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SpaceShuttle Shorpa : STS Duna Bis, 2 Shuttles mission + Outpost (lots of pics !)


Kerbolitto

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Welcome everyone ! In this thread I'll review my (second) take on the famous STS Challenge.

 

 

My first participation was more than a year ago, and I'm starting a new one, which shall include many things I've learned about building rockets since then.

I'm focusing on modules integration, packaging solutions and good-looking contraptions more than trying to be as realistic as possible.

There is no mods in this sandbox but Chatterer.

This might be pic heavy because I want to describe every part of the first flight to show how the craft handle.

 

Album list on imgur :

STS 1 : Deploying 40t. payload

STS 2 : 6 Geostationnary relays

STS 2b : Recovering the 40t. payload

STS 3 : Téléscopâté on solar orbit !

STS 4 : High altitude crew rescue

STS 5 : Minmus Space-Station : Propulsion Module

STS 6 : Hab Module

STS 7 : Science Module

STS 8 : Second Science Module, Station Complete !

STS Minmus 1 : First steps

STS Moho-Duna because why not

STS Duna Bis : 2 Shuttles + Outpost

 

The spacecraft is named Sh(uttle)Or(biter)Pa(ck), it is a combination of many improvements I had to make to my previous shuttles.

ShOrPa (Standard) main features are :

_1.5 Mk3 bay & Mk3 ramp, front bay is facing ground to use drills or dump stuff on surface.

_SSTO capacity.

_Low TWR with only 4 Nukes (140+t. empty), +5000dV.

_Fuel tanks and engines are modulable if missions requires higher thrust (Tylo?).

Orbiter main features :

_Total mass is 1065t. (without cargo).

_2x6 Kickback SRB clusters (1000dV).

_6+1 Vectors (2500dV) + 4 Rapiers to assist lift-off.

 

Here is a post which shows a few details of the design :

 

STS 1 / 1b : Launch

 

Launchpad :

a2WMJsT.jpg

Ignition & lift-off !

Z18Eq1j.jpg

SRB Sep :

q3rh6le.jpg

Burning to raise Ap :

RMLDsDQ.jpg

External tank separation :

D65lGBS.jpg

Final orbit 150x150 :

WWrXjlw.jpg

Payload separation (40t. dummy tanks) :

q7qZHuH.jpg

Re-entry burn, quite hot !

C03zZI3.jpg

Coming down on KSC, just at the horizon :

lGUGbSp.jpg

Heavy flare to kill orbital velocity (max G during mission was only 4.8):

HKnizZd.jpg

Turn around to line up on runway :

fwiHxjm.jpg

Final flare :

4Dc3ucY.jpg

Parachutes :

OdA5UbS.jpg

Landing :

2OCSwu1.jpg

 

 

Edited by Kerbolitto
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STS 2a

 

This contract required the installation of a few relays on Keostationnary, using the shuttle's bay as cargo holder.

The crew put the craft on a 2:1 orbit at KEO Ap with a 3h30 period. Using 6 sats, this means that every 2 orbits the shuttle would pass 1 hour after the previous satellite, release a new one and so on.

Once the bay was emptied, the shuttle passed 2 times through the atmosphere, and landed on the 3rd pass.

Here's what happenned !

 

_1 Launchpad and ascent :

 

DPJ2i5G.jpg

H2plsdG.jpg

naO8FWI.jpg

 

_2 Maneuvers to KEO and sat deployement :

 

DPJ2i5G.jpg

63u7Amb.jpg

gHM6mhM.jpg

wSxTyor.jpg

 

Spoiler

First maneuver, almost exclusively on Rapiers :

gl1zDIO.jpg

Second maneuver to get to a 3h30 period :

hPissYR.jpg

 

_3 Return to Kerbin's surface !

 

gh49jOI.jpg

ViuvtYp.jpg

1tkqlVP.jpg

The ShOrPa was a bit tricky to land, it weighted more than 100t. with all the fuel left and it was impossible to fly without moving it in front of the craft.

 

Spoiler

Messed up with my screenshot, Pe was around 52k during the first pass (KSC was not reachable without using the rapiers on jet-mode)

This is the second burn with Pe at 40k (2 more passes) :

O5DCUCl.jpg

Second pass : I moved the RCS a bit so they shouldn't be that hot anymore

Hu89RqE.jpg

Final pass with Pe right on KSC :

17elLie.jpg

Second bump in the mountains west of KSC :

y3ZSj81.jpg

 

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STS 2b

 

This mission is a bonus challenge, where it is required to bring down the fuel pod that was brought up in LKO during mission 1b.

It tests the strenght of the shuttle and its ability to fly with a heavy payload.

 

1_ Launchpad & Ascent :

 

N8wD5IJ.jpg

ysVLDCm.jpg

z7rHoR8.jpg

 

Spoiler

The launch happenned a bit too soon, so the crew waited its target on a higher orbit :

gk2mrFR.jpg

Rendez-vous maneuver :

t4JkHQo.jpg

 

2_ Grabbing the fuel pod and returning to Kerbin :

 

PaoBywD.jpg

k69gg4W.jpg

k50izaM.jpg

 

Spoiler

Deorbit "maneuver" :

CQg771I.jpg

Airfield in sight !

nsGoV67.jpg

Flare after a first bump : landing was relatively easy with low vertical speed but 180+m/s horizontal, the shuttle performed pretty well but lacked a bit of pitch authority (it weighted 150+t. !)

AFhAJIC.jpg

 

yTSfElB.jpg

Edited by Kerbolitto
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STS 3 : Build a Space Telescope

 

The goal is to launch a space telescope around Kerbin and use 2 MMu's to assemble its solar panels. I chose instead to deploy the telescope around Kerbol (praise Kerbol!) to somewhat replicate (lol.) JWST.

 

1_ Launch and Ascent :

 

With more than 450 parts, the launch was a bit ... slow and heavy, eventually the crew made it to orbit without breaking anything (this time)!

sB3LX84.jpg

kKUc4H9.jpg

 

Spoiler

Target orbit maneuver around Kerbol :

mW6fEVk.jpg

 

2_ Deployement :

 

Téléscopâté is designed to protect the main telescope from the light and heat of Kerbol, it's made of a central core containing high-end instruments, antennas, batteries and a few Xenon tanks. It has 4 Ion drive and RCS for station keeping. On the side of the core are docked 2 large pannels which blocks radiations, while providing energy via solar panels. Deployement started just after leavin Kerbin SOI

3TUSBQv.jpg

BUMCNr8.jpg

8dKmAKV.jpg

Téléscopâté facing away from Kerbol :

TxUVz4G.jpg

 

Spoiler

Val goes to her MMU :

qnPm3rZ.jpg

M0MvEdy.jpg

First panel out & docked :

AIPuUba.jpg

T4amkgI.jpg

 

3_ Return maneuver and HOT capture !

 

The return maneuver was a bit heavy, involving a huge radial burn. It could have been done for 1/4 of the dV cost but one whole year before capturing was far too long for the crew. Security aside, everything went great.

GLwedxF.jpg

KUbMZfW.jpg

 

Spoiler

Fat burn, low Pe, what could go wrong ?

2KIk00S.jpg

Standard aerobraking : facing Normal and rolling on RCS !

jlLZf0V.jpg

Final : ShOrPa glided half the ocean east of KSC at 20km, loosing speed gradually

zRcCUml.jpg

Trying to line on the runway after first bump :

pPs1BIy.jpg

 

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STS 4 - Crew Rescue!

 

6 Kerbonauts went missing after getting into orbit from Woomerang aboard a prototype! KSC descides to quickly send a rescue mission with standard shuttle, approximately matching its target inclination, and see what happenned.

 

1_ STS 4 Launch :

 

HdQNR9q.jpg?1

BydTcoy.jpg

Simeon seems to be mildly amused :

jpgb9Kk.jpg

 

2_ STS 4 Rescue :

 

B3fBica.jpg

zQtk2ib.jpg

dtg2Z5J.jpg

 

Spoiler

Target inclination : (ended up with 7/8°)

5Lb30OJ.jpg

Departure at inclination node, after a small correction the crew had a perfect encounter :

29L7xIX.jpg

Retroburn on target :

UQLAGNK.jpg

 

3_ Crew transfer, capturing and landing !

 

Turns out someone spilled mayonnaise on the fuse box and fried the radio!

ZdqfByj.jpg

22nB5Hs.jpg

Everyone back on the ground, no one seems to be very happy : they forgot the mayonnaise jar in orbit.

eQ5EHhZ.jpg

 

 

Spoiler

Return maneuver : a bit wide, the crew will have to fly a bit before landing on the runway

cM7SYQp.jpg

Last second before touchdown :

mjWxnfd.jpg

Bonus pic : ShOrPa on inverted final !

MxFxfDL.jpg

 

Edited by Kerbolitto
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Well, as a long time shuttle builder I can say pretty confidently that this thing is a BEAST!!  I made a similarly designed shuttle for the Mun STS missions, but despite being fully ISRU capable, and having a roll out cargo bay for wheeled bases, a full on crew hotel, and vertical landing assistance engines it was actually horrible to fly and catastrophically difficult to re-enter Kerbin with.  Also the D-v was really poor.  I only just made it to the Mun in these missions.

0XgKEEF.png

 

You on the other hand seem to be rattling through these missions.  good to read the reports and keep going!  Just finished the Duna one's myself, and am currently taking a break from Shuttling by doing a Duna Elcano and Von Braun mission wrapped up in one.  Take a look in mission reports if you fancied a non shuttle read!

Good luck with the next mission!

SM

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@Speeding Mullet Well thanks a lot! I've flown a ton of unbalanced SSTOs and I've learnt how to improve tiny things to make a craft easy to fly, mostly with overpowered pitch authority, good roll, a second set of landing gears for rough terrain / turning the shuttle etc.. I see that we use the same kind of design, with 2 large engines pods on the side! To me it's the easiest way to balance weight & lift, or to change engine types, add or remove fuel tanks.. :D.

I'll have a look at your report, I have 0 patience to do an Elkano myself but I do like von Braun style ! : D

 

@Geschosskopf Thank you! The Téléscopâté™is certainly very special, and being on that orbit it does the very same job as the ground tracking station :D

Maybe you will also like this one I created fot @Ultimate Steve community challenge, it also fits inside a Mk3 bay but is much wider !

 

Edited by Kerbolitto
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STS 5 : Space Station !

 

STS 5 to 8 missions are about assembling a space station built with 4 modules. (Propulsion, Habitat and  two for Science)

I chose to build it around Minmus because no mission are currently proposed near this moon. This flight is performed on the new ShOrPaEXT, a vacuum variant with no jet engines and 1k3+ dV on WolfHounds. TWR is approx. 0.5 and it's more confortable to perform long burns from Kerbin (to Mun or Duna for example).

 

1_ Going to LKO !

 

Hours before take-off, engineers remembered to add Bobcat pods to help during ascent because this new variant has no atmospheric engines.

a4hXLv8.jpg

fHxiTGi.jpg

EnDuJsD.jpg

 

Spoiler

Minmus maneuver :

9RNanWI.jpg

 

2_ Capture around Minmus, propulsion module sep

 

yyVk3g0.jpg

IlFxsQr.jpg

Bill verifies the panel's deployement.

nl2PHyr.jpg

 

3_ Leaving Minmus, landing hopefully

 

0BpfnHH.jpg

kRFm4ZO.jpg

URGX3GR.jpg

Crew back to the Space Center on time for the croissants!

uozV6RA.jpg

 

Spoiler

Return maneuver :

TRYRwUD.jpg

First pass : speed is quite high but this shuttle is less susceptible to heating problems

iWnjGEp.jpg

After a second pass through prograde to avoid loosing too much altitude, the shuttle captured and landed on 3rd  aerobraking. KSC was not in a very good position and it was proposed to glide for a bit :

2UeJFWP.jpg

Due to a scary tumbling, the crew had to finish the trip to the space center using the shuttle as a gliding (and rolling) nuke!

5SiL9WW.jpg

 

Landing was "a bit" butchered, next time I'll probably use the Mun to reduce inclination (something like 20°) so it will be more precise :D

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STS 6

 

Mission goes on, a new payload was fitted in the bays of ShOrPaEXT and it was reinstalled on the pad with fresh boosters.

This time the cargo is a habitat module with an array of docks.

 

1_ Launch, LKO, Burn to Minmus!

 

g7pdCD7.jpg

CqyiOGi.jpg

htdyfsv.jpg

 

Spoiler

Minmus maneuver : just like before, burn occured as inclination node to minimize dV. Crew had to perform a small correction after 1-2 days of flight to line on target.

1NcZkwY.jpg

 

2_ Minmus capture, Cargo deployement :

 

toxc1rD.jpg

mLAqdQT.jpg

Crisory inspects the docks, everything seems to be lined up correctly !

v5f7aUj.jpg

 

Spoiler

Minmus capture and direct rendez-vous with prop module:

7HWnCgu.jpg

 

3_ Return to Kerbin after meeting with the Mun :

 

18WQ5v4.jpg

WcAPFIw.jpg

dgZzBuR.jpg

Time to lunch, debriefing can wait !

D7CLSI9.jpg

 

Spoiler

Return maneuver : prograde only, final inclination will be at 1.5°, a second maneuver at Ap after Mun encounter will lower Pe at around 40km in Kerbin's atmosphere.

6FStqKf.jpg

Orbit after first aerobraking : (bottom left corner)

u555mH3.jpg

Final maneuver to close Pe near Space Center :

iqxtObY.jpg

Flare : Stall speed is quite low which is very much appreciated by the crew!

4v0XxPG.jpg

 

Edited by Kerbolitto
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STS 7

 

First science module has been delivered to the space station. It has a laboratory, a command module, another Sr dock and a wide angle M700.

The crew had too much fuel so they decided to take a small break on Minmus.

 

1_ Launch, Ascent, Injection :

 

nSzBewQ.jpg

2T8RZme.jpg

EbdTNBS.jpg

 

Spoiler

Injection to Minmus : Again, burning at inclination node saves a ton of dV ! The crew performed a small normal burn after 1 day to align on target.

4gQFSD1.jpg

 

2_ Minmus arrival, station is almost finished ! Landing to load ice cream.

 

HYQGnrB.jpg

9vvbUgH.jpg

OFJyHqA.jpg

975B4P1.jpg

 

Spoiler

Capture maneuver and direct rendez-vous :

jOi4ywg.jpg

Take-off : Not every maneuver is shown since it's very cheap to fly around Minmus

CGEvag7.jpg

 

3_ Departure burn, meeting with the Mun, landing softly :

 

AFxc68S.jpg

kTfQoDU.jpg

vU9MSFQ.jpg

 

Spoiler

Departure and Mun flyby to lower inclination :

z1HNIkI.jpg

After the flyby, pilots performed 2 more burns, one to lower Pe at 40k and another to lower inclination to 0 from 4. First aerobraking :

2u5TA6H.jpg

Final deorbit, taking place after raising Pe above 70k and waiting 2 orbits to line up on KSC :

FGqe9V8.jpg

S maneuvers to bleed speed :

DURRgpe.jpg

Flare :

N1GNxQp.jpg

 

Edited by Kerbolitto
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19 hours ago, Kerbolitto said:

I chose to build it around Minmus because no mission are currently proposed near this moon.

That's what I call "perfect timing", check the OP in the challenge thread ;) Keep up the great work, your new design is looking really great!

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STS 8

 

Finally, last part of Minmus Space Station ! Last module contains another science lab, a telescope and a radio mast :)

 

1_ Launch & Escape to Minmus !

 

VZNpR3O.jpg

Ha8KLqc.jpg

DlrwPRf.jpg

 

Spoiler

Minmus injection : Same stuff as usual, burn at ascending node, small correction (0.5m/s) after crossing Mun's orbit !

vBc2NWa.jpg

 

2_ Capture & rendez vous with Space-Station

 

c9JWkPO.jpg

PeAcAFN.jpg

 

Spoiler

Another direct capture including direct meeting with target :

gQgUMvQ.jpg

 

3_ Some details about Sputnik & Chocolats II

 

A volunteer was requisitionned to present the space station.

bTFXM1J.jpg

Maintenance panel on the telescope, just in case you never know !

O7bXun8.jpg

Telescope, antenna, and a spare Kodiak..?

oZUBRql.jpg

M700 module, don't mind the shuttle in the background Jeb would be too happy.

zTDhe43.jpg

Service module, docks and hab module.

BSfbUxD.jpg

Engines pod, they said it is supposed to thrust through the mass of the station, supposedely it carries around 1k5 dV

LsmXkFn.jpg

 

9wQx6sB.jpg

 

4_ Leaving Sputnik & Chocolats II, our crew is asked to come back on Kerbin

 

Not much interrested about that security stuff, the Kerbonauts says goodbye through the windshield.

Ib8GIwV.jpg

UrVSCVg.jpg

Vcynzms.jpg

 

Spoiler

That maneuver looks quite cool, it also reduces inclination to almost nothing. The second Mun flyby was brought a little closer (11 000m.) and a small Pe kick was enough to drop Kerbin's Pe into atmosphere.

22rkGhk.jpg

Trying to steer onto the desert airfield on first pass :

h8edIbr.jpg

Steering doesn't want to cooperate, had to persuade the shuttle :

VolYplB.jpg

Everything's fiiiiiiiine :

n41aujx.jpg

Flare near the hills north of the runway :

eeAEtQ7.jpg

 

The crew is already refuelling ShOrPa !

ThbgpFS.jpg

Edited by Kerbolitto
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STS Minmus 1

 

A new mission has been added to the Shuttle Challenge and I just couldn't resist ... :D

It will be about the deployement of a fuel depot. First part is about deploying sats, choosing a landing site and sniffing ore in a rover.

 

1_ Launch, Departure

 

Ebxf91s.jpg

G0cM1gK.jpg

ku3U0uj.jpg

 

Spoiler

Minmus injection, burn at An node :

JybCrUv.jpg

 

2_ Minmus, we meet again !

 

FOvtbIQ.jpg

Small relay deployed

qkzqZib.jpg

Ready to unpack M700

pVI0FzL.jpg

 

Spoiler

I forgot to take a screenshot about the capture maneuver, it was elliptical with 1d period +/-

M700 activated !

5HTHUhd.jpg

 

3_ Landing on a good site !

 

lNKEsqp.jpg

Engineers had to keep forward wheels straight, in order to unload the whole rover. That's why it looks kinda stupid : D 

fQ9jLwM.jpg

Rhf6pMH.jpg

 

Spoiler

LZ choosen, it will be this small flat on the northern hemisphere

3wdPwYZ.jpg

Touchdown :

OHmqkaR.jpg

 

4_ Some exploration :

 

The rover has room for 4 Kerbals, is capable of deploying some experiments and possesses a small drill at the back.

hDedzjA.jpg

6UVv5QG.jpg

 

Spoiler

Lots of ore !

BLFnjv2.jpg

ShOrPa drops some beacons as it moves to align on take-off :

jSyCGdi.jpg

 

5_ Take off, swimming time !

 

Jeb says it's fine.

t7iVqrl.jpg

Hey look ! We just got to bleed 1600m/S and we're good to go !

IT4vuYP.jpg

W2LFokZ.jpg

Looks like this water is not watery enough.

Vrcy1b5.jpg

 

Spoiler

Lift off :

b79K0XM.jpg

Return maneuver to Kerbin : A correction maneuver of 210m/s to lower Pe and an inclination change of 21m/s were later required to land at KSC without heavy S maneuvers !

sa8T71F.jpg

Approach will require a long glide :

VznI5h9.jpg

Dive at full speed :

OG9F3Du.jpg

Flare after first bump :

8FevRPP.jpg

Edited by Kerbolitto
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  • 4 weeks later...

STS What ?

 

 

Following previous successes of the competitive Shorpa, Gene Kerman tasked Gus Kerman and his teams to create a deep space design. This new shuttle will project tons of cargo and Kerbonauts everywhere at a not formidable speed !

After stripping almost everything that could take the form of thrust, ShorpaEXT was available for a first daring mission! A surface outpost was quickly thrown in with some other stuff to fill the bay before slamming the doors shut.

Here's what happenned : (dramatic ta-ta-taaaaaaaaa)

 

1) Launchpad :

 

GVVYfDU.jpg

Fire through the hole !

GZp2fTT.jpg

Dispatching a few Solid Boosters above the ocean, in case Kerbals would have to live on rafts before the crew returns.

Gzj3OKf.jpg

''Are you sure this is the best way to fly this thing ?''

iQACSIZ.jpg

Getting rid of the bottle

 

2) Where we going ?

 

jYiWQUi.jpg

''This is where aunty leaves !''

NCU0d8l.jpg

''Is this part of the plan ?''

y26GrhK.jpg

''That's the mission ? Woohoo so beautifull !''

HzwcTJw.jpg

''Hmm... Nevermind.''

cDWgpgz.jpg

''Look I'm holding with the shuttle !''

''Get in before you fission everywhere !''

 

Spoiler

Eve maneuver from LKO :

erVwiYr.jpg

Eve capture :

7PE9pXU.jpg

Gilly encounter :

SiCsAh8.jpg

 

3) Oh cool, rocks.

 

1GWTrFG.jpg

''Slowly, don't want to scratch the paint !''

oX4xYbM.jpg

There's something strange with Kerbol...

8vQjaw6.jpg

''Someone has an umbrella ?''

EJFOuEJ.jpg

Bill is checking the drill, sadly it does a better job when he's just sitting in the cockpit.

KAVxOkL.jpg

''Okay let's go somewhere else !''

 

Spoiler

Leaving Gilly :

bJBzPzv.jpg

 

4) Moho you say ?!

 

dsKWnIp.jpg

''Will we land here one day ?''

Jr8MH37.jpg

''Look ! It's bigger !''

KjsB0gg.jpg

''Cool, new rocks, but hotter this time !''

 

Spoiler

Moho maneuver from Eve's orbit :

4j1OEE9.jpg

Burning from Eve (dV reading is buggy, on Moho capture's screenshot the ship has 2200 left after burning 2000 from Eve and 600+ to capture).

Utldw2u.jpg

Moho estimated capture burn :

gKAoklx.jpg

 

5) Moho capture !

 

8TF4tbm.jpg

Freeing the ionized M700

IWnnc3P.jpg

Mip Mip ! A retroburn allowed Shorpa to capture first

WlP6V4I.jpg

''Looks like the Mun to me''

SjZgnxD.jpg

''At least we don't have to wear G-suits in this big bus !''

 

Spoiler

Moho capture burn (semi elliptic) :

3wkurir.jpg

Deorbit maneuver :

4wcgEha.jpg

Very slow descent due to inadequate TWR !

imHUspS.jpg

Last second before touchdown :

RGyIxtf.jpg

 

6) Unpacking the bays :

 

ZYVUCcw.jpg

Bill and Bob deploy the ScienceDesk™

scfTZSq.jpg

''Hopefully you did not break anything Bill !''

SXd8sRD.jpg

Grumpy Bill is detaching some struts from the outpost

SyWCjt9.jpg

''Well the ISRU is still working, I would not want to stay here !''

LDyiThL.jpg

And now to deploy that tube..

USKgw3R.jpg

Almost ready !

ncqHQ8V.jpg

''Wait there were Kerbals inside ?? That's not part of the plan !!''

65T2G1r.jpg

Familly Picture !

txoc3jU.jpg

Bill explains to Hadly and Bob how to deploy a solar panel. Bob doesn't care.

Cmstbfs.jpg

Once all the experiments are deployed, the ScienceDesk™ tries to suicide itself into the lava.

P6SipUr.jpg

Bob rocks some science.

 

7) Time to leave !

 

oaAudoC.jpg

Does Richard regrets to have smuggled on board ? There's not enough room to bring them back !

TiH1z0Z.jpg

That doesn't look close at all

0BD33pp.jpg

''Well done team, we openned up the first fuel station on Moho !''

 

Spoiler

Take off : was a bit hard to pitch that heavy nose !

nW2XKA7.jpg

Moho departure burn for an Eve flyby :

BtBP0UW.jpg

 

8) Who misaligned Kerbin ?

 

XxuBcEB.jpg

''Guys stop that .. We will come back I promise.. !''

wyhCWK2.jpg

''I'll remember it !'

Yrx9B4X.jpg

''Do you think we're really dumping radioactive fuel across every planets ?''

VClJjHG.jpg

''Look whose red and happy to see us !''

 

Spoiler

Duna maneuver, almost aligned on Pe !

zpN3hnA.jpg

 

9) A bit of fresh air !

 

Hjhvo8d.jpg

Shinyyy !

fmV0BvQ.jpg

''Yeah you're right let's go this way !''

XjVsx6g.jpg

''Good thing we brought multiple flags''

UFFJ1R5.jpg

Bill negotiates with a parachute so it repack itself

PawImf8.jpg

''See you later Kerbol !''

eBPczb5.jpg

''Yeah blast it !''

 

L8GaEd3.jpg

''Cool trip right ?''

72ChvFE.jpg

''Sure thing but I prefer Eve !''

 

Spoiler

Hitting Duna's atmoshere : not that fast !

cjaonQD.jpg

Seconds before touchdown : (on an semi inclined ramp)

v2Vfvnq.jpg

Second bump, again on a small ramp :

1vvLo6Q.jpg

Ready to take-off !

oXZGND5.jpg

 

10) This time we go back ?

 

TzQKOIj.jpg

Another another Mun ?

3AL5yQS.jpg

''This one is my favourite !''

8mw8y9g.jpg

''Aren't we going too fast ?''

io23M3z.jpg

''I recognize this desert !''

94IDWJA.jpg

''Well, looks like they're not living on rafts after all''

eWO7u6Y.jpg

''Haa best part of this mission !''

 

Spoiler

Kerbin maneuver : The shuttle landed on Dune approx. 20 days after the ideal return window, luckily it had enough dV with the help of Ike to transfer directly !

QDmIY42.jpg

''''Conservative'''' aerobraking !

gTfUV6P.jpg

Orbit after first pass : quite promising !

qRnTuQm.jpg

ShorpaEXT on final, hold on to your kutts !

UUU176p.jpg

Flare before touchdown :

8aNke8o.jpg

 

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34 minutes ago, Geschosskopf said:

Quite a trip :)   How long did it take?

I thought the ScienceDeckTM was pretty cool.  Too bad you melted it.

Thank you !

It took only 4.5 years which is not very much if you consider the trip to Duna (has to wait 3 orbits near the sun before departing, then travel to and return from it) !

I did not melt the Deck, it was just wobbling around and tried to climb on its own the lava rock xD

Edited by Kerbolitto
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STS Laythe / Jool 5   (part 1)

 

 

After being subject to the heat of Moho and the redness of Duna in the previous mission, KSC kream of the krops decided that a bit of fresh air (vacuum) would benefit to the poor crews operatig the Space Shuttle Service.

Because Dres doesn't exist and Eve Not Today Gene prepared his teams to rendez-vous with Jool and all the stuff that floats around it.

Using the trusty Shorpa design, engineer decided to drop those useless Wolfhounds and exchange them with 2 Nervas against 2 (brand) used Vectors scavenged from the Orbiter. The body has been lengthened to accomodate an Mk3 short fuel fuselage, and half of a cargo bay has been transformed to hold Rocket fuel. Wing design remains the same, as it will still provide sufficient lift for this heavier and longer shuttle (well probably, no one tested it).

The spacecraft will navigate using 2 sets of engines depending of the needs of the mission, Vectors provides more than 1.1 TWR during around 2.5 minutes, while Nervas thrust peaks at 0.07 when everything is loaded. This adaptative combination will provide a total of something like a massive-ton of dV, more or less.

 

1_ Ascent, Departure and Arrival in the Joolian system :

 

aB8qNLo.jpg

"Snap, I forgot my camera negatives !"

rPQPl80.jpg

"No wait guys turn around !"

ugl0Tiy.jpg

"Well, will have to use the Kolaroïd instead.."

Bn1XKjd.jpg

"Bye big bottle ! I hope they'll catch it in one piece this time, I feel like more Vectors could be usefull for the next assignement ...!"

MBeSdqT.jpg

"Objects in the mirror looks closer than they are"

EHi6W0C.jpg

"See ! I told you had to turn left after that last asteroid !"

BHUBMt8.jpg

"Damn, no sailboat this time ?"

"They told us they would be of different size"

8chitK2.jpg

Science report : This side looks a lot darker than the other

 

Spoiler

Stats on launchpad :

IycBlzj.jpg

Jool interception :

S5nxEOa.jpg

Preparing final burn, this is the final orbit after 3x 4 minutes burn at Pe on Nervs :

jjzy1TC.jpg

Last burn using Vectors :

DMY8F4K.jpg

Intended capture maneuver, using Laythe to directly catch Pol :

isg7Yds.jpg

 

2_ Pol's Situation !

 

2QDZYEz.jpg

"They do appear closer !"

BztN22P.jpg

"Bill, check the M700 they said, it is your job, they said !"

U6GfgpA.jpg

"Surveying" ... "Surveying" ... "Surveying" ...

tWa0iEW.jpg

"Told you nukes thrust is best thrust !"

vcpiYaL.jpg

"Bill, check the drill, they said, well it's drilling that's for sure !"

etjjMSA.jpg

"Chocolat-dipped rock, I need to have that !"

ua8pzg4.jpg

"This time we checked if Kerbals were hiding in the cargo bay, but we were told that they were actually part of the mission would you believe that ?"

cyhvpBD.jpg

"What's in the box Bill ?"

zz15N1Y.jpg

"Yeah more science stuff ! Thanks Bill, now check the radiators please !"

B7Z4dP1.jpg

"Well, those rocks were not made of chocolate, and those spires aren't cheese either ..!"

 

Spoiler

Pol capture after a 20m/s correction :

aays05S.jpg

M700 stats, more than 5k dV :

hO9eGLq.jpg

 

3_ Vall Mysteries !

 

X5NFhpW.jpg

"Oh so now we're getting back near that green blob ?"

3f3yTjv.jpg

"Things looks upside down a bit"

2wiWxdS.jpg

"Put some Dynatron on the radio please"

YRVA9Vd.jpg

"Okay time to get down !"

GjZbxz0.jpg

"Actually turn to the right a bit"

KShiB5B.jpg

"Yeah that's more like it !"

zPHa4OD.jpg

"Let's see that how that ice reacts to science !"

TBdjDJS.jpg

"That should be enough guys stop !"

yK59DKe.jpg

"I'd say that the flatest surface on this planet"

iazQf0a.jpg

"I think it's trying to tell us something"

nvoLBOL.jpg

"Drill me baby ?"

XjVrMwV.jpg

"Well that is enough, lets plant flags somewhere else please, it's freezing around here !"

tP380va.jpg

"What did you say about Nuke thrust ?"

KSRX1jU.jpg

Science note : the more we see it, the more it looks like a green Eve .. Shiny ... !

 

Spoiler

Vall injection maneuver (no flyby or anything) :

ZgUoBpa.jpg

Capture using multiple burns on nukes :

5lBNL5T.jpg

Deorbit maneuver, Vectors only this time : (this is from south pole)

qAWmMsC.jpg

Take off ! (fully loaded)

WSHM4jR.jpg

Bop injection using Tylo flyby : (will require a tiny correction)

HPwuGg5.jpg

 

 

Edited by Kerbolitto
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22 minutes ago, Geschosskopf said:

That's an impressive beast and I salute you for doing a Jool 5 with it :) Good luck with the rest of the tour!

Thank you :)

It's almost done, only have to land on Laythe, deploy the outpost and take-off (hopefully with enough dV) to get back on Kerbin :D !

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2 hours ago, Kerbolitto said:

It's almost done, only have to land on Laythe, deploy the outpost and take-off (hopefully with enough dV) to get back on Kerbin :D !

Well, once you get back to space, if there's a question about fuel, you should be able to go back to Pol to top up.

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27 minutes ago, Geschosskopf said:

Well, once you get back to space, if there's a question about fuel, you should be able to go back to Pol to top up.

Im leaving the ISRU on Laythe, should be just fine, I had 2200dV on Nukes after circularizing Tylo !

Right now I'm having fun with geysers, it's cool to discover those new features :)

Edited by Kerbolitto
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