OMSS-1

[OrdinaryKerman]

It's 2024, and I have played KSP on and off for 3 years. I have yet to build a proper functioning space station. So I'll be assembling one starting maybe 13 January, seems like as good a time as any.  will start launches on 15 Jan

Edited January 14 by OrdinaryKerman

[OrdinaryKerman]

(maintained for archival purposes)

Spoiler

OMSS FLIGHT 2: PRESSURIZED SEGMENT CENTRAL NODE

For now flights will be conducted with the Mekleth 1 (MEthalox Kommon LaunchEr for THings) series of expendable vehicles. This is Mekleth 1B.

Liftoff powered by 2 Raptor-analogues from CryoEngines

Courtesy of Bobfry Kerman of CapeWatcher.knet

Stage sep and sunrise.

After 5-plus hours of orbital catchup and boosting, finally encountered. The station had a weird, not-quite-equatorial orbit due to the 'odd' flying characteristics of KS-900AH when launching Z1.

velocity matching

Approaching 500 m of station, separating upper stage for 'safety'

Stage deorbit (it's a 4-meter DCSS thing from ORANGES)

Sunrise

Reorienting to dock

soo close...

Then I spent a whole orbit trying to get the T-400 TCM on both sides to interface properly. No matter how well lined up, they didn't connect for some reason.

So I switched to the CBM. Portside CBM on Node, 'holding' CBM on Z1. 

Annd... soft capture! Unfortunately hard capture did not work, considering they're both ACBMs and the CBM system is not androgynous. At least they're temporarily connected for now. Flight 3 will be the first crew, and they've got some orbital jury rigging to do.

 

Edited January 8 by OrdinaryKerman
I will completely restart this project with updated/changed mods and stuff

[TwoCalories]

This looks awesome! What mods do you use?

Also, I believe that you added ACK's lander command module on the node. How did you give in that ISS-grey color scheme? Did ACK get an update I'm not aware of?

Edited January 3 by TwoCalories

[Cheesecake]

3 hours ago, TwoCalories said:

This looks awesome! What mods do you use?

Also, I believe that you added ACK's lander command module on the node. How did you give in that ISS-grey color scheme? Did ACK get an update I'm not aware of?

No update. It has per default the white/black and as alternate the grey. You need B9 part Switch.

[OrdinaryKerman]

On 1/4/2024 at 1:21 AM, TwoCalories said:

What mods do you use?

Spoiler

umm... I don't exactly remember, but I'll try

HabTech 2
Artemis Construction Kit
Restock/Restock Plus
Universal Storage 2 Finalized
CryoEngines
CryoTanks
Near Future suite (all installed, only NF Construction used for now)
ORANGES
Scatterer
EVE (pre-volumetric)
Astronomer's Visual Pack (4K?)
Docking Port Alignment Indicator
TUFX (custom configs)
Orbit Portal Technologies Reconfig

And that's just the stuff you can see in those 2 posts

I might have a mod addiction

 

Edited January 8 by OrdinaryKerman
I will completely restart this project with updated/changed mods and stuff

[OrdinaryKerman]

I have decided to completely restart this project with updated/changed mods and stuff, as such past content shall be considered deprecated. New save file, etc.

Main points of concern here are:
switching out Snacks for TAC-LS, I've messed around with Snacks for the past year but the simplicity never really felt that satisfying, also TAC is more widely supported
installing KIS because stock construction never really got not-jank when KSP1 development ended, I've repeatedly tried installing a Klaw on the PSCN only to have Bill and the Klaw flung 10 km away
Installing solar panel decay because ... idk why actually but it sounded interesting
Updating to the LilBread402 fork of HabTech because iROSA upgrade and ACRV
Extraplanetary Launchpads because shipyard
Rational Resources

 

Edited January 8 by OrdinaryKerman

[TwoCalories]

On 1/8/2024 at 2:39 AM, OrdinaryKerman said:

Updating to the LilBread402 fork of HabTech because iROSA upgrade and ACRV

I'd be cautious about that. I've heard the ACRV causing issues with other people's saves (mainly Goldforest's mission report).

[OrdinaryKerman]

4 hours ago, TwoCalories said:

I'd be cautious about that. I've heard the ACRV causing issues with other people's saves (mainly Goldforest's mission report).

thanks for the warning, will test out the ACRV before starting station build

[OrdinaryKerman]

Sorry for the lateness, but here's Episode 1

FLIGHT 1
OMSS ALPHA - ZENITH TRUSS

Main engine start at T-5s

Liftoff at 3 Erbol 2001, on the first flight of the Space Ferry Launcher Orkhomenos carrying the first component of our collective starting point for permanent space habitation.

Roll program complete, beginning pitch program. 

All systems nominal.

And Orkhomenos has reached space! Crew reports all systems green.

Booster engine cutoff in 3, 2, 1
<thwOMp>

Initiate stage separation.

Stage separation confirmed. All systems nominal.
Interstage camera shows engine bell clear, main engine start. 

Tracking footage from the former Pusher Cove Observatory-turned-launch-site

..

Main engine cutoff 1 in 3, 2, 1. 
Orbital insertion complete, 156x140 km orbit confirmed. 
Setting node for 140x140km circularization. 

Warming up engine...
Main engine restart.
Main engine cutoff 2.

Tracking confirms 141x140km orbit.

Opening payload bay doors. 

Initializing station autonomous functions...
Station is confirmed under independent control.

(Nye Island MT-TCDL dish slews to radio contact)

Separating payload. 

Bill reports payload clear. Maneuvering spacecraft out of clearance zone.

Extending SAW Bravo.

Spacecraft is clear of 100m SAW keep out zone. Deploying SAW Alpha and truss radiator.

Orkhomenos is confirmed clear of 200m main engine keep-out zone, initiating deorbit burn.

Orkhomenos has entered atmosphere. Green Sands Test Range tracking footage

Deploying airbrakes, preparing for flip to descent deceleration burn.

Descent burn initiated, crew reports all systems remained within temperature limits.

Decelerating on engine power...

I think we got off-course.

Don't worry crew, your projected landing site in in an uninhabited section of desert.

Parachutes deployment confirmed at 5 km AGL.

Coast Guard heli onsite for touchdown observation.

Engine destruction. Definitely not intended, but expected.

and Orkhomenos has completed its first flight, doing almost 2 orbits. Crew are safe and sound, seemingly unfazed by the RUD of their MU-421 Eagle engine, with the exception of Bill Kerman.

Recovery was wrapped up by 4 Erbol, engine and thrust puck fragments mostly accounted for.

Station command truss is in working order, confirmed nominal 141x140km equatorial orbit.

Edited January 25 by OrdinaryKerman

[OrdinaryKerman]

Vaguely related: On 4 Kraken 2004, the Space Program executed the first Integrated Hop Test of the second generation 4BC Ferry Launcher upper stage. It went... poorly.

Liftoff was nominal, but it immediately began veering towards its nadir direction.

the IFCC guidance system tried to bring it down safely, though this failed due to uncorrected imbalances in CoM during design, and unpredicted latency in the control system.

The vehicle was uncrewed, no lives were lost and no injuries on the pad were recorded.

 

[OrdinaryKerman]

probably going to shelve this for the foreseeable future, my jnsq install is currently the better running one and there are myriad unknown incompatibilities in this install resulting is some stuff just not loading

[TwoCalories]

6 hours ago, OrdinaryKerman said:

probably going to shelve this for the foreseeable future, my jnsq install is currently the better running one and there are myriad unknown incompatibilities in this install resulting is some stuff just not loading

That's unfortunate, but understandable. Hopefully this can be continued someday.