Apollo Applications Program.

[Kerb24]

Welcome to the A.A.P. Challenge! Okay, so this challenge is fairly simple: use Apollo tech to go as far as you can. What counts as Apollo tech? The Mk1-3 Command pod, Mk2 Command pod, Mk1 Command Pod, and the M.E.M are the only command pods that can be used in this challenge (Probe cores can be used, but the craft does need crew on board for most of the mission).  Also, the only engines that can be used are the Mastodon, Skiff, Wolfhound, Spark, Terrier, Reliant, Swivel, Thud, Ant, and Spider. Electric motors from BG can also be used. No kraken drives. Also, no ISRUs. All other parts are good (May change).  Also, any craft made for this challenge needs to have a Mk1-3 Command pod, and a service module. A service module is made of a SM-25 Service module and can contain whatever you want. So how do you get points? Well first, this challenge only involves one flight, though assembly in LKO is allowed. To earn points, that one flight must go to difficult planets and moons to visit. The following is a chart of the scores for landing on or doing a flyby of each planet and moon. (Also, multiple planets and moons can be visited, and the points will stack.)

Planet / Moon Score for landing (And returning) Score for Flyby (And returning) Tylo, Eve, Moho. 10 5 Duna, Eeloo, Laythe, Vall,  5 3 Gilly, Minmus, Mun, Bop, Pol, Ike, Dres.  2 1 Kerbol  (If you can land on the Sun and return, I would be extremely impressed) Not possible in any way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leader board:

Username:	Number of Points:
Death Engineering	19

Badge: 

Please comment if anything is unclear, unfair, or anything like that. Please enjoy. Challenge will end when I decide it has run its course.

Edited April 8, 2022 by Kerb24
Changed some rules.

[camacju]

Are electric props allowed?

[Kerb24]

Sure.

[Br0wnie007]

i once somehow planted a flag on the sun but the save was lost to time

[Maria Sirona]

Is one allowed to build assemble a spaceship in orbit, all parts of which don't include service modules, but have at least one part that does?

[Kerb24]

@Maria Sirona Yes, I will allow that.

[Death Engineering]

Death Engineering Apollo to Vall (by way of Mun, Tylo, Laythe and.. Eve..?!?)

Hi @Kerb24!  Thanks for the fun challenge. I always enjoy anything Apollo-ey and visiting Vall is always worth the effort.

In this mission, the launcher was closer to a Nova than a Saturn V in order to balance out the mass with the engine requirements. In this design, there are 6 Mastodons on the first stage, 5 Mastodons on the second stage and one Mastodon on the third stage.  The lander used a two stage design with a Terrier on the powered descent and landing stage and a Spark  for the ascent stage.

Flight Plan

• Kerbin launch
• Mun flyby gravity assist: +1
• Jool SOI entry
• Tylo gravity brake: +5 
• Laythe gravity brake: +3
• Vall orbital insertion and landing: +5
• Leave Jool SO
• Eve gravity brake: +5
• Kerbin SOI and landing

So I think that's 19 points.    Thanks again for the challenge!

Photo album:

Spoiler

 Nova 5 with LM on the pad!

  Roaring into orbit  

 Escape tower jettison

 Leaving Kerbin for Mun flyby 

 Tylo gravity brake

 Laythe gravity brake

 Vall landing

 Vall Henge Science!

 Dusting off with ascent stage

 Leaving Vall and Jool for Eve

 Flying VERY close to Eve... within 1,000m of the atmosphere!

 Back home after a 23g re-entry!

 

 

Greetings from Vall Henge!

Saturn - Nova Comparison:

 

 

 

Edited April 11, 2022 by Death Engineering

[Kerb24]

1 hour ago, Death Engineering said:

Death Engineering Apollo to Vall (by way of Mun, Tylo, Laythe and.. Eve..?!?)

Hi @Kerb24!  Thanks for the fun challenge. I always enjoy anything Apollo-ey and visiting Vall is always worth the effort.

In this mission, the launcher was closer to a Nova than a Saturn V in order to balance out the mass with the engine requirements. In this design, there are 6 Mastodons on the first stage, 5 Mastodons on the second stage and one Mastodon on the second stage.  The lander used a two stage design with a Terrier on the powered descent and landing stage and a Spark  for the ascent stage.

Flight Plan

• Kerbin launch
• Mun flyby gravity assist: +1
• Jool SOI entry
• Tylo gravity brake: +5 
• Laythe gravity brake: +3
• Vall orbital insertion and landing: +5
• Leave Jool SO
• Eve gravity brake: +5
• Kerbin SOI and landing

So I think that's 19 points.    Thanks again for the challenge!

Photo album:

  Reveal hidden contents

 Nova 5 with LM on the pad!

  Roaring into orbit  

 Escape tower jettison

 Leaving Kerbin for Mun flyby 

 Tylo gravity brake

 Laythe gravity brake

 Vall landing

 Vall Henge Science!

 Dusting off with ascent stage

 Leaving Vall and Jool for Eve

 Flying VERY close to Eve... within 1,000m of the atmosphere!

 Back home after a 23g re-entry!

 

 

Greetings from Vall Henge!

Saturn - Nova Comparison:

 

 

 

Good job! I probably should make a badge for this.

[Kerb24]

@Death Engineering Here's your badge! 

Edited April 8, 2022 by Kerb24

[obnox twin]

I would be impressed if a person managed to do a grand tour with apollo tech

[Death Engineering]

On 4/8/2022 at 10:29 PM, obnox twin said:

I would be impressed if a person managed to do a grand tour with apollo tech

It all depends how far one wants to stretch the definition of 'Apollo', but I think that a Grand Tour Flyby would be feasible with something that is not insanely overbuilt.