Armored Communications Satellite

[WhiteWeasel]

My submission for for Macey Dean-Whom's channel is now dead apparently as of: 11/27/13 You still get my sweet craft for your battles though

Allegiance: Spiritwolf

Class: AID

Company: Musteline Aerospace

Name: WhiteWeasel

Purpose: Spy satellite

Agenda: MLAS dislikes putting kerbonauts in space due to lack manpower. Being forced to deal with "Cheapo Computers" they learned how to operate electronics that most kerbonauts would not (or could) handle and developed specialized advanced technology such as small unmanned craft meant to explore and observe the kerbol system and is advanced with the use of Ion propulsion for long-distance probes. Due to the cheap and small designs they are excellent in design updates, retrofits, and possibly -[redacted]-

Tired of supermut - I mean Hanland^TM shooting your comm dish full of holes? Well in space it is quite expensive as well as time consuming to replace lost satellites. And could provide to be a fatal hinderance or distraction in a kerbal arms race. However with this model it can keep chugging along even with massive subsystem damage that would have otherwise cripple if not destroy other probes. With current launcher it can get into a 150 km orbit. (although with the help of mechjeb). With new launcher it can for sure get into a 150 km orbit.

Total Parts: 163

Mass: 100.47t

Payload parts: 97

Mass: 5.86t

Resources:

EC: 610

Monoprop: 80

Actions Groups:

0-Open outer antenna

9-Back up antenna (Shield layer 2)

8-Back up antenna (Core exposed)

Revisions:

.21: ASAS added in new design.

.22: MK III released, new dishes, two more batteries, few more struts, and reaction wheels.

To consider this satellite to be still functioning; Has constant source power, in a stable orbit, at least one antennae, and the command pod still there. But as consolation you could say the signal is weaker after damaging it. The satellites' impressive defense is credit to its' multi-layer armor which is internally strutted for reinforcement, and redundant systems. It also has five linear rcs ports total for orbital corrections, or recovering from a collision. It is powered off of solar panels, with each layer containing their own in the case the exterior shell is completely destroyed. Yeah I could stick an RTG in the probe body, but that would be a bit too much. But what's to stop you from adding redundant power sources, antennae, and even extra probe cores to make it even more resilient!

Testing the durability of the design with whack-a-kerbal. As of how damaging it is compared to a missile I'm not sure. And to be fair, I can only really confirm about two of those shots being direct hits. The others were likely glancing blows due to the spinning. Also I speculate that since W-A-K shot don't explode when hitting an object it is able to keep going and therefore do more damage because the projectile is not destroyed in the process. Just a theory however.

A cross section of its internal structure.

Second shield layer, first one completely destroyed. Has one linear rcs port so it is still able to move if one rcs tank survived. As well as two backup antennae and basic science equipment. However this shield layer is only one panel thick, surviving a second assault is less likely if hit in this state; although it is now a smaller target.

Core exposed. Second shield layer completely destroyed. No longer able to correct orbit, no protection, but otherwise still meets the 'functioning' requirements if the antenna, solar panel, and at least one battery survived.

At request of Mekan1k, added launcher picture. Do I really need proof that I can get a 5 3/4 ton payload in orbit? NEW launcher:

Craft. file

An imaginary cookie to those who got my fallout 3 reference.

Edited November 28, 2013 by WhiteWeasel

[WhiteWeasel]

What am I doing wrong? Seems like no one comments on my ships.

[Mekan1k]

THE BORG!!!!!

Seriously- it looks great for a ship design. No pics of the lift vehicle? No amusing pictures of this thing breaking up in atmosphere?

[WhiteWeasel]

Edited into OP.

Edited July 17, 2013 by WhiteWeasel

[GusTurbo]

Pretty cool! I like how the box sits on top of your lifter. Might I suggest a box-shaped fairing that blows away to reveal the box satellite inside?

[WhiteWeasel]

Pretty cool! I like how the box sits on top of your lifter. Might I suggest a box-shaped fairing that blows away to reveal the box satellite inside?

Eh, that would be a bit much for me to properly design with stock parts. Plus with all that armor it doesn't need to be protected from air resistance

[gmpd2000]

Tired of supermut- i mean hanlandTM

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.

Still nice

(fallout FTW)

[WhiteWeasel]

Kinda necro, but UPDATED FOR .22!

-Added reaction wheels.

-More struts and batteries.

-Added new Comms DTS-M1

[Zuni]

Nice satellite, it looks tough and useful. But for real-life applications, I think it would be more worth it to shoot down a spy satellite than a communications one- but this is KSP, you blow up everything !

[WhiteWeasel]

Nice satellite, it looks tough and useful. But for real-life applications, I think it would be more worth it to shoot down a spy satellite than a communications one- but this is KSP, you blow up everything !

Considering macy's campaign was stock only, a communications satellite is the closest to a spy satellite you're going to get. I just realised this took one of the BIG SRBs' a 150 m/s, point blank. In fact, often they didn't show any visible damage when I hit them or just only knock off an antenna or solar panel so I had to redo the shots to make sure it wasn't luck. This satellite is made of freaking indestructium.

[Zuni]

Considering macy's campaign was stock only, a communications satellite is the closest to a spy satellite you're going to get. I just realised this took one of the BIG SRBs' a 150 m/s, point blank. In fact, often they didn't show any visible damage when I hit them or just only knock off an antenna or solar panel so I had to redo the shots to make sure it wasn't luck. This satellite is made of freaking indestructium.

Dang, we should throw these at enemy ships or something. Explode EVERYTHING on their ship, then fly away and do it again.

[Spartwo]

Satception.