Space, the final frontier. A KSP AAR

[NeonSamurai]

Hey all, I figured I would do an AAR of my adventures in Kerbal Space Program. Now this one will be a little different from some of the others, for example I am running a very heavily modified game using the following mods. Edited 03/02/2013

ASAS Module Toggle
BFT FormTank Pack v1.2
Bolt-On Probes
CleverBobCat 1.1.3.0
CrewManifest v0.3.0
Damned Robotics
DEMV (Rovers)
Engineer Redux v0.6.0.2
Firespitter (Propellers)
FuelTastic
FusTek CBM 8 (Common Berthing Mechanisms)
FusTek Kappa Pod 1
FusTek Station Parts 9
Girder Pack 1.1
HB FuelCells 1.1
HL Airship 1.5.2
HOME v0.18.4
HydroTech RCS 0.3.6
ISA MapSat 3.3.4
Jool-V v1.2
KAS v0.1.1
Kerbal Alarm Clock 1.0.0.02
Kosmos SSPP
KW Rocketry 0.2.3
Launch Pad Obliterator 1.1
Lionhead Aerospace Hermes v1
Lionhead Aerospace Pandora v1.2
Lionhead Aerospace Prometheus v5.0.1
Lionhead Aerospace Thor v1.1
Low Attraction Docking Port
LSI Cargo Bay 1.0.2
MechJeb 1.9.7
MechJeb 9000
Mk3 Stack Decoupler
MPSS Nautilus and FLY My Mod (collection of my own parts, mostly resizes and stat tweaks)
Orbital Rendezvous and Docking Assistant 1.0.3 (ORDA)
OrdanInd Telescope
Probe Pack 1.1
Protractor v.2.3.9
Quantum Strut 2.0.2
RemoteTech 2
Romfarer HSTW
Sunbeam v23b
Romfarer LazorSystem v23b (includes Lazor Docking Camera, and Lazor Camera)
RW Improved Trusses 1.1
SMA Drop Tanks 1
SMSE Airbags
Throth Lander (Lander from NovaPunch)
Tosh Float Blue
TT Modular Wheels 0.4.18
TV Aerospace 1.2.3
VFM Systems (Fuel management)
Vessel Orbital Information Display 0.7.1
zHyperEdit2


In addition, many of the mods listed have been extensively tweaked (or stripped down) as well by myself. Also I plan on following a logical progression of missions similar to the real world space race, but not matching it a whole lot. The missions will include a wide variety of objectives, such as performance aircraft testing, space planes, atmospheric rocket testing, satellites, probes, space station construction, and manned visits to other solar bodies.

[NeonSamurai]

Mission 1: Kerbal X Plane 1 "Delta Dart"
Objective: High altitude supersonic test flght around Kerbin

Our fearless (and dumber than a bag of hammers) pilot Jebediah Kerman steps out on the tarmac and observed his craft


The KX-1 was loaded with all the fuel she could carry. Our fearless (and shockingly dim) pilot climbed aboard. At maximum power he barely managed to get the plane into the air, but once clear of the runway she started picking up speed and commenced her climb to the higher stratosphere.


With the first set of drop tanks running dry, Jeb jettisons them.


As the second batch of drop tanks runs dry and are jettisoned, the aircraft is finally light enough to be able to reach its optimal operating altitude of 20,000m. At half way into the mission, the last set of drop tanks is jettisoned.


Now free of the drop tanks the KX-1 was much more responsive, but required careful monitoring of the fuel tank levels fore and aft to maintain the center of gravity near the center of lift. <The engines in this mission were performing too well and at the end of it I cut their maximum speed down to 1000 m/s>

With 15 minutes of fuel remaining and almost an hour into the mission, the space center comes into view on the horizon.


After overshooting the runway and having a lot of difficulty controlling the craft due to difficulty getting the craft properly trimmed for fuel, Jeb manages to get her on the ground, but not entirely intact <thanks to a cluthulu attack due to me not turning time compression all the way off, a wing and the engine spontaneously explode right on touchdown>. For added measure Jeb accidentally hits the abort button which shuts down the engine (the one that blew up) and detaches the cockpit from the body of the plane. Having escaped death, a rather disappointed Jeb stares blankly into the cockpit camera.



Debriefing, Mission 1:
Although the aircraft was severely damaged on landing, the mission was considered successful. Kerbal scientists however, are debating the usefulness of piloted craft and are suggesting we use monkeys, or "like elastic bands and glue or something on the controls" for flying the missions rather than our pool of Kerbalnauts. Mission Control is taking the suggestions under advisement at this time.

[NeonSamurai]

Mission 2: Kerbal X Plane 2 "Hyper Dart"
Objective: Test our new SCRAM jet design, attempt to reach the edge of outerspace, attempt to skip across the atmosphere using the SCRAM jet, separate from the body of the aircraft and splash down safely.

Our fearless pilot Jebediah Kerman (who thicker than toffee), strode out and boarded the new KX-2, much to the dismay of all the scientists present.


This design featured a special high altitude hypersonic ram air intake, the SCRAM jet itself, and two detatchable turbojet engines with shock cones mounted on the wingtips.

Jeb throttles up the KX-2 and launched into the sky climbing rapidly from the spaceport


at 22,000m Jeb levels out, he then waits for his speed to reach 900m/s before engaging the SCRAM jet. The SCRAM jet screams into life and rapidly pushes the turbojet engines beyond their ability to function. As engine power in the turbojets dies off the engines are jettisoned.


At this point it is crucial that Jeb maintain a minimum speed of at least 1000m/s. To this end he cannot allow his jet to drop too far below 20,000m or the aircraft will decelerate too much which will cause the engine thrust to drop too low for the craft to maintain it's speed or climb higher, as engine power rapidly drops off starting at 800m/s, with almost zero thrust at 500m/s

As the sun starts to rise, Jeb has begun his first climb high into the stratosphere. The scram jet is shut off at 36,000m due to insufficient airflow, hitting a maximum speed of 2,300m/s


With a pitch angle of about 5 degrees, Jeb manages to get the KX-2 to almost 60,000m before she starts descending again.


Jeb reaches 22,000m before restarting the SCRAM jet


This time Jeb brings the aircraft to a 10 degree climb, again shutting down the engine at 36,000 feet. The higher angle enables the KX-2 to just reach the vacuum of space, hitting an altitude of 88km, making Jebediah Kerman our first space kerbalnaut


After reentry, and with the KX-2's battery power running out, mission control gives the order for Jeb to descend to 10,000m and jettison the aircraft body from the cockpit. This is completed at T:+00:27:18


Chutes are deployed at 5000m, and at 500m both chutes fully extend.


Splashdown at T:+00:28.42 just off shore of the spaceport



Debriefing, Mission 2:
This mission was considered to be a resounding success. The evaluation of the SCRAM jets however, was not quite so favorable. Although the SCRAM jet has the capability of putting craft into outer space, it does not have the ability to put a craft into orbit. To do so would require three separate engine systems (4 if including reaction control jets), turbo jets to get the craft to the right altitude and speed to use the SCRAM jet, the SCRAM jet itself to slingshot the craft into space, and then low power rocket engine(s) for orbital operations. Engineering a craft with 3 engine systems would be very difficult, and it would be even more difficult to develop a useful cargo carrying launch platform. The main advantage of the SCRAM jet is its incredible fuel efficiency when compared to regular jet engines, or especially rocket engines, particularly when used to skim the upper atmosphere.

As such the SCRAM jet is viewed as interesting technology, but not of much use to our space aspirations at this point (though it may be useful as an inexpensive platform for shuttling crews at a later date).

[Cybermat47]

Nice job!

[NeonSamurai]

Mission 3: Rocket tests series KV-1 (vaguely based on V-2 bumper tests)
Objective: Liquid rocket flight testing, atmospheric and space data collection (gravity, temperature, radiation, magnetic fields, etc.), solid fuel rocket booster testing, LKO (Low Kerbin Orbit) attempt.

Launch 1 mission parameters: KV-1 vertical launch and vertical ascent to maximum altitude.

Payload: various scientific instruments bolted onto the side.


With the sun rising, the scientists for once were pleased... there were no bloody kerbalnauts lounging around anywhere near, or better still in their shiny new rocket (though some of the scientists thought it a pity their were no kerbalnauts in the rocket, as this one's final destination was to crash into the ground at several hundred meters per second).


The engine starts successfully and roars to life as a split second later the docking clamps all release. KV-1 thunders into the sky


As the rocket climbs it gains speed


at 46,000m KV-1's fuel is spent


KV-1 reaches a maximum altitude of 436,000m


At t:+00:17:09 KV-1 crashes on Kerbin and is destroyed


Debriefing, Launch 1:
Launch performed as expected, deltaV not quite high enough to achieve LKO. Data on upper atmosphere and space around Kerbin being examined.



Launch 2 mission parameters: KV-1A vertical launch and curved ascent for LKO attempt using new solid fuel boosters. Boosters shall power initial ascent through the thickest parts of the atmosphere, main engine will power the rest of the flight. Target orbital altitude is 100km circular

Payload: various scientific instruments bolted onto the side.


A few hours later, KV-1A is set up on the launch platform, ready for launch. The new solid fuel booster rockets strapped to its sides.


The solid fuel boosters are ignited, and when thrust levels for all 4 boosters are confirmed at nominal, the launch clamps are released


As the fuel runs out in the boosters, the main engine is ignited but held at minimum thrust. The boosters are jettisoned and 5 seconds later the main engine throttles up to full power


As the rocket hits an altitude of 60km the engines shut off, so the rocket can coast to its targeted 100km apoapsis. The scientists notice that something is wrong when the rocket flies past the targeted altitude


Scrambling to figure out why the KV-1A missed the target alititude, the scientists examine the flight computer only to find that it has been switched off, and that the manual control light is blinking green. Looking up at the manual control booth the scientists are enraged to discover Jebediah Kerman waving to them from the booth. After security drags Jebediah off, the scientists try to salvage the LKO attempt, but it is of no avail, all the fuel in KV-1A is spent and the projected flight path will send the rocket crashing back to Kerbin


At t: +00:35:50 KV-1A crashes into the far side of Kerbin




Debriefing, Launch 2:
Calculations showed that KV-1A could have easily reached LKO with addition of solid rocket boosters if it wasn't for Jebediah's meddling. Data from this launch is also being examined.


Debriefing, Mission 3:
These series of launches accomplished a few things, for one thing the magnetosphere theory was shown to be valid, and Kerbal scientists now have a better understanding of the composition of the upper atmosphere and the space vacuum in LKO. As far as rocket design advances, both liquid and solid fuel engines have been flight tested and proven functional. Kerbal scientists have also learned that the kerbalnauts should not be allowed with in 1000 paces of mission control and must never be allowed to actually fly any further craft. The decision has been made to rig future manned flights with dummy controls so the kerbalnauts think they are in control, when in reality all operations will be handled by flight computers.

[NeonSamurai]

Mission 4: Rocket tests series KV-2
Objective: Multi stage liquid fueled rocket testing.

Launch 1 mission parameters: KV-2 vertical launch and vertical ascent to maximum altitude. KV-2 is a two stage rocket

Payload: various scientific instruments contained inside the nose cone of stage 2.

Another day dawns and the new KV-2 rocket stands ready on the launchpad


Stage 1 engine ignition is a go and KV-2 Lifts off into the air


As the rocket reaches an altitude of 13km fuel runs out in stage 1


At t:+ 00:00:55 the stage two successfully separates, but the stage 2 engine refuses to ignite despite multiple attempts.


Stage two falls back to Kerbin and crashes.

Looking around for some sort of evidence of kerbalnauts messing with the launch, the scientists cannot find any reason for the launch to have failed.

Debriefing, Launch 1:
The cause for the engine failure was undetermined.

5 further launches were attempted with this rocket, all resulting in failure during the second stage, In 3 of the launches, stage two exploded on ignition, in one launch the stage 2 engine pulsed to life and exploded a fraction of a second later, the last launch failed to ignite on separation but did ignite, stutter fired for 2 seconds then cut out as it plunged nose down back to Kerbin.

Several different theories were proposed, such as their being a flaw with the engine design, or their was not enough insulating cheese in the engine system (or any cheese for that matter), or that it had to do with the wrong Koodoo chants being given before launch. One particularly dimwitted scientist suggested that the problem may have to do with the loss of gravitational forces on the rocket during engine shutdown, creating a micro gravity situation, which cause the liquid fuels to float away from the motor inlets and entering a slushy state of gas, liquid, and solid. These "ullage" gasses were what was causing the failures with the second stage. He proposed adding micro thrusters to stage two, which would fire just before main engine ignition, to push the liquid fuel back against the inlets.

Of course he was taunted mercilessly by the other scientists for being a total knee biter, until he demonstrated he was right by showing the other scientists telemetry data from the stage two fuel tank which showed fluctuations in the fuel. Grudgingly the other scientists decided to fit ullage motors to the second stage of launch 7, along with a redesigned ignition system, The rocket is re-designated as KV-2A


Launch 7 mission parameters: KV-2A vertical launch and vertical ascent to maximum altitude.

Payload: various scientific instruments contained inside the nose cone of stage 2.


Main engine for stage 1 is a go, and as with the previous 6 launches, it takes to the air without problem


As before stage 1 runs out of fuel and the scientists prepare to go to stage two


Everyone holds their breath as the ullage motors fire with stage separation


2 seconds later stage 2's engine roars to life, all readings nominal. A cheer rings through mission control!


As the fuel runs out, scientists look at the calculated apogee for stage and are stunned
The craft manages to reach a staggering 2175km altitude, even thought it has 3/4 the fuel capacity of the KV-1

Signal is lost from KV-2A 20 minutes before reentry due to the power running out. Radar shows it crashing just off the coast


Debriefing, Launch 7:
Launch 7 is a stunning success. Kerbal scientists can't believe the altitude achieved even though KV-1 has 1.33333 times the fuel of KV-2A and KV-2A is functionally heavier after the fuel weight difference is calculated in, due to carrying two rocket engines (KV-1 weighs 6.81 metric tones (with fuel), and KV-2A weighs 6.26 metric tones), yet KV-2A hit an altitude almost 10 times as high as KV-1.

The scientist who found and came up with the solution to the ullage problem suggested that this was due to the effect of having a multi-stage craft, as it is able to shed excess weight during flight, and use a more efficient upper stage rocket engine designed for high altitiude, vastly increasing it's total potential DeltaV. But the other scientists felt the result was because of the new Koodoo priestess they found for this flight. The brilliant young scientist was later chased off by a roving mob of torch and pitchfork wielding scientists, who had decided that the one thing they hated more than those blasted kerbalnauts, was a smartypants.


Debriefing Mission 4:
This mission demonstrated the need for ullage motors during flight for multi stage rockets, it also demonstrated how much more efficient staged rocket designs are. On another note the Van Kerman radation belt theory was shown to be valid thanks to the extreme altitude KV-2A reached

[NeonSamurai]

Haven't had time to run another mission yet, and with the new version I need to go through most of the mods on my list (a lot of updates right now for most of the mods I use too).

Anyhow here is a teaser shot of a mun rover prototype I am working on. All stock parts so far. There is a bit of a problems of the Kerbals drifting up off the ladders they are holding on to, while on Kerbin, when going really fast and hitting jumps, or from high lateral G forces (turning fast). But it works pretty good. It is both solar and RTG powered, but I will have to probably rework the parts to my power system (which is much trickier to work with, almost everything drains power, and power can become a real problem very quickly if not carefully designed.)

[Spike88]

Neon, what do you use to control your planes?

Joystick, controller, mouse and keyboard?

[NeonSamurai]

Mouse and keyboard. Only joystick I have with me is a xbox360 controller, which probably wouldn't work too good. One of the main reasons why I use the Lazor mod is because it can handle planes semi decently, the docking cam is pretty good, and the first person EVA view. On the other hand the Lazor mod frequently irritates me as it has lots of cheat features I don't want, and doesn't always place nice with other mods.