HUSKY CHONKER - 1 launch - Same 300t payload to Minmus and Duna

[Poppa Wheelie]

That's how we're supposed to do this, right?  ... Right?  ...  Oh well, too late.  That's how I did it.

With one launch, I flew a 300t payload to Minmus, and then flew that same payload to Duna.

All screenshots:  https://imgur.com/a/120d8Bt

Highlights:

Launch to LKO

More:
 

Spoiler

About 12 fps during this entire ascent to orbit

In LKO I separated the Refueling Module and a fairing covering the Refueling Module's docking port.  I then separated a fairing covering the docking port of the main ship.

LKO to Minmus landing

Spoiler

Burning for Minmus

Approaching Minmus

Deorbit burn

Drop empty fuel tanks

Landing

Minmus back to LKO

Spoiler

Coasting to Ap while returning to Minmus orbit

Departing Minmus

Final docking approach to Refueling Module

Refueling the HUSKY CHONKER with (most of) the fuel in the Refueling Module

I then undocked the Refueling Module, exposed the deorbiting engine, oriented the Refueling Module retrograde, and did a deorbit burn

LKO to Duna landing

Burning for Duna

More:
 

Spoiler

Departing Kerbin

Approaching Duna

My biggest engineering mistake came to light during the first landing attempt.  I had already test landed an earlier version of this 300t payload.  But the final version had 5 large reaction wheels on the bottom of each stack, facing into the Duna wind during atmospheric entry.  During landing attempt 1, all 5 of those reaction wheels overheated and exploded.  I still had over 300t of payload, but without reaction wheels I couldn't land in enough of an upright position to keep the payload intact.

Result of landing attempt 1:

On the second landing attempt, I maintained Radial Out orientation, and solar panels deployed, until below 20km ASL

Shortly after this, I got some overheat bars, but I had also slowed enough to deploy parachutes.  I stowed the solar panels, and deployed the parachutes.  When I deployed the chutes, we moved to a Retrograde orientation, and 3 of the 5 reaction wheels overheated and blew up.

Good chutes

Landing engine assist

I lost 1 vector engine in the landing, but still had 304.9954t intact

By the way, I landed 20.2km from the landing location of my first Duna mission.

[Vanamonde]

That was a big job. Congrats.

[BechMeister]

Yay! A mission report that isn't just a video!

On 3/27/2024 at 10:02 PM, Poppa Wheelie said:

 

it just looks great when the boosters separate like that.

On 3/27/2024 at 10:02 PM, Poppa Wheelie said:

My biggest engineering mistake came to light during the first landing attempt.  I had already test landed an earlier version of this 300t payload.  But the final version had 5 large reaction wheels on the bottom of each stack, facing into the Duna wind during atmospheric entry.  During landing attempt 1, all 5 of those reaction wheels overheated and exploded.  I still had over 300t of payload, but without reaction wheels I couldn't land in enough of an upright position to keep the payload intact.

Did you drop the idea of having heatshields to save the mass? Or was it to aid in landing (its a lot of weight after all) - I myself have started to have drop the heatshield once through the dangerous parts of the atmosphere.

On 3/27/2024 at 10:02 PM, Poppa Wheelie said:

By the way, I landed 20.2km from the landing location of my first Duna mission.

nice x)

[Poppa Wheelie]

8 hours ago, BechMeister said:

Did you drop the idea of having heatshields to save the mass? Or was it to aid in landing (its a lot of weight after all)

I have not needed or used heat shields for other Duna landings I've done in the game so far.  So I didn't really consider them.  I built version 1 of my 300t payload without heatshields, tested reentry and landing, and it worked.  Including heat shields as part of the 300t payload from the beginning would have been the safer bet.  Lesson learned.

[BechMeister]

23 minutes ago, Poppa Wheelie said:

I have not needed or used heat shields for other Duna landings I've done in the game so far.  So I didn't really consider them.  I built version 1 of my 300t payload without heatshields, tested reentry and landing, and it worked.  Including heat shields as part of the 300t payload from the beginning would have been the safer bet.  Lesson learned.

Nah it seems that if you deorbit from a DLO - you can do it without any precaution.. since orbit speed is only like what.. 700-800 m/s? I dont remember.. So far Ive only been to Duna twice 

But I imagine that if you come in directly from Kerbin.. that's when heat shields are needed?  - I'll find out more once I get on with the Duna Mastery Challenge.

[Poppa Wheelie]

1 hour ago, BechMeister said:

Nah it seems that if you deorbit from a DLO - you can do it without any precaution..

I did this landing from Duna Low Orbit.  Fuel tanks can make it without heat shields, but reaction wheels cannot.

[BechMeister]

2 hours ago, Poppa Wheelie said:

I did this landing from Duna Low Orbit.  Fuel tanks can make it without heat shields, but reaction wheels cannot.

I see. Probably as weak as a engine plate then - they burn up if they exceed 700 m/s on Kerbin.