Odin Munar Progam - Odin 20 Part 1

[Xeldrak]

Hmm, why don't you drop a modified Seer probe on Eve's surface? Before or after you're there, just throw some radiators and a heat shield and parachute on a Seer probe, it would be an interesting twist on the proposed Venus Flyby.

That is actually what I was thinking about. However details for the eve fly-by are yet to be determined.

[davidy12]

Yeah, but why three launches?

[Xeldrak]

Is says "between one and three launches", so maybe it will be just one. Maybe it will be two. And maybe even three.

[Xeldrak]

Reality ends here.

 

The first mission of the Odin Program Phase Two stayed in LKO. It's mission was to deploy and test the MEM Lab, a modified MEM lander that houses several experiments and equipment to survey Kerbin from space. It also functioned as a test for the upcomming Munar Polar Survey mission. It was the first Odin mission that entered a polar orbit around Kerbin and only the second launch of a two stage Sleipnir V. The mission was crewed by Commander Ronald E. Kerman, Flight Engineer Judith Kerman and Mission Specialist Charles M. Kerman.

The booster launched just before dawn from the KSC. As it roared into the sky it turned south to enter a polar orbit while staying over water as long a possible. The Sleipnir V worked flawlessly and once the spacecraft had jettisoned it's shroud and entered a circular orbit the crew prepared for the MEM Lab extraction maneuver. The CSM separated from the remaining craft, turned around an docked to the MEM Lab. Extraction was a delicate maneuver, making sure that the survey scanner does not get damaged.

With everything set up, Judith and Charles entered the MEM Lab and started to boot up and check it's systems. The survey scanner could soon be deployed and get to work. During the following days the crew surveyed the complete surface of Kerbin and completed dozens of experiments. Judith performed an EVA to collect a few experiments from the outside of the MEM Lab that were supposed to come back to Kerbin with the kerbonauts.

After 15 days in space the crew fired up the SPS to put the spacecraft on a reentry trajectory. They then undocked the MEM Lab and separated the service module and soon were engulfed by the hot plasma of reentry. At an altitude of 5 kilometer Odin 18's parachutes deployed and the capsule splashed down safely a few minutes later.

Edited November 30, 2015 by Xeldrak

[Sharkman Briton]

Noice...

Album: "safely back hocke" Might wanna fix that.

[Xeldrak]

thanks - should be fixed

[Xeldrak]

 

The first launch of a fully fledged Sleipnir V since Odin 17, the seventeenth crewed launch of the Odin program and the first all female mission: Odin 19. The crew consisted of veteran Commander Valentina Kerman and the two rookies, Flight Engineer Kathryn and Mission Specialist Sally Kerman.

The Sleipnir V that lifted the crew into orbit launched just after sunrise. After the nominal one minute and forty seconds the first stage separated and the S-II stage took over and carried Odin 19 into LKO. Once in in space the crew jettisoned the shroud, as it was now superfluous weight. After half an hour of system checks the craft was ready and in position to fire the S-IVB stage and travel to the Mun. The burn went as planned and another 10 minutes later the CSM separated from the remaining stack, turned around an docked with the MEM Lab. Extraction was once again a delicate procedure that was nonetheless performed perfectly. Once there was enough room between the spacecraft and the spent rocket stage the crew took care of some snacks and decided to take a nap.

Only a single, small course correction was necessary after Odin 19 had entered the Mun's sphere of influence. Once on their closest point to the Mun, past it's north pole, the crew fired up the SPS and the spacecraft entered a polar orbit. After some more snacks Sally and Kathryn entered the MEM Lab and put it into action. The main experiment, the huge survey scanner was deployed and started to examine the munar surface. Many more experiments were performed during the course of the mission. Odin 19 stayed in munar orbit for 14 days, more than enough time to survey the complete surface of it.

Once their time was up, Valentina lowered the spacecrafts periapsis enough so that the MEM Lab would crash into the munar surface while the SPS fired one more to put the craft on their way back home. With all their experiments completed, the crew once again tended to snacks and naps during the return trip.

Just before entering Kerbin atmosphere the SM was separated and the crew prepared for reentry. Thanks to the heat shield the crew survived the trip through the upper regions of the atmosphere without any bruises. Once slow enough the parachutes were deployed and the capsule splashed down safely soon after, 15 days, 3 hours and 15 minutes after launch.

Edited November 30, 2015 by Xeldrak

[Xeldrak]

 

The Bifrost Communications systems consists of four satellites that orbit the Mun in a semi-synchronous orbit, allowing future Odin missions to land on
the far side of the Mun. It was launched on a Naglfar-Logi rocket, a tried and tested booster that was also used during the Seer program.

During the ascend the booster worked flawlessly. One minute, fifty seconds into the flight the two outer engines were dropped, leaving only the sustainer engine. About 3 minutes into the flight the first stage was burnt out and to Logi stage took over. Unlike an Odin mission, the rocket did not enter LKO first, but it burns directly for the Mun. Once on the intended trajectory the shroud was jettisoned and the solar panels extended.

After a one day trip to the Mun the Logi stage was fired a second time to enter into a highly elliptical munar orbit. Every time the satellite reached it's 1789km apoapsis one of the sub-satellites were released. The sub-satellites then circularized their orbits using their own propulsion system. This phase of the mission took seven tense days. In the end there was a small miscalculation, so the deployment of the satellites is not perfect but it will suffice. The road to missions to the far side of the Mun is paved.

Once all satellites were deployed the Logi stage fired a final time to make sure that it crashes into the Mun. It's final transmitted picture shows a pitch-black munar surface with a thin sickle of Kerbin hanging above it.

Edited November 30, 2015 by Xeldrak

[Xeldrak]

Seems like a hurrcane hit the cape, all the documents are jumbled up. Well, the cleanup efforts is on it's way.

Update: *sigh* All the Imgur-albums and tables should be fixed now. I'll take care of all the links tomorrow.

Update: Well, everything should now be back in order. Time to return to rocket building.

Edited December 1, 2015 by Xeldrak

[Xeldrak]

Odin 20 Preview 

Odin 20 is about to launch. After several month of planning and overhauling it is finally time to return to the Mun. The crew of Odin 20 will consist of CDR  Eugene A. Kerman, CMP Judith Kerman and MMP  Charles M. Kerman, Jr. It will mark the second visit to the Mun for Charles and Eugene. Judith Kerman, a veteran of  AG-3 and O18 will remain in munar orbit. Several parts of improved Odin hardware  and will see action for the first time on this mission.

Utilizing the full coverage of the the Bifrost Comm System Odin 20 will land on the far side of the Mun:

 

Edited December 14, 2015 by Xeldrak

[Xeldrak]

ODIN 20
Back to the Mun
Part 1: Ascend, TMI, Landing and EVA 1

After spending some time improving the Odin hardware it is time to return to the Mun. This mission marks the seventh landing on the Mun. It is the second visit to the munar surface for CDR  Eugene A. Kerman and MMP  Charles M. Kerman, Jr. aswell as the second time in munar orbit for CMP Judith Kerman. Also Odin 20 is the first mission to the far side of the Mun.

The mighty Sleipnir V lifted launched in the early morning hours at the KSC. The ascend proceeded as planned, with the giant booster working reliably as ever. After jettisoning the S-I stage and the Launch Escape System (LES) the second stage pushed Odin 20 into space, where it fired a second time to enter a circular orbit. Once the now spent S-II stage and the shroud were jettisoned the crew spent some time on system checks before heading to the Mun.

The Trans-Munar Injection (TMI) worked as planned, with the S-IVB stage spending most of it's fuel. Odin 20 was now on a free-return trajectory to the Mun. Command Module Pilot Judith Kerman undocked the CSM from the remaining stack, turned it by 180° and docked it with the MEM. Using the RCS she then slowly pulled the MEM away from the S-IV stage. 
With all crucial tasks performed the crew now had some time for a nap and some snacks.

One day and 28 minutes into the flight Odin 20 fired up the Service Propulsion System (SPS) to enter a munar orbit. As usual this maneuver occured behind the Mun, so Mission Control was once again biting it's nails during the event. However the burn went exactly as planned and tensions eased at the KSC once Odin 20 reappeared from behind the Mun.
Now in munar orbit, the crew prepared for the descend on Eugene and Charles. The entered the MEM and ran a full systems check. The spacecraft seemed to be worked perfectly. So they could undock just an hour after reaching the munar orbit. 

After suffering from a lack of fuel on earlier missions the MEM was outfitted with four small drop tank that provide a bigger safety margin on the approach to the landing zone. About three minutes before landing these tanks were separated and Eugene guided the MEM right to the landing zone, where it touched down safely. 

After securing the vehicle, Charles and Eugene decided against taking a nap and instead donned their space suits for EVA1.

Once outside the MEM the two kerbonauts planted their Flag next to the craft and proceeded to deploy the Munar Roving Vehicle (MRV) and the Odin Munar Surface Experiments Packages (OMSEPS). The MRV was also improved since it's last visit to the Mun. It now has more fuel and more batteries, allowing a bigger operating range aswell as needing fewer stops to recharge it's batteries. An emergency solar panel will also prevent the Kerbonauts from having to abandon the MRV along with precious samples, as it happened on Odin 16. After making sure that the MRV had deployed correctly Charles and Eugene set up the OMSEPs to their target location close to the Kolmogorov crater.

Back at the MEM the two kerbonauts mounted the MRV and took it for it's first ride on the munar surface. They headed past the OMSEPs right into the Kolmogorov crater where they collected several samples before continuing into the Lusin Valley. During the 800 meter descent to the bottom of the valley that damaged one of the MRV wheels Charles went out to collect some samples while Eugene took care of the rover.

Some of the eggheads at mission control decided that it was time to return to the MEM, as some of the MRV hardware was not thoroughly tried and tested yet. So the two kerbonauts headed back out of the valley. Charles used a stop to recharge the MRV batteries to collect a few more samples. Once out of the valley Eugene drove along the ridge of Kolmogorov, where some interesting samples were suspected. 

Back at the MEM Charles and Eugene transferred all collected samples into the spacecraft and once all were bagged and labeled it was time for some snack and a good long nap.

 

[Sylandro]

What? No City on the Mun?

[Xeldrak]

On step at a time. I'm trying to keep it somewhat realistic.

[Sanic]

5 minutes ago, Xeldrak said:

On step at a time. I'm trying to keep it somewhat realistic.

Jool flyby time!

[fredinno]

I would like to see Skylab 5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylab#Skylab_5, Skylab B https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylab_B, Skylab Rescue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylab_Rescue,and Apollo 18-20 (as they were when cancelled- one was to Copernicus crater, Another to Tycho Crater, and one last one Hygnius Rille.) and a Lunar Manned Mapping Mission (Apollo 21 http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum29/HTML/000103.html) with this!

 

Other cancelled missions I would like to see are an Apollo E-1 mission sending a LEM and CSM to MEO with a Saturn V to test out systems,

A non-failed Apollo 13 mission to Fra Mauro,

A non-failed Apollo 1 Mission,

a Far side lunar mission using TIROS derived commsats

the SA-11, SA-12, SA-13, and SA-14 Saturn I + CSM tests

AS-205 Second Manned LEO test of CSM Block I and Saturn IB,

a 3rd unmanned Saturn V test,

a 2nd unmanned LEO test of the LEM,

and AS-207 and AS-208 - two launches of Saturn IB that would have replaced Apollo 9 (but done otherwise the same thing).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canceled_Apollo_missions

Maybe also wet workshop Skylab?

Or maybe also the Lunar Orbiter and Ranger programs?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_Orbiter_program

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranger_program

Edited March 21, 2016 by fredinno