Microsat Challenge

[NotAgain]

@KEngineer, are you submitting that for the stock category? If so I'll need an image of it in orbit. If not, don't worry.

[Sharpy]

Ok, entries in Minimalist and Propulsive.

Both are based on LLL's Bertie 2000 Robotic Nuisance, which, while devoid of SAS, has built-in reaction wheel, a 5K antenna and weighs 5kg. Adding to that, a stock small battery and a stock small panel, and we have a 15kg satellite.

Now, for Propulsive, I'm adding Solid Electric's two nanosatellite RCS blocks. (I could do away with Bertie's RW but I don't have a non-RW probe as light). Mass grows to 18kg wet, 17kg dry.

There's about 300m/s worth of solid fuel - the launcher didn't quite finish circularizing, so the probe finished using the RCS, so the test burn started with some solid fuel already missing. Plus the direction was a little off (no SAS!) - but 260m/s is a guaranteed value.

Edited January 15, 2017 by Sharpy

[Sharpy]

Aaand my entry to LifeBoat. I decided to go a little more fancy than a small solar panel (you could get stranded in shadow, or it wouldn't work on Laythe ) so I used a small extendable RTG, which adds 10kg.

The entry is 124kg. Bertie, RTG, two nanothhruster blocks and a DERP pod from USI's survival pack.

Deploying the pod raises the mass to 179kg as some completely useless monopropellant and supplies get spawned out of thin vacuum, but that's necessary only when you want the kerbal on board. The satellite loses the RTG on reentry due to overheating, but DERP holds 50EC which is more than enough to last it until landing.

I'm not sure how much delta-V it holds, but it was enough to drop PE from over 70km to 43.

RTG overheats and explodes, but the temperature of the rest remains in check.

The parachute included with DERP is... I think meant for Duna. It's waaay oversized for this pod on Kerbin, leading to the pony blacking out briefly due to G forces. Then the parachute descent begins... and it's slooow.

Eventually, the capsule lands at a very sedate pace.