Project Horzion: Doing NASA Probe Missions In KSP!

[Nicholander]

I had this idea of trying to do some of the current NASA (And maybe other space agencies) unmanned missions (New Horizons, Dawn, MESSENGER, etc.) in the Kerbol System using KSP. Now I've finally decided to act upon that idea, and so I announce Project Horizon!

For the first mission I'll do, I haven't completely decided, but I have narrowed it down to 2 ideas:

New Horzions - Pluto Flyby missions - I'll flyby Jool, and then Eeloo

MAVEN - Mars - I'll, of course, orbit Duna

So, which do you guys think I should do first?

[_Augustus_]

You should do a Dawn mission to Dres.

[Nicholander]

Well, hmmm. I considered that, since it will arrive at Ceres in only a few months, but there's a few problems:

1. Operating an Ion powered spacecraft will take very long and be boring. (Probably)

2. Using KSPTOT (KSP Trajectory Optimization Tool), to get a Kerbin-Duna-Dres course, it had this weird trajectory and it said at the bottom that there was something wrong in the calculation (Which took a particularly long time), and that this trajectory it showed probably might not be doable. Also, it said it would need 4 km/s of delta-v to do Dres orbit insertion.

[Nicholander]

Why no more posts? Also, I'm starting to think I should do New Horizons...

[Rolanvorxariat]

new horizons

you should make a poll:rolleyes:

[Zilentification]

Do the New Horizons! Planning a mission around gravity assist is always a great challenge. And you can install the outer planets mod if you want Eeloo to be a lot further out in the Solar System.

[Nicholander]

Then New Horizons it is. I don't know when It'll be exactly, but expect it to be done soon.

Edited January 9, 2015 by Nicholander