Aerospace Research Agency (ARA) | Goal: Colonies + Interstellar (2.5x scale) | Y3, D7 to D168 - Huge colony domes on Minmus; landing on an asteroid

[Pipcard]

  

Named after the constellation known as "the altar," the Aerospace Research Agency (ARA) was founded with the goal of exploring and expanding kerbalkind into the Kerbol system and beyond.

Its motto: "Constellations of Innovation"

[This will be a new career with the Breaking Ground DLC and the main mods being the Unkerballed Start tech tree, Kerbal Construction Time, Galaxies Unbound, Modular Kolonization System, and Far Future Technologies (and other mods by Nertea). I've read that stock parts are more balanced for a 2.5x scale system, so Sigma Dimensions was used to change the size. Galaxies Unbound has a config but I had to manually edit the Sigma Dimensions config file to get it to work. The rotation period of Kerbin has changed to 7 hours and 30 minutes (1.25x longer), but the clock still measures days in 6-hour intervals. This is slightly annoying, but just divide the number of days by 1.25 to get a more reasonable value.]

[update: I just installed the Kronometer mod which changes the date format based on the local day length. The dates have been corrected below. Note that there are more than 426 days in a year - 506 days (with the occasional leap day) lasting 7.5 hours each to be exact.]

Table of contents

Spoiler

Y1, D5 to D28 - Suborbital first steps (this post)

Y1, D37 to D57 - First satellites and aircraft

Y1, D71 to D91 - Orbital return, keostationary sat, and crewed hops

Y1, D101 to D118 - First Mun probes and crewed orbiter

Y1, D130 to D148 - Mun orbit/lander probes and 2-crew spacecraft

Y1, D152 to D166 - First spacewalk and rendezvous

Y1, D174 to D193 - First docking, Minmus flyby, and 7-day stay

Y1, D194 to D217 - Minmus impact and orbiter, rescues in Kerbin orbit

Y1, D220 to D271 - Minmus lander probes

Y1, D288 to D323 - Munar relays, rover, and sample return

Y1, D337 to D361 - Crewed Mun orbit and landing

Y1, D372 to D402 - Minmus relays, rover, and sample return

Y1, D413 to D463 - Crewed Minmus orbit and landing

Y1, D472 to D494 - Moon scanners, first probe to Duna, next-gen reusable rocket

Y1, D500 to Y2, D7 - 4-crew capsule and first space station (and Year 1 rocket comparison)

Y2, D17 to D37 - Station expansion; telescope and gravimetry probes

Y2, D44 to D51 - Asteroid telescope, station crew rotation

Y2, D71 to D74 - Bigger reusable rocket and Mun rover

Y2, D74 to D86 - Extended Mun landing with crew

Y2, D93 to D131 - Advanced Minmus landing with crew

Y2, D143 to D156 - Minmus base scouting, first probe to Eve

Y2, D162 to D186 - First base and rescues at Minmus, asteroid retriever launch

Y2, D187 to D213 - First crew at Minmus base

Y2, D219 to D236 - Mining, farming, and living on Minmus

Y2, D236 to D247 - 180 days in Kerbin orbit; first Eve flyby

Y2, D268 to D300 - Super-heavy reusable rocket and Minmus base expansion

Y2, D300 to D339 - The plan to industrialize Minmus

Y2, D351 to D397 - Building a Minmus factory on-site

Y2, D398 to D420 - Operational Material Kits factory; first Duna and Ike flyby

Y2, D421 to D482 - Off-world manufacturing supply chain

Y2, D484 to D504 - In-situ fuel production (and bigger colony plans)

Y2, D504 to Y3, D7 - First launches from Minmus; multiplying productivity

Y3, D7 to D168 - Huge colony domes on Minmus; landing on an asteroid

Mod list (similar to quasinaut's "kinda ksp2" modpack but not the same), not including most dependencies:

(last updated 2024-04-19)

Spoiler

- [x] Science! Continued
- BetterBurnTime
- Better Time Warp Continued
- Bon Voyage
- Conformal Decals
- Contract Configurator (packs: Career Evolution, Bases and Stations Reborn, Field Research, Research Advancement Division)
- Crowd Sourced Science
- Cryogenic Engines
- DeepFreeze
- Distant Object Enhancement
- Docking Port Alignment Indicator
- Easy Vessel Switch
- Environmental Visual Enhancements (with volumetric clouds from Blackrack's Patreon)
- EVAFollower
- Extraplanetary Launch Pads
- Far Future Technologies with Patch Emporium (increased Isp for interstellar travel)
- Final Frontier (crew achievement ribbons)
- Flight Manager for Reusable Stages Continued
- Galaxies Unbound (with 2.5x config using Sigma Dimensions)
- Hangar Extender
- Heat Control
- Historian Expanded (with my config)
- Kerbal Alarm Clock
- Kerbal Atomics
- Kerbal Attachment System
- Kerbal Construction Time
- Kerbal Engineer Redux
- Kerbal Inventory System
- Kerbal Joint Reinforcement - Next
- Kerbal Reusability Expansion
- KRASH
- Kronometer
- Kronal Vessel Viewer
- KSP Part Volumes
- KSP Rescue Contract Fix
- MechJeb 2 + MechJeb and Engineer for all!
- Minimum Ambient Lighting Updated
- Modular Kolonization System (with MKSPlusSSPX and Shoey's Tweaks)
- NavHud
- Near Future Technologies (Aeronautics / Construction / Electrical / Exploration / Launch Vehicles / Propulsion / Solar / Spacecraft)
- Parallax
- Parking Brake (to stop vessels sliding)
- Persistent Rotation Upgraded
- Persistent Thrust
- Persistent Thrust Navigator
- PlanetShine
- Pood's Milky Way Skybox
- Precise Editor Continued
- Precise Maneuver
- Procedural Fairings
- RCS Build Aid
- Scatterer
- Science Relay
- Spacedocks Redeployed
- Stockalike Station Parts Expansion Redux
- Strategia
- TAC Fuel Balancer
- TextureReplacer
- Textures Unlimited Recolor Depot
- Trajectories
- Transfer Window Planner
- TUFX (Zorg's config)
- Unkerballed Start (+ Custom Barn Kit, Hide Empty Tech Tree Nodes)
- USI Life Support
- Waterfall + Stock Waterfall Effects
- WASD Editor Camera Continued
- WaypointManager
- WorldStabilizer

Y1, D5 to D28 - Suborbital first steps

The first program of ARA would be known as Sagittarius (the archer), a designation for suborbital missions. A rudimentary launch complex nicknamed "Kaus" (the bow) was prepared to support this program. (It would eventually be upgraded and called the "Beta Arae" launch complex.)

Y1, D7 Y1, D5 (6 h, 24 m) - The White Dwarf 1 (WD-1) sounding rocket (using a small 0.625 m "Mite" solid rocket booster and twisted fins to enable spin stabilization) launched Sagittarius 1 to a height of 25 km while transmitting temperature data. Almost 4 minutes later, it crashed into the ground.

For captions, I use Historian Expanded with my config.

(The Historian dates below are for a 6 hour day and not accurate)

Spoiler

Y1, D15 Y1, D12 (5 h, 42 m) - The upgraded White Dwarf 2 (WD-2) sounding rocket (using the longer "Shrimp" SRB) launched Sagittarius 2 higher into Kerbin's atmosphere, reaching 42 km. In addition to temperature, it measured pressure.

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Y1, D24 Y1, D19 (5 h, 42 m) - The Brown Dwarf 1 (BD-1) sounding rocket used 4 small LV-T05 "Cogswell" liquid rocket engines and 1.25 m propellant tanks. It launched Sagittarius 3 past the designated boundary of outer space (91 km), achieving an altitude of about 150 km.

Spoiler

Y1, D33 Y1, D26 (5 h, 42 m) - Sagittarius 4 demonstrated the first parachute recovery of a suborbital rocket.

As a new rocket did not need to be built, this BD-1 was reused on days 34 27 and 35 28 for Sagittarius 5 (recovered from the ocean) and Sagittarius 6, which used Mystery Goo™ containers to collect even more scientific data.

Spoiler

Sagittarius 4

Sagittarius 5

Sagittarius 6

Edited February 26 by Pipcard

[Pipcard]

Y1, D37 to D57 - First satellites and aircraft

Y1, D37 - Red Dwarf 1 was the first rocket capable of reaching orbit (~5300-5400 m/s of Delta-v in 2.5x scale). It carried Leo 1, the first satellite of the Aerospace Research Agency. Leo (the lion) would be the designation for missions to Kerbin orbit. The RD-1 had a stretched Brown Dwarf liquid rocket stage assisted by two "Shrimp" SRBs on the sides. A new probe core and larger fins allowed for a controlled ascent, and two "Mite" SRBs on top of the first stage (with reaction control system thrusters for steering in the vacuum of space) provided the final boosts. Leo 1 transmitted temperature data from up to 800 km above Kerbin using an extendable antenna. The satellite only had batteries for power, so it could only operate for a short time.

Spoiler

Y1, D38 and 39 - Using the same instruments as before, Sagittarius 7 and Sagittarius 8 gathered more data from the upper atmosphere.

Y1, D42 - Ascella 1, ARA's first aircraft, was complete. Known for his determination, Jebediah Kerman had been hired to be the first test pilot. But before it took off, it tested scientific equipment and taxiing capabilities around the Kerbal Space Center, which turned out to be very valuable for the research and development division. Solar panels provided a quick way to recharge after transmitting data. After its tour of the facilities, it was time for a short test flight. Taking off to the east, it turned around and headed for the grasslands to the west before going back towards the ocean, then returning to the grassy plains surrounding the space center.

(note: the LY-01 and LY-05 landing gear are very fragile. I had to maximize the spring and dampening, and also had to save and reload a few times during landing.)

Tour of the Kerbal Space Center

Spoiler

Runway

Plane Hangar

Astronaut Complex

Administration Building

Vehicle Assembly Building

Tracking Station

Mission Control

First flight

Spoiler

Y1, D47 - Sagittarius 9 carried the first "Science Jr." devices, used to expose materials to various conditions, to the upper atmosphere. The Brown Dwarf 1 rocket and its payload were recovered separately.

Spoiler

Y1, D57 - Leo 2 was launched by a Red Dwarf 1-4S (with 4 SRBs) to a orbit over Kerbin's poles. This required more fuel as Kerbin's rotation was not contributing to the speed of the vehicle during launch. To prepare for more advanced missions and complex vehicles, the Vehicle Assembly Building, Tracking Station, and Mission Control facilities had been upgraded.

Spoiler

 

Edited December 31, 2023 by Pipcard

[Kerbalsaurus]

15 hours ago, Pipcard said:

Y1, D37 to D57 - First satellites and aircraft

Y1, D37 - Red Dwarf 1 was the first rocket capable of reaching orbit (~5300-5400 m/s of Delta-v in 2.5x scale). It carried Leo 1, the first satellite of the Aerospace Research Agency. Leo (the lion) would be the designation for missions to Kerbin orbit. The RD-1 had a stretched Brown Dwarf liquid rocket stage assisted by two "Shrimp" SRBs on the sides. A new probe core and larger fins allowed for a controlled ascent, and two "Mite" SRBs on top of the first stage (with reaction control system thrusters for steering in the vacuum of space) provided the final boosts. Leo 1 transmitted temperature data from up to 800 km above Kerbin using an extendable antenna. The satellite only had batteries for power, so it could only operate for a short time.

  Reveal hidden contents

Y1, D38 and 39 - Using the same instruments as before, Sagittarius 7 and Sagittarius 8 gathered more data from the upper atmosphere.

Y1, D43 - Ascella 1, ARA's first aircraft, was complete. Known for his determination, Jebediah Kerman had been hired to be the first test pilot. But before it took off, it tested scientific equipment and taxiing capabilities around the Kerbal Space Center, which turned out to be very valuable for the research and development division. Solar panels provided a quick way to recharge after transmitting data. After its tour of the facilities, it was time for a short test flight. Taking off to the east, it turned around and headed for the grasslands to the west before going back towards the ocean, then returning to the grassy plains surrounding the space center.

(note: the LY-01 and LY-05 landing gear are very fragile. I had to maximize the spring and dampening, and also had to save and reload a few times during landing.)

Tour of the Kerbal Space Center

  Reveal hidden contents

Runway

Plane Hangar

Astronaut Complex

Administration Building

Vehicle Assembly Building

Tracking Station

Mission Control

First flight

  Reveal hidden contents

Y1, D47 - Sagittarius 9 carried the first "Science Jr." devices, used to expose materials to various conditions, to the upper atmosphere. The Brown Dwarf 1 rocket and its payload were recovered separately.

  Reveal hidden contents

Y1, D57 - Leo 2 was launched by a Red Dwarf 1-4S (with 4 SRBs) to a orbit over Kerbin's poles. This required more fuel as Kerbin's rotation was not contributing to the speed of the vehicle during launch. To prepare for more advanced missions and complex vehicles, the Vehicle Assembly Building, Tracking Station, and Mission Control facilities had been upgraded.

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Awesome! I really like this JAXA style report you’re doing!

[Pipcard]

Y1, D71 to D91 - Orbital return, keostationary sat, and crewed hops

Y1, D71 - The new and improved Red Dwarf 2 launch vehicle greatly increased payload capacity through the use of high-performance MR-1 "Composognathus" engines, which used liquid methane and oxidizer (methalox) instead of the standard liquid fuel/lox combination. The second stage had the LV-909 "Terrier" engine, offering comparable efficiency in vacuum while using liquid fuel/lox. With up to two liquid rocket boosters, the RD-2-2L rocket could lift payloads in excess of 1000 kg to orbit.

The Red Dwarf 2 first launched with the Leo 3 satellite, an experiment in collecting scientific data and returning it to Kerbin using a data storage unit protected by a heat shield. This way, only a small mass (without the heavy scientific equipment) would need to be slowed down for recovery. It also used a more advanced probe core that had small reaction wheels for rotation. Leo 4 entered a orbit as high as 700 km before de-orbiting, re-entering Kerbin's atmosphere, and splashing down in the seas west of the KSC.

Spoiler

Y1, D78 - Leo 4 was launched as a small communications test satellite on a Red Dwarf 2 (with no boosters). Using a small yet powerful "Spark" engine, it entered a keostationary orbit 5900 km above the ground. This was synchronized with (rescaled) Kerbin's rotation period of 7 hours and 29 minutes, and appeared to be fixed in the sky if observed from the ground.

Spoiler

Y1, D84 & 85 - Nunki 1 was the first crewed suborbital flight, a one-person capsule piloted by Jebediah Kerman and launched by a Brown Dwarf 1 rocket. As the rocket was actively controlled, the fins did not need to be twisted for spin stabilization.

Spoiler

It was followed on the next day by Nunki 2, flown by Valentina Kerman. Both flights reached an altitude of about 40 km.

Spoiler

Y1, D91 - Piloted by Jebediah, Nunki 3 was the first crewed flight into space, launched by a Brown Dwarf 2 rocket (which used the first stage of Red Dwarf 2). It reached 110 km before splashing down in the waters near the space center.

Spoiler

 

Edited December 27, 2023 by Pipcard

[Pipcard]

Y1, D101 to D118 - First Mun probes and crewed orbiter

Y1, D101 - The Gemini program, named for its destinations being the "twin" moons of Kerbin, began with Gemini 1. Launched by a Red Dwarf 2-2L, the probe reached the Mun (28,500 km from Kerbin) in one day, performing a flyby as close as 55 km.

By Day 110, it had become the first spacecraft to escape Kerbin and orbit Kerbol.

Spoiler

Y1, D109 - Piloted by Valentina Kerman and launched by a Red Dwarf 2-2L, Nunki 4 was the first crewed spacecraft to orbit Kerbin. It entered a 650 x 108 km orbit and completed 1 full revolution before de-orbiting and splashing down near the space center.

Spoiler

Y1, D113 - Gemini 2, launched by a Red Dwarf 2, was the first space probe to impact the Mun on Day 118. It took over 4 days to get to the Mun as it had to wait for the Mun's Kerbin-facing side to be in daytime.

Spoiler

 

Edited December 25, 2023 by Pipcard

[Pipcard]

Y1, D130 to D148 - Mun orbit/lander probes and 2-crew spacecraft

Y1, D130 - The Gemini 3 spacecraft was launched on a Red Dwarf 2 with four liquid rocket boosters (RD-2-4L), and became the first probe to orbit the Mun on Day 132. The launch pad had been upgraded to support rockets weighing over 18 tonnes, and was now known as the "Alpha Arae Launch Complex."

Spoiler

Y1, D140 - Denebola 1, the first spacecraft to carry 2 people (Jebediah and Bill Kerman), was launched on an Red Dwarf 2-4L (this time without fins as engine gimballing provided enough control). It reached 250 km and orbited a few times before returning to the ocean east of the space center.

(Yes, I notice the irony in a program called "Gemini" not referring to a 2-person crew capsule. But here I'm using constellation names for uncrewed missions to general destinations.)

Spoiler

Y1, D146 - Gemini 4 was launched by a Red Dwarf 2-6L (6 liquid rocket boosters) and became the first probe to land on the Mun (Midlands biome) on Day 148.

Spoiler

Mun orbit insertion

De-orbit

 

Edited December 31, 2023 by Pipcard

[Pipcard]

Y1, D152 to D166 - First spacewalk and rendezvous

Y1, D152 - In the Denebola 2 mission, the first extravehicular activity (EVA / spacewalk) is conducted by Valentina and Bob Kerman. Both astronauts observe the various biomes of Kerbin from outside their spacecraft.

(I finally decided to install Blackrack's volumetric clouds from their Patreon subscription)

Spoiler

Y1, D160 - Gemini 5 is launched and lands on the Mun's Northwest Crater on Day 162.

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Y1, D164 - A Red Dwarf 2 with no boosters launches Leo 5. It is intended as a target vehicle for the first orbital rendezvous, performed by Denebola 3 (Jebediah and Bill Kerman) on Day 165.

Spoiler

 

Edited December 31, 2023 by Pipcard

[Pipcard]

Y1, D174 to D193 - First docking, Minmus flyby, and 7-day stay

Y1, D174 - Gemini 6 is launched, landing in the Mun's East Crater on Day 176.

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Y1, D176 - Denebola 4 (Valentina and Bob Kerman) makes the first docking with the Leo 5 target vehicle, while also testing orbital propellant transfer.

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Y1, D185 - Gemini 7 is launched by a Red Dwarf 2-4L to become the first probe to fly by Minmus, Kerbin's smaller and more distant moon, on Day 192. This mission happens concurrently with the following mission below.

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Y1, D186 - Denebola 5 (Jebediah and Bill Kerman) is the first crewed mission to spend one week (7 days) in orbit (until Day 193). It also tests the use of life support Supplies.

Spoiler

 

Edited January 1, 2024 by Pipcard

[Pipcard]

Y1, D194 to D217 - Minmus impact and orbiter, rescues in Kerbin orbit

Y1, D194 - Gemini 8 launched on a Red Dwarf 2-2L, becoming the first Minmus impactor on Day 201.

Spoiler

Y1, D202 - Denebola 6 (Valentina) and Denebola 7 (Jebediah) launched on the same day. These two flights would be the first rescue missions, recovering Kerbals from other agencies that were stranded in orbit. Denebola 6 and 7 would return Dofel and Jonford Kerman, respectively, and both would be recruited by ARA. On Day 211, Denebola 8 (now piloted by Dofel) would recover Gledorf Kerman in the agency's first night launch.

Spoiler

Denebola 6

Denebola 7

Denebola 8

Y1, D209 - A Red Dwarf 2-4L launched Gemini 9, the first Minmus orbiter (Day 217).

Spoiler

 

[Pipcard]

Y1, D220 to D271 - Minmus lander probes

Rescues

Y1, D220 - Denebola 9 (Valentina) rescued Handorf Kerman.

Y1, D229 - Denebola 10 (Jebediah) rescued Bobkin Kerman.

Y1, D255 - Denebola 11 (Dofel) rescued Jebmund Kerman.

Spoiler

Denebola 9

Denebola 10

Denebola 11

Minmus probes

Y1, D227 - Gemini 10 was launched, becoming the first Minmus lander probe (Midlands biome) on Day 237.

Y1, D247 - Gemini 11 and Gemini 12 were launched, landing in the Greater Flats and Flats biomes on Day 271. Both probes entered orbit on Day 255 but had to wait for the side facing Kerbin to be in sunlight.

Gemini 10

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Gemini 11 and 12

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Edited January 16, 2024 by Pipcard

[Pipcard]

Y1, D288 to D323 - Munar relays, rover, and sample return

Mun probes

Y1, D288 - The new Yellow Dwarf 1 rocket (2S configuration) was the first to use 2.5 m diameter tanks (and payload fairings). The methalox first and second stages used two "Deinonychus" and three "Buzzard" methalox engines, respectively, assisted by two "Thumper" SRBs. It could lift 6 tonnes to low Kerbin orbit.

The first launch carried the Gemini 13 to 15 relay satellites to a 1000 km orbit around the Mun (Day 291). This would enable communications between Kerbin and spacecraft on the far side.

Spoiler

Y1, D304 - A Yellow Dwarf 1-2S launched Gemini 16, the first Munar rover, which investigated the Lowlands biome of the far side (Day 306).

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Y1, D320 - With two liquid rocket boosters, the Yellow Dwarf 1-2L configuration could lift 12 tonnes to LKO. It launched Gemini 17, the first sample return mission to and from the Mun (East Farside Crater). Only the small data storage unit returned to Kerbin.

Spoiler

Rescues

Y1, D299 - Denebola 12 (Valentina) rescued Camsey Kerman.

Y1, D314 - Denebola 13 (Jebediah) rescued Marnard Kerman. After having rescued 8 astronauts for a total of 12, ARA would take a break from orbital rescue contracts (for now).

Spoiler

 

Edited January 16, 2024 by Pipcard

[Pipcard]

Y1, D337 to D361 - Crewed Mun orbit and landing

Y1, D337 - A Yellow Dwarf 1-2L launched Denebola 14 (Dofel and Jonford), the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the Mun (Day 339). It first went an equatorial elliptical orbit, then performed a plane change maneuver (at a high and slow position) to enter a polar orbit. From there, the two astronauts observed all the different regions of the Mun for four days before returning to Kerbin (Day 344).

Spoiler

Y1, D356 - A Yellow Dwarf 1-2L2S (with both liquid and solid rocket boosters) launched Alhena 1, the first crewed Munar lander. However, it wasn't launched with any Kerbals on board, and waited in a 25 km orbit around the Mun.

Jebediah and Bob Kerman would launch on Denebola 15 on Day 358. They docked and transferred to Alhena 1, which then proceeded to make the first crewed landing on the Mun (Northwest Crater) on Day 359. Jebediah planted the flag of the Aerospace Research Agency, while Bob set up the Go-ob surface experiment, control station, and solar panels (which were brought along with Denebola 15). They launched back into orbit, transferred to the Denebola capsule, and returned to Kerbin (Day 361).

Spoiler

Launch of Alhena 1

Launch of Denebola 15

 

Edited January 16, 2024 by Pipcard

[Pipcard]

Y1, D372 to D402 - Minmus relays, rover, and sample return

Y1, D372 - A Yellow Dwarf 1-4S (4 SRBs) launched the relay satellites designated Gemini 18 through 20, which entered Minmus orbit from Day 381 to 382.

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Y1, D373 - A Yellow Dwarf 1-2S launched the Gemini 21 rover, which landed on the north Pole region of Minmus on Day 382.

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Y1, D385 - A Yellow Dwarf 1-2L launched the Gemini 22 sample return probe, landing on Minmus's Great Flats on Day 392 and returning to Kerbin on Day 402.

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(note: the exhaust should be visible, but it isn't when it is at Minmus for some reason)

(I haven't brought this up until now, but I've noticed a bug in which certain engines (such as the Terrier or Spark) do not properly show Waterfall plumes (from Stock Waterfall Effects) when in orbit around Minmus. But outside of Minmus, the exhaust plumes are normal. And not all engines are affected.)

edit: I found the solution to the issue.

edit 2: I think I may also have to remove refraction from the config files of Stock Waterfall Effects as well, since every time I load, I keep having to remove them.

On 4/30/2023 at 8:17 AM, JonnyOThan said:

This is a fun one.  It's caused by a bad interaction between parallax and waterfall's refraction shaders.  You should be able to work around it by disabling waterfall's refraction effects in its settings window.

 

Edited January 22, 2024 by Pipcard

[Pipcard]

Y1, D413 to D463 - Crewed Minmus orbit and landing

(note: 2.5x scale Kerbin has more than 426 days in a year)

Y1, D413 - Denebola 16 (Gledorf and Bill) launched on a Yellow Dwarf 1-2L2S, entering a polar orbit around Minmus on Day 420 to observe every biome while using a new extended habitation module and folding solar panels. They returned to Kerbin on Day 430.

Spoiler

Launch

Gledorf and Bill on EVA

Plane change before departing Minmus

Y1, D435 - The Tejat 1 lander launched, arriving in Minmus orbit on Day 444 to wait for the crew. It was identical to the Alhena 1 Mun lander, but with a seismic accelerometer.

Y1, D444 - Denebola 17 (Valentina and Jebmund) lifted off from Kerbin, docking with Tejat 1 nine days later. They landed in the Flats biome on Day 454 and deployed a couple of surface experiments.

Spoiler

Tejat 1 launch

Denebola 17 launch

A brief moment high above Minmus before proceeding to land

But since a lander designed for the Mun was now being used in the lower gravity of Minmus, they had a lot more fuel to lift off and explore five more biomes: Lowlands, Slopes, Midlands, Greater Flats, and Highlands. They returned to Kerbin on Day 463 with a huge amount of scientific data that dwarfed any previous mission (almost 4000 science points).

Spoiler

Lowlands

Slopes

Midlands

Greater Flats

Highlands

Jebmund observing a olivine rock formation, but not currently having the tools to analyze it

Liftoff

Leaving Minmus

 

Edited January 24, 2024 by Pipcard

[Pipcard]

Y1, D472 to D494 - Moon scanners, first probe to Duna, next-gen reusable rocket

Y1, D472 - A Yellow Dwarf 1-2S launched the Gemini 23 orbital probe, designed to scan the Mun for resources that could someday be used by a crewed base. It entered a polar orbit on Day 474.

Spoiler

Y1, D473 - Another Yellow  Dwarf 1-2S launched Aries 1, the first in the Aries (ram) program to the red planet of Duna. It used longer-range antennas to be able to communicate over interplanetary distances. Because ARA was focused on the Mun and Minmus, they missed the first minimum-energy launch window (around Day 250) and wanted to launch this as soon as possible. It would make a flyby of Duna almost one year after launch (Year 2, Day 418).

Spoiler

Y1, D486 - Yellow Dwarf 2, a next-generation reusable rocket, launched for the first time. The launch pad was upgraded again to handle bigger and taller rockets (this wasn't really a "dwarf" anymore), and was now called the "Beta Arae" launch complex. The first stage used three Deinonychus methalox engines and had the ability to perform a propulsive return and landing near the launch site (with the help of large folding legs, airbrakes, and RCS thrusters), while the second stage used four Buzzard engines. It could launch up to 9 tonnes to orbit in reusable mode, which would be known as Yellow Dwarf 2-R (cutting launch costs and construction times by about half), or up to 12 tonnes in expendable mode.

edit: Due to a glitch in which all of my contracts and strategies were deleted, I had to redo the Yellow Dwarf 2 / Gemini 24 launch. The original images can be found in this album.

It launched the Gemini 24 resource scanner, which entered a polar orbit around Minmus on Day 494. But before any base could be established on another world, ARA was planning to practice long-term habitation in Kerbin orbit.

The upper stage of the Yellow Dwarf 2 crashed into Minmus, which was detected by a seismometer left on the surface by the crew of Denebola 17 and provided a significant amount of data on the internal structure of the moon.

Spoiler

Edited January 31, 2024 by Pipcard

[gensiskiller96]

Question, will you release your rocket designs to be download? 

[Pipcard]

2 hours ago, gensiskiller96 said:

Question, will you release your rocket designs to be download? 

I apologize, but they use a lot of mods that can't be replicated in stock.

[gensiskiller96]

22 minutes ago, Pipcard said:

I apologize, but they use a lot of mods that can't be replicated in stock.

That's no issue, I'm gonna download the modlist.

[Pipcard]

1 hour ago, gensiskiller96 said:

That's no issue, I'm gonna download the modlist.

I'm just not sure whether or not there are going to be compatibility issues and errors (especially since these rockets are designed for a 2.5x scale system) even if you download the mods.

Edited January 29, 2024 by Pipcard

[gensiskiller96]

22 minutes ago, Pipcard said:

I'm just not sure whether or not there are going to be compatibility issues and errors (especially since these rockets are designed for a 2.5x scale system) even if you download the mods.

I could try to copy by eye first if you like?

[Pipcard]

3 hours ago, gensiskiller96 said:

I could try to copy by eye first if you like?

Okay, for example, here is the craft file for the Yellow Dwarf 2-R (export version).

• Requires: Near Future Launch Vehicles, Kerbal Reusability Expansion, Cryogenic Engines (with Cryo Tanks for methalox propellant), Procedural Fairings
• Optional: Textures Unlimited Recolour Depot, Conformal Decals (to add flags/logos)
• This rocket is designed for a 2.5x scale system (using Sigma Dimensions or JNSQ), and can carry 9 tonnes in reusable mode and 12 tonnes in expendable mode.
• Reusability requires Flight Manager for Reusable Stages, and MechJeb (for all) is recommended for the launch and landing.
• Mechjeb Ascent Guidance -> Classic Ascent Profile -> Edit ascent path (Final flight path angle: 10-15 deg, Turn shape: 80%)
• Use FMRS to switch to the first stage after separation, activate the disabled liquid methane and oxidizer tanks in the Rockomax X200-16, turn on RCS to rotate the stage and boost back to the launch site. Activate the brakes and gears and use MechJeb landing guidance (land somewhere) for the final descent. I do the boost back and targeting manually (with the KSC Pad targeted and "show landing predictions" turned on) but the final landing burn is automatic.

Edited January 30, 2024 by Pipcard

[gensiskiller96]

1 hour ago, Pipcard said:

Okay, for example, here is the craft file for the Yellow Dwarf 2-R (export version).

• Requires: Near Future Launch Vehicles, Kerbal Reusability Expansion, Cryogenic Engines (with Cryo Tanks for methalox propellant), Procedural Fairings
• Optional: Textures Unlimited Recolour Depot, Conformal Decals (to add flags/logos)
• This rocket is designed for a 2.5x scale system (using Sigma Dimensions or JNSQ), and can carry 9 tonnes in reusable mode and 12 tonnes in expendable mode.
• Reusability requires Flight Manager for Reusable Stages, and MechJeb (for all) is recommended for the launch and landing.
• Mechjeb Ascent Guidance -> Classic Ascent Profile -> Edit ascent path (Final flight path angle: 10-15 deg, Turn shape: 80%)
• Use FMRS to switch to the first stage after separation, activate the disabled liquid methane and oxidizer tanks in the Rockomax X200-16, turn on RCS to rotate the stage and boost back to the launch site. Activate the brakes and gears and use MechJeb landing guidance (land somewhere) for the final descent. I do the boost back and targeting manually (with the KSC Pad targeted and "show landing predictions" turned on) but the final landing burn is automatic.

Thank you!

[gensiskiller96]

Sorry to bother again but did you find a workaround with some of unkerbald start engines having no sound?

[Pipcard]

18 hours ago, gensiskiller96 said:

Sorry to bother again but did you find a workaround with some of unkerbald start engines having no sound?

I'm sorry, but I'm not sure exactly how to address your problem.

Y1, D500 to Y2, D7 - 4-crew capsule and first space station (and Year 1 rocket comparison)

Y1, D500 - A Yellow Dwarf 2-R launched Algieba 1 (not to be confused with algebra), the first spacecraft to carry up to 4 Kerbals (Jebediah, Bill, Bob,  Valentina). It spent one day in a polar orbit around Kerbin before splashing south of the space center on Day 501.

Spoiler

Y2, D4 - One year on (rescaled) Kerbin normally has 506 days. Starting off the new year was the launch of Regulus 1, the first space station, by a YD-2-R. It had a scientific laboratory, a small observation cupola, a new gravioli detector, several docking ports, and a few weeks of supplies. The station was launched into a 200 km orbit.

Spoiler

Y2, D7 - Algieba 2 (Dofel, Camsey) launched and became the first to dock with the Regulus 1 station. They would begin to collect and process scientific data, but found out that while the large solar arrays were more than enough to power the lab on the day side, the batteries quickly ran out on the night side. A new module would have to be launched not only to address these power issues, but to enable the growing of food for longer stays in orbit.

Lastly, here's a comparison of all rockets launched by the Aerospace Research Agency so far.

Edited January 31, 2024 by Pipcard

[gensiskiller96]

It's okay, separate issue.