Duna large modular outpost, one launch only, part of InSight challenge !

[Kerbolitto]

I've designed this base for fun a few days ago and I was surprised to see it could compete on InSight challenge (rank 4 - unlimited !).

As usual I've tried to come up with creative ideas and various modules to assemble a good-looking outpost, hope you'll enjoy it, too !

 

This outpost is made of 3 large habitations modules, one extended lab with full science experiments, a workshop with a drill and electricity storage, and a "power tube" with 8 large solar arrays. It also comes with a heavy rover to make some science on the field ! Overall this base is packed with 55 Kerbals and is designed for long-term stay.

Here's how I deployed it :

 

Chapter 1 : Launch

 

 

The outpost is contained inside multiple fairings, above a descent stage, which itself sits above a Rhino transfer stage. There are 6 heavy lifters around this central core providing a high thrust (1.5G) and more than 3k dV so it's also a SSTO of some sort.

 

Spoiler

1 Take off !

2 Gravity turn :

3 Circularizing maneuver : had to pitch early due to the very high thrust of the rocket, even with that Ap was quite steep and around 104km

 

Chapter 2 : On way to Duna !

 

 

Spoiler

1 Duna transfer maneuver :

2 Duna approach maneuver : after a slight inclination change

3 Capturing on a very eccentric orbit : (no aerobraking yet)

 

Chapter 3 : Deploying stuff around, preparing to land

 

Heres RoundSat 1 which is released just after capture.

SurveyScan and main Relay is also detached.

 

Spoiler

1 SurveyScan maneuver : it has too much dV anyway !

2 Raising the mothership inclination using 2 Ike flybys on an almost resonant orbit : It was not very much needed but it looks beautifull in some way !

3 After circularizing the mothership, a landing site is set up :

 

Chapter 4 : Ready to land !

 

Not seen on those pictures : RoundSat2 was detached just before retroburning the mothership to allow a sufficient communication along the descent.

 

Spoiler

1 Ship's already low in Duna atmosphere, the drag is quite high due to the heatshield :

2 Landing stage powered by a single Vector with +/- 600dV : this is also the moment when the chutes were deployed.

3 Touchdown has to happen very gently turn the outpost on its feet :

4 Now the tricky part, on top of the longest section are hidden 6 Thuds and a large amount of fuel to slowly descend the craft on its side : I did not test it on Kerbin or cheated on Duna but it works quite fine!

 

Chapter 5 : Undocking all the goodies

 

Because Scarab would have lots of troubles to assemble the base on a slope, I had to persuade the whole craft to get low enough to reach a plane surface. Good thing I put a massive tank for those Thuds !

Scarab is set up under a module before it detach.

Central core is installed a little away from the craft to allow easy modules installation.

Now for the most fragile modules of all, not sure if the airbrakes helped but they sure looks professionnal.

Final module is the workshop.

 

Chapter 6 : Base is online and ready to partyyyyyyyy--- make science !

 

Someone said champagne ?!

Edited April 8, 2019 by Kerbolitto

[sturmhauke]

TFW your boosters are whole entire rockets, built for lesser payloads.

[Kerbolitto]

10 minutes ago, sturmhauke said:

TFW your boosters are whole entire rockets, built for lesser payloads.

Well you're not far from that, I'd say each (ssto)booster can put 70-80t. in orbit