totm sep 2021 Space Station Freedom - A Kerbalized recreation of Space Station Freedom from Eyes Turned Skywards

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

9 hours ago, SpaceFace545 said:

what mod are the trusses from?

The very old mod CXAerospace. I’d delete everything but the truss sections because it could break the game, but mine worked fine with just the truss sections.

They are tweakscaled to 75% size and the HabTech Solar arrays are also tweakscaled smaller (0.925m I think)

[Maria Sirona]

I absolutely love this mission report! Maria Kerman (female) would like to volunteer for a mission!

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

Freedom Expedition 2

April 1989

With Freedom expedition 1 being up at the station for almost six months now, it's due time for Freedom's first crew rotation. 

The Crew of Freedom's second expedition consists of:

-Commander Truthful Kerman

-Pilot Talv Kerman

-Mission Specialist Kolbie Kerman

-Mission Specialist Volvical Kerman

-Mission Specialist (ESA) Evan Kerman 

Despite Challenger's enormous size, Freedom is still below it's initial operational capacity (IOC),  and can only host one crew at a time, therefore, Expedition 1 will depart later the same month.

The Main Objectives of Freedom Expedition 2 are to:

-Maintain the station in an Operational state.

-Host the docking of the US laboratory 'Discovery', the European laboratory 'Columbus' , the S1 Truss segment, Expedition 3, and Expedition 4

-Outfit the interior and exterior of the new modules with the required hardware

-Achieve IOC with Expedition 3

-Stay on the Station for 6 months

-Return safely 

Cape Kennedy, Pad 39-A

Freedom Expedition fuels up at dusk, preparing for it's mission later that night.

1:23am,

T-10,9,8...We Have F1-A Ignition...

...3,2,1...Hold-downs released, and Liftoff!

The Saturn's Plume as it lights the sky ablaze

Saturn Passing through the cloud layer

Throttling down the F1-A before burnout

Confirmed Stage Separation, and J-2 Ignition...

Nominal J-2 Thrust Level

"Houston, We have LES Jettison"

 

"Confirmed SECO, and...Nominal J-2 Shutdown"

The S-IVB is oriented into it's hold attitude for Extraction and Transposition

Images from the Apollo Docking Camera

And images from the Mission Module Camera

Extraction Confirmed

Apollo Preforming the "Fly around" to Unity's Forward docking node

On Approach

Hard Capture Confirmed!

 

Late April 1989 - Expedition 1 Undocking

Reentry

Parachutes Deployed

 

Thanks For reading

Just a little side note here. I think I might change up the screenshot style here. I've noticed I tend to take loads of mediocre pictures and then upload them, but I really shouldn't do that. I want to strive to take really good pictures, even if that means less. so you're gonna see me change my TUFX, and my screenshot style too. See ya! 

[Talverd]

 

[Maria Sirona]

I think the pictures are absolutely fine

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

7 minutes ago, Maria Sirona said:

 

I think the pictures are absolutely fine

 

Oh thanks.

I think I’m still gonna change the style up a bit. Alverro’s TUFX is overrated and I’m bored of it. I’m trying a few new things. Hopefully the next mission will look much cooler

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

Hi everyone! 
Small update here. This isn’t exactly related to Freedom, but already after a day, I think I’ve improved my Screenshots tenfold. Take a look at this!

 

I hope you’re all as Chuffed to bits as I am! I’m really looking forward it the next mission now 

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

Thanks so much everyone for firstly coming here and supporting this endeavour, but secondly, for nominating me for thread of the month. This is just mental, and I am over the moon right now that people appreciate my work so much. You guys are amazing!

Enjoy the rest of your day everyone, and see you soon 

[Emilius73]

Can Emilius Kerman join the crew?

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

8 hours ago, Emilius73 said:

Can Emilius Kerman join the crew?

Of Course yeah!

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

Okay little Update

Ive taken the last few days off from Freedom to play with the new Saturn parts. And I’ve decided that I’m gonna switch as much as I can to them. So the rockets will change Diameter and the S-IVB will be different. And also I’ve decided that I’m switching the Apollo CSM over to the new parts. However, there isn’t a new Block III SM right now, so I’m gonna have to make a frankencapsule of sorts and mix the new parts with the old SM. I’ve looked at it, and it’s actually alright, so I think I’m gonna do that until the new SM is made. 
 

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

Hey everyone!

The next mission should be up in a few days. Sorry I haven’t posted anything this last week. I’ve just started school again, the Computer is being a bit temperamental and I did a little bit of an update to freedom with the new Saturn parts. Here’s some pictures:

And let’s throw in some new Apollo action because that’s always hot 

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

US Laboratory, Discovery

May 1989

The US Laboratory, Informally called ‘Discovery’ is the main laboratory for space station Freedom, however, Unlike the similar module of Destiny from our timeline, it isn’t the functional centre of the Station/the US Segment. Discovery is much different as all the life support hardware that would have been located on its 23 internal racks, the hardware is inside its core; Challenger.

Instead, Discovery functions as a research centre. It has the space for lots of internal research, with most of its experiments being constantly switched in and out, being delivered on crew or cargo flights, and returning in the Apollo capsules or in an ESA Minotaur. It also has external pallets for mounting experiments to, of which many were launched up with Discovery.

Discovery is launched on a Saturn M02, using its own OMS thrusters to rendezvous with Freedom (Side note - That was a mistake on my part, I assumed that the modules were delivered by AARDV tugs’s however, only the Truss segments are), and will dock to Unity’s Starboard port.

Launch Complex 39-B...

Late Afternoon:

...3...2...1...Release, Release-

Liftoff!

“The vehicle is passing through the point of maximum aerodynamic pressure”

“Approaching Core Burnout”

“We have confirmed Separation of the S-IVB from the S-IF first stage...and we have J-2 Ignition”

“The J-2 has had a nominal ignition and is burning at 100% thrust”

“Approaching burnout”

“Nominal Orbit Insertion”

“SLA Panel Jettison”

“Discovery separation...OMS thrusters Confirmed to be functioning Nominally”

 

Now In orbit, Discovery completes a series of small burns to raise its orbit, coast closer to Freedom, and change its orbit to rendezvous.

 

2 days later...

Discovery inches closer to Freedom,

 

100m out, it parks, and performs the flyaround to target the Starboard port of Unity.

Now lined up with Unity, Discovery begins its approach.

Discovery slows down to less than 1m/s for the docking, and its Soft capture ring deploys.

 

Freedom sits as a Monolith in Orbit above the Earth...

Next Time - S1 Truss segment 

A little teaser maybe?

Thanks for reading everyone, see you soon! 

 

[Guest]

EPICCCC!!!!!!!!! 

This thread is awesome!!!!

The style of these missions have inspired how I fly my missions for my small space station in my stock KSP install , haha

 

Keep up the great work!

Edited June 3, 2022 by JebNotFound
i hate my life

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

21 hours ago, SpaceX_Boi said:

EPICCCC!!!!!!!!!  

This thread is awesome!!!!

The style of these missions have inspired how I fly my missions for my small space station in my stock KSP install

 

Keep up the great work!

Thanks so much man, it’s great to see people being inspired by my work 

[Kuiper_Belt]

I've been loving the series! Your screenshots have been beautiful and I can't wait for the series to continue! Keep up the fantastic work!

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

S1 Truss Segment.

The S1 Truss segment is the next part needed to complete the initial Integrated Truss Structure of Freedom. It will be mounted on the Starboard side of the S0 Segment, opposite to the P1 Segment. 
 

When both Solar arrays are up and running, Freedom will have more than enough electrical power to support its initial operational capacity (IOC), which will be achieved a month after this launch, with the launch of the European Research Module, Columbus. 
 

The S1 segment also hosts the large tracking radiators and the smaller fixed radiator in order to keep the station from overheating and keep its insides at an optimal temperature.

June 1989

 The Saturn H03 sits on the pad ahed of its 4th launch, with the H03 alone weighing 1.8 million kg.

Fuel begins to top-off the tanks a couple of minutes before launch...

The S-IF clamps release at 27s...

Hold-downs release, and Liftoff!

The Vehicle begins to roll to its flight azimuth.

The vehicle begins its pitch program

Passing through Max-Q

Booster Cores are a minute away from Burnout

Approaching Burnout...

Separation!

MECO

Separation, J-2 Ignition

Fairing Jettison 

Approaching S-IVC Burnout

S1 Separation

 

The Spacecraft now coasts for a couple of days as it corrects its course and slowly approaches freedom.

S1 Approaches Freedom from Docking Point 01 - An invisible point directly behind the station where vehicles can approach the station, stop and target their port.

Departing from Docking Point 01, S1 Begins the flyaround to line it up with the S0 Truss

20m

10m out

5m out

 

Hard capture from the Truss locking mechanism 

Pyrotechnic separation of the AARDV Tug.

The Next day, the Crew prepare for EVA 06 (I’ll include a list of all Freedom’s EVA’s at the end), to connect up S1 to Freedom, preparing for the deployment of its Arrays.

Folding up Challenger’s Starboard Array

Connecting up the Truss

3 days and 2 EVA’s later...

Radiator Deployment 

Full array deployment, Secondary axis tracking, and Radiator Tracking

Freedom looks a bit more complete now, doesn’t it?

AARDV Deorbit and Destruction

 

Thanks for reading guys! As I promised, a comprehensive list of all Freedom’s EVA’s so far 

EVA-01 - November 1988. Outfitting Challenger, Preparing for the Docking of Unity

EVA-02 - January 1989 - Preparing for the docking of the Port 1 Truss 

EVA-03A - January 1989 - Folding in Challenger’s portside array, Connecting P1 to S0 

EVA-03B - January 1989 - Connecting P1 up to the Station 

EVA-04 - May 1989 - Preparing for the Docking of Discovery 

EVA-05 - May 1989 - Connecting Discovery up to the Station - Activating Science experiments.

EVA-06 - June 1989 - Preparing for the Docking of S1

EVA-07A - June 1989 - Folding in Challenger’s Starboard array, Connecting S1 to S0 

EVA-07B - June 1989 - Connecting S1 up to the Station 

(Future)

EVA-08 - July 1989 - Preparing for the Docking of Columbus 

EVA-09 - July 1989 - Connecting Columbus up to the Station - Activating Science experiments.

1 hour ago, Kuiper_Belt said:

I've been loving the series! Your screenshots have been beautiful and I can't wait for the series to continue! Keep up the fantastic work!

Thanks so much man. I love all the support This series is getting, it makes me proud of my work - Thanks so much everyone

Edited September 13, 2021 by AmateurAstronaut1969

[Maria Sirona]

Heyy, do ya remember Maria Kerman the preferably engineer wanting to get to space? She's awaiting her mission eagerly! :}

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

3 hours ago, Maria Sirona said:

Heyy, do ya remember Maria Kerman the preferably engineer wanting to get to space? She's awaiting her mission eagerly! :}

Yeah, of course! Expedition 3 is two missions away, so it’s coming soon - we’ve nearly got a full crew

[BekfastDerp13]

idk maybe Derp Kerman (pilot or scientist?) could join this amazing project?

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

28 minutes ago, BekfastDerp13 said:

idk maybe Derp Kerman (pilot or scientist?) could join this amazing project?

Yep Definitely? You’re on the List for expedition 4, 3 is full up right now.

[Spaceman.Spiff]

Are you taking applicants to the program?

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

5 hours ago, Spaceman.Spiff said:

Are you taking applicants to the program?

Yeah, always, I’ve got loads of crews to fill!

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

Okay so Columbus will be coming later today. I was really tired last night and I decided to go to bed instead of uploading it. See you later!

[Neebel]

2 hours ago, AmateurAstronaut1969 said:

Yeah, always, I’ve got loads of crews to fill!

Could Nebel Kerman join expedition 4?