The Martian Rocket

[VincentMcConnell]

Just started work on inventing an interplanetary rocket and spacecraft that will be used in my first orbital flight of Kerbal\'s Mars equivalent. I have no real name for it yet, so if anybody has any ideas, that would be great. The craft has had testing already. First in orbit, using its service module to boost into a 150km orbit from a 100km orbit before returning to Kerbin. Next, it was used to do 2 orbits around the mun and return. All is looking well for this craft, and I believe its injection stage has PLENTY of fuel to make the burn to intercept Martian orbit.

Again, any names will be helpful. Here\'s a picture of the craft\'s service module on top of its injection stage in Kerbin orbit.

It uses solid booster to get 2,000 meters off of the launch pad, then jettisons those and starts its first liquid stage which pitches into an apokee of 85km. The injection stage circularizes a 100km orbit and then makes the burn to intercept Mars\'s patch. Then the panels fall off and the service module flights toward Mars. It uses its SPS engine to drop into Martian orbit and then return. At 110,000 meters from Kerbin, the command module separates from the service stage and at 68,000 meters, it activates its heat shield and makes a dramatic reentry towards Kerbin.

[Richy teh space man]

Looks a little small to me.. are you sure it would have enough fuel to get to Mars and back?

As to the name of it.. I\'m gonna suggest Eric

[Kryten]

Ulysses.

Because it\'s going to need a miracle to come back.

[VincentMcConnell]

Ulysses.

Because it\'s going to need a miracle to come back.

It\'s service propulsion stage should have enough fuel to get back. The tank might be a little modded...

[sgtblazing]

Name I after a famous scientific mind like Sagan, Tesla, or even someone like Bill Nye. Name plus a number which represents how many engines the initial stages has.

[Kosmo-not]

How much delta-V does it have left after reaching orbit?

[VincentMcConnell]

Hey sorry, everyone, I meant to put this in the spacecraft exchange. I don\'t know how to move it, but if anyone else does, that\'d be great.

[Zephram Kerman]

Since your vessel may be the first to visit another actual planet, I think something like 'Pioneer', or 'Viking' would be appropriate. (Sound familiar?) Unless you prefer alien-sounding names, like 'Inevitably Successful In All Circumstances' or 'Portentous Vanguard'. Maybe crack open the nearest Klingon phrase dictionary.

I think it really depends on your mood. Intrepid explorer, or doomed wanderer? Peaceful visitor, or sinister invader?

But the number really should refer to the iteration of that name. Going straight to 'Ruffian 7' is a slight breach of naming etiquette, which I just made up.

[VincentMcConnell]

Since your vessel may be the first to visit another actual planet, I think something like 'Pioneer', or 'Viking' would be appropriate.

First to go to Mars. Well that\'d be an accomplishment for me, right up with the possibility that it\'s still unknown whether I was actually the first in Munar orbit rendezvous or just ONE OF THE first.

I like Pioneer.

[sal_vager]

Pioneer has been done:)

At first I thought 'small, has a shell, little bit green inside, it reminds me of a pistachio'

But then I remembered what I called the ship I used to set up the gates for the StarRally.

'The Paveway'

You\'ll be paving the way for future generations of Kerbals to visit the Ruddy Planet.

Jebediah quoted 'How do you land on the ruddy thing?'

[NovaSilisko]

Friking. Both the name of the vessel, and the exclamation your Kerbals will make when they miscalculate their orbit insertion burn =P

[VincentMcConnell]

Friking. Both the name of the vessel, and the exclamation your Kerbals will make when they miscalculate their orbit insertion burn =P

I think I made a thread here and in it, someone explained how to properly do it, but we won\'t know until we get Mars and know it\'s altitude and orbital period. I hope I don\'t miscalculate!

[VincentMcConnell]

So, a little update today for everyone.

I\'m thinking about naming my official Martian program 'Grissom' after astronaut Gus Grissom (RIP) and launching the orbital flights onboard the rocket in this thread and the landing flights on a modified Saturn V rocket. I launched my first Martian Module into Kerbin orbit about 20 minutes ago where it used its service stage to make two altitude corrections (224x200 --> 220x220km). The Descent stage was used to descend the lander into an orbit of 100km circular with plenty of fuel to spare. The Ascent stage deorbited the spacecraft and it reentered the atmosphere and splashed down off the western coast near KSC.

It was a highly successful flight and has only one more test to go. This is to put the rocket into an initial orbit of 100KM and then use its injection stage to boost its apokee to an orbit of 100x1200km. The SM, the descent stage and the ascent stage will be used to make various corrections. If it can reenter with the launch to orbit of 100km and the Hohmann transfer successful, it will be qualified for the first Martian mission when the planet is released. I decided I will NOT take it to the Mun. This is a Martian program and will be treated as such.

Anyway, it seems Grissom II was a highly successful test of the Martian Module in Kerbin orbit. If Grissom II goes well, the Module will make its first flight to Mars when it is released on Grissom IV. (III will be an orbital mission using the command module shown in this thread.)

If no problems are encountered and the Kerbals are returned successfully the first time, Grissom V will be the first mission to touch the Martian surface.

If anyone\'s wondering, here\'s a picture of hopefully, in the future, the first spacecraft to touch the Martian surface.

[Oggula]

Mars has bare gravity and ting. If you plan on making it up to and orbital rendezvous with a high altitude tanker then escape back to kerbin like I do, you will need to land at least 2 full tanks of fuel and mini engine on the surface, excluding fuel used up in descent. I think even this would be cutting it fine. Of course, a dense atmosphere and parachutes would make descent easier.

[Zephram Kerman]

Of course, the properties of this planet are completely unknown. So it\'s impossible to know the mission requirements. But that\'s the whole point of going, to find out what\'s there.

[Mynorus]

You should name it

piss

, because that\'s what the ship will be filled with when they can\'t get back home. :3

[VincentMcConnell]

You should name it

piss

, because that\'s what the ship will be filled with when they can\'t get back home. :3

I\'ll be sure to bring extra urine collection bags. Remember, I said the ascent and descent stage have been modded to have a substantial amount of fuel specifically so return can be possible without orbital rendezvous and docking around Mars. (Even though such a thing MIGHT be my method. Martian Orbit Rendezvous.

[NovaSilisko]

I\'ll be sure to bring extra urine collection bags. Remember, I said the ascent and descent stage have been modded to have a substantial amount of fuel specifically so return can be possible without orbital rendezvous and docking around Mars. (Even though such a thing MIGHT be my method. Martian Orbit Rendezvous.

Well, docking is coming before new planets, so...

[VincentMcConnell]

Well, docking is coming before new planets, so...

I realized that after I typed up that comment, ha! Maybe I will use orbital rendezvous. As long as we are able to dock with a booster and use it when Docking comes out.