RP-0, RO, RSS Challenge - To The Moon

[Probus]

I am working on a campaign game in Realism Overhaul to get my astronauts to the moon, land and back in the shortest amount of overall time. With TestFlight installed, I've only managed to land probes on the moon but I am sure other players have completed the feat.

What are your best times and what realism mods/settings are you using? Has anyone been able to get there and back in the 50's instead of the 60's? The way I'm going it will be the 70's...

This is just a fun challenge, but I would like to do a more serious challenge in the future. What mods and settings should we use for a more standardized Challenge?

EDIT: Just noticed there is a Challenge area already. Can one of the Moderators move this there. Thanks.

Edited July 5, 2016 by Probus

[technicalfool]

On 05/07/2016 at 5:39 PM, Probus said:

Can one of the Moderators move this there. Thanks.

Movinated

[NathanKell]

So, what's required for this is:

1. Lunar heat shields

2. Either a throttling engine or one with unlimited relights

3. Disgustingly large number of batteries to deal with the 530W draw of the Mk1 pod (or solar panels, but you need Improved Instrumentation IIRC for non-sucky ones and that's deep in the tree).

4. If doing batteries, probably ~20t TLI. If doing solars, 12t?

 

So I think the minimal bits required would be:

1. Enough funds to upgrade the launchpad (and, ideally, MC and TS as well so you get nodes and patched conics).

2. Basic Capsules unlocked.

3. Basic Orbital Rocketry unlocked

4. General Construction (for the shields).

 

Finally, you need enough cash to research the pod, the engines, and the shield, and to pay for the launch vehicle (and the BP upgrades to the VAB so it doesn't take forever to build).

 

That should easily be doable by 1957 or so even on Hard. My guess is 1955 on Hard would still be doable, there's just not that much to research.

 

EDIT: Revision. You could do LOR-LOR without docking, relying on an EVA to change vessels. That would lower TLI requirements to two 5t lots, I think, assuming solars, or maybe 7 and 5 using batteries. (Assuming 5t for the lander either way, since it's just an hour's stay before launch--use an unpressurized plane cockpit to save mass, and 7t for the CSM with 1600m/s delta V and 7 days of batteries).