Project Mars Design Reference Mission 1

[markp]

Well I'm getting some of the specs from the DRM1 document. The rest is guesswork.

Quoting the DRM1 document:

Option 4 (Figure 3-16) is indicative of a launch vehicle that uses technology derived from the Saturn V launch vehicle. The first stage core is virtually identical to the first stage of the Saturn V launch vehicle in its basic size and its use of five F-1A engines. Strapped to this stage are four boosters, each with two F-1A engines and roughly one-third of the propellant carried by the core stage. The second stage uses six of the J-2 engines that powered the second stage of the Saturn V. However, this upper stage is considerably larger than the Saturn second stage.

And this is figure 3-16:



I am then using wikipedia to find the thrust of a F1A :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocketdyne_F-1

Then I am working backwards to find the mass of the propellant for the rocket assuming the empty mass of the rocket is 1000 tons, which might be a bit high.

So far I have the following numbers in the code. I'm still in the process of massaging the numbers so it has a sensible and efficient ascent profile.

masses

double empty_hlv = 1000000.0;
double fuel_hlv = 25108216.0;
double fuel_boosters = 0.5*fuel_hlv;
double fuel_1ststage = 0.4*fuel_hlv;
double fuel_2ndstage = 0.1*fuel_hlv;

thrust

double thrust_launch = 256121600; // 12 x F1A engines

 

[N_Molson]

I am then using wikipedia

Prefer Astronautix, much more serious and precise information for historical hardware :

http://www.astronautix.com/engines/f1a.htm

 

[BruceJohnJennerLawso]

Prefer Astronautix, much more serious and precise information for historical hardware :

http://www.astronautix.com/engines/f1a.htm

Agreed, although Wikipedia is getting slightly better in these areas. Astronautix can be really unhelpful at times too though...

 

[N_Molson]

Agreed, although Wikipedia is getting slightly better in these areas.

The problems with Wikipedia are :

- often rounded or wrong values (i.e. confusions between engines models),
- a lot of specuation (so you think there is more information available, but can't really say if this is fiction or not),
- sometimes biased articles, depending of the contributors,
- you have to double-check everything, which takes twice more time...

At least you can have confidence in what you find on Astronautix. And it covers almost every piece of rocketry hardware since the early beginnings.

 

[BruceJohnJennerLawso]

The problems with Wikipedia are :

- often rounded or wrong values (i.e. confusions between engines models),
- a lot of specuation (so you think there is more information available, but can't really say if this is fiction or not),
- sometimes biased articles, depending of the contributors,
- you have to double-check everything, which takes twice more time...

At least you can have confidence in what you find on Astronautix. And it covers almost every piece of rocketry hardware since the early beginnings.

And to add to that list, the information provided is not standardized nicely :beathead:

Who writes the info on Astronautix?

 

[N_Molson]

Who writes the info on Astronautix ?

Mark Wade. He is recognized worldwide as someone that devoted its life to collect information about spaceflight. Specialized authors often quote his work, which means he is accepted by the scientific communauty.

An alternative, when possible, is to consult the manufacturer web site. But again, beware as there are often rounded numbers. It's usually easy to see, there is no way that a complex assembly like a rocket ends up with a round mass number.

 

[markp]

Prefer Astronautix, much more serious and precise information for historical hardware :

http://www.astronautix.com/engines/f1a.htm

Ah ok thanks!

I think I got my units mixed up as well. However updated the numbers and now have a more sensible ascent profile.

 

[markp]

Progress update:

Have figured a simple way to preserve the DRM1 v1.4 vessels when installing DRM1 v1.5. I've just renamed the mesh folder and added a "_1-5" onto the end of the dlls and config files.

The new capsule is starting to feel like it's close to being finished. I will release a test version on this thread if people want to play around with it in about a week.

Here are some recent screen captures from a descent and landing at Gran Canaria starting from the ISS. The base looks amazing with 4th rock's stock base upgrade.

I had to virtually tape some notes onto the cockpit panel because I keep forgetting what the switches. I may keep that space where the notes are for displaying information either as a screen or as notes.











I haven't done anymore with the launcher yet but will probably play around a bit more with it in the next couple of weeks.

 

[BruceJohnJennerLawso]

Progress update:

Have figured a simple way to preserve the DRM1 v1.4 vessels when installing DRM1 v1.5. I've just renamed the mesh folder and added a "_1-5" onto the end of the dlls and config files.

The new capsule is starting to feel like it's close to being finished. I will release a test version on this thread if people want to play around with it in about a week.

Here are some recent screen captures from a descent and landing at Gran Canaria starting from the ISS. The base looks amazing with 4th rock's stock base upgrade.

I had to virtually tape some notes onto the cockpit panel because I keep forgetting what the switches. I may keep that space where the notes are for displaying information either as a screen or as notes.

View attachment 11721

View attachment 11722

View attachment 11723

View attachment 11724

View attachment 11725

I haven't done anymore with the launcher yet but will probably play around a bit more with it in the next couple of weeks.

:lol: those notes are hilarious! I feel like Im looking at maps from Pirates of the Caribbean.

Sorry I took so long on this, I always forget about little projects on my list :facepalm:

View attachment LOXRP1Texture.zip



Lemme know how it turns out, hopefully it should be good for what you want. I did go a little unorthodox with this particular exhaust, but I think it looks good.

 

[markp]

Lemme know how it turns out, hopefully it should be good for what you want. I did go a little unorthodox with this particular exhaust, but I think it looks good

Thanks! They look really good. :thumbup:

Sorry I took so long on this, I always forget about little projects on my list

No problem.

those notes are hilarious! I feel like Im looking at maps from Pirates of the Caribbean.

I think I'm getting the hang of flying it

 

[markp]

So a bit more progress.

1. Can now deliver the lander plus its NTR stage into orbit with the appropriate bits and bobs of the launcher dropping off as it ascends.

2. Preparing the capsule for anyone who wants to play around with it. Will release it on this thread sometime quite soon (end of the week hopefully, just ironing out a problem with one of the guidance routines).

 

[markp]

Here is a test version of the capsule. It's by no means finished but the atmospheric entry and landing autopilots are working. Included two scenarios.

One starts with the capsule approaching Cape Canaveral beginning at an altitude at around 100 km. I have included instructions in the documentation on how to land the capsule at Cape Canaveral. There is also a scenario approaching Gran Canaria, the same instructions can be applied, I think, but just change the target to Gran Canaria. Enjoy.

View attachment DRM1_v1.5_capsule_testing.zip

 

[markp]

Some progress:

1. Added RCS based autopilots (switches 2 & 5) for controlling heading and entry velocity for use before entering the atmosphere

2. Fixed a small bug that was preventing commands from the guidance routine, to fly negative lift trajectories, getting to the control routine.

3. Tidied up the panel and screen a bit

4. Fixed zero thrust RCS problem when operated manually

Will upload a new version of the capsule in a few days

 

[markp]

Here's an updated version of the capsule with everything included this time hopefully.

View attachment DRM1_v1.5_capsule_2.zip

 

[markp]

A couple of small updates:

1. Updating the docking ports so the landers can dock to other spacecraft or themselves as shown in the image.

2. Have updated the UMMU capability so they can enter and exit the launcher. The image shows a UMMU leaving the hab after a test launch.

 

[markp]

Couple of things:

Have added UMMU code to the capsule. Also some DRM global variables changed to class variables to stop vessels using tne same dll overwriting each other when loaded via a scenario file.

 

[markp]

Hi,

Just to let you know I have picked up the project after a little pause due to updating my Galileo atmospheric probe add-on and being distracted by other things. Testing a stack here in the vicinity of Vesta using the Artemis node add-on to dock them all together.

 

[IronRain]

Cool!

 

[Interceptor]

Thanks Mark you made my day.

 

[markp]

Quick update:

Started on redoing the animations which were not working properly after introducing the new lander mesh into the project a while ago now. Managed to fold away the lander legs as shown here. That's Vesta in the background which I'm using as my "deep space" test landing target.



Most of the work seems to be fixing animations and also tracking down some autopilots that are activating themselves when not required.