SLS program

[Ozymandias_the_Goat]

My SLS program. It is based on the real program that will (hopefully) take place five to ten years from now. I have already done my first crewed mission around the Mun and have test-launched the Block 2. Now, I am doing 3-mission program to emulate some of the proposed missions for the SLS.

Mission 1: Jool Orbiter

Mods Used:

SpaceY lifters

Tundra Exploration

 

This is the Europa Multiple Flyby mission planned for 2021-2025. I parked it into Jool orbit and will position it in Laythe orbit in a later post. But here it is, short and sweet:

On the Pad. Again, It was a tough ascent and I lost a bit of efficiency by not pitching enough (pitching too much led to the dreaded Kaboom) but I had enough fuel for the nuclear upper stage to complete the orbit.

Escaping Kerbin after Trans-Jool-Injection burn. I didn't have enough fuel in the probe for Jool orbital insertion and exploring the system, so I traveled with the upper stage to Jool.

Burn for Jool Orbital Insertion. My final Pe was about 4000 km above the surface, with a slight inclination. I will probably later correct with the probe's own fuel and then go to Laythe.

Three moons of Jool in one pic. (Laythe, Tylo. Vall)

Coming around Jool...

A kinda Grainy Image of a Sunset from Jool Orbit. 

Next up, I will either take this probe to Laythe, or do a different mission to an asteroid.

 

[TopHeavy11]

Hmm. The nuke is a good second stage cryogenic engine replacement. I'm more partial to the LV-30/45 engines myself, however. Mostly I launch Orions using the SLS. Side note: the Block 2 SLS is much more powerful, and has a second stage that is flush with the main body. Also: HOW DO U UPLOAD SCREENSHOTS?! I've tried and the just...disappear when I post the message! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?! (Please excuse my "enthusiasm.")

[Ozymandias_the_Goat]

Yeah, I agree with the part about the nuke. Normally I did use an LV-30 engine for my upper stage, but I wasn't convinced that could make it to Jool. I didn't use my Block 2 design because I thought the actual mission called for a Block 1 cargo Config to be used. And to post up pics, I prefer to use imgur, no account is needed. You just upload the picture, right click on it, copy image address, and then just paste that into the "insert other media tab in your post.

[Ozymandias_the_Goat]

Okay, more pics of the jolly green giant Jool as my probe moves to orbit Laythe.

1000 m/s burn with the weak but efficient "ant" engine, that lasts about 4m 30s

The burn from behind, with the sun a little bigger than Laythe in the background.

The jolly green giant during the trans-Laythe cruise

Moving into it's new home

Two moons, plus jool and laythe, make up  this kinda grainy image of the first orbit around Laythe.

I ran out of fuel a bit earlier than I was hoping, so I got on to a polar orbit that was pretty elliptical. However, I got this nice pic of a sunset on Laythe, with the probe in the foreground.

Next up I am taking a specialized Orion capsule to catch and asteroid and do some science.

[max_creative]

That will be fun, doing ARM with the Orion. Did you model the laythe probe after Juno? If so, you forgot the aluminum Lego mini figures on it.