Astraph

The Propulsion Module was a true monster, compared to the two previous ones; hosting 20 experimental nuclear engines, along with suitable fuel tanks, it was over twice as heavy as the rest of the ship combined. Thus, a new type of lifter - dubbed "palisade rocket" was devised. Each module had roughly 2/3 of the lifting power of single S-I lifter, and the whole construction weighed over 1100 tonnes during liftoff. Its most distinctive feature - 16 gigantic solid fuel boosters - were the obvious source for the strange nickname. The exhaust flame was easily seen from the KGB orbiting station, and the launch pad had to be scrubbed of soot and metled parts for the whole next day. Of course, the cleaning could only begin after the last part dropped back onto the ground... Which was quite a bombardement, to say the least. Utilising the experience gained from the Cargo Module, the final docking was completely automated. Four raidial docking ports were designed to provide easy and effortless refueling between future missions. And so - Betelgeuse II is finally assembled and ready for the Great Burn!

@ Geschosskopf -> So do I. Actually, the spaceship is complete now... But let's just say for now it did not explode the moment I lit up the engines. @ Scotius -> Actually, when I tried to launch with hinges unfolded, the whole structure turned out to be suprisingly sturdy. Sure, it was by no means straight - but it reached orbit in one piece. We'll see how it fares in deep space though ^^' The second module - the Cargo Hold - was generally a large storage space, fitted with RCS fuel tanks and energy rings on both ends. Inside, a slightly modified version of the trusted Mun lander - dubbed Antares Landing Module (ALM) for the mission's purpose - was installed. The ALM was to be unloaded and loaded using a robotic arm, operated remotely from the Command Module, and then manned during a short EVA. Small internal docking points provided attachement base - and a possibility to refuel the lander, should need arise. On orbit, the module rendez-voused with the Command Module, using the final stage of the S-II rocket as a rag-tag engine. The docking was overseen both by an automated control system from the final stage and remote transmitters inside the Command Module. Upon reaching the target, the obsolete engine was decoupled, and the remaining fuel used to bring the debris into Kerbin's atmosphere, eliminating potential threat for future spacecraft. Meanwhile, on the surface, the engineers had to face the biggest challenge so far... The Propulsion Mode.

Star Trekkin'!

My first space station had to be brought down from orbit because I installed all the docking ports upside-down... Imagine my facepalm when I right-clicked on the empty docking port, saw the "undock" button... And then watched as the whole Clamp-o-Tron Sr flew away from the station after undocking into deep space...

The successful Munar landing of Betelgeuse I showed two main issues concerning interplanetary travel; first, the construction of a single, Kerbin-launched craft was deemed uneconomical, especially with the KGB slowly achieving operational capability. Second, new type of drive - namely, the nuclear rocket engine - was to be used in future interplanetary projects. Thus, Betelgeuse II was conceived. According to the plan, the new ship was to be constructed on orbit, out of three separate modules - Command Module, Cargo Hold and Propulsion Module. All of them were to be assembled on LKO, and refueled at KGB after each mission. The only module intended for possible return - the Command Module's pod - was to be detached only in absolute emergency. Also, the original lifter vehicle had to be replaced. The new machine was essentially a scaled-up version of the original S-I rocket, and quickly gained a notorious nickname "wibble-wobbler", due to its high centre of mass and rather... Peculiar behaviour at lanch. Namely, it used to simply topple at ~2k metres, slamming into the ground at full speed. Luckily, application of Yakov Kerman's principle "Add more SAS" worked perfectly. The first module was deployed at LKO. Its most distinctive feature were deployable arms, hosting large braking engines and the first batch of Gigantor Solar Panels. The reason for such setup was simple - it was feared that the spaceship of such size would be too sluggish to perform a 180-degree turn during braking manouver, so a pair of rotating engines was added to ensure relatively quick and flexible trajectory adjustment in-flight. One up, two to go...

Well, I guess I'll look into the robotics mod. Just blowing away one side of a box would be... Ugly ^^' Thanks a lot!

Hello fellow kerbonauts! I'm planning to deliver a large (>20 tonnes) rover to Mun, and am looking for the best way to land it on Munar surface. I'm thinking about using a Lunokhod-style delivery system (of course scaled up to fit this monstrosity), but have absolutely no idea how to create a deployable ramp to allow the vehicle to drive down to the surface once landed. Is this even possible to create such stuff with stock parts?

With the successful completition of first Munar landing, decision was made to send manned spacecraft to the surface of the moon. Not surprisingly, the one selected to lead the descent was no one else but Jebediah. Since the lander needed to be far bigger than the minute probes used in Mun III-VI landings, radial docking ports have been scrapped in favour of a frontal-mounted landing craft. The new vessel launched without interruption - and soon enough went on its way. Another craft was sent independently - carrying a prototype Munar rover, hosting a number of scientific instruments, small autopilot unit and a seat for most eager kerbonaut (as you may guess - Jebediah). The device got damaged due to rough landing zone - but the rover itself was put softly on the surface, patiently awaiting the crew to arrive. Regulus landing module touched down some 34 kilometres from Mun III's fateful crash-landing and 3 kilometres from the rover, in a middle of a vast crater basin. The landing site was named in Jebediah's honour - and in return, the brave kerbonaut was given the task of retrieving the rover, while Bill conducted usual scientific stuff around the lander. Meanwhile, Bob spent several charming hours in the screaming command module. Needless to say, his channel got muted mere seconds after the lander's departure. Jebediah's rover expedition proved to be most fruitful, with around 10 kilometres of Munar surface negotiated by the vehicle. However, while approaching a rim of a big crater, the rover's wheel motors jammed, making the machine completely unstoppable and unpredictable. The kerbonaut jumped out, saving his life - but the rover itself tumbled across the crater's rim, smashing its solar panels and sliding to the very bottom, no more usable. The decision was made to head back to Kerbin - forgive me for no pics of return trip, but I guess you know the drill

Hello people (and Kerbals)! I got KSP a month ago, got completely addicted to it (damn, it managed to make me give up WoT for more than a week - a feat unprecedented since I first drove my MS-1 into battle one and half a year ago)... And decided it's high time I got registered on the forums and started sharing my experiences with other fellow Kerbonauts. So, without further ado - welcome to project Betelgeuse - my first attempts at establishing kerbalkind's foothold on the Mun! sidenote: this is reserve crew, used to test launches Although some of us (mostly Jebediah, but you know the drill - he's crazy) opted for a rushed Mun landing, the majority of the team ruled out this option in favour for a remote landing. And thus, the first of what was to become project Betelgeuse was put onto the launch pad! The craft, codenamed Munshot I, had a rather simple structure, with two unmanned landers docked symmetrically to the hull. The setup has proven to be a bit wobble during ascent - but SAS systems managed to keep it in line and prevent unwanted structural decomposition. Once on Mun orbit, we managed to put the command module on a stable trajectory and choose our targets. It was assumed that both landers will descend, perform surface checks and then ascent again, to test the feasibility of lander design and descent techniques. Needless to say - not everything went as it should... Mun III (I and II being orbital probes, designated to research orbital mechanics and map Munar surface) made it to the designated landing side... Although not quite as we hoped it would. At least we managed to receive some kind of return signal - while Mun IV's report ended abruptly some 1000 metres above the designated landing zone. Later satellite check-up of the site discovered we had incorrect altitude readings - which resulted in Mun IV crashing into a steep crater slope instead of having a soft landing. Back on Kerbin, a heated debate resulted in a decision being made to send one more unmanned mission. Jebediah (once again) opted for "scratching all that trash and letting him jump around this grey sandbox" - but was outvoted. And outcried by Bob. Compared to its predecessor, Munshot II had increased RCS fuel capacity, and its probes got twice the fuel load - as engineers on Kerbin wanted to see how a heavier lander would behave during landing & take off. And, needless to say, they feared the probes would simply lack the power to take off again. Well, better be safe and sorry. Compared to previous landings, Mun V behaved brilliantly - softly touching in the middle of a crater, all legs intact and with almost enough fuel to take off again. Which was the reasong we decided to cross the "recovery" part of the mission alltogether - instead noting "use Rockomax fuel tanks" as a footnote for the next phase. Instead, the probes have been recalibrated to act as radio beacons for future landings. Also, Mun V was the first Kerbal-made object to send an image of Kerbin as seen from the Mun. The so-called "The Blue Crescent" became one of the best-selling pictures of the Inkernet. Although the so-called "Mun landing conspiracy" still believes this photo to be a fake. Well, though luck to them. Mun VI landed in a rough terrain and slid a bit down the slope - but managed to slow down to a standstill and begin its transmission. Thus three sites - called Jebediah, Bob and Bill - have been picked for future manned Munar landings. And as a bonus - both moons of Kerbin visible in this beautiful setup. Today Mun, tommorow... Minimus?

-> Landing on the Mun for the first time, happy and stuff. -> Wanna see that crater over there. -> Separately-landed rover is too far to walk; decided to use jetpack. -> Jebediah flies happily all 3 kilometres there. -> Forgot you don't have to press acceleration all the time -> Realise Jebediah is going bazillion m/s and won't slow down in time. -> Oh crap, lithobraking. -> Jebediah [*]

Sorry for double post

My KGB (Kerbalska Gwiezdna Baza, which means Kerbal Space Base in Polish) has reached operational capability. Its purpose is to provide refueling for interplanetary vehicles and serve as a staging point for their assembly. From left to right we god Core Module (providing housing for 4 crewmembers and an emergency supply of RCS monopropellant), Command Module (featuring twin Coupula observation decks and docking points for Tur space tugs) and Utility Node LF, designed to host up to 8 fuel containers and provide docking for up to three Tur-LF expendable supply craft. For assembly purpsoe I'm keeping it at low orbit, but plan to move it to around 50,000 km once it's completed.