Kerbal Space Program Eve Probe Part 1

Channel:

TroZ

Subscribers:

909

Published on November 21, 2014 5:12:34 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnCUwV7gTQc

Game:

Kerbal Space Program (2015)

Duration: 1:01:53

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I'm back with some more Kerbal Space Program, this time sending a probe to Eve!

I'm using a modified version of the launcher system that I used to send a probe to Duna, with a shuttle like craft on top of a large launch rocket. There are a few modifications to combat issues that we had last time. The Shuttle has two air breathing engines to extend it's range once it is back in the atmosphere, so that if it comes down over the ocean, it can reach land. Additionally, it now how 4 small solar cells to provide power when in orbit. Finally, the solid boosters now have separatrons, so that they are moved away when detached so they won't collide with the fins at the bottom of the craft.

Launch goes well, and we are able to make it into orbit with plenty of fuel left in the launch stage, so we keep it attached to help with boosting the probe into it's escape trajectory, which we plan next.

Eve is closer to the sun, so you have to leave Kerbin heading 'backwards' so that we slow our orbit around the sun then thus lower our periapsis.

We perform the burn to get on a trajectory to get inside Eve's orbit, and then decouple the probe. We have a bit of an issue getting the probe out of the cargo bay, it gets caught on something, but we finally get it out and free of the bay. We open the probe's solar panels so that it can power itself on it's journey to Eve.

With a bit of the remain fuel in the launch stage, we begin slowing down the launch craft so that it doesn't leave Kerbin's orbit. Once the launch stage is empty, we decouple it. It will return to Kerbin and burn up. We then adjust our orbit so that we will come down near KSC so we can land on the runway.

We come down a little short of KSC as expected, and we come down a bit fast, but with the help of the jet engines, we are able to level out at about 10 km up, a bit over 100 km from KSC. We fly over the mountains and head toward KSC. As we get close, the craft wants to keep pulling it's nose up as we still have a lot of rocket fuel in the back of the craft, as we didn't really burn that much. I turn on the rocket engine to burn that fuel and pump as much as possible. We circle around for another approach as we burn about 2/3 of the rocket fuel before disabling the rocket engine again. We get lined up with the runway decently, and despite drifting off to the side a bit, we are able to correct and land on the runway without issue!

Back to the probe, we time warp for about 107 days and make a correction burn to match Eve's orbital inclination. after that burn is done, we setup a burn near its periapsis. We find that raising our apoapsis a bit, we get an encounter with Eve. Making a few more adjustments will get the probe within 1000 km, which for now is plenty close enough.

Next time we will perform the burn and start gathering science at Eve!

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