VAT Aerospace - 0.22 Career, Mechjeb-less and oh, so afraid

[Vat]

With the release of 0.22, I decided to reboot VAT Aerospace by starting from scratch in career mode. This thread will act as a journal of VA's missions.

It should be noted that I have been reliant on Mechjeb for the vast bulk of my achievements in 0.21, so the new frontier of doing my own piloting is somewhat daunting. As the company motto goes, "Cheap Laugh Engineering Meets Poor Piloting Skills"

[Vat]

The Coloni series is the first very basic set up of rockets under the limited parts available at the start.

Raphanel – configuration of eight RT-10 boosters attached via structural blocks to two stacked FL-T200 tanks fuelling a single LV-T30 liquid fuelled engine, with capsule equipped with a Communotron 16 and Mk16 Parachute. Vessel proved uncontrollable in testing, configuration abandoned.

Larini - configuration of four RT-10 boosters attached via structural blocks to two stacked FL-T200 tanks fuelling a single LV-T30 liquid fuelled engine, with capsule equipped with a Communotron 16 and Mk16 Parachute. Vessel successful launched on sub-orbital trajectory to a height of 82k (with insufficient fuel to achieve orbit) and during period in space brief EVA performed. Vehicle successfully splashed down north east of the Space Centre.

The VAS Coloni "Larini", the most successful of the Coloni platform's models

Tarquini - three stacked FL-T200 tank version of the Larini. Additional structural blocks added to improve platform rigidity. Vehicle achieved a suborbital flight of 70.000m in Jebediah Kerbin's hands, but benefit of additional stage marginal if of any benefit. Additional set of four RT-10 boosters added to upper stage on a testing version made the vehicle impossible to control.

Chaves - the four RT-10 solid fuel boosters were replaced by four two stacked FL-T200 tanks and engines. Tested in basic form, this unit was unable to achieve 10,000 metres before running out of fuel

[Vat]

The Chaves series proved to be the last of the Coloni series, and with new parts having been invented it was decided to retire the core platform and commence the Dallara series, which would combine the experience and lessons of the Coloni platform and the new parts to hopefully achieve orbit and advance the program. Of particular interest is the ability to decouple vertically now, which should assist considerably in shedding weight in the final climb to orbit

The Dallara series kicked off with the de Cesaris, a three stage platform, with four Rockomax BACC Solid fuels attached via structural pylons to a second stage of two FL-T400 tanks and an LT-T45 engine, and final stage of a capsule, an FL-T200 tank and LV-909 engine. Initial launches carry a Communotron 16 and Goo containment unit. The initial configuration was amended with the structural pylons dropped after the vehicle developed uncontrollable rotation after lift-off. Thanks to the ability to jettison lower stages, this 1.0b version comfortably achieved orbit with Jebediah Kerbin able to conduct an extended EVA (well....let's just say it took a while to get things under control and a few attempts to safely get him back to and inside the ship) and perform Goo observations. The vessel completed four orbits before making a parachuted landing on dry ground.

The Dallara 1.0b "de Cesaris", which successfully launched Jebediah Kerbin into orbit. Note the two Goo canisters are mounted to provide symmetry

Further developments have been made in the area of decoupling, with a new lateral decoupler now available. This will be incorporated into the next update for the Dallara series.

Of particular concern at the moment is the inability of the craft to produce sufficient power to allow Communotron transmission once the vessel is in orbit.

[Vat]

Two further launches of revised versions of the Dallara series saw the Vat Aerospace program take some further big steps.

Lehto - as per 1.0b (the de Cesaris), except solid fuel boosters mounted via lateral decouplers, and aero parts (nose caps, wings) added to the solid fuel boosters. This ship proved successful, boosting the capsule and upper stage comfortably to a orbit height of over 150,000 metres and easily returning. Electricity supplies continue to be an issue

Caffi- As per 1.1, but with additional fuel capacity for the final stage. This vessel was enormously successful, orbiting the Mun and seeing the upper stage travel to approximately halfway between the Mun and Minmus before safely splashing down on Kerbin after using aerobraking assist to supplement reverse thrust (the vessel was low on fuel).

The Dallara "Caffi" sits on the launchpad

Caffi at its furthest point from Kerbin

[Vat]

With exams over, I can post an update.

VAT Aerospace has made some enormous strides since the last update. Advances in science points saw the program develop larger engines and fuel tanks, allowing development of the Dresden launch platform, which allowed Mun and Minmus landers that were able to return to Kerbin. Small improvements were made to the Dresden series, initiating the St Petersberg platform, and a single manned capsule substituted for the probe head on the lander.

And so, this platform completed major local system objectives for VAT Aerospace - to land a Kerbal on the Mun and Minmus, and safely return them to Kerbin. To wit...

Jebediah - first Kerbal on the Mun

Bob - first Kerbal on Minmus

With these landings completed, the program is developing other priorities. A small probe was successfully landed on Duna, and adoption of the ScanSat technology has allowed full mapping of Kerbin, the Mun and Minmus, with a mapping probe sent to Eve, which has mapped around two thirds of the planet around the equator (insufficient fuel was left for polar regions - a later mission with a polar insertion is planned to complete mapping). A landing attempt with a probe was made but was ultimately unsuccessful due to the omission of a seperator between the de-orbiting stage and lander, but a lot of science was gained on the descent - a second lander, properly configured, is planned.

Immediate priorities:

- mapping of Eve and Duna, and their respective moons

- unmanned lander on Eve

- unmanned lander (as opposed to probe) on Duna

- three man capsule landings on the Mun and Minmus, with an eye to investigating biomes on the Mun, and establishing more permanent facilities on the Mun and Minmus

- investigation of anomalies

On a side note, my flying skills are definitely improving. I'm getting much more accurate with my insertions now, with aerobraking used for the Duna and Eve probes (adjust early, adjust often...), and unmanned/manned missions returning from the Mun and Minmus. Landing skills are on the improve, with the manned Minmus landing being particularly smooth (although the flat areas make for a pretty easy time of it). Jeb's landing on the Mun was somewhat fraught, with the landing ending up on its side but able to be righted with gyros. I need to make a habit of landing in daylight - the lights aren't really powerful enough for someone of my skill to safely put on in sloped regions at night.

I have installed two mods - Kerbal Alarm Clock and as mentioned above, ScanSat. The KAC mod is particularly helpful - I've been able to study and have the game run, setting the alarm and time warp to coincide with study breaks, as well as negating my unfortunate habit of warping past mission critical moments.

Edited November 8, 2013 by Vat

[Vat]

Oh, and some fail shots: