Building the KSS !

[Crampman]

Hello folks !

Some time ago I decided to build a space station, but with just enough mods to make it interesting.

These mods are :

- FusTek Station Parts, for the look of the parts

- Station Science, for the science thing, and make the station actually doing someting

- KW Rocketry, for the heavy rocketry, and the fairings

- Mission Controller, not really useful, but I like the budget thing

- MechJeb, for the time savings

Unfortunately, the parts from Station Science are quite ugly, but useful, and the parts from Station Parts are nice looking but almost useless.

So I created a hack-mod to create some parts with the Station Parts look and the functionalities from Station Science. I might release it if I can fix some last bugs...

The purpose of the station was to run all the Station Science experiments (There are 6 modules, each running 1 experiment. Some of them require extra modules to run, like a Cyclotron, a Zoology lab...)

To do this, the station must include :

- 2 labs (They produce "Eureka", a resource required to run all the experiments. This is a slow process, so 2 labs are required)

- 2 habitation modules

- 2 cyclotrons (Some experiments require 2 running cyclotrons at the same time)

- 1 zoology lab

- 1 logistics module

- 1 utilities module

- 4 solar arrays (The cyclotrons eat tons on energy)

- 1 sas (The Station Parts don't have any crew hatches, so no EVA...)

- 6 experiments modules

- Some docking ports left for crew or resupply ships

That's a lot of stuff, and some module are quite heavy. A single cyclotron weights 40 tons...

These are the missions launched to build the station :

KSS-I : the first module launched is the habitation module "Karmony", the centre of the station. Payload weight : 8.5 tons

The first launch of the Zephir II-A launcher

KSS-II : the second module was the first lab "Kestiny". The heavy payload, 12.6 tons was difficult to put on orbit for the Zephir II-A launcher. A heavier launcher was required for future heavier payloads...

The two first modules, moments before docking

KSS-III : one of the heaviest launches was the first cyclotron, with a total payload of 44.6 tons. The variant Zephir II-B launcher was developed for this purpose, with more boosters, and a more powerful second stage.

The heavy-duty Zephir II-B launcher moments after take-off

KSS-IV & KSS-V : the next missions launched the first two solar arrays. These light but bulky payloads (3.5 tons each) were launched by the smaller Zephir I rocket, originally developed for sending the crew ships.

One of the solar arrays being send to orbit

KSS-VI : the second lab, "Kolumbus" and one of the node modules, with a payload of 12.6 tons

The space lab Kolombus

KSS-VII : the second habitation module, "Kunity", another node module, and the Kupola observation module. 13.6 tons payload, launched by a customized Zephir II-A (slightly more powerful second stage)

Kunity, moments before docking

KSS-VIII : the "Kuest" sas module is the only module allowing EVAs. With only 3 tons, it is the lightest module of the station.

KCS-I : with those modules, the station was viable, and could receive its first crew. The first team was leaded by Jebediah Kerman.

KSS-IX : the utility module "Keornardo" was required to enhance the life support systems of the station, allowing larger crew on board.

KSS-X : the second very heavy launch is the second cyclotron, weighting 44.8 tons.

All the heavy modules have been launched

KSS-XI & KSS-XII : the last two solar arrays are needed to run the two cyclotrons at full power.

The last solar array moments before installation

KCS-II : a larger crew will be required to run all these experiments, so a second team is send to the KSS.

The second team is ready for science !

KES-I & KES-II : the last modules necessary to run the experiments are... the experiments. Launched 3 at a time, only 2 missions are required. The payload for each launch is 2.7 tons.

The station is now complete

The total weight of the station is 181,5 tons, with an average load of fuels. It is made of 173 parts, so it is a bit laggy up there...

Running all the experiments took quite a long time, as the "Eurekas" are long to produce. Because the station orbit is only at 150km, it is not possible to warp very fast.

After 2 runs of each experiment, it gave a total of 2050 Science pts. I expected a bit more, given all the trouble to build this, but some experiments might not have been maxed yet...

A future plan could be to send all the station to a munar orbit, and do more science... I'll see if it is possible soon !

Thanks for reading !