The Versatility Challenge - How much can you do in one launch?

[SkyRender]

KSP Mission Control is sick of launching so many flights, each one meant to solve a completely different problem. They want to send up a true Swiss Army Knife of a flight that can accomplish a mess of goals without needing any extra launches. That's where you come in!

You have been commissioned to design as elaborate a mission as possible using only a single flight. KSP Mission Control has a massive checklist of things they want to accomplish, and you can help them out by completing those missions for them! They've weighted each one with a "score" to help you gauge how worth it it is to focus on that goal.

Kerbal Space Program Mission Control Wishlist

Kerbin

[ ] Set up a permanent fuel depot in low-Kerbin orbit (1)

[ ] Set up a permanent Kerballed station in low-Kerbin orbit (2 for each Hitchhiker Storage Container)

[ ] Set up a satellite array of up to 16 communications satellites around Kerbin (1 each)

[ ] Set up a permanent fuel depot in geosynchronous orbit (2)

[ ] Set up a permanent Kerballed station in geosynchronous orbit (4 for each Hitchhiker Storage Container)

Mun and Minmus

[ ] Set up a permanent fuel depot in low-Munar/Minmus orbit (3)

[ ] Set up a permanent Kerballed station in low-Munar/Minmus orbit (4 for each Hitchhiker Storage Container)

[ ] Set up a satellite array of up to 16 communications satellites around the Mun/Minmus (2 points for the first, 1 for each additional)

[ ] Deploy an automated science rover to explore the Mun/Minmus (5 for each)

[ ] Set up a permanent Kerballed base on the Mun/Minmus (8 for each Hitchhiker Storage Container)

[ ] Provide a Kerbal-rideable rover for the base (7 for each)

Other Planets and Moons

We want to set up some operations on other planets and moons too, so we've decided to carry over all of our Mun and Minmus goals to them as well and provide some bonus points to each item, based on how much trouble it would be to you. Note that the bonus only applies to the first satellite in a satellite array if you're going for that.

Eve and Duna: 2-point bonus

Ike: 3-point bonus

Gilly: 4-point bonus

Dres: 5-point bonus

Moho, Jool and Laythe: 6-point bonus

Eeloo and Vall: 7-point bonus

Bop and Poll: 8-point bonus

Tylo: 9-point bonus

KSP MC would also like to clear a few things up.

* Communications satellites need at least 2 Communotron 16s and at least 1 Communotron 88-88. Of course they need to stay constantly powered too. KSP Mission Control would appreciate it if they're also automated (ie. no Kerbal crew on board). And they'd also like it if you could set them up in a mostly circular orbit; any distance is fine as long as they're not in the atmosphere or so far out that they're going to get stuck in another body's sphere of influence eventually.

* A "fuel depot" is defined as a self-sustaining automated craft which can hold at least 720 liquid fuel and 880 oxidizer, as well as at least 100 monopropellant. It must have at least two accessible docking ports.

* A "station" is defined as a self-sustaining (ie. continuously powered) controllable craft in stable orbit with at least one resident Kerbal, at least one communications device, at least one Hitchhiker Storage Container or equivalent, and a full array of scientific instrumentation (accelerometer, gravimeter, and thermometer; barometer as well if an atmosphere is involved). It must have at least two accessible docking ports.

* A "base" is defined the same way as a station, except it has to be on the surface of a body. It doesn't need docking ports, but it does need to be able to stand upright on the surface.

* Rovers must be able to power themselves somehow, and must be able to move across the surface via wheels. If a rover has a range limit due to fuel requirements, a penalty of 2 points will be deducted from the score.

KSP MC would also like to specify that this is a stock-parts-only request. They've decided that the cost of importing those expensive "mod" parts from Fanbasia is just not feasible, except for one small exception with the Crew Manifest item as it's been deemed "unbelievably necessary" for any sort of mission involving setting up permanent stations and bases. Also, they want it stressed that this is single-launch-only! If you want to do multiple launches, your accomplishments will be scored separately for each launch and only the best-scoring one will count towards the Wall of Fame. So get to it!

KSP Mission Control Wall of Fame

1. Ojimak - 78

2. TurkeyXIII - 68

3.

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5.

EDIT: First revision of rules to clarify and rebalance the challenge a bit.

Edited May 23, 2013 by SkyRender

[Pachi3080]

I can kill 3 kerbals in one single launch...

[Ojimak]

Ok, so just to start this off, here's something I made a while ago posted for fun on the BobCat Colonization challenge (remember me?)

On the pad, showing all components on a single 700-ish part rocket:

On the Mun (communications device and all sensors are present on the central module):

Points:

2 manned rovers = 2*7 = 14

8 hitchhiker storage containers = 8*8 = 64

Total = 14 + 64 = 78

That shouldn't be too hard to beat, especially with all of the new incredibly heavy launchers popping up on the forum.

-Ojimak

Edited May 20, 2013 by Ojimak
edited score

[SkyRender]

1. I should really adjust that, shouldn't I?

2. I don't see why not, but it won't be necessary now.

3. See, that's the sort of thing I didn't even think about when I first designed this as well. Yeah, multiple items that fit the same definition should totally count from the same launch! For some things, anyway. It'd be stupidly easy to just set up a ton of "fuel depots" out of what amounted to your debris you didn't jettison until you got into orbit around your target body.

[TurkeyXIII]

I call this the Multitasker I (creative, I know)!

Upon reaching parking orbit approx 100km high, 4 communications satellites deployed and dispersed to non-equatorial orbits (4 points):

A fuel depot was then deployed at the 100km orbit before the rest of the station headed for Mun (1 point):

Upon arrival at approx 95km orbit of Mun, Doodsby Kerman transferred to the space station section of the ship, detached it, then descended to a 20km orbit (4 points):

The multitasker then deployed its second fuel depot at its 95km altitude (3 points):

Before descending to land on Mun itself (4 x 8 = 32 points):

The automated rovers detached, and each flew some distance from the base to begin explorations (2 x 5 = 10 points):

And then the kerbal transport vehicles detached and landed gently upon the Munar surface (2 x 7 = 14 points):

For a total of 68 points.

(Although the seats on the rovers appear to be buggy in 0.20.0, and this was what happened when Dilmore Kerman tried to get in one:

)

So if they're not buggy and I just misused them, it's only worth 54 points.

More screenshots here:

http://s4.photobucket.com/user/Turkey_OO7/story/75349#

[SkyRender]

I think that can be chalked up to a problem with the current system. I've built rovers like that and found a way to get them to work properly, so I'll still count it. Nice launch!