OFMM Mission Discussions

[Pipcard]

I was thinking this might do the job of being an aeroshell well enough -> Paracone 1.11

Isn't that a bit too small for the Cook?

 

[Woo482]

I'm pretty sure that the idea was to attach the paracone to the fuel tank so that it could aerobrake? :shrug: The Cook shouldn't have any problems at all with orbital insertion

 

[MaverickSawyer]

I'm pretty sure that the idea was to attack the paracone to the fuel tank so that it could aerobrake? :shrug: The Cook shouldn't have any problems at all with orbital insertion

That's what i read it as.

 

[Pipcard]

I'm pretty sure that the idea was to attach the paracone to the fuel tank so that it could aerobrake? :shrug: The Cook shouldn't have any problems at all with orbital insertion

Oh. Didn't notice "fuel taqnks".

 

[garyw]

What if we used the Albatros tanker? It already has a heat shield, and carries 25 tons of transferable fuel. plus, it has its own integral engines, with 22 tons of fuel, some of which we would wind up using for manuevers, but still more than enough for our purposes.

Not a bad idea at all. I was thinking of this - [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=242"]Abora-C tanker[/ame]

300,000kg of prop. Paracone on one end, engine on the other and it can use the tanks dV to get to Mars.

 

[Pipcard]

Not a bad idea at all. I was thinking of this - Abora-C tanker

300,000kg of prop. Paracone on one end, engine on the other and it can use the tanks dV to get to Mars.

First thing I noticed when I clicked on the link was "Orbiter Version: 031217"
Are you sure that this would have worked in 2010P1?

 

[MaverickSawyer]

300,000kg of prop. Paracone on one end, engine on the other and it can use the tanks dV to get to Mars.

How would we hold the paracone on, Duct tape? :lol:
Seriosly, are there attachment points on the paracone? the cone also cannot be deployed independent of the braking rocket (which doesn't fire until commanded, but it's still in the way of a clean connection).

 

[garyw]

How would we hold the paracone on, Duct tape? :lol:
Seriosly, are there attachment points on the paracone? the cone also cannot be deployed independent of the braking rocket (which doesn't fire until commanded, but it's still in the way of a clean connection).

Either attachment points or UCD. Probably UCD. How much fuel does the albatross hold?

 

[Woo482]

The Albatross holds 25,000kg in the refuelling system tanks

---------- Post added at 01:44 ---------- Previous post was at 01:42 ----------

The expendable tanker in the same pack holds 60,000kg, which might be a better choice if we was going to use one of the two, both tankers lack the propulsion to reach Mars on their own though

 

[Chub777]

Yes, use UCD. I agree with Woo - don't use the Albatross. It's a spaceplane and you're just carrying a few tons of dead weight that wouldn't be needed. As to how they will get to Mars, can't you send one atop a Quasar with a booster stage (something along the lines of a better Fregat)?

 

[Arrowstar]

What's the window from Mars to Earth after 2018?

About 2 years, but if we leave two weeks after we arrive, we can still make it home in the same window. It's up to Gary as to when we leave.

Gary, still need insight into science requirements for the mission, as that will dictate Mars mission orbit...

 

[MaverickSawyer]

The Albatross holds 25,000kg in the refuelling system tanks

---------- Post added at 01:44 ---------- Previous post was at 01:42 ----------

The expendable tanker in the same pack holds 60,000kg, which might be a better choice if we was going to use one of the two, both tankers lack the propulsion to reach Mars on their own though

Point. As for propulsion, a [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=1292"]Smerch[/ame] tug should be enough. That would easily fit in the bay of an XR5. I once put a pair of them in there for "integration testing" (fit checks). They have a lot of dV, and an integrated payload manager. The payload fairing (Buran T) would carry the disposable tug, since it's part of the Kulch suite of addons. The XR5 with 2 Smerch tugs, and a Tanker in a dorsal Buran T would be a heavy SOB, but should be able to make it to orbit. With only 1 Smerch, should be no sweat. Can't check right now, though.

---------- Post added at 08:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:05 PM ----------

For those interested in helping determine the science goals for OFMM, we have a new thread here.
Arrowstar: what kind of mass can we bring back to Earth without adversely affecting the dV requirements? We have requests for a sample return.

 

[Arrowstar]

Try to keep it under a couple hundred pounds (lets say 100 kg to keep it even) and we'll be fine. Will that be sufficient?

 

[garyw]

Arrowstar: what kind of mass can we bring back to Earth without adversely affecting the dV requirements? We have requests for a sample return.

Surely with a large ship like James cook in orbit this is pretty much a moot question? Or are you talking sample return BEFORE the human expedition leaves?

 

[PhantomCruiser]

How much fuel does the albatross hold?

For just a second I heard John Cleese yelling "Albatross!"

Surely with a large ship like James cook in orbit this is pretty much a moot question?

I was't so much asking about the space available, more along the lines of fuel budget.

 

[Arrowstar]

I was't so much asking about the space available, more along the lines of fuel budget.

I think we'll be fine so long as the mass you want to bring back is negligible compared to the mass of the Cook. I don't want to see 50 tons of new mass on board before we leave Mars.

 

[garyw]

There is a thought - We don't have to bring both XR2's home...... That would allow for extra samples, etc to be brought on board and will lighten the James Cook for the trip home.

 

[Urwumpe]

There is a thought - We don't have to bring both XR2's home...... That would allow for extra samples, etc to be brought on board and will lighten the James Cook for the trip home.

The second XR2 could also be used for local missions after the James Cook left, if you plan to keep a permanent mission on Mars.

 

[garyw]

The second XR2 could also be used for local missions after the James Cook left, if you plan to keep a permanent mission on Mars.

I really don't like that idea. I feel like OFMM is more of a 'get to Mars, walk about, go home'. Leaving people behind feels untidy but might be a nice way to start OFMM-2 if someone wanted to take that on? Any thoughts?

As there has been no more dissent around the main missions list I am going to write up the first scenario this evening and post it.

 

[Mojave]

It was you who demanded that the james cook be used!!!! and so what about the rotating gravity wheel part? You even said that you didn't want to have any sort of mission failures so I'm confused as to why you insist on a gravity wheel?

And Mission OFMM-P1 was going to be posted on Tuesday but I'm confused as to where we are as it's all changing even though you said that the mission plan was fine.

I agree Gary.

Let's just stick with the plan we have. Damn