FTLparachute Posted Monday at 09:32 AM Share Posted Monday at 09:32 AM (edited) Since the dawn of time, Kerbals have observed the celestial bodies in their sky, wondering what it would be like to step foot on these moons and planets. After they stopped looking at The Mun, this is what happened next... OK, enough blathering, this is a mission thread in which I'll be exploring the Kerbol system and hopefully beyond, and colonizing as much space as I can. This is going to be a very long process, so get comfy. Chapter 1 - Exploration of the Kerbol System Part 1 - Beginnings Part 2 - Early Exploration Part 3 - First Steps Part 4 - Near Worlds Mods System Mods Spoiler Beyond Jool - An alternate take on OPM, this mod features many different bodies in the outer system. I'm using this over OPM to give myself a bit more challenge, since this pack has some pretty hard locations to return from, much less establish a prescence. Kcalbeloh - The (current) flagship interstellar mod for KSP, loosely based on Gargantua from Interstellar. KSS2 - Another pack that adds in analogues for Barnard's Star and the Alpha Centauri system. Will use once I can get a good install going, since my current one is a bit borked Part Mods Spoiler Near Future Technologies, Far Future Technologies, USI Sounding Rockets, Universal Storage 2, OPT, MK2/3 Expansions, MK/IV Spaceplane, Supplementary Electric Engines and Stockalike Station Parts are the main part mods in use here. Gameplay Mods Spoiler Extraplanetary Launchpads - This mod adds in the ability to build and launch craft without using KSC infrastructure, giving offworld colonies a much greater purpose ScanSat - Mostly just lumped in here because of how it improves the Scanning system in-game Contract Configurator - Assorted packs which revamp the stock contracts, the main ones in use are Exploration Plus and Bases and Stations Gradual Progression Tech Tree - This tech tree is a more early-game focused tree, but is pretty well balanced for late-game techs. However, two of the vital parts of this tree (Bluedog Design Bureau and Airplane Plus) are not installed, which is going to make this pretty hard. Edited yesterday at 10:01 PM by FTLparachute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FTLparachute Posted Monday at 09:59 AM Author Share Posted Monday at 09:59 AM (edited) Part 1 - Beginnings Aim - Send a payload to Kerbin Orbit Bottle Program (sounding rockets) Spoiler The first launch, Bottle 1, collects our first science, making the first progress towards the sky. Bottle 2 collects more science but fails to reach the upper atmosphere. Bottle 3 launches with a newer design using a Shrimp booster for the lower stage. However, the primitive avionics cause a loss of control. At least some water science is collected. Jeb and Val do some contracts using the fittingly named Affront plane, using it to also claim the Island Airfield. Bottle 4 becomes the fastest object yet, allowing the collection of Flying High science. Bottle 5, using the Island Airfield, is the first rocket to pass the Kerman Line and get In Space Low science. This marks the end of the Bottle Program. Lyra 1 (Orbital launch) Spoiler The next job is exploring our local space, and to do this the Lyra program was set up, beginning with Lyra 1, the 1st orbital launch. Lyra 1 successfully reaches orbit, and boosts itself to a high orbit to collect even more science. The satellite's orbit slowly degrades over many passes, before finally crashing into the ground at a very high speed. Edited Monday at 09:59 AM by FTLparachute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin_kerman Posted Monday at 11:31 AM Share Posted Monday at 11:31 AM wow, this looks cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FTLparachute Posted Monday at 01:21 PM Author Share Posted Monday at 01:21 PM Part 2 - Early Exploration Aim - Orbit the Mun and Minmus Lyra Program (2, 3 and 4) Spoiler Second launch is Lyra 2, which will perform the 1st Mun flyby Science grabbed on a free return trajectory that will dispose of the probe Lyra 3 is up next, using an improved launch stage to perform a Minmus flyby. Before that can happen, a contract for Mun orbit comes in, which is satiated by Lyra 4. Lyra 4 performs the 1st ever observations of the Farside. Lyra 3, having finally reached Minmus, instead gets into orbit to fufill another contract. Lyra 3 is sent to Kerbol orbit to scrounge up some final science before it runs out of science. This is the end of the Lyra program. BONUS - Moho 1 (1st Crew Mission) Aim - Recover Suger Kerman Spoiler The 1st crew mission launches with Jebediah onboard. This is not the 1st Kerbal in space, as somehow Suger Kerman got herself stuck beforehand. Suger picked up in orbit, and some extra science done to boot. Thanks to sketchy construction the capsule nearly overheats on re-entry. Even after surviving the plasma, Suger and Jeb have to eject to survive. Luckily, the capsule is intact, so all science is still collected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Kerbin Posted Monday at 04:11 PM Share Posted Monday at 04:11 PM oooo this is neat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FTLparachute Posted Monday at 09:38 PM Author Share Posted Monday at 09:38 PM Part 3 - First Steps Aim - Return Kerbals from the surfaces of Minmus and The Mun Cygnus Program Spoiler The 1st Cygnus mission is a soft touchdown on the Mun to gather science. However, it seems that the lander was designed by Intuitive Machines, as it immediately fell over. Luckily nothing was damaged. Cygnus 2, carrying Jeb and Bob, is the first Kerballed mission to another celestial body, and the first to land Kerbals too. Some surface antics before return is done. Cygnus 3 then heads to Minmus, carrying Val and Suger. Some scouting to get a Green Sandstone. Return as per usual. Cygnus 4, carrying Jeb, is launched to collect Mun Stone and rescue Stelgar from Munar Orbit. However, it fell over upon landing. After waiting, a scuffed launch gets Jeb back into orbit at the expense of one of the engines. Stelgar is recovered, and the Cygnus 4 lands back on Kerbin. Thus ends the Cygnus program for now, as now the Virgo Program is started to investigate Eve, Kerbin's closest planetary neighbour. BONUS - KSAT mission Aim - Establish a relay satellite (KSAT 1) for interplanetary communication, per contract specifications Spoiler The 1st attempt was successful up until the point of the power running out because the probe was facing the wrong direction. Then it got ejected because the Mun assist miscomputed. Thanks, KSP. Second attempt, this time with better panels and the science equipment needed to fulfill the contract. Satellite properly placed, during Jeb's extended stay during Cygnus 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eclipse 32 Posted Tuesday at 03:14 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 03:14 PM ooo! you have a follower! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FTLparachute Posted yesterday at 09:58 PM Author Share Posted yesterday at 09:58 PM Part 4 - Near Worlds Aim - Collect science from Eve's surface Virgo 1-3 and Taurus 1 Spoiler First launch is Virgo 1, which performs the first exploration of Eve. After some low orbit passes, Virgo 1 encounters Gilly. Landed on Gilly, and some extra science to boot. Taurus 1 launches for Duna, as I really need some more science for Eve. Unfortunately, I greatly underestimated the range of the antenna, so it won't be able to transmit science until the next transfer window in 2 years. Virgo 2, a probe for landing on Eve, and Virgo 3, the first crewed mission, launch. Virgo 3 arrives first. Virgo 2 inserts into orbit, and deploys ESAT-1, the relay for the system. The landing. Due to the weak gear and KSP physics when dealing with said weak gear, one of the panels and the thermometer/barometer unit are destroyed upon touchdown. Despite this, a lot of science is collected. Then I get the contract to land on Eve. Oh dear... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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