Kron series (Kron 6 end of mission) - temporary halt of program

[Zaddy23]

I'd say go to Thatmo, temporarily skipping Nissee as I'd imagine it'd be easier and more fuel efficient going from Thatmo to Nissee rather than trying to get an intercept right now.

[nsgallup]

I think I would come in to Neidons SOI with a very low periapses skimming the atmosphere, and then slow my orbital speed down while at the periapses. Once captured into an enclined orbit, I would then worry about transferring to Nissee

[lajoswinkler]

I think I would come in to Neidons SOI with a very low periapses skimming the atmosphere, and then slow my orbital speed down while at the periapses. Once captured into an enclined orbit, I would then worry about transferring to Nissee

Indeed, but it takes one year to reach the apoapsis of such highly eccentrical orbit.

If only the bloody thing had another argument of periapsis, it would be much easier.

[nsgallup]

That long?? Brutal

For me it wouldn't matter too much since i don't care about time, but I think your kerbals wouldn't appreciate another few years added to their journey

[GabrielG.A.B.Fonseca]

Indeed, but it takes one year to reach the apoapsis of such highly eccentrical orbit.

If only the bloody thing had another argument of periapsis, it would be much easier.

Well... They have cryonics for a reason...

[lajoswinkler]

Yeah, but Valentina is awake and I don't have much glykerol left. I think I forgot to pack one more canister.

[Findthepin1]

Map View says there's a mohole at Nissee's north pole. Can you confirm?

[lajoswinkler]

Yes, I saw it in the map view. I will investigate.

The ship is about to start the orbital insertion. I've put Valentina to sleep. Good thing I woke up only her.

[Sharkman Briton]

dis gon be gud

[lajoswinkler]

Orbital insertion begins.

First set of tanks after years of flight is now jettisoned.

View from one of the tanks.

Thrusting is done at 35% to allow thermal equilibrium so that timewarp can go to 4x.

Edited November 1, 2015 by lajoswinkler

[Zaddy23]

Man, you must be going really quick in order to be burning out that far, it gives a sense of just how crazy some of these OPM planets can get

[lajoswinkler]

Yes, it was around 3800 m/s that far from Neidon. I'm not sure what would happen at the periapsis if it was even lower and there was no thrusting. Probably at least 4500 m/s, possibly over 5000, therefore completely unsuitable for aerobraking. The ship would detonate.

And another set of tanks is away.

Approaching the periapsis.

The burn continues well after the ship has passed both the periapsis and the terminator.

Orbital insertion complete. Kron 5 is now revolving around Neidon.

Temporary parking orbit.

Here's what would happen if I didn't spend few tens of m/s more and left the apoapsis at the SOI edge.

These things can happen because Neidon is so massive, yet at extreme distance from Kerbol, thus having an enormous sphere of influence.

More about the following plans - tomorrow. Hint - I got very lucky.

[VASMIR]

Noice

[DMSP]

Haha!

You did it!

[lajoswinkler]

Yes.

So here's what I had in mind.

You can see the ship continuing on its orbit. If I spend around 50 m/s at the apoapsis to increase the periapsis, I will get an encounter with Nissee, and its orbital insertion shouldn't cause huge expenses because the ship will then be sufficiently far from Neidon. To correct the inclination first would mean over 1000 m/s, which is just not something I can allow right now.

The mission will last a bit longer, but everyone is asleep, so there shouldn't be any issues.

[lajoswinkler]

The plan worked perfectly. Total delta v spent was less than 600 m/s and the mission has been extended for a month.

Resulting orbit is around 45x45 km with almost 90° inclination.

What I should've done before was to disable all other fuel tanks except the ones holding the two lateral engines in order to spend that fuel and dump them. There is no need for three engines anymore. Now I'm using only those tanks and those engines so my prediction is that they will get dumped before the ship is in a final Thatmo polar orbit.

There is certainly something on the north pole of Nissee, so the Kerbals must land there, too.

Nissee looks like one more space potato.

South pole probably has either a smaller hole or a pyramid.

Time to wake the team up.

Edited November 1, 2015 by lajoswinkler

[SpaceplaneAddict]

Yay! Really liking this, have rep!

-SPAddict

[nsgallup]

A golden space tater

[DMSP]

Good luck with the rest of the Mission!

[GabrielG.A.B.Fonseca]

Glorious! Looking forward for surface ops!

[Sharkman Briton]

This is gonna be so cool! I love Neidon, good luck!

[lajoswinkler]

Bob: "Very funny, Val. I had a terrible dream we were millions, upon millions of kilometres away from Kerbin!"

Getting outside for some stretching out.

"You gotta do what you gotta do, eh, Bob?"

"I will eat you if we run out of food, Jeb."

[Zaddy23]

Haha, sounds like someone thinks he should've stayed home today. ;P

[nsgallup]

Damnit

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to lajoswinkler again.

[VASMIR]

The cannibal kerbal