Campaign: Beyond Kerbin

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Kerbinai Program →

Introduction

Having launched reliable global communications, weather observations and top-secret intel, the Kerbicans and Kerbeits began planning for less material pursuits. They figured it was time to start exploring beyond Kerbin. They set their sights and aimed their many boosters to Mun, Minmus, Eve and Duna. Each program experienced many failed attempts, but luckily these were unmanned missions and no Kerbals were harmed in the process.

This campaign will introduce you to basic inter-planetary travel following historical spaceflight during the early 60's. Of course, a couple were added for Minmus as well. You will design unmanned spacecrafts achieving fly-bys and impacts with several bodies.

Specifications

• Length: 3-5 hours
• Difficulty: 3/10 (Amateur)
• Skills needed:

1. Intermediate navigation via maneuver node (intercepts with other SOIs)
2. Advanced orbiting
3. Basic understanding of interplanetary launch windows (phase angles)
4. Intermediate probe design

• For version: Every version (tested on 0.20.2 - 1.0)

Recommended Mods

• AIES Aerospace - This mod includes parts to build realistic-looking satellites. Be sure you install ONLY the satellite parts, or prepare to suffer from memory crashes; alternatively, wait for 1.1 to come out. For launchers, use KW Rocketry.

• Remote tech is an excellent mod if you want your satellites to actually have uses, like relaying signals from Mission Control.

• Historical Rockets, Probes, and Stations series - Back to this mod again:
  • Soviet Probes - This mod includes multiple lunar probes launched by the Soviets during the 1960s in the lead-up to a moonshot that never happened.
  • US Probes - This mod includes many lunar probes launched by the US in the 1960s. Hang on to this mod, because it has many more probes you'll need later on.

Missions

Muna 1: Mun Flyby

• Send a probe to fly by the Mun.

1. The probe must end on a free escape trajectory from Kerbin.
2. The probe must be within 10,000km at closest approach. (Historically, Luna 1 was a failed attempt to impact the Moon.)

Muna 2: Impact Probe

• Send a probe to impact the Mun.

1. Must impact something from Kerbin with the Mun (preferably with scientific instruments). Doesn't matter what as long as it isn't a Kerbal. The Kerbiets don't care.

Muna 3: Mun Flyby (Optional)

• Send a probe to take pictures of the Mun's far side.

1. Probe must flyby the backside of the Mun.
2. This probe, and all future probes must have at least one antenna and be self-sustaining (Historically, Luna 3 was the first probe to have solar panels, so have some solar panels at least).
3. Take a screenshot. No Kerbal has seen the far side of the Mun before.

Minma 1: Minmus Flyby

• Launch a probe past Minmus.

1. Probe must have an OKTO core, two 1x6 solar panels, and a Communtron 88 dish Batteries are required.
2. Probe must have at least 3 scientific instruments.
3. Take a screenshot of Minmus
4. Bonus: Perform a fly-by with the Mun in the same trajectory, within 50,000km. Adjustments with RCS are okay.

(Note: Post screenshots on the [Mission Reports http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/forumdisplay.php/55-Mission-Reports] forum if you wish.)

Kerminor 2

• Design and launch a probe bound for Eve.

1. Probe must have an OKTO core, two 1x6 solar panels, and an antenna. Batteries are required.
2. Probe must have at least 3 scientific instruments.
3. Probe must enter into orbit of Kerbin, waiting for its launch window to Eve.
4. Probe must encounter Eve on a flyby within 5,000km.

(Note: Phase angle for Eve is -54.13 degrees, and ejection angle from Kerbin is 154.8 degrees based on http://ksp.olex.biz/)

(Note: Feel free to use Kerbal System Alarm Clock mod to set your launch windows)

Kerminor 4

• Design and launch a probe bound for Duna.

1. Probe should have similar design to Kerminor 2 probe.
2. Probe must have at least 3 scientific instruments.
3. Probe must enter into orbit of Kerbin, waiting for its launch window to Duna.
4. Probe must encounter Duna on a flyby within 1,500km.

Kenera 3: Eve Impactor

• Build and launch a probe which will impact Eve.

1. Probe must contain two extendable solar panels and batteries for data transmission during reentry.
2. All probes from this point forward must contain at least one antenna and one science instrument.
3. Probe command module must impact Eve. Transmit data at any point in the atmosphere you wish, but do it before the probe hits Eve.

Finishing word

The Kerbiets and Kerbicans learned from their many successes and failures and made more reliable rockets. KSC's rocket scientists believed that more testing was needed before pursuing manned spaceflight. But the KSC's lead astronaut, Jebediah Kerman, said that it was now or never. They had to beat the Kerbiets to a manned Mun mission. The scientists come back together and found one fatal mistake in their calculations. All they really needed was more boosters! After some time, the scientists at KSC realized the new recruits for the Kerbinai Program were now sitting in the Astronaut Complex boringly after training, which had been already been completed. The scientists gave themselves a slap to their very large foreheads and moved on with the space race.