In Progress Let's go to the Moon and do the other things (Kerbal Space)

[Ulminati]

The space race is BACK ON!

 

[Ulminati]

-- BREAKING NEWS -- BREAKING NEWS -- BREAKING NEWS --

TODAY... *static* ...I... *static* ...BRING MULTICULT... *static* ...RAPE TO THE MÜN!

- Stereotypical Villain, upon setting foot on the Mün​

 

[Burning Bridges]

"Macht Den Weltraum Frei!"

Duna 2 - First Kerman probe lands on another planet.

Part I

Big news, Kollegen! After we managed to reveive some funds (the Bundesrepublik is very miserly with such things) we could embark on our long cherished dream - to make use of our excellent hardware and send an unmanned probe to Duna - a real Duna Rover actually! (thanks to our friends from CleverBobCat for providing it).

The mission cost a mere 1,500,000 Reichsmark - still a lot for our small agency.

Conducting such a flight to a planet over 6,000,000 kilometers proved very difficult, because we have no access to modern flight computers. To achieve the difficult trajectory our engineers have come up with a solution that is rather simple, but needs a little more fuel than necessary. Most details are for now classified. But we can reveal that we first navigated close to Duna's orbit, then entered into an orbit similar to Duna, until we managed the encounter. From then we went into more orbits until we got close enough to the surface.

Without a computer it turned out really tedious Handarbeit, but we did it!

For the launch we used the recommended launch window - that is, Kerbin a 3 o clock, Duna 45 degrees ahead.

No exact measurements of phase angles was used - or it never went right when we tried

Liftoff of the Duna 2 mission - using our tested A5 rocket. (they are for sale, did we mention that?)

We find it always majestic when one of our spaceship takes to the skies.

The boosters stages are separated, we are ready for orbital insertion, as usual, bla bla.

Recommended position for Duna injection is as usual - five o clock -

The rest must be done with pure eyeballing .

We never get a proper encounter right, therefore we simply navigate to Dunas orbit - on of our experts has seen this in a tutorial.

The we get into an orbit similar to Dunas.

This works, and we get our encounter!

It is however not fuel efficient!! But we don't know another technique for now.

Along the way we learned that we can adjust our orbit with the RCS thrusters. This is more precise and saves some fuel.

We get into Dunas field of influence.

and correct the trajectory by slowing down

the slow down some more

until we get into an orbit.

Yes we know it's crappy but it will get the job done.

Our spaceships has now become part of the Duna system, temporarily.

some views of Duna and it's Moon

some views of Duna and it's Moon

during our approach we make several flyby's of the planet.

As scientists have suspected for some time, it's mostly red.

But we plan to explore the white part as well this time!

Finally we get close enough for a landing approach.

Fuel is no problem, because we will rely on two parachutes for aerobraking

Our trajectory will bring us to the Polar region (white), how we had hoped.

30,000m already. Now things get hot. We better retract the solar panels so they won't get damaged by the athmospheric friction.

Descent can begin.

We slow down a little more with the main engine. But we don't want to slow down too much, so that we don't get too far from the red stuff - we really want to land our rover somewhere close to the polar border.

Away goes the main engine - we completely rely on our parachutes from now on.

The two parachutes deploy with a bang

then flap some more

and finally both open.

That's actually a lot easier than on the Mun!

Final touchdown - no problems!

This is where we are - on the planet Duna.

The area is actually very dull, but it will do for our first landing. We expect to see more interesting things when the Rover begins moving.

We plan to drive it northwards, until we will hopefully find some interesting things in the red area.

The Duna 2 Rover has deployed the solar panels, and is fully operational.

Scientific exploration of Duna can begin!

 

[Hellraiser]

Nicely done, you improved the descent stage I see. Surprised a bit you didn't use a NERVA for the interplanetary transfer. But that design packs a lot of delta-v anyway for small payloads.

I was wondering if you can do a full aerobraking, no-fuel landing on Duna now. Using the new drogue parachutes that is. That's pretty much the goal of my first planned Duna mission in 0.18. Along with some other things. Which I'll do after my apollo style 3-man landing on the Mun, stuff got delayed a bit as SAP Cosmonauts Darth Roxorowski, Whiskey Wolfowicz and Elwro Kermanczyk got stranded on an island 200 km off the KSC (long story, also top secret) and I had to make a 4 man jet piloted by Draq Kermanski to haul them back. Unlike Lenmark Polant have jet to retrieve Cosmonaut, not slow submarine.



All in all they didn't really add that much, at least at first glance. But I keep thinking of all these crazy things I can do now and I couldn't in 0.17, like modular designs. Those probe pods really help in reducing casualties among the space worthy Potatoes by helping build prototypes and proof of concept spacecraft. And the scientific equipment is quite useful, if only for the gravioli gravity and pressure sensors. Temperature will probably be important when re-entry heat will be simulated. Makes a lot of sense to send a probe first before trying a manned mission now.

 

[Burning Bridges]

Yes, it works up to my expectations. I tested the lander on Kerbin to be really sure. I am not really a fan of the nuclear engine. It requires bigger rockets than I use, but of course, for my rather idiotic Duna trajectory (described above) it could be useful.

On Duna I mostly relied on aerobraking, a powered descent was possible, but would have screwed up the landing site. I keep reminding myself to aim a bit ahead of where I want to land, and keep forgetting it every time ..

So yeah to answer your question, it is possible (and was in 0.17 I think). The parachute just fully deploys a bit late for my taste - better don't go anywhere in the mountains with it. Then it slows you down to almost a standstill. Landing is a lot easier than on Mun because of that. But getting to Duna, that's a whole different story.

Don't brake too much after the parachcute is out, or it will dissappear!

The new version is quite good, but it crashes a lot when I launch from the vehicle assembly. I like that it allows to build better rockets with the default parts.

 

[Hellraiser]

If you want to properly plan an interplanetary transfer just get into a minimal escape trajectory out of Kerbin first. You want it to match Kerbin's prograde of retrograde depending on whether your aiming for the inner or outer planets (but I think you know that already). You'll be on a similar orbit around Kerbol to Kerbin but slightly closer to your target, not by much. Wait on that orbit for a transfer window and plan the transfer accordingly. You also have more time to burn that way as opposed to a transfer from parking orbit, better for the slow burn engines like NERVAs and Ion Engines. You also won't get screwed over by not being able to time the transfer out of a Kerbin parking orbit correctly if it's in a high altitude. Oh and obviously, you won't overshoot the burn and use too much fuel both on the burn and corrections.

Much easier and IMO more accurate than doing a transfer out of parking orbit. Also this allows you to match orbital inclination with the target, which you can't do from a Kerbin parking orbit. Duna has no inclination IIRC, but Eve for example does. The disadvantage is that if you want to match inclination you need to wait and hope you hit a ascend or descend node before a transfer window.

 

[Burning Bridges]

What is the difference? That acceleration is prograde and not at 5 o'clock angle?
Honestly, this transfer stuff is over my head, and I nearly gave up because of that.

 

[Ulminati]

How's the rover mod? I spent most of yesterday messing about with stock part rover designs, but I never came up with something that was reliable to steer in rough terrain.

 

[Hellraiser]

What is the difference? That acceleration is prograde and not at 5 o'clock angle?

More or less, also it's simply easier as you can use the maneuver planner. I can't transfer out of a parking orbit around Kerbin. But from an orbit around the sun it is easy.

 

[Ulminati]

What is the difference? That acceleration is prograde and not at 5 o'clock angle?
Honestly, this transfer stuff is over my head, and I nearly gave up because of that.

Scott Manley has some good stuff on his channel.

 

[Burning Bridges]

Thanks guys, for helping me. Hopefully it will really become easier that way.

I will update Duna 2 and answer your questions on the rover in a few minutes.

 

[Ulminati]

Failing that, you can get MechJeb. It's kind of cheating, but it's very handy as training wheels. I've been telling it to fly various rockets into various orbits for me just to see when and at what speed it does the gravity turns for best fuel usage. I still keep it turned off for let's play purposes of course.

 

[Burning Bridges]

Part II

Rover explores Polar region

Duna 2 rover has completed the first part of its mission: exploration in the Polar region. The rather challenging track went down into the Schindler crater, to the bottom of the crater valley, then back up to the rim. The rover is now in high terrain and has reached a lookout point, already in sight of Duna's desert terrain (red).

So far the rover has only very low power consumption and could theoretically operate for a long, long time.

The day begins with a readout of the scientific instruments - which had to be very basic for cost saving - The equipment consists of a sensor for temperature ..

.. and another one for gravity.

The rover consumes hardly any energy, and the solar panels are just elaborate sunshades.

A first glimpse into the crater.

There appears to be a rather shallow way down the crater slope.

In this direction.

This is not at all without risk.

For Christs sake, don't hit 'B' when you do this!

With very gentle throttle the rover goes down safely.

This dangerous part is complete, rover is now inside the crater.

Watch the altitude (about 1900m).

About here.

From here we will stear northwards, out of the crater and towards the deserts.

While we drive through the crater

a look back reveals

a rugged, frosty terrain

but we thinks it's also beautiful

the rover has reached the rim of the crater

at an altitude of 2700m

Now completely out of the crater, on the highlands.

2900m. That's a difference of almost 1000m of height.

Reached lookout point at 2954m.

On the horizon one can already spot the red colors of the desert.

The approximate track of the rover.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Download complete mission: http://www.global-explorer.de/20121213/Duna2.zip
Rover mod (required): http://www.global-explorer.de/20121212/cleverbobcat-1.1.2.0.zip

 

[Burning Bridges]

How's the rover mod? I spent most of yesterday messing about with stock part rover designs, but I never came up with something that was reliable to steer in rough terrain.

I tried several rovers, as well as building my own, and I think this one is the best. It has deployable wheels which can also serve as landing legs, it drives and behaves quite normal, and is very small.

It is also very light, so you probably cannot use it for manned vehicles. This means, because the center of gravity is very high, it can easily capsize if you build a heavy structure on top of it. This can also happen when you hit 'B' - don't do that, especially when you go down a slope!!

The advantage is of course that it does not add much to your total weight, and even if turned upside down, can easily straighten up with RCS thrusters.

For the future I also hope it will consume energy, because that would open up the way for more realistic rover construction.

 

[Ulminati]

Lenmark cordially invites their Kerman colleagues to join them in space.

Greetings, esteemed rocketeers of Kermany. In the spirit of international cooperation, we would like to propose a join space station program. Kraftworld Kodexia is currently in 100km orbit, awaiting the arrival of its solar power plant. Once active, we invite all interested nations of Kerbin to assemble module(s) to dock with the Kraftworld that all may learn from our shared experience.

(Using standard shielded docking ports. The stations orbital plane is parallel with equator but slightly offset to make the rendezvous approach more interesting. There's plenty of fuel (orange tank at 98%, RCS at 95% atm), and there'll be 12 mainsail solar generators once the Kraftwerk I'm sending up manages to dock. The Kraftwerk will be attached behind the orange tank, so the other docking ports should be easily accessible. I'll upload a persistent.sfs when I manage to dock without exploding anything).

Polant is welcome too

 

[Burning Bridges]

This would be an interesting project to study docking!

 

[Hellraiser]

Shielded ports are regular size or junior size? Never used them personally so I don't know.

I'll probably contribute after Burning Bridges, would be best if we establish an order so that we don't work on the file at the same time.

 

[Ulminati]

Shielded ports are regular afaik. Trying to do the rendezvous atm. I can get within 700 m of the station, but matching velocity is proving difficult

 

[Hellraiser]

Getting near the station is the easiest part, it's the actual docking that's hard. Unless you have properly placed RCS thrusters and a more or less balanced center of mass. After that it becomes a cakewalk if you point the port in the right direction and switch to docking mode.

 

[Ulminati]

THAT WAS NERVE WRECKING!

 

[Burning Bridges]

Chief Engineer Prof. Dr. Eng. Spermatov, Aleksei

Privyet!

While capitalist nations like West Kermany waste much energy landing first on scientifically uninteresting planet Duna, Politburo was decide that exploration of interior planet Eve should become priority!

It also was decide that before we can send expensive machine like rover etc, we should first make complete precursor mission which touchdown and study Eve.

With new version we have no more good rocket, so for now liftoff remain in hand of KKGB, which have only allowed us to make simple Perestroika ICBM.

Takeoff spaceport Baikonur.

We not like math, and only follow standard procedure for arriving Eve:

> wait for ~54° phase angle
> launch into retrograde orbit
> enter minimal escape as suggested by Poland specialist Hellraiser
> fire when orbit at 12:30 clock (ejection angle) to transfer toward Eve

Creating maneuvre node that find encounter with Eve require too much patience. Finally she is success.

We enter Eve's SOI after day 55.

At this distance planet is normally hard to spot but fortunately flight controller have very good eyes.

We begin break maneuvre wich will make correction to flight path.

For slowing ship we simply aim flight direction and hit 'N', which fire forwards thrusters.

Following images show gradual improvement of flight trajectory.

We now begin closer orbit and make use of new revolutionary maneuvre.

If a spacecraft fly orbit through athmosphere, there is friction and she will make it a bit slow down without use of fuel.

If careful and not crash into planet, spacecraft can save much fuel! This maneuvre also called areobraking.

We begin to fly athmosphere for very first time.

We have a little time and she is used for measure temperature.

We also attempt a measure of athmospheroic pressure at 95 km, but simulation say that we still in vacuum.

Our scientists say this can only be mistake because we already feel athmosphere by slow down our spaceship.

This totally clear as you can see orbits get closer and closer every approach!!!

To separate we now use docking port, this has advantage to use when we want, and not only in order of staging.

Otherwise this works the same and we fire connection between our probes one and two. First one will remain in orbit, the other is going to land over planet.

We correct trajectory to land somewhere in three interesting craters. We just learned how to make use of maneuvre nodes, and become absolutely surprised how this can get very precise!!

We said we want to land over craters. But unlike many mistakes from past, we aim a bit ahead!!

We can already see into crater.

We have prepare special image.

First that we can also see probe at 200km distance.

Second that stars have become invisible. This absoluely normal phenomenon and not because of Moon hoax!

To enter crater we now simply fire parachute a bit before.

This work very well, our parachute slow us down completely and we fly into crater.

This image already show where we will make approximate landing.

After this there is little bit time and now look around planet.

And now look into crater.

Probe come down relatively gently.

Into very impressive crater landscape.

We find this very good place for historic landing of first Koviet Eve landing!

Parachute fly very slow on Eve, but finally it touchdown.

Then, because of slope and gravity, probe capsize.

At moment this unimportant, but could become problem for longer operation of probe.

Because of it we are concerned about sun exposure of Solar Panel.

In the next days our operators we will have meeting and discuss possibility to move spacecraft with thrusters.

For now this mission was great success, even though she contain many mistakes.

For example other probe fly in orbit. But unfortunately designers overlooked energy supply and therefore probe will remain useless!!

And other image of crater.

This show where we have touchdown.

 

[Hellraiser]

I see you used RCS only

Anyway when I first got a probe there, with the sensors, I was surprised how much gravity and pressure it has. I was expecting maybe 1,7 bars and 0,9g, turned out it has far more. Almost 5 bars and 1,6g, getting out of it will be hard until they add electric propellers or balloons (balloon probes for gas giants would be great).

 

[Ulminati]

I've made a successful eve and back mission. Did it Apollo-style with a seperate lander and a command vessel in orbit to minimize the mass I needed to get back off the ground. To further save launch weight off of Kerbin I did an orbital refuelling from Kraftworld Kodexia to top off the tanks after the initial ascent.

It's a shame there's no oxygen on Eve. (I think. Instruments don't give atmospheric composition). Otherwise a Jet/liquid hybrid lander would be very viable.

 

[Burning Bridges]

I've made a successful eve and back mission. Did it Apollo-style with a seperate lander and a command vessel in orbit to minimize the mass I needed to get back off the ground. To further save launch weight off of Kerbin I did an orbital refuelling from Kraftworld Kodexia to top off the tanks after the initial ascent.

It's a shame there's no oxygen on Eve. (I think. Instruments don't give atmospheric composition). Otherwise a Jet/liquid hybrid lander would be very viable.

Ah cool. I had actually postponed any more Lunar landings before I could dock in orbit.

It may not be important on the Moon. But I think that orbital rendezvous is the only sensible option to return from Eve anyway. The flight requires a huge amount of fuel, landing all of it on the surface is completely crazy (although I think some people have done it). As long as you could build a ship that has enough fuel to lift from the ground and dock with another module in orbit, it will be possible to make returns like from any other planet.

It's a shame there's no oxygen on Eve. (I think. Instruments don't give atmospheric composition). Otherwise a Jet/liquid hybrid lander would be very viable.

I believe Jet engines were possible in earlier version.

I also still think that they could have done a better job with the planets. Duna is all right I think, it has the feeling of landing on Mars. But Eve would benefit greatly from clouds, and other athmospheric effects.

While it may be argued that Duna is Mars but Eve is not Venus, I think that's actually because they worked their way around limitations in the program (no clouds). But I want something really, really thick, like Venus. There is really nice imagery in episode 4 of Cosmos. ( imagery begins at ca 2:45



The air on Venus is so thick that it ripples and distorts. More like being in an ocean, because that's actually what it is.

Well Eve and Duna are all right I guess. But I think they ran out of ideas when they reached Jool. My hope would be that the whole Jool system would be redone.

That's because Moons in an outer solar system consist of:

rock - similar to the Mun, in different colors
ice - can be done with the same techniques as Dunas ice cap, although there should also be cracks and rivers
frozen gases as on Triton and probably Pluto - well I have yet to see this done properly
molten material like on Io - it would look odd with craters, requires the implementation of volcanoes
thick athmospheres like Titan, Venus - this is completely absent from the game

If you compare with what we have, most of the interesting stuff is missing. What we have tight now is one interesting Moon (Tylo), a few generic moonlets, and a lot of misplaced ideas. Laythe is actually Kerbin 2.0 - which does not feel right in a Jovian system.

The really interesting Moon types like Europa, Ganymede, Calysto, Io, Titan, Triton are still missing.

 

[Ulminati]

If jet engines are possible on eve, I think the most fuel-efficient way to make a lander/return craft is building it as a spaceplane to take full advantage of the thick atmosphere. It'd make finding a landing site more difficult I suppose. (vtol maybe? It'd be hell to fly though).

Anyway, this is the IKEA Gustav I Dunar Return Pod:

It requires a launch vehicle to get it into Low Kerbin Orbit. The Duna injection burn is handled with the nuclear engine. Once a rendezvous with Duna is accomplished, use aerobraking to reach a low stable orbit (~41km). Undock the return vehicle at the top and the lander (middle). Use rcs to enter atmosphere with the lander and touch down using the parachute and a suicide burn to prevent the chute from breaking. Wait for a rendezvous window with the orbiter and use the remaining command module RCS fuel (tank hidden inside the ASAS) to get into orbit and dock. EVA to re-pack the parachute and use the orbiter engine/fuel to do a Kerbin injection burn. Aerobrake again and use the parachute to land.

The fuel budget is really, REALLY tight. But it feels damn good when you succeed.

Bonus pix:
Stereotypical Villain cruising the galaxy in his new fighter craft (altogether more gentle on the processor than the star destroyer). The non-stock version has laser cannons attached (spaceport link to mod) and refuels at Kraftworld Kodexia. I'm using it to rendezvous with debris in orbit and shooting it down to keep the spacelanes unclogged.

It even allows him to park and stretch his legs