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

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

5 hours ago, Neebel said:

Could Nebel Kerman join expedition 4?

Yep definitely 

Edited September 15, 2021 by AmateurAstronaut1969

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

Columbus, the European Laboratory. 

Europe has had a major role in American Spaceflight since the end of the Apollo program. Firstly, wanting to send more than one Astronaut every few missions to Spacelab, the ESA developed the Block III+ mission module, a living space for the crew in orbit, much like on the Soyuz. This allowed crews of 5 to be launched in an Apollo capsule without being extremely cramped. 
 

Then, Europe contributed the European Research Module (ERM) to Spacelab, a large module designed to extend the internal volume of Spacelab by a large amount, whilst providing a laboratory for the crew to do experiments and science inside.

Finally, NASA asked ESA to join the Freedom project. Under this, they were to construct a module for Space Station Freedom, a new, larger mission module for the Apollo block IV, and a resupply craft, named the Minotaur.

The Columbus module is of a similar construction to destiny, however, it has large mounts on its forward bulkhead for large science experiments and research. Columbus is the last module in Phase 1 of Freedom’s construction. Once it’s docked, Freedom will be able to support a crew of 10 Astronauts aboard. This is Freedom’s IOC - Initial Operational Capacity. However Phase 2 Of Freedoms Expansion will add 3 more modules, and two extra solar array segments, extending Freedom to it’s FOC - Full Operational Capacity - of 15 Astronauts.

Despite it being a European contribution to Freedom, Columbus is launched on a Saturn M02 from the Cape, as any current European rockets aren’t capable of lifting such a payload. Instead, Columbus was flown to the States and Integrated in the VAB.

July 1989; Pad 39-B,  Early Evening.

The Saturn sits Fuelling on the pad

10...9...8 - Command Engine Start...

...3...2...1, Holddowns released-

Liftoff

The vehicle is passing through the cloud layer 

Passing through Max-Q

Thrust is Nominal

 

Saturn Enters the Twilight

Approaching MECO

Stage Separation, confirmed J-2 Ignition

Nominal J-2 Performance 

Sinking back over the horizon

SECO on the S-IVB, attitude hold

SLA Panel Jettison

Separation of Columbus

Columbus now coasts for a couple of days In order freedom to catch up with it and dock.

Approaching Freedom

Columbus now Targets Docking point 02 (DP2), on the opposite side of the station to Docking Point 01 (DP1). Once lined up at DP2, Columbus can preform the flyaround and target Unity’s Portside Docking node.

 

Columbus is lined up and targeting its port - It has to closely fly by the P1 Truss segment, hence the 2nd Axis of rotation has been disabled on both Solar Segments for this docking 

Soft Capture!

...and, Hard capture!

Phase one of Expansion has been completed on Freedom

 

Freedom looks closer to complete than it ever has before!

Thanks for Reading everyone!

Freedom Expedition 02 will be coming in a day or so. Currently, the mission info is:

Spacecraft: “Pilgrim” - Apollo Block IV

Commander: Jingle Kerman 

Pilot: EM Kerman

Mission Specialist: Adrian Kerman

Mission Specialist: Emillius Kerman

Mission Specialist: Maria Kerman (ESA)

Edited September 16, 2021 by AmateurAstronaut1969

[Maria Sirona]

Oh what a coincidence that i'm the ESA astronaut as i'm from Finland which is an ESA member state

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

3 hours ago, Maria Sirona said:

Oh what a coincidence that i'm the ESA astronaut as i'm from Finland which is an ESA member state

Oh that’s great! I was hoping someone here would an ESA astronaut. I’m from England myself, the ESA is awesome 

[Neebel]

On 9/16/2021 at 5:25 PM, AmateurAstronaut1969 said:

Oh that’s great! I was hoping someone here would an ESA astronaut. I’m from England myself, the ESA is awesome 

I could be an ESA astronaut too, am from Austria.

[Hyperspace Industries]

On 7/28/2021 at 3:33 PM, AmateurAstronaut1969 said:

I haven't read too much of ETS yet ( I keep meaning to, but I always forget ).

I kinda have the opposite problem, I'm spending so much time reading ETS, that I don't have time to read this report, but I'm pretty sure this will have spoilers (currently in spacelab 7 area). Thanks for introducing me to this awesome story/alternate history!    

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

30 minutes ago, Hyperspace Industries said:

I kinda have the opposite problem, I'm spending so much time reading ETS, that I don't have time to read this report, but I'm pretty sure this will have spoilers (currently in spacelab 7 area). Thanks for introducing me to this awesome story/alternate history!    

Oh thanks man! 
Sorry it kinda spoils it for you

I would have Started with Skylab and Spacelab, but the BDB parts were bad at the time, because we have the new ones now. I might think about going back to do Skylab and Spacelab after Freedom. I have a few ideas on what to do after Freedom has finished Assembly, but I’ll talk about that later 

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

3 hours ago, Neebel said:

I could be an ESA astronaut too, am from Austria.

Definitely!

On 9/15/2021 at 2:03 AM, Spaceman.Spiff said:

Are you taking applicants to the program?

You still up for it?

[Spaceman.Spiff]

5 minutes ago, AmateurAstronaut1969 said:

Definitely!

You still up for it?

Yes!

Calvin Kerman reporting for duty!

[Hyperspace Industries]

If I may suggest a kerbal name:

Heinrich Kerman, ESA, reporting for duty!

(Heinrich is a German, and occasionally Czechoslovakian name, (found a moon crater named that on google moon))

Edited September 17, 2021 by Hyperspace Industries
By the way, I'm from South Africa, so unless you want to recreate Mark Shuttleworth, I recommend making him ESA.

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

 

2 hours ago, Hyperspace Industries said:

If I may suggest a kerbal name:

Heinrich Kerman, ESA, reporting for duty!

 

Yeah definitely 

Edited September 17, 2021 by AmateurAstronaut1969

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

Freedom Expedition 3

August 1989:

Between May and July 1989, Freedom has been receiving all the modules it needs to reach its Initial Operational Capacity (IOC), with the docking of Discovery and Columbus providing 2 science laboratories, and the S1 Truss providing the power required to supply them. To achieve IOC, one more launch is required, the Launch of Freedom Expedition 3, to grow the crew to 10 Astronauts.

The Crew of the next Expedition is:

-CSM - Pilgrim

-Commander Jingle Kerman

-Pilot EM Kerman

-Mission Specialist Adrian Kerman

-Mission Specialist Emillius Kerman

-Mission Specialist (ESA) Maria Kerman

The Main Objectives of Freedom Expedition 3 are to:

-Maintain the station in an Operational state.

-Host the docking of Node 2 ‘Harmony’

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

-Perform research using the two new laboratories

-Achieve IOC upon docking

-Stay on the Station for approx 6 months

-Return safely 

August 1989, Pad 39-A, early Evening.

T-27s, S-IF Fuelling arm retraction

 

T-8s, Engine Ignition 

 

T-0s, Launch Clamp retraction, and Liftoff 

Roll initiated

Passing through the cloud layer

Approaching Maximum Aerodynamic stress on the vehicle - Max-Q

Approaching S-IF Burnout

Stage Separation

J-2  Ignition is Nominal

LES Jettison

 

Nominal Orbital Insertion 

SLA Separation, and Pilgrim Transposition 

Pilgrim closing in for Docking 

(Note - you’ll see me start to use this Blue coloured Config a lot more, especially in the next mission, but tell me what you think about it, @ballisticfox0 did a great job making it!)

Extraction from the S-IVB

Pilgrim now coasts for the next couple of days I’m orbit, closing in on Freedom

Pilgrim Performing its phasing burns

Approximately Freedom

Pilgrim lines up once again with Docking Point one, much like the other spacecraft visiting Freedom, however it doesn’t need to do the Flyaround Challenger’s aft Port is directly ahed of it.

Camera Views from Freedom:

Challenger cam

Monochrome camera on SSRMS 01

Colour Camera on SSRMS 01

Closing in...

Prepare for Soft APAS capture 

Captured!

Hard Capture Confirmed

Freedom has Officially reached Initial Operational Capacity!

Thanks For Reading!

As of today, the crew for Expedition 5 is:

Calvin Kerman

Heinrich Kerman

DG Kerman

There are two seats left, so if you want to join Expedition 5, just say so 

Have a great day

[Misguided Kerbal]

1 hour ago, AmateurAstronaut1969 said:

There are two seats left, so if you want to join Expedition 5, just say so 

Have a great day

Could I request a seat for Misguided Kerman?

 

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

6 hours ago, Misguided Kerbal said:

Could I request a seat for Misguided Kerman?

Yep 

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

*Sigh*
I had Expedition 4 nearly complete, but then this happened...

Wait, you think this is a bad thing. Oh no, definitely not - This is Amazing news for Freedom! Just look how awesome this Apollo block III looks-

It will be a few days before the next mission though, because I’ve had a busy weekend and I need to completely relaunch the mission (and also Hyperedit a new version of Freedom to orbit - It wasn’t even me upgrading it this time, the Plumes on the RCS broke and they can only be fixed by launching  new RCS )

See you all soon then, hopefully I don’t take too long haha

Edited September 19, 2021 by AmateurAstronaut1969

[BekfastDerp13]

Will expedition 4 will still be a thing?

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

2 hours ago, BekfastDerp13 said:

Will expedition 4 will still be a thing?

Oh yeah definitely. I never said I was giving up on Freedom lol. I just need to relaunch it with the new Saturn Parts, that will either be done tonight or tomorrow, aiming to release it in a day or two. I want to keep up these fast paced missions, I disliked it when I took over a week for a mission

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

On 9/20/2021 at 4:40 PM, BekfastDerp13 said:

Will expedition 4 will still be a thing?

Coming tomorrow...

Edited September 23, 2021 by AmateurAstronaut1969

[SpaceFace545]

@AmateurAstronaut1969 What mod gives you those decals? Conformal decals obviously but the actual designs?

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

7 hours ago, SpaceFace545 said:

@AmateurAstronaut1969 What mod gives you those decals? Conformal decals obviously but the actual designs?

It’s actually just the lettering decal where you can spell out words. I’ve got it on the Air Force font. That was canonical for the S-II, but it looks similar enough to use on the S-IVB.

I found that a good colour for the red is 210 or 217, with Green and Blue being both at 0

You just need to have a it of a measure around with the word decals and see what works for you 

[BekfastDerp13]

15 hours ago, AmateurAstronaut1969 said:

Coming tomorrow...

:O

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

3 hours ago, BekfastDerp13 said:

:O

Freedom Expedition 4

October 1989

Freedom Expedition 2 has almost finished its stay on the station, after its arrival 6 months earlier. Prior to that however, Freedom Expedition 4 must launch and Rendezvous with the Orbital platform.

The crew aboard the block IV CSM, Ares consists of:
-Commander Penguin Kerman

-Pilot Fox Kerman

-Mission Specialist Raccourier Kerman

-Mission Specialist Nebel Kerman (ESA)

-Mission Specialist Derp Kerman

During their Stay at Freedom, Node 2, Harmony will be docked to Unity’s Forward node, leading to Ares staying docked to the Zenith node of Unity for their 6 month stay at Freedom. They will also host the first ESA Minotaur docking in order to resupply Freedom.

Early Morning, LC39-A

The crew waits with bated breath as the clock ticks closer to launch

Umbilical retract, 26...25...

Ignition, and liftoff!

 

Tower Cleared, initiate roll to flight Azimuth 

Pitch program in nominal progress

Approaching the Cloud layer

...F1-A preforming Nominally...go for throttle up Ares...

Approaching MECO, 8.75% fuel remaining

Nominal Engine shutdown...prepare for Separation 

We have good indication of S-IVB separation 

J-2S ignition

 

Tower Jettison... 

 

J-2S is performing Nominally

Ares, Houston...prepare for burnout in T-60s

Copy that Houston

Shutdown...prepare for SLA opening...

 

Transposition Complete...preparing to turn around

Closing in

Hard capture confirmed...the Mission module is docked.

Preparing for Extraction 

Ares enters its coast phase where it performs a few small rendezvous burns to catch up to Freedom, for a docking later that day.

Rendezvous burn 01

 

Only a few Km away from Freedom now...

...as it slowly fades into view

 

Approaching from the front, Ares wants to be slightly above Freedom to dock to the Zenith port on unity, and in order to do this, it preforms the flyaround manoeuvre, raising it just above Freedom and facing the port at the same time, so by the time it had arrived at Freedom, it is parked ahead of the Port

 

Parked with the Port ahed of it, Ares begins it’s approach...

Pictures captured from the monochrome and colour cameras on SSRMS 2:

The soft capture ring is nearly touching...

 

Successful docking confirmed

 
 

The crew of Ares now open the hatch and join Expedition 2 & 3 onboard Freedom.

13 days later...

The crew of Expedition 2 board their CSM, Olympus, and prepare for undocking

Another view from SSRMS 2

 

 

 

Prior to deorbiting, Olympus discards its Mission Module in LEO, to deobit a few weeks later 

The Final burn of Olympus 

Approaching entry interface

SM separation

Olympus in reentry orientation

Olympus, Houston, do we have acquisition of signal?

Olympus, Houston, do we have acquisition of signal?
Houston, this is Olympus, signal acquired!

Drogue deploy

Drogue release...mains pulled, we have successful main deployment 

Fully inflated

Touchdown, Welcome back to Earth Olympus!

Thanks for reading

Edited September 24, 2021 by AmateurAstronaut1969
Cannonicity errors lmao

[Neebel]

Awesome! One question, how did you make that CSM so shiny?

[AmateurAstronaut1969]

55 minutes ago, Neebel said:

Awesome! One question, how did you make that CSM so shiny?

@TruthfulGnome made a config for it

[Jacktical]

Amazing once again!