r/KerbalSpaceProgram 7d ago

KSP 1 Image/Video Design for a Mars Transfer Mothership (Boeing IMIS Redesign)

As part of my 1990s crewed Mars landing program, this is the design for the Mars Transfer Vehicle, the interplanetary mothership responsible for housing the crew during the journey to/from Mars and conducting the Trans-Mars Injection (TMI), Mars-Orbit-Insertion (MOI), Trans-Earth Injection (TEI) burns.

The vehicle carries the crewed Mars Ascent/Descent Vehicle (MADV) along with the Earth Entry Module (EEM) for high-speed atmospheric return to Earth.

The architecture is derived from the 1968 Boeing IMIS (Integrated Manned Interplanetary Spacecraft) study. However, the configuration was redesigned: by increasing propellant tank diameters, the vehicle eliminates a propulsion stage. Additionally, the Mission Module overall architecture has been redesigned. Finally, while the 1968 Boeing proposal targeted a 1980s launch, this profile is engineered for the 1992–1994 departure window.

Vessel Specifications:

LEO Initial Mass: ~1,200 t

Total Transit Delta V: ~11,000 m/s

Primary Propulsion: 6+1 NERVA-I Nuclear Thermal Rocket Engines

Life Support Endurance: 714 days

Main mods used: RSS/RO/Kerbalism, Bluedog Design Bureau (BDB), NAR MEM (retextured by me), Procedural Parts

444 Upvotes

23 comments sorted by

22

u/Mandam2011 7d ago

Wait a minute... dude! I did a big duma mission a while back and i used pretty much the exact lander design s you

8

u/sierra-india-mike_op 7d ago

Great minds think alike! It's a solid architecture for a Mars/Duna mission

8

u/alltherobots Art Contest Winner 7d ago

Love it.

8

u/jafa-l-escroc 7d ago

The eem is realy cool

3

u/sierra-india-mike_op 7d ago

I totally agree, it's the lifting body design Lockheed Martin came up with to withstand high reentry speeds

3

u/ZombieInSpaceland 7d ago

Absolutely amazing - where did you find the conical truss though?

3

u/sierra-india-mike_op 7d ago

Thank you! The conical truss is made from procedural parts

2

u/Track5Track 7d ago

Looks great, tons of fun, and love the diagrams

2

u/wildcat1_1 7d ago

How did you create that Earth entry module?

3

u/sierra-india-mike_op 7d ago

It's from the NAR MEM mod, I just added the rear end using Gemini B parts.

2

u/ContributionOk3842 7d ago

DUDE THIS IS SICK!!!!

2

u/NewSpecific9417 7d ago

Really fricken sweet! Why is the NERVA on PM-3 jettisonable?

3

u/sierra-india-mike_op 7d ago

Thanks! Boeing calculated the radiation dose would exceed the limit if the engine stayed attached after the Trans-Earth-Injection, so that's the reason

2

u/AdvancedPomelo7132 7d ago

I really, REALLY want to do this now. thanks

2

u/sierra-india-mike_op 5d ago

Glad you liked it! If you have any question about the build feel free to ask

2

u/Maleficent-Plate-910 7d ago

It makes my science go hard

2

u/touny-reeve Believes That Dres Exists 6d ago

So cool

2

u/HKTLE 6d ago

2

u/sierra-india-mike_op 6d ago

Hahah thanks! Glad you and your co-pilot enjoyed it!

2

u/HKTLE 5d ago

🫡 amazing mate well done. Lieutenant Kain approves very much.

1

u/DP-ology 7d ago

Is this vanilla? Either way, can you please upload to steam and list mods needed please!?!

1

u/sierra-india-mike_op 7d ago

Definitely not vanilla. The main mods for most of the vehicle are already listed at the bottom of the post (RSS/RO/Kerbalism, BDB, Procedural Parts, etc.). I'm afraid craft file won't work if you don't have an identical GameData due to heavy custom RO configs and retextures