Boostermax commercial Duna mission (Pic heavy) Now with Part 10

[Falcon Coupe]

Welcome to my mission report following the Boostermax company and its space tourism operations to Duna.

I am using quite a few parts mods, but nothing affecting gameplay, just ask about any parts if you're interested.

I will keep updating, I already have a few more parts almost ready to put up before I catch up to where I'm actually up to.

This is my first mission report, please feel free to give feedback.

Also due to a few mistakes on my part, the pictures of the launches and start of the transfer burns are not from the actual mission, I had to fly them again and take pictures. Sorry about that.

Part 1

The days of space exploration and astronauts venturing into the unknown was over. Mitcas Kerman had made his billions during those days selling parts, fuel and anything that could turn a tidy profit with a “space quality†sticker stuck on.

Rockomax, then Kerbodyne had revolutionised rocket design with their larger parts, now with his fortune behind him it was his turn to revolutionise rocketry with Boostermax. He had a simple plan: build even bigger rockets to carry more people, then charge them for the ride. Yes he would become the first space tourism operator!

With celebrities, businessmen and anyone with enough money lining up for a seat, it was time to start construction at the Boostermax VAB. First into orbit was the Ironclad surface habitation module, riding a Boostermax 8 Iron lifter.

On the pad, just over 580 tonnes.

Liftoff! With Henzor Kerman in command.

Booster sep.

First stage sep and second stage ignition.

Ironclad in orbit.

Some customers would only fly if there was a rover they could drive. The engineers at Boostermax didn’t mind testing something different, the Hammerhead rover.

Hammerhead delivery on top of a Boostermax Nitro Junkie lifter.

Hammerhead delivery on the pad, just under 260 tonnes.

Ignition!

Booster sep.

Circularising.

In the next update, the rest of the first fleet of vessels are sent to orbit to undergo shakedown testing while waiting for the transfer window, which proves very fortunate...

Edited April 21, 2015 by Falcon Coupe

[Falcon Coupe]

Next up heading to orbit is the heaviest launch for the first wave of ships to Duna: The Space Bar!

With a maximum internal capacity of 79 Kerbals or a standard maximum of 49. Also has 2 decks with 3 chairs each for kicking back and relaxing!

With a launch weight of 4066 tonnes, it's a monster on the pad!

The 12 Raptor engines of the Boostermax Vee 12 ER lifter roar into life.

Still looking very large as it climbs away from the KSC.

Mitcas Kerman was able to do a deal with parts supplier LazTek to provide the Raptor engines made by SpaceX. At 6,800kN of thrust each and easily able to be clustered, these bad boys are one shiny piece of kit.

Separation of the 7m diameter boosters. Here at Boostermax, we take our name seriously!

Circularising.

Elon Kerman, owner of SpaceX entered into partnership with Mitcas and supplied the next ship to orbit, SpaceX Duna Colonial Transporter. This was entirely built by SpaceX to ease the load on Boostermaxs' manufacturing facilities. Weighing 1452 tonnes on the pad, this will take 50 well paying Kerbals to the surface of Duna.

The DCT looking mighty sleek on the pad.

Mitcas was worried that his engineers would need to fit more boosters to someone else's lifter, until Elon reassured him by saying that it had 9 Raptor engines underneath it!

Arcing away from the KSC.

The engines still glowing as they cool from the circularisation burn. Yep this is an SSTO.

Some spoilt celebrities wanted more on Duna, even though they weren't there yet. Mitcas didn't mind, by strapping 2 Hammerhead rovers and 3 newly designed Ioniscooters together on one lifter, he was able to charge far more extra than what it cost. This configuration was called the Adrenalin, and sat on top of the Boostermax Illuminati lifter for a total of 338 tonnes on the pad.

The Adrenalin rolled out to the pad.

Liftoff! Solid boosters were used to keep costs down and profits up (and they look cool!).

Booster sep.

You can see where the lifter got its name from.

First stage continuing to burn for orbit.

And circularising.

These ships then spent a number of months in Kerbin orbit to shakedown all their important systems such as the bars, TV lounges and hair dryers. During a quick check of the other systems, the attitude and engine controls were found to be completely unservicable on all the ships! No matter what commands mission control sent, the ships didn't respond to any of them, even though all crew were safe and alive and the rest of the ships systems were operating.

As an emergency precautionary measure, Mitcas ordered the secret launch of another Hammerhead delivery as soon as possible to test systems on a new rocket and as a possible replacement rover to send to Duna if the older one was a write off.

Only after the Hammerhead delivery 2 was in orbit was it discovered that the operator at mission control in charge of the KJR system had played too many games of Snack Crush on his work console and had forgotten to update his software, causing communication errors. He no longer has a chance to play Snack Crush at work... while washing dishes in the Kerbonaught Complex!

With all ships fully functional again, Mitcas suprised his customers with news he was sending another Hammerhead for them to use, "Just because you are all top customers."

With the crisis averted and the transfer window approaching, the next episode will feature the departure to Duna.

[Falcon Coupe]

As the transfer window approached, all vessels were cleared for their transfer burns. First up, the Ironclad with some impressive flames from its Merlin vacuum engine.

The Ironclad says goodbye to Kerbin.

The Hammerhead was up next, shown jettisoning the lifter stage and lighting its transfer stage.

Up next, the Space Bar, doesn't look very big on top of the lifter!

Time for lifter sep and transfer ignition though.

Leaving the lifter behind now.

Time for the DCT to drop the lifter and light up its transfer engine. I really do like the 5m Raptor vacuum engine, I had been looking for a large upper stage engine for some time.

And burning away, Raptor glowing nicely.

The Adrenalin lighting it up with its transfer engine, lucky they don't want to re-use the lifter stage.

And a shot of all the trajectories heading off to Duna, looking busy up there.

Next time we will see one vessel arrive at Duna, who will get there first?

[Falcon Coupe]

AAAnnnnddd the first to arrive at Duna is.....

Thompbrett Kerman in command of the Duna Colonial transporter are first to arrive.

Thompbrett hands over to Halkin for the orbit injection burn to make sure everyone is ready for the engine firing.

Unfortunately there was some technical issues with the cameras during the descent and landing. The landing was targeted at the large canyon just north of the equator so that the landing site was just to the west of the canyon. The massive chutes on the main module and the hab module were deployed once the atmospheric pressure started registering on the sensors. Only when the spacecraft was a few 100 meters above the ground was the hab module separated and left to descend under chutes, the main module used its RCS to scoot sideways out from over the hab and a short burst of the engines to soften the landing. So the landing was very hectic, but the team pulled it off, here is the result after the automatic inflation of the hab module.

Thompbrett Kerman exits the DCT module and steps onto the surface!

He then heads over to check out the hab module to make sure everything is up and running.

And he also flipped the light switches on and planted a flag outside the front door.

Nedcal and Sidgee were next out of the DCT, having paid a premium for the privilege. They stop for a selfie!

Sidgee can't be bothered walking and decides to jet pack over to the hab module door.

"I hope you didn't get a photo of that. Oi delete that!"

Nedcal decided walking to the hab module would be best. Seanrod Kerman was still keen for a jetpack, and showed he had better skills than Sidgee. He also got an even better selfie!

With the DCT down safely, who will be next into Duna orbit? Stay tuned for the next episode!

[Falcon Coupe]

Next to see Duna is the Space Bar! No self respecting space tourist would go anywhere without access to a fine drinking establishment!

Hold your drinks everyone... Or just finish them off!

Gervey looks down to the guys on the surface. "I prefer being up here, I'm not going down there until they have a pub!" You'll also note that the Space Bar is pretty much on 300 tonnes in Duna orbit, not bad from a single launch.

"Ladies and Gentlekerbs the Space Bar is now in orbit, the bar has re-opened, the deck lights are on and the deck is open for your relaxation.

And just one reminder of the guys on the surface.

In the next episode we have a massive emergency of the snack kind, a certain trio get a call and we have another landing! All the excitement!

[Falcon Coupe]

In this episode we have the landing of the first Hammerhead rover to join the guys on Duna. Here is the approach to Duna.

And burning for orbit.

The Hammerhead popping out into the light.

Adjusting inclination, and the transfer stage is gone, down to the landing stage.

Lining up for landing, Hammerhead is go for automated landing sequence.

KSC operator: "Gene I have indications that someone is onboard!"

Gene: "That can't be right, they are unmanned, try calling and see if anyone is there."

Mitcas: "This is Mitcas Kerman calling the Hammerhead delivery, is anyone there?"

Hammerhead: "mmmmrrrrffff eerrrrffff eeeerrrrbbrrro, hhhrrrriiiii!"

Mitcas: "Say again Hammerhead!"

Hammerhead: "GULP! This is Sherbro Kerman on the Hammerhead along with Edmore Kerman. Whats up guys?"

Mitcas: "WHHATTTTT! How did you get onboard? No-one was meant to be onboard."

Sherbro: "Weeeeellll your cousin Edmore here owed me a favour and got me onboard, he decided to tag along because he figured you'd be mad and the further away he could be, the better!"

Mitcas: "Yep I sure am furious, who knows what could have happened."

Gene: "Guys just calm down, we're in the middle of the landing sequence, we can sort this out later after they are on the ground. Sherbro and Edmore, are you guys going ok out there?"

Edmore: "Yeah we're good, a bit hungry though, we've just finished the last of our snacks."

Mitcas: "Oh dear, the Hammerheads were meant to be full of extra snacks for the guys on the ground, now there's none. Wait! What about the other Hammerhead? I was also meant to be full of snacks."

Edmore: "Sorry boss but you'll find Seanzer Kerman onboard, and with him, I'll bet he's gone through all the snacks by himself."

Mitcas: (facepalm)

The guys continue their retro burn.

Coming down over the base.

Whoops, not a good landing, must be the offset weight from all those consumed snacks! (Actually I didn't realise that the navball was in Target mode, doesn't work so well on landings.)

Bounce!

Edmore: "A bit rough but not too bad hey?"

Almost settled down...finally.

Sherbro: "I've had better."

Sherbro: "The hammerhead has landed!"

Mitcas: "Gene, I need to get more snacks to Duna ASAP, how's the transfer trajectory look at the moment?"

Gene: "Pretty bad, you're going to need over 5000m/s just in the transfer burn to get there under 300 days."

Mitcas: "Ouch, there goes my profit margin, I'm going to need one hell of a rocket to do that. That kind of rocket will need one hell of a crew, do I have permission to use the Red Line?"

Gene: "I think the situation warrants it."

Mitcas (calling over the Red Line): "This is Mitcas Kerman and I'm terribly sorry to bother you in your retirement, but Jeb, Bill and Bob, I need you to crew a high speed trip to Duna for me."

Jeb: "Must be a pretty big rocket to call us, how big is it going to be?"

Mitcas: "Big."

Jeb: "Hey Bob, pass me another beer." (Yawns)

Mitcas: "Ridiculously big."

Jeb: "Now you're talking, when do we come back to Kerbin?"

Mitcas: "Immediately."

Bill: "Love it!"

In the next episode we follow Sherbro and Edmore as they drive the Hammerhead to the colony base. Don't worry, the favourite trio will be in the episode after that!

[Falcon Coupe]

We left the last update with Sherbro and Edmore safely on the ground. Now lets follow their drive to the base.

Sherbro: "Hey Edmore, did you decouple us from the skycrane?"

Edmore: "I thought I did, I pushed the button to separate and the system info says we have separated."

Sherbro: "That's strange, because we haven't dropped to the ground."

Edmore: Click, click "Definitely not doing anything. Hey Mitcas, do your engineers have any idea on this?"

Mitcas: "We never had this problem while testing back here, something must have happened on the trip out."

Edmore: "You didn't get bored and touch something on the way out Sherbro?"

Sherbro: "Hey!"

Mitcas: "Alright guys, the engineers suggest the old wiggle-wiggle treatment."

Edmore: "Great, good to see they know exactly what is going oooonnn! (Hammerhead starts shaking)"

Sherbro: "Sorry buddy, should have warned you I'd started doing the wiggle."

Edmore: "All good, I didn't drop my snack! Though it does look like we moved a bit, keep going."

Edmore: "Keep it up, were getting somewhere, this sure is strange."

Thump!

Sherbro: "Looks like were finally free!"

Edmore: "Check it out, looks like the chute has stayed connected to us, not the skycrane."

Mitcas: "That is super strange, but there's nothing we can do. Is it affecting you guys in any way?"

Sherbro: "We're fine, it doesn't get in our way at all."

Mitcas: "Alright you're cleared to drive out."

Sherbro: "Oh yeah! Lets roll!"

Edmore: "I don't think we'll get turn by turn GPS voice navigation will we?"

Sherbro: "Hammerhead handles fine so far."

Sherbro: "Wooo Hammerhead hangin' ten!"

Edmore: "Take it easy, we haven't tested this baby fully yet."

Edmore: "Thats not so bad."

Both: "Yeee-haaa!"

Edmore: "Alright, I can see the DCT. Almost there!"

Edmore: "Don't crash into the other guys."

Sherbro: "Don't worry, I've got this."

Sherbro: "See, we made it."

Edmore: "Nice driving, hope you remembered the handbrake."

And that's our two guys parked up and inside! No doubt Mitcas will be taking their credit card numbers!

Stay tuned for the next episode we have Jeb, Bill and Bob called out of retirement for a special mission!

[Commissioner Tadpole]

Nice, capitalism on space. Eager to see more chapters!

[Falcon Coupe]

Jeb, Bill and Bob were enjoying retirement after their pioneering days aboard the Bossitron Station, a large fuel depot orbiting Kerbin. It was an easy life for the three old hands, nothing really to do but relax, hang out together and eat snacks. Mitcas Kermin knew he needed a monster booster if he was to get some snacks to Duna in time, and to pilot the very first launch of such a massive lifter without testing, he knew he needed a special crew. Only the "three boys" could pull this off.

The first step was to bring them back to the KSC.

Mitcas: "Hey Jeb, we need to bring you guys back home, so just hang on and we'll send up a capsule to bring you back."

Jeb: "How 'bout I save you a few bucks and just bring this old baby back?"

Mitcas: "You do know that you have no 'chutes, no landing legs and that was never meant to land or even go anywhere?"

Jeb: "Trust me, she'll be right, Bill and Bob have run the calculations and say it can be done."

Mitcas: "So Bill and Bob, is Jeb actually telling the truth?"

Bob: "Yep, we're happy to do it."

Bill: "This is on us if we bend it."

Mitcas: "Alright, bring it back as soon as you can."

Bob: "Retro burn now!"

Bill: "Engines all lit up."

Gene: "You mean nominal?"

Jeb: "Since when do we do nominal?"

Gene: "Just don't break it, Mitcas has your credit card details I'm sure."

Jeb: "Not to worry, coming down right on target so far."

Bob: "Landing breaking burn in 3, 2, 1, NOW!"

Bill: "On it."

Jeb: "Not quite going to land on top of the VAB."

Bob: "Don't get too close or they'll make us walk, drift away a bit so they have to send a car to pick us up."

Bill: "Damn I like your thinking."

Jeb: "Ok, letting it drift a bit, not too far, I don't feel like a swim today."

Thump!

Bill: "And we're down, in one piece too by the looks of it."

I did actually land that manually, first time! But no more pictures because I was a bit busy concentrating, wasn't too bad actually, KER suicide burn readout is super handy for that. I haven't ever used Mechjeb for the record.

Jeb: "Time to hop out and stretch my legs." (Opens the hatch) "Oh yeah, this thing doesn't have ladders does it? Oh well I think these helmets are still in warranty."

Bob: "What?"

Thump, Thump

Jeb: "She's all good, just ride it like a big slide!"

Bill: "I am way to old for this."

Here comes a new car. A prototype for a more stable rover to send to Duna. It actually seemed to handle quite well, only needed a few tweaks to give it a bit more ground clearance.

Burdan: "Damn that thing looks big even from this far away!"

Thompble: "Eh, I'm hungry. I need to get back to the Complex soon, step on it."

With "The Boys" back at the KSC, the next update will see them launch to Duna on the heaviest lifter so far! Jeb wouldn't agree unless it was the biggest, a high energy transfer was just an icing on the cake for him.

Nice, capitalism on space. Eager to see more chapters!

Thanks for your comments. Any ideas on what to send to Duna next? I have a few ideas but I always need more ideas for bigger things!

[Falcon Coupe]

Jeb (in the astronaut complex to the other young pilots): "I just brought her down nice and easy, killed my lateral movement, did a bit of fancy throttle work and we were on the ground in one piece still standing upright."

#toosoon?

Sorry I just couldn't resist!

[Falcon Coupe]

In the previous episode Jeb, Bill and Bob came back to the KSC. In this episode we will see them launch on an emergency snack re-supply mission.

Mitcas: "Alright Jeb, you asked for big, are you ready to see your ride? You're going to love it."

Jeb: "We'll see about that. How many solid boosters?"

Mitcas: "None, we couldn't find any big enough to bother with."

Jeb: "I'm intrigued, I think I like your thinking..."

Mitcas: "Well are you ready?"

Bill: "As ready as I'll ever be!"

Mitcas: "Alright, here she is, the Boostermax SNACKS!"

Mitcas: "What do you think?"

Bill and Bob are stunned, Jeb is drooling with a vacant look in his face.

Mitcas: "Guys? Oh, ah Jeb... are you drooling? And speechless?"

Jeb (blinking and wiping drool): "Ah what? Sorry I missed what you said."

Bob whispering: "Wow..."

Bill: "That is one hell of a big sleek rocket."

Jeb: "Sorry guys I was off someplace else. Anyway that does look much nicer than I thought it would, a lot less complicated for sure.

Mitcas: "We thought we would keep it simple. Single stage to orbit, use the last of the lifters fuel to start the transfer burn, then the transfer stage has 6,500m/s in it which should be plenty."

Bob: "You called it the snacks, not as imaginative name as you usually come up with is it?"

Mitcas: "It's actually the abbreviation, Supercharged Nitros Accelerated Cargo of Kerbal Snacks."

Bill: "I like it... a lot!"

Jeb: "Alright lets see what this bad boy can do!"

Bob: "We are go for launch."

Bill: "Ignition! ...And we have liftoff."

Jeb: "She's got a fair old kick in the backside!"

In orbit without staging.

Gene: "Alright boys I've got the transfer burn ready, you'll love it, 5,200m/s... just to get to Duna!"

Jeb: "Now that's what I'm talking about!"

Bill: "252 days to an encounter, that's not mucking around!"

Separation of the lifter stage just into the transfer burn.

Down to a measly 690 tonnes!

And continuing the transfer burn, it's taking a lot longer than a standard transfer burn!

Now the three boys are on their way with emergency snacks, stay tuned for the next episode where the Ironclad habitat arrives at Duna.

[Falcon Coupe]

In this episode we have the Ironclad base arriving at Duna!

Henzon, in command, waves hello to Duna. Eagle eyed viewers might notice that I left landing legs on the vacuum Merlin, oops, I don't think I'll be landing and re-using that stage.

The crew seem very happy to be entering orbit around Duna, keen to hop out for a walk no doubt.

Samoly: "Wow the exhaust flames look epic from here! Oh and Ike does look pretty too."

Henzon: "Ladies and Gentlekerbs we are about to begin our landing sequence, please secure all loose objects and remember to chug your drinks!"

Enger: "Is everything ok there Henzon? You sound a bit stressed."

Henzon: "Yeah the ship is ok, no-one has tried landing one of these before, I have no idea how much the chutes will do. Also if my landing isn't very accurate we have no way of moving once we're on the ground."

Henzon: "The Ironclad has landed!"

Thompbrett (in the DCT): "Hey Henzon, I can barely see you guys, sure you parked far enough away?"

Sorry about the lack of landing pics, but don't worry I'll fix that soon.

Henzon: "Ah... Yeah... About that... Mitcas and Gene, is there anything we can do?"

Gene: "Henzon, you know this is a base right? You're not thinking what I think you are are you?"

Henzon: "I used the transfer stage for most of the landing so the monoprop is still nearly full for the landing engine, and it gives a good TWR."

Gene: "No, you'll just have to..."

Mitcas: "Yes, do it. The monoprop won't be of any use otherwise. You will have to repack the chutes though."

Gene: "I really think this is a bad idea."

Henzon: "I can do it if you let me."

Mitcas: "Alright, go for it."

Henzon: "Heading out on EVA to repack the chutes now."

Henzon: "One of the pod mounted chutes is busted and can't be re-used."

Mitcas: "Damn. Well you had plenty of fuel and control coming down didn't you?"

Henzon: "Yeah, it came down nice, whys that?"

Mitcas: "How about blowing off the chute pods now, and just come down on the big roof mounted chutes?"

Henzon: "Yeah I can do that, the engines will hold up just fine."

Gene: "You guys are really pushing the envelope, stay safe."

Henzon: "Re-positioning launch successful. Thompbrett we're looking good to come by quite a lot closer this time."

Samoly: "Wooo, what a ride! Bring her in Henzy!"

Thompbrett: "Looking much better this time."

Henzon: "Chutes deployed, they're holding well. Landing engines lit, looking good."

Henzon: "Nearly there, parameters nominal."

Enger: "Can't beat 2 landings for the price of 1!"

Henzon: "The Ironclad has landed... again! We're about 2km away from the DCT, perfect!"

Henzon: "Ladies and Gentlekerbs, we have landed, the solar panels have been deployed and the bar has re-opened. Leeeetttsss get this party started!!!!"

There you go, both bases on the ground safely. I have now caught up to where I have played to, so the next episode will be a bit of a mystery for everyone, including me! By the looks of the KAC window in the screenshots, the Adrenalin will be the next to Duna, so hopefully we'll see how that lands. I'm also hoping that my Ioniscooters work, I haven't tested them at all!