Death Engineering

Just saw this thread doing a search for "Apollo" and really enjoyed the read. Thanks for sharing!

Fun! I recall RP'ing the Apollo missions from start to finish took quite some time.

Well, I'm about 4,000h in.. stopped using the Steam launcher at ~3000h so not exactly sure. From my perspective, things like launcher designs/delta V needs have become instinctual. I'll use subassemblies for complex landers and probes, but I pretty much design a purpose-built lifter for every payload. Edit: To be fair, a lot of time is spent completing silly challenges (see my sig) and documenting the crews' adventures.

If you're not against trying a modded KSP, Better Than Starting Manned may be what you seek. "What is BTSM?" From the BTSM thread: "BTSM is a part and progression balance mod which overhauls Kerbal Space Program's career mode in order to create a meaningful gameplay experience out of it, rather than the new player tutorial that Squad intended. It focuses on slow and challenging progress as you move upwards in technology in order to increase the overall satisfaction of things like first attaining orbit, and first setting foot on the Mun."

This is looking like a very ambitious project! Good luck getting your missions out to Duna.. should make for great video, especially aero-capture.

That is good progress for 3 days! Looking forward to future updates on your space program. I think managing launch windows in early interplanetary will be key here. From memory, flying to Moho early even for flyby is very doable. News from the OP submission to the challenge is proud to report a successful tier 6 A-style Mun landing. All Three Amigo crew were returned safely, paving the way for continued Munar exploration. However in sad news, Jebediah Kerman was later lost on a high-speed re-entry test of the Minmus CM. Steep re-entry angle and poor attitude control were blamed. He will be remembered for his contributions to high-altitude test flights, seen here in this photo after an early science achievement. This once revered image now stands in memoriam of brave cries for.. MOAR BOOSTERS!

Great questions and thanks for your interest! For any 'primary' goal, it must be completed while using only nodes from that in-game tech tree Tier. In your example, "Tier 4 - "Spudnik" (3)", only two nodes of Tier 4 may be used to complete the mission. Similarly, "Tier 3 - "Taking it slow" (3)" requires that all Tier 3 nodes are unlocked before proceeding. For all others, any number of nodes from that Tier may be used and can be unlocked in any order. Bonus objectives, which appear underlined and are numbered I - III: The ones located within a Tier 1-9 bullet point must be completed with technology no higher than the tier it's listed in. You may complete them early, but there is no bonus for doing so. Other bonus objectives can be completed at any time.. with the exception that Duna Dominance IA or IB, II and III must be completed in order. With 'Alarm Clock' and any approved mod but no engineering help: (3) No 'Alarm Clock' nor any approved/unapproved mod besides BTSM: (5)

Thanks for the catch! Moved to 8. edit: The "Duna Dominance I" mission from Tier 7 has been corrected. There is now a "Duna Dominance I - Prime" and a "Duna Dominance I - Backup" modifier. Only one may be scored.

Hey that's really respectable progress for 15 missions! BDSM.. hehe, ya it's more of a challenge than stock, to be sure. edit: This is how far I made it through the tree.. only two final-tier nodes left. But, it's time to restart.. OP challenge submission cookin' now.

Awesome! Leaderboard updated. Also... For any prospective newcomers to the challenge, I've updated the optional provided save files to KSP v 0.23.5.

Welcome to the challenge! Nice to see the new parts on your lifter and CM

I think your napkin math is pretty much spot on. My Moho crewed mission is sitting in a 100km parking orbit, which only brings the crew and the lander to Moho, and weighs in at 365t - the return vessel is already out there and is similar mass. The design is such that the command module and returning science undock from the transfer stage and move over to the return stage, eliminating the need for bringing a second cupola. This also means I don't have to try and dock a massive craft to perform a refueling mission. This was the first large rocket I flew since the strengthening update and was amazed at how stable it was.. dare I say too stable? Nah.. Looking forward to the next update!

Great demonstration video! A safe landing on Duna might test that descent system to it's limit.. but looking forward to the next release!

Hi esinohio, I like the way you've written this challenge! Reading through the posts, was sad to hear about the injury but glad you're on the mend. Some rather massive vessels making this run down to Moho.. certainly not for the faint of heart (i.e. CPU)! Subbed to thread!

Oki, I'll have a look.. Took a few days to swing back around and watch the vid, but thanks for posting it! That is quite a tricky place for a polar outpost.. "Not-it". See above. Edit: Awesome!

If you're taking suggestions, may I say Duna. The re-entry performance from a 54km orbit ablated about 300 units with an aggressively steep angle. Chute tweakables do the rest. If you can get Ike to troll, even better.

Nice looking equipment you've got there! No points for the resemblance to 'real world' designs, but a GOLD * STAR for the effort! Progress board updated..

If you're looking for a Career mode challenge, look here: Better Than Starting Manned . As the name implies, you don't get crewed pods until you unlock them, includes Deadly Re-entry and implements Electric Charge in meaningful (and very challenging) ways. Edit: ...and new science parts, new science goals, life-support..

Some tense moments there with the rover deployments! I like the outboard engines.. I suspect that improves control and stability considerably.. must try sometime. Progress board updated!

Death Engineering's "Konstellation Space Program" Challenge Submission This post is a compilation of the individual posts which comprised the challenge submission for the "Constellation Space Program - Three Part Challenge" Death Engineering presents.. Orion Spacecraft 6 Kerbal Crew Water-landing capable Launch Escape System Separate Command Module and Service Module Ares I with Orion Solid fuel first stage Liquid fuel second stage Capable of delivering Orion Block 1 to low orbit without using any of Orion's fuel Ares V and EDS with Orion Six engine first stage Two SRB clusters dropped during ascent Capable of delivering Orion Block 1 and EDS to low orbit without using any of the EDS fuel Jettison Ares V once in Low Orbit 6 Crew Orion on EDS Preparing for Trans Munar Injection Artist Conception of Altair Munar Lander Konstellation Program Update The Ares I and V boosters were recently used to test the Orion space capsule's LES and deep-space mission capability. These un-crewed flights completed the development of the Orion 5 crew capsule, which will be used for further Orion missions. A second version of the Orion SM with higher delta-v is also available and may be selected based on mission requirements. To test deep-space flight and to perform a high-speed re-entry, the Ares V and EDS boosted an Orion 5 on a free-return Munar flyby. The un-crewed capsule passed within 15km of the Munar surface and entered into a steep dive towards Kerbin. The re-entry peaked at 41.7 g's and the Orion capsule was recovered successfully in shallow water. In space station news, a robotically controlled Orion 5 was launched to the four crew aboard the space station. This capsule will serve as a life-raft/return vehicle for the crew. The next launch to the station will be the first crewed mission on the Orion capsule. Turning attention to the Mun landing, a prototype Altair lander and Altair Outpost are nearly ready for testing. Early design images suggest a large lander with four seats on the descent stage and four more on the ascent stage. The Outpost has even more seats, with room for 7. Konstellation Space Program Update The Orion 5 flew its first official crew exchange mission to the space station. Four new crew arrived and four went home. The Orion performed flawlessly. In Munar landing news, the production version of the Altair Landing Module (above) is ready for testing. It was launched robotically on an Ares V without the EDS and was joined later by the Landing Module test crew aboard an Orion 5 spacecraft launched on an Ares I. The crew docked to the LM then used the LM's main engine to boost the altitude to 130km. After two crew members transferred to the Altair, it was undocked and flown 104km away from the Orion crew capsule. The crew then performed several inclination changes with the main engine before dropping the descent stage and sending it into a Kerbin re-entry trajectory. After flying the ascent stage back to the CM and docked with it, the crew transferred back to the CM and jettisoned the ascent stage into a Kerbin re-entry trajectory. This test completes the Kerbin orbital tests of the LM, paving the way for Munar landings! In the next update, a Munar landing will be attempted with an Outpost Variant of the Altair to be joined later by four crew aboard an Altair lander. These two landings will begin the process of setting up the first of three planned Munar Outposts. Also, an Orion 5 Block II aboard an Ares V/EDS will be launched on a Duna flyby. This mission will take the crew of 5 within 5km of Duna, but will not orbit, and then return to Kerbin. LM Test: Konstellation Space Program Update The first two steps to a Munar Outpost have been made. The Altair Outpost Variant landed in shallow crater near the equator on a robotic launch. Shortly after, an Altair Lander on Ares V/EDS and crew launch on Orion/Ares I performed a crewed landing less than 30m from the Munar outpost. After having a look about, three of the four landing crew boarded the ascent stage. The fourth kerbal remained at the outpost to watch the temperature gauge. Having completed a Munar docking at 150km with the CM, the crew transferred to the CM and successfully returned to Kerbin. Looking towards Duna, another Ares V launched an Orion 5 on an EDS bound for Duna. The Duna burn went well and the mission will fly within 5000 km of Duna in 62 days. Konstellation Space Program Update Now that a Munar Outpost has been established, proving the Orion spacecraft for deep space missions, a crew of 5 kerbals were launched on a flyby mission to Duna. The crew were launched on an Ares V/EDS with the Orion capsule in a single launch and passed within 5000km of Duna. The crew took a good look at the frozen icecap then ditched the EDS stage before using the Orion SM engine to get into a Kerbin encounter. After their 130 day mission, the crew returned safely to Kerbin. The valuable data acquired on this mission will help finalize the design of the Duna Lander. In other news, the Munar rover design is almost ready for delivery to the Munar Outpost. This last launch to this outpost will complete the first outpost mission objectives. The next outpost will be delivered to the Mun's large crater at it's northern pole. Duna Orion Flyby Konstellation Space Program Update Having successfully completed a Duna flyby mission and taking lots of good photos for the design team, the Altair Duna Variant and Duna Return Vehicle were completed then sent on high Kerbin orbital tests. Both landers were sent out past 15000 km before heading towards a high speed re-entry on Kerbin. Both vehicles performed as expected and no changes are needed before beginning the Duna stage of the Konstellation space program. In Munar news, a crew exchange vehicle was launched uncrewed to the first outpost. This variant of the Altair uses the same ascent stage as the main Altair lander but does not have any crew quarters on the descent stage and will be used as a backup ascent vehicle for the next crew coming to the outpost. Also, an Altair Outpost Variant with two rovers was landed on the Mun's south pole. This will soon be joined by an Altair lander with four crew. Konstellation Space Program Update After doing remote checks of the Altair Oupost Variant and the rovers which were recently delivered to the Mun's south pole, four crew aboard an Orion 5 docked with an Altair lander in a Kerbin polar orbit. The crew successfully landed their Altair in the crater on the Mun's south pole, 40m from the Outpost variant. The crew checked out the new pressurized rovers and started looking for places where the crater wall isn't too steep to climb, commencing the south pole exploration program. In Duna news, the Duna Return Vehicle is ready and will be leaving for Duna soon. The crew will depart several days later using an Orion 5 and Altair Duna Lander and will arrive at Duna several weeks after the return vehicle has landed, giving the crew enough time to decide whether a Duna landing mission will be possible. If the Duna Return Vehicle checks out after landing, the crew will alter their course from a Duna flyby to a landing. In the next update, the Mun program will be expanded in both outpost locations to include backup return vehicles and rovers to the first outpost location. Also, a new space telescope will be launched to Kerbol synchronous orbit. But the biggest news will be the launches of the first crewed Duna landing mission using the Duna Altair Oupost and Duna Return Vehicle. Konstellation Space Program Update The Duna landing mission has been successfully completed! The Duna Surface Return Vehicle and the crew of four were launched to Duna on separate Ares V launches. Once the Surface Return Vehicle was successfully landed on Duna and put into a quiescent mode, the landing crew made their final course correction to commit to Duna aerocapture. The landing crew in the Duna Altair variant made several mid-altitude passes through Duna's atmosphere to establish a satisfactory orbit to permit a landing. Combining a long, low-thrust deorbit burn and staged parachute deployment, the Duna landing crew set down less then 70m from their return vehicle. With pictures taken and pockets full of Duna dirt, the crew lifted off in the return vehicle and headed back to Kerbin. Sixty-four days later, the crew successfully landed on Kerbin. The Duna outpost will remain powered until the next crew arrives aboard a modified Duna return vehicle. In astronomy news, the space telescope was launched to LKO. Four orbits with short burns have placed the telescope into a Kerbol orbit. The window to use Eve as an aerobrake to Kerbol synchronous orbital altitude comes up in 92 days. Konstellation Space Program - Final Update Having completed a crewed Duna landing and return mission, and returning all Munar Outpost crews back to Kerbin, the Konstellation Space Program's primary mission objectives are complete. Further outposts and missions to Duna can be launched to follow those who went before them now that the Ares I/V rockets, Altair landers and Duna mission hardware have all been mission-tested and proven to perform above and beyond their design requirements. Several design, mission and science points were missed, including the 'space telescope' which, even with a pass through Eve's atmosphere, failed to make Kerbol-synchronous orbit. Compiled scoring from all steps/missions completed: Design - 59 points: Crew Launch Vehicle (Ares I) •Two stage rocket to LKO (+2) •Does not jettison any radial stages (solid or liquid tanks/engines) (+2) •Can carry Orion Block 1 to low orbit without using any fuel from the Orion service module (+1) •Uses any solid fuel booster on first stage (+1) •Uses only solid fuel on first stage (+3) Heavy Cargo Lift Vehicle (Ares V) •Five or six liquid engines on first stage (+3) •Does not jettison any radial liquid tanks/engines (+2) •Uses and jettisons at least two solid fuel boosters on first stage (+1) •Two stage rocket to LKO: After the first stage is dropped, the second stage (EDS), carries payload to orbit +2) •Can carry the Earth Departure Stage (EDS) and Orion BLock 1 to low orbit without using any fuel from the EDS (+1) •EDS Bonus: Second stage can put Orion Block 1 into Munar free-return trajectory (+2) Crew Vehicle (Orion) •Supports at least 4 crew (+4) •Each crew over 4, up to 6 crew maximum (+1) •Self-contained multi-purpose spacecraft: Launch Escape System (LES), Power, RCS fuel/thrusters, orbital maneuvering engine/fuel, docking port, probe core (+2) •Service module: Before landing, drops orbital maneuvering engine and all it's fuel and at least a portion of RCS fuel (+2) •Safely touches down on land and water (+1) •Solar/battery electrical only (no RTG) (+2) •Block 1/2 bonus: Develop a Block 2 with slightly higher delta-V. Block 1 is intended for low orbit missions and the Block 2 for Munar/deep space missions (+1) Munar Lander (Altair) •Supports 4 crew (+4) •Can perform un-Kerballed landings without the use of an Orion spacecraft (Altair and EDS launched on Ares V) (+1) •Can perform Munar orbit insertion from Kerbin-Mun trajectory for both an Altair and and Orion capsule (either Block I or II) without using any Orion fuel (+2) •2 stage lander with separate ascent stage (descent stage stays on Munar surface) (+2) •Rover bonus: Can deploy at least one rover with seats for at least half (round up) of the lander crew (+3) •Addition rover: Can deploy a second rover (same or different than first rover) (+1) •Pressurized rover: Develop a rover that can seat at least two crew in a pressurized pod. This rover can be delivered with a crewed or uncrewed Altair lander, an Outpost Variant lander or a specialized Cargo Altair that brings only the rover (+2) •Outpost Variant: Develop a version of the Altair that can land robotically and has enough room for 1.5 times your Altair landing crew size (round up). Eg. If your Altair lander seats 4, the Outpost Variant should have pressurized seats for 6. If your Altair lander seats 5, your Outpost Variant should seat 8. The Outpost Variant can have, but does not require, the ability to return from Munar surface. (+2) Duna Lander (Mars Direct) •Lander supports 4 crew (+4) •Kerbin Return Vehicle capable of Kerbin return with either direct ascent to Kerbin or Duna Orbit Rendezvous with Kerbin return stage (+3) •Outpost Variant: Develop the Duna lander to remain on Duna as a permanent outpost. The Duna landing mission should include pressurized seats for 1.5 times your crew size (round up). Eg. If your Duna lander seats 4, the Outpost Variant should have pressurized seats for 6. If your Duna lander seats 5, your Outpost Variant should seat 8 (+2) Mission - 53 points: Research and Development •Launch a boilerplate Orion capsule/EDS on suborbital flight using Ares I (+1) •Perform an abort and recovery (LES) of an un-Kerballed Orion capsule using the Launch Escape System, while first stage is firing (+1) •Launch and dock an unkerballed Orion Block 1 to the orbiting space station, for use as a lifeboat (+2) •Using an Ares V and EDS, send an un-Kerballed Orion spacecraft into a free-return trajectory orbit to the Mun and perform a high speed re-entry test. Re-entry g-force must exceed 9g's (+2) •Perform a LKO test of an Altair Munar lander. With at least one Kerbal on board, fly an Altair Munar lander at least 100km away from the Orion spacecraft. Dispose of the descent stage, then fly the ascent stage back to the Orion. Transfer the crew to the Orion then robotically control the ascent stage into a re-entry orbit (+3) •Using an un-Kerballed Duna lander and an EDS on Ares V, perform a high-speed re-entry from at least 15,000km Ap. (+2) •Launch an un-Kerballed Duna lander on Ares V into low orbit. Perform an orbital test and descent of the lander (crewed or uncrewed) (+3) •Use an Ares I in at least one space station docking mission (+1) •Use an Ares I in at least one Munar mission (flyby, orbital or landing) (+1) •Use an Ares I in at least one Duna mission (flyby or landing) (+1) •Use an Ares V in at least one Munar mission (orbital or landing) (+2) •Use an Ares V in at least one Duna mission (flyby or landing) (+2) Space Station - Orion/Ares I •Launch an Orion to the orbiting space station with at least 4 crew. Perform a crew exchange and return four Kerbals from the space station to Kerbin using the Orion. (+2) •Return at least one Kerbal from the space station to Kerbin in an Orion which was docked robotically. This is a "liferaft" scenario intended to use the Orion left at the space station in "Research and Development" above. (+1) Mun - Orion/Ares I/Ares V/Altair •Land an un-Kerballed Altair on the Mun without the use of an Orion spacecraft (EDS and Altair only launched from Ares V) (+2) •Demonstrate that your Altair can, on its own, brake the Orion and Altair into Mun orbit and perform a polar landing (+2) •Land at least 4 Kerbals in an Altair on the Mun within 1km of either above Altair (+3) •Return four Kerbals from a Munar landing to Kerbin (+2) •Munar Outpost: Using at least one crewed Altair lander, an Outpost Variant and a pressurized rover set up a Munar Outpost. The Outpost Variant can join a crewed Altair already on the Mun or can be part of a separate Altair/Outpost Variant mission to another location. The Altair and Outpost Variant need to be within 100m of each other. (+5) Duna - Orion/Ares I/Ares V/Duna Lander •Land an un-Kerballed Kerbin Return Vehicle on Duna. Can be either Duna-Kerbin direct ascent capable or dock with an orbiting Duna-Kerbin return stage (+4) •At least 4 Kerbals pass withing 5000km of Duna (+2) •Land at least four Kerbals on Duna within 10 km (100 km if by rover) of the above Duna lander. To earn these points, the un-Kerballed lander above must be landed and remain powered. Successful landing must take place before the landing crew has committed to Duna re-entry (+5) •Return the Duna landing crew and any remaining Duna orbiting crew to Kerbin (+4) Science Points - 3 points: •Altair descent stage science: +1 for each science-equipped Altair landed on Mun (+2) •Duna Lander: Lander on the Duna mission contains a science package (+1) Photo Albums Ares I/Orion Flight Tests Altair Tests Munar Equatorial Outpost/Crewed Altair Landing Duna Flyby Duna Lander test/Munar Polar Outpost/Rover Landing Munar Polar Crewed Landing Duna Crewed Landing and Return Mission Hardware Catalog Highlight Album

Your program is looking great so far! One note, I think you might have scored the (+2) for "brake the Orion and Altair into Mun orbit and perform a polar landing" instead of the (+2) for doing the "EDS burn to free return trajectory". Same points either way and leaderboard updated. BTW, a polar landing is considered +/- 66 degrees lat. Looking forward to the first landing!

The "Better Than Starting Manned" mod has made my Kerbin system rather Kessler-ish.

Thanks! Was a fun mission, even though not everyone made it back. Since I've never been to Bop, there might be a third installation..

Ya for sure!