Rouady Central

First I need to do some Duna craft adjustments since they occur before the Arkas adjustments. I have also received word that an engine failure has occurred on the Eeloo Rover craft.  Oh well, that may not work out. <Duna Adjustments> Now need to handle the Arkas adjustments which will be followed by their arrival (one small Eeloo adjustment might also occur before that). <Arkas Adjustments> A quick Eeloo Explorer adjustment and then on to Arkas! <Eeloo Adjustment> The Arkas Explorer is in a decent 500km orbit.  The scanner is in a polar 750k orbit doing its thing.  The Lander is also in a 500k orbit waiting for coordinates.  The rovers are starting to arrive now. <Arkas Set 1> Got the 3 rovers craft in orbit of Arkas.  Was not able to do an intercept of incline match with Vin or Kras.  I hope I have enough fuel to match them and land the rovers.  I guess we will see! <Arkas Rover Set> Setting up the Vin and Kras rovers in their respective orbits. The Kras Rover will require 47 days to get to its transfer point so I have scheduled that for now. <Arkas Moon Rovers Orbit> Now, I can start doing some science! I do need to adjust to the lower scan orbit to get the biomes of Arkas now. I also think that I can lower the orbit of the Kras Lander to get there sooner, so I will try that as well. It worked.  Will get to Kras much sooner now. Getting Arkas Explorer science because I can then send it to the outer moons as well. <Arkas Explorer Science> Kras Rover now in orbit of Kras. Sending Arkas Explorer to Kras for an orbital science survey. <Arkas Explorer Kras Science> Arkas Explorer ready to leave Kras and head to Vin. Should adjust scanner to Kras if possible. Got the scanner in 260k orbit of Kras.  443 dV left in the tank, may not be able to do Vin, but we will see. <Kras Scanner> Arkas Explorer has reached its final destination of Vin.  It still has 1823 in the tank, but it won't be needed.  It required almost 600 to make the journey so I need a quicker route if the scanner is going to pull this transfer off. Lots of science. There doe snot appear to be an achievable Space Low for Vin.  It did not occur above 5K and it hit the ground. <Vin Explorer> Only 344 left in Kras Scanner <Kras Scanner Adjust> The lander made it to Arkas and landed on the Central Dunes biome.  Very successful mission and first interplanetary landing! <Arkas Lander Landed> Only 4 days away from first Duna mission arriving (scanner) so I need to focus on that in the near term and hold the rover science at the Arkas system for later.  

A set of rovers were tested on the local system. Eventually settling on  Mini-Rover built around the USI exploration mod.  It was tested both landed via thrusters (for non atmosphere landings) and chutes.  The sims would indicate it is ready. I am going to shift my focus to doing a series of interplanetary missions, so I will also be pulling the crew down from Spacelab I as I want to build a more advanced station once the interplanetary is underway.  I have a set of ships for windows.  They include a scanner for the main planet (and possibly moons).  Explorer stays in orbits.  There is a lander and a rover as well.  The lander has more science but is not mobile, so it is used for the main planet in general. First up is sending the LONG missions to Eeloo because that window is open (and is rare). 1 - Eeloo Scanner (4y 389d) [Clark Interplanetary Scanner] 2 - Eeloo Explorer (5y 11d) [Explorer] 3 - Eeloo Lander (5y 43d) [Interplanetary Lander NoAtmo] 4 - Eeloo Rover (5y 43d) They are all underway with various adjustments scheduled.  It seems the dV is well in the zone at the moment. <Eeloo Rover> The next task was to get the Spacelab I crew home, which was done. <Spacelab I Crew Final Return> Next up is a set of craft heading to new planet Arkas and also Duna.  Their windows are at the same time.  The four main ones to Arkas itself, then rovers to each of the moons as well (see how that goes!)  Four mains to Duna and a River to Ike. 1 - Arkas Scanner (183d) 1439 dV departure (5581 dV) 124d adjust 73.1 <Arkas Scanner> Note: 750 km alt best for first scanner (250 after) 2 - Arkas Explorer (183d) 1423 dV depart (5432 dV) Very wobbly transfer stage.  Should lock gimbal. 122d adjust 19.8 <Arkas Explorer> 3 - Arkas Lander (181d) 1408 dV departure (5292 dV) 121d adjust 42.3. <Arkas Lander> 4 - Arkas Rover (180d) 1396 dV departure (4503 dV) [Mini Smart Rover Interplanetary Atmo] 120d adjust 40.4 <Arkas Rover> 5 - Kras Rover (177d) 1368 dV departure (7184 dV) Need to await transfer due to Mun in the way... Done. 120d adjust 32.9 6 - Duna Scanner (240d) 1010 dV (6014 dV) 21d adjust 7.0 <Duna Scanner> 7 - Duna Explorer (242d) 1008 dV (?) No adjust needed. 8 - Duna Lander (242d) 1008 dV (5698 dV) 69d adjust 3.1 9 - Vin Rover (176d) 1366 dV (6747 dV) 199d adjust 39.1 <Vin Rover> 10 - Ike Rover (242d) 1010dV (7110 dV) 69d adjust 3.7 Quick break for the Moho Explorer Adjustment... Will need another adjust in 6 days.  May not be able to orbit. <Moho Explorer Adjust> Finally, the last of the big train of interplanetary explorers.  The Duna Rover.  Launch is tricky (it is heavy) but should be fine at 30 degrees. 11 - Duna Rover (242d) 1011 dV (4731dV) 68d adjust 3.2 <Duna Rover> Whew!

I have not updated the posts in a while since I only was playing intermittently, so I just kept notes.  These are mush less complete. I used the time to do some basic 'completion' of the core Kerbin system.  Kerballed missions to both Mun and Minmus, the first space station (SpaceLab 1), and I sent my first interplanetary probe (Moho Explorer). I want to build a set of core crafts that I use directly or tweak as I move to the next stage of more hands-on exploration of the local system and other possible settlement planets.  This will include rovers, more advanced stations and settlements on the moons.  Before heading into that, let me log the various missions I have done since my last entry. To start, we did some kerballed orbital missions to both Mun and Minmus but very little was logged about those (they were not even named).  They did register some ribbons for the crews.  After that, the scan missions were adjusted to a higher orbit to get more coverage. <Scan Adjust> The next project was Spacelab 1.  It uses some new (MOLE) station parts and is not very complex.  It housed a pilot and scientist initially to understand how these systems worked. <Spacelab 1 Orbit> That was followed by an unmanned supply mission to dock with Spacelab, which is to stay connected until its food supply runs out. After that, the Moon Lander craft was developed to visit both Mun and Minmus. The first landing mission was Jeb. Bill and Bob visiting the Farside Crater biome.  This could have failed multiple times.  Fuel was too tight and food was close (it seems these missions are taking longer than they used to?).  It was successful at landing and laying out the surface experiments (it was the only one where some did not explode...) So it worked. That was followed by a test of the Explorer Interplanetary probe (lots of science on board) being tested at Mun.  Good test and ready for making journeys outward. <Mun Explorer Test> Mun Lander 2 followed (Val, Alcella, Buzz) at 'Judy Crater'.  Many surface experiments blew up but I also learned to leave the Kraken samples open for return (or they reset).  Good science as well. <Mun Lander 2> Moho Explorer window opened so that was sent on its way.  Needs a fair amount of dV to go into orbit, let's see what happens... <Moho Explorer Underway> That was followed by a Minmus Lander 1 mission.  Wow, more than 30 days?  I don't remember that long, but they barely got home due to food loss and oxygen almost gone. <Minmus Lander 1> Finally, in my recap, I sent a new 2-kerbal science crew to Spacelab to replace the pilot/science crew and test the orbital craft for kerbal changes.  All went well. <Station ReCrew> Now, I am ready to start creating some craft for exploring the other planets by testing a rover (I already have a scanner ready to go) because the more interesting windows start opening in the near future.  

I have created a 3-Kerbal craft to do Munar and Minmus orbital missions.  The first test of this new "Trio" spacecraft will be unkerballed and will include some additional science as part of its test. Trio 1 Orbital 3 Kerbal Tester craft (5541 dV) No crew. Test of the 3-Kerbal craft in an orbital rendezvous with Mun.  Getting some science in the process that returns home. 580 dV remaining after reinsertion to Kerbin and a 20 km periapsis for re-entry. Periapsis went to 60km after warp.  Needed to fix.  Left with 560 dV. Recovered with almost 400 science (more than 700 total with transmit).  Late on chute a bit (nervous).  Can reduce ablator to 400. Successful mission. <Trio 1> The unkerballed Trio 2 mission to Minmus also went smoothly.  It did highlight that at least 30 days are involved in the trip so I added supplies and oxygen.  It is overkill for Mun, but a decent test of the overall system since this is the base craft for future transport missions as well. <Trio 2> Before sending my Kerbals on their first mission outside of Kerbin gravity, it seemed a good time to send the scanners to start mapping the surfaces for later landing (since I have the late-model scanners at this point).  The craft was built (Meriwether Scanner) and a test flight was sent to scan Kerbin.  It went okay but needed more reaction wheel control which was added.  The subsequent missions to Mun and Minmus went off well.  (Power failures are not uncommon, but they seem to be mapping). <Mun Scan> <Munmus Scan> I think we are ready for our first kerballed mission away from Kerbin.  Very exciting!  

I have actually run a number of Kerbal Settler missions already.  It did not seem necessary to log these early missions.  I made it a science-based experience so there is some reward for doing the science work (it makes it a bit more interesting even if unnecessary). I have done a large part of the Historical Progression Tech Tree which I think is pretty good.  It does have an interesting approach where you can move up parts of the tree based on type.  I moved up quickly thanks to KEI, but as I said, this is more about having a purpose behind some missions rather than beat something. I am at the point of the first Kerbal orbital missions.  I have a 2-Kerbal craft that has been tested (Brumby from WildBlue mod). The missions will be Duet 6 (the previous 5 were unmanned tests). Duet 6 Orbital 2 Kerbal craft (4887 dV) Val and Bill in the first Kerballed Orbital Mission 150km orbit.  Seems the supplies are solid (I want to try a different Kerbalism setup)  I am not sure if it is paying attention to radiation and stuff or not. The return is now underway after about 3 hours of orbiting and an EVA report as well (from Bill). Parachute expansion was WAY too close to the ground.  Really thought it was too late!  But they made it! Duet 7 Orbital 2 Kerbal craft (4841 with added science) Jeb (pilot) and Alcella (eng) will be doing an orbital mission at 250 km orbit to test the high space performance as well as do some science and see how it stores on the hard drive.  Alcella will also retrieve the drive and bring it into the craft on EVA.  So, some interesting mission experiments to try out. In moving the science to the hard drive you definitely lose a significant percentage.  To such a point that it seems that transmitting would be better in most cases?!?  I need to understand the value of the drive a bit more (is it just for getting it into the labs?) I want to go retrieve the drive now and see how that works.  Alcella is up! So, when Alcella got the drive, she could not get back in because she was carrying it.  We went on a bit of a wild journey through EVA space but was able to get back to the ship.  The only way I got it in was to put it in Jebs inventory.  When he went out for his EVA, it did not show as carried visually but it wigged out when he went to get back in.  I finally got things back after going to the Space Center and back.  Don't do that again! Recovery successful although once again it did not slow down until very close to the end.  I think I need to increase the altitude (was 700, increased to 1000) again.  Maybe 1200?  Basically, it was close and I jettisoned the heat shield to slow down quicker at the end. <Duet 7> Duet 8 Orbital 2 Kerbal craft (4857 dV, different science) Gilnne (pilot), Bob (sci) This mission will bring a pilot and Bob the scientist (not an engineer) on the trip.  It will go to 200 km orbit and collect low orbit goo and material.  Then, it will shift up to 500 km orbit and get a 2nd batch of the same science.  It will then stay in orbit for 3 days and return.  Nice little mission plan.  Will be shifting to the larger craft next as the Duet will retire except for as an orbital rescue vehicle. The ascent will be 200km with a 2deg end angle (50%). I added some little verniers for a touch! Had a crash during my EVA in the high orbit.  Everything is fine though after a restart (did a recent save).  I have done my 3-day orbit and will be returning shortly. Need 271 to return (837 in tank).  Crew seems fine after 3 days. There seems to be an oddity with this parachute, changing the parameters does not cause it to expand earlier.  If I pop off the heat shield when the parachute does expand, it slows down in time. Success! The final experimental Duet series mission. <Duet 8>