Dreaming Big - Supersized International Space Station (SISS) (ISS Alternate History concept)

[GoldForest]

The ISS is well known as humanity's greatest space achievement. A station built by the international cooperation of several space agencies and countries. Well, what if things had turned out differently? What would the ISS be today? No doubt it would still be the greatest space achievement that humanity has done thus far, but how would it look? How would it compare to the real one? Well, we'll never know, but this is my journey in creating what I feel would be a "Supersized" International Space Station. 

This project is based off NASA's Supermodule as well as elements for Eyes Turned Skyward. There will also be elements of the original ISS design. Basically, it's a hodgepodge of many station concepts.

Inspiration:
NASA's Freedom Supermodule
ISS
MIR 2 from Eyes Turned Skyward
The other projects going on in Mission Reports

Mods: (There's a ton)

Spoiler

000_AT_Utils
000_ClickThroughBlocker
000_FilterExtensions
000_FilterExtensions_Configs
000_Harmony
000_TexturesUnlimited
000_USITools
001_ToolbarControl
500 Flags
A330neo
AirplanePlus
AlternateApollo
AnimatedAttachment
AnimatedDecouplers
APUS_Shuttle
Asbury
ASET
ASTRO
AstronomersVisualPack
AtmosphereAutopilot
B9PartSwitch
B9_Aerospace_ProceduralWings
BahaSP
Benjee10_MMSEV
Benjee10_Orion
Benjee10_sharedAssets
Benjee10_shuttleOrbiter
Benjee10_stowaway
Benjee10_Suits
BetterTimeWarp
Bluedog_DB
Bluedog_DB_Extras
BlueSteel
BoringCrewServices
BoulderCo
BurnTogether
CactEye
CameraTools
Coatl Aerospace
ColdWarAerospace
CommunityCategoryKit
CommunityResourcePack
CommunityTechTree
ConformalDecals
Contares
Contares_EYE
Contares_IND
Contares_JPN
Contares_KHI
Contares_LEM
Contares_MEU
Contares_NAM
Contares_NBS
Contares_PROBES
Contares_RUS
ContractConfigurator
ContractPacks
Cormorant Aeronology
CRE
CRERecolors
CriticalTemperatureGauge
CryoEngines
CryoTanks
Custom configs
CustomParachuteMessage
CustomPreLaunchChecks
Delivery
DeployableEngines
DE_IVAExtension
DistantObject
DMagicScienceAnimate
DockRotate
DrKermnassusParts
DynamicBatteryStorage
EditorExtensionsRedux
Eisenhower-Astronautics
EngineLightRelit
EnvironmentalVisualEnhancements
Eskandare_Heavy_Industries
EStreet_Rocket3x
FarFutureTechnologies
Firespitter
FMRS
Fossil Industries
FreeIva
FShangarExtender
Fuji
GemstoneLV
Grounded
H2
HabTech2
HabTechProps
HeatControl
Hephaistos
HLAirships
htRobotics
HullCameraVDS
ImprovedSeaDragon
IntegratedPhoenixIndustries
JamesWebb
JanitorsCloset
JSI
JX2Antenna
KAS
KAX
KerbalAtomics
KerbalEngineer
KerbalFoundries
KerbalJointReinforcement
KerbalKonstructs
KerbalReusabilityExpansion
KerbetrotterLtd
KerbinSideRemastered
KertemisProgram
KIS
KK_Antares
Knes
KonstellationProgram
Kopernicus
Kronometer
KSCExtended
KSPCommunityFixes
KSPWheel
KWRocketry
Lionhead_Aerospace_Inc
Luciole
MagicSmokeIndustries
MAH
MarkIVSystem
Matveich_HTV
MechJeb2
MethaloxRD0210
MEVFusionTek
MissingHistory
Mk2Expansion
Mk3Expansion
MKShuttle
MOARdV
ModularFlightIntegrator
ModularLaunchPads
ModuleSequentialAnimateGeneric
NAR_MEM
NavyFish
NearFutureAeronautics
NearFutureConstruction
NearFutureElectrical
NearFutureExploration
NearFutureLaunchVehicles
NearFutureProps
NearFuturePropulsion
NearFutureSolar
NearFutureSpacecraft
NeistAir
NeptuneCamera
NF_Realism
NMB
NovaPunch
OPT
OPT_Reconfig
ORANGES
Orion
OSSNTR
Parallax
Parallax_StockTextures
PatchManager
PhoenixIndustries
PhotonCorp
PhysicsRangeExtender
PlanetShine
PlumeParty
ProbeControlRoom
ProceduralFairings
ProceduralParts
ProjectEOC
ProvenanceAerospace
PWBFuelBalancerRestored
QuantumStrutsContinued
QuizTechAeroContinued
RaginCaucasian
RealChute
RealPlume
RealPlume-Stock
reCOLOR
RecoveryController
reDIRECT
ReentryParticleEffectRenewed
REPOSoftTech
Rescale 2.5x
ReStock
ReStockPlus
RetractableLiftingSurface
RetroFuture
RN_Cygnus
RocketMotorMenagerie
RS800K
SCANsat
ScattererAtmosphereCache
Shabby
Shaddy
ShipManifest
ShuttlePayloadDeliverySystems
ShuttleStuff_SharedAssets
shuttle_OV200
Sigma
SigmaDimensions
SimpleAdjustableFairings
SimpleAdjustableFairings-KWRocketry
SmartDockingAid
SmartParts
SmokeScreen
SOCKrecolored
SOCKrepainted
SoundtrackEditorForked
SpaceDust
SpaceLaunchSystem
SpaceTuxLibrary
Space_Shuttle
Stock folder: Squad

Stock folder: SquadExpansion

SSTU
StagedAnimation
StageRecovery
StarshipExpansionProject
StarshipLaunchExpansion
StationPartsExpansionRedux
StationPartsExpansionReduxIVAs
StockWaterfallEffects
StretchySNTextures
SuperfluousNodes
SuperModule
SXT
SystemHeat
Tantares
TantaresLV
TantaresRecolors
TantaresSAF
TantaresSP
Targetron
TarsierSpaceTech
TDProps
ThrottleControlledAvionics
TM4KSP
TokamakIndustries
Trajectories
TriggerTech
TUFX
TundraExploration
TundraSpaceCenter
TundraTechnologies
UmbraSpaceIndustries
UniversalStorage2
Vector_Scale_SSME
VesselMover
Waterfall
WaterfallRestock
WildBlueIndustries
X-20-Moroz
ZeroMiniAVC
DepthMask.dll
KSPModFileLocalizer.dll
KSPUpgradeScriptFix.dll
ModuleManager.4.2.2.dll
ModuleManager.Physics
ModuleManager.TechTree
TUFX-Invaderchaos.cfg
WBIPlayMode.cfg
Zorg_flight_profiles.cfg

 

Freedom 1: Supermodule - December 30th, 1988

Flown on top of Saturn V-C: SA-543

Never build something you can't launch... well, NASA unfortunately didn't follow this commonsense advice. Space Station Freedom's first module, aptly named "Supermodule" was nearing completion, and NASA still didn't have a vehicle to launch it aboard. They had put out bids for an SDLV, Shuttle Derived Launch Vehicle, to launch Supermodule, but no design could pull it off. The designs all had the power to lift the Supermodule, just not enough fuel to get it into orbit. Finally, an engineer decided to put forth an idea, one NASA was trying to avoid. Launch Supermodule atop a Saturn V. The Saturn V was in semi-retirement. They had limited stock left and wanted to save them for special interstellar probes that were in the works. But NASA came to the same conclusion that the engineer did. They needed a Saturn V. It was the only vehicle powerful enough to lift Supermodule, so they got to work looking at their inventory, finding a Saturn V powerful enough to guarantee Supermodule its designated Orbit. They selected a Saturn V-C, serial number SA-543. 

Saturn V-C SA-543 was a C model of the Saturn V. It used tanks stretched by 3 meters on all stages. The third stage used 2 new J-2A-2, a J-2 with an extendable nozzle. The second stage used 7 J-2S's since they worked better in atmosphere, also to keep reliability up since there were fewer moving parts. The first stage used the brand-new F-1Bs which were being produced to power the new, yet to be named, Heavy Launch System, sometimes called Heavy Lift System. The second and third stages were also covered in SOFI to keep the boiloff down compared to the insulation on old Saturn Vs. 

The numbers were crunched and SA-543 was cleared for use on the Supermodule launch. 

December 30th, 1988. The date of launch of Supermodule. A symbolic gesture really. NASA wanted the launch to happen at Midnight on the New Year, but decided against it as they didn't want to keep their employees from their families. Supermodule roared to life at just an hour before sunset. 

Supermodule ended up in an orbit of 184.316 x 183.011 at 51.64 degrees.

Full album can be found here: Imgur: The magic of the Internet

SA-543 awaiting liftoff.

SA-543 punching through some rather thick clouds. Telemetry reports no problems though.

Staging, S-IC-3M falls away as the 7 J-2S's roar to life.

At around 65km the protective nose cone is jettisoned. The nose cone was heavy enough that it used 8 Saturn V Ullage Solid Motors to push it clear away. 

S-IVB-3M angles downward so it can bring the apoapsis back down to the target altitude. 

Supermodule is safely in orbit and around the intended altitude. The Saturn V-C did so well that it put it precisely on the inclination NASA was targeting, 51.64 degrees. 

 

Next up:
Module: MOK-1
Rocket: Vulkan-Herakles (R)

Correction:
Next up:
Module: PMA-1 & PMA-2
Spacecraft: Space Shuttle Enterprise

(On a side note, if anyone knows any mod that adds 3.125m sized station parts, please do tell me where to find it. MOK-1 is supposed to be 3.125m from what I can tell.)

Edited February 14, 2023 by GoldForest

[Royalswissarmyknife]

Second

[Ultim32]

Third

[Blufor878]

Threeve.

[guest10985]

hello

[DeadJohn]

10 hours ago, GoldForest said:

if anyone knows any mod that adds 3.125m sized station parts

Tweakscale? Not all parts are Tweakscale compatible, though.

I recently resized some Near Future Construction trusses that had a good artistic look for my station spine but were the wrong width. SSPXr has many more station parts but I forget whether they are compatible with Tweakscale.

 

[shoe7ess]

34 minutes ago, DeadJohn said:

Tweakscale? Not all parts are Tweakscale compatible, though.

I recently resized some Near Future Construction trusses that had a good artistic look for my station spine but were the wrong width. SSPXr has many more station parts but I forget whether they are compatible with Tweakscale.

 

I have been using a Tweakscale MM patch I made that adds it to just about everything (had to omit a few mod specific items as well as suits). I haven't had the incompatibility menu pop up on me (maybe because of when the patch passes or just it being an MM patch), but you do have to work it case-by-case sometimes. It generally does the job and you could always do the math on a part you like and MM patch it to rescale to that size (just create a new part based off the original and set the rescale to make it match 3.125 (like a 1.25m part would become 2.5x the original) then you can use either nodehelper, multiply an array, or just do the math for the attachment nodes yourself. If you set a tweakscale patch to use free scaling on something like the trusses mentioned by @DeadJohn you would just need to use the slider to get it to match (depending on shape I'd guess)

Edited February 14, 2023 by shoe7ess

[GoldForest]

8 hours ago, DeadJohn said:

Tweakscale? Not all parts are Tweakscale compatible, though.

I recently resized some Near Future Construction trusses that had a good artistic look for my station spine but were the wrong width. SSPXr has many more station parts but I forget whether they are compatible with Tweakscale.

 

I don't use Tweakscale.

[GoldForest]

SISS 2: PMA-1 and PMA-2 - May 5th, 1989

Flown by Space Shuttle Enterprise on top of a Saturn V-B2-3M

After the launch of Space Station Freedom's Supermodule, the program came to a halt, but not a bad one. The US president at the time decided that instead of an American Space Station, he wanted an international project, something to unify the world in the endeavor of conquering space. In the weeks that followed, invitations were sent out to the major space agencies of the world. Canada, Japan and ESA. Due to the nature of the world at the time, Russia was left out during the initial invitations. It was also rumored that they were working on their own supersized space station and would not want to participate in the building of the Supersized International Space Station, or SISS. The rumor was confirmed, but in an unexpected way. Russia contacted America to request to be a part of the project. After talking with the other SISS project nations, it was decided that Russia would be allowed to join. 

A month after Russia was accepted, the first meeting was held between the member states of the project to come up with the design. It took the committee 3 months to come up with a design, with many iterations being submitted and rejected, but a design was finally settled upon, and work was started to adapt the Supermodule to receive the new modules from the other agencies. 

May 5th, 1989, launch of Enterprise atop a Saturn V-B2-3M. The B in B2 stands for the iteration of the Saturn V, which was adapted to lift the Space Shuttle and her External Tank. The 2 in the B2 stands for the second iteration of the V-B, which uses brand new F-1B engines instead of F-1A. 3M stands for the 3-meter stretch of the S-IC tank. 

Launch went well, and Enterprise slowly caught up to Supermodule. 

Things went wrong during reentry though as due to extra fuel taken to ensure orbital operations, the shuttle entered a flat spin which was not recoverable. Thanks to quick thinking of the commander though, they were able to get enough control to pitch the nose upwards, allowing Enterprise to start gliding backwards out of the spin right before impact with the water, softening the blow. Enterprise made a hard landing and was damaged severely due to the impact. It destroyed all 3 RS-25 engines, the left wing, the left flight engines as well as the tail. The crew was banged up, but alive. The Coast Guard was immediately dispatched to save the crew, and if they could, the shuttle. The Navy soon followed. 

Enterprise was fished out of the water and hauled back to the KSC thanks to the Navy. With Enterprise being one of two shuttles, and the work needed to be done requiring all they could get, it was deemed necessary to repair and restore her. Work started immediately. 

Full album: Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Liftoff of Saturn Shuttle Enterprise, carrying PMA-1 and PMA-2 to Supermodule!

All system's green!

RS-25s come alive 10 seconds before separation to ensure good start and no problems. Depending on the problem the orbiter can abort to orbit or can do an emergency separation from the entire stack. During full stack sep, the computer will fire the Saturn V retro rockets in the skirt in a sequenced pair instead of all at once. The two on the outboard, the two facing away from the orbiter, fire first when the orbiter separates from the external tank to rotate the ET away, A second later, the inboard retros fire to ensure the entire stack is pulled away. The OMS on the orbiter are fired up to push the orbiter into either a higher orbit, a longer orbit to ensure a non-ballistic reentry or a reduced ballistic entry or both. 

Hello Supermodule!

Enterprise crew brings Supermodule online and ensures all systems are operational for Mok-1's arrival. 

Due to problems with weight balance, Enterprise enters a flat spin. The comamnder fights for control and as a last ditch effort, brings the OMS online to help the jets. 

Through miracle or sheer luck, Enterprise goes tail first and enters backwards glide. She impacts the water tail first, destroying the RS-25s, the left wing, the left jet engines and the tail, but the most important part, the crew cabin, survives. The Coast Guard and Navy are dispatched immediately for S&R. 

Edited February 16, 2023 by GoldForest

[DeadJohn]

7 hours ago, GoldForest said:

I don't use Tweakscale.

Maybe you should if you want parts at 3.125m.

[ra4nd0m]

Your supermodule doesn't have any solar arrays or radiators. This is really bad.

It should have at least one as a "keep alive" system while proper service module is missing.

Also you're delivering PMAs first while the core does not have any proper sized propulsion dedicated to station keeping and reboost. Those tiny RCS thrusters wouldn't help. Too ineffective. So either delver a proper service module or your core module would 1. Loose all power 2. Overheat 3. Loose its orbit.

It was the reason why nasa was so nervous about Zvezda launch and even prepared interim propulsion module just in case.

 

 

Edited February 15, 2023 by ra4nd0m

[GoldForest]

3 minutes ago, ra4nd0m said:

Your supermodule doesn't have any solar arrays or radiators. This is really bad.

It should have at least one as a "keep alive" system while proper service module is missing.

Also you're delivering PMAs first while the core does not have any proper sized propulsion dedicated to station keeping and reboost. Those tiny RCS thrusters wouldn't help. Too ineffective. So either delver a proper service module or your core module would 1. Loose all power 2. Overheat 3. Loose its orbit.

 

 

 

I'm working on it, boss! Gosh!

From what I can find, IRL supermodule didn't even launch with RCS. As for power and heat, the ISS/Freedom truss would have handled that IRL.

As for boosting, Freedom would have had nothing but RCS for staiton keeping and boosting, barring visiting spacecraft. 

But MOK-1 is the next launch, hence the need for at least PMA-1. MOK-1 will have solar and radiators on it, as well as engines. It will be fine. 

[shoe7ess]

1 hour ago, DeadJohn said:

Maybe you should if you want parts at 3.125m.

Seems like it might help get you more parts fitting together more to your liking (along with TU/PP/Decals/etc). If you give it a shot, throw this in a .cfg file anywhere in your gamedata folder and you can get parts of any size, been working (with a few updates over the years) since pre 1.0:

Spoiler

@PART[*]:HAS[!MODULE[ProceduralPart]]:FOR[!ProceduralParts]:FINAL // P-Parts since they're already scalable, the second occlusion is for  redundancy sake.
{
	%MODULE[TweakScale]
	{
        %type = free
		%defaultScale = 100
	}
}
@PART[*]:HAS[@MODULE[RealChuteModule]]:NEEDS[RealChute]:FINAL // Used to break Real Chutes
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}

@PART[kerbalEVA*]:FINAL
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}


// Game Breaking (probably, don't care enough to test)

@PART[PotatoComet]:FINAL
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}

@PART[PotatoRoid]:FINAL
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}

@PART[flag]:FINAL
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}

@PART[kerbalEVA]:FINAL
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}

@PART[kerbalEVAfemale]:FINAL
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}

@PART[kerbalEVASlimSuit]:FINAL
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}

@PART[kerbalEVASlimSuitFemale]:FINAL
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}

 

Regardless keep the mission coming, the visuals are gorgeous!!!

[GoldForest]

22 minutes ago, shoe7ess said:

Seems like it might help get you more parts fitting together more to your liking (along with TU/PP/Decals/etc). If you give it a shot, throw this in a .cfg file anywhere in your gamedata folder and you can get parts of any size, been working (with a few updates over the years) since pre 1.0:

  Reveal hidden contents

@PART[*]:HAS[!MODULE[ProceduralPart]]:FOR[!ProceduralParts]:FINAL // P-Parts since they're already scalable, the second occlusion is for  redundancy sake.
{
	%MODULE[TweakScale]
	{
        %type = free
		%defaultScale = 100
	}
}
@PART[*]:HAS[@MODULE[RealChuteModule]]:NEEDS[RealChute]:FINAL // Used to break Real Chutes
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}

@PART[kerbalEVA*]:FINAL
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}


// Game Breaking (probably, don't care enough to test)

@PART[PotatoComet]:FINAL
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}

@PART[PotatoRoid]:FINAL
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}

@PART[flag]:FINAL
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}

@PART[kerbalEVA]:FINAL
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}

@PART[kerbalEVAfemale]:FINAL
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}

@PART[kerbalEVASlimSuit]:FINAL
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}

@PART[kerbalEVASlimSuitFemale]:FINAL
{
	!MODULE[TweakScale] {}
}

 

Regardless keep the mission coming, the visuals are gorgeous!!!

Lol, they're not the author of this thread. 

[shoe7ess]

50 minutes ago, GoldForest said:

Lol, they're not the author of this thread. 

Er... sorry for the confusion? Thought it was a clear agreement +  additional reason to accept Tweakscale into your life  Maybe I should have started with "This." or "Exactly."?

You do you man. seems you're pretty against suggestions to your build, I can respect that, but man, that's all that stuck out to you, not complementing on your pics at the end or anything?

[GoldForest]

31 minutes ago, shoe7ess said:

Er... sorry for the confusion? Thought it was a clear agreement +  additional reason to accept Tweakscale into your life  Maybe I should have started with "This." or "Exactly."?

You do you man. seems you're pretty against suggestions to your build, I can respect that, but man, that's all that stuck out to you, not complementing on your pics at the end or anything?

Sorry, was on my phone when I posted that and my phone likes to glitch out when using the forums... IDK why. It was erking me so I just posted what I had. I forgot to come back and edit it to thank you for your compliment, so thank you!

I do take suggestions, I'm not against them. I'm just against using tweakscale or procedural parts. I'm more of a... for lack of a better work, "As the parts were intended" kind of guy. Hence the question about 3.125 meter station parts. 

Edited February 15, 2023 by GoldForest

[shoe7ess]

1 hour ago, GoldForest said:

Sorry, was on my phone when I posted that and my phone likes to glitch out when using the forums... IDK why. It was erking me so I just posted what I had. I forgot to come back and edit it to thank you for your compliment, so thank you!

I do take suggestions, I'm not against them. I'm just against using tweakscale or procedural parts. I'm more of a... for lack of a better work, "As the parts were intended" kind of guy. Hence the question about 3.125 meter station parts. 

Well keep them coming, I'm following this topic now. Not nearly enough beautiful ISS builds out there that I've noticed (maybe just not searching hard enough). I can definitely respect what I guess could be considered "native" parts only, just to me that would be a friggin challenge run XD

I look forward to the station coming together, I'll throw it in with my loading screen pics, maybe give me some inspiration (I'm running a historical progression contract/part career that eventually leads to FFT with OPM and then the Kcalbeloh System but I really am just looking forward to the 60's/70's era missions the most!

[ra4nd0m]

Suggestion. Do you ever seen new russian station plans? Those modules can be replicated using SSPXr 2.5/3.75m modules. At least that what's I'm doing.

[GoldForest]

10 hours ago, ra4nd0m said:

Suggestion. Do you ever seen new russian station plans? Those modules can be replicated using SSPXr 2.5/3.75m modules. At least that what's I'm doing.

I have seen ROSS, and I might incorporate elements and modules. ATM SISS is really just ISS and ETS MIR-2.

I'm also making this up as I go. I have no real plan. 

Edited February 16, 2023 by GoldForest

[shoe7ess]

2 hours ago, GoldForest said:

I'm also making this up as I go. I have no real plan. 

I'm pretty sure that's the Official KSP In-Universe Motto.

[GoldForest]

SISS 3: Mok-1 - June 13th, 1989

Flown by Vulkan Herakles (R)

Expedition 1U: June 16th, 1989

Flown by Apollo Blk V-MIV a top Saturn MB M02

Expedition 1R: June 20th, 1989

Flown by Soyuz-TM a top Soyuz-U

A little over a month after Enterprise delivered the PMAs to SISS and after a delay due to faulty engine values during wet dress rehearsal, Mok-1 was sitting on the pad, ready for launch. Originally supposed to launch in the latter half of May, Mok-1 was poised to be the second largest single object launched into orbit, the first being of course Supermodule. Mok-1 wasn't as wide, or long, but she came close to the latter. Mok-1 was a lot like Supermodule in a way. It had everything packed into one module. Habitation, science, life support and more, but also came with things that Supermodule didn't have. While Supermodule did have radiators in a way, they were built into the skin of the module, and were passive radiators, relying on the dark side of the module to cool the whole module, but there was an active cooling system built into Supermodule, but required the SISS Truss radiators to use it, or a module with active radiators like Mok-1. Mok-1 would bring active radiators to the station with sun tracking so that the radiators stayed out of the light most of the time. Mok-1 also brought sun tracking solar panels and actual engines for boosting. The RCS thrusters on Supermodule were fine, but they weren't enough. With the help of the new engines, orbit keeping was guaranteed.

A few hours before dusk, the world watched as the soviet televised the launch of Vulkan, something unheard of before now. The massive Vulkan rocket was devised as Russia's next heavy lift launch vehicle after the N1 program was a failure. Russia decided to go with a better approach. Less and bigger engines. The RD-150 was chosen as the engine for the first stage, which would use kerolox as its fuel. As for the second stage, a new fuel type was chosen. Methalox. The engine of choice, RD-160 with RD-10 verniers. NASA learned of Russia's methalox program thanks to the CIA, but decided not to persue the fuel for themselves, wanting to stick with Hydrolox and Kerolox. They believed Hydrolox was the better fuel type, even if it was harder to work with. 

The countdown started and the Vulkan roared to life before lifting off the pad. The world watched in worry and hope. The Russian's N1 program made the world a little uneasy when it came to Russian heavy lift rockets. But as Vulkan climbed into the vast blue of the sky, everything seemed to go to plan. Of course, the audience wasn't aware of what was going on in the control room at the Russian control room. Vulkan had lost an engine right after lift off with another second engine underperforming. The mission continued however, and Vulkan made it to booster sep just fine, ditching the booster with the faulty engines. Right before stage separation, the second stage methalox engine fired up, flames shooting out of the mesh interstage before the bolts exploded when the first stage drained. The second stage pushed away from the first fine and continued to push Mok-1 into it's high orbit. 

Mok-1 was shooting for a higher orbit than Supermodule so they could meet up sooner rather than later. Temperature sensors on Supermodule were throwing warnings. NASA hoped they were errors in the software or bad sensors as the temperatures were just below yellow, but to be on the safe side, NASA asked Russia to get Mok-1 to Supermodule sooner. NASA also moved up the launch of Expedition 1. 

Mok-1 made it into orbit and began its journey to Supermodule. While enroute, the solar panels and radiators were deployed, and system checks were made. Mok-1 would arrive at Supermodule in just over a day, instead of the 3 days originally planned. It wasted more fuel than Russia wanted, but NASA agreed to foot the bill for a refueling operation, so it was agreed to go ahead with the 1-day rendezvous. Thanks to Russia's newest automated docking hardware and software, Mok-1 was able to dock itself to Supermodule without help from the ground, but things were watched closely by both agencies, and commands were ready to be sent to both modules should anything go wrong, the plan discussed in detail before the launch.

Once docking was complete, Expedition 1U, U standing for United States, was rushed to the pad. NASA didn't want to waste time with how Supermodule was throwing those warnings. The Apollo Blk V-MIV, MIV standing for M-IV module, lifted off the pad on June 16th, 1989. Due to the boys at mission control, the launch was perfectly timed so that the crew spent only about four to six hours catching up. The crew docked and got to work on diagnosing the problem. Turns out, it was a faulty sensor. With the potential problem out of the way, the crew of 5 got to work bringing Supermodule online, as well as making the connections to Mok-1 so that the active cooling system could be put to use. 

4 days later, Expedition 1R, R for Russia, launched to the station, docking with Mok-1's forward nadir port. The two crews greeted each other in a televised event, a hand shake being shared in the PMA by the commanders of both crews. Afterward, the Russian crew brought Mok-1 fully online and finished with the connections between the two supersized modules.

Full album: Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Mok-1:

Spoiler

Expedition 1U:

Spoiler

Expedition 1R: 

Spoiler

 

[Royalswissarmyknife]

I really like the MOK something about it is just so Kerbal. I dont really know what though 

Also will there be any European or Japanese contributions to the station?

[GoldForest]

10 minutes ago, Royalswissarmyknife said:

I really like the MOK something about it is just so Kerbal. I dont really know what though 

Also will there be any European or Japanese contributions to the station?

Yes, ESA and JAXA will be sending up their ISS modules, Columbus and Kibo. 

And without spoiling anything, some other space agency will be sending up a module or two. 

Also, as to why Mok is 'so kerbal', could it be the fact I used fuel tanks instead of actual crew parts? 

[ra4nd0m]

3 hours ago, GoldForest said:

other space agency

If you follow ETS then China?

BTW why soyuz? TKS is much better and Vulcan can easily carry the weight.

[GoldForest]

13 hours ago, ra4nd0m said:

If you follow ETS then China?

BTW why soyuz? TKS is much better and Vulcan can easily carry the weight.

Not China. It's a space agency that started out, but then quickly decided not to explore their own rockets after failing to launch there's. 

TKS  is actually going to join soon as part of Expedition 1R-B, which will be launching soon...ish.

Also, I'm just going to spoil it, because I need help finding the concept images. It's the British. The British had a space station concept called BOSS (British Orbital Space Station.) (I believe it was called that) I wanted to add modules based off it, but I can't find any of the concept art anymore... 

Edit: Nvm, found it. It was BASS. British Aerospace Space Station.

Edited February 18, 2023 by GoldForest