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In my previous mission report for Beyond Jool, I sent a Cassini style mission to the mod's Saturn analogue, Sarkin. This completed the mod's 'Sarkin Surveyor' challenge. The next challenges were probe exploration of minor planets analogues for Pluto, Haumea and Eris in the 'Robau Belt'. However, as there was no Comnet range past Sarkin, and as I wanted to keep this mission stock, I decided on the logical solution - doing a full crewed mission to each. And throwing in a mission to another body for good measure. Mission Objectives: Land on Plad (Pluto analogue) and its moon Chau Land on Hamis (Haumea analogue) and its moon Haki Land on Elross (Eris analogue) and its moons Mrokrok and Bongbong Land on all moons of ice giant Anune Fly-by Jool at least once System map for reference: Rocket The rocket being used for this rocket is a remake of a launch vehicle I used extensively on console - the Finale series. It uses a fairing-protected MK3 fuselage (+ some MK1s, which is still less fuel than the fairing volume could hold) and 7 NERVs, assisted by a 2nd stage of 4 Wolfhounds and a 1st stage that is bolted together. This, alongside the placement of the Wolfhounds and a set of struts along the rocket, was to lower the amount of joints and keep the rocket as rigid as possible. The lander is fairly solid, however the Science Jr is stuffed into the side of the cockpit. There is also the problem of the command stage having the radial tanks slightly clipped into each other. I suffered for that mistake. NBs If you want to have a go at these yourself, note that Anune is part of its own pack, AnuneExpansion. See the Beyond Jool Thread (link above) for details. Halfway through this mission, I re-installed AVP, so the skybox will change in some of the pictures Missions I have a lot to say about each, so they've been put into dropdowns. Arrakis 1 (Anune) Robau 1 (Hamis) Robau 2 - Plad Robau 3 (Elross) Conclusion The combined efforts of all the crews netted me over 50,000 Science. Werner was content with all expeditions except for Elross, where the loss of a single gravity scan over the lowlands triggered a perfectionism. I think these have also passed the remaining challenges, though there seems to be some more in the works. @Mr. Kerbin, bring 'em on. (btw, this took over 2 hours to put together. why did i do this)

Just a thread I thought this forum needed. Is Pluto still a planet? Kindly and respectfully share your thoughts about Pluto. I think @Pluto_Is_A_Planet might want to join in. (Sorry for "pinging" random users, but it's sort of for a reason)

I think we can all agree Pluto has and always be big chad (also look at one it's moons https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/pluto-moons/kerberos/in-depth/)

After months of planning, filming, and editing, it's finally here - Project Andoria! Embark on the largest cinematic video I've ever made.

Something very different, and very big. Merry Christmas to all!

Is Pluto a planet? According to the IAU, no, but what do you think?

Hey, guys! For the last several months i've been working on my new KSP video. It would be action miniseries of 6 episodes, 20-25 minutes each. Here we go!

I ran across this article from a current events program. CBC article link Yes, it would re-classify Pluto as a planet again, as well as add a lot more planets to the list. Knowing this is still a heated topic, please keep a calm head in the discussion. Have fun!

Hey everybody, I want a flag on Pluto (using RO,RSS,TAC-LS,RT,kOS etc) and started by calculating different scenarios. It turned out, that Pluto is giving me some serious headaches. The biggest problem is the unneglectable inclination relative to the eclipse of 17° combined with Pluto`s excentricity. ---- I`m German, hope you understand what I write, feel free to correct me --- Scenario 1 is just a Hohmann Transfer to meet Pluto when he crosses the ecliptic. Scenario 2 is about meeting him at his Periapsis. I do not consider any swing-by maneuvers, because there would be to many odds... So in order to calculate Scenario 1 I need to know my speed relative to Pluto, when I meet him at the Ascending Node so I can calculate the burn that keeps me in Pluto-orbit. But here`s the problem: how do I know Pluto`s distance from the sun and his speed when he crosses the Eclipse? Is there any "general" equation that would be usable for other inclinded planets, such as Mercury as well? Scenario 2 would require to burn my spacecraft`s apoapsis to Pluto`s Periapsis. His speed and my speed at that point are easy to calculate. The advantage of this scenario would be a much shorter flying time, and therefore less weight (less life support). What I save on Life support could be added as fuel and increase the Delta-V for the "Flip-burn". On the way back to Earth I wouldn`t have to do the flip burn and use the Delta-V to reduce speed just before Earth-reentry and keep g-forces lower, since I would not have to dive too deep into Earth`s atmosphere. But how do I calculate the "Flip-Burn"? Flip-Burn", because I would stay at the Eclipse until intersecting Pluto`s orbital plane and change the inclination ("flip" my trajectory) there. How do I calculate my speed and my distance from the sun when intersecting Pluto`s orbital plane with my AP at his PE ? Any hints are welcome. Maybe someone has done and posted their math before, but so far I couldn`t find any. Cheers, Whateverest

I don't know if this belongs here, but I'm pretty sure it does. So, I was randomly browsing the internet today, and I discovered that Pluto has a moon named Kerberos. It is the fourth moon of Pluto, and was discovered back in 2011... BUT it was named in mid 2013. The article says it was named after an asteroid, but you've got to wonder... maybe the person who suggested that name played KSP. Probably not, but, even so, it would be an interesting coincidence. Thoughts?

http://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/7842/20151207/nasa-releases-plutos-definitive-portraits.htm That looks almost like lava creeps over flat ground. But those are mountains and valleys captured during New Horizon fly by. Just what created them?