzgy said:

Yup. Though in 1.2.2.

K! You can use any version since 1.2.

Good luck!

39 minutes ago, NSEP said:

Hey, i might do this challenge! Like you said, it sounds boring, but its quite interesting!

Cool! The idea of the challenge is to help people who don't know a lot about relay, and for advanced people to check their knowledge!

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4 minutes ago, cratercracker said:

Cool! The idea of the challenge is to help people who don't know a lot about relay, and for advanced people to check their knowledge!

Great! I would actually like to try this in Realism Overhaul, but that messes uo the rules, so stock first.

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1 hour ago, cratercracker said:

K! You can use any version since 1.2.

Good luck!

Cool! The idea of the challenge is to help people who don't know a lot about relay, and for advanced people to check their knowledge!

I might try this in my HPtech tree career (no reverts, quicksaves, quickloads, opening part purchase costs)

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Since the scoring for this challenge wasn't particularly clear, I just decided to go ahead and launch the relay cloud for as low cost as possible.

Here's my launch vehicle:

screenshot0.png

This is with one relay inside.

screenshot01.png

Relay removed, showing relay cost at 2,175 Kerbucks.

screenshot35.png

Fuel drained, showing per-launch propellant cost at 711 Kerbucks.

My reusable launch vehicle costs 19,649 Kerbucks.

First launch:

Spoiler

screenshot02.png

Heading down the runway...

screenshot04.png

Climbing, holding 0 degrees.

screenshot06.png

Starting to heat up.

screenshot07.png

Reaching the max capabilities of airbreathing mode; switching.

screenshot09.png

Now in rocket mode, raising Ap.

screenshot12.png

Suborbital with Ap where I want it.

screenshot13.png

Closer look at my lovely payload.

screenshot14.png

Set up circularization node.

screenshot16.png

Burning to circularize...

screenshot18.png
screenshot19.png

Nice tight circle!

screenshot21.png

Payload jettison.

screenshot22.png

All systems go. Minimalist? Well, yes. But we're going for maximum value here.

screenshot24.png

Lowered Pe of my launch vehicle for re-entry.

screenshot25.png

Toasty!

screenshot26.png

Peak heating.

screenshot30.png

Kicked on the engines to ensure I make it to Kerra Kirma.

screenshot31.png

And I'm too lazy to fly all the way back to KSC, so I'll just put it down here.

screenshot33.png

Gear down, and...

screenshot34.png

Recovered!

That's one small relay down (or up, as the case may be), five to go.

Second launch:

Spoiler

screenshot36.png

Lifting off.

screenshot38.png

Starting a tight turn.

screenshot39.png

North to a polar orbit!

screenshot40.png

Waiting to switch modes.

screenshot41.png

Rockets engaged!

screenshot42.png

Reached a nice Ap.

screenshot44.png

Polar orbit circularization maneuvering node.

screenshot46.png

Circularizing with Kerbol in view.

screenshot47.png

Not too shabby!

screenshot49.png

Payload away.

screenshot52.png

Deorbit burn complete.

screenshot53.png

Toasty, as always.

screenshot54.png

Wait, what's this place?

screenshot55.png

Nice landing site, I think.

screenshot56.png

Landed!

I'll stack the next four relays in a single set:

Spoiler

screenshot57.png

I've got to try to get them all to cross at roughly the same point. Timing is tough.

screenshot58.png

Liftoff...

screenshot59.png

Climb...

screenshot60.png

Ap set...

screenshot61.png

Orbited!

screenshot62.png

Relay away.

screenshot64.png

Re-entry...

screenshot66.png

Recovered.

screenshot67.png

Next relay. Hard right to a -50 degree inclination.

screenshot69.png

Ascent...

screenshot70.png

Node set...

screenshot72.png

Orbited!

screenshot73.png

Off tumbles the payload.

screenshot75.png

Return...

screenshot76.png

And back.

screenshot78.png

Not quite so hard a turn this time.

screenshot79.png

Finishing airbreathing ascent...

screenshot80.png

Ap achieved.

screenshot81.png

Node up.

screenshot83.png

Deployed!

screenshot84.png

Coming back in.

screenshot85.png

Banking hard to get to land, deadstick.

screenshot86.png

Landed.

screenshot87.png

Another turn.

screenshot88.png

Ascent.

screenshot89.png

+50 degrees this time.

screenshot90.png

Orbited!

screenshot91.png

Cute shot of the deployment.

screenshot92.png

Back for the last time...for now.

screenshot93.png

Approach...

screenshot94.png

And down.

So let's take stock. 19,649 Kerbucks for the launch vehicle (which I still have) and 6 relays up at 2,886 kerbucks each:

screenshot95.png

Costs to date: 36,965 kerbucks.

Now to put those two long-distance relays up!

screenshot96.png

Actually used less fuel on this launch because my margins were closer.

Final launch cost (subtracting vehicle) was 9317 kerbucks.

screenshot97.png

Slower ascent, heavier payload.

screenshot99.png

Climbing. Used a more careful ascent to maximize dV.

screenshot100.png

Rocket mode.

screenshot101.png

Let's see how high I can get the Ap on the Rapier alone.

screenshot102.png

Rapier burnout!

screenshot103.png

Nose is still toasty.

screenshot104.png

Opening the cargo bay.

screenshot105.png

Deploying the relays.

screenshot106.png

Had to un-hibernate.

screenshot107.png

First set of panels deployed. I've got an Ant for the propulsion bus.

screenshot108.png

Burning prograde with the propulsion bus until my Pe is orbital.

screenshot109.png

Nice shot.

screenshot110.png

All right, I've got orbit!

screenshot111.png

Renamed so I don't get confused.

screenshot112.png

Closing the cargo doors. I'm coming in from a very high suborbital trajectory without power (at least until I get down to airbreathing altitudes) so this might get messy. 

screenshot114.png

Tumbling wildly.

screenshot115.png

Will I survive?

screenshot116.png

Made it!

screenshot118.png

Quick kick from the engines so I can make it to land.

screenshot119.png

Landed! Do I get to subtract the cost of my LV since I recovered it?

Anyway, back to orbit:

screenshot121.png

Setting up a node.

screenshot122.png

Burning at Pe.

screenshot123.png

Slow going with the Ant.

screenshot125.png

Didn't quite get there, so I'm warping around for another go.

screenshot126.png

Almost there.

screenshot128.png

Lovely!

screenshot129.png

Swinging out to circularize.

screenshot130.png

Kind of a long burn here.

screenshot131.png

Made it!

screenshot132.png

Nice closeup.

screenshot133.png

Throttled the Ant way down to get an exact orbit.

screenshot137.png

Transferring fuel.

screenshot138.png

One relay away!

screenshot139.png

Going to lower my Pe so I can put this relay opposite the other one.

screenshot140.png

After one orbit...

screenshot141.png

And there's my opposite orbit!

Both are exactly opposite with identical periods.

If I get to subtract the cost of my RLV, then I did this mission for the low-low price of just 26,633 kerbucks; if not, then the cost was 46,282 kerbucks. Either way, it's pretty impressive.

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5 minutes ago, sevenperforce said:

Since the scoring for this challenge wasn't particularly clear, I just decided to go ahead and launch the relay cloud for as low cost as possible.

Here's my launch vehicle:

screenshot0.png

This is with one relay inside.

screenshot01.png

Relay removed, showing relay cost at 2,175 Kerbucks.

screenshot35.png

Fuel drained, showing per-launch propellant cost at 711 Kerbucks.

My reusable launch vehicle costs 19,649 Kerbucks.

First launch:

  Reveal hidden contents

screenshot02.png

Heading down the runway...

screenshot04.png

Climbing, holding 0 degrees.

screenshot06.png

Starting to heat up.

screenshot07.png

Reaching the max capabilities of airbreathing mode; switching.

screenshot09.png

Now in rocket mode, raising Ap.

screenshot12.png

Suborbital with Ap where I want it.

screenshot13.png

Closer look at my lovely payload.

screenshot14.png

Set up circularization node.

screenshot16.png

Burning to circularize...

screenshot18.png
screenshot19.png

Nice tight circle!

screenshot21.png

Payload jettison.

screenshot22.png

All systems go. Minimalist? Well, yes. But we're going for maximum value here.

screenshot24.png

Lowered Pe of my launch vehicle for re-entry.

screenshot25.png

Toasty!

screenshot26.png

Peak heating.

screenshot30.png

Kicked on the engines to ensure I make it to Kerra Kirma.

screenshot31.png

And I'm too lazy to fly all the way back to KSC, so I'll just put it down here.

screenshot33.png

Gear down, and...

screenshot34.png

Recovered!

That's one small relay down (or up, as the case may be), five to go.

Second launch:

  Reveal hidden contents

screenshot36.png

Lifting off.

screenshot38.png

Starting a tight turn.

screenshot39.png

North to a polar orbit!

screenshot40.png

Waiting to switch modes.

screenshot41.png

Rockets engaged!

screenshot42.png

Reached a nice Ap.

screenshot44.png

Polar orbit circularization maneuvering node.

screenshot46.png

Circularizing with Kerbol in view.

screenshot47.png

Not too shabby!

screenshot49.png

Payload away.

screenshot52.png

Deorbit burn complete.

screenshot53.png

Toasty, as always.

screenshot54.png

Wait, what's this place?

screenshot55.png

Nice landing site, I think.

screenshot56.png

Landed!

I'll stack the next four relays in a single set:

  Reveal hidden contents

screenshot57.png

I've got to try to get them all to cross at roughly the same point. Timing is tough.

screenshot58.png

Liftoff...

screenshot59.png

Climb...

screenshot60.png

Ap set...

screenshot61.png

Orbited!

screenshot62.png

Relay away.

screenshot64.png

Re-entry...

screenshot66.png

Recovered.

screenshot67.png

Next relay. Hard right to a -50 degree inclination.

screenshot69.png

Ascent...

screenshot70.png

Node set...

screenshot72.png

Orbited!

screenshot73.png

Off tumbles the payload.

screenshot75.png

Return...

screenshot76.png

And back.

screenshot78.png

Not quite so hard a turn this time.

screenshot79.png

Finishing airbreathing ascent...

screenshot80.png

Ap achieved.

screenshot81.png

Node up.

screenshot83.png

Deployed!

screenshot84.png

Coming back in.

screenshot85.png

Banking hard to get to land, deadstick.

screenshot86.png

Landed.

screenshot87.png

Another turn.

screenshot88.png

Ascent.

screenshot89.png

+50 degrees this time.

screenshot90.png

Orbited!

screenshot91.png

Cute shot of the deployment.

screenshot92.png

Back for the last time...for now.

screenshot93.png

Approach...

screenshot94.png

And down.

So let's take stock. 19,649 Kerbucks for the launch vehicle (which I still have) and 6 relays up at 2,886 kerbucks each:

screenshot95.png

Costs to date: 36,965 kerbucks.

Now to put those two long-distance relays up!

screenshot96.png

Actually used less fuel on this launch because my margins were closer.

Final launch cost (subtracting vehicle) was 9317 kerbucks.

screenshot97.png

Slower ascent, heavier payload.

screenshot99.png

Climbing. Used a more careful ascent to maximize dV.

screenshot100.png

Rocket mode.

screenshot101.png

Let's see how high I can get the Ap on the Rapier alone.

screenshot102.png

Rapier burnout!

screenshot103.png

Nose is still toasty.

screenshot104.png

Opening the cargo bay.

screenshot105.png

Deploying the relays.

screenshot106.png

Had to un-hibernate.

screenshot107.png

First set of panels deployed. I've got an Ant for the propulsion bus.

screenshot108.png

Burning prograde with the propulsion bus until my Pe is orbital.

screenshot109.png

Nice shot.

screenshot110.png

All right, I've got orbit!

screenshot111.png

Renamed so I don't get confused.

screenshot112.png

Closing the cargo doors. I'm coming in from a very high suborbital trajectory without power (at least until I get down to airbreathing altitudes) so this might get messy. 

screenshot114.png

Tumbling wildly.

screenshot115.png

Will I survive?

screenshot116.png

Made it!

screenshot118.png

Quick kick from the engines so I can make it to land.

screenshot119.png

Landed! Do I get to subtract the cost of my LV since I recovered it?

Anyway, back to orbit:

screenshot121.png

Setting up a node.

screenshot122.png

Burning at Pe.

screenshot123.png

Slow going with the Ant.

screenshot125.png

Didn't quite get there, so I'm warping around for another go.

screenshot126.png

Almost there.

screenshot128.png

Lovely!

screenshot129.png

Swinging out to circularize.

screenshot130.png

Kind of a long burn here.

screenshot131.png

Made it!

screenshot132.png

Nice closeup.

screenshot133.png

Throttled the Ant way down to get an exact orbit.

screenshot137.png

Transferring fuel.

screenshot138.png

One relay away!

screenshot139.png

Going to lower my Pe so I can put this relay opposite the other one.

screenshot140.png

After one orbit...

screenshot141.png

And there's my opposite orbit!

Both are exactly opposite with identical periods.

If I get to subtract the cost of my RLV, then I did this mission for the low-low price of just 26,633 kerbucks; if not, then the cost was 46,282 kerbucks. Either way, it's pretty impressive.

Good job! That is 4 factors (relay and launcher design, ideal orbit and fund economy)

Have you found anomalies using the relay though?

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4 minutes ago, sevenperforce said:

No; what exactly do you mean by that?

If you click on the probe core, you will find "access to kerbnet" click on it and do orbit for a while, you will find question marks, they are resembling anomalies.

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On 13/07/2017 at 7:19 AM, cratercracker said:
 

You have to put 6 satellites in 170 000 m orbit (a bit lower or higher also counts). Into orbits with different inclination of 30,-30,0,50,-50 and 90. They need to have the RA-2 antenna 

The final step is to put 2 satellites into a very high orbit of 7 000 000 m orbit (higher or lower also counts) You have to design these 2 satellites to have powerful antennae like RA-15.

A bit curious about your reasoning for those parameters. Not efficiently using the antenna power or providing a great coverage.

Ok, that may not be the point of the challenge, maybe focused more on the particularities of launching multiple satellites in different inclination. But seems a bit odd to talk about "great connection" and "covering the entire surface" when your rules are vague enough to allow for 50% of the surface to be in the shadow.

 

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50 minutes ago, Spricigo said:

A bit curious about your reasoning for those parameters. Not efficiently using the antenna power or providing a great coverage.

Ok, that may not be the point of the challenge, maybe focused more on the particularities of launching multiple satellites in different inclination. But seems a bit odd to talk about "great connection" and "covering the entire surface" when your rules are vague enough to allow for 50% of the surface to be in the shadow.

 

[sorry I have autism, please be patient{

I mentioned surface connection only in the introduction part of text, it is there only to for looking cool.

Edited by cratercracker
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1 minute ago, cratercracker said:

Actually, one of the rules of Russian language, says that I must never answer a question with another question.

But screw that!

Have you really visited at least 50% of kerbin's surface?

Probably not.

+ I mentioned surface connection only in the introduction part of text, it is there only to for looking cool.

*shrug* I visited enough to lack of communication over 50% of the surface to be a issue.

Anyway, I don’t  think I need to visit any part of Kerbin's surface to ask about a challenge I was considering to participate.

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