jinnantonix

It breaks a few rules, hence Rogues Gallery. I thought the KASA Heavy Lift launch vehicle was pretty Kerpollo. But I'm OK if you think it's too rogue-ish.

I didn't get everything. Plenty of space science missed.

Here's one for the Rogues Gallery: Joolollo (more Kerpollo than Kerpollo). Breaks one rule: Visits all biomes on all five moons. Science collected: 82,520

Jool 5 Science Mission. Jebediah level: Mission notes: Two Kerbin launches (1) KASA SLS launch vehicle, with payload of NERVA tug and Tylo drop tanks ($826,543 / 1,252.890 t) and (2) Laythe Spaceplane ($132,539 / 46.813 t ) Assembled in LKO Game version 1.5.1.2335 + Making History. Mechjeb installed but hardly used. Craft file available on request. Science points earned: 82,520 The KASA SLS launch vehicle is a mimic of the NASA SLS Heavy Lift vehicle. Intent was to give the mission an Apollo style, inspired by the Kerpollo Challenge The self imposed challenge was to land a 2 man pressurised vessel on all five of Jool's moons, with orbiters, Apollo style. A temporary space station for the scientists was established at Pol. The safety and comfort of the Kerbal crew was also a priority, so the Kerbals enjoyed an artificial gravity environment for the interplanetary journey, and at the Pol Space Station. The mission included a suitably configured lander for each moon allowing ability to "hop" to every biome on the surface, by docking together a combination of tug, spaceplane and drop tanks. The Laythe lander is a RAPIER based spaceplane with ISRU, allowing near infinite range. The plane included a disposable light weight stabiliser at the rear to ensure stable atmospheric entry (no craft flipping) Additional drop tanks were docked with the spaceplane providing greater stability, and necessary range for Tylo. The NERVA tug is docked for Pol, allowing single stop refuelling. 5 scientists were on the mission, in addition to Jeb the pilot and Bill the ISRU engineer Pol - Jeb, Bill, Bob Laythe - Jeb, Bill, Aldsby Vall - Jeb, Bill, Burhat, Geofrod Bop - Jeb, Bill, Burhat, Geofrod Tylo - Jeb, Bill, Romin In accordance with Werner von Kermans vision for a glider landing for Duna, this was executed on Laythe with a spaceplane science hopper. To reduce risk of crashing, all landings were vertical. All landings included a full compliment of science instruments, and as much science was collected as possible within a reasonable game time. There was some science left to gather (this score can be beaten) There is a bug which caused the landing gear and struts to randomly reorient themselves after each save. This made the final landing at KSC a bit rougher than expected. Thanks again to @JacobJHC for running this challenge.

The craft handles well and so far is flying around Laythe with ease, even making water landings. The key is using chutes for vertical landings, saves a whole lot of grief. Limited chutes = limited range, but I have more then enough to get to every biome. I pre-tested landing and take-off on Tylo, and again no issues.

That is an extraordinarily minimalist level 1 entry approach. Well done indeed. I was trying for something similarly minimalist with the below craft, for a level 3 attempt. It's a RAPIER based space plane, with add-on drop tanks for Tylo, and a NERVA tug for interplanetary transits. My aim is to visit every surface biome on the Jool system and so smash the Jeb level science score. Going well so far, craft is somewhat over designed. Jeb level needs a lot of game time. oh yes, and my Pol space station with spin gravity for accommodating my 5 scientist in comfort. OK perhaps a not so minimalist approach

Thanks @JacobJHC For some time now, I have been wanting to do a major mission with artificial gravity (centrifugal force craft spin) included. I was inspired by the craft design Life One which I saw in a movie called Astronaut: The Last Push . With the Kerpollo challenge it made a lot of sense, as we all know Werner von Kerman cares for the health of his “Kerbal occupants”. I also wanted an opportunity to do Jool-5 level 3, as my previous Jool-5 Jeb level attempt collected a lot of science, but did not take enough Kerbals to qualify (still kicking myself about that). I wanted to do this latest mission at Jeb level, but the Kerpollo challenge rules only allow landing at one biome on the planet surface. So now I am designing another Jool-5 mission, with a multi-purpose SSTO spaceplane similar to the Eve Science Challenge , with the intent of visiting every biome in the Jool system, and a science tally that will be a real challenge to beat. Question: is it against the rules to use Mechjeb for the Jool moon piloting? It would be useful to maintain craft stability allowing warp when flying between biomes, and so reduce game time.J

I agree. The craft seems to have clipped the Juno and Spark together making a "Jark" or "Spuno" I assume action keys are used to activate and shutdown each engine at various times during ascent. The Spark is required at launch to get to speed for oxygen intake, the Juno is used to get from sea level to high altitude, then the Spark does the orbital injection and de-orbit. Your question is: can a more efficient craft be made by staging the Juno for ejection when it cuts out at high altitude? The problem I see is that this would throw out the craft balance massively and so make gliding to the surface problematic. The Juno would also need to be mounted behind the fairing base, so the whole craft would need to be rethought.

Jool-5 3rd level mission- video below. Game version 1.5.1.2335 Mission notes: Single launch from Kerbin. Launch craft cost $1,590,031.All stock components, no mods used The self imposed challenge was to land a 2 man pressurised vessel on all five of Jool's moons. 5 scientists were on the mission, in addition to Jeb the pilot and Bill the ISRU engineer In accordance with Werner von Kermans vision for a glider landing for Duna, this was executed on Laythe. To provide aerodynamics to the Laythe glider and a robust landing module for atmospheric pressure, the lander chosen was a Mk2 Cockpit with Spark engines - and this was re-used for all other landings. All landings included a full compliment of science instruments, although the team were enjoying themselves so much they mostly forgot to gather any science. All flights were tested at Kerbin, so the craft components are all engineered with a design factor of 2 - Werner just insisted. DeltaV was never really an issue, although Laythe to Pol turned out to be a bit closer than expected. The policy of parking the NERVA tug in a highly elliptical orbit, and dropping the lander from there, saved valuable fuel at Laythe and enabled the Kerbin return direct from Tylo . The safety and comfort of the Kerbal crew was also a priority, so the Kerbals enjoyed an PPD-10 Hitchhiker and an artificial gravity environment for the journey. All went well with no unexpected explosions, the Laythe landing being the most enjoyable and satisfying. Please let me know if you have any questions, and require any additional screenshots.

What engine(s) were used in the Bradley Whistance "SSTO"? Are they stock?

Final submission for Kerpollo: Part9 Joolollo, mission video below. Mission notes: The self imposed challenge was to land a 2 man pressurised vessel on all five of Jool's moons. In accordance with Werner von Kermans vision for a glider landing for Duna, this was executed on Laythe. To provide aerodynamics to the Laythe glider and a robust landing module for atmospheric pressure, the lander chosen was a Mk2 Cockpit with Spark engines - and this was re-used for all other landings. The Kerpollo mission trained an individual scientist for each of the Jool moons, so 5 scientists were on the mission, in addition to Jeb the pilot and Bill the ISRU engineer. All landings included a full compliment of science instruments, although the team were enjoying themselves so much they mostly forgot to gather any science. All flights were tested at Kerbin, so the craft components are all engineered with a design factor of 2 - Werner just insisted. DeltaV was never really an issue, although Laythe to Pol turned out to be a bit closer than expected. The policy of parking the NERVA tug in a highly elliptical orbit, and dropping the lander from there, saved valuable fuel at Laythe and enabled the Kerbin return direct from Tylo . The safety and comfort of the Kerbal crew was also a priority, so as with all previous Kerpollo missions, the Kerbals enjoyed an PPD-10 Hitchhiker and an artificial gravity environment for the journey. All went well with no unexpected explosions, the Laythe landing being the most enjoyable and satisfying. Kerpollo mission complete.

Necessary? What does that have to do with it? I say it just isn't Kerpollo without an orbiter and lander.

I am definitely doing Joolollo at level 3. My landing craft can definitely do multiple biomes. I might just do Joolloolo under Kerpollo rules, and if my craft is friendly enough, then do it again at Jeb level.

Surely Jebediah level will be uncompetitive if you can only visit one surface biome per moon. Or just curious to see how many science points are available by executing Kerpollo style?

How would you know? In space no one can hear you scream. I am trying to do Kerpollo in the same way that Werner von Kerman would do it - and I am sure he would care for his "Kerbal occupants".

Evepollo completed, video attached The mission went well right up to the hitchiker exploding on Kerbin landing impact (lucky no Kerbals aboard, all 3 safe in the command pod). I tested for a water landing, but solid ground was a different story. I have a few design modifications before embarking on Joolpollo which will be a Jool-5 level 3 mission. In particular, the following: Add docking ports to separate stage 4, command pod/hithchiker cross tree, and the Laythe and Tylo landers. Each landing will have a different orbiter and lander combination, and each component needs it's own reaction wheel and pilot control system to allow easy SAS enabled redocking. The stage 4 NERVA tug will have a wider landing strut system so it will be stable on Pol, Bop and Vall landings. Add chutes to the hitchhiker. For Joolpollo I will have 5 scientists so the hitchiker must survive impact on Kerbin touchdown. For the Laythe lander I am building a plane so that the pilot can choose a good landing site. This follows Werner von Kermans original vision for Duna landings. Rather than landing on skis, the craft will land vertically for a more efficient lift off to orbit. The Tylo lander will be a simple design variant on the Laythe lander to account for no atmosphere, eg minus the wings and chutes and adding extra drop tanks.

Well done, doing Evepollo with no ISRU looks like a real challenge, getting such a huge craft to Kerbin orbit. I particularly like your leaf spring landing struts, and the way you used them to maintain craft stability during the aerobraking. And 3 stages to Eve orbit with inline staging - never seen that done before, didn't think it possible. There is a mod for everything! Doesn't help me as I have challenged myself to doing my Kerpollo program with no mods. I love your your craft design for Duna, very Kerpollo. I notice you use air brakes on your Duna lander, I also found them very useful for maintaining stability during Duna descent, obviously Kerpollo craft designers would not tolerate a randomly tumbling landing craft, and I am sure your Kerbonaut would appreciate it too. Without knowing which editor you use, can't help with text. I use VSDC, and adding text is easy (although I rarely use it). I don't think you need to add text, the video was self evident.

@dvader thats the first time I have seen an inline Saturn V like launch vehicle for Eve - most designs are asparagus design in order to get efficiency, and thats the way I thought Kerpollo engineers would favour - lower risk of mission failure. My feeling was the Kerpollo does not necessarily mean the remote world needs a tall rocket, but something more like the Munar module concept with a lander, which detaches leaving behind heavy components like ISRU kit. Of course, a MEM would be crushed by Eve's atmosphere so a commend pod is a minimum. And no mission to Eve would exclude collecting science and walking on the surface. I ended up with a single engineer, taking a scientist was a bridge too far as two command pods was too heavy. For science I avoid the heavy second command pod, and instead take multiple instruments and launch them to orbit for collection by my scientist after docking. Looking forward to seeing how your Faturn rocket works. I can't see any solution to your science/airlock issue other than using ladders. (that's what I did).

Dunpollo completed, earning over 4000 science points and completing the tech tree. Very happy with my Saturn V launcher. From a delta-v standpoint this was a very easy mission, I had tons of fuel remaining at Kerbin. I had one big challenge - half way through the mission I discovered that my rotating craft was unbalanced, so I needed to shuffle the hitchhiker and MEM around, and pump just the right amount of fuel into the MEM to balance the mass of the command pod. it wasn't perfect, but it got the craft home. Also, the idea of attaching the heat shield to the command pod with a docking port senior was a dud, there was a very scary explosion during Kerbin re-entry. The crew survived but it wasn't good, so won't be doing that again. Now onto Evepollo.

Mohollo completed. New Saturn -V D using Kerbodyne tanks and Mastadon engines. Same lander as previous, but beefed up for Moho's higher gravity. Screenshots below.

Nice. You have inspired me to use a glider lander and RAPIER ascent engines for Laypollo. Interestingly gliders were included in Werner Von Kerman's vision for Dunpollo landings, but this idea was abandoned when initial probe measurements there indicated that the atmosphere was too thin. But Laythe should be OK.