The Ultimate Jool 5 Challenge Continued

[RuBisCO]

Here is my submission to for the Jool Challenge. All 7 Kerbals landed on every moon in the Jool system.  ISRU was used as well as the DLC packs. MechJeb was the only mod used to simplify all the transfers, landings and dockings, etc, as well as to provide orbital and surface data in every picture.  Only one launch is needed, at a cost of nearly 1.5 million. Use KSP version 1.12.2.

https://imgur.com/a/qnEOtsC

More info can be found on the KerbalX page for the craft: https://kerbalx.com/RuBisCO/Jool-All-In-One-Mission-21

Edited September 5, 2021 by RuBisCO

[JacobJHC]

On 9/5/2021 at 2:55 PM, RuBisCO said:

Here is my submission to for the Jool Challenge. All 7 Kerbals landed on every moon in the Jool system.  ISRU was used as well as the DLC packs. MechJeb was the only mod used to simplify all the transfers, landings and dockings, etc, as well as to provide orbital and surface data in every picture.  Only one launch is needed, at a cost of nearly 1.5 million. Use KSP version 1.12.2.

https://imgur.com/a/qnEOtsC

More info can be found on the KerbalX page for the craft: https://kerbalx.com/RuBisCO/Jool-All-In-One-Mission-21

Congratulations @RuBisCO on completing the Jool 5 challenge on level 3! I really liked your landing legs for the Pol refueler, and also can't say I've seen many helicopters (if any, unless my memory is failing me) in submissions before. Well done, you've already been added to the leaderboard!

[bwest31415]

Does the ship itself have to land on every moon, or can I have the Kerbal do an EVA to land on Pol (and maybe Bop)?

[JacobJHC]

6 hours ago, bwest31415 said:

Does the ship itself have to land on every moon, or can I have the Kerbal do an EVA to land on Pol (and maybe Bop)?

That's fine

[bwest31415]

Here is my submission for the Jool 5 Challenge!!! I designed the entire ship myself, and the mission took three tries to complete successfully. I've been playing the game for only about ten months, and this has been my crowning achievement in Kerbal Space Program.

https://imgur.com/gallery/HdaZgQH

[sturmhauke]

10 months to a Jool-5 is impressive. Took me closer to 2 years after I started playing.

[JacobJHC]

On 9/16/2021 at 4:03 PM, bwest31415 said:

Here is my submission for the Jool 5 Challenge!!! I designed the entire ship myself, and the mission took three tries to complete successfully. I've been playing the game for only about ten months, and this has been my crowning achievement in Kerbal Space Program.

https://imgur.com/gallery/HdaZgQH

Congratulations @bwest31415 on completing the Jool 5 Challenge on the 1st level! Your crafts name reminds me of the ship I sent to complete my first Jool 5 challenge, the Joolius Caesar II. I thought it was very interesting you chose to perform a Jool aerobrake, as I haven't seen that used in a submission in quite a while. The use of the lander to do the final two landings and return to Kerbin also exhibits its range, as I would not have thought such a small craft would be able to do it on liquid fuel. Excellent job, and I'll add you to the leaderboards now! 

[camacju]

I did some other missions and haven't had a chance to get back to this challenge. I've changed the single engine Jool 5 design quite a bit - here are some screenshots:

Spoiler

I plan to launch five fuel modules and one special module (containing Tylo descent stage, Laythe liquid fuel, and a service module)

Edited October 11, 2021 by camacju

[Staticalliam7]

jool 5 with only rcs :trollface:

[sturmhauke]

6 hours ago, Staticalliam7 said:

jool 5 with only rcs :trollface:

Might be possible, it would be extremely difficult though. RCS thrusters have low TWR and are inefficient, especially in atmosphere. Why don't you try it and let us know how it goes?

[JacobJHC]

On 11/1/2021 at 2:01 PM, sturmhauke said:

Might be possible, it would be extremely difficult though. RCS thrusters have low TWR and are inefficient, especially in atmosphere. Why don't you try it and let us know how it goes?

I'd be curious how a Vall or Tylo lander that's only RCS would work.

[camacju]

Laythe would be the bigger challenge.

Actually, scratch that - getting the stuff to kerbin orbit is the biggest challenge

[king of nowhere]

the puff engine can get Isp 240 in vacuum, enough to make it feasible. for atmospheres, an helicopter could lift the rocket high enough, like my helicopterocket model for eve.

if we want actual RCS instead of the puff engine, vernor engines may have enough thrust.

it's probably feasible. but i already have my hands full of other challenges to try it myself for now.

 

Edited November 8, 2021 by king of nowhere

[18Watt]

@JacobJHC, I have a submission for the Jool-5 challenge.  I was participating in the Kerpollo Challenge (which I just completed), and realized the run out to Jool meets all the requirements of the Jool-5 Challenge.  I think.

I believe my run would be considered a 1st Level entry, and I did use ISRU.  My game is 100% stock (no mods at all).  I am using the BG and MH expansion packs.

Due to meeting the rules of the Kerpollo Challenge, my run to Jool had fly as a single launch- The whole vehicle went up as one big launch.  I was not able to refuel until reaching Jool's moons, and no probe cores were used at all.  Although I brought 5 Kerbals, this run does not qualify for a 2nd Level entry because for Laythe, Tylo, and Vall only one Kerbal actually went to the surface.

The documentation is located in a Mission Reports thread linked below.  If the link doesn't take you straight to the Jool run, it is located near the bottom of the first page.

Edit:  Not sure what stats you would like.  Launch cost was $1,636,429.  Launch mass was 3,838.724t.  The recovery funds would be negligible- I only returned the capsule holding the Kerbals, and landed on one of the poles.

 

Edited November 18, 2021 by 18Watt
Added some launch stats.

[18Watt]

Another Jool-5 Run Complete!  @JacobJHC

This time I was going for a 3RD Level Jool-5 entry, landing a different specialist on each moon.  I brought 5 specialists (one for each moon), plus two pilots, so 7 Kerbals total.

• Parts: 220
• Mass: 2,700.710 t
• Height: 58.4 m
• Cost: $1,090,272
• Parts recovered: Negligible, I only brought the crew capsule back to Kerbin.
• 100% Stock game.  I used ISRU and also have BG and MH expansion packs.

The details can be seen at my mission reports thread linked below.  I believe this one qualifies for a 3RD Level Jool-5 entry.

 

[JacobJHC]

@18Watt Hello there! Currently I am approaching finals and have projects I must complete, which are all set to be  due in about a week and a half. I will review you missions once I have all of these assignments behind me.

Take care until then!

[JacobJHC]

On 11/17/2021 at 3:51 PM, 18Watt said:

@JacobJHC, I have a submission for the Jool-5 challenge.  I was participating in the Kerpollo Challenge (which I just completed), and realized the run out to Jool meets all the requirements of the Jool-5 Challenge.  I think.

I believe my run would be considered a 1st Level entry, and I did use ISRU.  My game is 100% stock (no mods at all).  I am using the BG and MH expansion packs.

Due to meeting the rules of the Kerpollo Challenge, my run to Jool had fly as a single launch- The whole vehicle went up as one big launch.  I was not able to refuel until reaching Jool's moons, and no probe cores were used at all.  Although I brought 5 Kerbals, this run does not qualify for a 2nd Level entry because for Laythe, Tylo, and Vall only one Kerbal actually went to the surface.

The documentation is located in a Mission Reports thread linked below.  If the link doesn't take you straight to the Jool run, it is located near the bottom of the first page.

Edit:  Not sure what stats you would like.  Launch cost was $1,636,429.  Launch mass was 3,838.724t.  The recovery funds would be negligible- I only returned the capsule holding the Kerbals, and landed on one of the poles.

 

At last my finals are over, and I can focus on something else for once!

Congratulations @18Watt on completing the Jool 5 on the first level. Your mothership is unique in using wolfhound engines, the vast majority of Jool 5 submissions use nervas. I also liked how your laythe spaceplane staged its back half/wings. I apologize again for the delays, and will add you to the leaderboard now, and have your second submission reviewed by the end of the day!

[18Watt]

1 hour ago, JacobJHC said:

I apologize again for the delays

Thanks!  And no need to apologize!  Life happens.  I run a challenge also, and sometimes it's 2-3 weeks before I have computer time.

[JacobJHC]

On 11/21/2021 at 11:15 AM, 18Watt said:

Another Jool-5 Run Complete!  @JacobJHC

This time I was going for a 3RD Level Jool-5 entry, landing a different specialist on each moon.  I brought 5 specialists (one for each moon), plus two pilots, so 7 Kerbals total.

• Parts: 220
• Mass: 2,700.710 t
• Height: 58.4 m
• Cost: $1,090,272
• Parts recovered: Negligible, I only brought the crew capsule back to Kerbin.
• 100% Stock game.  I used ISRU and also have BG and MH expansion packs.

The details can be seen at my mission reports thread linked below.  I believe this one qualifies for a 3RD Level Jool-5 entry.

 

Congratulations again on completing the Jool 5 on the 3rd level! I like how this mission is a clear upgrade of your previous mission, and will add you to the leaderbooards now!

[18Watt]

On 12/11/2021 at 1:14 PM, JacobJHC said:

Your mothership is unique in using wolfhound engines, the vast majority of Jool 5 submissions use nervas.

I really like the Wolfhounds.  They have good Isp, and decent thrust also.  The Nukes are good too, but there are a couple of things which make them less appealing-

• The thrust is very low.  Not only are burn times longer, but you also miss out on Oberth effects.  So some of the efficiency gains are lost in many situations.
• Nukes are heavy and expensive.
• There aren't as many LF tanks in the sizes and shapes I'd like, which is a big factor for me.  There are Mk3 fuselages for big tanks, but they look awkward with the other tanks.

As much as I like the Wolfhounds, I'm actually using a Nuke in a mission right now, and it's one where cost and weight are critical!  The Nuke seemed like a good solution.  Plus, I haven't unlocked the Wolfhound in this save yet..

 

[JacobJHC]

On 12/13/2021 at 11:22 AM, 18Watt said:

There aren't as many LF tanks in the sizes and shapes I'd like, which is a big factor for me.  There are Mk3 fuselages for big tanks, but they look awkward with the other tanks.

Yes! I am surprised that they haven't added something to switch a fuel tank from LFO to exclusively LF. Mk3 big tanks work fine, but attaching them can be a little awkward looking.

[Admiral Fluffy]

 

On 12/13/2021 at 9:22 AM, 18Watt said:

• There aren't as many LF tanks in the sizes and shapes I'd like, which is a big factor for me.  There are Mk3 fuselages for big tanks, but they look awkward with the other tanks.

 

I'm considering making a mod to fix that.

[theJesuit]

On 12/14/2021 at 5:22 AM, 18Watt said:

There aren't as many LF tanks in the sizes and shapes I'd like, which is a big factor for me.  There are Mk3 fuselages for big tanks, but they look awkward with the other tanks.

 

3 hours ago, JacobJHC said:

Yes! I am surprised that they haven't added something to switch a fuel tank from LFO to exclusively LF. Mk3 big tanks work fine, but attaching them can be a little awkward looking.

 

17 minutes ago, Admiral Fluffy said:

I'm considering making a mod to fix that.

Try this excellent mod 

 

 

[king of nowhere]

I am considering finishing my current caveman challenge with a jool 5 (still a few weeks before that point, though)

being caveman, i cannot go eva and plant flags. I know, I can make the whole trip with a kerbal on a ladder, there is a precedent for that. but i don't like it, i prefer to have a real command pod. i also think it's a bigger challenge; a kerbal on a ladder is a much smaller weight.

this would go against the rule that I must plant a flag; I suppose an exception would be made for this case?

[Kerbal Productions]

So KSPIE is not allowed... Dang it, I've got an ISV in here that still has spare fuel.

Please verify if it's allowed or not. If so, I'll do it. If not, then I won't. Essence of life