Duna Mastery Challenge - from Fly-bys to Settlements

[OJT]

On 4/14/2023 at 4:55 PM, Calvido said:

Here's my submissions for missions 1 through 4 

As for game versions. 1-3 were done in v0.1.1.0 and 4 was done in v.0.1.2.0.

Had to fight off a few bugs along the way but should be getting better now

1. Destination Duna

Simple launch vehicle and probe for a simple mission

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2. Otherworldly Connection

I don't like adding fins to every launch vehicle but alas. Simple orbit mission! Still can't make good looking craft

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3. Transmitting Live From Duna

Tried making a 3 satellite network in one launch but after many failed/buggy/kraken launches decided to just send two and use the satellite from the previous mission as the third. Really wish the craft construction system gets quality of life upgrades in coming patches, because I got a few headaches with this one...

Also got a weird bug where one of the satellites would have a 'phantom propulsion' since I was continuously getting thrust with engines off and no RCS...

Anyways, here it goes!

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4. First Landing

Wanted a more sophisticated design for this one so I went with a Parachute/skycrane landing system (just so the parachute doesn't accidentally cover our neat equipment after landing )

Fun mission! Here it goes:

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And that's it for now! I'll try to get the other reports on here shortly! Thanks for the missions!

Very belated review (and I truly apologize for that), but everything looks really neat and cleanly done! I will be adding your submissions in the lists

On 5/16/2023 at 6:57 PM, Pat20999 said:

Finished the first challenge: 

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2976636278

I'm going to need some more screenshots to verify this. Screenshots of the starting rocket, some of the staging sequences maybe, and at least one from the map view showing the flight path

21 hours ago, Pat20999 said:

Please, add more stuff like space stations and bases

Challenges centered around these will be coming!

[OJT]

Hello lads

It's been a while. Let's revive the thread with my Unmanned Rover submission

Two stage rocket brings the Rover into Kerbin orbit first and then propelling it towards Duna

Spoiler

Approaching Duna

Spoiler

Detaching the transfer stage and entering the atmosphere

Spoiler

Deploying the parachutes and gently touching down at Duna South Pole with the help of lander engines

Spoiler

At this point I realized that simply detaching the Rover didn't work because the Rover got stuck on the plate and couldn't drive out of it. So I reloaded, tilted the landing stage and then detached the rover, allowing it to roll off

Spoiler

Going for a small drive to complete the mission

Spoiler

Anyone else wanna jump in on the action?  I know that the game has some work to be done, but considering this thread was inaugurated pretty much on the launch, plenty of first bugs have been sorted out to make the missions more manageable

[ChromeDome]

@OJT I feel you should add more challenges, I and Draradech have already completed all of them and there isn't much that I can do to revive it.
And when the hell did you a mod?

Edited August 2, 2023 by ChromeDome

[OJT]

6 hours ago, ChromeDome said:

@OJT I feel you should add more challenges, I and Draradech have already completed all of them and there isn't much that I can do to revive it

New challenges will arrive. Yes, I said that multiple times, but I actually have some mission concepts worked out and once I feel that there's enough missions to warrant new series, I will add them

6 hours ago, ChromeDome said:

And when the hell did you a mod?

A while ago. Time flies doesn't it?

[BechMeister]

1. Destination Duna

My Probe arriving at Duna

I was suggested doing this challenge 8 months, on June 7th 2023 by @GalileOh-No - I just had to finish my LKO - to MUN fuel station build. Which turned out to take quite a while. 

How ever, that being done, It was time to leave the Kerbin SOI. (Yes.. I have about 800h in KSP2 and I never left the SOI)
If you guys dont mind, I would like to make a seperate Mission Report where I document my process? Just so I dont clutter this threat to much.

Any way: Here is the semi detailed mission in a spoiler section:

Spoiler

I repurposed my refuel glider as a second stage to get the satelite into LKO before sending it off to Duna - Both the 1st and the second stage is reusable ofcourse.

Stage separation 

Return of stage 1.

Deployment of the Duna Probe

Reentry of the glider.

Safely back at KSC.

My chosen path - by chance I had a okay window to Duna. - Its not the one that the optimal position compared to The Kerbal Space Program Δv Map - but I had enough Δv to get it done.

The little probe performing its burn.

Et Vois La! A fly by of Duna. 

KSP2 v.0.2.1.0 

Edited February 3 by BechMeister
Added game version to post

[OJT]

On 2/3/2024 at 8:15 PM, BechMeister said:

1. Destination Duna

My Probe arriving at Duna

I was suggested doing this challenge 8 months, on June 7th 2023 by @GalileOh-No - I just had to finish my LKO - to MUN fuel station build. Which turned out to take quite a while. 

How ever, that being done, It was time to leave the Kerbin SOI. (Yes.. I have about 800h in KSP2 and I never left the SOI)
If you guys dont mind, I would like to make a seperate Mission Report where I document my process? Just so I dont clutter this threat to much.

Any way: Here is the semi detailed mission in a spoiler section:

  Reveal hidden contents

I repurposed my refuel glider as a second stage to get the satelite into LKO before sending it off to Duna - Both the 1st and the second stage is reusable ofcourse.

Stage separation 

Return of stage 1.

Deployment of the Duna Probe

Reentry of the glider.

Safely back at KSC.

My chosen path - by chance I had a okay window to Duna. - Its not the one that the optimal position compared to The Kerbal Space Program Δv Map - but I had enough Δv to get it done.

The little probe performing its burn.

Et Vois La! A fly by of Duna. 

KSP2 v.0.2.1.0 

Really nice! Will add your submission in the OP

[BechMeister]

Great!

@OJT I was considering making a post about my process in the "Mission Repport" section. Where I can go more into detail about my successes and failures.

but I wanted to ask permission first, since I could understand if it would be considered "bad taste" - because it would "split attention" from the actual challenge.

I just want to keep my posts in here to the point. Compared to the more detailed format I use in my mission reports

Edited February 15 by BechMeister

[ralanboyle]

Alright, 

I went for 8. Come Fly with Me. 

I decided to make a super simple plane that would work well on both Kerbin and Duna and fly it back using an interstage for the transfers to and from Duna. Since I don't trust the dV read outs in the VAB I massively overbuilt most of the stages. Oh well. 

Here is an uncut 10x video of my flight, including the mistakes. Enjoy. 

 

[BechMeister]

On 3/3/2024 at 5:05 AM, ralanboyle said:

I decided to make a super simple plane that would work well on both Kerbin and Duna and fly it back

Pretty impressive stuff. But Imagine being Jeb sitting in a suit like that for 4 years xD - pretty inspirering stuff though. love the plane.

[BechMeister]

Challenge 2:

Probe arriving at Duna.

I completed challenge 2 and 3 in one go - If that is considered cheating I'll just lunch 3 new satellites.  

Done in v.0.2.1.0

Proof of Orbit:

 

See spoiler for detailed walkthrough:

Spoiler

launched probe in my 2 stage glider.

Stage separation, Stage 1 returns to KSC. Stage 2 gets into LKO.

 

Satelite deployed to LKO

Glider deorbitting.

the clouds are really nice, even on low graphics.

Glider back at KSC. Back in space - the probe burns for Duna.

Break burn at Duna. Orbit achived.

 

Challenge 3:

The probe from Challenge 2 functioned as a probe carrier for the CommNetwork mentioned in challenge 3.

Proof of CommNet around Duna:

3x long range antenna Molniya Satelites.

6x Short range antenna cube satelites + the drone carrier:

See spoiler for detailed walkthrough of this leg:

Spoiler

First Molniya Satelite seperating from the drone carrier and burning to a 100.000m circular orbit.

Drone carrier succesfully deploying 3 Molniya Satelites into a 100.000m circular orbit with ~120° between them.

Probes perform a 60° inclination burn - Using Ike as the reference point for the degrees 

First of 3 satelites to reach the correct orbit. Soon the 3 others would be in their ideal orbit - and it was time to launch the cube sats.

First cube sat launched

after 4 more launches - it was time to launch the last:

I then proceeded to burn the drone carrier into a ~200.000m circular orbit - so it would not interfere with the other satelites:

If it is considered cheating to launch Challenge 3 with Challenge 2 - I'll just launch 2 more satelites. 

For the very detailed walkthrough - See here:

https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/topic/224623-duna-mastery-challenge-companion-report/?do=findComment&comment=4386751

Edited May 8 by BechMeister

[BechMeister]

Challenge 4 completed:

Here is a screenshot of my tiny lander on the surface of Duna: 

 

Challenge 3 complete

Version: 0.2.1.0

 It was quite a fun challenge to make a lander that would fit within the small cargo hold of my glider:

The vehicle made its way to Duna - I was a little bit challenged by passing through Ike's SOI - but I still managed to get a path with a PE of 4km - I was affraid that a PE hitting the planet would be dangerous as I did not know how well you Aerobreak in Dunas surface - And I didnt want to deploy the farings and chute before the vehicle was slow enough that it didnt have flames traling of it.

Here the "capsule" enters the atmosphere and the transfer stage is decoupled.

once slowed down the faring was decoupled.

I had a drogue chute to help steer the lander down, and 4 tiny engines to break the fall - they also double as landing legs. 

et vois la!

Edited Sunday at 06:33 AM by BechMeister

[BechMeister]

Game Version: 0.2.1.0

Challenge 5: Completed.

My rover Percy on the surface of Duna.

Documentation of Challenge completion:

development:

Spoiler

I looked at Challenge 4 and 5 and decided to co-design the vehicles - It was quite fun to reinact the Mars Sample Return mission. It meant that I ended up designing 3 vehicles for the mission. A rover, A lander with a assent module, as well as a vehicle that could bring the probe core of the lander home:

Test of Rover and Lander on the Runway of KSC.

I am particular proud of the Lander - or Duna Sample Retriever vehicle. I made it so the rover can dock with the lander and transfer its science. Then the lander can pitch up and shoot the probe core into low duna orbit again:

  

In space the 2 stage assent module will then reconnect with the sample return vehicle - seen here:

Sample Return Vehicle: Top - re-entry module with Sample Retriever Assent module core probe - Bellow: The Ion engine and electricity generation module.

All 3 vehicle would be launched together in the next Duna Transfer Window and arrive at Duna together to speed up the mission time. How ever not everything went as planned - therefor I will only complete Challenge 4

Launch of the Vehicles:

I launched the Duna Rover on a 3 stage rocket, consisting of a Reusable 1st stage, Reusable 2nd stage and a Duna transfer capsule. 

Stage 1: Launch and Landing

Spoiler

Second Stage: Launch and Landing
 

Spoiler

 

The second stage pushed the vehicle well into a Duna transfer trajectory. to then stage separate and burn retrograde - making the vehicle remain inside the Kerbin SOI

Stage separation with the Duna Transfer Capsule.

Then about 2 weeks later it splashed down in the ocean.

Duna Transfer Capsule: Launch and Landing:

Spoiler

The transfer capsule arrives at Duna.

once the final maneuver to hit the target area had been made, the cruise module was dropped.

I wanted to hit this valley specifically.

capsule coasting.

re-entry - the heatshield was set to 0% since its not really needed for a Duna landing.. its just very easy to design around.

Rover and Capsule separation.

chute deployed.

and engines burn for a soft landing.

next day at sunrise

Demonstration of the Rover:

 

I drove the rover 75km around the Duna north pole to check a few possible landing sites. It was quite good at traversing the terrain - having a top speed of 10 m/s on flat terrain. 

With a run up it was able to climb a hill of around 45° as seen here:

The vehicle ended up back with the Duna Sample Retriever vehicle after covering the 75km.

Unfortunately for me - the weak link in my attempt at completing both challenge 4 and 5 in one go would be the sample return vehicle.

even though it showed that it had Δv enough to make it to Duna and back again - it had lost 4/5th of its almost 5kΔv - but spend 50% of its fuel - just leaving Kerbin. I suspect its a hard case of the Δv being miss calculated bug.

But making a better return vehicle is the least of my worries.

 

For a more in-depth rundown you can read my challenge companion blog here:

 

 

Edited Sunday at 06:33 AM by BechMeister

[herbal space program]

To distract myself from the grim exercise of arguing over KSP2's cause of death in other parts of the forum, I decided to take on challenge #8 with a single-stage space plane.  I did it before in KSP1, but never tried it in KSP2 until now. It offers a similarly difficult but distinct challenge from doing the same thing for Laythe, as the overall dV requirement is quite a bit less, but the thin atmosphere and lack of oxygen on Duna introduces different, challenging design requirements.  In terms of KSP2 vs. KSP1, the very high ISP and relatively high TWR of the SWERV makes it theoretically possible to build a longer-range single-stage spaceplane in KSP2 than in KSP1, but the massive size of the SWERV and the equally massive bulk of the hydrogen tanks means that if you want to do that, you have to go big.  So after a few false starts, I arrived at  this fairly simple Mk3  design, shown first in the VAB, then on Duna, then touching down again at the KSC runway:

 

 

It has 6 Rapier engines, 4 on top and 2 on the bottom, and one SWERV.  The wings are slightly up-tilted with respect to the fuselage to optimize the overall lift/drag ratio, and the lower 2 Rapier engines are offset downwards to balance the center of thrust vs. the upper four. For its large size, it weighs fairly little  (98t) because most of its volume is hydrogen tanks. On Kerbin it has a fully fueled takeoff speed of ~70m/s and a dry stall speed of  ~40 m/s, which are good benchmarks for flyability on Duna IMO.  It makes LKO with around 3 km/s left on the SWERV, which is plenty to get to Duna and back. In my mission, I left some methalox in the Rapiers after making orbit to assist in taking off from Duna, but it wasn't necessary. The SWERV alone could have sent a significantly bigger plane back to orbit on Duna. It also remained nicely balanced throughout the mission, with only minor shifting of ballast required to maintain aerodynamic trim.  It was really fun to fly, and I wish that KSP2 had done more to encourage flying planes with For Science, because I feel like they just left a lot of potential fun on the table there. Anyway, here is a link to a full Imgur album of the mission: https://imgur.com/a/65L7noD

In spite of all its problems I really did get quite a bit of fun out of KSP2. It's sadly getting to the point on this forum where it seems like there's little left to do but point fingers and argue about who saw it coming, and I for one don't want to say farewell to it on those terms. So happy voyages, fellow Kerbonauts, and may we all see each other again one day in a new and better Kerbalverse!

 

 

Edited June 6 by herbal space program

[BechMeister]

2 hours ago, herbal space program said:

~70m/s and a dry stall speed of  ~40 m/s, which are good benchmarks for flyability on Duna IMO.

this is great to know! I am 2 challenges away from the plane one on this one - But that is also because I am doing the challenge with extra steps x) Nice plane btw. I wish there were an option to cover the hydrogen tanks up... I myself often cover them up with the tubes that can be varied in length. Its only for vehicles not meant to reenter I use keep them "naked"

2 hours ago, herbal space program said:

In spite of all its problems I really did get quite a bit of fun out of KSP2. It's sadly getting to the point on this forum where it seems like there's little left to do but point fingers and argue about who saw it coming, and I for one don't want to say farewell to it on those terms. So happy voyages, fellow Kerbonauts, and may we all see each other again one day in a new and better Kerbalverse!

Yeah... I am still slaving on with my own challenge and blog about my progress.. but it does not seem to  matter at all.. No one is watching KSP2 content any way. So I think Ill give the game a break once I am done with my Duna Mastery Challenge. I have still a lot to do though. I have only visited Duna as of now, and I have not touched the For Science gameplay. I am still just having fun in Sandbox mode. But the community is killing my fun...

Edited June 6 by BechMeister

[BechMeister]

2 hours ago, herbal space program said:

here is a link to a full Imgur album of the mission: https://imgur.com/a/65L7noD

Just went through it. Man I still have a lot to "learn" in regards to aerobraking and transfer burns... I use significantly more Δv getting to Duna than you do - also your remark about the burned off ladder made me smile

Edited June 6 by BechMeister

[BechMeister]

Challenge 6 - Accomplished:

Image of the Duna Sample Pod - safely back on Kerbin.

Game Version: 0.2.1.0

This challenge was really "fun" to me - although it almost failed twice! I completed it using 3 vehicles:

1.  My Rover from challenge 5 to take samples
2. A Lander with an Ascent Stage that could get the samples into Low Duna Orbit.
3. A Ion Engine driven Sample Return Stage that could bring the sample from Duna to Kerbin.

I tried to simulate the Mars Sample Return mission - and just like that is a complicated mission with a lot of failure points, it turned out my own mission would have a few failure points. My Lander was sent together with the rover I sent in challenge 5. Together with that, the first version of the Ion Engine driven vehicle was sent.  *spoiler: i had to send an updated version*

First Failure Point:

Spoiler

The Sample Return Stage turned out to be the first failure point. I had designed it with 7 ion engines and 2 xxl colossus solar sails giving it 66,76 EC/S around Kerbin. I was surprised to see they lost more than half their energy output at Duna - cut to 31.56 EC/S. It meant that I should have not had more than 3 engines. But not only that. Even though the game showed the vehicle had 4852 Δv - which should be more than enough to get from Low Kerbin Orbit to Low Duna Orbit and back - It spend half its Xenon load leaving Kerbin. But the Δv count had dropped to 1145 Δv... I assume its a Δv bug. 

Bottom line was I had to redesign a new Sample Return Vehicle and launch that at the next Kermann Transfer Window. - prolonging the mission with several years.

Second Failure Point:

Spoiler

I made a critical error when I designed the Duna Ascent Stage - for some reason I had accepted in my head that 1433 Δv would be enough for getting the sample pod (the probe core)  into Low Duna Orbit. Even though all Δv maps says it takes at least 1450 Δv. I was also launching from the polar regions - and it is my understanding that if you go into orbit from anywere else than the equator, going 90° east - you expend more Δv fighting gravity and the Coriolis effect? or something.

The bottom line was that the closest I got to getting into Low Duna Orbit was with a PE at 15-20km - well bellow the minimum 50km.

I was just thinking that I would have build a new lander and postpone the mission to the next Kermann Transfer Window - when I realized that I still had 150 Δv on the landing engines - So.. by flying the launch platform 3km into the air I managed to get the ascent stage into a Low Duna Orbit with 11 Δv left.

Walkthrough of the Mission:

This is a long one.. apologies - I have tried to organize it to not make it clutter the challenge page.

Note: Since the Rover and Sample Ascent vehicle was send at the same time and in identical rockets. I have had to reuse the images of the transfer of the Rover from Challenge  5 entry. But rest assured that the images from the Landing of the Sample Ascent Vehicle section are brand new! (found in the Sample Ascent Vehicles Journey section)

The Sample Ascent Vehicles Journey:

Spoiler

Launching The Sample Ascent Transfer Capsule:

Spoiler

Launch of the Duna Accent Stage 

Stage separation between the heavy lift 1st stage and the 2nd Kerbin Escape Stage.

The Heavy Lift 1st Stage returns to the pad at KSC

2nd Escape Stage burning for Kerbin Escape velocity.

The Duna Ascent Vehicle Cruise Capsule is separating and doing the last adjustment for a Duna Intercept.

Duna Ascent Vehicle arrives at Duna.

The Cruise Stage is ditched and the capsule will perfrom re-entry.

Landing of the Sample Ascent Vehicle:

Spoiler

 

 

Sample Launching into Duna Low Orbit:

Spoiler

The Challenge 5 rover - Percy - Transfers its duna soil samples to the Sample pod (the probe core)

The Sample Ascent Stage elevates by using a aero break to launch the rocket into the air:

- This would have worked if I had had 20-50 more Δv... Every launch failed... and ended here:

Instead I had to do practically the same but first launch the lander as high into the sky as possible:

Stage separation.. And the Little Ant would do the rest from here:

 

Duna Sample Return vehicle Journey:

Spoiler

Launch of the Duna Sample Return vehicle into LKO:

Spoiler

I love to launch vehicle in the golden hours - the atmosphere is truely beutifully rendered.

Stage separation - The Satelite Deployment Glider sends the Duna Sample Return vehicle into Low Kerbin Orbit - The Small Lift 1st stage burns back for the pad:

Safely down:

Glider circulizes its orbit. It was really easy since the vehicle it holds is only weighing ~2t and its capable of launching 27t

vehicle deployed. Time to return the glider:

not my best landing...

transfer of the Duna Sample Return vehicle to Duna: 

Spoiler

 

 

It took 25 orbits around Kerbin to get an escape trajectory. And for some reason I get a bug where it does not register thrust if I time warp... So I had to do most ot he later 6min burn real time  - I am not going to use Ion Engines again xD

The Duna Sample Return vehicle performing, one of many burns, to escape Kerbin.

Any way - I got to a point were I could get a Duna Transfer Trajectory. - and see.. I took no chances with the second design.

I decided to go for a high Duna Capture - as I have to have relatively low speeds for the vehicle to be able to break and be captured.

The first capture burn was 1h and 15min - but because of my frame rate.. every second was 4 seconds. I went with the kids to the playground for 4 hours and came back to the craft having a PE at 60 km 

The Duna Sample Return vehicle circularizing on a Low Duna Orbit

Docking with the Sample Pod - and launching it to a Kerbin Transfer Orbit

Spoiler

after docking the pods engine was ditched into a degrading orbit:

The vehicle then had to raise its orbit - as it had to burn on the night side of the planet. After raising it to a 120km I could perform the burns to escape Duna:

(it is written as -60351 as it was the difference between the lower PE and the higher AP I was starting from)

Once out of Duna's SOI I made for a Kerbin transfer. Aimed the vehicle to hit the planet and decoupled the Sample Pod

The rest of the vehicle will be repurposed as a long range Comm Sat - probably placing it on the oppersit side of Kerbin in its Orbit - in an efford to create a Kerbol Global Sat Network.

Reentry and Landing of Sample Pod:

Spoiler

The vehicle reenters - I dont know if heatshields are bugged.. but even though I came in with a lot of velocity the heatshield still only went from 20 to 19 in its oblative propperties? 

Any way chute was deployed:

once the chute opened it was time to ditch the heat shield - so the small chute could land the pod safely:

and then it was just landing:

Again.. I am sorry if this challenge entry got a bit bloated.. but there were a lot of moving parts to document.. I hope you guys can forgive me  I had a lot of fun doing this, but also a lot of frustrations.. Some bug related.. some just me not thinking straight.

I think Challenge 7 and 8 will be a walk in the park.

Edited Sunday at 08:52 AM by BechMeister
tried to better organize the post