The Reverse Mission Challenge

[A35K]

Suppose that all of a sudden you find yourself in an alternate KSP universe, where Kerbals have thrived not on Kerbin, but on another planet of you choice. However, this has not stopped them from developing a space program, and they want to send a return mission to the planet Kerbin!

The Challenge:

Choose a body you will start from. You MUST start from the surface of this body. Then create a ship that will get from there, land on Kerbin, and then return to where you started from. It does not matter how you get your ship to your starting point (hyperedit is recommended).

You are free to use any mod as long as it does not add any non-stock ISRU features, or some overpowered/futuristic engines (e.g. Interstellar), or any mod that alters the game physics in a significant way.

Scoring will be based on 3 things: Starting location, and whether it is a manned or unmanned mission (Each Kerbal will be 5 points, so the more, the better), and use of ISRU.

Starting Location scores:

Easy:

Mun/Minmus: 10 points

Gilly/Ike: 15 Points

Medium:

Duna: 30 points

Dres: 35 points

Hard:

Bop/Pol: 45 points

Vall: 55 points

Laythe: 65 points

Tylo: 75 points

Moho/Eeloo: 85 points

Impossible:

Eve: 200 points

Jool?!?(Ok, this might actually be impossible): ∞ points. Automatic win.

Unmanned mission=2 extra points.

Manned mission=5 extra points + 5 points for each Kerbal.

Other Rules:

Goes without saying, but obviously don't use cheats. This includes any physics or

parts mods that will make it easier, and obviously F12 menu as well.

I will allow you to turn off re-entry heating, but at the cost of 10 points.

If you don't use ISRU, 10 extra points.

You don't have to land exactly where you started, anywhere on your 'home' planet is fine.

Obviously include as many pictures as possible. Make sure your mission timer is visible to make sure you haven't cheated. Please provide images of departure, transfer, arrival, landing, departure from Kerbin, landing back 'home'.

You ARE allowed to dock ships together and/or construct in space. However EVERY piece must be launched from your 'home' planet.

Also, 5 bonus points if it is all a single stage. So that means no jettisoning parts.

(Technically, Kerbin should be the second hardest planet to return from, after Eve:). However, remember there's plenty of oxygen, use it to your advantage!).

Here's my try

I decided to go from Minmus, since I didn't have much time, and I hyper edited my craft to Minmus of course. If you're wondering why the 'Speedbird' (my craft) has so much fuel, it's because in my 'real' save it is currently on its way to Laythe for a manned return mission!

Mods I used: B9 for various parts of the plane, mostly landing gear, intakes, and wings. KW Rocketry for fuel tanks on 'ring'.

Link (Does anyone know how to embed the album? Copying the code doesn't work.)

Points:

I started from Minmus, so +10 points.

No re-entry heating so -10.

Manned mission with 2 kerbals so 5+5+5=15

No ISRU so +10.

No jettisoning parts, so +5.

Total:5+10+15+10-10=30

I'm sure most of you will be able to do much better. Good luck!

Leaderboard:

1) A35K (30 points)

Edited November 12, 2015 by A35K

[Bubbadevlin]

Very cool!, now can we do stuff like dock ships together in orbit?, or does it have to be 1 ship?, because separate launches might make eve doable

Plus an Apollo style mission would be an almost guaranteed need

[Foxster]

You are free to use any mod

You lost me there. If you can use parts/physics mods in a challenge then it's no challenge.

[xiej]

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Edited November 15, 2024 by xiej

[A35K]

You lost me there. If you can use parts/physics mods in a challenge then it's no challenge.

Please read the rest of the sentence.

Hmm.... How will I launch my Titan X booster off of Dres? It already weighs 400 tons....

So you've decided to go from Dres? Interesting choice, should give a good amount of points while not being too hard to land or take off from. I suppose a space plane isn't necessary, you could probably build an SSTO without wings.

Edited November 12, 2015 by A35K

[xiej]

.

Edited November 15, 2024 by xiej

[A35K]

Very cool!, now can we do stuff like dock ships together in orbit?, or does it have to be 1 ship?, because separate launches might make eve doable

Plus an Apollo style mission would be an almost guaranteed need

Yes you can. Sorry I forgot to put that in the main description, it's been added now.