Scorched Kerbin: Modded Moho colonization: indefinitely on hold

[Norpo]

This is the Scorched Kerbin Mission Report. It's indefinitely on hold, and the goal was to make a fully sustainable ground base (in sandbox) on Moho!

List of Mods:

[TABLE=class: grid, width: 500, align: center]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Major Mods[/TD]

[TD=align: center]TAC Life Support, MKS/OKS, Karbonite, Extraplanetary Launchpads (and all dependencies)[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Minor Mods[/TD]

[TD=align: center]KAS, ScanSAT, Stockalike Station Parts[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=align: center]Informational/Graphics[/TD]

[TD=align: center]Kerbal Engineer Redux, Precise Node, Kerbal Alarm Clock, Texture Replacer (with J's suit pack)[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Current updates:

Age of Exploration:

Update 1: It's in space!

Update 2: Calling ground control

Update 3: I think of Kerbin in those stars

Update 4: Fresh snacks!

Edited February 26, 2015 by Norpo
Update 4!

[RAINCRAFTER]

Nice mission. I'm a bit of a noob, so I haven't crashed or landed anything outside of Kerbin SOI without mechjeb.

[Norpo]

Update 1: Communication: It's in space!

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." -Unknown

Days to next Moho Transfer: around 7 days

The plan for this transfer is to: explore Moho, make sure it's safe, find high concentrations of resources there (Using the Discovery Probe) and send an unmanned rover to the planned landing site, to make sure it's flat. Right now, we're trying to get the first, arguably most important part of the mission up into space, the Discovery probe.

The Discovery probe, along with a transfer stage, is in Low Kerbin Orbit. It's sensors have been tested (e.g it's my first time using ScanSAT), and it's prepared to go to Moho as soon as the next module is ready.

Here's some pictures of it, along with it's lifter:

(No, i'm not going for realism, why do you ask? )

It all went without a hitch, getting to Low Kerbin Orbit successfully.

(The Discovery Probe, still attached to it's transfer stage, planned to be spent while going to Moho.)

However, there's still one more thing to do before actually going to Moho.

And that is to make the rover. Here's a very early prototype.

The Endurance (or, "Pack Rat" rover as it is affectionately known), will contain some light resources in KAS storage bays (not pictured). It will have a seat, for use even after the colony is finished. It is planned to be an important part of the process of colonizing Moho from start to finish.

Suggestions? Comments? Want a full 1600x900 picture of any of the ones shown here as your new wallpaper? Let me know!

[2001kraft]

Oooooo...shiny new reading goldmine.

Who knows, I can spend a few sleepless nights just reading these mission reports when they're finished.

Looks promising, keep it rolling

[Norpo]

Update 2: Calling ground control (bigger update)

A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving. -Lao Tzu

Days to next Moho Transfer: nil

I've been having some problems. It's like someone slathered my rockets in Kraken food and he was VERY hungry. For one, our rockets simply wouldn't lift off. Either that, or they simply exploded. Here's my first Endurance Class Rover rocket lifter.

oops

I tried to fix it multiple times, but the rocket wouldn't budge. It was like something was holding it in place.

Ironically, the exploding stopped as soon as I got rid of Kerbal Joint Reinforcement, so that happened. Guess i'm gonna have to make do with Noodle Rockets! It eventually (see: after many attempts) got to Low Kerbin Orbit, ready to be sent out as soon as the Moho Transfer came, along with Discovery.

Fast forward 24 days. The Moho Transfer is here. Discovery and Endurance begin their burns (Endurance pictured)

endurance beginning it's transfer burn with it's transfer stage

Discovery went first, then Endurance. I went with an ineffecient transfer out of inexperience and me wanting to get there as fast as I could. After the plane change half-way through the orbit, they arrived.

encounters

Endurance arrived first. Due to an unknown error, it got to orbit, but it doesn't have enough fuel to land. Actually, it might, but it's a ridiculously tight margin. It's possible a refueling mission may be required to land it (either that, or clever lithobraking. I was going to ditch the skycrane anyways, eh?) Then, Discovery arrived. I accidentally timewarped too much. Well, I suppose I can quickload for that... *forgot to quicksave after getting endurance in orbit*

...And I had to get endurance into orbit again, with the same fuel loss results. Curious. In the end, I got Discovery (without said fuel loss) into a 100x100 km 90 degree inclination polar orbit, scanning. There's no mistaking it, Moho looks like a giant, moldy meatball. (We already knew that, no surprise there.)

discovery: orbiting moho

There's just one problem. Linus Kerman: There's always a problem, isn't there?

According to ScanSAT, moho has NO water. At all. Not even 0.01%, it's all 0.00%. It looks like if I make a base here, it will need regular water shipments. Perhaps there will be a way to get some through alternate means, but it looks bleak on that front. I suppose it was to be expected, after all it is a giant meatball orbiting really close to the sun.

This truly will be a challenge. But I didn't do it because it was easy, did I?

"So, can I go there now?" -Jebediah Kerman Okay, Jeb. The next mission will be manned.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Things you want me to try to do? (I'll try them, if I can fit them in somehow!)

Edited January 18, 2015 by Norpo

[Bioman222]

Interesting, will follow.

[Norpo]

Update 3: I think of Kerbin in those stars

“Sailors on a becalmed sea, we sense the stirring of a breeze.†-Carl Sagan

Well, PROGRESS! (kinda)

For one, just to see what would happen, I ran an *ahem* simulation, just to see if I could still land my rover (as it didn't have enough fuel, but just to see)

relax, just a simulation

Yeah, that didn't work out. So I decided to just keep it in orbit. (I made a self-imposed simulation rule for myself, I can run simulations, but I can't keep the results, good or bad.)

In better news, meet Kerbin's latest heroes, Lenlo Kerman and Macski Kerman! They'll be manning the first ship (non-probe) to Moho. They'll have to be brave, they'll be getting on a ship I cobbled together in 4 minu- I mean carefully built, taking my time. The plan is to make the ship multi-purpose, if it gets to it's destination safely, it also contains an OKS station core, so I can begin construction. It has 2 large solar panels, which will be super-charged due to Moho's proximity to the sun.

why did they have to order matching uniforms

Whelp, lookie here. The Station Kore has been launched, despite some difficulties (extreme wobbling) on the launchpad, KSC decided it was "good to go", and they "had parachutes in there anyways". It seemed like a bad idea, but this was make or break time...

expert engineering, if i do say so myself

It achieved orbit without a single problem. Once in orbit, the radial parachutes were ditched using KAS, due to it being pointless weight. Once they leave, they aren't coming back. For a long time, anyways.

Lenlo: Wait, what?

Macski: Didn't you read the fine print? It clearly said "no-return trip".

Lenlo: Then why did YOU sign up!?

Macski: No idea. Going on top of a giant, untested rocket going to an exotic destination with no water seemed appealing to me.

Lenlo: That's Jebediah's job...

Don't worry, I packed enough food. At least 4 years worth. Maybe.

Going along for the ride in a seperate launching vehicle, the MOHO P1-LANDR, a replacement for the Endurance rover (which failed, miserably), was also sent into Low Kerbin Orbit. It will be sent into high Moho polar orbit, ready to be dropped on a potential landing site.

The solar escape transfers went without a hitch, and Lenlo and Macski kerman marveled at the view.

Lenlo: Strange to think that among those stars, Kerbin is but a pale blue dot.

this will make a great postcard

However, during the solar incline change burn, there was a problem...

Lenlo: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Macski: Huh? LENLO!

Turns out I hit the EVA button by accident, because Lenlo was sent flying out of the Station Kore. He was alone. Cue frantic screaming. Luckily, I cut the throttle, and there wasn't too much velocity between them. However, the difference was climbing rapidly. Action had to be taken. I turned the ship around, and burned relative retrograde. Thankfully, Lenlo was only 7.5 km away, not too far, but still hardly ideal. I almost lost a crew member! I should be more careful...

macski, why are you smiling, you.. you..

curse this sun glare

After some fine maneuvering, Lenlo was back on the spacecraft. But had the throttle not been cut in time, it could have been much worse.

Meanwhile, the Moho P1-LANDR mission has so far been uneventful.

boring

The encounters are set, they're almost there. ALMOST. Meanwhile, someone noticed a strange reading with Discovery's sensors, surely it was done scanning by now? The mission could hinge on this moment.

now they won't dehydrate, drowning may be an issue, however. red dot is planned landing site

WATER! On Moho! The sole source of water has been found. It doesn't have that much in the way of ores and minerals, but enough drills can change that. Success! Sadly, there is no Karbonite to be found in that area. However, water can be turned into rocket fuel as well, so it's not a huge problem. We have a landing site. We have a home. Since mostly all of Moho has been mapped, this is the end of Discovery's first mission. Perhaps it could be reused for some other purpose?

As well, I have figured out my beginning plan.

Make an OKS habitat in orbit FIRST, before making a land base. That way, I don't have to risk landing crew. Make it somewhat self-sustainable. I don't believe it can be fully self sustainable, due to water needing to be harvested.

And the journey continues...

[DMSP]

Oh, seems cool!

[Norpo]

Update 4: Fresh snacks!

I repurposed discovery to act as a sort of sentry beacon, and landed it near the water site with it's excess fuel. It went without a hitch!

*fast forward a lot of time*

I designed a mining rig, and a tug to get it to Moho. I also sent out life support supplies to extend the kerbals lifespan.

They all arrived at Moho safely, so no need to bore you with all the details.

But... MONTAGE!

MINR rig, with tug.

The life support module docked successfully!

It took a few attempts to land it (quicksaves), but I landed the MINR near Discovery, which as you may recall I landed near the planned base site.

And the journey continues.

[Drakoflame]

thank you... you've convinced me that I want to ditch Interstellar Life Support mod in favor for the re-usable TAC life support...

First Mission:

The Mun: Is there really Cheese there?

When I figure what mods to cut to save Memory, I will start a thread in the Missions Report forum, keep an eye out! (shameless self promotion, sorry)

[Acemcbean]

This all looks really cool, and totally reminds me of the old "Wrong Brothers" thread. If you havent seen it, you can find a link to it in.. the first threads of the month post, I think.