Kapricorn One !!!

[Death Engineering]

How much fuel does that ascent stage have, because if you are using a LV-909, then you should be able to manage it, but not having power could be a problem. If you do run out of power, and you have made it to space, you might be able to get out and push the ship onto the correct heading, and stop it through time warp, then execute the node. After that point, it should just be a case of rendezvousing the CM to the lander, instead of the other way around.

The ascent stage has 16 toroid tanks (160). It wasn't too close on fuel for the ascent, but getting back to Kerbin was very tight. If I hadn't decided at the last moment to pull the capsule away and transfer the remaining fuel from the ascent stage to the planetary transfer stage, they'd be orbiting Kerbol.

[Patupi]

I've had a thought on this (Yes, I'm considering yet ANOTHER Duna challenge). I've never actually used Deadly re-entry, but would that score points? Just a thought. It'd certainly make aerobraking and re-entry back at Kerbin tricky, coming in at interplanetary speeds. Duna aerobraking, that's a little easier (unless you're doing a non-hohmann transfer! Speeds can be really high then)

[Deathsoul097]

Hmm, I might put that in, but I'm not sure how it works or how to score it appropriately, having never used it myself.

[Guest links123]

I might put that in, I am pitty much sure how that all works.

[Patupi]

Glad to help... and now I've half built my ship and forgot to install Deadly Re-entry. A bit late now I think, given the complexities of my landers... Yeah, plural. Might be overdoing my vessel just a tad. Actually wasn't going for the '1000ton+' score... but I'm already up to 700tons and I haven't finished yet. Hmmm. Two landers (one remote piloted for kethane mining), seperate command and IP stages, possibly another minilander or two, maybe some sats... this thing is kinda getting out of hand here. I'm at work right now, but when I get home I'll post a pic or two.

(Aaaand, that's not going to be tonight. I ****ed up at work (Minor mistake, but major problem) so I have to stay over to get this thing done. Gonna be a late night I think )

Edited October 24, 2013 by Patupi

[Patupi]

OK, it's late, and I didn't actually do anything in KSP tonight, but I did quickly load it up and take a few snapshots. My current ship, the Koviet Reject for the Virgo Two project (Names subject to revision later without warning , Finalized when I have a finished ship!) is mostly done. I'm thinking of stacking a six way seperator under the lower lander inside the fairing, and having sats etc on those. Plus, there is no interplanetary stage yet... which in turn will likely mean more boosters down below to lift it. This thing is going to be big!

One thing I'm also... sort of... considering is adding one (or two for Kerbin launch stability. Oddly placed wings can wreck a good rocket launch.) Firespitter powered planes to explore Duna in. I've done rovers a lot recently and I'm notoriously bad at planes (designing and flying them)... so I figured I might give it a go. However this thing is huge, I might not be able to fit it in and keep part count slightly reasonable.

(EDIT: Oh, mods used so far: Actions on the Fly, Editor Extensions, Kosmos Pack, Bobcat's Soviet pack, Kethane, Ioncross, Mechjeb (just for data stuff, aerobrake and landing prediction (but not autolanding), and Smart ASS. I rarely use the autopilot and never have used the auto-docking.), KAS, Procedural Fairings and I plan to put in Universe Replacer... just because I like the stellar backdrop . I actually have KSP Interstellar installed in this save, but I won't be using any of those parts. They are too overpowered for this challenge! )

Edited October 25, 2013 by Patupi

[Deathsoul097]

Looking really good there, Patupi, you should add the planes, I will count them as rovers if you want (but you will only get one bonus of +30pts), and they just might manage to get you the +100 for being over 1000 tonnes.

[Patupi]

I think the IP stage plus more boosters will do that, though the IP stage only needs to get TO Duna, given the Kethane miner. Assuming it all goes to plan I'll see if I can get a small lightweight plane to work on Duna first (hyperedit for testing purposes only... it's a KSC simulator! ) before I try to see if I can fit them on the rocket. Assuming I manage to overcome my poor history with planes I'll post some pics of the testing.

(EDIT: does anyone know of any small airplane wings? I was trying to make a two seat plane using a Qube probe body and two external seats... but any wing I put on it is just huge!)

(2nd EDIT: Hmm, I keep getting crashes, and it might be in part because the rocket is sticking up beyond the top of the VAB... OK, probably more likely memory issues, with Soviet mod and Kosmos in... and possibly KSP Interstellar... which I'm not using. I'll see if I can get rid of that for the moment.)

Edited October 26, 2013 by Patupi

[Patupi]

I may have to do without one or the other of Kosmos or Soviet mod. It's a bit of a toss up. The landers are mostly the Soviet mod, but the launcher is mostly Kosmos. This will mean a re-design of course. Right now the thing is almost complete as is, but takes about five minutes to get from the VAB to the pad... then crashes to desktop. It's only 450 parts. I've launched ships with larger parts count than that before (though not this tall!), so I'm guessing it must be memory considerations in the textures. Hopefully doing away with one will help.

[Guest links123]

You launched ships with larger parts, 1000 tons would have been a better idea.

[Deathsoul097]

This is looking quite good Patupi. Also, I think Kosmos may be causing the problems, It did with me a little while back as well.

[NASAFanboy]

Done.

I "launched" the spacecraft to Duna, while the crew got transported to a little outpost in the desert.

I then build an Apollo style lander, while hyper editing the crew to Duna for filming, then "hyping" them back. The filming is almost over.

I think I mindscrewed the crew, though. They don't know whether it's fake, or whether it's legit.

[Deathsoul097]

lol

[Patupi]

Hmm, odd. Since then I'd taken out Soviet and kept Kosmos and though I've had one crash that seems to be it *crosses fingers*. Plus that crash was a plane on the runway with no Kosmos parts. I'll keep that in mind though DeathSoul097

[Deathsoul097]

I guess it could go either way. I have never used the soviet pack, though.

[Deathsoul097]

Bump :'(

[Deathsoul097]

Due to apparent lack of Interest, I declare my thread closed. :'(

Mods, if you would be so kind...