A Jewel in the Dark: A Jool 5 Mission.

[DunaManiac]

This is my attempt at @JacobJHC's Jool 5 challenge. A few months ago, I had realised that I had been playing since version 0.25 and yet had never attempted a Jool 5, nor even conducted a manned landing on any of Jool's moons and return, even though it was well within my skills to do so. Part of the reason why it took me so long to build and complete a Jool 5 is because aside from real life concerns, it is an active save and I was engaged in doing other things. And now, I have finally done it! My my, what a journey it was. One of the most complex missions I have ever designed. Another thing that made the mission challenging was having USI life support installed, so no stuffing kerbals in lander cans for decades! It forced me to build a true mothership that could keep them in relative comfort for years. This also comes on the heels of the completion of another challenge, a Minmus elcano.

But first, some general information:

MODDED 3rd level submission (notable mods include SSPrx, USI life Support, Scansat, Near Future Electrical and B9 Procedural wings).

Game version 1.10.1

Non-ISRU (Didn't refuel.)

5 kerbals are onboard. (Jebediah, Hadley, Bobrim, Barke, and Melfrod)

Spoiler

11 Launches were required (13 counting the two service missions that I will go into greater detail later).

Two probes were launched along with the mission (separately), a satellite (Deep Space 1), and a laythe drone, (Laythe Skipper).

The vessel chosen for this endeavor was the Jewel 1. The first in a line of interplanetary vessels. Its sister vessel, as of the completion of this challenge, Jewel 2 has been completed and has now served two missions to Minmus to construct a station and base in orbit. Being 70 meters long and weighing 779 tons, it is by far the largest vessel I have ever constructed. It carries all the logistical necessities with USI life support to bring a crew of 5 to Jool and back in its upper portion, including scansat data, supplies and fertilizer storage, a converter and a greenhouse. It carries several modules, including the Tylo/Vall/Pol/Bop lander, the Laythe spaceplane, a small LF+OX fuel reserve, and the Hibiscus, the crew return vehicle.  The mission took 8 years, from its first module to its return.

Well, let's get started, shall we?

Edited April 15, 2022 by DunaManiac

[Maria Sirona]

Yes we shall get started! You will show those two satellites as well, right?

[DunaManiac]

Part 0: Construction and Service Missions.

Launch #1: The Central Truss.

Spoiler

On this fine morning, the first launch of the Jewel 1 was readied. I had constructed large motherships before, but this was the first time I would attempt to build a vessel of this size.

Fairing separating, revealing the first module. In it is the solar array, and the communications array.

It was launched into orbit quite smoothly, without a hitch. However, I did make a small mistake in the editor that needed a service mission to fix.

Launch #2 the Second Half of the truss, as well as the uncovering of a massive blunder.

Spoiler

This is the second module, containing the upper, pressurized truss. You may note that it is mounted upside down, and you'd be right. The reason for this ungainly upside-down mounting is because I need it to attatch in a specific direction.

Rendevous...

And docking. And here is where I found the mistake. It may look fine, but in actuality, I made a serious mistake. Apparently, SSPRx docking ports only will dock at rigid 0 degree roll. I suppose this would be helpful in docking so that you don't accidentally misaligned yourself, but nowhere is this exact direction actually notated anywhere, as far as I can tell. But the thing is, is that I misalligned it. This means that the upper portion of the vessel is rotated by 90 degrees. I was worried this would mean that the solar panels would be blocked when I attatched my later modules. And thus, I needed a service mission.

Service Mission #1

Spoiler

Get ready, because this mission was an absolute circus.

I figured the only way to fix the 90 degree turn would be to bring up a kerbal to physically detatch the docking port using KIS and turn it by the 90 degrees before reattatching it. So in order to do that I hastily designed an SSTO, the Majesty-Class, to bring up a kerbal to turn the docking port. After an unmanned test flight in which I nearly burned off the cockpit (the cockpit reached a heat of 99.8% during the reentry), I decided to take a risk.

The plan was I was going to park next to Jewel 1, then eva a kerbal with a drill to do the honors. But to my horror, I realized the hatch was obstructed by the canard. Then, I decided to dock so I could use Jewel 1's hatches, but... I didn't even bring RCS! To be fair, I have done RCS-less dockings before, but not with a spaceplane before! It was not a simple job of point and fire. I can only imagine the scene at Mission control...

And thus, I began my RCS-less docking of a spaceplane, with only the engine for manuevering.

After a few close calls, I finally got close, and docked. Now, to do what I came for.

I EVA'd Melfrod from one of the hatches on Jewel 1, and I undocked the two modules, as well as the Majesty.

However though, I was able to successfully reallign the docking ports. Now everything was in its correct orientation.

Then it was time for reentry.

Unlike before, it wasn't as scaldingly hot, and I safely came in.

Launch #4 - The Airlock/Converter/Fertilizer storage module.

Spoiler

This one was fairly standard, except the payload was slightly asymetrical.

Launch #5 - Supply storage module

Spoiler

Launch #6 - Agroponics Module

Spoiler

Launch #7 - Scientific/Scanning Storage Module

Spoiler

And with that, the upper logistical necessities are completed. Now to launch the landers and such.

Launch #8 Fuel Reserve

Spoiler

Launch #9 - Tylo/Vall/Pol/Bop Lander

Spoiler

Launch #10 - Laythe SSTO/Lander

Spoiler

Launch #10 went well, except for that strut hanging off. I'd need a service mission for

Launch #11 - the propulsion module.

Spoiler

This needed by far the largest rocket I have ever built. I decided to save time and launch it fully fueled right from the start.

And with that, the structure of Jewel 1 is complete! The next part will detail the second service mission, the crew launch, leaving Kerbin and the launch of the two probes.

[Maria Sirona]

It's impossible to see anything in those darker pictures. Also, the landing and re-entry pics of the service SSTO are in the wrong places