Death Engineering

No limit, but all points scored must be from spacecraft launched within the 320t to LKO limit. Each spacecraft landed only scores once (i.e. if you have a lander that launches from the surface and lands again, it only scores for its first landing).

The challenge is designed to be one of craft design and mission execution skills, which is why there is no limit on the number of launches required - only a limit on the payload to LKO. An armada, as you say, is totally acceptable as long as the total payload to LKO for all launches does not exceed 320t. Brilliant! I will make a rule that rewards no part mods and no flight assist mods.

Got it.. thanks for the correction. Great to see ATLAST points! I severely underestimated what was needed to get the Pe/Ap that close to Kerbol.

Looks great! (Under the fairing: please let it be a cake.. please let it be a cake.. )

Completely possible. What is your score as of the latest update? I like that landing site.. might have to go have a look. Great landings, too! 100m sounds like a long ways until you're trying to land three craft within that perimeter.

I used the lo-tech method of adding enough science points to the persistent file to unlock the tree, then set the available science points back to zero once the tree was unlocked.

What's that, then?

New way to earn points (thanks for the idea, Nao) Rocket scientist: Complete the mission without using jet engines +5.

Hey thanks for all the interest in this challenge. I admit my motivation in writing this challenge was to complete something I started while doing the Duna Permanent Outpost Challenge, but having been out to Vall finally, its really worth the effort. Something about flying into such a busy system and having so much to look at makes me wonder why I hadn't spent much time around Jool until now. Looking forward to seeing some entries.. and of course please post about your progress. Anything that meets the criteria of SMART qualifies: crewed landers, rovers, mini-probes deployed by rovers, individually landed probes.. "SMART" - Science Measuring and Automated Remote Transmission: Points-scoring probes/pods/rovers must include a continuously powered probe core, any science part and a communication part. In Normal Mode, any mod is permitted that does not add active rocket parts or any "unfair" advantage over stock parts. In Hard Mode, anything goes except flight assistance mods. Passive mods like KER, Docking Port Alignment, Protractor are permitted. That is a really good idea! On one hand, the method of getting the Vall payload into LKO and the quantity of launches needed to do so isn't part of the challenge, but on the other hand I think sticking to rocket engines should be rewarded. Done! That's awesome! What had Jeb out there by himself? Very interesting proposal. Not sure how to make it work, though. In complete transparency, I edited the file and added 10K science points then unlocked the tech tree to completion then re-zeroed out the science points. For the challenge, I'm tracking all points which meet the rules and will score only those. I read in the latest Squad update that 0.23 is going to have some kind of career tracker so that might make this part of the challenge more clear/easier to score. p.s. I did already unlock a full tech tree in another save, just to say I did it, but I'm not using that save in this challenge. I did not do it Scott Manley-style... took I think 12 flights.

It wasn't easy to get the details, and I don't have the link to share (will look for it later when at home again), but the ATM was mounted on a hinge and deployed by the crew remotely once at the station. Edit: Found the PDF from MSFC.

Wow a six-crew lander, kneeling rover deployment, bug-like designs.. awesome! Haha.. "Gimme Boosters or Gimme Death" is very kerbal. Can't wait to see what you build to get out to Vall. Oh, am I plugging my latest challenge...? Your design is sound. Carry on.

Nice! Have some rep

Some great leaps forward in this press release! Looking forward to seeing your crew land on Duna.

Could have been a case where the tank/SRB was being attached directly to the side instead of being attached to the radial decoupler. When attaching things to the radial decouplers, just make sure you're actually attaching the part you want to drop to the decoupler. Otherwise, when the decoupler is staged, it blows up against the fixed part you want to drop.

I'd be interested in feedback if there is clarification required or the points need tweaking. Thanks for reading this far!

Vall Exploration Challenge After the discovery of an ancient carving on the side of the face on Duna depicting five orbiting moons around a body with a green dot on the second orbit, Kerbin's finest scientists deduced that whoever was responsible for creating the face on Duna must be from Vall, Jool's second of five moons. No one from Kerbin had ever been out to Vall, but there were rumours circulating the KSC about a recent pass of the space telescope near Jool that had taken an interesting picture. The rumour was that when the image was magnified, there appeared to be structures of some kind; things tall enough to cast shadows on Vall's surface. Questions loomed in the heads of all Kerbals: Who created the Duna face? What were they going to find on Vall? Would there still be enough room for snacks in the spacecraft for a trip that long? Important questions, to be sure! But, today is a big day at the Kerbal Space Center. All the best kerbal engineers, pilots, test-pilots and rocket builders were gathered in the Astronaut Complex to hear the big news about Vall. Most of Kerbin knew that a program was being considered to explore Vall, but there were still many details to work out. Gregry Kerman examines the Duna face carving After the official announcement of the "Vall Space Program", Bill and Jebediah met up with Bob, the recently promoted Director of the Kerbal Space Science Division. As soon as Bob saw Bill and Jeb, he gave them a quick, expressionless nod then turned and walked away. Bob, clearly in a hurry, was carrying a folder filled with papers. "Bob!" Bill exclaimed, "Hey Bob, wait up!" Bob turned around to address them, but kept walking away, "Hey Jeb. Bill. Good to see you guys, but I'm in a big hurry to present our Vall findings to the budget committee. We need approval to start developing the new spacecraft to get to Vall!". As Bob spun back around and increased his walking pace, several pieces of paper fell from the over-stuffed folder he was carrying. Just as Bill was about to call out to tell Bob that he dropped some papers, Jeb grabbed his arm and said, "Shh.. let's go have a look at those papers. Bob won't mind." Jeb and Bill walked slowly towards the papers that Bob dropped then picked them up. It was a letter with some writing blacked out and two photos. "What do you think this is, Jeb?" Bill asked. "I don't know, Bill, but there's definitely something down there. We need to get out to Vall.. let's go!" Letter found with photos PDF version "KSTIMG-J2:60.5.39S;83.47.35E/ZL15" "KSTIMG-J2:60.5.39S;83.47.35E/ZL300" Rules Normal mode: Low Kerbin Orbit defined as minimum 75km Pe. Total payload to LKO for entire space program is 320t. Any number of launches and any combination of lifters can be used to achieve this. After every launch to LKO, the mass of the successfully orbited spacecraft is part of the maximum 320t payload limit. No 'part' mods which add rocket parts to the stock game (engines, fuel tanks, structural, pods, etc.) Permitted Mods: Flight-assistance, engineering mods, mapping, alarm clock, graphic, chatterer, protractor, etc. Hard mode: No mods which perform flight assistance. Any other mods permitted. Kethane mining permitted, but if used, total payload to LKO for entire space program is 270t. All kerbals launched must return safely to Kerbin. Rule removed: If a crewed landing mission is scored ("Let's do some prospecting"), Bill, Jebediah or Bob is the first kerbal to set foot on Vall. Career mode: Track and score all science points achieved while in orbit around or on the surface of Vall. Only points accumulated while orbiting Vall or on the surface can be scored. No science from any other source can be scored. Exceptions: Points from recovered spacecraft, science instruments and surface samples are scored as long as the points are earned for performing Vall science. Crew reports and EVA reports may also be submitted freely. Scoring "Career Mode" points are scored separately and can be counted in Normal Mode or Hard Mode. "SMART" - Science Measuring and Automated Remote Transmission: Points-scoring probes/pods/rovers must include a continuously powered probe core, any science part and a communication part. A real 'stick and rudder' kerbal: Complete the challenge with no flight assist mods. Any mod that has the ability to provide active control, whether or not it is used, is not permitted +5. Rocket scientist: Complete the mission without using jet engines +5. Map-master: Orbit at least two SMART satellites around Vall +5. Every other satellite +2 (max x4). From top to bottom: Land a SMART probe at >7000m elevation and another <200m elevation +10. Landed probes are >7950m elevation and <10m elevation +10. We need total coverage: Orbit two SMART probes in circular orbits 180° apart and Pe minimum 2 000 000 m (± 10°) around Vall +5. SMART rovers: Score for each SMART rovers landed on Vall +5. * SMART landers: Score for each SMART landers landed on Vall +5. * This means something: Discover an anomaly on Vall, land <100m from it and place a flag there +10. Flag-master: Place at least one flag on each: near an anomaly (<100m), elevation < 100m, elevation >7000m, north pole (>66°N), south pole (>66°S) +10 I have a theory: Using observations made at an anomaly, develop a theory around the anomaly and write a post about it +5. We should have a look around: Place 4 SMART probes on Vall 10km (±500m) N, S, E and W of an anomaly +5. Floating in a tin can: Every kerbal that orbits around Vall in a spacecraft (not command seat) +1. Let's do some prospecting: Every kerbal that walks on Vall +2. This will make a nice picture: Take a photo at an anomaly. For each kerbal also in the photo, score +1. We could use a shower: Score for every kerbal who earns "Floating in a tin can" and lands safely at Kerbin +2. Overbudget: For every extra 5t launched to LKO for the space program over the budget of 320t (270t if kethane mining), to a maximum of 50t, score -1 (max -10) * Any SMART rover/probe that relies on another spacecraft to land on Vall must be deployed at least 2.0km from its "parent" craft and any other SMART rover/probe. Leaderboard Normal mode: Death Engineering - 170 pts 700NitroXpress - 134 pts chlue - 41 pts Hard mode: regex - 49 pts Career mode: Death Engineering - 2359 science

Very nice! Looking forward to seeing those spacecraft in action on Mun and Duna. Good luck with the landing. Don't do what I did the first time and get so focused on watching the nav ball you land on top of the outpost! I like the way you have designed the SM of your Orion!

Nice compact lander you have there! Points updated.

"Can perform un-Kerballed landings without the use of an Orion spacecraft (Altair and EDS launched on Ares V) (+1)" Points are scored if any return-to-orbit capable Altair can land on Mun without a crewed or uncrewed Orion. Points are awarded here as I can see your (huge) lander pulled it off. "Land an un-Kerballed Altair on the Mun without the use of an Orion spacecraft (EDS and Altair only launched from Ares V) (+2)" Points awared, since it looks like the landing was a success. "Altair descent stage science: +1 for each science-equipped Altair landed on Mun (maximum +3)" Points awarded if your lander stays on Mun (anywhere, just not in orbit). So, looks like you scored all points in yellow. Definitely in the "go big or home" department! I don't think I could fly those on my wee PC. Even with my smaller landers, by the time I got the third one down to the outpost site my PC was having to run physics for two spacecraft already on the Munar surface and it almost stopped. Eek. Crapsack Skunkworks looking really good!

Fixt. Thanks for mentioning it.

Thanks! Thank you. Had a lot of fun playing and writing it. The "Vall Exploration Challenge", to accompany the continuation of this thread, is cooking now...

Great press release! Points added. Good luck on mission execution.

Some pretty lofty goals there. Looks good, but where is the Eve landing and return mission? I, too, am in the group of KSP'ers that are not interested in science, yet. I found myself sitting in the 'career' VAB saying to myself, "Okay how do I [do this mission] without [this part] and [that part]." But then the little voice says, "Why bother? Just build a proper rocket and [do this mission]." Maybe when the 'Mission Control' building is activated, there will be a reason to achieve a specific goal, but until then I'm back in sandpit working on challenges. That said, I think that if I had started KSP after 0.22, I'd have had a much smoother learning curve/blown up a lot fewer Kerbals.

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