The KSP StarRally 2012 - The Great Orbital Rendezvous Race!

[I got BCed]

Enter me for the challenge, Stock Class, no bonuses. (I can\'t even get the thing onto the mun)

[sal_vager]

Enter me for the challenge, Stock Class, no bonuses. (I can\'t even get the thing onto the mun)

No need to formally enter, just download the persistence file and go for it, don\'t forget screenshots and when you\'re done post it here, don\'t worry too much about your time, it\'ll just be cool to have more pilots on the leaderboard

[Kosmo-not]

Top spot will be mine!

Just got done doing a test run. I\'ll have to make an official run tonight. 8)

[Kosmo-not]

Seeing that everyone had completed the challenge in half the time as my original run, I have now returned the favor.

That was quite a ride. I can\'t believe how lucky I was to have the finish line about 10km in front of me by the time my aerobrake maneuver was complete.

First hurdle complete.

Second checkpoint complete. I\'m making good time.

Nice shot of checkpoint 3 at the Mun.

At the finish line.

It is possible to beat this time. I wish you all luck at it if you try.

*edit*

I have decided to post a slightly improved version of the craft (some RCS thrusters were moved around for balancing). Thanks for the name, sal_vager.

[Cykyrios]

Wow, how can you get to the Mun and back in less than 10 hours?

I came up with an idea earlier, that if I had a powerful enough ship, with enough fuel, I could burn constantly and lose very little time during transfers, but that would be quite difficult to do...

[PakledHostage]

Seeing that everyone had completed the challenge in half the time as my original run, I have now returned the favor.

That was quite a ride. I can\'t believe how lucky I was to have the finish line about 10km in front of me by the time my aerobrake maneuver was complete.

Impressive! I won\'t be beating that record. I\'ll just resign myself to last place in the turtle derby.

[Kosmo-not]

Okay, I think I\'ve had enough time in first place on the leader board. I shall reveal how I managed to complete the course in a little over 11 hours.

I waited until checkpoint 1 orbited around so I could launch to a parking orbit and use my Hohmann transfer rendezvous technique. I had to hurry it a little so I could complete checkpoint 1 before coming around to the burn point to transfer to checkpoint 2.

I then did my transfer burn to checkpoint 2, expending around 100 more delta-V than a Hohmann transfer would require. It would get me there in around 45 minutes if no course corrections were required.

After checkpoint 2 was done, I immediately did my transfer burn to the Mun, with the same strategy in mind as the previous one. It cuts quite a few hours off doing this.

After doing my TKI burn and reentering Kerbin\'s SOI, I converted the majority of my remaining liquid fuel into delta-V with a periapsis a little under 40km. This was the sprint to the finish line. I was excited to see the finish line in perfect position as I was nearing the atmosphere. I was glad that I kept a little fuel in reserve, since the aerobrake didn\'t slow me down quite enough.

I was busy on the map screen aligning planes when I accidentally passed the finish line. With no liquid fuel left, I triggered my 'escape pod' stage and burned for it. I had a nice cold beer when it was over.

Now that you know the story, it is time for you guys to get back to work and post some new times.

[sal_vager]

I\'m sure I can do better than my previous time but I doubt I can beat you, the aerobraking maneuver was a good idea though I\'d have come down to 37.5km.

You aren\'t related to Michael Schumacher are you?

[Kosmo-not]

You aren\'t related to Michael Schumacher are you?

No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn. Also, my last name starts with sch, so that might have something to do with it.

[mager42]

My try, not best because Kosmo-not is real fast.

20:55:12

At launchpad.

First chekpoint at 150km.

Second on stationary orbit.

Third on Muun orbit.

And finist line, there i sucesfully change my inclination during areobrake.

Land, without Landing comp./this part of mechjeb just freeze when i need it/ and in the night, but sucesfully.

It was fun fly this.

My ship using - C7 all, MechJeb, RinComp and DamnedAerospaceRev3.1.

It\'s rocketplane build to land at the Muun and return to kerbin. For this use is working good.

At start its realy tricky to not crash and it\'s need carefuly regulate trust before booster unit is decupled at 15km.

[Emilio]

Boooh, you\'re using RinComp

Still designing my craft, i\'ll win this race !

[Cykyrios]

Doing it with or without mods Emilio?

I haven\'t tried to beat my own time yet, not sure whether I\'ll do that before or after 0.15 is released, but one thing I know is that I need MOAR POWER (and control...), and I still have to figure the best time to transfer orbits.

Good luck anyway, and nice job mager42!

[sal_vager]

I may have to totally rebuild the race with .15, shouldn\'t be too hard I hope.

Congrats on your time mager42, even though you had 'help', but that\'s ok for the Mod leaderboard

Looking forwards to your run Emilio

[Kosmo-not]

Why would you have to rebuild the race after 0.15 is released?

[sal_vager]

I thought 0.15 was going to break persistence files, craft files are going to be upgraded I think, Mu said something to that effect earlier.

Edit: False alarm, our files should be safe at least until 0.16

[Emilio]

Doing it with or without mods Emilio?

Stock, if my designs are enough

[mager42]

My faster try, still not best because Kosmo-not is real fast.

13:19:58

At launchpad.

First chekpoint at 150km.

Second on stationary orbit.

Third on Muun orbit. /whole new faster trajectory to reach the muun/

And finish line, there i again sucesfully change my inclination during areobrake.

Land, again without Landing comp./this part of mechjeb just freeze when i need it/ and in the night,

but not that sucesfully as first time. I overshot KSC a lot, but stil can return to land.

I use same ship as before - Skylon2m.

[mager42]

My real fast try.

Finaly.

10:05:06

At launchpad.

First chekpoint at 150km.

Second on stationary orbit.

Third on Muun orbit. /same faster trajectory to reach the muun, just little better/

And finish line, new trajectory to return from the Muun and end areobrake near finish line.

Land, with working Landing comp.

I use same ship as before - Skylon2m.

[sal_vager]

Wow that is an amazing time mager42, well done

[Bandock]

Is it too late for me to participate now? (Just to see how well my attempt works.)

[Hammaneggs]

I would try if this is still going on, despite only orbiting the sun, and crashing into Mun being my only achievements.

[sal_vager]

Well it\'s not locked yet, and if you can present your run then this challenge will stay open

I had better check to see if the persistence file still works ???

[Hammaneggs]

Well, time to use aerospike takeoffs I guess. 8)

[sal_vager]

The file won\'t load for me, looks like I have to remake the course, I can\'t even load my old craft so I\'ll have to rebuild the ringships as well, I\'ll get right on it.

[Hammaneggs]

ok, thanks