JIMO - Jool Icy Moons Orbiter v1.0

[ssTALONps]

Jool Icy Moons Orbiter

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Overview

The JIMO (Jool Icy Moons Orbiter) is based on cancelled NASA design. Designed as ion-propelled deep space probe, the JIMO will serve as long-term unmanned exploration platform when 0.22 update is done.

Design

The original JIMO design uses neither RTGs or solar panels; it uses fission reactor. As fission reactor has power output in order of thousands compared with RTGs and solar panels, the NASA JIMO's ion propulsion system entirely relies on reactor power. Those large, solar panel-ish things depicted in the artist's conception are just mere radiators. As current KSP lacks fission reactor and do not have heat radiators, my only solution was to combine RTGs and solar panels together.

The JIMO's 24 RTGs and 40 solar panels is what powers those electricity-hungry ion engines. The RTGs are positioned at the front resembling reactor array, and solar panels are distributed along central truss depicting radiators. Within full or 3/4 sunlight, the JIMO can maintain full throttle indefinitely. This is, however, not the case when travelling into outer planets, especially Jool and Eeloo. At those distances, sunlight is too weak to maintain full throttle indefinitely, but don't worry; 14930 reserve units of EC and constant power from RTGs will ensure full throttle maneuver for several minutes.

Even with 4 PB-IONs, the acceleration is just too slow for effective single burn transfer to most, if not all, planets. This is unique aspect of ion engine probes; sacrificing time and dV for more efficient and lightweight design. As such, the JIMO's mass is under 17t, quite light for its size. For interplanetary transfers, perform at least 2 passes that gradually raises eccentricity and finally perform transfer injection burn. If you don't have much time to waste, then just attach disposable transfer stage under JIMO. NASA's JIMO planned to use chemical transfer stage for initial injection burn. On-board delta-v of over 8km/s will be sufficient for all one-way non-aerobraking journey within Kerbol system. I suggest you to get used to non-aerobraking mission profile as future update may enable heat damage.

The JIMO has fully functional RCS system and small supply of monopropellant for faster re-orientation. As fuel supply is small, use it only in emergency. Remember, patience is key to enjoying ion engines.

Launch vehicle is not included. Its lightweight will ensure anyone who can build medium class launch vehicle to successfully launch it. I recommend using Procedural Fairings Mod.

Hope you enjoy this ion behemoth!

Specifications

Mass: 16.36t

Propulsion: 4x PB-ION electric propulsion system (total 2kN)

Power Source: 24x PB-NUK RTG, 40x OX-4L PV panel

Delta-V: 8.376km/s (burn time 17h 13m 29s)

Resources: 14930 Electric Charge, 30100 Xenon Gas, 100 Monopropellant

Action Group

1 - Deploy antennae, Toggle solar panels

Edited September 25, 2013 by ssTALONps

[KOCOUR]

Looks nice!

[Rune]

Always nice to see real-life concepts accurately reproduced in KSP, especially when they are so well informed. Good looking too! A shame we are extremely unlikely to see a real JIMO fly.

Rune. Nuclear propulsion FTW!

[CreeperShift]

This is so awesome Totally love it!

[Kerbal01]

Looking good, make more of these types of craft.

[lincourtl]

That's a beautiful design.

[Captain Sierra]

Fission reactors, thermal radiators . . . . . . . Hmmmmmmmm. Ideas . . . .

Suddenly I am really glad that I am forcing myself to learn C#