SkyFall2489's Grand Tour

[SkyFall2489]

So, I haven't been to every planet in stock KSP yet. And KSP2 is coming out pretty soon, so I'll have to visit them all in one go. Might as well visit all the rest of them, too.

The ships I will be using are:

1. A 40m long capital ship, named the "Astley" after the one who told us to never, ever, give up:

Spoiler

(prototype, subject to change, but this is the general shape and size)

10 NERVs at the back push the 200 ton ship at about 0.3G, but that's gonna change once the landers are installed.

The module at the back carries ISRU equipment, and is capable of landing on its own or with the main ship.

The next post will show the landers I plan to use, as soon as I'm done making them. I plan to have a small ion ship, an SSTO, an Eve lander, a Tylo lander, and one more rocket-powered lander for the medium-sized moons. Maybe also a ship with a klaw to go to a comet or asteroid.

Edited January 29, 2023 by SkyFall2489

[SkyFall2489]

I don't have images right now, but I've made progress. I have a Tylo lander that I can re-use the upper stage of as a lander on all small moons, plus Duna and Laythe with a parachute. I also scaled down the main ship, to a smaller ship with 4 nukes, no science lab, and a small ISRU directly built in instead of as a separate mining lander. It has a TWR of 0.46 without landers or other cargo. I plan to fit it with a klaw for going to an asteroid.

I still need to figure out an Eve lander, though - it's not easy to survive the way down AND the way up. I'll probably send Jeb down with an extra EVA fuel cylinder and use the EVA pack to get the last bit of the way into orbit. 

In terms of launch vehicles, if I do it right I should be able to launch it all in one go, so I'll save building the LV for last. 

[SkyFall2489]

More progress!

Main ship:

Spoiler

The main ship will be the "Freedom"-class light capital ship. Maybe it used to be a Destroyer Escort, maybe a cargo vessel, it has a lot of docking ports. Either way, when the KSP got its hands on it, they decided it would be perfect for the grand tour.

I'll probably give it a better name later.

The ship weighs about 52T without the large boost module at the back, and normally has a TWR of 0.46 when full. It carries 4 small drills and 1 small ISRU, powered by 2 RTGs and 4 fuel cells. There are 2 SEQ-24 cargo containers, and 1 hitchhiker and 1 mk1 lander can. 

With the boost module, mass is increased to 101T. The boost module will provide the extra power to get to Eve first and ditch the Eve lander as soon as possible. and will likely be discarded in Gilly orbit. Or, I might use it as an extra stage for the way to Moho and back.

Eve lander:

Spoiler

The "Raindrop" Eve Ascent Vehicle is how I plan to get off the surface of Eve. It's light enough that I'm not sure I'll actually need the boost module, but the range will be helpful.

The 3 stabilizer legs are normally folded in, but unfold for landing. They detatch for ascent. The first phase of the ascent is powered by propellers, which bring the EAV up to 16KM ASL. Then, a couple of rocket stages and an EVA pack bring the single crew back to orbit.

Not sure the best way to land it. I might strap it directly to the boost module and kill all orbital velocity at once for a safer descent.

Also, I'm thinking about having 4 fins instead of 3. 

The upper stages need some work, but the propeller part seems to be working.

 

Edited February 5, 2023 by SkyFall2489

[Vagrant203]

I love your aesthetic with the liberal usage of mk2 bits.

[SkyFall2489]

Yet more progess! sorry of not posting in a while.

The main ship is loaded up with all the landers and nearly ready for launch.

Eve lander:

Spoiler

16 prop blades, then an aerospike, then 2 sparks. The winds detatch with the props and can get the rocket up to 16km. The bottom of the rocket is a bunch of radiators, used for their high heat tolerance. It won't be able to launch from water, but I should be able to fly quite a distance.

Laythe lander:

Spoiler

4 junos, then 2 cubs, then a spark. I was planning to just use my tylo lander upper stage, but it had too much drag. SHould be able to deal with a water landing.

Tylo lander:

Spoiler

3 sparks and a terrier, then just a terrier, then just a spark. The last stage will serve as a general purpose lander for when the mothership can't land. The parachute will be used for the duna landing.

Soon, I'll be ready for launch!

[SkyFall2489]

Today, was launch day! I have no school for every day until KSP2 comes out, so I'll be able to work on my mission every day. Still, with less than a week until KSP2, I have to manage 2 landings a day.

Imgur is hard to work with, so the actual mission report will be in this google doc:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mZYwDv4-vHcK28-pYx90jUl5flE-vjgwUO9bCGuj1kM/edit?usp=sharing

[SkyFall2489]

I've only now realized that I will have to cut the mission short.

If I were to try to complete the grand tour before KSP2 releases, I would have to do over 2 landings a day, which I simply don't have time for.

For this reason, I will not land on any place I have been to before, leaving Eve, Gilly, Moho, and Dres as the remaining destinations.

Also, it's probably better for Bill to go down to Eve than Jeb, in case I need to use EVA construction.

[SkyFall2489]

Another update.

Mission report: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fPZhFB1P2s4JKa9oJlOl9wZVjuPX5dk22_pHGLBndd4/edit?usp=sharing

[SkyFall2489]

Well I finished the mission a few days ago,  should probably write up the report now.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U5zwK0bAzK78RbNJcO5y7SN_un0-eWUnaHCsLwefiLM/edit?usp=sharing