Triskelion Station Mk. II

[Saltpeter]

The Barghest Habitation Module has docked with the Triskelion. This view shows all the sciency bits attached to the underside. In the event of running empty while landing, the engines provide enough crumple zone to protect everything else. Unintended feature, but decidedly good.

[Camaron]

And we're back, in style!

It's a good thing you have mechjeb or landing on that bad would be nearly impossible.

Are you going to be using a Jetcraft for the Laythe landings? It would make sense because it's the only other Oxygen-atmosphere planet right now.

By the way, I went through the trouble of creating a set of Kethane conversion rates that make a lot more sense. If you want them, you can have them.

[Saltpeter]

Fortunately, I didn't make the Barghest with landing from space in mind. It's for VTOL craft, which should be a bit easier to land in so small a space. If a lander has to splash down, that's acceptable, as long as it's nearby. There will definitely be jetcraft for Laythe.

Sure, I'll take your modifications.

[Saltpeter]

The Landing Module has docked with the Triskelion. The Habitation Module is nowhere in sight, and scientists have no recollection of having launched it.

[Camaron]

Here's a mediafire link to my copy of the two converters. Only the part.cfg file is actually different, with the altered specs.

If you have any worries about it, just make a copy of the original first, so you can easily revert it if you choose.

https://www./?a8r515u87tr5f3p

If you aren't already familiar, the Kethane mod's parts are in: KSP 23.5\GameData\Kethane\Parts.

Looks like you're setting up for one crazy ambitious mission here. I'm anxious to see how it plays out.

[Saltpeter]

By the way, I don't think you ever posted a link for your new Titan-class.

[Camaron]

Here it is:

http://www./download/k3gbzc6ga65tl8h/Titan_Thirteen.rar

It's not nearly up to your usual monopropellant standards, but I think you can handle a little bit of tweaking.

6/22 Edit: Nevermind. The ship in my next post is far superior.

And here's the Andromeda M as well. It would take seven or eight Titan XIII's to load Andromeda M. That's probably a few hours time, easy. Especially since neither ship has RCS on their own, so you would have to update one of them.

https://www./?86vussn6aa2s0y5

To be honest, I really haven't played much since late May either.

Edited June 28, 2014 by Camaron

[Saltpeter]

D: Well, maybe if I keep updating you'll get more ideas.

A fresh Habitation Module has been docked with the Triskelion. The protruding laboratory allows the main platform to clear the xenon storage module which is docked right next to it. Now scientists just need to think of something else to put on a floating platform to justify a third launch to retain symmetry.

[Saltpeter]

"It's just a platform with contai--"

"I know, it's great, launch it."

"But we could've just--"

"I don't CARE, LAUNCH IT."

[Saltpeter]

All three floating base modules are docked to the Triskelion. Now the landers need to be replaced, a new CKC needs to attached to the front, and science probes need to be added.

In a flagrant fourth-wall break, Donory Kerman has decided to spare Saltpeter's computer and postpone the addition of further material to perform a task a long time in the making: Hexaflexagon Station is going to be moved to a 240km orbit around Kerbin. The original orbit of 125km was to save fuel on launches from Kerbin to Hexaflexagon. This latest series of launches is probably the largest delivery that will ever be made to Hexaflexagon, so it's okay to move the orbit up now.

Edited June 19, 2014 by Saltpeter

[Saltpeter]

Hexaflexagon Station is now orbiting Kerbin at 244km. I've decided to split this into two parts, because these platforms are honking huge and eating up my computer. I will deliver the CKC and two science probes to the Triskelion, then travel to Laythe to unload the platforms. I will complete the moon mining and Eeloo science mission before returning to Kerbin. Delivering the plane, the amphibious vehicle, and the kerbal to Laythe will happen in a second trip, when I put the vehicles and landers on the Triskelion.

[Camaron]

The new Titan Thirteen is much more capable of launching itself to higher altitudes. I've had one of them achieve a 520km round orbit on its launcher during testing - and keep in mind I fly manual. A perfectionist like mechjeb could probably do even better. Just something to look forward to once Hexaflexagon finally runs out of juice.

[Camaron]

...And this ship which I've just finished, after building and scrapping two other full size Titan projects for unstable launchers, Is the most versatile, maneuverable Titan yet.

I'll admit, it's not quite as monstrous as the Thirteen, at "only" 1,860 tons, but here are some of it's highlights.

- Eight Kerbal Capacity. Ship is controlled by a probe brain in the center - "control from here" is not something that should be needed with this ship.

- Relatively large Kethane storage capacity, and four large Converters to put it to work.

- 32 Large Monopropellant containers, for a total of 24,000 units of monopropellant for all your RCS uses.

- Powerful maneuvering systems, based on a centralized design including 46 SAS units, and 32 onboard RCS thrusters.

- Large Docks at both ends, as well as medium and small docks on the outside, and Claws for grabbing anything else that needs to be grabbed, even if it doesn't have docks. Passing by an old scrap ship? Eat that fool.

- Six Nuclear engines. Very underpowered for a ship this size, but magnificently efficient.

- Launch cluster can propel this craft to a full 800km round orbit. Or halfway to the Mun. Whichever suits your fancy.

https://www./?qwj6qscozzlbazk

[Camaron]

0.24 should be out soon. I'm itching with anticipation for that.

In the meantime, we haven't heard from you in almost a week, Saltpeter. Any update? More trouble at home? What's up?

[Saltpeter]

Yikes. I dropped off the face of the planet for a while there. Sorry about that. I had to take a break because the constant 5 FPS upon approaching the Triskelion was getting to me, and I have a few more launches to make before the ship can set a course for Laythe. Stand by.

[Camaron]

Might be worth finding or making a mod that can give you one huge panel.

If you want a common alternative, use the welding mod, which will fuse multiple physics objects into each other to make one. Big many-parted panels like this are one of the most common uses for that mod, usually used with "Heat Shields"

[Saltpeter]

I might look into that. @.@ We'll see.

[Saltpeter]

I just updated everything. I have 10,000 of some...THING that I have no idea what it is. @_@ Everything is different. Well anyway, I've begun constructing a properly welded platform.

[Saltpeter]

(Never mind, the welding mod no longer works as of 2.4. I'm going to just try out some of these new contracts while I wait for a fix. Sorry, guys. D: )

Edited July 24, 2014 by Saltpeter

[Camaron]

Oh, thats a shame. In any case enjoy the contracts system. I did what I always do when career mode gets a big change, and started over from scratch.

[Saltpeter]

I am definitely not starting over from scratch. I will eventually have to replace the current Triskelion, and apparently to launch the current one costs over 2 million credits. Probably even more to launch your Titan ships. I don't have that much yet. ;>.> Going H.A.M. for my mission and doing it in Career mode! As far as I'm concerned, I already am starting from scratch, due to lack of credits.

What I like most is that there are contracts I can take which coincide with the Triskelion's mission.

[Camaron]

Here are some free tips that can keep money relatively available for you.

1) Build some sort of pod-station around Kerbin at 100KM orbit. Use it to break away a pod from time to time to go get those silly Kerbals that repeatedly get themselves stranded in orbit. Having a pod station may be a bit more expensive than a traditional plane or rocket solution, but you will save yourself LOADS of time by NOT relaunching new rescue crafts every single time.

2) Land something manned on every planet/moon you can. Every time a "Plant a Flag" contract appears. Just jam another one in the ground! Easy!

3) Park a science probe around every planet/moon you can, and every time a "Transmit Science" contract appears, transmit any one thing, even if it counts for zero science, and nab that easy paycheck!

These are the easiest three ways I have found to make money without parts-test contracts. If you encounter a contract that just sucks or pays too little. you can freely reject it and soon have new offers.

Actually, I was going to build the best versions of these things that I could come up with anyway. Would you like to have what I create for those tips?

Edited July 25, 2014 by Camaron

[Saltpeter]

I figured those out on my own. ;>.> I keep not parking probes because I keep wanting to try and recover them, but only one has succeeded so far.

[Camaron]

Leave probe in orbit. Transmit anything once for contract. Forget about probe. Get another contract and repeat. NEVER RECOVER PROBE! They enjoy their isolated homes.

Why spend 45 minutes sending a Duna probe home, and another 45 sending a new one out when you could just leave it be?

[Saltpeter]

Because I haven't mined the delicious recovery-from-landing-on-other-bodies science yet.