Apollo Alternate Architectures Revived (This week: EOR1)

[DAL59]

https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/165167-apollo-alternate-architectures-challenge/&tab=comments#comment-3165004

As we know, the Apollo missions used the Lunar Orbit Rendezvous, or LOR method to get to the Moon.  However, alternate missions were proposed.  This week the challenge will be to preform an Earth Orbit Rendezvous, or EOR Gemini mission.  

1. Launch a 1 or 2 person unmanned lander (possibly with a Trans Munar Injection booster) in Kerbin orbit.

2. Launch a 2 person vehicle to dock with the lander.

3. Perform a normal Apollo style mission from there.

4. No ISRU, nukes, ions, SSTO spaceplanes, or asparagus staging.

Scoring: You start with 200 points, and lose 1 point for every part used, and lose 1 point for every 5 tons of mass, rounded up.  

Bonuses:

Use RSS or Rescaled Kerbin: double final score

Bring a rover: +50

Use a small spaceplane instead of a capsule: +75

Free return trajectory: +10

Lander uses command seat(s): +10

Subsatelite: +25

2 stage lander: +20

Use KOS: +100

Use life support: +30

Penalties: 

Use Mechjeb: -30

Failed to redock in munar orbit and had to EVA: -30

Good luck!

Scoreboard week 1:

310- @Kerbolitto

Edited September 2, 2018 by DAL59

[Kerbolitto]

1 hour ago, DAL59 said:

Use a small spaceplane instead of a capsule: +75

A spaceplane for the re-entry capsule ?

Edited August 31, 2018 by Kerbolitto

[DAL59]

3 hours ago, Kerbolitto said:

A spaceplane for the re-entry capsule ?

yes

[qzgy]

Ok I have a question. You have the bonus to use the command chairs on the lander for a +10 bonus, but you also have a -30 penalty for if you need to EVA. If you use a command chair I think you'd need to EVA to get back to the actual return ship regardless if you docked or not. So how's the second penalty going to be implemented?

[Kerbolitto]

This is my attempt to your challenge

 

I aimed at minimus mass + all bonus score possible with a stock game !

 

Lander Rocket (1st launch):

 

The lifter is a simple 2 stage design, using a Skipper as first engine and a Cheetah to circularize the payload.

Spoiler

Stats inside VAB : 42 parts, 38.326t. 

Lift off :

Final orbit :

 

Habitat Rocket (2nd launch):

 

This vehicle is another 2 stage design, powered by a Bobcat and a Terrier. Spaceplane habitat is attached on top of it, which made ascent quite uneasy due to the huge lift in front of the rocket !

Spoiler

Stats inside VAB : 26 parts, 21.688t.

Lift off :

 

Meeting in LKO :

 

Jeb and Bill meets with the first payload and docks to it.

Spoiler

Habitat maneuver to Lander :

Rendez-vous done, Habitat stage2 has just enough propellant to finalize the maneuver !

 

Mun injection :

 

Now that both ships are docked, the crew lighted up the Terrier used as a transfer-stage. They planned a free return trajectory by arriving in front of the Mun, which would lower their Pe in Kerbin's atmosphere if mission should abort.

Spoiler

Injection burn :

Mun's arrival :

Transfer stage is used as a relay sub-satellite :

 

Undocking and landing :

 

Transfer stage had just enough fuel to capture on an elliptical orbit. Bill and Jeb undocked the habitat and took places on the sides of the lander and fired up the Spark.

Spoiler

Lander ready to deorbit :

Deorbit maneuver :

Touchdown :

 

Take-off and meeting with Spaceplane :

 

Once Jeb & Bill planted their flag and roller a bit on top of the rover, they switched seats to detach the ascent module. It is made of a tiny dock, a baguette fuel tank, 2 seats, battery + solar panel, a probe to provide reaction wheel and an Ant engine.

Spoiler

Ascent module lift off :

Intersection with the return spaceplane :

Meeting over :

 

Descent in LKO and landing :

 

The ascent rocket was docked to the spaceplane and the crew returned inside the command pod. This ship is also powered by a Spark with very limited fuel capacity. They set up a return trajectory and used 3 aerobraking before finally deorbiting onto KSC. Re-entry was quite hot but manageable using A LOT of roll maneuvers !

Spoiler

Return maneuver :

First and second aerobraking :

Deorbiting procedure, after raising Pe to wait a good encounter to KSC :

KSC is visible under Mun :

Final approach (lift was good, landing around 50m/s):

 

Score :

 

200

- 68 (parts)

- 12 (60.014t.)

+ 50 (rover)

+ 75 (spaceplane instead of capsule)

+ 10 (free return trajectory)

+ 10 (lander uses command seats)

+ 25 (subsatellite)

+ 20 (2 stage lander)

=  310 !

 

 

Edited September 1, 2018 by Kerbolitto

[DAL59]

On 8/31/2018 at 4:30 PM, qzgy said:

Ok I have a question. You have the bonus to use the command chairs on the lander for a +10 bonus, but you also have a -30 penalty for if you need to EVA. If you use a command chair I think you'd need to EVA to get back to the actual return ship regardless if you docked or not. So how's the second penalty going to be implemented?

If you dock, then EVA, its fine.

[KingDominoIII]

Did the mission. Forgot to check part count and weight; will update later tonight.

In the mean time, here's the album:

https://imgur.com/gallery/4m14hUd

[DAL59]

Because there weren't many entries, this weeks architecture will be extended for another week.

Edited September 9, 2018 by DAL59

[DAL59]

 

[SiriusRocketry]

Heeeeeey is this still active? I've been looking into interesting challenges so I can stop my current burnout and get back into the game.

 

[DAL59]

On 9/20/2018 at 1:36 AM, SiriusRocketry said:

Heeeeeey is this still active? I've been looking into interesting challenges so I can stop my current burnout and get back into the game.

 

yes