Open source lunar rocket

[Mr.Space]

Project Moonspike is proposing to build a lunar rocket with complete transparency.

You can find the tech report here (PDF warning) http://moonspike.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/MS_feasibilityStudy_Oct01_2015.pdf

The rocket can be downloaded for viewing here http://moonspike.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/MS_Rocket3d_Oct2015.zip (using eViewer which is free)

Would be interesting to know if it works in Kerbal. Any one up for a challenge?

KvonB

[Guest]

Would be interesting to know if it works in Kerbal.

Why wouldn't it? As specified that thing can impact Eeloo no problem, it has some 12km/s of delta-V. The big problem in KSP would be the impact tolerance of the payload and, of course, that a perfect replica is impossible.

[Champ]

Very interesting document. Thank you ! Have some rep !

There is something i don't understand in this document.

§6.1 :

"For the aforementioned direct ascent, the launch position of the rocket relative to the Moon is very restricted in order for the rocket and Moon trajectories to finally intersect. This effectively limits the daily launch window to a few minutes, after which the Earth’s rotation has turned the rocket too much off course.

A limited launch window is a severe logistical disadvantage, since any launch is affected by several factors that can cause delays, and range safety may prevent launch at any specific time.

To mitigate this problem, Moonspike will follow the traditional approach of first launching into LEO, then after a few orbits accelerating towards the Moon (TLI). The advantages are:

The launch from Earth is somewhat decoupled from the trajectory to the Moon. This both allows for a much wider daily launch window (hours rather than minutes), and a less

restrictive selection of launch site "

The part in bold is the part i don't understand. Why do you have to care about launch windows when you just want to get to LEO ?

[Retread]

The part in bold is the part i don't understand. Why do you have to care about launch windows when you just want to get to LEO ?

This is because, unlike the Mun around Kerbin, the Moon does not orbit the Earth in the same plane as the Earth's equator, meaning that if you want to launch into the same plane as the moon's orbit, you only have a short launch window each day as the Moon crosses the equator. Minmus would actually be a better analog for the Moon in this case. Imagine trying to launch directly from KSC into an LKO co-planar with Minmus' orbit. In KSC terms, you'd have to launch approximately when Minmus' ascending or descending node passes over the KSC, and boost slightly north or south of due east. The whole thing would get even more complex if your launch site wasn't on the equator.

Of course, all that assumes that you're trying to launch into an orbit that avoids any plane changes later on.

Wikipedia has a great explanation of the moon's orbit here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbit_of_the_Moon

[Champ]

Thank you for the explanation. Have some rep. I just did not know moon's orbit was inclined (maybe because of KSP's Mun's 0° inclination ?).

Makes sens to assume you're trying to launch into an orbit that avoids any plane change later on.

[Mr.Space]

If kerbal does do it for you, you can always join the real ride https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/moonspike/moonspike-the-worlds-first-crowdfunded-moon-rocket/

K

[Randazzo]

The big problem in KSP would be the impact tolerance of the payload

That part is easy. The bigger challenge is getting it to not bounce.

[luizopiloto]

use a Kas hook...

[Randazzo]

use a Kas hook...

mmhmm, that works fine up to a point, but the collision calculations start missing the moment of contact with the surface eventually, meaning the "hook" is beneath the surface when it realizes you've hit the ground and it doesn't connect. Then, you bounce (or explode).

[falloutaddict]

MMMM, there actually was a part mod I had seen that had moonspikes that had a very high impact tolerance, kind of a different design. LEt me see what I can find

Edit: here you go

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/128617-1-0-4-Kinetic-Penetrator-for-Science%21-BETA-%280-11a-RT-changes-bigger-antenna-new-colliders%29

Edited October 7, 2015 by falloutaddict