TomKerbal

You can see here the ERV ready to launch at Starbase. Launch Mass: 5495t , Height: 138m

Testing Video Hosting ( hosted by "Dailymotion". You can see the 2nd Rover tests for the HAB) https://dai.ly/k7aZVkfB6MUmTzC4jFQ

A friend and I have been working on the implementation of Dr. Robert Zubrin's Mars Direct 2.0 mission (described in his book “The Case for Mars”) for quite some time. For this we use KSP with the most realistic mods possible (RO, RP-1 etc.), some of which I try to make even more realistic, although this is not normally necessary as they are already excellent! But for the mission, for example, the new Raptor v3 engine is necessary, things like that. At the end there is the execution of the mission. We are also planning and working on a small publication to show things. Hopefully Dr. Zubrin's Mars Society, for example, will be interested. I would also like to reflect that here in the forum, I think that's important. We live in turbulent times! And we may not even have realized what is currently happening at SpaceX and what significance it could have for the whole of humanity. I will report here from time to time. Models will be published by me on KerbalX, videos etc. I will host and share here. Per Aspera Ad Astra. Tom. Brief description of the main mission components The aim is to establish a Mars colony. First of all, an Earth Return Vehicle (ERV1) is sent to Mars, where it lands at the planned site of the colony. ERV1 now begins to convert the CO2 from the Martian atmosphere into methane and oxygen with the help of the hydrogen it has brought with it. The ERV uses this to replenish its fuel reserves. After 2 years, the habitat ship HAB1 flies to Mars with 4 astronauts on board, accompanied by another ERV, the ERV2. During the flight, the TMI (Trans Mars Injection) stage is detached and connected to the habitation unit of the HAB by a long steel cable. The habitation unit and the TMI stage then orbit around each other and generate an artificial gravity that corresponds to that of Mars. Course corrections must still be possible with the RCS. HAB1 and ERV2 land at the colony landing site on Mars after a 9-month flight. The astronauts can leave Mars at any time with ERV1. Otherwise, the 4 astronauts stay for 2 years, then board the ERV1 and fly back to Earth in it, leaving the HAB1 behind. Artificial gravity is generated on the return flight in the same way as on the outward flight to Mars. Once on Earth, the steel cable is cut, the habitation unit enters the Earth's atmosphere with its heat shield and then lands on parachutes in an Earth ocean. At the same time as the first crew begins its return flight with ERV1, the third ERV (ERV3) and the second HAB (HAB2), again with four astronauts on board, fly from Earth to the Mars colony. Once there, HAB2 is docked to HAB1. The 4 astronauts stay for another 2 years and now have twice as much living space as the first pioneers. After 2 years, they also fly back with an ERV (the ERV2), while at the same time ERV4 and HAB3 fly to the colony. And so on. This is how a colony gradually develops. If the colony is to grow faster, any number of ERVs and HABs can of course be sent out at the same time. An immediate evacuation to orbit must be possible at any time with a sufficiently high number of refueled ERVs. Additionally the ERVs are additional escape rooms in case something goes wrong elsewhere. Link to Paper (WORK IN PROGRESS!!!) : https://mega.nz/file/t4Q3WR7a#OnHoC4n5B4WuD6cisvsK5sHebnOP9BCBkIRMEYq5Tlc Link to CKAN mod list : https://mega.nz/file/N5QDAKiZ#pgWkEDf-7hsid8DCuXUaCR_H3aoNPRbpf4PL3Os3vhc Link to Re-Mods : https://mega.nz/file/wwRAQTAY#zsd2DQkkCmhmcpQOGEIu6tjLIYXGu_1CdnCPbu8zLEw KerbalX : Launch System/ERV/HAB: https://kerbalx.com/TomKerbal/EXP-STARSHIP-ZIIX Endless "Application Errors" , I gave up using KerbalX any more, sorry it is hopeless. You can have a look at this link, wish you luck. Crafts on my MEGA accounts : ERV v20B1 : https://mega.nz/file/QoBHSZTS#YkW0n8et4w_WQgGMROMEHGZMKUGeFMQrAxiilqgDN2g HAB v18d1 : https://mega.nz/file/w4ZTwSxS#8d3YwaeH84gTAyt-PylhS1-iT5lYKdTR22NcG-_yGx8 Starship Carrier only : https://mega.nz/file/8kwXhL5J#4cXgsRmOsSJsxcfHEB1GBkUPEWCaGYpbvW08BqvZP-8 List of videos (chronological order) : 2nd Rover tests of HAB : https://dai.ly/k7aZVkfB6MUmTzC4jFQ ERV ONE Start Cape Canaveral: https://dai.ly/k2djaIebhj5krzC7KV0 Description of Launch system : https://dai.ly/k5yDWxlFPzunneCaGbs Start of the Carrier Rocket: https://dai.ly/k3r5IQAuqPF3ptCaMDq Re-entry of the LEO injection stage : https://dai.ly/k1LyoiK79UWKRSCba3K ERV Landing : https://dai.ly/k5O1Ovcazj671RCjtAs HAB Landing : https://dai.ly/k2E4pXdaNtMvqsCkQ9K ERV working on colony side: https://dai.ly/k39O8QhGM7lRsbClB5c Corrections: the hydrogen boiling rate is 23g/h, 7.8kg/d, 201.5kg/a, 324 mL/h, 7.8L/d, 2841L/a ; boiling point of hydrogen is 20K, -253°C HAB on Colony Side : https://dai.ly/k2hWAzaO1gfnrTCsPoy (Part 1)

I am very concerned about the forum. There are constant problems, now 2 weeks of total failure !!! There are many years of valuable contributions and information here that must not be lost. What happens if T2 pulls the plug? Is there a contingency plan ? Guys, this is important!

Are you underchallenged, bored? Are you looking for the ultimate challenge? Then install RP-1 and try to fly my Mars mission :-D Good luck and strong nerves ! Tom https://kerbalx.com/TomKerbal/MM2035v66

You can try my Mars Mission for the RP-1 mod here : https://kerbalx.com/TomKerbal/MM2035v66 It took me about 1000 hours to create it.

I finally finished the RP-1 Mars mission; I call it “AMADEUS” . Saved for eternity (hopefully) here: https://kerbalx.com/TomKerbal/MM2035v66

What is this all about? I just asked a simple question to a community manager. No need to insult me. Bye, have a good time! Tom.

Perhaps we can get some information from you?

Start it from CKAN. Please no code changes in KSP1 !!! No new gifts on Mun or anything like that. My KSP1 with RP-1 has finally been running stable for months now.

Fueling AMADEUS Earth Drive (Mars mission ship for RP-1)

Fueling the Earth Drive in Earth orbit now(first of 3 tankers). AMADEUS (2nd Mars mission, version 65) is the name of mission & ship. Something with Mars and Destiny... I have to figure out yet.... Mission start is planed for 4.7.1988 (1988-07-04). Now it is 1987-01-18 . A test crew has already entered the ship and made some tests (mission training for AdvApollo & Gemini-L is required for that, I found out :-D; good to know for the final crew).

I have another example: GalCiv II! They didn't use DRM and were rewarded for it. Don't always give up straight away.

Well, it's probably not quite that hopeless. Trillions of mosquitoes can also make an aircraft carrier inoperable. Just think of Sony and DRM!

CKAN :

Yes, Real Solar System . And 77 other mods... Before RP-1 I tried many other mods, made my own tiny minimods (well, cheated, to be honest, like infinitive number of ignitions and so on), and after about 1000h of playing there was a mod update on CKAN and everything crashed... after hours of research I found out that the landing legs caused this crash. [snip] So I decided to switch to RP-1 and build myself a stable mod environment. Being as realistic as possible is what I find most interesting anyway. I haven't done any mod updates for a few months and won't until my Mars mission is complete. I have a lot of mods that you have as well. What I miss a bit is this Kerbol Attachment System mod, which is a lot of fun, but which is not part of the RP-1 mod family. Have fun! Tom

My missions goal is Mars, and I use the RP-1 mod, so their is no regular fuel and no ion engines for that masses but only historical accurate stuff. In the initial phase of development, I tried out several types of fuel and engines for the Mars spaceship (the front part of the hole rocket, I call it "mother ship"). First hydrogen, then discarded because it is too volatile and takes up too much space (the ship has to be very compact for the Airo-Brake, center of gravity very far forward behind the shield). Then methane (famous Raptor of course). That's better. But Fluor was the best. The development of these engines was unfortunately completed in the 90s (?), as fluorine is extremely toxic and expensive. But by far the best solution I have found for the front part of the rocket. I call the front part the “mother ship”, the large rear part the “Earth drive” with hydrogen, which performs the initial maneuver to Mars (TMI?) and also flies to Mars and is then decoupled there.

This is the current version 64 (with the stabilisation torus ring for the Mars airobraking maneuver - that was my mission breakthtrough btw. - after zillions of spectacularly lost ships before)

I'll be posting this on Kerbal X soon. I have to learn anyway, I've never done it there before. So, this is a single mission in which I have attached great importance to high realism (as far as I can judge, and with KSP is also realistically realizable...). The ideas are essentially: Assembling and fueling the mission ship in Earth orbit using a reasonably realistic launch vehicle (6600t, 5 times starting with ship and tankers), 2.5 year mission for optimally low delta-v, sufficient resources and recyclers, a highly risky airo-braking maneuver on Mars, landing a small habitat on Mars (mothership stays in orbit), stay on Mars for 7 weeks, then return to mothership, wait another 8 months, then back to Earth.... really tough mission for 2 astronauts. But doable... maybe. This is a very early version. Ready to go ship in Earth orbit. Using only RP-1 mod (+required additional mods).

Great! I wish I could use this for my Mars mission (with Gemini capsule). Here is version 64 ready now. About 1000h of work for my whole Mars mission until today. But well worth the effort. KSP1 + RP-1 mod (+ required additional mods) ONLY

Whow great. A good deed every day. I've been trying in vain to become a vegetarian for years.

Yes. I think so. No way around to avoid it, I remember. Btw: Who needs KSP2 ? : Mars Lander of my current version 63, about 1000 hours of work for the hole mission now...)

You mean besides the super slow-motion development, the completely overblown, wickedly expensive trailers that do Hollywood proud, the many deleted posts here in the forum and the subterranean support on Steam? Maybe the price of the unfinished product, or maybe the fact that the developers were all recently fired, even though you still think they're developing the game further. The good thing is that KSP1 is now back in focus and the mods are being worked on again (especially my beloved RP-1 mod).

I needed it at the beginning to get ahead, I remember, because I didn't really want to do it. But then Mach 2 airplane was fun, it wasn't easy.

Yes for sure