Triskelion Station Mk. II

[Saltpeter]

The circularization burn put the Triskelion 250km over Kerbin. This is the best it can do until the fuel ferry arrives. Donory can see the KSP site from the helm.

[Saltpeter]

The fuel ferry has arrived! With this load of fuel the Triskelion has everything it needs to rendezvous with Hexaflexagon Station.

[Camaron]

I feel like, in the future, you would gain a lot from using one of these fuel ferries to push Hexaflexagon to a higher orbit. Sinking something as big as Triskelion to low orbit can be a lot of extra effort.

Overall that was a really cool adventure.

Also, I'll be working on giving the next Titan enough kick to put itself into a better (higher) orbit from the start, without having to be dragged there, or use it's core engine's fuel. (Although the center column's purpose is just that - mobility)

The last of my new PC's parts should get here by next weekend. Hopefully a little sooner.

[Saltpeter]

The Triskelion and her crew are docked with Hexaflexagon Station. The mission is complete! The image of the final dock before Kerbol, Kerbin, and the Mun is sure to be used on the obverse of the next series of minted currency.

But the task at hand is not yet complete. Lobal, Kelbald, Guskin, Jim, Kirk, and Bill Kerman need to be safely delivered home. And not just in plain old landers, but in style! Plans are being drawn up for a special transport to bring back the test crew and the stranded kerbs.

[Saltpeter]

You make a good point, though it was better to have the station in lower orbit for the start because it would've made the Triskelion's preparation all the more expensive. Now that it's here, though, you're absolutely right.

The adventure is hardly over! This was only the first mission. The next mission will keep the Triskelion closer to home, but expand on it's usefulness as a mothership. Stay tuned as we deliver the stranded kerbs home!

[Saltpeter]

(The next update may take a while; I'm absolutely terrible at making planes in this game and am looking up all the tutorials right now.)

[Saltpeter]

KSP engineers are hard at work making their very first spaceplane. In fact, it's the very first plane of any kind they've tried to make. The crew has voiced their concerns, but ground control assures them that extensive testing will go into the plane's design before it's used to bring the crew home.

So far it is proven to safely jettison the landers, and make touchdown, though newbie jet pilot, Calbart Kerman, need more practice on the landing, and there is no guarantee yet that it can make it to Hexaflexagon.

[Saltpeter]

The plane is confirmed to deliver three lander cans into orbit. Test flights for deorbit and landing are underway.

The plane has a serious lift profile.

[Camaron]

Coulda just sent up a couple of pods. But. NAAAAH! That would be too easy. State of the Art Spaceplane. That's the ticket!

[Saltpeter]

Testing of the release mechanism for the landers. Landing this plane is quite difficult.

- - - Updated - - -

Only the best for Kerbin's planetary heroes!

[Saltpeter]

Calbart walks away from a good landing to inspect the landers for damage.

[Saltpeter]

(One MechJeb reinstall later, I discovered a Spaceplane Guidance tool. Yes please.)

(Actually, now MechJeb isn't appearing at all. This is a problem. Stand by.)

Edited April 21, 2014 by Saltpeter

[Saltpeter]

MechJeb has been restored. But every jet that the KSP has come up with turns out to be unlandable. Temptations are strong to simply build a rocket to accomplish the job. Much like recommendations for use of the Triskelion's radial ports, the KSP is polling the community for spaceplane designs.

[ZooNamedGames]

(One MechJeb reinstall later, I discovered a Spaceplane Guidance tool. Yes please.)

(Actually, now MechJeb isn't appearing at all. This is a problem. Stand by.)

That happened to me? What fix? What fix??

[Saltpeter]

(The issue for me was incompatibility with the Docking Port Alignment Indicator mod. I removed it and that solved the problem.)

I am seeking outside sources of spaceplane expertise for the construction of the transport. The KSP eagerly awaits the results.

[ZooNamedGames]

(The issue for me was incompatibility with the Docking Port Alignment Indicator mod. I removed it and that solved the problem.)

I am seeking outside sources of spaceplane expertise for the construction of the transport. The KSP eagerly awaits the results.

I do wish to tell you that I have PLENTY of aircraft experience. For example, my Duna glider. It's not quick or heavy, but it gets the job done and from the second you want to fire it's engines, it WANTS to fly. It flys amazingly everywhere (except Duna shockingly). It can glide for 25+ km (I flew from the insular Infeild back the KSC and landed safely under now power except the power to get me in the air).

So I can easily BUILD you a aircraft, but a SSTO needs more time, I'm at college ATM, but I have a design up on my computer right now, still needing a few more things, but almost complete. It also needs testing, but that shouldn't be problem once I get home.

[Saltpeter]

Meanwhile, back at the labs...

Whispers of rumors abound at the KSP of a miraculous new substance that will make exploration of the kerbolar system far easier: Kethane. While the stranded crew awaits its ride home, Donory and the rest of the standing crew of the Triskelion are preparing for their next mission:

1. Launch a permanent probe to Minmus orbit to scan the surface for kethane.

2. Establish at least two permanent extraction facilities and one launch base on the surface of Minmus.

3. Provide one sturdy, manned rover for the staff at the base.

4. Assemble a permanently staffed refinery in Minmus orbit.

5. Provide one kethane-burning ferry ship to transport raw kethane between the extractors and the refinery.

6. Attach to the refinery a storage facility for converted fuels.

With the exception of the last objective, the Triskelion is to deliver all of the materials for this mission in a single trip. To save on mass, the Triskelion will only have 20% capacity of fuel. It is to return home with a full tank of fuel as a testament to kerbal excellence.

Edited April 22, 2014 by Saltpeter

[Saltpeter]

The kethane probe was simple enough to launch and get into Minmus orbit, of course. It is now circling the moon scanning for kethane deposits. KSP scientists describe the process as "totally cool."

[Saltpeter]

The KSP proudly presents is mining rover! Test launches are underway to figure out exactly how kethane works. Here are some opinions from the crew:

Donory: "You're...you're not serious, are you?"

Jebediah: "Reminds me of the junkyard back home."

Jerwin: *assorted laughter*

Bill: "It's a space truck. You built a space truck."

[Saltpeter]

The Space Truck is a surprise hit with folks on the ground. People are using various images of it soaring over Kerbin as their desktop wallpapers the world over.

[Saltpeter]

It works! It works! Now I just need to figure out how to build a level moon base.

[Saltpeter]

I just had a flash of brilliance. The moon base will be assembled in orbit and land as a complete unit! All that's required is for each component to be independently maneuverable.

[Saltpeter]

The kethane tank module. each part is to be individually attached to the Triskelion prior to departure, but this launch is to test the self-assembly in orbit. This rocket could probably do the job of delivering the system to Minmus on its own, but that would be too easy.

[Saltpeter]

The module was very easy to assemble in space. The low gravity of Minmus will make it easy to land as a unit. Parachute modules can be attached to the side tanks for future excursions to atmospheric bodies such as Duna or Eve.

Or even Kerbin.

Edited April 23, 2014 by Saltpeter

[Saltpeter]

The Refinery Module is using a new part, the Service Compartment Tube! It stores all the bits and bobs that make the ships slightly more ugly, like radioisotope generators and Mechjeb.