Tim_Barrett Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Hello Kerbalnauts,After a lengthy absence from the spacecraft exchange, I have decided to come back with a project no involving the usual spaceplane, but an interplanetary craft.The mission is simple: Get to all of the planets (and possibly some moons) in the Kerbol system with one ship. With stock parts only, except mechjeb and docking mods of course.------------Last year, around the time when the Mun was added, I watched the BBC documentary "Space Odyssey: Voyage to the Planets." I was quite surprised with the design for such a craft, and it looked somewhat feasible in KSP. Now with the docking mods about, I will work on making this a reality. I'm drawing up designs, but it will obviously use the asparagus method of fuel depletion and ejection. Since this will be constructed in orbit and stay on orbit, I can get really crazy here. After creating monsters on the launch pad, stability surely won't be an issue.The main goals:- 10 or so kerbals sent from kerbin, and have 10 come back- Several landing modules, both manned and unmanned- Enough fuel to get to all of the planets, and back to KerbinSecondary accomplishments:- Send a plane into the atmosphere of a planet/moon- Blow up some stuff for funThe Kethane mod was considered, but with this scenario it doesn't seem as realistic, and makes the journey possible with the smallest of craft.The size of the ship will be a Level 2-3 (2 to 3x the height of the launch tower), or 14 to 21 Barretts long (for those who get the joke.)Discuss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schweehog Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 (edited) Good luck, I love the name. I would try it if I could dock easily. I need a lot more practice. Would you mind posting a link or explaining the asparagus method? Edited October 4, 2012 by Schweehog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim_Barrett Posted October 4, 2012 Author Share Posted October 4, 2012 The center circle is the main cylinder of the ship, with the outer six being expendable tanks.The fuel lines use 2 tanks at a time, and when empty, you simply detach those two, and go to the next pair.4, 3, 2, and finally the last bit of fuel in 1. Maximum efficiency.Keep in mind that these fuel tanks will all be added with docking, so they will be able to detach easily already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sbowyer28 Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Count Voyager Labs in this, I Want to see this in a Jool Aerobrake, I can help make some parts using Erkle's docking mod for the landers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim_Barrett Posted October 4, 2012 Author Share Posted October 4, 2012 That will probably be the hardest part - making sure that it doesn't fall into the void of Jool. We also don't know if it can survive such an aerobrake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sbowyer28 Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 I've actually done tests with Aerobraking and Aerobreaking with Jool and I found a good altitude to be about 110,000-120,000m I've actually done Aerobraking tests with my Jool probe and some Rockets with Debug bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilotionCR2 Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 I can do the aerobrake shield,if you want... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sbowyer28 Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Im going to do some tests with Re-entry plugin for an Aerobraking shield. (Assuming Tim allows is since its a realism mod and not a fuel or anything like that kind of mod.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim_Barrett Posted October 4, 2012 Author Share Posted October 4, 2012 I think we will have enough drag, but thanks.I'm not sure how private the project will be, but I can say now that the landing locations will be chosen by the community. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sbowyer28 Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Well if that's the case I think the Duna landing area should be the faic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan_92 Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 I'd be glad to volunteer to identify landing zones and build some landers for ya. Been working in a 3 kerb lander with a small foldable mechjeb'd tosh rover that the kerbs can hop on and ride around. Also I've got an idea in my head for a craft that could launch several rovers from orbit. Basically, the whole ship aerobrakes in the admosphere of a planet, drops rover/s from it's apoapsis, then burns to circularize it's own orbit. The rovers hit the atmosphere and parachute in. Pretty simple, they each way under half a ton I think. Will work on it this weekend for my own enjoyment and post pics/crafts if I come up with anything. Mods used would be Mechjeb (necessary for unmanned rovers), Tosh's cart mod, and mapsat. Maybe the protractor too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Zoom Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 This has been my inspiration as well (and my thanks to whoever posted the link, here on these very forums, that got me to watch it); I've gotten bogged down in the mechanics of actually constructing such a ship in orbit (lifting the parts, and somehow integrating all of them into a single craft, which is not now and probably will not be supported any time soon, even with mods like ORDA or Erkle). I suppose it wouldn't be cheating too much to take that capability as a given, and going from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sbowyer28 Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Actually Im doing some Rendzevous practice for when I launch some modules in a new Persistance file, I'll post it when I have most of it built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim_Barrett Posted October 4, 2012 Author Share Posted October 4, 2012 I'm thinking of making a google docs page for this, where people can go on and edit things such as the route, plans, and design if they wish to help. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sbowyer28 Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 Im working on a Stock Aerobrake shield ATM here's A screeny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim_Barrett Posted October 5, 2012 Author Share Posted October 5, 2012 That's cool, but we are going to need a bigger plate than that for this design...My personal goal is to beat the size of my prototype flagship from .13 more or less.And since I can finally build it in orbit, this won't happen 90% of the time:So yes, this will require a much larger shield... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sbowyer28 Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 It is a WIP lol, Hope I can improve on rockets for carrying up MASSIVE loads to LKO The shield I will build will be about 6 times larger than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim_Barrett Posted October 5, 2012 Author Share Posted October 5, 2012 Instead of making a stage for getting back to the KSC after the trip, I will be building a spaceplane to bring the dozen or so kerbals back to the planet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlazingAngel665 Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 Spaceplane will save you a bunch on eve, also keeping the thing controllable after you start losing symetry in orbit will be extremely difficult. I have an 8 tank lander/ascent/rtk lander for Duna if it would help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim_Barrett Posted October 5, 2012 Author Share Posted October 5, 2012 Spaceplane will save you a bunch on eve, also keeping the thing controllable after you start losing symetry in orbit will be extremely difficult. I have an 8 tank lander/ascent/rtk lander for Duna if it would help.Ships will be detached in pairs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kuulness Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 Sounds like a cool idea, i really hope you guys build it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alline1999 Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 maby i can help with the space plane but with the current one iv got now it isnt capeble to be carryd with the ship becuas it doent make use of docking but it is capeble of getting landed on a planet and taking off to aan 100k orbit in the case with kerbin its also capeble of landing verticaly and horizantaly maby if you got a cargo bay mod or somthing installed that can get the spaceplane in it it will be capeble of going with the ship just pm me if you want to make use of it then i am gonna look to make it capeble of docking altoug its a 1 person craft (mk 1 cocpit) (sory for no pictures cant upload them for somme reason) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwnedbyscope Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 have you guys figured out a way to stabilize docked modules? Unless what your planning on making one giant ship to be launched from KSC, I'm guessing your going to launch multiple pieces to be docked assembled in orbit. The reason i ask is i recently attempted to recreate the seven part Mars mission, and after about 3 hours real time of time accel waiting for the phase angle to get into position, my 3 part trans-planetary vehicle (thruster section, hab, and CM) turned into a wet noodle when in lit the engines for the trans-burn. It seems like the docking connection isnt strong enough to hold up to any forces other than the magic torque and light rcs's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Zoom Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 I don't believe any such mechanism currently exists.My assumption was that the complete ship would be placed in orbit (by a mod), perhaps after the OP has gone through the motions of assembling a comparable craft from components lifted into orbit by the conventional manner.It's the best we can do for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC1062 Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 May I suggest making the shield in several parts? Looks fun, I'll see if I can help in some way... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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