Build an Interstellar Craft.

[Dynamo]

Hey guys. I\'ve been thinking over this one since i got KSP. The challenge is to build an interstellar starship based off a real-game plot, Sid Meir\'s Alpha Centauri, which is designed to travel to that planet. Note that you DO NOT have to fly it there, only get it assembeled in orbit using the 1.4 multiple ship controls with as close to real functionality and design (i.e. pod seperation).

The UNS Unity is a large starship designed to carry 10,000-20,000 (doesn\'t have to be exact scale) in cyrosleep to the Alpha Centauri System. Using 3 engines powered by a fusion reactor, the ship reaches the star in 40 years at a slowly accelarated to 1/10th of lightspeed (approx. 29,979,245.8 m / s, again you DON\'T HAVE TO DO THIS) and has the capability to seperate 8 seperate habitation/cryo chambers as landing pods for descent to the planet. Pictures:

If these aren\'t enough, check out the video from around 1:25 onwards

The ship from command to engine:

Command-> hab modules-> storage/fuel->Hydroponics bays (3 in triangular fashion)->Reactor->Nuclear engines

I recommend using Nova punch 1.0 at least, and mods should be OK except for instant orbit and cfg, part, physics, or world edit (Remember you must ASSEMBLE this IN ORBIT. There\'s no limit to the # of launches required).

Certain addon space hab modules for the cyro bays are suggested, and the components need only look aesthetically accurate. Don\'t mod any new parts just for this (but that would be REALLY cool).

This probably isn\'t enough information, but i\'d really like to see someone who could complete this. I\'d really enjoy it. Post pics, questions and progress below.

This is Tim_Barrett\'s success waiting to happen.

[gabyalufix]

I did something like this a while ago.

For this challenge, I posted awhile back. It\'s launched in one big block, just because I could. That was before I made my nuke reactor (and was WHY I made the nuke reactor), so it just had a bunch of nonfunctional nerva engines stacked internally as a placeholder. It had 24x 2-meter habitation pods, and (iirc) 9x 1-meter habitation pods, and a FULL 3-meter fuel tank AFTER achieving solar escape orbit, for the deceleration phase at the destination star. It also had a few extra fuel tanks, for supplies. The solar arrays were just for use during the ~100 days spent near the sun, and to get the nuke reactor fired up.

How would we assemble anything in orbit? Is there a docking framework that I am not aware of?

[Dynamo]

Version 0.14 allows for the control of multiple craft. For those that have the full version and therefore 0.14, you can use docking clamps, mod or otherwise, and use multiple launches and ships to bring the pieces together.

That\'s a really great start, Gabyalufix. That\'s the basic idea for the habitation ring of pods and the ship, but sectioned off as well.

[SteevyT]

Version 0.14 allows for the control of multiple craft. For those that have the full version and therefore 0.14, you can use docking clamps, mod or otherwise, and use multiple launches and ships to bring the pieces together.

That\'s a really great start, Gabyalufix. That\'s the basic idea for the habitation ring of pods and the ship, but sectioned off as well.

Unfortunately since docking isn\'t official, any docking clamps we currently have fails as soon as the ship goes on rails.

[gabyalufix]

Are there docking clamps already? Where?

[SteevyT]

Are there docking clamps already? Where?

Check the mod section, there might be some. I have seen several ships use landing legs as clamps already (I have also done this)

[Huojin]

Are there docking clamps already? Where?

I read that and the exact same question went through my head. WHERE.

Did we come to the conclusion that .14 made them doable in a cobbled-together sort of way? There was certainly discussion on it...

[marko dash]

you can do it with stock parts, just put a rcs tank (or other short 1m object) on top of your CM put the parachute on top of the tank, put a few lander legs around the tank. the legs stick out front like a claw when undeployed, deploy them to open the claw, nose up against something (preferably nose to nose with another with the same set-up) and close the claw.

i haven\'t been able to get two ships close enough (my best was 15km) to try the nose to nose method, but i have grappled spent stages.

[Dynamo]

Hadn\'t expected this many tries from the community. First off, hats off to everyone that took this on, i know it\'s difficult.

I\'d recommend trying to use geostationary orbits if at all possible. That would at least keep one part in one place.

To all those who are still working, i found a reasonable option might be to attach parts to a munar orbiter. I\'d at least accept parts in orbit (though unassembled) considering the only docking modules currently are mods.

[Causeless]

To all those who are still working, i found a reasonable option might be to attach parts to a munar orbiter. I\'d at least accept parts in orbit (though unassembled) considering the only docking modules currently are mods.

Don\'t double post. Edit your last post - editing bumps on this forum.

[Dynamo]

Sorry about that. Fixing it now.