After months of careful design & testing (trial & error plus lots of napkins).
Launch of the Duna Orbital Station/Base Lander Module the KYONORTHRUS (coming up with a name took longer)...
SRB separation...
Liquid booster separation...
Due to the ship's massive size, asparagus staging just did not work. Every Mainsail engine is needed just to get this beast into orbit.
Circularizing orbit...
Front view of the Base Lander Module...
This module, once detached, will establish a permanent settlement on Duna.
Equiped with 2 single seat Duna buggies for extended range exploration.
Rear view of the business end...
The 5 Mainsails used getting the KYONORTHRUS into orbit are shutdown. 20 NERVAs will fire up to complete the journey to Duna.
Refueling Tanker docked...
Each tanker pilot will EVA to join the crew...
It takes 6 tankers to refuel the ship. Once fueled the tankers deorbit by remote control.
Another tanker pilot transfers to the KYONORTHRUS...
Total crew = 8 including the pilot & co-pilot. 2 crew members will remain onboard the station the rest will be part of the ground crew.
Meanwhile,back on Kerbin, the Ike Rover Outpost launches...
A semi-permanent base with one 2 crew VTOL rover to explore Duna's satellite Ike.
After refueling, and adding one additional crew member, the IRO is on it's way to Ike...
Within a day, the KYONORTHRUS takes off to rendesvous with Duna...
104 days later. Hello Duna...
To conserve fuel, aerobraking in the Duna atmosphere will slow the ship down enough to be captured in orbit...
12,500m. I think we scratched the paint!
Aerobraking the IRO is not as low. They want to be captured by Ike, which you can see in the distance...
IRO on intercept with Ike...
I should have aerobraked a little lower on Duna. I had to burn longer than expected to capture an orbit.
Those NERVA's are extremely efficient, they just don't have the thrust.
While making final descent Duna rises over Ike...
Safe landing...
Crew takes time for photo op.
Meanwhile, in orbit over Duna, disaster strikes...
As the Base Lander Module undocks, multiple structural falures causes the Orbital Station to break apart.
2 crew members have to make an emergency EVA over to the lander. Luckily the lander is undamaged.
All the crew are safe and accounted for.
Time for the final descent to the Duna surface...
After another safe landing, Duna buggies are detached...
Wildon, takes a buggie for a spin. Dukes of Hazard style...
This was my 4th or 5th attempt and 1st successful mission. Well mostly successful. I still have to get a space station into Duna orbit.
The previous missions were either way short on fuel, doomed to drift in deepness of space, or impacted on the surface before I new there was a save and reload button.
Their sacrifices shall not be forgotten.
0.19 came out just after this mission. Can't wait to try out the new parts.