Mission to Laythe and back (Sandbox)

[Firemetal]

My first ever mission to Laythe and back. Since it is going to be completed over two launches, I decided to post a log here.

The Mission

The mission is to fly an SSTO to Laythe and back. Since I do not have a lot of experience in SSTOs that go further than Duna and this is my first mission to Laythe, it will require refueling. Since the SSTO itself is a small mk2 spaceplane,  the refueller won't need to be too big.

The Mission Plan is:

Spoiler

1. Launch the SSTO into LKO

2.Launch the Refueller and rendezvous with the SSTO.

3. Refuel and de-orbit the refueller.

4. Get an encounter with Jool (this will take several burns at PE.

5. Use Tylo to get into an orbit around Jool.

6. Use a bunch of Laythe/Tylo gravity assists to lower orbit around Jool

7. Do an aero-capture around Laythe.

8. Land using drogue chutes and regular chutes.

9. Plant flag and mess around.

10. Take off with rocket mode on rapiers due to thin atmosphere.

11. Get into orbit around Laythe.

12. Escape Laythe and plot a Tylo gravity assist.

13. Use Tylo to slingshot out of the Jool system.

14. Flyby Kerbin.

15. Flyby Kerbin again.

16. Aerocapture around Kerbin.

17. Do multiple aero passes to lower orbit.

18. Land anywhere except the ocean.

 

Spacecrafts

The Serpent (SSTO)

Spoiler

 

The Serpent Refueller

Spoiler

 

Starting the Mission now. Will post updates.

 

[Ozymandias_the_Goat]

Will do, sir! Always wanted to do something like this, but have been too busy doing stupid stuff around the KSC and turning my rockets into deformed piles of aluminium.

[TwinKerbal]

I would do something like this - if I had the mechanical skill to do so.  As is, I can barely survive landing on Mun, much less have an intact engine to fly away.

[Firemetal]

Make sure your velocity is under 5 m/s. I like it to be under 3 m/s but 5 is about the limit.

[Firemetal]

Serpent has reached orbit!

Spoiler

 

 

[Firemetal]

Ugh I'm experiencing technical difficulties. The Serpent is docked to the refueller and refueled but it doesn't want to undock. I use a shielded docking port and a normal docking port. Anyone know how to fix this?

[Firemetal]

Alright first of all, I decided to shorten the page by putting the Imgur albums in spoiler pockets but that has messed it up. However you should be able to go to the album directly by clicking on the "Imgur" on the top left hand corner of the pic.

Second, I solved my not-undocking problem by reloading to the point where the Serpent was in orbit and built another refueller with a grabbing unit.

Next up, plotting a trajectory to Jool!

Edited July 21, 2016 by Firemetal

[Firemetal]

We are on our way to Jool!

Yup my injection burn was terribly in-efficient but this thing has over 3000 m/s after altering my trajectory to slingshot into orbit around Jool.

Next up: Lots and lots of gravity assists!

[Firemetal]

 

Ok Here we go. Two Laythe assists.

In two orbits around Jool, I'll encounter Laythe again. I will lower my PE under the atmosphere and aero-capture. So what should I make my PE for a safe aero-capture? 40km? 45km? Thanks!

Next up: Aero-capture!

[Ozymandias_the_Goat]

22 hours ago, TwinKerbal said:

I would do something like this - if I had the mechanical skill to do so.  As is, I can barely survive landing on Mun, much less have an intact engine to fly away.

Do not worry, my friend! Once we all were blowing up on the Mun!

[Firemetal]

So aero-capture went ok. Once I had done another gravity assist. Never re-enter at speeds over 3000 m/s!

(Uh the pictures are out of order. I hate the new Imgur.)

Anyway next, I'm landing on Laythe. I'm not looking forward to breaking at Kerbin!  

[Firemetal]

I landed.

I have really gotten better at landing so this wasn't too hard. But here is what I plan for ascent:

Spoiler

1. Turn on rocket mode on the rapiers and use it to take off.
2. Switch modes once fast enough and ascend steeply.
3. Once high enough turn on nuke.
4. When rapiers burn out, if the ap is over 60km, then coast till the circularization node, if not then switch to rocket engines.
5. Circularize.

It might not be too efficient but I landed on a slope that goes down in the direction of the planet's motion and I don't want to spend too much time accelerating downrange because the ocean is literally right at the bottom of the slope.

Next up: Ascent!

[Brownie352]

You should put a docking port somewhere in the ssto so you could send a tiny rover refueler on the surface of laythe (just drills conventer & solar panels fuel tanks and batteries ,ore tanks !!) may take some years but you will have infinite fuel to fly airplanes/submarines/ssto on laythe around kerbol (tiny ones will get refueled easily) thanks !

[Firemetal]

18 minutes ago, Brownie352 said:

You should put a docking port somewhere in the ssto so you could send a tiny rover refueler on the surface of laythe (just drills conventer & solar panels fuel tanks and batteries ,ore tanks !!) may take some years but you will have infinite fuel to fly airplanes/submarines/ssto on laythe around kerbol (tiny ones will get refueled easily) thanks !

Actually that is not what the docking port is for. It is so that the SSTO can go faster without overheating. Besides I have plenty of fuel left so I don't have much to worry about but thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Firemetal]

Disaster strikes!

Now you might be thinking, what is this disaster?

Me. I am un-experienced with gravity assists and I don't know how to slingshot out of Jool's SOI without using all my DV.

But I'm not giving up just yet. I am now planning a mission to Jool. I will launch four rockets to Jool in one transfer window. One will be the Astro Explorer to go to Bop. (If you don't know what that is, check it out in my showcase thread in my sig!) Another will be the Astro Explorer Mk2 to go to Vall. This has not been tested yet. But I will assume that it works.   The third rocket will be a Tylo mission. This will be the hardest but it is totally possible! The fourth and final rocket will be a rescue mission for the Serpent which is now stranded in orbit around Laythe. (And believe me: I tried to get a Kerbin encounter but it took too much DV)

To be continued!