From Kerbin To Beyond - A Kerbal Series (Coming Back)

[Mikenike]

@TheKSPKerbalGuy, good job, great read, but needs a little bit more ground based works, maybe rover, ISRU, or long distance plane trip with rocket parts, from KSC to the desert or Woomerang or someplace else.

How many parts is this gonna be?

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

@Mikenike I plan on doing at least 50 parts. And i do plan on making some ground based parts soon. One idea is sending a mun rover and exploring around with that, and also some space plane testing, as well as long distance plane stuff.

[Mikenike]

@TheKSPKerbalGuy, ok, I bet that this will be thread of the year, just keep going with it. Ok, I would like to see what you do with it.

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

Part 18 - Testing A Spaceplane

After tourists had gone to the kerbin space station, the space program decided they would want to finally start testing a spaceplane. They had been focusing on rockets so far, but spaceplane capability would open up brand new opportunities, such as a new way to bring kerbals to and from their space stations. The Mk1 version of the spaceplane, Arven, was ready for a test flight. It had gone through some previous iterations, but this would be the final design for the flight.

The spaceplane was put into a fairing and placed on top of a rocket, which would loft the plane into orbit. Similar to how the SNC Dreamchaser will be launched, Arven Mk1 would be launched from a rocket, and was piloted by Bill Kerman, who hadn't been on many missions.

The Arven OFT-1 (Orbital Flight Test 1) mission was rolled out to the pad, and prepared for launch.

The launch went accordingly to plan, and the first stage was powered by a single, massive SRB which is one of the ones from the 1.8 update.

The second stage lifted Arven Mk1 most of the way into orbit, and after seperation it prepared to do a re-entry burn. The second stage would try and be recovered on this mission.

The second stage re-entered the atmosphere, and did an engine burn to slow down.

The parachutes opened, but since there weren't enough, only part of the stage survived the impact with the ground. Later designs will have more parachutes.

The spaceplane finished its burn into orbit, and Bill made preparations for some upcoming orbital tests.

The first test done was an engine firing to raise the orbit.

While he coasted to apoapsis, Bill enjoyed the sights of Kerbin.

Bill then did an EVA to check the spaceplane to ensure it had not suffered any damage during the ascent. He recorded some footage of what he saw from his EVA camera.

After his inspection, Bill got back inside and after another orbit did the de-orbit burn.

During re-entry, Bill used the remaining fuel to slow down the craft as much as possible before decoupling.

Another thing that made this spaceplane unique was that the cockpit detached from the rest of the plane before landing. Bill decoupled from the rest of the plane, and watched it fly past.

The parachutes deployed and this time, unlike what happened to the second stage, they slowed the craft down enough for a safe touchdown.

With the OFT-1 mission of the Arven spaceplane completed and a success, the space program could start construction on the Mk2 design, which would fly on a future mission. Also, due to some asking for more ground based parts, a rover will be sent to The Mun to explore the surface and several future parts will cover the travels of the rover on the munar surface. 

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

Some things i plan on doing in future parts (after part 18):

• Sending A Rover To The Mun (And Making Several Parts About Its Travels)
• Doing More Tests Of The Arven Spaceplane (With Future Designs, Like Mk2, Mk3, etc.)
• Sending A Kerbal To Duna Orbit and Back (The Transfer Window Is Coming Up, So Launch Should Happen Soon)
• Building A Space Station Around Minmus
• Building A Mun Base (And Launching Crew To It)

And more! I still plan on making this series over 30 parts, but hopefully some small problems I have been having won't put an end to this series. Thanks to those who have been enjoying it so far, and stay tuned for these upcoming things!

Edit On 11/15/19 @ 8:33 PM EST:

I have sent a test version of the rover I plan on using to The Mun to see how well it preforms in the munar gravity. I took the test rover to the site of my older landers, Munder 3. It worked quite well, and I parked the test rover besides the uncrewed lander.

The only problem with the design I found, was that if I turned too quickly, the test rover would flip over, and become unusable. When I send the final version of the rover to The Mun in Part 19, I will make sure not to make this mistake.

Edited November 16, 2019 by TheKSPKerbalGuy
Added An Update

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

Part 19 - Rover To The Mun

After the successful spaceplane test, it was decided to send the first rover to The Mun (which was based on a previously tested design). The rover would travel around the surface after landing, and some future parts in this series would be made about its travels. Named the Munar Explorer, it would be launched on top of a rocket.

This was also the first rover to be launched which had a camera, which was tested on the launchpad to make sure it was working.

Although the camera only produced low quality black and white images, it would suffice for capturing the rover's surroundings and any things of interest it might find as it traveled across the munar surface.

After reaching orbit, the spacecraft waited until The Mun started rising above the horizon, and then the engines fired to put it on an encounter with The Mun.

On the way to The Mun, more images were taken with the camera, to ensure it would survive the trip, and also document the spacecraft's departure from LKO.

By pure coincidence, it just happened that the rover would pass within 100 kilometers of the Kerbston Space Telescope, which meant the KSS had an opportunity to possibly image the spacecraft as a fast moving starlike point of light as it passed by on its way to The Mun. Its unknown if the spacecraft was captured in this image from the KSS below.

After the imaging attempt, the spacecraft continued on its way to The Mun, taking more images.

The spacecraft entered into orbit around The Mun, and afterwards started looking for a good landing spot, using SCANsat data previously collected.

After choosing a landing site, the rover begun its decent to the surface, and had a successful touchdown.

The landing site was relatively flat, and the way the rover was deployed was by tipping over the lander until the rover's wheels were touching the surface.

After that, the rover was detached from the landing stage, and begun rolling around using its wheels on the surface.

The rover's first image from the surface was of its landing stage, with Kerbin in the background.

With a fully functioning rover now on the surface of The Mun, the space program could start exploring a lot more of the munar surface than was possible using stationary landers. As the rover begun its journey across the surface, it was hoped that it would not tip over, as with what had happened to the test rover launched before. The space program had also detected some anomalies on the munar surface from SCANsat data, and if it turned out the rover was near the location of any of them, it could be used to explore them.

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

I plan on making part 20 be the first part about the rover's travels across the munar surface. I've already taken the images for the part, but I am going to wait until later before publishing part 20.

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

Part 20 - Munar Rover Travels: Day 1

This is the first of many parts which will document the travels of the first munar rover, which will explore the surface, going from one location to the next. The rover will have a mission that will last 30 days, in which it will hopefully travel more than 50 km from its lander. This part documents Day 1 of the mission, and where the rover traveled to first. For every 500 meters traveled from its lander, the rover's location will be updated with coordinates.

Day 1 Objectives:

Coordinates: 15°37'33" N, 1°37'53" W (Notes: Rover began its travel towards the crater)

Coordinates: 15°31'31" N, 1°31'27" W (Notes: None)

Coordinates: 15°25'26" N, 1°24'52" W (Notes: None)

Coordinates: 15°19'57" N, 1°18'33" W (Notes: Rover passed by some boulders on its way to the crater)

Coordinates: 15°14'05" N, 1°12'10" W (Notes: Crater's rim possibly imaged)

Coordinates: 15°08'01" N, 1°06'04" W (Notes: None)

Coordinates: 15°04'17" N, 0°58'06" W (Notes: Crater's edge imaged, getting close to the crater)

Coordinates: 15°01'25" N, 0°53'45" W (Notes: The rover reached the crater's edge, and imaged the inside of the crater)

At the end of Day 1, the rover successfully reached the crater, the first of many it will visit. On Day 2, a decision will be made on whether the rover should go around the crater, or drive through it. The rover's distance from the lander at the end of Day 1 was around 5.4 kilometers.

 

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

For the last few parts I have been talking about sending a kerbal to duna, and that will finally happen in part 21! After that, I will do more spaceplane tests, munar rover travels, and when the first interplanetary probes launched reach Moho.

[έķ νίĻĻάίή]

Nфice

 

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

Part 21 - Siwell Heads Off To Duna

After some discussion on who should be the first kerbal to be sent to Duna, Siwell Kerman, who had flown on some previous missions, was chosen. She would fly on the D.E.M 1 mission, and the mission plan was this: Launch to duna, enter into orbit around duna, collect some science data from duna and ike, land on ike (if enough fuel is left), leave duna orbit when a transfer window opens up, and land safely back on kerbin.

The first two stages of the rocket were powered entirely by SRB's, with liquid fuel upper stages.

The launch into orbit went well, and the boosters did not collide with each other, like they normally do.

A maneuver to encounter duna was then plotted, which would make Siwell's craft arrive at Duna after the other 4 probes previously launched.

The burn was successful, and Siwell was now on her way to Duna!

A course correction planned in about 17 days would bring the craft much closer to Duna, making it easier to enter into orbit.

Siwell's craft also had some color cameras, so when she arrived at Duna she could sent back some great pictures of the surface.

As Siwell Kerman headed off to Duna, the space program could only hope that she would be able to return in the future. Along with her mission, 4 probes had previously been sent on their way to Duna. They would all arrive before her, and consisted of Dunar 1 & 2 (Duna Orbiters), Dunar 3 (A Duna Lander), and Dunar 4 (A Duna Rover).

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

I plan on making part 22 be about the next test of the arven spaceplane, which will be a Mk2 version.

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

Part 22 should come out on 11/23/19

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

Part 22 - Arven 'Round The Mun

After some testing and modifications to the arven spaceplane, Arven Mk2 was finished. Some differences from the Mk1 version were 4 twitch engines instead of 2, more power via a battery, and some wing changes. Valentina would be the pilot.

After being put into a fairing, it was time for launch. While the Mk1 flight had been an orbital test flight, this flight would take it one step further. Valentina would take the plane on a close flyby of The Mun, and then hopefully return to kerbin safely.

Valentina: Everything looks good, I am ready for liftoff!

Mission Control: Alright, lighting engines now and... liftoff! We have a liftoff of Arven Mk2 on its Munar Test Flight!

The ATO (Ascent To Orbit) went well, and the craft was placed into a low kerbin parking orbit.

A course to flyby The Mun was then plotted, followed by the TMI burn.

During the trans-munar coast, several system checks were made, and everything was found to be in perfectly working order.

Valentina then did an EVA to inspect the craft, similar to what Bill had done during his flight of Arven.

After reaching the Munar SOI, Val started her approach to The Mun.

As the sun started setting behind The Mun, Val did another EVA, this time to enjoy the sight of a sunset from space.

Valentina: Wow, this sure is an amazing sight!

At her closest approach to The Mun, Val got out her camera and recorded some footage of what she was seeing out the window to mission control.

After the encounter, Val left The Mun, and started on her way back to Kerbin. The flight had gone perfect so far, and no problems had occurred.

A small correction burn was done to put the craft on a course that would make it enter the atmosphere and not fly off into deep space.

The return to Kerbin took a few days, and during that time Val took out her Kphone and played some games, one which was called Kerbincraft. 

As she prepared for re-entry, Val recorded some more footage. Near the end of it though, the craft seemed to have entered an uncontrollable spin after decoupling from the plane stage.

Mission Control: Valentina... Are you there?

Valentina: Yes, but the craft won't stop spinning, and its starting to get hot. I'm trying to orient it, but its t-----

Mission Control: We have lost contact with Val. Valentina, please report your status.

Valentina: Ok. Spacr---- still out o--- control. Trying --- orient craft. Its getting h---- in here, I'm losing y--- signal.

These were the last words heard from Valentina, just after beginning her re-entry. It is not known whether she safely landed or not. The mission had gone well, up to seperation from the plane stage. What caused the spaceplane to start uncontrollably rolling is not known. Some theorize it could have possibly been the reaction wheels failing. At the moment, Valentina is M.I.A. While the space program begins their efforts to try and find her, Jeb started doing some ground tests with Arven.

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

I'm still deciding on what part 23 should be about. Maybe adding more to the kerbin or mun station?

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

I'm planning on releasing part 23 in a few days, if not sooner. Also, I've already started thinking about what my next mission report series will be, one idea I have is a RP-1 RSS career where I try and see how far I can get. It's a good thing they recently updated RP-1 to 1.7.3!

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

Part 23 - The JKS Crew Returns Home

After spending some time onboard the Jebediah Kerbin Station (JKS), the crew was getting a little antsy, so the space program decided it was time for them to come home.

A new spacecraft, which had the ability if the parachutes were to fail to propulsively land, had undergone some testing and was now ready to bring them back.

The spacecraft sat on the pad, ready for its mission.

After liftoff, the ascent to orbit went well, and the craft was put into LKO.

A maneuver to encounter the JKS was then plotted, and an engine burn was successfully completed.

The craft then approached the station, and the main spacecraft seperated from the second stage once it was close enough.

The two kerbals onboard then preformed an EVA over to the C.E.V spacecraft, and prepared for the de-orbit burn.

Using the C.E.V's engines, the de-orbit burn was preformed, and the crew begun their journey back to the ground.

The crew survived the re-entry, and was coming down relatively close to the KSC.

As a propulsive landing test, they tried landing using only the spacecraft's engines. It proved to be successful, except for splashing down a little hard and the engines falling off. Other than that, the mission had been a great success and a good test of the new experimental craft!

With the JKS crew finally back home, they could have a short break from spaceflight while they waited for their next missions. A few days after their return, one of the Moho spacecraft (launched back in Part 11) did a course correction, which would bring it on a close flyby of the surface. The Moho missions would arrive at their destination in about 30 days!

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

I'm glad to say that I have started working on my next mission report series, Beyond The Moon! For those of you interested you can check it out as I will try and make it as great as this series has been so far. Also, I will still continue to make parts for this series, alongside the other one. I plan on making at least 25-30 more parts for From Kerbin To Beyond, so its not ending anytime soon! 

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

Part 24 - Return To The Mun: This Time For Good!

After the return of the JKS crew to kerbin, it was time for kerbals to finally return to The Mun, and this time for good! This would be accomplished through a munar base, which would be made up of several parts, and would always have at least one kerbal onboard. The first part of the base was named Swell, and would be piloted by Saming Kerman.

The launch occurred without any problems, and the base was placed into a LKO parking orbit.

After waiting in orbit, when The Mun started rising above the horizon, the transfer burn was done.

The trans-munar coast was relatively uneventful, and in the meantime Saming played some games on her Kphone.

When the time came, Saming placed the craft into low munar orbit while the space program decided on the best place to put the base on the surface. It would need to have a constant view of kerbin in the sky so communications would not be lost.

After making a decision, a location near some previously landed spacecraft was chosen, which might be visited by crew in the future once rovers are sent to the base.

Saming made sure to land the base very carefully, as to not accidentally tip it over upon landing.

After raising some dust, the base was successfully landed on the munar surface with no scratches, and a great view of kerbin in the sky.

With the first part of the munar base now on the surface, the space program could start planning on how they could expand upon it in the future. Before going back in, Saming Kerman planted a flag to mark the site of the base. This is what the flag reads:

On This Day, The First Part Of The First Mun Base Was Landed Successfully In The Munar Midlands.

The Base's Name Was Mun Base Swell, And Was The First Step To Enabling Permanent Kerbal Presence On The Surface Of The Mun...

--- NOVEMBER 28 2019 A.D ---

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

Part 25 - Arrival At Moho

I wanted to make part 25 special, and luckily enough, the Moho probes were arriving at Moho, so enjoy seeing what I decided to do with them!

The space program's Moho probes, which were launched around 100 days ago, were finally arriving at their destination, making them the first probes launched to reach another planet! The first one to arrive would be MICRM, launched after Mohon.

After checking the amount of delta-v to enter Moho orbit, it was found that MICRM would not have enough! So, an alternate plan for the probe would be done. Instead of entering Moho orbit, it would flyby Moho and at closest approach complete a maneuver which would the send the probe off to Eve! MICRM would enter into orbit around Eve, and possibly flyby its moon Gilly a few times. So purely by accident, it would be the space program's first gravity assist used to reach another planet! A Moho->Eve assist, it would be called.

MICRM entered Moho's SOI, and begun its approach to the innermost planet. It was coming in on the night side of Moho.

MICRM had a SCANsat scanner onboard, so around closest approach it could map a small part of the planet.

The maneuver at closest approach was done, and a small portion of Moho's surface was mapped.

As MICRM begun its journey towards the mysterious planet of Eve, it was decided that the name of the probe might need to be changed. Its new name will be the Eve Exploration And Scanning Mission (EEASM). A correction burn to lower the Eve periapsis will be done at solar periapsis.

After MICRM's encounter with Moho, the second probe, Mohon, was approaching the planet. Unlike MICRM though, Mohon had just enough fuel to enter orbit.

Like the previous probe, Mohon was approaching on the night side of the planet.

The orbital insertion burn was started relatively high above Moho, but that was because of how long it would take.

After many minutes, the probe finally entered into orbit, and with just 303 m/s to spare.

With Mohon now in Moho orbit, it was the space program's first probe to enter orbit around another planet, let alone the hardest one in the kerbol system to get to. The last thing that would be done with the probe at the moment was lowering its eccentric orbit. It did have enough fuel to enter low Moho orbit, if necessary.

And as the scientists started looking at all the data collected by the missions so far, they found an Eeloo transfer window was coming up. Then they started wondering, "Can we send a probe to there?"

Edited November 29, 2019 by TheKSPKerbalGuy

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

Part 26 - Probes To Eeloo

After the arrival of the Moho probes at their destination, the space program started planning its first missions to the kerbol system's outermost planet, Eeloo. A transfer window was coming up, and a pair of spacecraft were prepared. Named Eeloo Exploration Mission 1 (EEM 1) and EEM 2, they would enter into orbit around the small icy world.

EEM 2 was not identical to EEM 1, and had several differences from the other probe.

The liftoff went off as planned, and EEM 2 was placed into a parking orbit.

Unlike other interplanetary probes though, EEM 2 would not do a direct transfer to Eeloo. Instead, after entering solar orbit, a burn would be done to correct inclination and put the probe on an encounter with Eeloo.

The escape burn was completed, and the probe started on its journey beyond Kerbin SOI.

The correction burn would be done in around 13 days, and put the probe on a trajectory to encounter Eeloo. Later corrections would have to be done.

As EEM 2 begun on its journey to the small icy world along with EEM 1, the space program was confident that the mission, which would arrive at Eeloo in around 6 years, would be a success. The exploration of every planet and moon was still far from being finished, and the mun base was still in the process of being expanded upon. The next place for a permanent crewed base would be Minmus, and after that, most likely Duna or its moon Ike. 

 

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

Weird Problems Are Happening With The Save For This Series

So, I was planning on releasing Part 27 today, but when I went into the save I have being using for the series in 1.8.0, some weird problems started happening.

First, when I launched a new craft I had made for the mun base, I couldn't switch to the orbital map view! No matter how many times I pressed M, it would not open. I even tried remapping the key but that didn't fix the problem either. When I loaded a different save, I could press M for the map view without any problems, but when I tried doing it in the career series save, it didn't work.

Then, when I went to the tracking station, it said I had 0 of every type of craft and debris, even though you can see I have a lot of craft and things such as rovers and probes.

When I went to my mun base, I got vessel loading errors, all saying they were missing this one part. It was a reaction wheel part.

Also, one of my contracts was completed even though I had not finished the contract yet, and this would keep happening after accepting it.

And lastly, some of my vessels which I was able to load perfectly fine before would now not load due to missing parts which I did have, but when I went to see the parts in the VAB, they were gone.

At the moment, I am not sure how to fix these problems. I have never had a save before where these problems have happened. If anyone knows how to fix these problems, I would like to know. I just hope these problems aren't what causes the end of this series, because there is still a lot more I am planning to get done in it!

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

If it turns out that I can't fix the problems I'm having with the save, I might just end up making a new career in 1.8.1 and wait until I have reached where I was in this series in that new career. It would be called From Kerbin To Beyond Continued if I decided to do this.

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

From Kerbin To Beyond Career Statistics For November 2019

Spoiler

P.S: These statistics are for the original from kerbin to beyond kerbal series career, not the upcoming continued one. At the end of every month, I might release one of these statistics updates.

Launches: ≈26

• Kerbals Currently In Space: 2
• Kerbals KIA Or MIA: 3
• Stations: 2
• Bases: 1
• Landers: 10
• Rovers: 2
• Probes: 16

Missions Launched To Other Planets: 12

• Missions To Moho: 1 (In orbit around Moho)
• Missions To Eve: 1 (Currently in-transit to its destination)
• Missions To Duna: 5 (All currently in-transit to their destination)
• Missions To Dres: 0
• Missions To Jool: 3 (All currently in-transit to their destination)
• Missions To Eeloo: 2 (All currently in-transit to their destination)

Kerbals (Not Including Ones In Space): 9

• Kerbals Level 0: 0
• Kerbals Level 1: 8
• Kerbals Level 2: 1
• Kerbals Level 3: 0
• Kerbals Level 4: 0
• Kerbals Level 5: 0
• Pilots: 1
• Scientists: 3
• Engineers: 5

(These are the statistics for November. At the end of December 2019, I will release the December 2019 statistics for the continued series.)

Edited November 30, 2019 by TheKSPKerbalGuy

[TheKSPKerbalGuy]

Well, hopefully I can fix those problems I've been having tomorrow. But if I can't, I will continue the series and release part 27 in from kerbin to beyond continued, a new career.