[WIP] The Spirit of Exploration-Class Mobile Base (WARNING: IMAGE HEAVY)

[NGTOne]

Building on what the Ministry of Improbable Spacecraft learned with its Far Wanderer-class mobile base (WARNING: IMAGE HEAVY), we've decided to build a bigger version, with more crew and the capability to launch and retrieve small unmanned electric aircraft (courtesy of RemoteTech), mobile outposts, and scout rovers (one of the major limitations to its predecessor was a slow top speed and rather unfortunate cornering performance, due to the early-in-development track mod that it relies on for propulsion, and it was too big for the stock rover wheels to support effectively). It also supports limited manufacturing capability, being able to produce objects weighing up to 40 tons (when fully supplied - it launches with a full set of spare parts). In short, it is designed to overcome any possible situation that it may be required to in the course of an exploration mission, and to operate indefinitely on any body.

Thus far, the Spirit of Exploration-class clocks in at about 1000 tons (300 of which is the massive tread units), has large internal vehicle hangars on two decks, and a flight deck. In the event of equipment loss, it is capable of producing replacements using the onboard manufacturing facilities.

In very brief: we are creating a fully-fledged colonial infrastructure, capable of supporting several hundred Kerbals indefinitely on a mission to any body in the Kerbol system, and expanding its capabilities while on-mission, conveniently rolled up into a large, mobile package. And it has a swimming pool! (Note: The Ministry of Improbable Spacecraft is in no way responsible if personnel are injured attempting to use the swimming pool while in zero-G).

We are also currently seeking suggestions for what other vehicles and aircraft to add to the built-in equipment (the hangar looks a little empty). Keep in mind that aircraft MUST be capable of operating in non-oxygenated atmospheres, and are stored on the flight deck (belowdecks is ground vehicles only).

Anyways, the obligatory image spam (will add more as construction progress is made). Currently on prototype 2, revision 3:

NOTE THAT SOME IMAGES MAY BE OUT OF DATE DUE TO ADDITION OF NEW ELEMENTS

That's a Kerbal and his DEMV MkV on the runway in front of the third track pod. Yeah, it's big.

Looking aft, inside the upper vehicle deck. Two stowed Dunebugs can be seen (they are actually anchored to the deck by docking ports and quantum struts).

All ramps down, looking forward. To move vehicles off the lower deck, the top ramp is retracted. To move the entire vehicle, all ramps are retracted.

IVA view from the cockpit of one of the Dunebugs on the upper vehicle deck. Looking forward.

Looking forward, all ramps retracted.

Going for a walk inside the upper vehicle deck.

Rolling one of the DEMV MkV "Ant"s off the lower vehicle deck. The current prototype carries 4 DEMV MkIVs and 8 MkVs.

Flight- and landing-testing one of the remote aircraft that will be included in the final design. Straight-line distance to the base is about 850m in the image. It's a straightforward RemoteTech remote probe aircraft, with a docking port and some KAS radial connector plugs (for better deck handling). This aircraft is uniquely suited to the mission profile due to its folding wings, all-electric propulsion, light weight, and low takeoff speed. May also include some Firespitter-based electric VTOL aircraft, as flight-deck space dictates.

Other Ministry of Improbable Spacecraft projects can be found here.

Edited July 19, 2013 by NGTOne
Added image of aircraft test.

[Galahir950]

Can you drive it into the water and use Ion engines as propulsion?

Edited July 5, 2013 by Galahir950

[NGTOne]

Can you drive it into the water and use Ion engines as propulsion?

Not sure how the tracks react to water, to be honest. But this thing's too massive for ion propulsion, that's for sure.

[Galahir950]

Not sure how the tracks react to water, to be honest. But this thing's too massive for ion propulsion, that's for sure.

Certain Ion Propulsion mods have hybrid engines that have 50 thrust.

[NGTOne]

Certain Ion Propulsion mods have hybrid engines that have 50 thrust.

Still doesn't make much difference when your vehicle clocks in at 1300 tons

[Galahir950]

Still doesn't make much difference when your vehicle clocks in at 1300 tons

You could use 30 of them, you have enough room

[NGTOne]

You could use 30 of them, you have enough room

Fair point, but I still need to add a skycrane, which will at least double the mass.

[Galahir950]

Fair point, but I still need to add a skycrane, which will at least double the mass.

Why would you need a sky crane?

[NGTOne]

Why would you need a sky crane?

To land this beast on other planets, why else?

[Galahir950]

True, you can still add more engines though. You can also use it as a launch platform on kerbal.

[NGTOne]

True, you can still add more engines though. You can also use it as a launch platform on kerbal.

Eh, true enough, but to be honest, I'd prefer a few larger engines to a bunch of smaller ones - it saves on lag and Cthulhu attacks. The predecessor design to this one used the skycrane with some extra tanks as the transfer stage.

[Galahir950]

Still, larger engines are too inefficient to be used as mobile marine launch platforms, you couldn't get far enough for it to be useful.

[NGTOne]

Still, larger engines are too inefficient to be used as mobile marine launch platforms, you couldn't get far enough for it to be useful.

Keep in mind that the primary purpose of this vehicle ISN'T aquatic, and I'm not even sure it's capable of that. It's so massive, it'd likely just sink to the bottom and break up.

[Galahir950]

I have seen large things float in KSP. I am talking about this in a purely hypothetical manner.

[NGTOne]

I have seen large things float in KSP. I am talking about this in a purely hypothetical manner.

Large is one thing, but this vehicle isn't designed for flotation - each of those 6 track modules clocks in at 30 tons, and may not react well to hitting the water.

Edited July 18, 2013 by NGTOne

[Galahir950]

Large is one thing, but this vehicle isn't designed for flotation - each of those 6 track modules clocks in at 60 tons, and may not react well to hitting the water.

You don't know if you havent tried.

[NGTOne]

You don't know if you havent tried.

I'll admit that's true, but I'm still halfway through building the thing, so I likely won't be trying for a while.

[Lazurkri]

Large is one thing, but this vehicle isn't designed for flotation - each of those 6 track modules clocks in at 60 tons, and may not react well to hitting the water.

It'll shred itself; the individual modules , unless reallllly strutted, will flex and flex until they snap their supports....

Also, I have a name suggestion for the base; the M.I.S Leviathan?

[NGTOne]

It'll shred itself; the individual modules , unless reallllly strutted, will flex and flex until they snap their supports....

Also, I have a name suggestion for the base; the M.I.S Leviathan?

I meant for a class name, like Leviathan-class - I do like that, though.

And I kinda figured it would - this thing, at its current point in development, is almost 1400 tons, with the CoM somwhere in the upper structure. The undercarriage wouldn't be able to handle that, I don't think.

[Lazurkri]

I meant for a class name, like Leviathan-class - I do like that, though.

And I kinda figured it would - this thing, at its current point in development, is almost 1400 tons, with the CoM somwhere in the upper structure. The undercarriage wouldn't be able to handle that, I don't think.

not a chance in hell it'll hold in water... if it was designed with floatation in mind, IE with a more boat shaped hull, then I could see this being amphibious... although with the high COM, it'd likely handle like a pig in the water.......

Actually, come to think of it, how well does this do on slopes? If its individual tread modules can't flex, then I sense problems when trying to climb slopes....

[Klingon Admiral]

I would call it the Fatboy ... only needs some battleship-sized guns now

[NGTOne]

not a chance in hell it'll hold in water... if it was designed with floatation in mind, IE with a more boat shaped hull, then I could see this being amphibious... although with the high COM, it'd likely handle like a pig in the water.......

Actually, come to think of it, how well does this do on slopes? If its individual tread modules can't flex, then I sense problems when trying to climb slopes....

I haven't tried it on slopes yet, to be honest. Its predecessor had some issues, though - the problem is, the tread modules have such an incredible level of ground traction (even without the ship-sized monstrosity built on top of them), that even the slightest difference in torque between them can tear the craft apart, regardless of how well-built it is. It's apparently a known problem with the track mod.

I would call it the Fatboy ... only needs some battleship-sized guns now

I'm considering adding some manufacturing capability, actually - OrbitalCon, anyone?

[Lazurkri]

I'm considering adding some manufacturing capability, actually - OrbitalCon, anyone?

Well something as big as this would certainly have a machine shop at least, so manufacturing capabilities wouldn't be at all out of place....

[SkyHook]

Yea dude, these are epic. Cant wait to build a modular version of this.

[Cooly568]

What mod did you use for the place where the kerbals are. (The windows?)