Death Engineering

Getting to Eve: easy Landing on Eve: easier Getting to orbit from Eve: Hard2

So much fun.. I'm doing it again! My first attempt at this challenge used a lifter with a relatively large nomical payload of 54T. This time, I'm using a much smaller lifter with a nominal capacity of 24T. The lifter can recover the four SRB's and the Saturn 1-B first stage, earning the 50% reduction in lifter re-fit time, resulting in a 36 day turnaround between launches. Instead of launching several monolithic craft to Duna, the landing part of the mission is being launched and docked together in a space-train in LKO. Boosted Saturn 1B 24T Payload Test Once at Duna, the lander will be assembled and set down on the surface. Before the landing team arrives, a Duna space station will be sent to scout landing sites and perform orbital research. An unassembled Duna lander/base requires five launches and with a launch cycle of 6/7 launches between transfer windows, this gives enough launches to keep a sustained presence on Duna through either continued supplies to the existing base or additional bases. Phase B with Heat Shield Much of what will be used in this second run at this challege is derived from the Beyond Apollo: AAP challenge. The lifter is a direct upgrade of the Saturn S1B by adding four strap on solid rocket boosters and one additional liquid fuel engine to the S1-B first stage. The second stage remains the same SIV-B style used during the AAP challenge. Tri-Hub Duna Lander Ready for Launch The space station/return vehicle heading to Duna on the first transfer window is the "Phase B" space station proposed by McDonnell Douglas. A single pilot will head to Duna in the Phase B and enter into a nearly polar orbit. While awaiting the landing team, it will drop a robotic rover to Duna's surface, deploy a satellite in Duna orbit and use an Apollo Telescope Mount to perform detailed surveys of Duna's surface. Once the landing team has completed their mission, it will rendezvous with the station already in orbit. The crew will transfer from the lander to the Phase B station, which will then return to Kerbin where it will be met by an AAP style Big Gemini to bring the crew back to Kerbin's surface. Launch Schedule First 514 Days Day 10: Phase B Station 46: Propulsion Stage for Phase B ---> Duna: Phase B 82: Triple Hub Duna Lander Module 118: 1/3 crew modules for Duna Lander and surface supplies 154: 2/3 and 3/3 crew modules for Duna Lander 190: Emergency Return Craft 226: Propulsion Stage for Lander 262: Supplies for Kerbin-Duna transit ---> Duna: Tri-Hub Lander 1 298: Phase B/Surface Supplies 334: Triple Hub Duna Lander Module 370: 1/3 crew modules for Duna Lander and surface supplies 406: 2/3 and 3/3 crew modules for Duna Lander 442: Propulsion Stage for Lander 478: Supplies for Kerbin-Duna transit 514: Saturn S-IVB Tanker to LKO (for refueling and restocking the Phase B craft) ---> Duna: Tri-Hub Lander 2 Primary Mission Hardware Catalog

Sounds like a very interesting mission you have underway. The way the rules are written, since you have landed near an emergency return-capable craft, you earn "We have a Reservation" +7 pts but only that one. "Got Your Back" and "We have a Reservation" are mutually exclusive points.

Very ambitious entry! Rover on Ike is a great added detail, too. New high score! Two new entries to the leaderboard and more examples of creative hardware design and entertaining mission reports.

Early Manned Planetary-Interplanetary Roundtrip Expeditions (EMPIRE) - Venus (Eve) Flyby Bellcomm Inc., a division of AT&T, developed a single-launch mission profile for a Venus flyby in the mid 1960's. The mission would have been launched on a single Saturn 5 for the 1973 launch window. The Apollo CSM would provide the avionics and control for the mission while the crew would occupy a lab/crew quarters mounted on the top of the SIV-B. Instead of dropping the SIV-B as in typical Moon missions, the SIV-B would be converted into a wet-workshop. Instead of a lunar lander, which would not be needed for a flyby mission, Bellcomm envisioned an Environmental Support Module (ESM). This module would provide the life support and communication needed for the mission and would contain the materials needed to convert the SIV-B into the wet-workshop once the fuel had been expended. Apollo CSM docked to the Environmental Support Module (ESM) In order to save weight and reduce consumables needed, the power for the mission would come from solar cells attached to the SIV-B and would be sustained with battery reserves. Other modifications would be to use two LM engines on the CSM instead of the standard Service Propulsion System (SPS) and modifications to communication systems to support the longer duration flight. Shortly before the Venus encounter, probes would be released from the craft to perform orbital science or possibly even landers to scope out the atmosphere and diverse cloud layers. Probe in orbit around Eve Due to Venus' strong gravity, only a small burn is required at periapsis to assist the slingshot around Venus to push the craft's orbit into an encounter with Earth. In this exploration, the flyby altitude had to be quite a bit higher than would be done with a Venus flyby due to Eve's massive gravity. Also, since there isn't really a good analog for a two engine cluster that would be similar to a single Poodle, only a single engine is installed on the Apollo CSM. And since there is no way to refurbish a spent fuel tank into a wet workshop, the Kerbals will just have to make due with a single Hitchhiker pod. They didn't seem to mind. Apollo-style Eve Flyby Coming in the next AAP entry... Apollo Applications Program - Munar Applications

That strut bug is whackadoo..

• That's no bull (+2): Trans Munar injection booster is a two-engine cluster, like the Centaur kicker stage. This is the only booster-related rule that can be scored more than once (the others say "at least one", meaning only the first one counts). For all launches which use a twin-engine cluster kicker stage to get from Kerbin orbit to the Mun score +2. For EOR/LOR, this is a maximum of +4 points, or +6 points if an emergency return/rescue mission is also launched. LOR is probably the best way to maximize points.. good luck!

Using Apollo Hardware to Explore Mars Before ever landing on the Moon, the Marshall Space Flight Center already had visions of exploring Mars and Venus. The mission requirements would be to use as much Apollo hardware as possible, which meant that a landing was out of the question. However, a manned flyby was definitely within the reach of the current technology. Mars Flyby Lab/Crew Quarters Launching on S5 The plan would be to use an Apollo CSM for primary flight avionics and control as well as for the final approach to Earth and landing. However, engineers were concerned about keeping the CSM protected from micrometeorites during the flight to Mars and back, especially since the flight plan would take the crew past Mars' orbit and into the asteroid belt. Refueling the SII-B OLV The plan to keep the CSM protected during the flight was to keep it enclosed inside a pressurized hangar moored atop the lab/crew quarters. The CSM would remain there controlling flight activities until it was time to land. The crew would be able to move between the lab/crew quarters and the CSM through a tunnel between the hangar and the lab. As the spacecraft approached Earth, the crew would move to the CSM, undock from the flyby craft and burn to Earth orbit prior to landing. As the flyby approached Mars, the crew would deploy probes and landers to further explore Mars. Since this was to be the first serious exploration of Mars, there were a lot of unknowns regarding the Martian atmosphere and surface density. The probes and landers on this trip would largely be designed to gather information on the planet for planning of future missions. Opening the hangar to reveal the Apollo CSM In order to get the rather large, pressurized hangar and spacious lab/crew quarters out to Mars, a modified S-IIB was envisioned, called the S-IIB OLV (Orbital Launch Vehicle). Two of the J2 engines would be removed, leaving three J2's and a large docking port would be mounted on top to mate with the flyby craft already in orbit. An Apollo Instrument Unit would provide navigation and control to get the S-IIB OLV into orbit after which the crew on the flyby craft would use the Rendezvous and Docking engines to meet up with and dock to the OLV. Once assembled in orbit, modified S-IIB "tankers" would be launched to refuel the OLV. The MSFC planned for up to four tanker launches to refuel the OLV prior to Mars planetary injection. Once the spacecraft was assembled and refueled, a crew for the flyby mission would board the spacecraft to begin the trip. Mars Flyby Craft Ready for Departure Throughout the trip, the crew would perform zero g science and maintain the fleet of probes and automated landers. After the final course correction, the probes would separate from the flyby craft and make their own small course corrections for their Mars encounter. As well as pure science, the probes would help engineers design Mars-specific spacecraft for future missions by testing aerobraking and reentry shielding. Proposed Flight Profile for Mars Flyby In this exploration, only two tanker launches were required to top up the OLV and even then there was way more delta-v available than was required for this mission. Unfortunately, the sample return lander probe and one of the rovers were lost. The sample return probe was missing struts that were present in the VAB but for some reason were not included in the launch vehicle. Once the chutes opened, the craft tore itself apart and crashed on the surface. The rover problem was a design issue that prevented the rover from getting power once the batteries were drained. With the second rover, care was taken to keep the largely obscured solar panels facing Kerbol until it was time to land. Both of the satellites were launched and used aerobraking to get into Duna orbits. This type of mission was clearly designed with "worst case scenario" in mind and highlighted using hardware already available. However, this manned mission to Mars could have been accomplished by late 1975 and would have gathered valuable data on Mars as well as a pass through the asteroid field. Apollo CSM in the hangar Apollo-based Mars Flyby Mission Coming in the next AAP entry: Early Manned Planetary-Interplanetary Roundtrip Expeditions (EMPIRE) - Venus (Eve) Flyby References: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/03/apollotovenusandmars/

Water sample return bonus: I'm glad someone did this with a robotic probe! Your implementation totally applies - that's what quicksaving is for, IMHO. As far as mods, the only things that I count as mods are ones which do the flying for you or ones which change the stock parts in the game. So, as far as I can see mission control says "GO!"

Apollo Applications Program - Skylab A/B and McDonnell Douglas' Phase B 12-Man Space Station This entry for the APP challenge looks at two derivatives of NASA's plans for space stations: Skylab B and McDonnell Douglas' Phase B 12-Man Space Station. The Skylab A mission was to be the first of two Skylab missions. The second would have seen only minor improvements but would have included more capacity for long-term duration missions. Phase B Space Station with Experiment Modules Still serviced by the Apollo CM/SM, a second Skylab could have incorporated the advanced Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) based on an ascent stage from a Lunar Module. This ATM/LM was capable of carrying more science experiments and could carry more consumables to the station to enhance duration. Skylab B with enhanced ATM/LM The second space station, the McDonnell Douglas Phase B, was a design for a 12-man station. Launched on a single Saturn 5, the Phase B was designed for research in microgravity and featured docking ports for interchangable experiment modules. This space station would be parked in high orbit and could also be used for crew training and a port of call for trans-lunar missions. Experiment modules could be installed and replaced as needed, expanding the versatility of the station. Manned Orbiting Research Laboratory Concept Drawing An evolution of the Phase B station explored here is a design that never went beyond the sketchpad. Hardware specifics on the three-module station are lacking, but by adding a docking and logistics module to a Phase B launch could render an expandable space station taking only three Saturn 5 launches to construct. Phase B MORL Triple-Station with Big Gemini return vehicle Skylab A with view of ATM Skylab A and B Phase B Space Station Next AAP Entry: Early Manned Planetary-Interplanetary Roundtrip Expeditions (EMPIRE) - Mars (Duna) Flyby

Thoroughly enjoyed that mission report! Leaderboard updated.

Although the rules aren't completely clear that it must be a Saturn 5 style lifter with a five-engine main stage, 5 engine second stage and a single-engine third stage, I think most people who did this challenge, and other 'Apollo'-style challenges, have developed their lifters in that fashion. However, the only lifter rule is "no asparagus-style fuel-tank/engine jettisons on ascent". Since the advantage to asparagus style comes from the ability to use infinitely capable fuel lines (and pumps, fittings, etc..), perhaps a rule revision might exclude using fuel lines to connect parallel stages, or possibly even exclude fuel lines from boosters completely. However, I don't think adding a relatively major rule like that at this point is necessary. Maybe if I draft another Apollo style challenge I will be more explicit. This challenge is all about the interplanetary spacecraft design and mission execution. So for now, I say however you can get there works. The Titan III is a period-accurate lifter and could probably be designed in KSP to be Duna-capable. The lifter below was used as a test for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL), for example. The boosters in this case, however, are SRB's with thrust-vectoring so there's no way in KSP to totally achieve that. Liquid boosters would totally suffice in place of the Titan III's SRB's.

As long as you don't have mod parts that give an unfair advantage and you're still doing the "flying" with only stock tools, then you still qualify.

You aren't claiming any points for early arrival, so not a problem about not using the persistent file. Leaderboard updated. Thanks for playing!

Lifting fuel you have no plans to burn from Eve?!? Ouch...

I like your entry's awesome massive effort!

I really enjoyed this video! Classy soundtrack and nice editing. Great spacecraft, too! Where did those satellites come from, LOL!

Coming back from the Eeloo Challenge mission, the seven kerbal crew endured 85.0gs. And, check out the distance covered stats, too. Long, long drive!

Gemini/AAP Style Eeloo Mission How about sending a Big Gemini to Eeloo? Why not! Bring a space station to leave behind? Sure! Satellites, landers, eleven kerbals to Eeloo and seven landing back on Kerbin. Four kerbals left on Eeloo station for further research. Yeah, we'll go back and get them later. Maybe.. A modest entry, and didn't even bring a rover, but reusing the S5 and Big Gemini hardware from the AAP Challenge and the LM from the Doing It Apollo Style Challenge. It was a single vessel to Eeloo orbit, but two landings on separate Apollo-style two stage landers. One landing went to the highlands for white Eeloo dirt and the other went to a valley for brown Eeloo dirt. The four crew who did the landing missions plus the three crew command module pilots returned to Kerbin. Getting there and back required a S5 style lifter to carry the CM, two LMs and station module. The second launch was five orange tanks and four nuclear engines. This was only practical with asparagus staging, so no S5 lifter. For some reason, the drive section had a tendency to develop a destructive resonance. This was traced to the satellites on the drive stage which were mounted at a slight angle to permit safe deployment. After turning off the satellites, all was well. The third launch was another S5 with a modified SII section with RCS and a docking port. The SII refueled the transfer stage and was dropped. The SIV-B assisted the four nuclear engines for the Eeloo burn. Two orange tanks were dropped during the inclination change but there was still one full orange tank left when Eeloo capture was complete. Lowering the altitude around Eeloo used some of that, but there was still plenty left for a Kerbin return burn. The four satellites were deployed at an altitude of 1000000m for no other reason than it was easy to read on the altimeter and at 45 degree inclinations. Already planning an Apollo CM style return mission to get the four kerbals still on Eeloo station, but getting out to Eeloo is.. well.. HARD! Thanks to alacrity for crafting this challenge! Lifting off from Eeloo Party in the house (4) - 200 pts Mission control - 50 pts There and back again (7) - 350 pts Just visiting - 25 pts Last years model - 100 pts. All Stock mission. Tab 'A' into slot 'B' (2) - 50 pts Can you hear me now? (4) - 20 pts per satellite + Full coverage bonus for getting 4 satellites up of 25 pts = 105 pts 880 pts Eeloo Big Gemini Mission

Thanks for the correction.. I did not catch it.

All points earned as claimed. And, a landing on deployable gear! So great. A very good mission report, as well. Good read! edit: Nice touch with the .craft files

Literally soaring to the top of the leaderboard Mesklin achieves a perfect mission with a whopping 29 early-arrival bonus points! Congrats!

I agree that the launch vehicle carries an inert payload to LKO which then activates and heads to Duna. This is the way I played this challenge and my LKO was 85km.

The early-arrival bonus applies to any of your launches which make it to Duna orbit before day 129 in the provided save-game file. Since your scouting mission arrived on day 117, your mission earns 12 points for the effort! awesome

You are correct - the bonus points for performing a rescue/backup lander mission are mutually exclusive. And yes, the rescue mission portion of the challenge assumes that something has indeed gone wrong and a rescue is required. However, having a empty backup return-capable lander waiting on the surface for the crewed landing mission to arrive was considered. This should still be a direct ascent style mission in the fashion of the Gemini Lunar Surface Rescue Spacecraft. I've made some adjustments to the rules to hopefully make them more clear: Possible Launch Profiles: EOR: 2 Launches of two spacecraft which rendezvous and dock in LKO then proceed to Munar orbit. A third, direct-ascent mission for an emergency craft may be launched. LOR: 2 Launches of two spacecraft which rendezvous and dock in Munar orbit and perform a Mun landing. A third, direct-ascent mission for an emergency craft may be launched. Direct ascent: Launch one spacecraft and establish a Munar orbit. A second, direct-ascent mission for an emergency craft may be launched.