Tada

ROFLCopter64bit: Well, you do your testing in your savefile for now I thinkt, that designing a stage that can take station to Laythe will be whole another task. I will create a general save file which will circle the members of project accordingly to launch schedule. All aproved changes will be saved into this savefile, which after the member completed his tasks, will return to me and I will send to someone else. Also I will relase the whole safe-file with current state of the project periodicaly. I have an idea - what if I create dedicated YT channel to this project where anyone who has the capability will put videos of this project? Temstar: Yeah, putting that many Kerbals there might be tempting, but minding the parts count and lag I would rather keep the colony ship smaller - but I´m not resisting making more than one colony location - establishing transport between locations on surface might present a challenge of itself!

Ha, finaly some attention! I plan official start of project by 1.5. 2013 I will keep all involved via this topic and PM No mechjeb, I wanna keep it stock But I don´t mind sub-assembly loader or anything that does not alter the savefile for no mod users. ROFLCopter64bit: You may start designing the stations! I hate building space stations so pleasure can be all yours! Keep it simple and mind all kind of ships, that would need to dock there

So crew is starting to shape up I just want to add - this mission is STOCK PARTS ONLY - but I don´t mind using sub-assembly loader or anything that doesn´t alter the save file. Some people expressed their concern about Project BABYLON being a military operation - it is not. Supervision is strictly civilian and number of military ships is just if something goes wrong in Joolian system, because help straight from Kerbin would take too long to arrive.

Well, I see the point of dumb projectile, smart projectiles are just small spaceships flight to collide with another object in orbit, you have to switch crafts and stuff... I find SRBs accurate enough for 500m shots againts large capital ships given my low pilot skills. Now I´m equiping all my crafts with light missile consisting of 2 small girders, separator ,6 sepratrons, flat probe, docking port and small nose cone. It is light, part count is not bad and it packs a great punch! Just one hit with this and Macey´s battlecruiser is just pile of debris. Hit it with 2 and it will scatter all over the orbit. I will have to test it on carrier ship. This small simple missile can be carried even on light fighters and it makes classical armor inefficient.

I´ve been trying to establish a colony on Laythe in past few weeks. Since then I found out, that to do it properly it will require so much effort, that it is almost to much for single individual to handle, building, testing, flying and landing all those ships takes just to much time and it is simply not effective. So and idea came up to my mind - let´s share the work with others and let´s do this together so I proudly present to you: Project BABYLON --- 1. Goals 2. Analysis and requirements 3. Development and testing 4. Execution --- 1. Goals Establishing a sustainable colony on Joolian moon of Laythe with fully developed supply chain. 2. Analysis and requirements Is task possible? - Given task is possible with current technology - Main problem is presented by distance of Joolian system from Kerbin which results in great need of fuel and time to travel between those 2 destinations - Any failure on Laythe will result in lengthy rescue mission from Kerbin Terrain requirements: - colony should be placed near equator to provide good access both from and on to the orbit of Laythe - terrain should be flat for possibility of building an airfield to supply the colony - close proximity to the Laythe ocen may be an advantage Required ships and other crafts: 0. Orbital station “Gamma “ Placement: Classified Goal: Classified Requirements: Classified 1. Orbital station “Horizon†Placement: Kerbin orbit, height 100-150km Goals: Provide logistics for flights to Joolian system, fuel and crew transfer Requirements: Minimum of 10.000 units of rocket fuel, minimum of 4000 monopropelant fuel, minimum of 3500 units of xenon gas, crew of 8, docking capability for multiple ships 2. Orbital station “Saphire†Placement: Laythe orbit, height 75km Goals: Provide logistics for colony on surface, refueling station for trips back to Kerbin, crew and fuel transfer operations within Joolian system Requirements: Minimum of 10.000 units of rocket fuel, minimum of 4000 monopropelant fuel, minimum of 3500 units of xenon gas, crew of 8, docking capability for multiple ships, capability to attach fuel refinery as soon as .20 comes out 3. Orbital station “Emerald†Placement: Classified Goasl: Classified Requirements: Classified 4. Colony ship “Anthill†Placement: Surface of Laythe Goals: Provide housing for Kerbals Requirements: provide housing to minimum of 16 Kerbals, atmospheric flight capability (VTOL, jet engines 5. Signal beacon “Candle of Babylon†Placement: Surface of Laythe – marking landing spot for colony and approach vectors for further missions from orbit to surface Goals: Provide orientation for Laythe landings Requiremens: own power generation, illumination capability, possibility to be placed both on ground and in water, possibility to be placed precisely on desired location 6. Deep space tanker “Dairy cow†Goals: transfer of fuel between Kerbin and Laythe orbit Requirements: capability of delivering at least 2000 units of fuel and 750 units of RCS to Laythe orbit Preliminary choice: OPD Olympus II + Zeus by Temstar 7. Small tanker “Calf†Goals: transfer of fuel between big tankers or stations to ships within orbit Requirements: greater maneuverability than “Dairy cowâ€Â, capacity at least of 720 units of rocket fuel and 200 units of monopropellant 8. Mothership “Damkina†Goals: Crew and supply transfer between orbital stations “Horizon†and “Saphire†Requirements: sufficient range to travel to Laythe and return to Kerbin (after refueling on Laythe orbit), minimum crew of 8, possibility to be used as a space-tug to deliver various supplies between both systems, self-defense capability 9. Light Cruiser “Marduk†Goals: providing security to vital operations on both Kerbin and Laythe orbit, escorting “Damkina†on it´s travels Requirements: ability to travel between Kerbin SOI and Laythe, capability of taking out capital ships, capability to defend itself against lighter ships, armor plating of vital systems, ability to provide logistic support to other combat vessels 10. Heavy fighter “Hornet†Goals: Providing security on orbit, capability to take down both capital and smaller ships Requirements: light ship with crew of one, carrying at least 2 missiles capable of taking down capital ships or more lighter missiles, enough fuel for operations on orbit, ability to dock to stations, takners and othe ships Preliminary choice: HDF Shade MkII by Macey Dean 11. Light interceptor “Wasp†Goals: Providing fighter cover for Joolian system operations, securing orbital stations, tankers and bigger ships on orbit Requirements: light single seat ship, carrying either one anti-capital ship missile or more lighter ones, enough fuel for operations within short range of bigger crafts, ability to dock to stations, takners and othe ships Preliminary choice: JSIF MkII by myself ïÂÅ 12. Atmospheric fighter “Swallow†Goals: combat support within Laythe atmosphere Requirements: light single seat aircraft, VTOL is an advantage, capable, jet engine, light armament, on ground refueling capability, good flight characteristics 13. Space shuttle “Falcon†Goals: Transfer of crew and supplies between space station “Saphire†and surface of Laythe Requirements: Possibility to fly between “Saphire†and surface of Laythe, if possible to be able to refuel on Laythe, preferable ability to carry crew of more than one Preliminary choice: Sparrow spaceplane series by Zombiphylax 14. Supply and rescue drop ship “Crane: Goals: Supply drops on surface of Laythe, long range rescue operations on surface of Laythe Requirements: VTOL, amphibious landing capability, long range 15. Service craft “Bee†Goals: Transfer of supplies and ordnance between crafts on orbit Requirements: Yet to be specified 16. Logistic craft “Hive†Goals: Logistic support of combat ships, carrying fuel and ordnance on orbit Requirements: Yet to be specified 17. Light SAR craft “Grif†Goals: All weather short range SAR craft for operations on surface of Laythe Requirements: VTOL, crew capacity of 2, jet engines, capability to refuel on ground Variants: Armed VTOL fighter Preliminary choice: Griffon by Zombiphylax 18. Ground service vehicle “Hedgehog†Goals: Travel and refuel operations on surface of Laythe Requirements: docking and fuel transfer capabilities Estimates of the number of vessels required: 4 Orbital stations 4 Damkina class mother ships 4 Marduk class light cruisers 4 Hornet class heavy fighters 4-6x Wasp class light interceptor 2 SSTO Space shuttle 2 Grif SAR 2 Swallow fighters 1 Crane dropship 1 Anthill habitation module 1 – x Cangle of Babylon beacon 3. Development and testing - recruiting builders, test-pilots and crew in progress 4. Execution Standard operation procedures: classified Emergency operation procedures: classified Launch schedule: classified So, how is this supposed to work? Well, first I will try to recruit a crew and tasks are going to be divided according to wishes and individual capabilities. There will be ONE main save file, which is going to be shared between all users involved. I will co-ordinate whole project and schedule who is going to do/launch/build/fly what in main save file. Who this project needs now: - experienced rocket builders - experienced pilots capable flying/docking even huge capital ships - test pilots - artist (youtubers, someone to create mission logo etc...) If you are interested contact me via PM or by email tedeasplachy(at)gmail.com

Well, I still find battle cruiser from Macey Dean most eastheticaly pleasing battleship and it´s firepower is awesome, but there are some drawbacks in design: - limited ammo capacity - reaching laythe is problematic if not impossible with ship as is But still it is main battleship of my fleet until I find a replacement.

So I´ve tried Olympus II for supply run to my Laythe colonony. I´ve docked 2 Olympus II silos and used Zeus to push it - after I spend fuel in first Olympus (almost 90% of my Jool burn was complete) I ditched that one and countinued. I was abble to brought full orange tank of fuel onto 80km equatorial orbit of Laythe. And yeah, by the way I used 2 docking ports on those radial tanks to bring along 2 SSTO space shuttles along. So not even I have a lot of fuel on Laythe orbit, I also have brought 2 new ships. Next launch I took 2 Shade MKII fighters and 2 of my own JSIF Ion Fighters along for a ride, and also managed to get Laythe orbit with fuel to spare. I find Olympus system very versatile, it is not only a fuel depot, it can easily act as a space tug. I find it more practical in role of bringing those 2 SSTOs there, because I´ve already designed my JSIF fighter with Jool drive stage - so getting solely those ships there requeries less launches (Olympus II, Zeus and then another Olympus as fuel tank and idealy another one to top all of before start). Next misson will be to Tylo - my battle cruiser is kinda stranded without fuel, running on vapors, I have to refuel and get back to Laythe. I´m thinking about taking 2 Tylo Landers up there when I´m on my way - It takes like 17minutes burn to get Jool intercept with those 2 heavy Olympus silos and Zeus drivestage. But that qudruple docking system is great, easy to dock all four and so strong it can withstand fierce aerobraking.