Artemis Program: 2022 - 2030

[Kerbalsaurus]

Yes, I guess I'm doing this. The Artemis Program, done in a somewhat stock save. Somewhere between 90-99% stock. It may be very stock in the beginning, but once I get closer to things like Artemis Base Camp, more mods may be incorporated. This is a highly optimistic view to the Artemis Program, and is lightly inspired by Kanawai: Ares to Mars, by @Jay The Amazing Toaster. Of course, that explores alternate history. I'm exploring possible history. You can expect the first post tomorrow.

Edited November 1, 2022 by Kerbalsaurus

[Kerbalsaurus]

ARTEMIS 1, NOVEMBER 16, 2022

After 18 trillion years or so of launch delays, budget cuts, and a global pandemic, NASA's now ready to launch Artemis 1, atop an SLS rocket. The SLS is currently the only deep space rocket belonging to NASA right no, and is their predecessor to the Space Shuttle.

Artemis 1 is an unmanned test of the SLS rocket and Orion capsule. It'll test life support systems, engines, all the good stuff any rocket needs. At 12:00 PM, it's finally ready to launch.

T- 1 minute until launch. All systems look good for Artemis 1.

Liftoff of the SLS rocket!

Ascent looking good.

Orbital insertion burn.

While Artemis 1 sits in low Earth orbit, it's systems are checked to see if it's okay to go for TLI.

Artemis 1 is go for TLI!

Stage 2 separation.

For the next 3 days, the Orion capsule coasts towards the Moon, and several tests are done to see if it is capable of crewed spaceflight.

Lunar approach.

Lunar braking and orbital insertion burn.

Earth-rise over the lunar horizon.

Burn back to Earth.

Re-entry.

Parachutes deployed.

Splashdown! Artemis 1 is a complete success, and is capable of manned space travel! The next goal: people in orbit around the moon.

Edited January 4, 2023 by Kerbalsaurus

[Kerbalsaurus]

I’m going to a Football game today, so expect the next post tomorrow or somethin’. Also, I need to fix the SLS since it’s highly prone to Kracken attacks. Three times I re-did that launch since the rocket wobbled itself to death.

[Kerbalsaurus]

Artemis 2, MAY, 2023

Today is the day Humans finally go back to the Moon. Well, not to land, but to get into a low orbit of. To see if Orion is to be put in a polar Lunar orbit, to scout out a possible landing site for Artemis 3 next year. It will carry the first women to the Moon, and the first man since 1972. Orion and the SLS have undergone a few changes, giving them much more stable designs, and making them look much cooler . The SLS and it's crew are sitting on the pad, ready to go.

Artemis 2, ready and waiting on the pad. T- 10, 9, 8, 7, 6-

Ignition sequence start, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Liftoff of Artemis 2!

10 km up, roll program going fine.

Orbital insertion burn.

Artemis 2 is now in a stable Earth orbit!

Go for TLI! (I hate dark burns)

Separation of exploration upper stage.

For the next 3 days, Artemis 2 will coast towards the Moon. It will preform several experiments, tests, and a mid-course correction burn to put into a low polar Lunar orbit.

Mid-course correction burn.

T- 1 minute to Lunar orbit injection burn.

Lunar orbit achieved.

Earthrise over Lunar North pole.

Observing Lunar south pole for a good landing site. Seems to be very mountainous, maybe a crater landing could do...

After about 3 days in lunar orbit, preforming experiments, tests, and observing the south pole for a landing site, Artemis 2 burns back for Earth.

3 days later, it's back at Earth. All that stand between the 2 is an atmosphere, and a heat shield.

A real fireball starts to appear around Artemis 2!

Parachutes are deployed, and Artemis goes in for a landing just a few km away for the KSC (I did not do this on purpose)!

After a 10 day mission, Artemis 2 returns safely back to Earth! The crew has made history as the first humans to the Moon since Apollo 17. In a few months, construction of the Lunar Gateway will start.

Edited November 2, 2022 by Kerbalsaurus

[Kerbalsaurus]

What does everyone think of the stock system and replicas. I've found a few mods that could help with this, and maybe I can swap to KSRSS. What do you all think?

Edited November 2, 2022 by Kerbalsaurus
That would require Scatterer, and my computer explodes if it runs it.

[Kerbalsaurus]

PPE/HALO, JULY, 2023

Construction of the Lunar Gateway will finally begin. The Module to be launched will be the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE), and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO). They will be launched atop SpaceX's Falcon Heavy Rocket. These two modules will be launched together, with the ESA Launching a Resupply module afterwards, and NASA launching the landing systems.

.

Falcon Heavy on LC39a.

Booster Separation.

Stage 2 ignition.

Orbital insertion burn.

TLI burn (waterfall, stopped working).

During the coasting period, it's discovered that stage 2 does not have enough DeltaV to preform a Lunar braking burn with a payload this heavy. As such, stage 2 will be crashed into the Moon, and the engine cluster on the PPE module will be used for the braking burn.

Lunar orbital insertion burn.

And with that, the first module of the Lunar Gateway has been put into a polar Lunar orbit. Next month, the ESA will be launching an Ariane V to deliver the re-supply module.

[Kerbalsaurus]

DOCKING OF RESUPPLY MODULE: NOVEMBER, 2023

The ESA successfully docked the resupply module to the Lunar Gateway! It will fill up landing systems, the Orion capsule, and really anything that requires propellant. In February, the Landing systems will be delivered to gateway.

So, I did do a bit of a funny. It's been a while since I've done any mission report, and I forgot to take screenshots of the entire journey here. Oops.

[Kerbalsaurus]

After updating and then down dating KSP, I have corrupted the save file I was using for this. Therefore, I will be ending this mission report replica since I lost all the craft. No many people seemed to care about in the first place.