Haphazard 2 - BTSM Career

[Taleric]

Presenting Haphazard 2, KSP career mode running BTSM v1.622 (As of 25 Aug 2014); Where I play through a BTSM career in a trial and error way, taking calculated risks to maximize enjoyment, thank you for giving my reports a look.

So with that I am glad to be back! As always I thank FlowerChild for all his work in creating incredible gaming and link to Better Than Starting Manned

Right off the bat I will shutdown a few things to keep the pulse up and grab the first two contracts.

DART I

With the first few missions I can tell things have really been dialed in for the early game. Much less wiggle room to power through thoughtful, balanced design.

DART II

JUG I

Time to get a few good Kerbals! Kevin crosses his fingers and survives the first Kerbal flight.

JUG II

Seanburry takes extra risk to max out the current cockpit's capability.

Edited August 25, 2014 by Taleric

[Taleric]

DART III

This was a little work. Several combinations of booster staging and placement had to be done. Luckily it is about 3000 credits per launch so plenty of testing can be done. This run things might get tight with the large interplanetary launches funding wise. I had to aim Dart III every moment of flight. That payout is a must to start our orbital work. Only 80% of the science was transmitted back, enough to get the next tech.

[Taleric]

DART IV

Oh boy, this is going to get costly. Underpowered Dart IV fails to gain additional science and takes its' credits with it...

DART V

Much better adjusted Dart V is able to step into space for a moment.

SPEAR I

Good luck Kevin! I was just as worried about the landing that went very well. I am going to have to concentrate on recovery now as I may only have one or two total loss missions.

Edited August 2, 2014 by Taleric

[Taleric]

FEATHER I

Time to grab that goo! I thought Feather I would live up to its' name but over landing thrust at the last moment closed the chutes costing the engines....

A few new contracts are grabbed for later.

DART VI

This is where my haphazard ways are going to end me... Costly and ill conceived Dart VI fails to do anything but test some lights falling short of space... The new mass limit in BTSM is very interesting

FEATHER II

Space or bust! If Feather II had failed it would have been a restart. Luckily goo, gravity scan and vehicle are returned to save the program! The contract on the RCS was not bad either. Mission control is going to take some time to think out the next step long and hard till we have a comfortable buffer!

Edited August 2, 2014 by Taleric

[Taleric]

KLOP I & II (No not that!.... Kerbin Low Orbit Probe)

Whew mission control finally has some room to breath after great KLOP launches. One mission standard orbit and one polar with plenty of biomes still out there. With the performance data, weight of the payload and estimated power numbers can be crunched to get Kevin into space. If the resulting vehicle looks too costly a Mun probe will have to be sent first. I suspect the antennas have distance limitations that will require communication tech unlock to maximize Mun flyby.

[Taleric]

GUPPY I

Crunching the numbers a kerbal flight will be double the weight of KLOP and double the cost. Going for broke Kevin is prepared and Guppy I is fueled.

Launch is solid RCS is only activated on the last of the second stage. Kevin is so excited once in orbit he sends back reports that should have been held using up power needlessly. Luckily there is an ample buffer.

After one orbit and a ton of science Kevin makes for a nervous reentry (It was unknown is the RCS tank would interfere with the chutes...) No payout for this missions but the science and performance information were well worth it.

The next mission will surly have to be a Mun probe. Now to attempt goo return or make for landing.

[Taleric]

GUPPY II

Time for Sean to get more comfortable with flight, Kevin will need a copilot after all. Guppy II takes Sean on a polar orbit and I think he is coming around.

ARCHON I

Taking the tech for a double energy efficient probe Archon I was meant to reach the Mun. With power overwhelming it is too much weight and conducts a little science to soften the disappointment.

ARCHON II

Reducing battery weight Archon II makes the Mun and does excellent recon! More importantly tech is unlocked for the next level batteries cutting their weight in half. A seismic detector is unlocked for our next mission. Also an excellent contract for Mun science it taken that should pay for Archon III.

Edited August 2, 2014 by Taleric

[Taleric]

ARCHON III ("The Mushroom")

....and contact! Mission control erupts in claps and cheers. The adjustments over Archon II included dumping half the reduced dead battery weight at Mun capture. Paid for by a data contact Archon III sends back all surface data with plenty of power left also finishing the Mun contact. (It is an even greater challenge to get photos while landing without SAS or gear!) Next step will be a flyby and Mun goo. A nice contract in Kerbin orbit was spotted.

[Taleric]

ARCHON IV & V

About that wiggle room, it must have been time to dip in as Archon IV runs into power issues. A mid course burn is completed to run the alternator too late as well as a dead reentry. Half the cost is recouped from a LKO contract.

Archon V adjusts with both batteries in the final stage as well as a more aggressive Mun encounter / return. Back to Kerbin it is time for the hairy part, will it survive reentry? Moments of silence in mission control as the dead probe glides in self oriented by airflow alone. Whew! A nice contract is taken for Mun science and the next level probe is unlocked. Time to get the think tank working on surface recovery.

[Mister Spock]

Looks like fun! I look forward to reading more.

I know BTSM requires Deadly Reentry. Are you using any other mods? I noticed nice fairings on your early ships; do those come with BTSM? I'm curious because I'd like to try BTSM soon myself.

[Taleric]

Thank you

Just using BTSM, Deadly Reentry at the moment and all the parts therein. I have been considering the Environmental Visual Enhancements (love those clouds!) but am very careful/worried not to upset BTSM balance as the developer works hard to provide a specific rewarding experience.

[Taleric]

FROG I

The Mun return contract was overlooked from last mission and is now posted.

So close! Mission control may have gotten tunnel vision on power use and cost cutting. Frog I has a gentle liftoff and makes for a suicide burn Mun landing. Power use looks great nearing the Mun, the final stage is jettisoned after a deceleration burn. One flaw with the non orbital Mun landing is less than optimal terrain... On a hill Frog I rolls slowly as mission control furiously tries to correct. Surviving the tumble Frog I activates the goo and boosts lightly slamming the RCS spaceward. A lucky bump sends the Frog upwards and orbit is frantically obtained. Mission control then realizes that return will not be possible, even expending RCS the Frog will be a satellite be it the Mun or Kerbin.

At the very least future missions might have Kerbals recover Frog I's science, so not a total loss.

[Volcanix]

Great! I look forward to new mission reports. Keep it up!

[Taleric]

Thank you

FROG II & III

The director of mission control gives a huge sigh of relief. He might be able to keep his job by the skin of his teeth completing contracts at the last moment. Frog II and III in the hunt for Minmus fall hours short. Frog II is able to test the escape tower on departure but dies waiting for Minmus encounter. Adjusting battery location and cutting the encounter in half Frog III is still about to suffer the same fate. In the last hours mission control orders Frog III to burn for Minmus at full speed. Mission control is silent till Frog III arrives just inside Minmus SOI to send back the temperature before death! The think tank looks at both missions and points out that had they been combined it would have been costly but successful. A mandate is made that a 25% buffer estimation be applied going forward. (Kevin and Sean are especially thankful to hear about this development)

[Taleric]

ARCHON VI

Time to bring back our workhorse to renew progress. The Archon series is updated with the latest probe and setup for Mun encounter. Word of our program has thankfully brought in additional companies requesting curious tests. Smooth sailing up to orbit testing the landing gear before burning for the Mun. This encounter will be polar in addition to low space Mun goo. Nicely done Archon VI heads back to Kerbin the energy buffer paying off. Returning to Kerbin the think tank recommends extreme braking in the atmosphere as the reentry vehicle is untested. During one of the many passes the badlands is passed over and scanned. The reentry is so slow the probe dies before being rigged for landing. Hang in there little guy, please do not oscillate too much! Surviving the reentry heating the additional battery weight makes for a hard landing with the precious goo surviving. Thank goodness for the Archon to be performance reliable.

*Additionally a massive object was spotted swinging close to Kerbin, too close! Checking the trajectory it is amazingly in orbit?! What a fluke, mission control is unsure if it will remain captured or be ejected by the Mun. The Kerbals also feel it would be a bit of an exploit to visit.

Edited August 5, 2014 by Taleric

[FlowerChild]

Oh wow man, I didn't even know you were doing a mission report series on BTSM until I happened to just notice it in your sig. Very cool

[Taleric]

Thank you I have really been enjoying it

[FlowerChild]

Thank you I have really been enjoying it

Well, step by step accounts of playthroughs like this are invaluable to me in balancing BTSM, so thank you

[Taleric]

FORTUNE I

"Point three short." replies the static voice of mission control. Sean sits back to take in his situation. Fortune I was meant to take him on a close Mun encounter and with his reports the think tank would be able to develop instructions for Sean to survive EVA. Sean resists the urge to become angry, now on free return with no method to transfer to the heat-shielded pod in space there is only one option left. Sean will have to climb the ladder inside Kerbin's atmosphere. So many options on Mun encounter, quick missions back home, it is all too late. As Sean reaches 80km of Kerbin his pulse quickens holding the hatch. At 40km mission control sends again that there is not enough energy to survive deceleration orbits to reach deep atmosphere. Sean sends back "I did what I can for the program and all Kerbals, Fortune I out." and smirks at the ironically named mission. Sean launches the pod for recovery, shuts down the orbiting pod and closes his eyes.

Honor roll addition: Seanburry

Edited August 6, 2014 by Taleric

[Taleric]

BUZZARD I

Following Sean's sacrifice mission control uses Mun observation science for another attempt at Minmus. Borrowing the Fortune lift vehicle Buzzard I quickly gains Minmus capture. Landing in the flats is wonderfully simple next to the hostility of the Mun. The cost factor is looking problematic for Kerbals to the Mun with ever increasing payloads, one failure could be the end. The program is now torn between science to progress and balancing the budget.

[Taleric]

BUZZARD II

Happy with Archon VI's unpowered return to Kerbin and the success of Buzzard I, Buzzard II sets off to return flyby goo. The venerable Fortune lifter is brought back and Buzzard II is out to Minmus heading back on a calm decelerating skim of the atmosphere. After about ten orbits Buzzard II bizarrely is kicked in high orbit! Disaster.... Again at the very least the goo is intact.

INTREPID I

Kevin, Chuck and Tanfen pilot a benchmarking flight for calculation. The cost is horrible, all future tests will have to be simulated unless in conjunction with an actual science mission. Best calculated Mun lander missions are hitting the 250k mark as well as the mass limit.

BUZZARD III (VULTURE I & BUZZARD RESCUE)

Mission control, desperate to restart progress, develop a dual mission to land a Mun probe and recover Buzzard II. Flyby is achieved and upon Mun arrival Vulture I breaks off to reach the surface while Buzzard Rescue adjusts for distant rendezvous with Buzzard II. Vulture I has an excellent landing, the Ion contract can not be completed unfortunately. Buzzard Rescue intercepts and closes in to decelerate Buzzard II. The think tank is berated for not including SAS the deceleration is slow and hairy. In the final moments there is a great deal of concern for the operability of the dead Buzzard II's chutes that mercifully open.

The director of the program is now faced with a dilemma, the best income would come from deep space visits but they have chosen to develop Mun centric techs. There will be funding for one solid Mun mission (estimated 250k and up) at most. Mission control will either work to gain science for the 909 engines or attempt the Mun mission and pray the program can go on.

Edited August 7, 2014 by Taleric

[Taleric]

INTREPID II

Going for broke! Kevin, Chuck and Tanfen run the simulator non-stop while the think tank pours over design after design. Finally the unconventional Intrepid II is commissioned to make or break the program. The launch is smooth and solid while the crew busily tests components. Every contract even feasible to be included in this mission was added. Kevin has a checklist next to his control console to hit each in order of elevation. At the second stage nearing space a test activates an engine expending precious fuel and sending Intrepid II into a spin that Kevin quick corrects. They hope that will not cost them later as the margin for error is razor thin. At orbit Mun intercept is laid in and upon arrival Kevin and Chuck must use the lander engines to circularize. Fortunately the experimental engines are powerful enough to sparingly gain capture. Tanfen says goodbye as Kevin and Chuck head to the surface. Every drop of the lander stage is expended so much so that at 5000m the ascent stage is relit to ensure soft touch down. Whew! They made it, half way done! After a nice rendezvous Kevin tests several maneuver nodes settling on an aggressive reentry, the most aggressive ever attempted as even the monopropellant must to used to reach Kerbin. After several frightening moments the cutes deploy and the nearly spent heat shield cools, success! This took a huge amount of mission control concentration so a short leave is authorized for celebration.

Edited August 7, 2014 by Taleric

[Taleric]

PROGRESS I

After a break in celebration mission control launches the next step with Progress I; Heading to Minmus for goo return and a proof of concept for solar panels. A smooth mission with the exception that the panels will need to be more concentrated to maintain charge. Two contracts were done, one for Kerbin orbit science and one for testing the LV-45 in Minmus orbit. The next tech unlocked will be miniaturization for the communications to reach Duna/Eve.

Edited August 9, 2014 by Taleric

[Taleric]

PROGRESS II

With the next tier communications antenna the think tank initially designs a lander, however the weight limitations are still too great to ensure mission success. Progress II is reduced to an orbital interplanetary reconnaissance mission. The window to Duna was unfortunately missed or Ike would also have been possible. Eve is locked in and Progress II makes the long journey. Only three rotation adjustments are needed to keep the solar panels facing properly. Unsure what to expect budget and science wise the mission does very well completing half a contract and sending plenty of science. An attempt was made for deeper atmosphere science that will have to be left for later more robust missions.

Let me know what you would like to see researched next: Greater mass (1000) for a Duna lander, Surface Scanner for local science gain or life support to mount a Minmus mission.

Edited August 10, 2014 by Taleric

[Taleric]

OGRE I

The tech for surface scanning is researched and the think tank labors over the design of Ogre I. Looking to future missions and cost savings Ogre I's payload is fitted with docking ports so that the 23,000 unit can be added to other vessels in orbit. The think tank was aware from previous missions that the surface scanning module produces massive data to be send back and the power requirements are robust. First completing Kerbin mapping, Orge I images Minmus before the Mun and finally is parked in high Kerbin orbit for later use. The solar panel placement was meant to maximize coverage and prevent mistakes however Progress II had much better numbers that might have been related to the reduced distance to Kerbol.