Gus Grizzom

Hey KingDominolll, Yeah, I was thinking about that too. I actually rebuilt upper portion of the LAAM, so it can dock parallel underneath the craft. I could still attached it to bow dockingport. I'll have a few trails in LKO to see what works. Thanks for looking out. Regards, Gus Grizzom

Snark, I'll try it both ways. I have a few Air brakes on my sturdiest parts of the craft( just as a redundancy ) However I'm a bit worried since my craft it basically 3 modules connected with Dockingport Sr.'s. it would cause too much cavitation and , snap no more mission. Hmm I do have a Sr. Port on the bow of the craft. Perhaps I can couple on a large inflatable heat shield ( flash back to 2010 the movie) Or I can. Couple on retro rockets on the bow Dockingport. So many options. Also given I'm using NERV's my velocity shouldn't be super high. I think I'll be in good shape for aerobraking. And yes I will save often! Cheers, Gus Grizzom Snark, I'll try it both ways. I have a few Air brakes on my sturdiest parts of the craft( just as a redundancy ) However I'm a bit worried since my craft it basically 3 modules connected with Dockingport Sr.'s. it would cause too much cavitation and , snap no more mission. Hmm I do have a Sr. Port on the bow of the craft. Perhaps I can couple on a large inflatable heat shield ( flash back to 2010 the movie) Or I can. Couple on retro rockets on the bow Dockingport. So many options. Also given I'm using NERV's my velocity shouldn't be super high. I think I'll be in good shape for aerobraking. And yes I will save often! Cheers, Gus Grizzom

Snark, Firstly, amazing info. Second I was going back and forth with using fuel lox engines to for an escape burn. But your plan makes more sense. Start 3 burns at Peace ( using the gravity for that extra nudge) this will would make it more fuel efficient. Thanks so much! Cheers, Gus Grizzom

Hey Slashy, The only craft that will aero brake is the the LAAM. I'm planning on a high orbit of 60-70 km of the main craft. Then dropping the LAAM, as it will have the same relative velocity as the main craft I will slowly de-orbit to 50km and then begin aero breaking. The LAAM has 5 Terrier engines full, RCS,ASAS, 6 chutes, and Air breaks. Fingers crossed. Cheers, Gus Grizzom

Here is a picture of the beast. The LAAM is docked at the bottom, it's in position for a Duna descent. During the voyage it will be docked perpendicularly to the main craft. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-noZwngPDCW7LyV30s04HL9CwkIufFDv/view?usp=drivesdk

Curveball, Absolutely, I took page out of NASA's book when starting this project. I first built a similar system half it's size and sent it to the Mun back, just to get good at the mechanics of multiple part craft. Then I built the massive vessel in the VAB, broke it down into subassemblies. Launched those into orbit. Tested them and their redundancy systems. Once I linked the main module ( so to speak) with the service core, I repeated the process. With my LAAM module I tested it only on the Mun. I had enough ∆v to go to the Mun on it's own from LKO land and ascend and return to LKO. Now I know it's not the same as Duna. Perhaps I'll send it out to Duna first and see how it handles the mission parameters. At this point I'm scratching my head with the propulsion drive section. It currently has 4 NERV's on it with the fuel capacity of 16,020 units of fuel. Now I'm thinking since it will take time to from 100km Kerbin orbit to accelerate to escape Kerbin gravity and into an optimal Trans Duna injection. So I have the option of adding on 4 Poodle engine boosters to the drive section to help with that initial speed up for Duna. Fun stuff I enjoy these ambitious type missions cos it makes you really think especially on console with no engineer mods or ∆v calculator's. This makes you appreciate the men and women who worked and work on space programs. Cheers, Gus Grizzom

Slashy, The main craft dry mass ( unfueled besides monoprop free) is 62 tonnes. The LAAM fueled for descent and ascent is 18 tonnes. Cheers, Guz Grizzom.

Slashy, My payload is the Craft plus the LAAM ( landing and ascent module) both at the time of launch from LKO will be docked together. Since the only the LAAM will be landing on Duna. The main craft will encounter Duna at a high orbit and gradually lower the orbit of the main craft till it's in a parking orbit that the LAAM can intercept ( roughly 50km ) Once my ground mission is on Duna is over. The LAAM with redock with the main craft to transfer crew. Once a launch window is established back to Kerbin, the LAAM with undock and remain hopefuly in Duna's orbit ( ready to be reused at a later mission) Now I have preformed a similar mission to the Mun. Assembled large craft in orbit, fueled it in orbit and launched to the Mun. I just think it's time to up the ante with this ridiculous mission to Duna. Again thanks for all the help! Regards, Gus Grizzom

Hey RachetinSpace, Thanks for the speedy reply. Mission profile is to orbit Duna, send down lander. The lander is configured for both desent and ascent. It is equipped with parachutes, aero brakes ( redundancy). I will have enough fuel for both phases. Then Conduct ground mission and return to the mothership so to speak. I will ditch the lander in orbit ( so I can refuel and reuse later) After all that return to Kerbin. I know that I need less Delta v for the return trip so I should have enough fuel for the trip and course corrections. Thanks again for all your insight, it's hard on console with no Kerbin engineer! Regards, Gus Grizzom

Hello fellow Kerbalnauts, I'm playing on the PS4 so sadly no mods to help me calculate things for my problem. No more So I'm constructing a massive Duna ship ( think Discovery from 2001) It is being built in a 90 orbit of Kerbin. The total dry mass of the craft is 70 tons. 55.2 m in length I'm planning on using nuclear engines to power it. My question is how much fuel do I need, to leave LKO and get to Duna ( planning launch during Duna Kerban close approach) My craft has currently 3 empty Kerbodyne 7200 1 Kerbodyne 3600 and a Rockmax X200-16, all empty. Please let me know how I achieve my goal. Cheers, Gus Grizzom