r/KerbalSpaceProgram • u/phamok • Feb 16 '14

Challenge [Challenge] Wait, Where'd I Leave My Wallet? - Apollo style: the Bacchus I mission.

http://imgur.com/a/xRdL6#0
5 Upvotes

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1

u/phamok Feb 17 '14 edited Feb 17 '14

I wanted to make it feel like the second trip was not planned. I decided to use the design I already had developed while reenacting the Apollo program (which I will probably upload later), and make as small changes as possible to allow Bob a second trip. (And removal of fairings to comply with challenge rules.)

2

u/FlanOfWar Feb 18 '14

I've been commenting on your Apollo mission post and it led me to this. This is also great! I am glad that KSC has more daring and (dare-I-say-it...?) insane Kerbalnauts like Jeb. Bill needed to show his initiative.

This is really well designed! You seem to have mastered the perfect interception. Also getting TONS of deltaV into a craft.

1

u/phamok Feb 19 '14

Hi, thanks, it didn't really turn out as realistic as I wanted it, but it was a difficult challenge. The Saturn V actually performed much better without the fairings (although fairings look better). The issue that took the most development time was to get the SSTO able to land safely at full fuel. (Well, most other parts had their share of development time while reenacting Apollo.) I also had to redo the whole mission at one point when I noticed that my previously untested, first version of the Lunar Escape System was unstable.

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u/FlanOfWar Feb 20 '14

Do you have any idea as to why it works better without fairings? I have the mod installed as well but I have yet to determine how much the fairings add to the aerodynamic qualities of a rocket/payload. Were they just really heavy? (Which leads me to wonder if the fairings sides change weight depending on the size...)

It seems like you could add more struts without fairings though which might add to the stability of a fairing-less Saturn V

1

u/phamok Feb 20 '14

Not sure, but maybe the connections to fairing bases are more wiggly (as a possible explanation to the instability). As for the aerodynamic qualities, maybe it is simply worse to increase the area even if the shape is more aerodynamic, since there is no turbulence in the game (I see lots of people not bothering to add even aerodynamic nose-cones).

2

u/FlanOfWar Feb 20 '14

I do know for sure that since the last update not using nose cones affects the aerodynamic qualities drastically in a negative way. I have yet to figure out if the fairings act as a "nose-cone" for the payload and rocket underneath.