jaws909's Mission Reports

[jaws909]

Mission: Munar 5

Type: Automated Rover

Objective: Explore Munar Surface, scout future Zeus landing site

Outcome: Success!

Status: Batteries depleted, located near Zeus 5 landing site (0* 13' 1" N 262* 44' 37" W

Notes: Munar 5 was a repeat of the failed Munar 4 mission, with the goal being to place the rover on the surface to conduct scientific exploration, as well as provide detailed data about the first planned Zeus landing site.

The mission proceeded much the same as Munar 4, with initial launch, orbit and trans-munar burn proceeding smoothly. This time, however, the craft entered a lower initial orbit around the Mun, to make the descent trajectory slower and thus less likely to end in an off target landing as had ultimately doomed Munar 4. Once the descent and braking burns were complete, the descent stage took over and guided the rover down to a landing on a flat area of terrain between the rolling hills and craters of the Munar surface.

This time, the computer accurately dropped the rover within 5m of the surface, allowing for a gentle landing well within the wheels' shock absorption threshold. The descent stage then climbed up and away, eventually running out of fuel and falling back into the Mun several KM away. With all systems operational, the rover set out to explore its surroundings, investigating several large boulders, transmitting back data about the Munar gravity and magnetic field, and taking several pictures of the surface and of Kerbin in the sky.

Afterwards, the rover was positioned to act as a homing beacon for the future Zeus mission which would seek to land nearby, and was placed in standby mode to conserve battery power...

Mission Photos:

Munar 5 prepares for launch

As the sun rises, Munar 5 prepares for the burn to carry it out to the Mun

The braking burn to start descent towards the surface

Braking burn complete, the fairings around the rover are jettisoned

Final burn of braking stage to start vertical descent

Final approach

Landed!

Munar 5 investigates a boulder near its landing site

Kerbin as seen from Munar 5

Munar 5 positioned to act as a beacon for a future Zeus lander

Edited September 13, 2013 by jaws909

[jaws909]

Mission: ML-3

Type: Unmanned LKO Test

Objective: Orbital testing of unmanned ML(Mun Lander)

Outcome: Success!

Status: Derelict, ejected into heliocentric orbit

Notes: The ML-3 mission was the first spaceflight of the new Mun Lander (ML). The first two, ML-1 and ML-2, had been prototype and training versions with incomplete or partially operational systems. ML-3 had all the systems installed that would be used on the actual Mun landing missions, with the exceptions of life-support and a docking port (since there would be no crew aboard and no accompanying Zeus spacecraft to dock with).

It was launched on top of a Titan II into a low-Kerbin orbit of roughly 90km, and then under remote control separated from the upper stage and fired its own engines to climb to an altitude of 125km. Mission controllers had the lander perform several burns, tested the landing gear and ladder systems, electrical systems and flight computer. Once they were satisfied that the systems were operating normally, a final long-duration engine test was performed, exhausting all remaining fuel in the lander to determine its capabilities. At the end of this burn, the craft was left on a trajectory that would carry it clear of Kerbin's gravity and send it into a heliocentric orbit, destined to drift there for the foreseeable future.

This mission was a precursor to the Zeus 3 mission, which would launch a fully operational Zeus/ML spacecraft into LKO for the purposes of testing all the aspects of the mission except the actual trip to, orbit of and landing on the Mun...

Mission Photos:

The Titan II carrying ML-3 stands by to launch

Liftoff

Reaching orbit and separating from the Titan II second stage

First of several engine tests

Final engine test and reaching escape velocity

[jaws909]

Mission: Zeus 3

Type: Manned LKO

Crew: Jebediah (Mission Commander), Scott (Command Module Pilot), Bob (ML Pilot/Flight Tech)

Objective: Orbital manned testing of Mun Lander (ML-4)

Outcome: Success!

Status: Recovered

Notes: Zeus 3 was to be the final test of the Mun Lander (ML) in LKO. It was also the last of the planned Zeus launches using the Titan II, with all future (planned) missions requiring the Titan III to get to the Mun and back. Jebediah, the intended commander for Zeus 5 (the first Mun landing mission) would lead the mission to allow for extra training with the lander, while Scott would serve as command module pilot and Bill would pilot the ML-4, dubbed "Kerra" in orbit during testing.

The launch proceeded smoothly, and after their initial ascent, the Zeus 3 crew proceeded with separating from the Titan II second stage and then extracting the lander from its carrier bay atop the now depleted ascent rocket. The lander crew then transferred over to Kerra to perform system start-ups and make final checks before un-docking proceeding with their "landing". During this phase of the mission they tested the Kerra's maneuvering, engines, electrical systems, and exterior lights and Jebediah performed an EVA to practice in preperation for making the historic descent down the Zeus 5 lander's ladder to the Mun's surface.

Afterwards, the Kerra returned to Zeus 3 where Scott successfully docked again with the lander and transferred the crew all back to the command module. The Kerra's mission now complete, it was set on a course that would send it to a fiery demise in Kerbin's atmosphere, while Zeus 3 completed one more orbit, then made their deorbit burn and safely returned to a water landing. With the successful completion of this mission, the KSC team was ready to move forward with testing the Titan III, which was soon to carry Zeus 4 and the first manned orbit of the Mun.

Mission Photos:

Zeus 3 on the launchpad

Climbing to orbit

Preparing to retrieve "Kerra", the Mun Lander for orbital testing

"Kerra" is successfully removed from its storage location

After un-docking, Bob snapped this photo of Zeus 3 from his pilot's seat in the lander

As Jeb descends the ladder, Bob remarks over the radio "watch that last step...its a doosey!"

Scott snaps a photo of Kerra from Zeus 3 as it returns after its orbital testing is complete

Zeus 3 passing over the KSC during the return descent

[jaws909]

Mission: Titan III Test

Type: Launch vehicle test

Objective: Test launch and trans-munar stages of Titan III Launch Vehicle

Outcome: Success!

Status: Payload and trans-munar stage impacted into Mun

Notes: Prior to the first Zeus launch using the Titan III rocket, an unmanned launch test was conducted in which the rocket carried a payload of equal weight to the Zeus spacecraft and its accompanying lander, with the goal of carrying it to orbit and then performing a burn using the third stage (trans-munar) engines to place it on a trajectory that would carry it to the Mun.

Launch proceeded smoothly, with the massive rocket slowly climbing skywards with a deafening roar. The first and second stages successfully pushed the craft into a suborbital trajectory, after which the third stage successfully completed its first burn to reach a stable orbit. Mission controllers then plotted out an acceptable intercept course to the Mun and transmitted the parameters to the nav-computer that was in control of the Titan III's payload and the still attached third stage. This burn also proceeded without a hitch, with a final course that ensured the craft would intercept, and ultimately crash into, the Mun.

With the successful completion of this test, and a final few tweaks and modifications to the Titan III, the green light was given to the Zeus 4 mission, which would be the first manned Mun orbit mission, and a final test of the ML (Mun Lander) in Munar orbit...

Mission Photos:

Titan III and its test payload prepare for launch

Liftoff

Second stage ignition

Second stage jettisoned

Third stage performing trans-Munar injection burn

[jaws909]

Mission: Zeus 4

Type: Manned Munar Orbit and Return

Crew: Buremone (Mission Commander), Bob (CM Pilot), Lanfry (ML Pilot/Flight Tech)

Objective: Complete manned orbit of Mun, conduct test of ML in Munar orbit

Outcome: Success!

Status: Recovered

Notes: Zeus 4 was the final step needed before the first manned landing on the Mun, set for Zeus 5, would be carried out. The Zeus 4 crew would run through every step of a full landing mission except for the landing itself (the ML would descend to 10km and then return to orbit and rendezvous). It was also the first manned launch using a Titan III launch vehicle.

The launch proceeded smoothly, with the Titan III, despite some vibrations and stability issues during the initial climb, safely carrying the Zeus 4 and its lander to a low-orbit. There, the crew performed final systems checks and went over the plotted course to the Mun with Mission Control, who gave them the green light to proceed. The third stage of the Titan III was fired for the second burn and accelerated them to a velocity sufficient to reach the Mun. A small correction burn would be required to ensure the spacecraft did not in fact crash into the Mun, but it was decided to wait until after they had extracted the ML from its compartment atop the Titan III third stage before this maneuver was completed. Bob proceeded with ejecting the third stage and ensuring the protective fairings were clear, then turned the Zeus 4 around and successfully docked with the ML, which the crew, following the tradition set by the Zeus 3 mission of naming their Mun Lander, dubbed "Goddard".

After final separation from the Titan III, the Zeus 4/Goddard carried on, making the final correction boost using RCS and then entering Munar orbit. Here the Zeus 4's service module engine was fired to ensure that they were captured in a stable orbit around the Mun. After circling around the dark side of the Mun and confirming with Mission Control that all systems were still green, the "Goddard" was powered up and prepared for flight, with Buremone and Lanfry transferring over and leaving Bob to man the Zeus 4 alone.

The two un-docked and, while Zeus 4 waited in a 50km orbit, Goddard's engine was fired while they were over the dark side of the Mun, to adjust its orbit to bring the craft within 10km while they were on the daylight side. Once they reached the target altitude, the Goddard's crew fired the engine a second time to reduce their orbital velocity and place them into a suborbital trajectory. This was the final step prior to the powered descent that would bring the ML to a landing on the surface. In order to ensure that the crew were not tempted to try and make an unscheduled landing, they were not provided with EVA suits. Thus, Goddard's engine was fired again to start climbing away from the Mun's tantalizingly close surface, and they returned to a rendezvous and docking with Zeus 4 and Bob.

After re-docking and transferring back to Zeus 4, the crew set about performing a burn to place them on a course where Goddard could be ejected and sent on a one way mission to the Mun on its own. This would later allow them to boast that theirs was the first lander to "land" on the Mun, even though it was in countless fragments scattered in and around a fresh impact crater at a undetermined location on the surface. Then they performed their Munar-escape burn, placing them into an orbit that would carry them clear of the Mun and ultimately onto a suborbital trajectory for a return to Kerbin. One final braking burn with the service module's engine to slow them down was performed prior to reentry, and then it was jettisoned. The Zeus 4 capsule and its pioneering crew splashed down safely in the ocean and were recovered...

Mission Photos:

Zeus 4 on the launch pad

Liftoff

Orbital insertion

Trans-Munar injection burn

Retrieving the ML "Goddard"

Goddard and its crew of two leave Zeus 4 and head for a "landing"

Zeus 4 from the Goddard's viewport

The Mun, as seen from the Goddard during its closest approach to the surface

Goddard as it returns to dock with Zeus 4

Leaving the Mun behind

Final braking burn before reentry

Returning to Kerbin

[jaws909]

Mission: Zeus 5

Type: Manned Munar Landing

Crew: Jebediah (Mission Commander), Bob (CM Pilot), Bill (ML Pilot/Flight Tech)

Objective: Land ML-5 "Athena" near Munar 5 rover

Outcome: Success!

Status: Recovered

Notes: Zeus 5 was the realization of countless hours of preparation, training, design, and meticulous planning. The crew, consisting of Jebediah as mission commander, Bob as command module pilot and Bill as ML pilot and flight technician, were destined to make history. Their objective: proceed to and land on the Mun, and take the first ever steps for Kerbal kind upon its surface.

Their launch proceeded using the same "script" that had been practiced by Zeus 4 before them. Their Titan III successfully carried them into a low-Kerbin orbit, and then (using the third stage) set them on a course for the Mun. Bob, as command module pilot, then set about the task of docking with and retrieving their lander, ML-5 "Athena" that would carry Jebediah and Bill to the Munar surface to make their historic landing. Several hours later, they were in orbit over the Mun.

Bill and Jebediah transferred over to Athena, and undocking from Zeus 5, began honing in on the beacon from Munar 5, the rover that had scouted out their landing site for them. They made their initial descent burn, and then, at 10km altitude over the flat terrain where Munar 5 was waiting for them, made the braking burn and prepared for landing. The final descent was nerve wracking for everyone at mission control, as the entire mission was in the hands of the Athena's pilot, Bill, to see it to success. Jebedaih was as confident as ever as the Munar surface came up to meet them, and Bill skillfully brought the lander to a near hover meters above the surface before cutting the throttle and letting the Athena's legs find the dusty surface and throw up little puffs as they set down.

Jebedaih wasted no time in suiting up and climbing out of Athena's crew cabin. He climbed the short distance down the ladder and dropped the last meter or so to the ground, kicking up a small cloud of dust and remarking "not quite the same as jumping down onto the grassy field back at the space center...". Bill followed shortly behind him, and together they planted a flag and placed a special plaque to mark their landing site, which they named the "Plains of Athena" in honor of their trusted spacecraft that had brought them safely down. Mission control, meanwhile, powered up the Munar 5 rover, which was about 2km away and still had a small amount of charge left in its batteries, and guided it to the explorers where they occupied themselves with various experiments sample collecting until it arrived. The on board camera was used to take a photo of the Athena, her crew and the flag, and Jebediah posed with the rover for a photo as well.

Eventually, after spending several hours on the surface, it was time to return to the Athena and make the journey back to orbit to meet Bob and Zeus 5 for the return to Kerbin. Bill fired up the Athena's engine and they blasted off, leaving their flag, plaque, the now powered down Munar 5 rover, and scores of foot prints, and headed back into orbit. There they were met by Bob, who guided Zeus 5 into a successful docking and helped them transfer over the various rocks and dust they'd collected from the surface. Then the lander was abandoned on a suborbital trajectory, and Zeus 5 made the final burn to carry it out of Munar orbit and onto a return course for home...

Finally, the Zeus 5 capsule jettisoned its service module and reentered the atmosphere of Kerbin, streaking through the sky and then, after slowing down to a safe speed, deployed parachutes and came down for a relatively soft landing in a highlands area where the crew was recovered safely and whisked away for decontamination, debriefing, and a heroes' welcome...

Mission Photos:

Zeus 5 on the launchpad

Liftoff

Burning for the Mun

Retrieving the Athena lander

Entering Munar orbit

Zeus 5 as seen from the departing Athena as it prepares to descend

Munar surface during descent

Final approach

Touchdown

Jebediah takes the first steps on the Mun

Athena and her crew as seen from the Munar 5 rover's camera

Jebediah with Munar 5 rover

Departing the Munar surface

Rendezvous with Zeus 5

Starting the return to Kerbin

Home is in sight...

[Specialist290]

Nicely done! Where will the kerbonauts set foot next, I wonder?

[jaws909]

Mission: Discovery 1

Type: Minmus Orbital Probe

Objective: Reach ~30km stable orbit around Minmus and return data

Outcome: Success!

Status: Active in low-Minmus orbit

Notes: Discovery 1 was the first of two planned probe missions to the smaller of Kerbin's moons. The Discovery program's primary purpose was to explore the small moon using an orbiter (Discovery 1) and a small lander probe (Discovery 2) and pave the way for a manned mission using the Zeus spacecraft to land on its surface. Discovery 1 was carried into space aboard a new Farshot I (FS-I) rocket, the first in a new series of rockets meant to carry probes on extended missions to Minmus, and later on interplanetary missions. The FS-I consisted of three stages, a solid-fueled launch stage of 4 boosters that would be recovered via parachute after being depleted and jettisoned, a central liquid fueled orbital stage, and a smaller liquid fueled transit stage.

Discovery 1 successfully lifted off from the KSC and reached a ~100km parking orbit. Mission control then plotted its course for the small moon of Minmus, and instructed the probe to perform the transfer burn to start its journey. Due to Minmus' inclined orbit, a series of corrections were made during the transit, during with the probe swung out past and then approached from behind to finally enter a slightly inclined 70km orbit. Once the orbit was stabilized, two more burns were performed with the transit stage to lower the probe's altitude to 35km before it was jettisoned. Final adjustments to place it in a 30km orbit were performed using the on-board RCS thrusters before the probe set to work mapping and analyzing the surface and transmitting its findings back to mission control...

Mission Photos:

Discovery 1 prepares for launch

Liftoff

Ascent to orbit

Transfer burn

Discovery 1's first image of Minmus

Entering orbit

Minmus from 30km altitude

[jaws909]

Mission: Discovery 2

Type: Minmus lander

Objective: Land probe on Minmus

Outcome: Success!

Status: Active on Minmus at 5* 39' 55" S 213* 54' 41" E

Notes: Discovery 2 was the second of two probes sent to Minmus ahead of a manned mission. The first had surveyed the small moon from orbit, and now it was time to try and land a probe on the surface to determine whether it was safe to do so with a manned spacecraft. Discovery 2 was, like Discovery 1, carried by a Farshot 1 (FS-1) rocket into orbit and then on to Minmus. The initial launch proceeded smoothly, and it wasn't long before the lander was in orbit and ready to start the trip out to Minmus. Mission control was able to use the experience they'd gained from Discovery 1 to plot a more efficient trajectory out to the more distant of Kerbin's moons, and the probe made the trip in less time and with more fuel to spare than Discovery 1 had.

Once Discovery 2 was safely in orbit around Minmus, mission control finalized the landing area in a relatively flat high-lands area near the equator, and began the descent process. After bringing the lander within 10km of the surface, the transit stage was jettisoned and Discovery 2's small engine took over to bring it to the surface. Its small legs were extended as it drifted slowly down, and mission controllers took note of the significantly weaker gravity of Minmus and the resulting slow descent.

The lander's tiny engine had no difficulty in slowing it down enough to allow for a safe landing, and it came to rest on a gentle slope, with its legs sinking into the fine, sandy soil. It then began transmitting back the first data and images from the surface of Minmus, which scientists on Kerbin eagerly began pouring over to prepare for a manned mission...

Mission Photos:

Liftoff

Reaching orbit

Leaving Kerbin behind

Arrival at Minmus

Starting the descent

Just before landing

From the surface

[astropapi1]

Hey, what camera mod are you using?

[jaws909]

http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/hullcam-vds/

That's the one I've been using...I know there's a couple out there, one of the other ones has movable cameras as well.

[jaws909]

Mission: Zeus 6

Type: Manned Minmus Landing

Crew: Scott (Mission Commander), Buremone (CM Pilot), Lanfry (ML Pilot/Flight Tech)

Objective: Land ML-6 on Minmus and return safely to Kerbin

Outcome: Success!

Status: Recovered

Notes: After Discovery 1 and 2 had paved the way, it was time to send a manned mission to Minmus, to complete the Zeus program's stated goal of manned landings on both the Mun and Minmus. Zeus 6 and its ML-6 "Bellatrix" were identical to the craft used in the successful Mun landing. The chosen crew, Scott, Buremone and Lanfry had played key roles in the early success of the Zeus program, and now was their time to shine with a historic landing of their own.

Launch from the KSC aboard a Titan-III proceeded without a hitch, with the veteran crew whom had all flown aboard previous missions using Titan rockets, skillfully guiding their craft into orbit. Then, after system checks and calculations with ground control, they performed their transfer burn to set them on a course for Minmus. At this stage the mission profile deviated from the Zeus 5 mission. Rather than discard the 3rd stage of their Titan-III and retrieve the lander while in transit, the Zeus 6 remained in its launch configuration and carried on all the way to Minmus, using the Titan-III third stage to enter and stabilize an orbit around Minmus. Only then did they set about securing the lander and ditching the third stage booster in orbit around Minmus.

From here, with Buremone manning the command module, Scott and Lanfry set out with their lander, "Bellatrix", and headed for the surface of Minmus. As they expected, the descent was slower than that of a Mun landing, with the weaker gravity allowing them to use much less fuel to reach the ground safely. Their target landing site put them within 10km of the Discovery 2 landing site, but it was decided that the distance was too great to attempt a trek to it given their limited pack-fuel. Scott was first out of the lander, planting a flag and a plaque, naming their landing site "The Highlands of Zeus" and commemorating the occasion with a photo after Lanfry joined him. Together they collected soil samples and took various readings for study back on Kerbin. Then it was time to climb back in the lander and lift off, returning to orbit and meeting up with Buremone and Zeus 6.

The return trip was much the same as Zeus 5's return from the Mun. Using the service module engine, the Zeus 6 crew performed an escape burn to place them on a trajectory back to Kerbin. The lander was jettisoned into an elliptical orbit around Kerbin, which carried it beyond Minmus' orbit at its highest point, and near 15 million KM at its closet point to Kerbin. Their return trajectory brought them into Kerbin's atmosphere at a steep inclination and on the night side, but they nonetheless landed safely under parachutes in a coastal area where they were picked up and taken home for much deserved R&R...

Mission Photos:

Zeus 6 prepares for launch

Liftoff

Entering orbit

Bound for Minmus

Entering orbit around Minmus

Lander retrieval

Bellatrix departs carrying Scott and Lanfry, headed for the surface

Approaching the surface

Final descent

Scott's first steps

The crew and their ship

Departing the surface

Headed home

Landing in the dark

[jaws909]

Moving forward...

After the success of the Zeus program and manned landings on both the Mun and Minmus, the KSC team was ready to push on in their quest to explore the universe. There were several different opinions on what should be the next goal for the space program. Some wanted to see the Zeus program continued, with more elaborate missions to the Mun and Minmus in order to explore the possibilities for temporary or permanent outposts on Kerbin's closest neighbors. Others wanted to push forward with proposals for missions to Duna and Eve, or to develop the idea of space stations in Kerbin's orbit for research and to serve as an orbital base for future missions. All of these different options resulted in a divided approach by the KSC team. It was decided to push forward with development of the Farshot series of rockets to launch interplanetary probe missions, while the Zeus program was extended in conjunction with the Titan Applications Program (TAP) to maximize the return on the substantial investments in time and money that had already been put into the Titan series of rockets with a series of proposals for Mun/Minmus rovers and extended stay habitation modules, as well as the Orbo-Lab project to place a space laboratory in LKO...

DEX-1 - Failed - First Duna probe attempt

Orbo-Lab - Success - First space station

-----

Mission: DEX-1

Type: Duna Lander

Objective: Explore Duna's atmospheric and gravitational properties

Outcome: Failed

Status: Destroyed during launch

Notes: DEX-1 (Duna Explorer 1) was the first attempt at an interplanetary probe. Bound for Duna, its mission was to analyze the atmosphere and measure the strength of the planet's gravity during its descent in order to help the KSC team plan a more complex series of missions using rovers and lander to further explore. It was carried by an FS-2 rocket, which failed during ascent and lost control, resulting in the probe being lost to a crash-landing into the ocean 4 minutes into flight...

Mission Photos:

DEX-1 prepares for launch

Liftoff

Spiraling out of control after first stage separation

Edited September 15, 2013 by jaws909

[jaws909]

Mission: Orbo-Lab

Type: LKO Space Laboratory

Objective: Place Orbo-Lab space station in 400km orbit

Outcome: Success!

Status: Active in LKO

Notes: While the interplanetary side of the house was struggling to get off the ground (literally), the team working on the TAP (Titan Applications Program) was ready to make headway with the launch of Orbo-Lab, the first space station. Its mission was to study various aspects of long-term space flight on both crew and equipment, to prepare for eventual long-term missions to the Mun, Minmus and beyond. The station was to be launched as one solid block aboard a Titan-III rocket. Once in orbit, it would be met and docked with a Zeus spacecraft and crew launched later to begin its mission...

The launch took place at night, with the venerable rocket that had taken men to the Mun and Minmus performing its new role admirably. The first and second stages carried to new station to an initial height of around 140km, where the third stage first stabilized its orbit, then pushed it higher to around 350km. Here the stations protective fairing panels were ejected and it separated from the 3rd stage booster. The final push to 400km was carried out using the station's on-board RCS thrusters, to allow for fine tuning as well as to make sure its orbit was clear of any debris that would otherwise be associated with carrying the 3rd stage all the way to its final planned orbit.

Once mission control had deemed the orbit to be stable, the remotely deployed the station's communications and solar panel arrays, and switched on the sensors and exterior lights. It was now ready to receive its first crew, who would follow aboard Zeus 7 at a later date...

Mission Photos:

The Titan-III carrying the Orbo-Lab station is prepared for a night launch

Liftoff

Climbing to orbit

Third stage booster is jettisoned

Orbo-Lab awaits its first crew

[NathanKell]

the Titan Applications Program (TAP)

Heh.

Really liking these!

One suggestion, if I might--a bit late for Titan/Zeus, but might apply forward. I'd suggest hiding your whole upper stage inside an interstage fairing so there's not such a huge bulge around the lander, and the slope is more gradual.

[Specialist290]

Nicely done! (...Aside from the one failure to launch, that is. Oh well, at least it wasn't putting a crew at risk.)

Also, you missed a closing tag on one of your images in the last post there.