aeroz

Moar Boost!!!

LKO COMSAT Deployment: 2 Launches, 8 satellites. Each of the MultiComs (3,4,5) have 4 replacement satellites if the drift ever gets bad enough that replacements are necessary. The actual COMS don't all have the same orbital period, but they are very close. None have any orbital control - they were simply transported to orbit, phased, and released.

Just a bit of IVA docking to the station, there are pics from outside too.

Home sick today, but decided to try out Infernal Robotics and make a missile at the same time. Worked pretty well. Three launches tested, three direct hits. Haven't tested to max range yet, but I don't have a communications constellation set up yet. I imagine it'll do just fine. Tested it a few more times - it gets to orbit just fine with a 600 kg payload: more than enough for a small photo or communication satellite. Look out world!

A-12 Oxcart

After practicing for a while with the biplane, it was deemed an airworthy craft. In fact, the most difficult part about flying the thing was landing it on the ground...softly. It generated so much lift and the wheels were so springy that the plane, no matter how softly or slowly the landing was done, would simply bounce along the ground a few times. Jeb trained up Bill on how the aircraft handled, but it would be Bill's job to test other aspects of the plane - namely the craft's endurance. Bill's mission was to fly to the northern mountains around them, then back to base. The scientists had encouraged him to use the camera all along the way taking pictures of various land formations and objects that seemed interesting. Being a little bit slower to pack than Jeb, Bill ended up taking off during the evening, flying as far north as he could and still be able to find a reasonable landing location. There, he would rest until morning. At dawn Bill took off again making note of a particularly interesting formation of lakes to the north east of his landing site. Continuing toward the mountains he got his first glimpse of the trees and how prevalent they were in more mountainous areas of their home. He also noticed sandbars, peninsulas, snow - up close, and a multitude of other things. Eventually he turned south and headed home using his lake formation as a marker.

The engineers and scientists were being pressured to begin doing research since "the funding was meant for science." And while the endless design of the standard issue office catapult was of value, the management was unhappy with the lack of immediately tangible results. Seeking to appease them, the scientists developed a "camera" - an optical system meant for capturing observations for review later - and the engineers designed a new flight system meant for exploration and research. The result was the field research biplane. Jeb was briefed about the craft and told what not to do based on the groups' observations of his previous flights. He was also given a tutorial on how to use the camera and when. His route would take him down the coast, over some of the grasslands to the base of the mountains, then back home. Tuning out most of what they said, he quickly went from the room to the plane, hopped in, and started the first bit of exploration. While the scientists and engineers were thrilled with the data, stories, and images he returned with of the outside world, the managers were thrilled that he returned with an image of the Federation's headquarters.

Having studied lift more than just in theory as a result of their glider tests, the engineers set out to develop a method of propulsion so that Kerbals too could take to the skies, having been left behind by their distant cousins, the birds that they heard chirping away constantly while they were trying to work. They devised a device that would pull them through the air, operating on the same principles as the wings so roughly attached to the cardboard they called a "body" in the last flying vehicle. Simply by adding this one part, the Kerbals could now travel vast distances on their planet, though it would still take time. Jeb joyfully tested the contraption using the modified glider, rightly - though blandly - named "Single Prop". He liked to call it "Airplane 1".

The engineers at the Kerbal Science Foundation debated with their managerial overlords about the program and its direction for weeks. Insisting that it made the most sense to run before walking, it was decided that a glider of unknown design would be mounted to two drop towers, pointed in generally the desired travel direction, and let loose to theoretically make its way from altitude to the runway safely. They even had ides about how to do it safely! Twice, the "test pilots" (unlikely Kerbals pulled off the street unwittingly) successfully managed to go exactly nowhere but down, having no forward momentum with which to gain some lift. The engineers after much hesitation came back with a solution: provide a small kick to the glider at the onset. The result was fabulous. After three near-death experiences, Jeb was left with the amazing desire to continue flying - the engineers had not anticipated this. After Jeb's initial success and willingness, he was formally indoctrinated into the program as lead test pilot.

Background: In an attempt to be as scientifically progressive as possible, I will not be using a technology tree for the progression of parts used or experiments conducted. This is a story of the development of a science program, not exclusively space. The research and engineering goals below are what I believe to be the most representative of a logical scientific progression*. Starting points for the Kerbals in the story: The equations of motion (particle dynamics) are known. A general perception of flight mechanics exists. Program Research & Engineering Goals --------------------------------------------------- Atmospheric Flight & Science: Soaring flight – Lift, Drag, and Basic Flight Control: Deflecting surfaces Powered Flight: Props, Jets, Turbojets, Turbofans Liftoff, Landing, Maneuvering, Flight time Single engine, Multi-engine, Straight wings, Swept wings High Speed Flight: Supersonic High Altitude Flight Pressure, Temperature, Density, Clouds Aerodynamic heating: General Advanced flight control (manual, remote, and autopilots) Rocketry: Engine testing: Solid, Liquid, Multiple ignitions & Ignition conditions, Multistage Launch Dynamics Aerodynamic heating: Reentry Reentry Dynamics Reentry Targeting Predicted and Controlled Reentry Very high altitude dynamics Automated Control Orbital & Exploration Science: Achieve orbit Remote Satellite Operations Orbital transfer dynamics Planetary Science Space Science Long range communications Power Generation: Solar & Thermo-electric Space Exploration: Impact, Flyby, Landers, Rovers Manned Operations: Manned Orbit EVA Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, & Docking Long Duration Manned Missions Manned Space Exploration Persistent Presence Low-energy Propulsion Long-duration Manned Planetary Exploration --------------------------------------------------- I will be using kOS, Remote Tech 2, Deadly Reentry, Ferram Aerospace Rersearch, parts from TAC Life Support**, HullCam, B9 Aerospace, DMagic Orbital Science, ScanSat, Raster Prop Monitor, Probe Control Room, Real Chutes, Telemachus, Firespitter, EngineIgnitor, MechJeb 2, Kerbal Engineer, and a few other mods as well. There are also some that maybe I should use but am not because I haven't found them or feel it could take away from the game play - this is for fun after all. I will do my best to not remove debris from orbit - hopefully this will not be that big an issue. *Thoughts on this progression are welcome. Some aspects may be concurrent, but in text form that is difficult to show. **The life-support feature will not be enabled simply because I see no reason to worry about running out of power if I don't check in on a station during another longer-duration flight every few hours - a general annoyance when warping through time. Sure, satellites and stations are designed to have an extra power supply, but it isn't meant to be an extreme excess. Perhaps extreme excess generation capability, but not extreme excess storage. I will be checking to make sure, however, that there are more than enough other supplies on the missions when the Kerbals are sent out into space. Aside: Personally, I have a multitude of ideas on how to make this game more educational and realistic (in the science sense). However, I lack the coding experience needed to implement them. I don't anticipate most of them actually being that difficult to do. If anyone reads this and is interested, I'm more than willing to share. I've been playing this game for a long while now and really believe it has a lot of potential for science education - not just orbits and physics, but most of science given that the right additions are made.

I've been trying to make an SSTO craft to deliver things to LKO for ages. It's been pretty tough using FAR and Deadly Reentry, but I finally got it today! This album shows the various stages of development of the craft. I did it in career mode, so having to unlock parts and test things made the designing really fun.

I was wondering something similar to what's discussed here. If I were to do this Apollo style - i.e. a lander and command module - can i collect samples from the moon, return to lunar orbit, and then return in the command module with the samples? or does it all have to be done with the same craft? I haven't tried it yet, I just transmitted the science back before. But figured i'd ask.

The small station, intended to determine the long-term effects of space on Kerbals, is inclined at about 45º in a 150km circular orbit.

hey i think the mods are great, i wanted to start off with that. i did a bit of thinking though. in ksp there is no way to actually issue pre-programmed commands. they're all done in real time. adding in lag is a great idea, but without pre-programmed commanding, there's isn't a real way to land a craft safely on another world. moreover, there's no way to simulate reality. imagine for example a probe the in real world going to mars. mars is, on average 225 million km away, or 225 billion meters. light takes then, on average, 12.5 minutes to get to mars. if you were trying to land something on mars, you wouldn't be able to. you'd have instruments and autopilots built in measuring all of the things you need to to land safely. most of curiosity's commands are built in, with some manual control too. built in commands are automatic. people don't even try to land toy planes with a 1 second lag because it's so difficult; the feedback loop is broken by the lag. i think that a nice compromise for ksp is exactly what you have now with the .22 update; something that requires a link - to relay back findings and science - but doesn't exhibit lag. or perhaps even better would be a module to allow for local control of a vessel simulating pre-programmed commanding. it would of course use some power; but being a separate part, it would more closely emulate real life. just food for thought.

Kerpallo Rocket Booster Engine Cutoff (BECO) I BECO II Transfer Engine Ignition Crew and Landing Modules East Side Crater Post Munar orbit return and Munar escape - release of lander for Kerbin impact Returning home

Well, the guys made it back safely. The ship should actually have more than enough fuel to get to and return from Minimus after having landed. I did a near-retrograde burn toward the end rounding out my reentry; total delta v: ~950m/s. One last glimpse Return to orbit Farewell Mun Picture perfect docking Returning home Goodbye, Kartan Almost there Just before reentry Max Q - yes, there is one on reentry as well. Operation Mundust: Success

Thanks for the compliments! your AAR is actually pretty cool too. I like some of your designs a lot. And definitely keep writing it! http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/44135-0-22-Universe-Replacer-v4-0 is where i got all the textures for all the planets and kerbin. i'm currently using the cloud pack and high res kerbin and the 4k star field.

That mission underway has been furthered... Mun and Kerbin Just the Mun Landing Touchdown First steps A site of future exploration for sure: Munar Archway

Figured I would show some of the stuff from my path through career; Jeb and the crew have been pretty hard at work. They've made a ton of probes sent out to various places, made a few landers... not much in the way of actually landing. Did a practice run though. The last picture is a mission currently ongoing. Sea Skimming Cruise Missile Deep Space I Duna's Polar Caps Jool from afar Leaving Kerbin From the inside Kerbin Rising Return home Safe Landing Kerpallo II

For those who are interested, i am currently going through the career mode. after getting to a point far enough along, i intend to go through the mods i use and assign them a technology going along with what should be their place in the tech tree. the biggest issue right now is with remote tech. the antenna part needs to have its .cfg file edited to be included in the same section as the stayputnik system. i haven't done it yet, but i'll get to it. On the plus side, FAR has no issues whatsoever. Also, here's some of my work so far in Career, obviously only stock parts: Soyuz I Science probe to Mun Munar Sunrise

Seeking to gather more information about Minimus, a command was sent to Observer I - the mapping satellite - to fire its thrusters so it would impact the surface. In doing so, it was determined that there was no atmosphere on their smallest moon. Another exploration satellite was sent, this time to conduct a science mission. Its transfer vehicle would also serve as another impact device, creating a plume for the KSC scientists to study using instruments on the new Observer I. Among other things, the satellite would carry a gravity detection device and a thermometer to study the moon's gravitational effects and the general temperature that far from Kerbin. A glance homeward Impact away For Science!

The crew was continually running into a problem - they didn't have enough dishes to control their future missions. Jeb, regretting the cost greatly, agreed to sign off on 4 more local communications arrays to lighten the load on GloboStars 1 and 3. After they finished putting the other 4 up though, he was glad he did. GloboStars 5 through 8 would allow the initiative to control upwards of 15 new unmanned missions throughout the solar system. All 8 GloboStars

Due to slight delays in the shuttle program, Jeb decided that the best course would be to continue work on the station using minimally staged rockets, recovering as much of them as possible for reuse to save money. The next modules needed were a habitation module and then the main solar array to generate more power than the future crews could ever ask for. Habitation Module Launch Main Array Tower and Tug Array 1 Attached Array 2 They used tug modules to dock the station parts and were able to recover the majority of them. So far, the station was coming along just as planned. Except for a minor hiccup in the launch of the habitation module. Its power was so closely matched with the delta v required for orbit that the RCS system was used as propulsion for the last part of the journey to the station. Its tug was not recovered.

Though the shuttle program was coming along nicely, it was decided that exploration needed to continue. Jeb pulled a small crew off of the shuttle design project and tasked them with designing a more effective orbital mapping satellite than the previous attempts. What they came up with was was likely to be the new standard for mapping systems out of the initiative. Several days after the probe's launch it was in it's final orbit around Minimus and starting its mapping mission with fuel to spare, should orbital adjustments become necessary.