[0.90] Career mode Mun rush (manned returned in 6.6 t)

[Kesa]

With the arrival of Ksp 0.90, many low tech, low upgrade and low cost challenges have spread. Here is my attempt at this one, in a real career game, from scratch and without grinding.

If you're just interested by the mission to the Mun, go to the next post.

Career settings : moderate difficulty.

First four rockets, to break 5000, 1100, 22000, 56000 and 33000 m altitude record (memory rebuild, there were five actually, but that gives you an idea of the kind of rocket I build) :

They were all successfully recovered, near the KSC. Third landed on Water the fourth on the grass land.

First Orbital mission :

(Also, memory rebuild). Jebedia flew this SSTO rocket up to a low (80 km) polar Kerbin orbit, with 100 m/s spare to deorbit.

Meanwhile, at the astronaut complex, engineers discovered that EVA suits were actually space proof, and that jet pack could work in absence of gravity. Maybe because his two last flys showed him that his EVA suit was waterproofed, and that mystery goo loved both water and space, Jebediah did already know about EVA suit. Without any communication mean to be told how to use EVA suit, he valiantly went on EVA and recorded his observation about many situation.

Two orbits later, Jeb found that the day-night cycle were too fast up there and deorbited, to successfully splash midway between south pole and west desert.

Vernher found the scientific data collected very helpfull, and stated that the Mun would soon be beyond kerbal's reach.

Gene, excited : "excellent, another record to break! Oh, and before, somone called Bobman somehow get stuck into space, it would be kind if we could bring him back home"

Jeb : "How the hell did he go there? And has he got a jetpack? Cannot he find a way back home? I want to go to land on the Mun. Now!"

Vernher : "Well, we could first have a fly-by, then wonder if a landing is possible.

- Or I can have a fly-byand land on the Mun. Remember, like when I broke the 56 km barrier and went into space.

- Well, that's not the same deal... We could first send a probe there. Not meant to come back.

- Nope. Bring me up there. I got a jet pack, I'll find a way back home. I'll come back when you'll have a rocket for me to ride."

(At this point, I had basic rocketry, 237 science points to spare, and enough money to build any small rocket I want, but not to upgrade an morey building but mission control, which I did.)

More to come..

Edited December 25, 2014 by Kesa
added a missing link to the challenge I'm completing

[Kesa]

SO you you want to go the Mun in less than 18t/30parts?

- yes. And come back, if possible.

" What if we laucnh a rocket that wheight, let say 19.5t?"

Gus : "no way. The Launchpad will break and so will the rocket"

"Then what about a cheaper launch pad that can handle 60t?"

Mortimer "That product does not exist, and even if it did, we could not afford. We're low on cash, may I suggest selling licenses?"

When a rocket engineer cannot go bigger, he/she has to go smaller. And when the playload cannot be shrinked, we shrink the engines and the fuel tank. Jet engines are good to shrink tanks, and rockomax 48 - 7 s is a mighty shrinked engine. And guess what, that means very little science :

And now, the trip :

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*** Some narrative speak will be added for the trip. I made very few pictures, I may add some.

Edited December 25, 2014 by Kesa