[Contest] Ultimate Stock Deorbiting Vessel

[Urbanshadow]

I challenge you, felllow rocketers to get the best of you and build some kind of vessel that can 'capture' and deorbit non-controlled spacecrafts, from debris to lost Kerbanauts. The prerequisites for the contest are the following:

- Spacecraft made out of stock pieces up to 0.14. (all stock pieces)

- Ability to catch another spacecraft. (Bonus if size of said spacecraft doesn\'t matter)

- Ablity to deorbit itself with all the cargo.

Optional:

- Abilty to let go the cargo for standalone reentry.

- All the above done safely.

- Ability to fly up to an orbit near Mun. (atleast 7000 Km circular)

To apply a vessel to the contest you must write a little description of it and three pictures, one in the VAB, one in the 'catching' action and the last one landed on Kerbin (Optional: picture of rescued command module landed in Kerbin, picture of an orbit over 7000 Km). All of that can be done on more than one launch.

Edit: As a provisional price for the winner, a graphic designer (I) would make you a custom signature for this or any other forum with anything you please.

Tell me what you think and happy rocketting !

[Splendid]

Ability*

Nice challenge, I\'ll try this now, probably try to imitate spacejanitor one

[Urbanshadow]

Thanks Splendid, wow that was embarrassing... (Ability in spanish is 'habilidad', so I happily got some h\'s all over the place, my fault, fixed now)

[StelarCF]

I\'ll do this challenge after I get the game good luck to everyone

[marko dash]

I\'ve got a save file in my rescue challenge a few threads down that you can use to test.

[Urbanshadow]

I\'ve got a save file in my rescue challenge a few threads down that you can use to test.

I\'ve already seen it marko dash but it\'s not for me to test, it\'s just for fun and the amusement of people actually trying to get the best of themselves against other forumers.

[Tim_Barrett]

I think I win, since I did this with a lander on the Mun and before this was posted:

So basically I had two vessels; one I put in orbit around the Mun, and the other, a lander.

The lander, after landing on the Mun, then proceeded to come in contact with the orbital vessel.

The lander\'s engines detached leaving just the command module and some RCS.

Open.

Close.

8)

Can\'t wait for real docking.

[Urbanshadow]

That\'s really neat Tim_Barrett!

Did the six kerbanauts made it to kerbin alive? if so, how many stages has the ship and how are they configured out?

Don\'t claim that fast the winners, maybe someone else like you could spawn here in any moment!

On a second thought, how do you 'dock' into debris? Seems like you can only dock to that little thing...

[Tim_Barrett]

That\'s really neat Tim_Barrett!

Did the six kerbanauts made it to kerbin alive? if so, how many stages has the ship and how are they configured out?

Don\'t claim that fast the winners, maybe someone else like you could spawn here in any moment!

On a second thought, how do you 'dock' into debris? Seems like you can only dock to that little thing...

Only the lander module made it back alive, the other one remained in orbit for awhile but it\'s periapsis was at 60km

[clee-saan]

Hi, I\'d like to enter my HK/M O R&R (High Kerbin/Mun Orbit Rescue and Recovery) Craft in the competition.

It\'s capable of reaching high orbits and even (according Kerbal Scientists, it has never actually been done) orbits around the Mun. Due to its odd shape it is highly advised that you do not disengage the ASAS under any circumstances during atmospheric flight.

The HKMO is designed to catch a small return stage, or command pod within its docking bay and trap it by extending landing legs, as you can see in the attached pictures (Open, and then closed).

I\'ll post an update when I manage to rendez-vous with a space craft that I placed in LKO for testing purposes with pictures of the retrieval attempt, but I\'m having troubles achieving it without a proper way to compute orbit synchronization. How do you guys do it by the way ? I know the theory (lower orbit to catch up, higher to wait up), but I can\'t get to pass close enough.

[Tim_Barrett]

Hi, I\'d like to enter my HK/M O R&R (High Kerbin/Mun Orbit Rescue and Recovery) Craft in the competition.

It\'s capable of reaching high orbits and even (according Kerbal Scientists, it has never actually been done) orbits around the Mun. Due to its odd shape it is highly advised that you do not disengage the ASAS under any circumstances during atmospheric flight.

The HKMO is designed to catch a small return stage, or command pod within its docking bay and trap it by extending landing legs, as you can see in the attached pictures (Open, and then closed).

I\'ll post an update when I manage to rendez-vous with a space craft that I placed in LKO for testing purposes with pictures of the retrieval attempt, but I\'m having troubles achieving it without a proper way to compute orbit synchronization. How do you guys do it by the way ? I know the theory (lower orbit to catch up, higher to wait up), but I can\'t get to pass close enough.

But then you will only be able to catch debris designed to be catched with a three-sided symmetry external fuel tanks.

[clee-saan]

But then you will only be able to catch debris designed to be catched with a three-sided symmetry external fuel tanks.

Which is most return stages (that I\'m using, at least), and if the craft doesn\'t fit, you can always eject the command module and deorbit it alone.

[Tim_Barrett]

Which is most return stages (that I\'m using, at least), and if the craft doesn\'t fit, you can always eject the command module and deorbit it alone.

No, because then the command module will fall through the sides. So my statement stands - this is only designed for a certain type if debris.

[StelarCF]

I think I win, since I did this with a lander on the Mun and before this was posted:

So basically I had two vessels; one I put in orbit around the Mun, and the other, a lander.

The lander, after landing on the Mun, then proceeded to come in contact with the orbital vessel.

The lander\'s engines detached leaving just the command module and some RCS.

Open.

Close.

8)

Can\'t wait for real docking.

LOL @ Jebediah leading the mission...

I don\'t think it\'s a good idea...

[what-the]

Looks like a great contest. I\'ll be giving it a shot when the shop is fixed.

@ Tim_Barrett. Nice docking

[michealv]

I tried and came within 3.8kms of the other ship (did this around the mun as mistakes with orbits around kerbin are more dangerous due to atmosphere).

I just couldn\'t manage to get the orbits to sync up properly once I had my ship underneath the target shuttle.

Maybe I should have used RCS bursts to go upwards? I don\'t know why I didn\'t think of that first...

Anyways I\'ll give that a go tomorrow and post my results.

[boolybooly]

Here is my entry, the 'Catcher in the Sky'. EDIT to add description etc. This design creates an openable and closable cage out of landing legs, tank stacks and fins which protect the Catcher\'s command capsule from damage ie being dislodged by impact with the payload. The funnel shape created by the internal radial array of fins also centralises the payload under acceleration. I found the tricoupler provided the optimum spacing for the stacks which make the outer wall of the ship\'s catching bay, relative to the length of lander legs. But the outer booster stacks are not coupled to it directly, they use radial decouplers and struts to prevent flexing and collision with the tricoupler.

As you will see the Catcher can land the command capsule from any sized craft, by removing it.... forcibly! Fact is I could not decouple the pod or activate the chute on the target vehicle so I 'bit' off the pod plus a few extra items with the Catcher mechanism and landed both intact in the ocean. See movie.

Also had a few problems with the second launch and had to reload from save which got me a duplicate crew.

http://youtu.be/7V4kHLX_bqM

PS here is the VAB screen, others are in the movie. Also the two ship\'s craft files.