Space exploration with modest vessels

[Bekiekutmoar]

The KSC has finally received a new GPU and is planning a space program that relies on rather small/modest spacecraft. This path in space exploration has been chosen due to these advantages:

-quick preparation possible for missions

-better handling

-lower fuel consumption

Development for a reliable lander and launcher has already started and the first test-flight was recently carried out:

The first prototype rocket seconds after liftoff.

The launcher proved to be inadequate as a stable orbit wasn't achieved.

However, the lander did pass the test and is now in production. It seems the landing legs might have some difficulty supporting the mass of the lander in high gravity, but that'll be no problem on smaller celestial objects. More to come soon ... !

[Bekiekutmoar]

*Failed post - correction will follow later*

Edited November 24, 2013 by Bekiekutmoar

[Bekiekutmoar]

My previous post went down the drain somehow. Here's for another attempt:

The KSC has developed some capable and reliable spacecraft in a rather short timespan:

-lander (named 'Euryale')

-propulsion module (named 'Euryale Module')

-launcher (dubbed 'Lahkesis')

Jebediah, Bob and Bill are currently performing the first mission with these newly designed spacecraft, destination is the Mun and probably also Minmus. A short summary of the mission so far below with some visuals:

Launch of the Euryale Lander with the three crewman already onboard. The Lahkesis was used as launcher.

Around 50 km height the fairings were discarded and the lander exposed to the vastness of space.

Around 10 minutes after the launch of the lander, the Euryale Module left the launchpad. Once again with the Lahkesis Launcher.

Just one (ingame) hour after launching the first vessel, the lander docked with the module and the green light was given for departure to the Mun.

Insertion into the Munar SOI was a bit fuel-inefficient due to ackward timing, but a stable and somewhat circular orbit (50-55 km) was achieved 12 hours after first liftoff.

The lander separates from the module. A bit like Apollo, but yet different.

And now Jeb, Bill and Bob have landed succesfully in a crater near the equator of the Mun. A flag has been planted and the composition of surface rocks investigated, but the R&D facility seems to be closed. The lander has plenty of fuel left and this landing won't be the only for sure. To be continued ...

[Scotius]

Hehehe, i was expecting something...well, modest This is a huge, powerful lander and nuclear transfer stage fit for Duna mission combo. I can't wait to see what will you call an extravagant design. One more thing: if you have Clamp-o-Tron Sr. (a.k.a. big docking rings) researched, you should change regular docking ports between lander and transfer stage with them. Much better stability this way.

[Bekiekutmoar]

Well, for missions within SOI of Kerbin it is indeed somewhat overbuilt, but I'm confident the combination can indeed do a return mission to Duna and reach the Jool system. It is designed to be a 'one-size-fits-(almost)all' craft. When Duna and Jool are aligned, I'll send this relative leightweight combination (around 44-45 t) unchanged to these destinations.

[Scotius]

Yeah, i know what you intend to do.

This is my Isis lander\Nut transfer stage combo. Obviously mine is bigger and heavier, using modded nuclear engines. But it too is of "fit-all" variety. Isis carries enough dV and has sufficient TWR to land and get back in orbit from anywhere but Eve. Or so i think based on Engineer Redux readouts So far Isis managed to land on Duna and Ike, and performed admirably. Next is Dres.

[Bekiekutmoar]

That looks rather nice ... ! I see the lander also provides propulsion for the entire combination?

Don't know if my Euryale Lander could 'handle' Laythe. Perhaps with an extra fuel-tank docked underneath it. Tylo and Eve are most probably out of the question ... !

[Bekiekutmoar]

The three crewman have returned from a rather succesful maiden voyage with their lander. Its proven this lander is certainly able to handle interplanetary missions, within certain limits ofcourse. After the first landing on the Mun, the lander performed a sub-orbital hop and landed around 150 km to the northeast. Landscape wasn't very impressing over there, so the crew decided to head for Minmus by slingshotting around Kerbin. A trip of several days but with low fuel consumption.

The crew expressed their gratitude to the economical propulsion module by ditching it onto Minmus.

Two landings (suborbital hop) were carried out onto the little moon.

After that, Jeb, Bob and Bill decided to return home and re-entered the atmosphere about 1 week after liftoff.

The landing was a little rough and the lander turned into a pile of junk. But the crew expressed their enthousiasm about the Euryale lander and urged the KSC to proceed using this ship for future endeavours.

[Scotius]

That looks rather nice ... ! I see the lander also provides propulsion for the entire combination?

Don't know if my Euryale Lander could 'handle' Laythe. Perhaps with an extra fuel-tank docked underneath it. Tylo and Eve are most probably out of the question ... !

Actually, no. Well, yes I have lander engines on action group key, so i can switch them on if i need bigger thrust. It's rarely necessary though - transfer stage has its own nuclear engine: 2,5 meter sized nuke from KSPX mod. It is rougly equivalent to two stock NERVA's rolled into one - lower part count, less complicated design at the cost of a weight a bit bigger than two NERVA's. Lander is equipped with four Aurora engines from Nazari's mod. They have worse Isp than NERVA's, but are much shorter, thus well suited for a lander.

[Bekiekutmoar]

After the first succesful mission, a manned rover had to be developed to extend the possibilities of surface exploration for Kerbonauts on other planets and moons. It didn't took very long to fabricate a reliable and stable rover; the Hermes Rover. Top speed on Kerbin is 20 m/s and is hard to flip over. It is able to climb somewhat steep slopes with acceptable speed. It is to be seen how the rover will function in lower gravity environments ... !