Death Engineering

Tru dat.. even if just visual mods. Admittedly, I cringe every time a new version comes out and I launch it "virgin" without even EVE running. TBH, even with my love of the game, I only gave it a '4' because of the reliance on mods to make it complete.

KSP is almost the only game I play and it forced me to buy a new computer to play it, and another computer after that one burned out. I've probably played KSP more than every other game I've ever played combined with probably close to 10000h in it. Been everywhere done (almost) everything and still not bored with things still on my to do list. I think I got my moneys worth...

I also like the Nertea near-future parts but currently using only the Stockalike Station Parts Expansion Redux pack. It has a great suite of parts for crew habitats and command pods including some inflatable/deployable parts for high-crew accommodation. Mechjeb and others never caught my eye. I guess I've been playing long enough that I can build without hard data for delta-v capabilities but that's probably not the best (read: time-saving) way to play. I think the not-being-totally-sure about a mission adds some challenge and sometimes makes me have to adjust a mission plan when a burn comes in a little short. One little gem I've really learned to love is Kerbal Flight Data. It adds several HUD readouts that make flight a lot easier and prevents have to toggle map/flight mode constantly. Sorry, Squad, but stock KSP is fugly. I've tried most of the common visual packs but recommend Spectra for its mix of beauty and performance. However, in my current DOMA challenge attempt, I'm using the Stock Visual Enhancements/Stock Visual Terrain from Galileo which is also great. At the very least, add Scatterer. As far as the "approve" part, the only mods that are explicitly banned are Extraplanetary Launchpads, Ground Contruction/Global Construction. This challenge is based on a nearly 6 year old challenge which included a rule banning these types of mods and I've tried to adhere to the original challenge as close as possible. I'm done working for the year as of this weekend so I'll have loads of time for KSP'ing again so if you have any questions or updates on your attempt drop a post anytime! A little over a third of the way around Duna and only 60km from the main outpost! Once there, one crew will move over to the science rover and continue to an anomaly in the north west... something on the surface has been reported by the Duna space station crew that resembles a very familiar face..

As @hoioh mentioned adding just LS mod only adds the life support containers/recyclers which would work fine. I actually restarted an attempt using just USI LS and it seemed viable, but I did miss the larger crew quarter parts. BTW installing mods is relatively easy and shouldn't require any config file editing. LS mods were the first mods I tried and rarely play without it even just for touring around the planets. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!

Surface Science Rover It is Year 6 Day 291 and the 'Elcano' stage of the mission is underway! With four crew in the science rover plus twenty more in habitat landers the Mission Value points are racking up. Next launches will include surface greenhouse modules, supplies and more habitat landers. Expanding the Duna space station with ISRU upgrade The ISRU upgrade was included on the surface supply module launch and transferred by the fourth deep space tug in operation. Once the ISRU operation around Duna is ready, the tugs will refuel and return to Kerbin to pick up more cargo. Minmus/Kerbin orbit ISRU will facilitate refueling the space tugs allowing for rapid expansion of the Duna outpost after Year 10 or nearly self-sustaining outpost operation requiring only occasion life support launches. Deep Space Taxi returning home On the return leg from Duna, the DST comes home under remote control. In Kerbin orbit, the DST is refueled and will be used to carry cargo out to Duna where it will await the first of the post-challenge Duna return windows. Four crew ascending to Duna station Emergency evac! Due to an error in habitat life support, the water splitter left the outpost dangerously low on water! Four crew returned to the Duna station leaving one crew remaining at the outpost. While awaiting supplies, there were only five crew on Duna but that was only for 165 days. Two supply modules and three habitat modules soon joined the outpost. Ike's your buddy, Ike's your pal Using Ike to enter Duna orbit and lower the Ap whenever possible keeps fuel reserves plentiful but takes more time. Considering the ban on aerobraking nuclear modules and the relatively low delta-v needs to push between Kerbin and Duna, conventional propulsion modules might actually make more sense. Another mission profile to be attempted will be using the space tugs to 'lob' cargo from Kerbin to Duna. Once at Duna, the cargo will either use conventional propulsion/aerobraking to enter Duna orbit or will aerocapture and land directly. Once 'lobbed', the space tug will about-face and return to Kerbin orbit for refueling. Ten crew and supply module Using the habitat modules on opposite ends of a supply module, all three can be transported train-style over short distances. This method of moving about the Duna surface will allow easy transit to the Duna ascent taxi and meeting up with the Elcano science rover later. More pics here: https://imgur.com/a/dAq554k

These works of art are amazing! Would make an awesome tee-shirt, too...

Cool! Far out once-around to landing approach.

Duna Space Station and Interplanetary Transport Well, I managed to repair the KSP build enough to continue my challenge entry! Had to go back a few saves to find an unbroken save, but better than starting over. In game date is Year 5 Day 16 and all safety requirements ("Backup plan", "Duna Space Station", "Duna Space Bus", and "Positive uplink") have been achieved. Out of the initial five crew landed on Duna, two remain on the surface along with three new crew. Next Duna transit window will bring another surface module (Science rover), another supply drop and an ISRU upgrade for the Duna Space Station. A Minmus mining rig is also in place for refueling Kerbin orbit spacecraft with an upgraded model being prepared for Ike mining on a future launch. Long term plans include a Duna surface hydroponic life support module, Kerbin space station and a Duna research drone. Always welcoming new participants or mission updates. See you on Duna!

Updated some of the links and made some minor wording updates (no changes to actual challenge). Also added some information regarding the 'cargo' requirement and how the 'ore' resource may be used. Might just do that.. Sure had fun building this McDonnell Douglas 'Phase B' derived space station complete with Big Gemini (stock KSP ~ 0.23). An audacious five Saturn INT-21 launches would have be required.. ahh, the 70's.

Great to see this challenge still inspiring entries and pushing the limits of scoring! To the top of 'Cost' and 'Mass-fraction' scores comes @DBowman with some interesting elements from Wernher's original plan I don't think I've seen here yet most notably the steep elliptical parking orbit around Duna. Nice use of available tools to make the transit happen! Adding those links to the OP with the score table update. Some questions.. Did the elliptical orbit save any delta-v on the Duna departure burn? The trick I should think would be to get the orbit such that the Pe around Duna would be at a beneficial Oberth-effect point when the Eve transfer window approaches. Were there any transit time or missing time savings with the Duna-Eve-Kerbin encounter that you used? I don't see the mass in KSP "t" for the 'Mass per kerbal'.. What was the version of KSP you were using?

This is definitely the island from LOST.

This is bloody brilliant. Well done @Avera9eJoe!

Three weeks? Sounds like some serious camping! I think we're still waiting for the first completed mission, anyways. My own attempt has stalled due to problems with my installation. I'll start having more time for KSP'ing next week so looking forward to re-engaging this challenge with a current KSP version and better selection of mods. In other news.. I've started frameworks for two new challenges in the "Doing it [alternate-reality] Style" genre. Soontm .

Fantastic mission @jinnantonix and awesome video! Gold * Star for accurate appearance, especially the Duna lander/ascent module. Was that spin stabilization or simulated gravity? Nice use of stock parts to build the habitat ring. BTW, what version was this under? Doesn't affect scoring but I've been posting that as part of the results table. Leaderboard updated and congrats on the massive science score and taking top place in Propellant Mass Fraction!

With the right mission the science opportunities are bountiful!

Yep still around, well back.. partly. RL kicked in and don't have time to play but will respond to questions. Hope your mission is rocking!

Sure, I'd be glad to help keep this challenge rolling! Sorry I missed your post back there.. I've also updated the reference links as they seem to have been moved on astronautix.com The MEM should stay attached to the PMM until at least in a Duna elliptical orbit. Right, use pretty much whatever you think works for the expendable mass. Ore is great, actually. There isn't a crew accommodation rule in this challenge. If you are referring to communication needs, I'm fine with not even enabling 'comms' for this challenge. If you're referring to the DSSR (sample return probes), those should stay attached to the PMM until Duna orbit. This is what astronautix.com has to say about the mission profile: "28 February 1983: Venus swingby. This reduces the velocity at the return to earth, and provided an additional science opportunity. Four probes were dropped into the atmosphere of Venus." On my last attempt at this mission, there was about 300 m/s savings at the Kerbin return injection burn but there was not a savings in travel time or mission time.

Right.

Cool and could be do-able. I'd like to have a way to embed scored onto the badge easily and not ugly. Ideas...?

What's it used for?

@Kerbolitto The External Command Seat is virtually massless (read: 'cheaty'). It really is only meant for plodding surface rovers or in vacuums. I guess since a payload bay can be pressurized, if enclosed as you have them, this is fine for atmospheric flight but is definitely not "Habitation Space" Your designs are quite unique. Transformer-like.

Never needed to. 'Single-launch' and 'no refueling' was never stated. Exactly. I plan on leaving the backup DAV in orbit most of the time so that I can put it down where it is needed as there will soon be a Duna plane and an Elcano attempt in later missions and I'm certain the plane is going have a kerb-up. Yes.

Basically Backup Plan requires at least two Duna ascent vehicles, in case Jeb gets ahold of one and has a kerb- up with it (destroyed). Neither primary or backup DAV needs to hold the entire surface crew. However, since all crew must be returnable to Kerbin, something practical is advised. IOW, if there are 200 crew on the surface there should be a way to get 200 crew back to orbit. This does include all the standard requirements (life support, capacity, fuel reserves, etc). The open air rover seats are considered roundabouts and can be very basic. I have a 6 seater design that is very few parts, for example. Rule relaxed: Removed the over stressed penalty for actually using the backup plan.

Heh far out. Sticking with the flavour of the original challenge which specifies that "..every [module] contains enough supply for short missions" (defined as 10 days), I think that is an achievable expectation. I'd even say at minimum "some amount plus enough to sustain any crew visiting the station". That way, is isn't "none" and if it never gets visited, no resupply trucks need call. Shuttles are crew only.

Thoroughly enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing! Well... they look like insects. That is not a bad thing or insult. Perhaps it's me.. but the top one should be called "Grasshopper" and the orbiter "Dragonfly". Sure, interesting idea. As long as the Kerbals on Duna Year 10 Day 1 are able to safely make it home (are not stranded will have continued life support drops), good plan. Hmm.. sounds more like debris. While technically within the wording of the rules, not in the spirit. I wish I'd noticed earlier that I didn't use the "supports x Kerbals" wording from the Kerbin Space Station also on the Duna Space Station rule, instead of "has room for x kerbals". Not going to change it now though. I think that's the winning plan - get those four provisions in place early and avoid all the 'Over-stressed from time away from home' penalties.