Red Star Duna - mission report about my entry for "Duna Permanent Outpost Mission..."

[Mesklin]

This thread is to show off my entry to "Duna Permanent Outpost Mission Architecture Challenge" started by sturmstiger.

My primary goal is increasing scores as much as possibly - deliver maximum number of kerbonauts as early as possibly to Dune surface. And after analyzing rules I found perfect possibilities for it - first launch, completely free from mass restrictions. And I was really pushed up and took additional inspiration from DBowman's mission Dash 4 Duna

Second: I decided don't raise up resources from Kerbin if you can take these resources in space or recycle it. Kethane for extracting fuel and recyclers for life support (I am using TAC Life Support mod)

Third: maximum re usability of launched equipment: only 2 tugs for moving things from Kerbin to Dune and back. Only 2 return ships for executing rotations of kerbonauts

Fourth: Safety is not our choice, no return vehicles and Dune shuttles until these things really need for return

And finally let me introduce my big rocket for this mission "Zhar-ptitsa" (fire-bird in English).

Rated for 160t payload (100x100 km orbit)

Vehicle mass: 739 t

Details: 78

Stages: 2

1-st stage mass: 493 t (percent of launch vehicle mass 67%)

2-st stage mass: 246 t

Interval between launches: 240 days

Reusable first stage (soft landing on the water near KSC with parachutes and basic jets engines)

First stage dry (landing) mass ~100t

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My mods list: TAC Life Support, Kethane, DRE, Kerbal Alarm Clock, MechJeb2, Kerbal Engineer Redux, VOID, Procedural Fairings and several mods for VAB and SPH only

P.S. Sorry for my English, it is not my native language

[Mesklin]

Here is flight plan for the mission:

First three expeditions should start to Dune from circle orbit 50000x50000km.

Return ships should start from base Kerbin orbit (100x100 km).

Flight sequence for first 2 expeditions after reaching LKO:

1. Undock tug and move it to Minmus surface

2. Tug refuel on Minmus

3. Tug move back to Kerbin orbit, dock with payload and move it to Minmus orbit

4. Tug undock, refuel, return to Minmus orbit and dock with payload

5. Tug and payload escape Minmus SOI and move to high Kerbin orbit (50000x50000 km)

For third expedition items 1, 2 not applicable, because tug already will wait on LKO for payload (refueling on Minmus after Dune->Kerbin trip)

Return ships should start direct from base orbit with already refueled tug.

In Dune system tug use Ike for refueling and tug also refuel Dune shuttle on Dune orbit.

Until Day 0500: 3 Launches, 480 tons on LKO, Early Mission Value = 18816 Efficiency = 39.2 (thanks DBowman for pointing about this my miscalculations)

Until Day 1000: 5 Launches, 800 tons on LKO, Sustained Mission Value = 65088 Efficiency = 81.36

Achievements Score = 6 (Mission Execution 0, Crew Mobility 2, Base Mobility 2, Crew Safety 0, Mission Robustness 2)

- - - Updated - - -

Here is mobile home for 8 kerbonauts for years on Dune surface. Self landing, self sustained for O2 and water, you need only deliver food with replacement crew.

For recycling I used Sabatier Recycler and Water Purifier, with these two devices make unlimited autonomy by O2 and water. Also base has enough food for all mission (1138 days). 3 first launches include 4 bases with 8 kerbonauts in each (total 32). Also each launch with bases has emergency O2 and water supply for 300 days for 8 kerbonauts. 300 days is enough to return to Kerbin in case of problems with one set of recyclers or stay on Dune surface until next launch deliver new mobile base or more O2 and water.

Short stats:

Mass: 27.86 t

Details: 48

Landing: 48-7SÑ…4 engines + parachute

Nominal crew: 8

Maximum crew: 16

Self landing emergency supply:

More pictures

Edited March 31, 2015 by Mesklin

[DBowman]

Mesklin,

I really like the engineering on your mobile base, very neat and compact. Since seeing your Jool-5 low mass entry I always find myself wanting to 'reach in' to the image to take your stuff apart.

[Mesklin]

Here is space tug "Parom":

Brief stats:

Purposes: orbit and interplanetary operatons, unlimited fuel with full set of kethane extraction equipment (drill, converter, scanner). Kethane conversion process powered by Kethane electric generator (only 0.3t weight) - it is more then 2 times lighter then pair of big solar panels.

Equipped with heat shield that rated for Minmus->Kerbin aerobreak (for Dune->Kerbin trip you are really don't need for aerobreaking - tug without payload has enormous deltaV)

Fully fueled mass: 74.78t

Dry mass: 20.78t

Details: 45

Engines : LV-N x4

DeltaV with 130 t payload: 2734 m/s

Kerbin TWR with 130 t payload: 0.12 (not big, I know)

DeltaV without payload: 10161 m/s

Maximum refueling time: 10h

Slight more pics you can find in this imgur album

Edited March 30, 2015 by Mesklin

[Mesklin]

Here is 2 first expeditions package:

4 mobile bases + emergency supply + almost empty tug (fuel is enough for travel to Minmus surface without payload). Total mass: 157.6t

With launcher attached:

- - - Updated - - -

Third expedition package ("Star")

4 mobile bases + emergency supply + empty Dune shuttle in passengers configuration. Total mass: 149.98t

Edited March 30, 2015 by Mesklin

[Mesklin]

Modular shuttle for the next Dune system operations:

* Crew transfer between surface and orbit;

* Supply transfer from orbit to surface;

* Short expeditions to Ike with help from space tug.

Delivered to Dune with empty fuel tanks and should be refueled before use.

Brief specs:

Engines: LV-909x4

With 2 passengers modules:

Fully fueled: 39.49t

Dry: 23.49t

Details: 63

DeltaV: 1989 m/s

Maximum passengers: 32

Autonomy with 32 crew members: 9.7 Days

Without payload:

Fully fueled: 27.05t

Dry: 11.05t

Details: 43

DeltaV: 3428 m/s

Maximum crew on board: 8

Autonomy with 8 crew members: 38.8 Days

Rated payload delivered to Dune surface: 20t

Rated payload delivered to Dune surface and then back to orbit: 14t

More pics see in imgur album

[Mesklin]

And finally let me introduce crew transport ship (aka return ship), designed for transport 32 kerbonauts to Dune and back to Kerbin orbit (replacement crew). 4 full size supply containers can be easily attached to the ship (usually food for expedition for next 1100 days).

Brief stats:

Vacuum only operations (not designed for aerobreaks)

Mass: 86.84t

Details: 64

Nominal crew: 32

Food autonomy: 300 days (Kerbin-Duna-Kerbin travel average time)

Autonomy (with 32 crew members):

O2 + Water: Unlimited (full recycling)

Emergency autonomy (with broken one set of recycling system):

O2 + Water: 300 days