Recreate the Ares mission to mars (Duna) from the Stephen Baxter novel "Voyage"

[kerbonaut101]

Based on this video (which i did not make), recreate the mission from the Stephen Baxter novel "Voyage". Please include screenshots of the launch, propulsion stack rendezvous, the trans-duna injection burn, Eve slingshot, Duna orbit insertion, landing of the DEM (Duna Exploration Module), DEM rendezvous with the CSM/Propulsion Stack, CSM Kerban reentry. Show screenshots of your rockets in the VAB.

RULES

- Try and keep as close to the video as you can

- NO Nuclear engines (chemical rockets are used in the video)

- The Eve slingshot is optional (Slingshots are difficult to set up, but they DO save fuel so do it if you can )

- The propulsion stack rendezvous IS required

- You must not use parachutes for your Duna landing (it must be a powered soft landing)

- You need to list the mods you use

Edited March 23, 2014 by kerbonaut101

[TJPrime]

Some of the parts needed aren't stock. This seems a little bit more possible with mods, such as KW

[kerbonaut101]

Some of the parts needed aren't stock. This seems a little bit more possible with mods, such as KW

I edited the post

[ihtoit]

no flight computer? That's not insane, that's just plain insane. I wouldn't take anything more advanced than a Cherokee up without an autopilot.

[kerbonaut101]

no flight computer? That's not insane, that's just plain insane. I wouldn't take anything more advanced than a Cherokee up without an autopilot.

Edited the post to make it less insane

Edited March 22, 2014 by kerbonaut101

[Ravenchant]

no flight computer? That's not insane, that's just plain insane. I wouldn't take anything more advanced than a Cherokee up without an autopilot.

Do you mean that they had no flight computer in the novel or that we have to do the challenge without one? Because the only thing really hard to do without it in stock KSP would be the Venus (Eve) slingshot...

Anyway, the challenge looks interesting enough... I may try

[Kasuha]

Eve slingsghshot to Duna is completely pointless but I don't see anything hard on it, no flight computers are necessary.

The question of course is to what details does OP require us to follow the scenario. It would be nice if he spent some more time on providing details and setting up rules.

[Jasonden]

It would be nice if he spent some more time on providing details and setting up rules.

Yah. For instance, what's the point of the Service Module when its engine never gets fired? Do we need that, then? What aspects of the scenario are required, and what's optional? Is there scoring?

[kerbonaut101]

original post updated with a few rules, couldn't really think of many. Just try and stay as close to the video as possible

[Jasonden]

(Slingshots are difficult to set up, but they DO save fuel so do it if you can )

They can save fuel. But they don't in this case -- dV Kerbin->Duna and Kerbin->Eve are nearly identical. The reason for the Venus gravity-assist in this Apollo-like Mars mission is to reduce overall mission duration and the time on Mars' surface. Using Hohmann transfer trajectories to Mars there would be a ~1.5 year duration on Mars before the return transfer window opened up. Given difficulties with Mars dust getting everywhere and supplies, one idea is to limit the duration at Mars by using this Venus slingshot. The slingshot trajectory allows for a return window just 6 weeks or so after arrival. So it allows for a short-duration Mars mission. I'll look for the same here.

[kerbonaut101]

They can save fuel. But they don't in this case -- dV Kerbin->Duna and Kerbin->Eve are nearly identical. The reason for the Venus gravity-assist in this Apollo-like Mars mission is to reduce overall mission duration and the time on Mars' surface. Using Hohmann transfer trajectories to Mars there would be a ~1.5 year duration on Mars before the return transfer window opened up. Given difficulties with Mars dust getting everywhere and supplies, one idea is to limit the duration at Mars by using this Venus slingshot. The slingshot trajectory allows for a return window just 6 weeks or so after arrival. So it allows for a short-duration Mars mission. I'll look for the same here.

We'll its optional I suppose in the case of KSP a slingshot is not really needed.

[von Ziegendorf]

This mission performs propulsive Mars orbit capture. By making Venus gravity assist they needed to use a lot more delta-v because they were coming from more eccentric orbit than regular Hohmann transfer. But the challenge itself looks fine

[Jasonden]

This mission performs propulsive Mars orbit capture. By making Venus gravity assist they needed to use a lot more delta-v because they were coming from more eccentric orbit than regular Hohmann transfer. But the challenge itself looks fine

All-propulsive Duna landing, too -- I don't see any parachutes.

[kerbonaut101]

All-propulsive Duna landing, too -- I don't see any parachutes.

all part of the fun

[MedwedianPresident]

The "Beton Mixer" style fuel tank is used on my Dyna-Soar/Spiral/Kliper spaceplane; i might add it to my rocket when i'll do the challenge.

[kerbonaut101]

The "Beton Mixer" style fuel tank is used on my Dyna-Soar/Spiral/Kliper spaceplane; i might add it to my rocket when i'll do the challenge.

Cant wait to see the screenshots

[MedwedianPresident]

Cant wait to see the screenshots

Gonna happen at the end of this week (Wed, Thu or Fri) if i don't forget.

[Pulsar]

Look interesting. It quite similar to my way to go to Duna. I will do that.

BTW what about you OP? Have you tried your own challenge as well?

If you need extra challenge ideas, you can read from this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyage_(novel)

First thing I see from novel is the transfer stage didn't use nuke thermal engine. That's probably why the transfer stage is so massive.

Edited March 23, 2014 by Pulsar

[One-Way Films]

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!! (if I have the Time)

[kerbonaut101]

BTW what about you OP? Have you tried your own challenge as well?

Im trying I havent done interplanetary flights (Ive NEVER done a manned one) for a while so at the moment, im just testing some designs by sending them into Kerbin Orbit. Once ive got them into orbit I'll then test them some more by sending them to the Mun (then I know for certain everything definitely works the trick is figuring out how many fuel tanks you'll need to take with you...)

I've also updated the rules to say no nuclear engines.

Edited March 23, 2014 by kerbonaut101

[von Ziegendorf]

Here's my entry : Ares Voyage. Game is stock except Alarm Clock and Joint Reinforcement because I'm annoyed by the wobbly rockets It'd be hard to make simple trip to Duna more complex than this, might do a regular architecture mission to compare

[kerbonaut101]

Here's my entry : Ares Voyage. Game is stock except Alarm Clock and Joint Reinforcement because I'm annoyed by the wobbly rockets It'd be hard to make simple trip to Duna more complex than this, might do a regular architecture mission to compare

Yeah, I guess this mission is a bit more complex than it needs to be

All I can say to those screenshots is... WOW! you've definitely passed the challenge :) :)

Edited March 24, 2014 by kerbonaut101

[von Ziegendorf]

...the trick is figuring out how many fuel tanks you'll need to take with you

Wait a second, so you're doing it by guessing?

Nevermind Ares mission needed 3 rockets, I've conducted standard (no NERVAs) single launch Duna mission using almost the same rocket. Just for comparision

[kerbonaut101]

Wait a second, so you're doing it by guessing?

You mean theres an easier way...? ive had mild success with just strapping nuclear engines to red tanks (this isn't for the challenge). How do you figure out how much you need for an interplanetary mission (manned return missions to the Mun and Minmus I can easily do)?

[von Ziegendorf]

There is one certain method - using math. But not for everybody this is an easier way If you're interested read Cheat Sheet and maybe Advanced Rocket Design. You don't have to calculate everything by hand, just get MechJeb or Kerbal Engineer and use them to show craft stats in VAB