Mission "Muad'dib" to Duna and Ike (Picture heavy)

[Tokay Gris]

(Also found on my wordpress site: http://minionsinspace.wordpress.com )

After successfully draining Mun and Minimus in regards of science content the logical next target was Duna.

After careful consideration, it was decided to do that without the use of the science laboratory. Partly because the two targets of this mission (Duna and Ike) are so different in regard to landing and two separate landers were designed and partly because the only use of the laboratory is actually cleaning out experiments.

Also, in leaving the actual experiments on the surface, the ascent stages on the two bodies could be kept smaller.

So, the Science Vessel "Muad'Dib" was put together and placed on the launch pad:

From top to bottom:

- Ike lander

Placed upside down on top of the vessel, it contains two goo containers, two Jr.science modules and a few other science equipment. All of these have to be drained of containing data before launch, since all of that stays on Ike.

The acending capsule is then left in orbit around Ike and the pilot will transfer via EVA to the "Muad'Dib"

- Duna Lander

Almost the same applies to that part. It contains some additional science equipment, simply because Duna has an atmosphere.

Also, the data needs to be taken out of those parts and stored in the command capsule, since those will be either left on the surface or - if enough fuel is still in those radial tanks - decoupled during ascent.

- Satellites

Two satellites are placed radially around the cruiser to be put in polar orbits around Duna and Ike. Both have the ability to map the bodies, as well for anomalies, surface data and kethane. As yet, they are untested, but since the delta-V of the mission is calculated pretty much on the safe side (read: way more than enough) the additional weight was not a problem. Different than the two landers, those were designed in place and not separately from the landers.

- Main Cruiser

A rather simple cruiser with two jr. science modules and goo containers attached to get data during the passage through deep space.

The command module has only two seats, so this mission will be done with a crew of only two brave kerbals.

- Crew

Commanding: Jebediah Kerman

Astrogation: Bob Kerman

Edited January 16, 2014 by Tokay Gris

[Tokay Gris]

Mission report

Liftoff occurred without problems.

Besides some of the solid fuel boosters crashed into each other after decoupling, but no damage to the rest of the vessel occurred.

After LKO was obtained, Commander Jeb Kerman decided to test some of the stuff.

"Deploy solar panels on the Ike lander" - "Check"

"Deploy solar panels on the cruiser" - "Check"

"Deploy solar panels on the Duna lander" - "Ehm... Commander? There are no solar panels on the Duna lander" - "What?"

It turned out the Duna lander was not quite finished while it was attached to the cruiser. So it had no solar panels.

For safety reasons (and also, because it turns out you CAN do it with the KAS mod) it was decided to send another vessel to meet with the "Muad'dib" to attach some solar panels.

The repair vessel was put into orbit about 60 meters from the "Muad'dib". This had to do, since the "Muad'dib had no docking ports whatsoever.

Jeb had quite fun boosting around in his suit and screw some solar panels to the lander.

After this was accomplished and the new panels were tested...

...the mission was ready to boost for Duna!

[Tokay Gris]

Mission report

Leaving LKO was also without problems. Since a part of the ascent stage could be used for about half the burn time, there was a lot of fuel left.

And there the "Muad'dib" is taking one last look at Kerbin with Mun in the background and heads off to Duna.

After leaving Kerbins SOI, measurements were taken in deep space and then the data taken out of the modules.

During this EVA, Bob and Jeb are having a bit of fun:

To safe fuel (although not necessary) the modules were then ditched to continue on into space and eventually leave the system altogether.

After the transfer to Dunas SOI and a small correction burn mid transit, the red planet appears in the distance.

Since the first target was Ike and no direct approach presented itself, it was decided to do a bielliptical orbit to reach it.

Some minor course corrections later, the first braking burn was done about 100 km away from Dunas surface.

The orbit was a bit funny, but brought the "Muad'dib" eventually to Ike.

[Tokay Gris]

Mission report

At this point it turned out that somebody in the VAB hat screwed the satellites so tight to the cruiser that it was impossible to get them off. Much testing, thumping in EVA, kicking and hitting it hard with a screwdriver it was certain that this could not be helped. The satellites were useless and had to be brought back to Kerbin.

In Ikes orbit, Jebadiah Kerman entered the lander and decoupled it.

A landing site was chosen and the deorbit burn initiated.

Landing was again without an incident (obviously, Jeb has so much experience in crashing that he should have learned how it is done by now).

Here, the main features of the lander can be seen:

The two jr. science modules that are close to the ground and will stay there. As can be seen on this picture, this lander actually has two stages and only the small capsule on to will reach orbit again.

[Tokay Gris]

Mission report

After the data from the modules was extracted and the obligatory flag planted, the*Liftoff from Ike was without troubles.

Rendezvous was accomplished and Jebediah Kerman transferred to the cruiser taking with him the precious data. The remain ascent vessel was then left in orbit around Ike, while the cruiser transferred to Duna orbit.

In Dunas orbit, the lander was decoupled, after a session of scissors-paper-rock to decide who would be the landing pilot. Bob Kerman won.

For a landing site, the depression at the end of a large canyon was chosen. Mainly because it looked nice but also for the practical reason that it prolonged the time in atmosphere and allowed for longer parachute drag.

Landing worked like a charm. Actually, the parachutes cut loose some 20 metros off the ground and the landing was done without them. Since the atmosphere of Duna is so thin, it would be possible to land this lander without them at all and safe the weight.

[Tokay Gris]

Mission report

After touching down on Duna, the experiments were done and the data extracted from the modules. The obligatory flag was planted and some pictures taken.

And the scenic view:

Since there was quite a bit of fuel left in the lateral tanks and there was - different from the Ike lander - no computer brain on it, it was decided to use those two pods during ascent and dump them when empty.

Bob complained a bit about not optimal view from the command pod when the solar panel of the ascent pod was deployed. A note was taken to change the placement next time.

Bob put the lander close to the cruiser, went EVA, extracted the science data and transferred to the cruiser to meet with Jeb again.

After that, the cruiser was put in a safer orbit and away from the remaining ascent pod and the long wait for the transfer window began...

[Tokay Gris]

Mission report

After a very long period of waiting, Jeb and Bob were happy to finally plot a course back to Kerbin.

One minor course correction planed mid transfer and off went our heroes.

Transfer was boring and without incident.

After reaching Kerbins SOI again, an aerobrake maneuver was plotted.

After obtaining a stable orbit, KSC was targeted and the final deorbit burn was done.

Closing in on KSC, the tank with the luckless satellites was decoupled to destroy itself on impact, while the capsule floated down on parachutes.

Luckily, the concrete on the rails between VAB and the launch pad is very robust and took the impact without damage.

Landing the remaining pod with our brave Kerbals as well as all the precious data was no problem.

There just remains the final mission report...

[Tokay Gris]

Duna-Ike mission "Muad'dib" - Final report and evaluation

After the mainly success of the Duna-Ike mission, there remain just a few points to address:

Recommendation for future missions:

- Placement and in fact existence of solar panels should be checked before launch.

- All decouplers should be tested before launch or during a computer simulation.

- If not bringing a science laboratory to clean out the science equipment: Bring more jr. science modules and goo containers. The rest can be reset by the crew at hand. This mission missed out at least two biomes and those two can only be taken by basically redoing the mission.

Final analysis:

Primary objectives completed

Secondary objectives not completed:

- Not all biomes where sampled by science equipment

-- Reason: Not enough science equipment

-- Solution: Bring more

- No satellite placement was possible

-- Reason: Construction error in VAB

-- Solution: Test before launch

So, basically it worked almost as planned.

The mission "Muad'dib" can be counted as a success but leaves room for improvement.

[Soda Popinski]

Thanks for sharing. Nicely done. Great screenshots and narrative. I made some similar design faults in my last mission, where I couldn't decouple the COMMAND MODULE from my lifter, and had to replace the whole thing.

Nice name for the craft too. Guess it wasn't easier than calling it "Kwisatz Haderach." Guess Jeb didn't find any spice.

[Space Peanut]

Great work! Make it look so easy when I know it wasn't at all!!!

[Tokay Gris]

Guess Jeb didn't find any spice.

Well... come to think of it: Jeb lives about forever, so who knows what he did find?

[Tokay Gris]

Make it look so easy when I know it wasn't at all!!!

Well... it was surprisingly simple. And worked like charm. Except I put a lamp just above the capsule hatch and each time I sent a Kerbal on EVA, he flipped quite violently away and had to get back with his backpack first.

;-)