Constellation Mission Packs Discussion Thread!

[Spartwo]

I've re-organised and shoved so much random junk inside the cargo module that it's nearly doubled in partcount. But on the other hand; beacons.

[Majorjim!]

Just now, Spartwo said:

I've re-organised and shoved so much random junk inside the cargo module that it's nearly doubled in partcount. But on the other hand; beacons.

Wha? Any revealing pics?

[Spartwo]

Should have the mission done by tomorrow.

[Majorjim!]

Just now, Spartwo said:

Should have the mission done by tomorrow.

Cool man, I look forward to seeing it!

[Spartwo]

 

There was somewhat of a delay due to many bugs with landing gear and wheels. Considered doing a physics blooper wheel:/

Edited July 17, 2016 by Spartwo

[Majorjim!]

Just now, Spartwo said:

snip

That video was awesome! Great work man, it all flowed together really nicely. Interesting using an SSTO for crew Kerbin return too.

 I fear it looked like the Kopernicus transfer vehicle hit Kerbin though!

[Spartwo]

Usually the crew vehicle would do the return but I needed some padding. It would've hit kerbin, mostly because I had to have it move straight down to look right.

[Raptor9]

Yeah, cool video.  The way you have the LV-N's mounted on the back of the propulsion modules is much more stylish than mine.  The music reminded me of The Martian. 

[Spartwo]

That's good, you should check the description:p

[pTrevTrevs]

1 hour ago, Spartwo said:

snip

Man, I've got to learn how to make films in KSP.

[Majorjim!]

Just now, Spartwo said:

Usually the crew vehicle would do the return but I needed some padding. It would've hit kerbin, mostly because I had to have it move straight down to look right.

What do you mean, look right?

 Did you use any camera mods in the vid?

[Raptor9]

@Majorjim, how's your HLV's coming? Looking forward to seeing your versions of the aeroshells.

I missed something in all those Mars DRA documents.  The Constellation Mars video at 7:15 says "Jettison MAV and Contingency Consumables"; I always assumed that meant the contingency supplies were moved by hand from the aft circular container into the MAV command pod prior to jettison.  However, after taking closer analysis at one of the previous documents you and I discussed, it appears the entire T-shaped docking module (which includes the transfer tunnel and consumables container itself) was jettisoned prior to the trans-Earth-injection burn out of Mars orbit.  I wasn't even aware that assembly could be detached, but I guess that makes sense if using the Mars Transfer Vehicle in an expendable mission mode since you won't need that docking port again if riding the forward-mounted Orion into Earth's atmosphere.  Cuts down on total mass and bumps up the delta-V a little.

As a result of this new information, I've created updated versions of my crew modules that feature detachable docking/service modules.  This also allows different configurations for Munar or near-Kerbin asteroid missions, but I'm not really focused on those as the main goal of the EV-4 series.  The primary design destination remains Duna, with secondary destinations to Dres and Eve.

[Majorjim!]

Just now, Raptor9 said:

@Majorjim, how's your HLV's coming? Looking forward to seeing your versions of the aeroshells.

I missed something in all those Mars DRA documents.  The Constellation Mars video at 7:15 says "Jettison MAV and Contingency Consumables"; I always assumed that meant the contingency supplies were moved by hand from the aft circular container into the MAV command pod prior to jettison.  However, after taking closer analysis at one of the previous documents you and I discussed, it appears the entire T-shaped docking module (which includes the transfer tunnel and consumables container itself) was jettisoned prior to the trans-Earth-injection burn out of Mars orbit.  I wasn't even aware that assembly could be detached, but I guess that makes sense if using the Mars Transfer Vehicle in an expendable mission mode since you won't need that docking port again if riding the forward-mounted Orion into Earth's atmosphere.  Cuts down on total mass and bumps up the delta-V a little.

As a result of this new information, I've created updated versions of my crew modules that feature detachable docking/service modules.  This also allows different configurations for Munar or near-Kerbin asteroid missions, but I'm not really focused on those as the main goal of the EV-4 series.  The primary design destination remains Duna, with secondary destinations to Dres and Eve.

Good thanks man. I have three versions of the aero-shell now. Two custom ones and one stock procedural. I am going with one of the custom ones. It is slightly less complex than the other but it is a it smaller in height and diameter so it looks better atop an Ares V and connected to the LVN transfer stage. I will release the other ones or at least make a recording of them working as I don't want the work to go to waste. The unused custom one, the more complex one took an age to make.

 Yup, my Copernicus vehicle already has the ability to ditch the docking/consumables part. It has done from the start. All it took was a stack seperator. I haven't missed a thing. I hope.

 I am now attaching the custom aero-shell to the habitat lander then some more testing of that then I will finally get to make the Ares V and then test it and test it some more. I am taking my time with this and there is still lots of testing to do so It may be a few weeks away at least until I release the pack. I am making improvements all the time.

Edited July 18, 2016 by Majorjim

[Mad Rocket Scientist]

23 hours ago, Spartwo said:

 

There was somewhat of a delay due to many bugs with landing gear and wheels. Considered doing a physics blooper wheel:/

Amazing!  I love the music.

 

[Raptor9]

15 minutes ago, Majorjim said:

 Yup, my Copernicus vehicle already has the ability to ditch the docking/consumables part. It has done from the start. All it took was a stack seperator. I haven't missed a thing. I hope.

I guess you have more attention to detail than me. 

[Majorjim!]

7 minutes ago, Raptor9 said:

I guess you have more attention to detail than me. 

Lol, probably not man, I have just been working on this one thing for a year so I have had more time to think about it! And I want to as best I can recreate the mission in as much detail as possible.

Edited July 18, 2016 by Majorjim

[pTrevTrevs]

To prove that I am still working on the pack:

DTV under construction. I'm debating whether or not to test it by sending it to orbit the Mun once the Hab section and a crew are up, but that would require refueling it later...

[Majorjim!]

20 minutes ago, pTrevTrevs said:

 

DTV under construction.

Looking good dude, nice truss!

 Nobody doing an orange tank propulsion stage?

Edited July 20, 2016 by Majorjim

[pTrevTrevs]

I didn't think having the correct color worth the added parts.

1.1 didn't remove the part limit entirely, it just raised it much higher. I'm still doing my best to keep the part count as low as possible while still including as much detail as possible.

Edited July 21, 2016 by pTrevTrevs

[Majorjim!]

23 minutes ago, pTrevTrevs said:

I didn't think having the correct color worth the added parts.

1.1 didn't remove the part limit entirely, it just raised it much higher. I'm stillness doing my best to keep the part count as low as possible while still including as much detail as possible.

A fair reason man. I look forward to seeing the complete vehicle! 

[Raptor9]

5 hours ago, pTrevTrevs said:

To prove that I am still working on the pack:

...snip...

Nice Saddle Truss

[PixelatedPig]

sigh....

I really don't if I should continue on Constellation.

I'm tired of testing these crafts ( everytime its like 4 hours of testing)

 

So might just quit the program....

 

Sorry :/

 

[Majorjim!]

35 minutes ago, PixelatedPig said:

sigh....

I really don't if I should continue on Constellation.

I'm tired of testing these crafts ( everytime its like 4 hours of testing)

 

So might just quit the program....

 

Sorry :/

 

I know the feeling dude.. You would not believe how many hours of testing I have done so far in the last year. It seems endless.

 Having said that the pay off is awesome so don't shelve it just yet, no rush. Put it on a back burner and play something else for a bit. You might want to come back to it again in future.

[PixelatedPig]

14 hours ago, Majorjim said:

I know the feeling dude.. You would not believe how many hours of testing I have done so far in the last year. It seems endless.

 Having said that the pay off is awesome so don't shelve it just yet, no rush. Put it on a back burner and play something else for a bit. You might want to come back to it again in future.

thanks man!

 I will try to continue.

Edited July 22, 2016 by PixelatedPig

[Majorjim!]

48 minutes ago, PixelatedPig said:

thanks man!

 I will try to continue.

No worries mate, I would not like to see another potential pack get abandoned.

 And I know it's crazy to think about spending over a year working on a single craft pack but this is constellation man! The hardest of the hard.

Keep it up man.

Edited July 22, 2016 by Majorjim