Destination Duna

[ThreeMartiniLaunch]

This mission is in response to sturmstiger's challenge Duna Permanent Outpost Mission Architecture Challenge.

My mission is more inspired by than a wholehearted effort to do well in it. I will also be documenting it on YouTube.

The challenge calls for simply planning a mission architecture rather than actually flying the missions. You get more points if you fly them, but it is not required.

I'm doing it a bit in reverse. I'm flying the missions then will be documenting as I complete them.

I have altered one rule for myself in the challenge. The challenge states that any Kerbals in space beyond 10 days require twice the normal habitation they normally would, and require supply in the form of additional fuel tanks to represent food, water, air, etc.

I am assuming that before instituting a permanent Duna presence, there would be ample infrastructure within the Kerbin system to provide supplies to whoever needed them. Thus, all of my Kerbals in Kerbin SOI are assumed to have supply.

Anyway....here we go.

The schedule so far:

Note: After the day 60 launch, KSP 0.21 was released. My save game did not make it so I reflew both missions. The ships underwent minor design changes to take advantage of some new parts offered with the update.

I will continue to update this schedule as time goes by.

The videos:

My 25 tonne lifter - the Pony 25:

Designed to take a 25 tonne package from the surface of Kerbin to a 125km parking orbit.

Launch 1 - Station Cores:

Two Station cores - one for Kerbin and one for the Mun.

Launch 2 - Kethane Recon:

Contains an orbital kethane scanner and two surface probes for each the Mun and Ike.

After dropping off an orbital scanner and two probes at the Mun, it ejected for Duna SOI and eventually Ike orbit.

Launch 3 - Kethane Mining Rig:

Kethine miner for the surface of the Mun. You will note that it is well over 25 tonnes. I will be dumping fuel on the launchpad to bring it down to just under 25 tonnes.

Launch 4 - The Quadrapus:

Minmus surface shuttle. Used to land stuff on the surface of Minmus.

Launch 5 - Fuel Modules

Fuel modules for my various stations.

Launch 6 - Space Truck by Four

Pushes payloads between Kerbin and Duna

Launch 7 - Duna stations

Space stations for Duna and Ike

Luanch 8 - Quadrapus

Another Quadrapus for operations in and around Ike

Launch 9 - Ike Mining Rig

Mining rig for operations on Ike

Launch 10 - Space Truck by Six

A more powerful pusher

Launch 11 - Supplies

Also includes removable heat shields inspired by Patupi

Launch 12 - Another Pusher

Need something with a Clamp-o-Tron Sr. Docking Port

Launch 13 - Space Truck by Six II

(no image) Identical to Space Truck by Six I

Launch 14 - Duna Habitation Thing

Where my Kerbals will live on Duna

Launch 15 - Taxi and Lander

Comfortable accommodations for four Kerbals headed to or from Duna. And a Duna lander.

Launch 16 - Supply and Hab II

More supplies for Ike and Duna as well as a habitation modules for Gaea Station and Selene Station.

Edited October 10, 2013 by ThreeMartiniLaunch

[Rhyunix]

Dude! Good luck! It reminds me of my Munbase in the way that the habitat modules and stuff are sideways not standing up straight

[Patupi]

Very interesting layout. Good luck to you! I have to admit I'm envious. I've already decided to stick with 0.20.2 for this challenge, but I'm sure there are advantages to going with 0.21.1. Besides which the VAB just looks so much better while you're designing!

[ThreeMartiniLaunch]

Updated with

Launch of the Kethane Mining Rig into Kerbin orbit

Launch of the Quadrapus, the Minmus surface to orbit shuttle. And the very hair-raising transport of the Kethane Mining Rig to the surface of Minmus.

Mining Rig in full operation:

Edited August 5, 2013 by ThreeMartiniLaunch

[Speeding Mullet]

It will be interesting to see how this one develops. I haven't gone down the Kethane route because I don't want to learn the mod and redesign my whole mission architecture, but it's a definite possibility for the future. Good luck with the missions I'll be following.

[ThreeMartiniLaunch]

It will be interesting to see how this one develops. I haven't gone down the Kethane route because I don't want to learn the mod and redesign my whole mission architecture, but it's a definite possibility for the future. Good luck with the missions I'll be following.

Thanks.

I'm afraid I will not score well, but I don't really care. I'm having a blast building up this infrastructure within the confines of the challenge.

At this point, I'm not even sure I'll have any Kerbals on Duna by day 500.

I was also concerned that I wasn't getting many hits on my videos, but I'm having such fun making those, it doesn't really matter.

Sturmstiger has created an excellent challenge.

[ThreeMartiniLaunch]

I've run into a bit of a snag.

Turns out the Quantum Fuel Transfer system does not work in 0.21. I'm pretty sure I tested in 0.20, but forgot to with 0.21.

If anyone knows of a fix, please let me know.

If I don't have a fix by this evening, I'm going to have to redesign missions three and four using KAS and relaunch.

Fortunately, I back up my save games frequently so I can go back to a point where I don't have to duplicate too much work, but getting the fuel transfer system working would still save me a bunch of time.

[ThreeMartiniLaunch]

Ok. Got a decent work around from another thread.

I'll be switching to KAS, but rather than redesign the last two published launches (and one as of yet unpublished), I'll send up a tiny xfer vehicle to Minmus with two winches and a bunch of those removable attachment points. I will not be deducting this from my launch tonnage.

[ThreeMartiniLaunch]

. (Updated images and mission schedule in first post.)

This is a bonus double episode. Lots happens.

I refuel the Quadrapus and return it to Minmus orbit.

The pusher that pushed Selene Station to Minmus returns to Kerbin.

I launch a really tall ship, the Fuel Modules for various space stations.

I somehow manage to get them into Minmus orbit and even take one down to the surface to load up on fuel, and dock it to Selene.

It is looking less and less likely that I will have any Kerbals on Duna by day 500. Probably on Ike, but not Duna.

[Speeding Mullet]

I'm afraid I will not score well, but I don't really care. I'm having a blast building up this infrastructure within the confines of the challenge.

Haha, same. Now I've got such a reliable launch vehicle I keep going off track and designing payloads I want to launch on day 3000, instead of actually doing the missions.

[ThreeMartiniLaunch]

!

Where in, I cover four launches!

My Space Truck by Four, Duna space stations, another Quadrapus, and Ik's mining rig.

First post images and schedule are updated.

[ThreeMartiniLaunch]

is up.

In this update, I launch another pusher vehicle, and some supplies for the upcoming ejection window.

Day 500 comes and goes without a single Kerbal in the Duna system. It looks as though I will not have any Kerbals on Duna by day 1000.

I am not discouraged. This challenge has been a blast, and I've also had a great time doing the videos.

My approach was rather light hearted, but I think I am going to do this challenge again. This time, I'll actually plan in advance. Those launch windows come and go before you know it if you don't have a plan.

[ThreeMartiniLaunch]

Good news! It looks like I'll have Kerbals on Duna before day 1000 after all. I've got four launches unaccounted for prior to the last available ejection window.

Only one launch in this episode, but lots of other stuff going on.

I eject three ships to Duna including the behemoth Space Truck by Four.

I shuffle more fuel around from my Kethane mining operation.

And finally launch an additional pusher for use in the Kerbin system.

[Speeding Mullet]

I like the wobbling docking in ep7. I really like the heatshield package too.

[ThreeMartiniLaunch]

is up.

No new launches, but it's all about the massive Space Truck by Four and its cargo.

[Speeding Mullet]

Excellent work. I've just watched ep9 and it's convinced me to try kethane, but only after I have finished my challenge entry and updated ksp finally!

I've discovered during this challenge (My first foray into doing something other than building hilarious looking rockets) that I was missing a huge part of what the game can be: The closest I will ever be to deciding a clear direction on the expansion of humanity into space.

[ThreeMartiniLaunch]

is up.

No new launches, but lots of activity in the Duna system - particularly around Ike.

[ThreeMartiniLaunch]

is up.

Two launches and preparations for sending my first Kerbals to Duna.

[ThreeMartiniLaunch]

is up where in, I launch a couple more utilities and the Space Truck by Six arrives back at Kerbin after its long voyage from Duna.

[ThreeMartiniLaunch]

Destination Duna complete!

posted.

Summary:

Until Day 0500: 7 Launches, 175 tons NIMLKO, Early Mission Value = 0, Efficiency = 0.00

Until Day 1000: 15 Launches, 375 tons NIMLKO, Sustained Mission Value = 664, Efficiency = 1.77

Mission Execution 3, Crew Mobility 2, Base Mobility 0, Crew Safety 1, Mission Robustness 1(?), Achievements Score = 7

Mods: MechJeb, KAS, Improved Maneuver Nodes, Kerbal Alarm Clock, Sub-assembly Manager

Edited October 10, 2013 by ThreeMartiniLaunch

[Sirine]

Sirine's been here. Nice video collection. I'll watch ALL of them.