TerLoki

Quick question: Do the truss segments come with fuel crossfeed enabled? And if not, what would I need to do to enable it? I completely forgot about fuel requirements when I added some orbital maneuvering engines to my main station truss elements, I'm hoping something like that can let me fix the problem by adding a couple of KSO range extender packs.

Making a new version of my usual combination Minmus orbital lab and kethane refinery for my ARM career, only this time it's going to be hooked to an asteroid. Libra Station, as it is now. Next to be added are one of the main solar trusses, followed by the life support/utility module and its airlock. Currently all that's up there are the crew segment core, ADA docking adapter (little thing mostly behind the asteroid at a weird angle), and two crew segment truss bases. The big thing docked to the side of the hitchhiker node is a Vall automated cargo transfer vehicle, sent up ahead of the first crew to give them life support supplies and bring a crapload of KAS equipment they'll need for assembly EVAs. As an aside, the KSO phase II octagonal truss segments look really good when used with 2.5m modules and loaded down with lots of equipment. More structural than the stock trusses, but not as bulky as the NFP octagonals.

Doubtful. I mean, it could probably happen somehow, like how double-planets form only on a smaller scale, but it most likely wouldn't be stable for very long in the grand scheme of things.

Here's a thought: Rather than give all asteroids the sun-colored moon modifier on the sides, why not make that change based on what body the asteroid is around? For example, I asteroids captured around Kerbin would have the standard blue and green, those captured and parked over the Mun or Minmus would have their colors, and those that weren't captured and went flying off around the sun again would keep the same coloring the ribbon has now. This would work out well to show off any neat maneuvering or chance encounters people ran into, or even extend out beyond Kerbin and its moons for the truly ambitious/crazy people who have taken asteroids to other planets or moons. Like the one I put around Ike (long live the boulder!).

Apologies for the late update, we're going to just right in since more has happened than I remembered. Laythe 7 performed another service mission to the Sextans space telescope, swapping out experiments and upgrading the processor core. This service mission included three spacewalks, including the longest to date, performed by Oring and Erlo. Surveyor 2 arrived at Eve, but unfortunately the power draw from its single Hall thruster proved too great for even eight RTGs. The probe was left in orbit, but with insufficient power for maneuvers and just barely enough to provide mapping data. Following that fiasco, Surveyor 3 was launched to provide detailed biome and altimetry data on the Mun. This time a solar powered design was used, if successful one of these probes would be sent to Eve to finish Surveyor 2's mission. Not only was it capable of maneuvering at 75% thrust with no power loss, but the probe had enough dV to extend its mission and map Minmus as well. Controllers are currently seeking permission to use the last fuel reserves to place the probe into a polar Kerbin orbit to supplement and finish previous mapping efforts. The AVAT (Argon-fueled VASIMR Asteroid Tug) was sent up in two pieces, as a test platform to study the usefulness of electric propulsion in positioning large asteroids. With two 200kw VASIMR engines powered by a pair of nuclear reactors, the AVAT certainly seems to have enough power on paper. Unfortunately even that did not prove to be enough. Despite a 250% improvement in total dV when anchored compared to the Titan asteroid tug and heavy configuration ADA, the AVAT just was not up to the task of moving 1800 tons of rock into a lower orbit. In light of its failure to provide balance of time and fuel efficient maneuvers to "Kevin" the AVAT has been reclassified as a medium-weight maneuvering system, and is not to be used on asteroid larger than D class. A larger version is in the concept stages, but is not planned for launch in the near-future. The Surveyor 4 mission was launched to Eve to replace Surveyor 2, using a slightly modified version of the Surveyor 3 probe. Rather than start with Eve, Surveyor 4 instead rendezvoused with Gilly. Mission controllers reasoned that it made more sense to start with "the one we can actually colonize without carting full-sized launch vehicles half-way across the solar system". Unfortunately an altimeter glitch led to the orbiter scraping the surface during a low sweep to collect magnetometer and gravioli data. In spite of the loss of most of its solar panels the spacecraft is still operational, and capable of 25% thrust. Current plans are to leave Gilly behind for now and finish mapping Eve. Plans for Libra Station have been refined enough to begin construction. Here a mock-up was placed on the launch pad to demonstrate the crew segment fully deployed. The refinery segment, test-fitted in the VAB. Some of the higher-ups are questioning the need for and feasibility of a station this size. An alternate configuration is currently being developed that would move the refinery module to one of the crew segment's 2.5m ports, remove all pressurized modules from the refinery segment, and delete the second truss system. This would, effectively, reduce the refinery orbital segment to a simple truss hub for docking extra spacecraft and storing modular fuel transfer tanks. Station is now officially underway with the launch and addition of the crew core module. Here we see the ADA undocked and relocating in order to properly align with the core. Just launched is the second station delivery, the CP-1 and CS-1 truss segments. These two trusses will form the base of the port and starboard crew segment solar trusses. Each is equipped with a 1.25m kethane detector, two large radial RCS tanks, three "Kingfisher" 0.625m engines for station-keeping, and enough attachment points for 18 KAS containers. After the docking of those first two truss segments a VALL ACTV will be sent to the station, followed by the first crew expedition to begin unpacking and constructing the station proper.

I know the node on the side of the observation module is for fitting it to the structural adapter for travel. Not sure what node you're talking about on the SST though. :/

Hmm, well I guess I may as well come up with a standardized list of what adjectives I use, at least for when I get there in my career. Mohoian Eveian Gillian Kerbial Loonar* Minman Dunan Ikian Dresal Joolian Laythial Vallian Tyloan Polian Bopian Eelooan *I like to think that "mun" is just the generic term for "moon", and that "Loona" is the Mun's proper name.

I've tried to get two friends into KSP. One thinks just thinks it doesn't look like his kind of game (fair enough), the other is afraid he'd sink way too much time into it.

Mapped all of the Mun and Minmus with an ion-powered orbital probe,forgot the Kethane detector though . Deployed the first half of a VASIMR driven asteroid tug to try and FINALLY move that darn E class in Kerbin orbit. And worked on a design for a Minmus space station built on an asteroid.

Well the poll results seem pretty clear, so here's a quick mini-update. I'm currently designing and test-fitting components for Libra Station, which will be built in two segments attached to the asteroid "Arthur" currently in Minmus orbit. The two segments will be opposite each other on the asteroid, and consist of the smaller refinery segment built off of the ADA already in place on the asteroid, and the crew segment which will anchor directly using KAS struts and its own independent claw. As planned, the refinery segment will have five modules (not counting the ADA) sent up in four launches. A central hub will be launched first, and attached directly to the ADA with two KSO docking modules coming off the sides. The next payload would be the other two "horizontal" hub elements, a KSO observation module and Mk. 1 lander can re-purposed as an airlock. Finally, the main refinery module would attach to the open node. The refinery would broken down into two parts, consisting of the converter attached to a half-sized rockomax fuel tank and 2.5m docking hub, and a large kethane storage tank. On the flip-side, the crew segment will consist of a core, two hab modules, a lab, a utility module, two extra docking arms, and two trusses. A WIP shot is pictured below. The core module as it is here will change a bit, with the purely structural hub being replaced by a hitchhiker module and structural adapters to provide pressurized access to the two docking arms. The utility module is on the left, and houses primary life support and the main airlock (again, a re-purposed lander can). The lab on the right is exactly what you'd think, a mobile processing lab with a docking adapter on the end consisting of an inline clamp-o-tron and 0.625m KSO docking port. The two hab modules will come off front and back on the same level, and consist of an inflatable module and docking adapter of the same design as the lab modules. Moving upward the docking arms have yet to be designed, but will be directly above the hab modules, coming out farther to ensure good clearance and having at least two docking ports each, three preferably. Which leaves the redesigned truss segments. Each truss will be sent up in two parts: The three solar panel elements and the main base. Each solar element has two NFP Megalodor panels and a (purely aesthetic, sadly) radiator panel. The base will contain most of the station's battery power and serve as the attachment point for between twelve and twenty-four KAS containers, which will hold spare parts and help keep part counts low. Once the core is connected and a few pieces added on, the crew will use materials sent up to construct a ladder system and fuel line connecting the two segments. These will be purely cosmetic, but for a permanent outpost it makes more sense than transferring crew and materials through solid rock. Also, KAS containers will be used to strip modules of any unnecessary equipment after docking and remove it from the station in order to keep this from being too much of a lag hog. Lastly, the embarked craft. The station is planned to have a crew of six, but with this much to do I may bump that up to nine. Of course there will be enough crew vehicles present at all times to fully evacuate the station, in the form of the same Laythe and Duna MPCVs they came in on, or possibly the KSO if I ever get it out that far. Next are the landers. First the ALCOR-based Eeloo MMRL, which is the scientific lander. I don't have pictures right now, but it is basically what you'd think: A three man reusable lander with various science experiments aboard, capable of operation on both Minmus and the Mun. Refueling will be carried out on-orbit thanks to the Dres MK lander, a kethane extractor and hauler designed to land, top off its tanks, extract a full load of kethane, and return to the station. Moving all of these modules around is going to be a pain, so the Pol workbee (the KSO station tug) will be the first or second auxiliary craft sent up, in order to assist in assembly. Lastly, the Vall ACTV. I could've sworn I had a picture of it, but I don't. The Vall will be the main cargo hauler, consisting of an SDHI service module (same as the Duna MPCV), eight KAS containers, and a pressurized module containing food water and oxygen. Its job is to resupply the station's consumables, bring in spare parts, and remove components that are no longer needed. So there you have it. This post was a bit wordier than I thought it would be, and I still think I left some parts out. We'll leave it at that until the next mission update.

Methinks he means KSO. But then again on the one hand Helldiver and Nazari already have a whole other shuttle they're working on, while on the other Blackheart still seems up to the challenge and Sage is getting back into the groove.

Pretty much what most people have been saying. The Rockomaxes are iconic, their smaller diameter makes them easier to handle in orbit as modular tanks, they fit in that sweet spot where they work great for core stages as well as boosters, and I only recently unlocked 3.75 meter parts in career. That's why I'm still rocking the Rockomax.

Oh WOW this takes me back. I think I used a command pod from this mod as the control tower for my first space station, back before docking was even in game and when the BACE pack was still around. Nice to see this revived!

I sense a great disturbance in the force, as though Donald Kessler cried out and was suddenly... Wait, no, he's still going.

I learned to stop worrying and love KAS. Sent Jenbert and two of the rookies up on a service mission to my main space telescope. Took about an hour and swapped out everything short of the probe core and mechjeb pack. Totally worth it.

Sorry, I didn't see that. Guess I'm used to my posts getting skipped over more regularly than they are on this forum.

Very cool! Reminds me of Constellation program's Mars mission plan (though with only one launch rather than seven). I wish I had the experience to build and land something like that. I want to say those are from Bobcat's old HOME modular base project. Could be wrong though.

Protip: Stock struts between parts that are "docked" at launch with clamp-o-trons will disappear when the two craft undock. That would be the simplest and least invasive fix I can think up.

I hear that. That's part of the reason I settled on my "no bigger than a two hitchhikers and a Mk. 2 lander can" yardstick for all modules (packed) other than the core. Helps keep things simple. Of course I can't really do that for fuel transfer tanks since those are all made of Rockomax 64s with extra doodads to help maneuver.

Curious question: Will the telescope work and give different reports for experiments if it's outside of a high Kerbin orbit? If it was around the Mun for example, would that do anything different?

I have KAC, but only really for when I get my space stations up and running and have to worry about multiple manned missions needing periodic resupply. When I don't have a crew hanging out somewhere I tend to focus on one mission at a time before moving on to the next one.

A little of both. I primarily play career and, as a consequence, build all my space stations in it. Now I always have a rough "layout" when I start designing, and it's usually follows a similar pattern between stations. But plans change based on how well one space station is doing compared to the others, mods that get added, or even simply parts that get unlocked. A good example from my last career is Libra Station, a research/kethane refining platform built mid-way through that career around Minmus; and Capricorn Station, same deal, but without the kethane facilities and built around the Mun later in career. Libra came out looking a bit junkier and more haphazard, using Gigantor solar arrays that were poorly aligned, requiring docking adapters to be shipped up at one point, and with the "level" system I usually use (crew modules on one plane, unpressurized utilities on another) being totally screwed up pretty much from day one. Libra was, basically, a bigger modular Skylab compared to Capricorn's ISS.

Just wanted to pop in and mention that even though the KAS pack isn't out yet the 2.5m hub works pretty well as-is with the KAS A-type containers. You just need a little spacer on the top and bottom to prevent clipping, a 1.25m battery or SAS module will do.

Got it to work now, and everything looks gorgeous (though the Mun seems a bit white from LKO, I have yet to take a look at it up close). Edit: Scratch that, game's crashing all over the place and taking forever to load. I have a sneaking suspicion that this has to do with soundtrack replacer, since something similar happened the last time I tried it by itself (or just the fact that I have a gajillion mods). Would it be possible to get a version without that dependency? Honestly all I really want are the visual changes.

Nobody ever said managers were engineers, or particularly bright.