Comet ISON rendez-vous challenge

[czokletmuss]

FLUFF

C/2012 S1, also known as Comet ISON or Comet Nevski–Novichonok, is a sungrazing comet discovered recently by kerbal scientists from the Tracking Station. The tail of the comet was expected to be truly spectactular view once it comes closer to the Sun.

But the unexpected happened.

Despite all predictions, comet ISON didn't develop its tail. Scientists are puzzled, politicians are blaming each other for this bizzare accident, media provide alarmistic raports about incoming Day of Judgment and public opinion observes the now presumed to be dead comet coming closer to Sun every day in horror. There is only one way to prevent panic from spreading and to find answers - mission to the comet ISON.

CHALLENGE DETAILS

Perform rendez-vous with comet ISON inactive nucleus by manned or unmanned mission.

You can get more points for sending the manned mission than probe and for doing it quickly - remember, the public opinion is horrified by possible implications of this bizarre event!

Attention - this challenge is very hard. Don't try this unless you have some experience as KSP player. And moderators, please don't close it

Additionaly, this challenge aims to achieve two goals:

1. Celebrate comet ISON arrival on our night sky

2. Show that rendez-vous with a comet/asteroid on an inclined orbit isn't easy, which always pops up in discussions about planetary defense (I'm looking at you, Just-Nuke-It people!)

ISON ORBITAL CHARACTERISTICS

CHALLENGE RULES

1. Only stock parts, with the exception of FASA Asteroids (obligatory mod!). Not that it's going to help you

2. Plugins helping to control your spacecraft by providing information (like Engineer) allowed.

3. You start with the same save file as everyone (download below) on the very beginning of the career mode. You do have 1000 free science points however.

4. Rendez-vous = getting your spacecraft to 500km from the comet.

5. Who have the most points wins.

6. You need to provide screenshot of your spacecraft while during rendez-vous.

POINTS

+5p - for every scientific instrument

+100p - for landing (contact with the object)

+500p - for rendez-vous

+1000p - for rendez-vous with 1 crew member [manned mission]

+1800p - for rendez-vous with 2 or more crew members [manned mission]

-1p - for every day which passed before you rendez-vous calculated by the universal time: for example, if you rendez-vous at Year 1 256 day 23 hours you get -256 points

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ISON

1. NASA site about comet ISON - http://www.nasa.gov/cometison/#.UoN1COKp47c

2. Cool visualizations - http://www.solarsystemscope.com/ison/

3. NASA Comet ISON Observing Campaign - http://www.isoncampaign.org

DOWNLOADS

1. FASA Asteroids (necessary to play!) on spaceport: http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/20-asteroids-from-fasa-2/

IMPORTANT – you have to manually edit the cfg file in the „FASA_Asteroid_CraterGrav†folder and change this:

// --- editor parameters ---
cost = 1

to this:

// --- editor parameters ---
TechRequired = start
entryCost = 0
cost = 1

2. Save file: http://www.sendspace.com/file/wycw2g

LEADERBOARD

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Have fun!

Edited November 13, 2013 by czokletmuss

[Donterrio]

*tumbleweed*

[tygoo7]

*tumbleweed*

Please don't necro

[vexx32]

In future, merely reporting the post is enough. Necroing is wasteful enough without others continually bumping the thread. I'm closing this, as it's extremely old and was raised for no reason whatsoever.