Project Mars Design Reference Mission 1

[markp]

Quick update:

Habitat lander is working from launch to landing when launched into a ballistic trajectory and returning to land on Earth. The parachute has to be used until quite a low altitude because the hover engines are only just powerful enough to slow the descent. Autopilot for controlling descent rate is working fine.

The launch and landing images below are from different scenarios but the whole chain is working from launch to landing when tested all in one scenario.

 

[markp]

Testing the Mars Ascent Vehicle autopilot

 

[IronRain]

Looking forward to the next release

 

[markp]

Quick update:

1. Pitch autopilot for the heavy lift launcher vehicle installed and working ok
2. Launch of habitat lander working fine and now working on the cargo lander

 

[markp]

OK another update:

Cargo lander is working from launch to landing. It can pick up cargo from the launchpad and deliver it back to Earth.

 

[markp]

And just added a virtual cockpit to the habitat. Image shows interior view looking at the cargo lander through the window.



Wanted something to look out of while I do the practice flights to Mars and while I am generating the scenarios for the new version. I will probably slap some textures on there and add a floor but will keep it low key for this version.

Hyvää Vappua! happy May day (big celebrations here in Finland)

Mark

 

[markp]

Progress is a bit slow at the moment I am afraid...

I have been studying the interior of some Mars Analogue Research Stations to get some idea for designing the interior of the habitat. One thing I am not sure about is where the crew would sit during landing. Would they sit around the tables with their laptops, strapped into their chairs?

In my version of the habitat the windows are quite high above the floor for the pilot to sit down and look out so I have it so the chairs by the windows can be raised or lowered. Not sure if I should just lower the windows or would that cause poor lighting conditions?

They could stand during landing but I am not sure if they will be a good idea after the long trip in space.

Here is what I have so far for the upper level:



The crew sleeping quarters are at the back and the work stations and seats are at the front.

 

[Urwumpe]

Would they sit around the tables with their laptops, strapped into their chairs?

To quote FTETTM: "The human legs are great shock absorbers"... but I am not sure if this applies to landing on Mars at 1/2 Earth gravity after at least 90 days in microgravity. (and after a re-entry at about 3-4 g)

So, at least foldable chairs should be a good idea for landing.

Also, I am not sure if you would not better stow the laptops before landing (since they are a cockpit FOD hazard) and use some sort of dedicated display. If you assume modern technology as input, a large rugged industrial TFT display on the wall for displaying flight data and status and have a reduced control panel for initiating aborts or retargeting would be all you really need.

After landing, the dedicated display could be just display general stuff important for the whole team AKA crew, for example a calendar, Mars weather prediction, ECLSS status, tasks scheduled for the day, maybe a picture of Earth in the background (At least in my horrible taste. I would feel better about being on Mars if I could at least look at a picture of Earth during breakfast, instead of just missing it. Or for watching the final of the UEFA Champions League with 20 minutes radio delay.)

 

[Interceptor]

You probably could,also get some ideas for the interior of the Habitat,by checking out the new cockpit of the SpaceX Dragon version 2 capsule.

 

[markp]

Thanks for the comments Urwumpe and Interceptor.

Here is the next iteration of the habitat seating. The seats are mounted on triangular frames to keep them in place during re-entry. I think the frames might also be fixed to the front of the cabin to keep them in place because the force on the chairs will towards the back during re-entry.

 

[Interceptor]

Here is the next iteration of the habitat seating. The seats are mounted on triangular frames to keep them in place during re-entry. I think the frames might also be fixed to the front of the cabin to keep them in place because the force on the chairs will towards the back during re-entry.

---------- Post added at 01:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:29 PM ----------

Looking good,so far.:thumbup:

 

[markp]

OK so now have a very basic interior for the habitat. I can at last begin my flight tests to Mars.



I have gone for the padded cell look ...

 

[markp]

Started with flight tests.

Today I reactivated the autopilot for landing on Mars. I had been landing it manually previously to check the animations etc. There were a couple of conflicts with the two stage autopilot I designed for landing on the Moon which I spotted ok.

It was great when the autopilot burst into life as shown in the first image! Following that however I had a two hour debugging session because of a problem with the landing points. I have fixed it now but not sure I understand what was wrong before. I have an idea but will check later.

The second image is the virtual cockpit which I have had some problems but getting a handle on that situation.

 

[markp]

Rocket launch autopilot working and places the hab into a more or less circular orbit. Also tested the autopilot for the hab entry into Mars atmosphere and it seems to be working as expected. Next have to test the cargo lander ...

Some test flight images of a launch

 

[markp]

Having a bit of fun setting up the scenarios for the mission.

I have decided one of the crew lives in Pictown. Here a SST (one I borrowed from 2001 addon) is used to fly to Canaveral. I dont think the SST from 2001 is UMMU compatible but maybe that can be sorted out by attaching an invisible vessel that is UMMU compatible...or maybe I can use something else to transport the crew member(s) from their home to Canaveral as Pictown is quite close to Canaveral.

 

[markp]

Was inspired from using the 2001 addon to add some sound to DRM1 ...

So far have a countdown for the launcher and a NTR separation sound added.

 

[markp]

Have been experimenting with some options before launching regarding loading the cargo and crew to speed things up a bit while testing.

The spacecraft can now be bought to the crew and cargo at a press of a key, loaded up and then transported back to the launcher with another key press.

This is to save time for testing the addon and I will keep this as it could be useful for people planning and thinking about the mission.

Other options will be available such as driving the crew to the launcher on the pad and for them to embark there.

 

[markp]

A bit of progress ...

1. Fixed launch autopilot to correct for insertion into an eccentric orbit at high inclinations. I am trying to get it into a circular orbit which it is doing now.

2. Changed the camera to outside of the rocket with a view partly occupied by the fairing and the payload when the fairing is jettisoned.

3. Tried to set-up new scenarios from Earth to Mars but it is just too time consuming with the low thrust NTR to complete. I have decided to simply use the old scenarios except for the first launch scenario from Earth.

4. Next I will check the new vehicles work with the old scenarios and release a test version on OHM and leave it there for a month or so before uploading a working version.

 

[markp]

Two new launch scenarios set up, one for loading the cargo. The other is with the cargo boxes loaded and the launch autopilot running. The launch scenario launches the spare habitat, cargo lander and Earth Return Vehicle. I need set-up a crewed habitat launch scenario which is sent at a later date.

The old scenarios seem to be working ok for the trip to Mars.

I also tried a trans-Earth injection from Mars with the ERV but found out it doesn't have quite enough fuel so will have to review the numbers and adjust something there.

 

[kocmolyf]

I also tried a trans-Earth injection from Mars with the ERV but found out it doesn't have quite enough fuel...

That's an unfortunate way to find out your fuel budget was wrong.