Mission Report: ASE attempts Jool 5

[loch.ness]

Academy of Space Exploration Jool program

This file will contain public information regarding our progress towards ASE's first attempt at a Kerballed mission to Jool's SOI which is also an attempt to do a survey of each moon in the system. There will be a concurrent mission getting mentioned in the report for an extended exploration of Laythe

Current Mission Status

Jool 5 - Vall landers, Complete and Docked to Mothership upper core. -needs repainting, might need strutting onto ship.

Bop and Pol landers - in testing.

Tylo lander - in concept testing.

Laythe lander - Final tests complete, orbital delivery and docking soon.

Command ship: Command and Service Module complete and docked.

Command and Service Module Nuclear tug fueled.

Science lab installed.

upper core segment installed.

Habitat core awaiting launch

Fuel tanks awaiting launch.

Engine blocks awaiting launch.

Laythe survey mission.

Aquatic exploration lander - Finished testing, awaiting launch.

Lander - Returner. Final tests complete, awaiting launch, delivery, and docking.

Command ship - Fueled, stocked, in orbit. - needs new paint job.

Mission report logs:

This list will be updated with each report as it is written.

Challenge requirements

Self imposed requirements and Mission Profile:

The ICARUS (Interplanetary Command And Reconnaissance Utility Ship) program is about creating a re-usable transfer ship that can also serve as a base of operations for longer term exploration of other planets. The ICARUS ship should be able to help manage and service multiple missions to a planet or moon at the same time for extended periods and multiple launches. Tylo is likely to be the exception to this mission profile as all current designs prohibit return trips, If an SSTO tylo lander is designed and delivered before the launch window the mission will attempt 2 landings on Tylo (just as it will attempt a minimum of 2 landings on ever other body.

Crew

TBD, information including past missions and awards to be posted on final crew selection.

Research and Development phase, Report 1: "Polarity" on pad testing

"This is Bill Kerman, entering POLarity test log Alpha 362. On the line with me is Mission commander Jeb from field test unit, still 3 days 4 hours out from Minmas's SOI. We'll be running some equipment tests on the our test conversion of the MiniMAL to the POLarity. Today's focus is on the ion drive's power draw balanced against the ship's power generation rate. Are you ready to begin Jeb?"

"Copy Bill. What's up."

"Jeb we want you to head on down to the MiniMAL, we're running some tests on a few modifications and we want to rest your equipment specs to match the new test perimeters."

"Roger that, what's getting changed?"

"The brass lost its contract with the company that makes those solar panels you've got, so we're going with cluster of the older ones, haven't settled on a number yet, for now don't use more than 2 at a time and it should simulate what we're expecting."

"Can do. locking down pannels 2 and 4. We've got a lot of battery power, loosing some solars would only mean larger recharges between ion burns. The math still looks good on using them for primary engines in the Minmas test with the chemical rockets as backup right?"

"We also lost our contract with the capacitors, we'll have to remove them, running exclusively on battery."

"Roger that, locking capacitor discharge cycle. Not going to discharge them now incase there is a need to use final abort."

"Copy that Jeb. Mark time, starting Ion test burn in T minus 10."

"8, 7."

"Burn starting, reading a power draw of ~ 16.8 charge / second. That should put your maximum burn length about 8 minutes."

"I'm reading that too."

"Mission control calculates you have ~ 768 m/s from the Ions at a TWR of 1.1 at Minmas with full chemical fuel. Similar conditions on Pol would be 783 m/s and TWR of 1.41 but on Bop your TWR will be .91 with the full chemical engines. If using the Ions as return engines, after discarding the chemical engines your delta V from them rises to 1582 m/s at TWR 2.88 at Pol, 1582 m/s at 1.83 at Bop and 1582 at 2.23 at Minmas."

"What about with empty tanks rather than jetisoned, the tanks have the MiniMAL's langing legs and radar equipment on them."

"Checking with Mission control. Your Minmas Delta V would be down to 1075 at a TWR of 1.5. Bop at 1075 at 1.25 and Pol at 1075 at 1.97 by the flight computer's reasoning."

"I'm seeing all of those numbers well within the escape velocities of those bodies, Do you read the same thing Bill?"

"I do Jeb, Are you suggesting we consider scrubing the chemical engines entirely?"

"Just saying its something to consider, I'll get back to you in 3 days when we hit Minmas SOI, I'd like to try Ion only landing and ascent with full tanks, attached. I'll have the chemical engines for safety."

"I'll run that by Mission command. If we can shed those tanks we'd cut the weight of the Minimal in half, would let us carry twice the number on the original fuel budget."

"Hows the Minimal look for a Mun landing on chemical engines?"

"We're seeing 1099 at TWR of 6 for the chemicals, but even shedding them you'd be at 0.66 TWR on the ions and we're not comfortable budgeting Val landing and return on 1099 without some more research."

'Fair enough. Thanks for checking in. I'm heading back up the CSM now."

"Sure think Jeb, will keep you posted. This is Bill Kerman, ending test log, Ion's operating above and beyond expectations awaiting field tests from Minmas surface for further data."

Engineering Core Report 1: Launch of the ICARUS III upper core segment.

Merely Kerman, Orbital construction team lead reporting:

The launch of the CSM and upper core segments of our ICARUS III ship will be controlled from the ground through the ship's onboard computer. I'll be taking command of it.

Going through the pre-flight checklist, we should have enough to get the upper core segment and CSM into orbit without needing to use the csm's engines, and we hope to Rendevous with ICARUS II in the process, we'll be taking Icarus II's Moho landers for use on Vall as they prepare to recieve two of our new LADYs.

Preflight checks, all systems are green. There were some staging errors on launch simulations, but corrections have been put in place.

Liftoff was clear, the entire bulk is rising steadily waiting for outer engine burn off. Had a bit of a scare after dropping the four outer boosters, but as the atmosphere thinned and fuel burned the ship started accelerating again. Gravity turn for something this big wasn't done particularly well, but we pierced the atmosphere with more than enough power to circularize. Orbit ended up eccentric, but we were able to Hoeheim transfer to Icarus III at a ~250 km orbit to take on its landers.

The landers from ICARUS II were built for Moho which should be similar in requirements to Vall and have been tested on Mun with more than satisfactory results. ICARUS II's Moho mission was scrubbed when the flight computers started sending out multiple conflicting flight paths, an actual mission to Moho has been put off for the forseeable future. ICARUS II is awaiting a new paint job, and 4 new augmented parts for a long term survey of Laythe to evaluate the potential for a future colony.

After a 100 meter rendevous between the two ships, Vall landers 1 and 2 were transfered on their RCS tugs. Docking was without incident, though it happened on the dark side of Kerbin with minmal light and both ships in the same part of space did cause some signal interference it was still more than manageable for now. ICARUS III will likely move into a slightly lower orbit before construction continues.

Merely Kerman ending Engineering team report, advising next scheduled launch for Nearpoint modules includes two empty fuel tanks for delivery to Icarus III.

[Cmdr. Arn1e]

Nice work so far, like the RP elements of your storytelling

Mine is boring in comparison! ;P

[loch.ness]

Research and Development Report 2: LORD atmospheric, orbital flight and landing tests.

Barister Kerman reporting from mission control UAV remote guidance command suite:

"First I'd like to be on record thanking the Mission Control team for letting us co-opt their UAV program for testing like this. If we'd had this technology at the start of the LORD program Archibald and Keneny, the finest pilots I've ever known, might still be with us. Our Laythe pilots will be flying in your honor guys."

*shuffling of papers, tapping of keys.*

"According to Merely's notes, The current LORD, standing for Laythe Orbit Return Device, prototypes have excellent manuverabilty in flight, easily and reliably reach orbits of up to 80x80 but are notoriously hard to land. I've got 2 prototypes in front of me, on using a suit of parachutes - which seems wrong on a plane, and another using a tightly fit bi-wing that doesn't look like it should provide anywhere near as much lift as our techs say it will. I'll be noting them as LORD-P and LORD-W."

"Weight is always a consideration, especially as Mission Control hopes to send 2 LORDs with the Laythe mission and 2 with the Jool V mission, and in that area Lord W beats out Lord P with a weight of 19.937t for the extra wings while the chutes bring P to 23.337t."

"UAV controls on P operate nearly identically to the prototype LORDs. W on the other hand is more responsive from the extra control surfaces and has almost too much lift, W would be able to glide with full fuel for a considerable distance to its landing spot leaving minimal burnt fuel from de-orbiting burns. With the extra lift it is even able of ascending earlier on the runway meaning it would be better suited to the unknown ground conditions on Laythe."

"Thank you Kraken for giving me an easy choice. One final test of LORD W is needed, a low fuel atmospheric flight with notes that the mission profile does not currently call for any low fuel atmospheric flights or landings for LORD in the forseeable future."

Orbital flight results: LORD W beat out the prototype's best orbit at 103x103 with 282 units of liquid Fuel and 219units of oxidizer in the tanks, also beating out the proto-types best orbit so far. The extra wing lift allowed for leveling out earlier and allowed LORD W to reach ~ 1490 m/s at 31000m before switching to rockets.

End report.

Edited May 22, 2014 by loch.ness
Text somehow got doubled.

[loch.ness]

Engineering Core Report 2: Fuel core launch 1.

Bill Kerman reporting from Mission Control, Merely Kerman overseeing from UAV controls, and Desmin Kerman liasoning from LKO Nearpoint station.

Bill: This mission was previously scheduled only for delivery of a particle accelerator unit and associated experiment modules to Nearpoint. Merely noted that our launch vehicle and tug would be ideal for delivering fuel tanks to ICARUS III and oversaw the retrofit, but do to weight concerns the tanks will be delivered empty and in need of fueling from later service missions. Beginning pre-flight checks.

Merely: On board computers show all lights green on this end Bill. Desmin how are things looking on Nearpoint?

Desmin: We've got some antsy physicists up here right now. The last launch forgot the experimental modules, so we've been calibrating the first accelerator for several orbits now.

Merely: Sorry for the delay on getting this one up, balancing the fuel tanks for ICARUS III took some time, but your equipment is safe and sound.

Desmin: Good to hear it. We're showing green on all instrumentation, we'll be able to take control of the tug for docking on this end once you rendezvous.

Bill: Copy that. Mission Control pre-flight is a go. Starting the clock and T-minus 60 to launch.

Beginning Ignition sequence. Launch vehicle has cleared the pad, beginning ascent and turn.

Desmin: Merely, my data feed shows one of your empty tanks parked on top of my Particle accelerator module.

Merely: I know, the tug will drop it off and then attach it underneath, we wanted to balance the tug from down here.

Desmin: sounds good. I've been crunching some numbers, we'll be needing a few solar suites to power everything at the same time.

Merely: Already in the launch Schedule, we've got a minimum of 4 more tanks to send up even before fueling missions. or the lower core segment.

Bill: While I don't mind the chatter, can it wait till we've finished the gravity turn, don't want any cross signal interference.

Desmin: Right Bill.

Merely: Sorry Bill.

Bill: Better.

*Static crackling and paper shuffling and two long sighs later*

Bill: Alright, we're lining up transfer, we'll have a transfer window in about two hours, plenty of time for chatter.

Merely: Two hours?

Bill: We missed the ideal launch window and the weight calculations for those tanks wasn't exact, but we should be able to transfer straight from Nearpoint to ICARUS within a single orbit.

Merely: Not bad.

Desmin: Do you think we could get put a shipment of banana's on the next launch?

Bill: Banana's?

Desmin: Well any fruit would do, but the zoology boys were getting upset that we're trying to feed their prize primate Kibbal.

Merely: We should be able to put some in with the snacks.

Desmin: Speaking of which do they have any of those baked chips? I noticed a few of us are getting some noticeable expansion about the equator.

Bill: I could have Jeb do a fly by, that should help you loose a few pound.

Desmin: It took us a week to clean up the zoology bay last time, I still smell frightened feline when I pass that arm of the station.

Merely: Yeew.

Bill: Not the worst he's done, but one of the more poetic moments.

Desmin: I'm gonna cut the call for now, we're going to be using the line for a transmission for a bit. Signal back when making your transfer burns.

Bill: Roger that, Merely finish the course input work and we'll go interview some of the new recruits.

Merely: Yay?

Bill: You've been complaining for months that the engineering corps in understaffed and overworked.

Merely: Have you ever considered that maybe I just like to complain a bit?

Bill: Of course, you remind me of Bob. I just want to see how creative you are at it.

Merely: ... well played. Signing off.

Bill: Entering mission report, but logging it as incomplete, will finish later.

*Time lapses 3 hrs, 35 minutes.*

Desmin: This is Desmin Kerman assuming remote control of the tug. Not sure where Mission Command is, but station personnel are in-charge for this leg of the mission anyway. Docking procedures on track, our orbits have minimal drift. All hands,please be advised that the station will be turning, The habitat ring may feel a slight ship if artificial gravity. Rotation should be slow enough to go unnoticed but procedures requires stowing any volatile experiments, and that includes the pets.

Desmin: Station port is lined up with the remote tug. Docking indicator is in the recital switching to remote guidance. Tug at a distance of 1 k approaching on RCS at a relative speed of 3m/s with periodic course corrections. At 500 meters approach will slow to 1 m/s and at 100 approach will slow to 0.4m/s for a final docking speed of just under 0.1m/s.

Bill: Sorry we were late back to the party Desmin, some one in the PR department promised the press we'd launch the habitat core of ICARUS III today, so it looks like we did.

Desmin: I thought you guys hadn't decided on the final crew compliment for Icarus III yet, did you go with a single habitat ring or double.

Merely: We only had the double measured, that at the press boys wanted to make it clear that the year long transfer wouldn't be co-ed cohabitation, something about keeping the conservatives happy.

Bill: Whatever that means. They're talking about a final crew of 10 with a minimum of 2 missions to each moon.

Merely: And with our best fabrication of a Tylo capable lander comming in at 50 tons, even if it is fully reusable, we won't be carrying enough fuel for two missions on it.

Desmin: Two seats and clever photography?

Bill: Only 1 seat so far.

Desmin: Do we have any twins on the roster?

Merely: That might work.

Bill: Or we could test the Tylo configuration with a second landing can, we might be able to shave some weight with different engines.

Merely: We've been over that. Yes the KW engines do provide Delta V despite the lower thrust but we don't have a contract with them yet, and the design currently uses those areospikes to help get the ship out of orbit in the first place.

Desmin: still, problems for another day, we're docked up here. While its here whats the paint scheme you want.

Merely: We were going to do that later on.

Desmin: Come on guys, I've been dying for a good excuse for a space-walk.

Bill: Official mission colors are White or grey with red or blue highlights. Blue mostly on fuel and structural pieces, Red on control.

Desmin: If you guys don't like what I've done, you can change it with the service mission. Still shouldn't a Jool ship have some green on it?

Merely: Mission command is worried the team won't be able to see it against Jool on spacewalks if they paint it green.

Desmin: Remind me to thank Bob for talking me into working up here, I'd forgotten how much I love not talking to the PR boys.

--Official log record ends. Post report data showed fuel tanks docked to ICARUS III and partially filled using the tug's remaining reserves. Data notes a need for structural reinforcement from orbital strutting highly recommended as mission approaches completion.

Log also shows successful launch of a second LORD W and the docking of the first to the central habitat core transfer tug. Image included.

Edited May 24, 2014 by loch.ness
Forgot Log title

[loch.ness]

Research and Development Log 3: Tylo Lander design and test phase.

Merely Kerman reporting, this log will be bare bones. Bill's training in the new Valliant simulator for the Mun tests, Lanlock and Jeb are away at Minmas testing two variations of Polarity, Bob's ship just passed a Munar slingshot on its way out of the system having been given a green-light for our first voyage into solar SOI, destined to be the first kerbal to walk on Ike. Have to admit I'm jealous there.

I'll be heading up to ICARUS III later this week to go over the lab and CSM and prepare for switching the old Vall landers for the new. Before I can get up there and oversee construction of ICARUS III this is our last design hurtle.

The Tylo lander has seen a couple variations so far. Our original and completely unfeasible design was almost 160 tons. We've now reduced that to just over 30.

With 5238 m/s of D/v the Tylo 3 should be capable of landing and returning in a single stage if we can get our rendezvous just right. I don't envy the pilots for that mission, and while I have submitted a request to be considerd for the Jool V adventure, I'd much rather train for Laythe or one of the outer moons.

Our to date practical landing simulation was done with the Tylo 2, a 50t lander using areospikes instead of the KW engines Tylo 3 employs. T2 was able to perform a powered landing next to the VAB from an altitude of 8000 meters. The landing legs buckled and jammed, on impact and would needed to be repaired after the tests, but the engines were fine. T2 lacked the ability to take 2 pilots and was tall and thin as T3 is. Practical tests of T3 on Kerbin are due later today.

The plan will be to attach a large booster engine to the bottom of T3 to assist in the Jool ejection burn and possibly even the transfer to Tylo once mission command draws up the final mission plans.

The next mission report I submit will be from on-board ICARUS III hopefully with both LORDS and Valliants docked and fueled.

Thankfully most of these launches have been able to coincide with, and be included in, previously planned an budgeted missions with little extra expense, the strutting and fueling missions, along with crew transfer will not be so forgiving on our budget. By then Jeb will be back from Minmas though, he's usually able to squeeze some money from politicians, or by auctioning mun-rocks.

-Merely Kerman.

[loch.ness]

Research and Development Log 4: Valliant and MiniMAL testing report

Sigdan Kerman reporting because the boys get to have all the fun.

First up, you money boys like picutres right? Well be sure to chew out Bill, he didn't take any on the Valliant test, though everything was well within design parameters and he had plenty of fuel left over. He also had to ditch it in Munar orbit because of a mis-matched docking hatch. He'd be writing this, but from what I hear Gene is pretty mad at him about not taking pictures.

Jeb's not in trouble though:

Using chems on Minmas with LV909s was so powerful Jeb was worried he'd melt the mint scoop out of the sky. He made most of his ascent with Ions only, though said landing that way in sims didn't look good. Lanlock doesn't have Chems on the Polarity, still hours away from its test.

Engineering Report 3 - Station Construction work

The boys in Mission control added that solar array to Nearpoint on their way to install more fuel tanks to ICARUS III. The station team was nice enough to snag a few beauty shots. Maybe we can sell these and you guys can give me a raise... like a raise all the way to space? Maybe?

Three launches, the solar arrays and the valliant prototypes are responsible for this. These launches should be manned, I know many of us would turn down the hazard pay - though not the life insurance options - so you don't need those expensive computers.

We also got 4 LORDs in orbit each launching seperately since they are SSTOs.

Can be seen here, dropping two off to ICARUS II

And Heroly reports that Icarus II did not have space for LADY 1 and 2 to be attached and decided to launch for Laythe 60 days early since they were stocked, fueled, and Crewed. I think the only one in Mission Control at the time was Jeb. Mission control please note: This is why we love Jeb, and why we don't love writing reports.

Icarus II isn't part of the "Jool 5' mission, but Heroly wanted his name in the report, and unlike Bill he sent us pictures.

Sigdan Kerman signing off and going to check launch roster. Again.

[loch.ness]

Engineering Report 4 - ICARUS III prototype Falilure - Merely Kerman reporting

The Icarus III prototyple's lower core failed to dock and the upper segments proved increasingly unstable without it. SAS power appears to create all manner of dangerous phantom forces and RCS is wholly unable to maneuver the upper core in any meaningful way. I am hereby recommending we abort the ICARUS III configuration and reconsider the Jool 5 mission altogether.

I've been on the line with Gene all day, he seems to think he can get a complete ICARUS III into orbit in a single launch but I told him that was impossible.

Engineering report 5 - Gene Kerman reporting.

Impossible! Ha! Zey said getting a chunk of metal to fly vas impossible. Zey said getting Jeb to behaf vas impossible. Zey said landing on ze Mun vas impossible. Zey were only right two of three so far.

I haf been vorking day und night on zis "impossible" to proof zat it is only possible if you are a famous rocket scientist like me.

To be humble, it vas my extrodinary genius which allowed zis teknikal marfull to be realized. Ze launch controllers say she has no fuel and it vould be next to impossibel to refuel it a reasonable time frame.

Two refueling missions done, und about one third refueled.

Impossible. Ha. Gene 3, Impossible 1.

((Short update, I got busy with end of term marking followed by a flare up of asthma followed by being completely distracted with 64bit testing and trying out a few new mods, and am only now getting back to this. I'm actually a bit ahead of what I've got here, next post will be the crew selection meeting (5/10 of the crew is aboard at the point I'm at now). then refueling and plane docking and then I'm ready to launch this mission off)).