Haphazard 2 - BTSM Career

[Taleric]

ISR I

Doh! There was never a stronger case to keep probes in orbit instead of ending them.... Oh well that will cover the cost of another flight.

ISR I makes use of the excellent Progress II designs to snatch intersystem goo. The progress of lightweight cost effective probes is very promising. Mission wise the life support tech investment was an error. The launch weight is too restrictive for a proper Minmus mission unless it was assembled in orbit. Mun samples while 150 science a pop would run 250k a launch without contract backing. The best option now is to carefully send progress series missions to Moho, Duna and Eve. With very carful design the program may step into the 18k tech level.

[Taleric]

PROGRESS III

*I am finding that the budget addition to KSP really enhanced the BTSM midgame. Before it was a matter of launch stability. Now every unit of fuel and weight is checked, very enjoyable

30 seconds of terror, that is the description of Progress III's decent to Duna. Improving upon all the recent solar tests Progress III is fitted to maximize power for a Duna capture surface scan and hopefully landing. The launch is beautiful, well balanced and after careful planning the trip to Dune is smooth. To enhance solar power future missions must really consider a polar capture. The surface imagining is only able to transmit 50% of the data to prevent power death.

Ike was a consideration if an encounter was presented but not priority. Saying goodbye to the orbiter (I am going to get that dang contract if it shows up!) the lander heads down after SEVERAL orbits (only +50 power per orbit after the surface transmission nearly emptied it.)

The landing is prefect with plenty of fuel to decelerate the chutes take it down at a gentle 4.5 m/s. What a payday, now what should be purchased?! Back to the think tank, moving along quite well

Edited August 13, 2014 by Taleric

[Taleric]

PROGRESS IV

It was only a matter of time with the program going so well. While not a complete failure Progress IV is designed without consideration for the plane correction. Additionally new engines were used that had not previously been tested and there were no contracts to fund a Moho mission.

With that Progress IV did a good job on an extreme Moho flyby coming within 5000m. The option now is to unlock the large heat shields and make for Eve.

[Taleric]

PROGRESS V

Time to unlock Eve! Progress V has a fitful takeoff, muscling its' way into orbit. Good timing for a solid Eve encounter and a polar orbit is ensured this time.

The cost and design are a bit outlandish but there are several contracts to cover.

Just enough fuel on arrival to complete the surface scan and decelerate for entry. The solar panels gave an angry hiss and pop as they exploded due to G-forces. Smooth landing and great payout. The large heat shield is very heavy but a guaranteed survival tool. Now the hard part, what next tech will help the most. The nuk-nuk generator opens the door to Jool but the incredible weight will make an error very costly. It will most likely have to be the solar panel upgrade to ease kerbal missions.

[Taleric]

INTREPID III

Kevin the Chuck get there big break and prepare for Minmus, with the latest in solar panel tech power should not be an issue. Intrepid III is of this series in name only with a radically redesigned lander and launch vehicle.

The launch is solid as Kevin and Chuck make for an easy Minmus encounter, too easy. Mission control is used to planning probe missions and neglects the life support usage too greatly! Kevin and Chuck burn 1/2 their supplies on a 4 day hang in high Kerbin orbit. The two Kerbals discuss sacrifice for the mission to ensure one will make it back. Hopefully it does not come to that. After some orbit reports Chuck nervously jumps in the lander and makes for the surface. The landing is calm with Chuck disappointed Minmus is not edible but what is this!?! The power is already dangerously low, Chuck will not survive a full orbit by Kevin to rendezvous!

Going for broke Chuck fires the engines to meet Kevin on a reverse orbit hoping there is enough fuel to decelerate and match speed! Whew! The surface science is saved, now for the life support issue. The return to Kerbin will have to be very aggressive. Kevin shaves off as much time as possible as he and Chuck thankfully return to Kerbin saving the mission. So many close calls!

Edited August 15, 2014 by Taleric

[Taleric]

PROGRESS VI

The progress series is hinting at retirement. Starting off, the dated lifter from III was used to ensure Ike could be reached. After surviving far from Kerbol outside Duna's orbit Progress VI has issues, as always, with the orbital scan. Then the landing is just sloppy, with plently of fuel the timing is misjudged and Progress VI hits the surface at 20m/s luckly only destroying the engine and 2 solar panels.

The majority of data is sent back to Kerbin and contracts completed thankfully. Mission control will have to tighten up for the Gilly mission. Next up will be experimental flights using the nosecone followed by a return to the Mun.

Edited August 17, 2014 by Taleric

[Taleric]

LUFT I & II

At 40 science a use it is time to work with the nosecone on Kerbin, how hard can it be? :/ Over ambitiously Jeb takes Lift I out for his last flight overlooking the pressurization limit (why could he not just wear his space suit?) Undaunted the think tank designs Luft II and although it is overly responsive flies very well. After takeoff Luft II loops around behind a mountain range and surprisingly lands! While enjoyable the nosecone might be better used on Duna and Eve.

[Taleric]

INTREPID IV

Spotting a great Mun RCS contract Chuck and Tan are back into rotation. Testing a modified lander from Intrepid III's Minmus mission future plans are made for Duna. The latest launch vehicle is running cheaper than prior missions and Intrepid IV easily encounters the Mun. Chuck is nervous and disappointed that there was a misunderstanding with the goo science. The module must return to Kerbin.... Oh well, Chuck vows to return!

A rover might have to go on the next Mun mission to visit multiple biomes. On the SSTO front the data from Luft I & II were promising. It is a large unknown in BTSM if a payload could be delivered to orbit at a savings over regular launch.

Edited August 20, 2014 by Taleric

[Taleric]

GRP I

Taking some time in design, the think tank plan out Gilly Recon Probe I. An excellent mission from start to finish, mission control was able to calmly launch and reach Eve encounter. Meeting Gilly took a few delicate burns and then a long fall to the surface. The only error for GRP was the ever problematic surface imaging, the battery weight was cutout. The high tier capsule and biometric device are researched for Intrepid V. Great mission

[Taleric]

INTREPID V

"The right stuff." Kevin takes the first steps toward the larger Kerbol system testing the advanced capsule and gathering biometric data. The intrepid launch system continues to perform sending Intrepid V to the Mun. Activating the onboard computers Kevin visits the Mun surface returning and reducing the lander to the core science parts. After breaking away from the Mun's gravity a generous rendezvous with Minmus is burned and Kevin takes the entire mission down to the surface. Lastly Kevin slips out of Kerbin's SOI to gather interkerbol data and gage the life support usage. Comfortably returning to Kerbin Kevin proves his skill and brings a boatload of science.

Edited August 20, 2014 by Taleric

[Taleric]

MRP I

After some number crunching the think tank commissions Moho Recon Probe. Being so close to Kerbol weight in solar panels is kept to a minimum. There must have been a miscalculation in the transfer as the encounter takes longer than planned. Arriving at Moho the MRP is traveling at breakneck speed and mission control hopes this is not another flyby. Capture finally, but too little fuel for a solid landing, the first easy other planet orbital scan is performed. In the future mission control might attempt to bring MRP to the surface once they are sure no additional orbital science is needed.

[Taleric]

INTREPID VI (SCI)

*Updating BTSM I ran into some incompatibility issues with the contracts where there might be repeats. Doing a rough calculation for a manned Duna run the cost looks to be in the 700-900k range; as this would cleanout the program I will focus on goo returns to get tech for Jool and bring funds back. I am confident my progress was on par with an average cost run.

Tan is selected to run the new science module to the Mun. Intrepid VI required a complete redesign to properly deliver and return the science module. The first stage brought Tan into a generous orbit for a calm Mun encounter. On landing Tan really wished a rover had been brought to visit the canyons just a few kilometers east. A lander hop was out of the question with the valuable payload. Returning to Kerbin Tan realizes in horror that a heat shield had not been equipped! With the surplus of fuel Tan decides to make his contribution to the program and brazenly slows reentry using the large fuel tank as a mock shield. Losing just a few solar panels the crisis is avoided for a good deal of science.