Paradox Shipyards' Grand Tour Flight

[Epsilon]

This is a log of my Grand Tour style journey which is in progress. I did it in the DCIV vessel I made, which is available on OrbitHangar, [ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3849"]here[/ame].
Feel free to comment on what I've got so far - it -is- a mission in progress.

I'll grant, the times are a bit off - I started the mission from a standard .scn, so it's in 2001, instead of 2070-ish, which is the technical timeframe I'm sort of working with as far as my ships go. Nonetheless, take it at face value, and enjoy!

------------------------------------------------

Captain's Log:

MJD 52056.4041
Started burn for Venus today, Sunday May 27th, 2001. Current loadout is 99.8%
main fuel in the water tanks, three XR2s of the IC series, 640t Naquadah fuel
for the XR2s, and 42 crew members. Expected travel time will be 120 days until insertion around Venus. SPD-01, a Donovan Class Interplanetary Vessel,
is the platform for this mission. It has taken two weeks for all necessary cargo
to be hauled to the SPD-01, and we are ready to go.

MJD 52056.4154
Ejection burn from Earth is completed. 89.3% main fuel remaining after ejection
burn. Mid-course correction burn is expected roughly 40 days into the journey.

MJD 52096.2945
Correction burns begun. Current estimated closest approach is 560.5Mm.

MJD 52096.3252
Correction burns completed. Current estimated closest approach is 10.12Mm.
Current main fuel remaining is 88.7%.

MJD 52174.9051
Final correction burn begun for Venusian orbital insertion.

MJD 52174.9060
Correction burn completed. On course for insertion. Fuel remaining is 87.3%.

MJD 52176.1095
Preparing to begin insertion burn. Ship is turned retrograde to Venusian orbit,
burn will begin at an altitude of 100Mm.

MJD 52176.1345
First insertion burn completed. Fuel remaining is 77.8%, PeA is now 3.407Mm,
altitude is 89.04Mm, Orbital Ecc is 1.4045.

MJD 52176.3360
Preparing to begin final insertion burn. Ship is retrograde to Venusian orbit,
burn will begin at an altitude of 5Mm. Gravitational influence of Venus is now
near 100%.

MJD 52176.3368
Final insertion burn begun at 5Mm altitude.

MJD 52176.3400
Final insertion burn completed. Fuel remaining is 75%, PeA is now 1.9Mm,
Altitude is 4.125Mm, Orbital Ecc is .4056. Current plan among command staff is
to follow orbit to apoapsis, complete a final burn using translational
thrusters, and move the periapsis into the atmosphere to allow for a slow
aerobraking.

MJD 52176.4583
Initial circularization burn begun near apoapsis of 12751km. Burn is expected
to bring periapsis down to 110km altitude to take advantage of the Venusian
atmosphere for aerobraking.

MJD 52176.4711
Initial circularization burn completed. Current PeA is 110km. 74.5% fuel
remaining. Current ApA 12733km.

MJD 52176.5466
Atmospheric interface at 200km.

MJD 52176.6078
Apoapsis reached. First aerobraking pass brought our apoapsis down to 6126km.
PeA will be raised to 120km for second aerobraking pass.

MJD 52176.6582
Second atmospheric interface at 200km.

MJD 52176.7154
Apoapsis reached. Second aerobraking pass brought our apoapsis down to 5754km.
PeA will be lowered to 115km for third aerobraking pass.

MJD 52176.7668
Third atmospheric interface at 200km.

MJD 52176.8185
Apoapsis reached. Third aerobraking pass brought our apoapsis down to 4514km.
PeA will be maintained at 115km for fourth aerobraking pass.

MJD 52176.8641
Fourth atmospheric interface at 200km.

MJD 52176.9113
Apoapsis reached. Fourth aerobraking pass brought our apoapsis down to 3390km.
PeA will be lowered to 111.5km for fifth and final aerobraking pass.

MJD 52176.9516
Fifth atmospheric interface at 200km.

MJD 52176.9862
Apoapsis reached. Fifth aerobraking pass brought our apoapsis down to 549.1km.
Orbit will be circularized at 550km.

MJD 52177.0529
Orbit circularized. Orbital inclination is near polar, 85.39 degrees. This will
allow a detailed survey of Venus' surface using long-wave scanning.
Eccentricity is 0, SMa is 6602km, LAN is 295.22 degrees, LPe is 295.22 degrees,
AgP is 0 degrees. Crew will take a day of celebration and rest before beginning
outfitting of IC-02 for its mission to the Venusian surface. Total time for
Venusian rendezvous is 120:15:34:16.

MJD 52177.0529 Notes
The IC-02 is a specially outfitted XR2, designed to withstand the heat and
atmospheric pressure on Venus. Its SCRAM engines have been modified to operate
at significantly lower speeds, though this cuts their effectiveness at higher
Mach numbers. The engines are also injected with an oxidiser (carried in a
tank in a sealed and pressurized hangar bay), to allow the atmosphere to be
used as reaction mass for the engines. This means that the normal issues with
a Venus landing, i.e. ineffectiveness of standard rocket engines, is strongly
mitigated. The modified SCRAM engines can produce enough thrust for the XR2 to
take off from the surface of Venus and reach the higher atmosphere, at which
point rocket engines can be engaged to normal effect. All surfaces except the
engines exposed to outside air are coated with an acid-resistant polymer.
This polymer can withstand temperatures up to 1000C, which means that the entry
of the ship will have to be shallower than the normal, and the pilot is
encouraged to abort the mission to orbit if any deterioration of the coating
occurs. The engines themselves are coated with a heat and acid resistant alloy,
which is unfortunately too dense to be used in normal operations. The pilot is
protected by a cockpit and life support system at a slightly higher than normal
pressure of 1.5atm. While the pilot will be unable to leave the ship to permit
setting foot on the surface, they will still be one of the first humans to land
on the surface of Venus and take off again.

MJD 52177.6721
IC-02 outfit has been completed. All seals except for the crew cabin are
prepared, and the ship is ready for pressurization.

MJD 52188.2494
IC-02 pressurization begun. Undocking and deorbit burn will occur on the next
orbit. The crew is inside the IC-02, all instruments are activated and ready
to be powered by the IC-02's APU. A second load of APU fuel has been put on the
ship to allow for a longer running of the instrumentation. Bay area 1 has been
loaded with an extra 3000kg of coolant, to allow venting since radiative heating
will be far less effective due to the dense atmosphere and surface temperature.

MJD 52178.2971, 07:07:06 UT
IC-02 undocks. Ship will bring periapsis down to 200km and circularize at that
point. Commander Toma Feodor reports all systems normal. Pilot Ilse Vita is at
the helm, and science officer Pavel Matej is on board as the third crew member.
SciO Matej will be conducting the experiments remotely once on the surface,
taking some of the most accurate measurements of Venus' surface ever as well
as taking real color pictures. A specially-designed UAV mounted to the top of
the IC-02 will do exploration of the surface in a 30km radius to allow for a
wider range of measurements. Planned landing location is near the south pole
of Venus, but Feodor has been instructed to choose his landing spot based on
the amount of sunlight on the surface.

MJD 52178.2971, 09:31:50 UT
Cmdr. Feodor has reported that the IC-02's orbit has been circularized at
199.9km. SciO Matej reports that the terminator is closer to the south pole,
therefore the landing will be planned near there.

MJD 52178.4274, 10:15:23 UT
Deorbit burn. PeA will be dropped to 90km. This is calculated to allow for
sufficient drag to bring the ship the rest of the way down.

MJD 52178.4277, 10:15:53 UT
Deorbit burn completed. PeA is 90km, orbital speed is 7177m/s.

MJD 52178.4443, 10:39:51 UT
Entry interface at 140km. Attitude hold program set to +40 degrees. APU will not
be engaged until necessary, to conserve fuel.

MJD 52178.4525, 10:51:37 UT
Pilot Vita reports all systems nominal. APU engaged, attitude hold program
operating within specified parameters. Radiator is expected to be stowed for
the remainder of the mission, until orbit is achieved again.

MJD 52178.4544, 10:54:17 UT
Pilot Vita reports all systems nominal. Thermals on the skin of the ship are
being held at 550C on the nosecone, 455C on the wings. Coolant temp 33.2C,
deceleration is -6.4m/s and rising, DynP is 11.8kPa, altitude 91.22km.

MJD 52178.4586, 11:00:22 UT
Pilot Vita reports all systems nominal. Thermals on the skin of the ship are
being held below 600C on the nosecone, below 500C on the wings, well within
operational parameters. Coolant temp 39.0C, deceleration is -5.81m/s and steady
within .1m/s, DynP is 16.6kPa, altitude 86.43km. Convection currents have
already caused a far longer glide time than originally expected, and ship's
SciO, Lieutenant Commander Fulton Reyes is studying the possibility of an
equatorial landing rather than a polar one, as consumables on IC-02 would
not last a glide to the North pole of Venus as well as a full duration mission.

MJD 52178.4635, 11:07:25 UT
Pilot Vita reports all systems nominal. Thermals on the skin of the ship are
being held well below previous readings, and speed is being bled off. Current
orbital speed 2983m/s, current altitude is 85.81km. Coolant temperature 45.8C.

MJD 52178.4651, 11:09:48 UT
Pilot Vita reports all systems nominal. Coast phase is entered at a constant
15 degree AoA. Radiator will be deployed with a close eye on the dynamic
pressures on the ship. Crew concurs with the analysis that the radiator can
be safely deployed at this altitude and speed, and that the acid content of the
atmosphere is not significant at this altitude to warrant caution against a
breach of the protective coatings.

MJD 52178.4671, 11:12:41 UT
RCS fuel at 75%, 200.9kg APU fuel remaining. Pilot Vita reports all systems
nominal.

MJD 52178.4738, 11:22:17 UT
RCS fuel at 72.8%, 196.2kg APU fuel remaining. APU was shut down to conserve
fuel after the radiator was deployed and it was ascertained that minimal RCS
thrust would be all that would be required to maintain attitude. Pilot Vita
reports that she will be taking manual control of the ship to begin turning
back to proper course. Thermals are still well within tolerances, and the
current speed of 1800m/s is not expected to heat the skin of the ship beyond
what has been experienced thus far as long as a slow descent rate is maintained.

MJD 52178.4809, 11:32:33 UT
Pilot Vita reports all systems nominal. Thermal convection currents in the upper
atmosphere were far higher than originally expected and measured. As such, glide
distance was longer than expected, and the mission profile has changed to an
equatorial landing site near Ilithyia Mons with approval of ship's head SciO.
Radiator stowage begun. Coolant temperature is 38.6C. Once on the surface, IC-02
will use its stowed coolant to keep its systems cooled properly.

MJD 52178.4945, 11:52:01 UT
Pilot Vita reports all systems nominal. Current airspeed is 100m/s, altitude
50.22km. Atmospheric density at this altitude reads 1.405kg/m^3, which is close
to Terran sea level.

MJD 52178.5291, 12:41:56 UT
Pilot Vita reports all systems nominal. Current airspeed is 75.5m/s, altitude
25.22km. Atmospheric density is 14.33kg/m^3 and rising.

MJD 52178.5824, 13:58:37 UT
Pilot Vita reports all systems nominal. Current airspeed is 25.1m/s, sink rate
currently -3.04m/s. Outside air temperature is 438.8C at an altitude of 4.34km.
Coolant temperature is 57.4C, DynP is 15.0kPa. Atmospheric density is
51.88kg/m^3.

MJD 52178.6015, 14:26:13 UT
IC-02 has landed. All systems nominal. Crew will live inside IC-02 for the
entirety of the mission, which is expected to last 12 hours. Atmospheric
density is 64.991kg/m^3. Static pressure is 9.199MPA, OAT is 477.8C. APU is
being refuelled from internal stores, and disposable coolant is being used to
cool the ship.

MJD 52178.6066, 14:33:30 UT
SciO Matej reports that experiments are being deployed, and the ZPE UAV,
designation ZPE-22, has been undocked from the top hull.

MJD 52178.6151, 14:45:45 UT
ZPE-22 takes off from Venusian surface, beginning its automatic survey program.
Cmdr. Feodor is at the remote controls. The propellor-driven plane is noted to
be extremely efficient, beyond its original specifications.

MJD 52178.9124, 21:53:51 UT
ZPE-22 lands near the IC-02 after completing its survey mission. MET 7:08:07 to
initial wheel stop. ZPE-22 is being slowly taxiied the 1km distance back to the
IC-02. Cmdr. Feodor reports that the ZPE-22 performed well, and that a
propellor-driven ship design may be far more fuel efficient than any chemical
combustion engine which could be derived, for future Venusian exploration.

MJD 52178.9412, 22:35:20 UT
SciO Matej reports that he is beginning to stow all experiments in preparation
for takeoff. All experiments performed within tolerances, and no failures were
noted for the duration.

MJD 52178.9501, 22:48:09 UT
Experiments have been stowed. Final measurements and lockdown in preparation
for takeoff have begun.

MJD 52179.0180, 00:25:58 UT
IC-02 ready for takeoff. Soon after, Pilot Vita activates telemetry readings
from the IC-02, but cuts radio contact after a brief message that takeoff will
be very dangerous, and that callouts will only distract her.

MJD 52179.0180, 00:47:15 UT
IC-02 has achieved a 308.1x550 orbit. Pilot Vita reports in, apologizing for her
earlier statement. She stated that "it was like trying to take a rocket ship
through the ocean", and that future landings on Venus should use specialized
designs. Debriefing and future planning will occur upon docking.

MJD 52179.0251
Cmdr. Feodor reports that the atmosphere inside both the IC-02 and the pressure
hull is being slowly vented to normal pressures, to wait for the rendezvous.
In the tanks, 20% main fuel is remaining after topping off the RCS tanks via
cross-feed, and there is 8% of the LOX remaining to feed the modified jet
engines. This will allow for a slow, minimal-fuel rendezvous, and the crew of
IC-02 as well as the SPD-01 command staff agree that this fuel conservation
effort is acceptable, given the long range nature of the SPD-01's mission.

MJD 52183.4306
IC-02 Rendezvous with SPD-01. Pilot Vita reports commencement of docking
maneuvers starting at 12km out.

MJD 52183.4659
IC-02 opens its nosecone in preparation for docking.

MJD 52183.4699
Hard dock to dock 3 on SPD-01. Congratulations to the crew of IC-02 on their
mission to Venus.

MJD 52183.5229
Crew debrief of IC-02. All crew members enjoyed the mission immensely, and feels
that much was learned simply from the descent, experiments on the surface
notwithstanding. SciO Matej states that soil and atmospheric samples at pressure
were brought up from the surface, which will be transfered into the SPD-01's
laboratories for work en route to Mercury. Other valuable data included accurate
pressure readings, temperature readings, detailed survey of the 100 square
kilometers around Ilithyia Mons, and possibly most importantly, first-hand
experience on flight operations in such a thick atmosphere. Pilot Vita
recommends that a swept-wing aircraft would be a far more ideal design for
flying in the atmosphere of Venus. The mass of IC-02's environmental systems
was a boon for stability given the high winds, and the dense atmosphere gives a
large amount of lift at far lower speeds than the Earth's atmosphere. Other
recommendations include improving the durability of the acid-resistant polymer
coating, due to strong heating, and perhaps a skid-style landing gear, since
landing velocity was roughly 14m/s. The extreme temperatures on the surface
were very near the thermal limits of the XR2's landing gear despite the
resistant coating, and a skid-style landing apparatus would be more durable in
this environment than a hydraulic system such as that which the XR2 uses. Also,
given the performance of the ZPE-22 UAV, a propellor-driven design for initial
takeoff would likely be more effective than the modified jet propulsion which
was used on this mission. Potential problems include a way to permit the
propellors to survive a re-entry as well as an ascent - the heat is less of an
issue than the dynamic pressures. Of note is that while the ZPE-22 survived
ascent itself, the propellor was mangled beyond repair due to the pressures of
ascent.

MJD 52183.5623
Initial preparations are being made for ejection to Mercury within the next
three orbits.

MJD 52183.5698
Course to Mercury has been programmed into the flight computer. Flight time is
expected to be 65 days. Current main fuel in the SPD-01 is 71.2%.

 

[Epsilon]

On to Mercury

MJD 52183.5809
Ejection burn from Venusian planning complete. Expected dV expenditure for
off-plane burn will be 11.44km/s.

MJD 52183.6362
Ejection burn complete. Current fuel in main tank is 59.8%, and the expected
arrival time to Mercury is 75 days.

MJD 52208.9651
Mid-course correction burn commenced. Current rendezvous distance is estimated
at 2Gm.

MJD 52209.1223
Mid-course correction burn completed. Current rendezvous distance is estimated
at 1.477Mm. Current fuel remaining is 57.3%.

MJD 52251.7492
Attitude adjusted retrograde for orbital insertion burn. Current main fuel
remaining is 57.2%.

MJD 52251.8623
Beginning initial orbital insertion burn. PeA will be lowered to 500km.

MJD 52251.8713
Initial insertion burn completed. PeA is 500km, 49.4% main fuel remaining.
Altitude is currently 17.66Mm, orbital eccentricity is 1.4319. Velocity relative
to Mercury is 2.330km/s.

MJD 52251.9537
Second insertion burn begun. Current altitude is 900km, PeA is 500.9km, orbital
eccentricity is 1.4315, velocity relative to Mercury is 4.053km/s, 49.4% main
fuel remaining.

MJD 52251.9550
Second insertion burn complete. Current altitude is 766.2km, PeA is 50km,
orbital eccentricity is 0.3896, current orbital velocity is 2.888km/s, 48.3%
main fuel remaining.

MJD 52251.9689
Final insertion burn complete. Current altitude is 50.38km, orbit is 45.41km x
84.73km, orbital eccentricity is 0.0078, current orbital velocity is 2.983km/s.
47.8% main fuel remaining - orbit will be circularized at 50km.

MJD 52252.0495
Orbital circularization completed. Eccentricty is 0, Inc is 59.66 degrees, LAN
and LPe are 219.48 degrees, AgP is 0 degrees, SMa is 2490km, and 47.6% main fuel
remains in the tanks. Planned mission to the surface of Mercury will commence
in 15 hours.

MJD 52252.2025
Plane change for an equatorial orbit around Mercury. 44.6% main fuel remaining
after plane change maneuver. New inclination is .02 degrees, LAN and LPE are
29.17 degrees, AgP is 0.00 degrees. SMa is 2490km, eccentricity is 0.

MJD 52252.3343 Notes
The IC-03 will be performing the Mercury mission. The only extra equipment on
the IC-03 is extra shielding against solar radiation, and an enhanced climate
control system. The IC-03 will be landed near the Mena crater on Mercury. EVAs
will be performed to collect soil samples, take pictures, and place a solar
observation station which will be ferried down. Crew members are IC-03 Commander
Trent Lanford, Pilot Hadia Saliha, and mission specialists Dominica Terrie and
Emmanouil Vasilios.

MJD 52252.7366
IC-03 undocking confirmed. IC-03 will land at Mena crater, and perform its
experiments there. IC-03 has four crew members which will be performing
operations on the surface for the purpose of placing the solar observation
station, collecting crust samples, and doing direct observation of the surface
of Mercury to increase general scientific knowledge.

MJD 52252.7456
IC-03 lands near the center point of the Mena crater. No significant events
occured during the deorbit and landing.

MJD 52252.7721
First EVA by specialists Terrie and Vasilios. Drilling equipment will be
unloaded from the IC-03 bay and set up on the surface. Afterwards, the solar
observation station itself will be set up and begin transmitting readings on
the sun back to Paradox's base on the Earth's Moon.

MJD 52252.7814
Drilling for the observation station is begun. Heat from the solar observation
station will be transmitted into the crust in addition to radiative cooling
during the daytime via ducts into the crust. The electronics for the station
are designed to operate at a temperature up to 800K, but will be kept cooler
due to this process.

MJD 52252.9022
Drilling for the observation station is completed. The ducts are being driven
into the crust at this time by specialists Terrie and Vasilios. Commander
Lanford and Pilot Saliha are performing EVA at this time to unload the solar
observation station.

MJD 52253.0215
The solar observation station has been set up on the surface, and will be turned
on remotely upon takeoff of the IC-03. Commander Lanford and Pilot Saliha are
back aboard the IC-03. Specialists Terrie and Vasilios are beginning the
collection of soil samples and taking photographs of the area around the crater.

MJD 52253.0814
Sample collection and photography is completed. Specialists Terrie and Vasilios
are back on board the IC-03, and the ship is prepared for takeoff.

MJD 52253.0820
Takeoff of the IC-03 from the Mercurian surface.

MJD 52253.0845
Solar observation station has been activated, and is reporting all systems
operating within parameters.

MJD 52253.1530
Orbit is achieved. Rendezvous is expected in 10-12 hours. Crew begins sleep
shifts. Commander Lanford and Specialist Vasilios will take the first shift.

MJD 52253.4565
Pilot Saliha and Specialist Terrie on shift, Commander Lanford and Specialist
Vasilios off shift to sleep.

MJD 52253.7600
Commander Lanford and Specialist Vasilios on shift, preparations are made for
final docking approach.

MJD 52253.7942
IC-03 reports approach to SPD-01 at 29.79km distance, and commencement of
docking procedures.

MJD 52253.8654
Hard dock of IC-03 to SPD-01. Congratulations on the crew of the IC-03 on their
mission to Mercury's surface.

MJD 52253.9654
Debriefing of IC-03 mission. Specialists Terrie and Vasilios report everything
in working order. The soil samples will be sent to the SPD-01's laboratories for
analysis. Commander Lanford and Pilot Saliha report that the flight went well,
and that the radiation shielding held up better than predicted.

MJD 52254.1231
Planning has begun for the trip to Jupiter, the next leg of the trip. Radio
contact has been made with the ReFuel LLC base on Ganymede to begin preparations
for refuelling of the SPD-01 in orbit, by bringing ice from Jupiter's rings into
a 500km orbit around the moon. This keeps the ice chunks well out of range of
the traffic around Ganymede.

 

[EnDSchultz]

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm finding this very entertaining to read. Good luck with the rest of your mission, and keep the reports coming, Commander!

 

[Dambuster]

I'd certainly love to see more of this!

 

[Arrowstar]

Nice work. Some screenshots would be nice visuals to go along with the text.

 

[Epsilon]

I'm glad some people are liking it. As far as the screenshots go, I don't have a lot of eye-candy addons, and I don't particularly have a talent for making screenshots.
I figure that Orbinauts fly "virtual missions" all the time - they can use their imagination while reading the logs - I'm certainly putting enough detail in them - I hope. <_<

 

[HiPotOk1978]

I can't speak for everyone, just myself...

But I have only been to Mercury once during the ReFuel grand tour. Anyone else find their way that far in?

 

[the.punk]

It reads nice.
Pictures would also be cool.

 

[agentgonzo]

I can't speak for everyone, just myself...

But I have only been to Mercury once during the ReFuel grand tour. Anyone else find their way that far in?

I've been to Mercury. I've also started a grand tour at Mercury, and slinging my way past every planet out to Neptune on a single tank of fuel in the DG. :lol:

 

[Epsilon]

Off to Jupiter!

I've been to Mercury. I've also started a grand tour at Mercury, and slinging my way past every planet out to Neptune on a single tank of fuel in the DG. :lol:

Showoff.

Captain's Log:

MJD 52254.1561
Planning for trip to Jupiter is complete. Trip time will be 2 years in duration.
Eject from Mercurian orbit will be in 3 hours, and eject from solar orbit is
planned for 12 days from now. Parts for refitting the IC-02 and IC-03 for normal
operations will be staged, and once we are en route to Jupiter, the ships will
be refit. Expected delta-V will be 30.8km/s for the burn to Jupiter.

MJD 52254.2152
Attitude burn in preparation for ejection begun. 44.5% main fuel remaining in
the SPD-01 tanks.

MJD 52254.2172
Burning main engines for escape from Mercurian orbit.

MJD 52254.2211
Ejection burn from Mercury complete. 40.8% main fuel remaining in the SPD-01
tanks. Expected time to burn from Solar orbit is 13 days, 7 hours.

MJD 52267.7448
Attitude burn in preparation for solar orbit burn begun. 40.8% main fuel
remaining in the SPD-01 tanks.

MJD 52267.7469
Main engine burn begun en route to Jupiter.

MJD 52267.7619
Main engine burn complete. 26.7% main fuel remaining in the SPD-01 tanks.
Calculated time en route will be 716 days, 7 hours, 40 minutes.

MJD 52293.1021
Refit of IC-02 begun. The refit is expected to take 30 days to bring the IC-02
to operational spec.

MJD 52315.6511
Refit of IC-02 complete. The IC-02 has had its pressure hull dismantled, and the
scrap will be used for parts fabrication on the remainder of the journey.

MJD 52322.0151
Refit of IC-03 begun. The refit is only expected to take 5 days, as the
modifications to it were not as drastic as those on the IC-02.

MJD 52326.1123
Refit of IC-03 completed. The extra climate control was left in place, as it did
not add an appreciable amount of mass to the ship, but the extra layer of
radiation shielding was stripped from it. It will be used in the future to
repair other ships that incur damage to the shielding.

MJD 52532.2987
Attitude burn for mid-course correction begun.

MJD 52532.3007
Correction burn begun. 26.7% main fuel remaining in the SPD-01 tanks.

MJD 52532.3008
Correction burn complete. 26.7% main fuel remaining in the SPD-01 tanks.

MJD 52701.0022
At a distance of 1.4AU, we are beginning to feel the gravitational effects from
Jupiter at a significant, though small level.

MJD 52760.2921
Correction burn begun to target Ganymede directly.

MJD 52760.2924
Corection burn complete. We are expecting at least two more burns to target
Ganymede - one to fine-tune the approach, and one for orbital insertion. 26.4%
main fuel remaining in the SPD-01 tanks.

MJD 52923.0457
Second correction burn to target Ganymede begun. Altitude from Jovian surface
is 0.3AU.

MJD 52923.0465
Second correction burn to target Ganymede complete. 25.8% main fuel remaining
in SPD-01 tanks.

MJD 52951.7996
Third correction burn to target Ganymede begun. Altitude from Jovian surface is
0.155AU. Jupiter is now the majority gravitational influence on the SPD-01.

MJD 52951.8001
Third correction burn to target Ganymede complete. 25.3% main fuel remaining in
SPD-01 tanks.

MJD 52973.5704
Final correction burn to target Ganymede begun. Altitude from Jovian surface is
0.04AU.

MJD 52973.5705
Final correction burn to target Ganymede complete. 25.2% main fuel remaining in
SPD-01 tanks.

MJD 52977.1608
First insertion burn to Ganymede begun. Current distance from Ganymede is
122.3Mm.

MJD 52977.1670
First insertion burn to Ganymede complete. Current distance from Ganymede is
116Mm, 19.3% main fuel remaining in SPD-01 tanks.

MJD 52977.3260
Second insertion burn to Ganymede begun. Current distance from Ganymede is
11.1Mm.

MJD 52977.3340
Second insertion burn to Ganymede completed. Current distance from Ganymede is
8375km, 15.8% main fuel remaining in SPD-01 tanks.

MJD 52977.3701
Final insertion burn to Ganymede beugn. Current distance from Ganymede is
401.21km.

MJD 52977.3753
Final insertion burn to Ganymede completed. Current altitude above Ganymede is
305.1km, with 14.7% main fuel remaining in the SPD-01 tanks.

MJD 52977.3877
Initial circularization burn begun. Current altitude above Ganymede is 298.8km,
inclination is 7.09 degrees, orbital eccentricity is 0.339. Our target orbit is
300km, and we will adjust to rendezvous with the ice fuel in orbit from there.

MJD 52977.4653
Orbit circularized. Gravitational influence of Ganymede is at 91% at 296.9km.
Orbital inclination is 7.09 degrees. Semi-Major axis is 2931km, LAN is unsteady
around 248.15 degrees, AgP is unsteady around 315.6 degrees, and LPe is unsteady
around 202 degrees.

MJD 52977.5228
ReFuel Ganymede base has been contacted. The ice chunks are in an equatorial
orbit at roughly 500km. Thanks go to the crew of the ReFuel Ganymede base for a
job well done.

MJD 52977.6532
Plane alignment burns complete. Current inclination is 0 degrees, LAN is
unsteady around 158.40 degrees, SMa is 2951km, LPe is unsteady around 242.2
degrees, AgP is unsteady around 83.58 degrees. 14% main fuel remaining in the
SPD-01 tanks.

MJD 52978.3014
Transfer to higher orbit to rendezvous with ice chunks begun. Expected delta-V
for transfer is 33m/s.

MJD 52978.3825
Encounter with ice fuel in orbit complete. Refuelling commenced.

MJD 52979.1421
Refuelling completed. 100% main fuel in SPD-01 tanks. Nothing remains of the ice
chunks other than a field of debris. EVAs will be performed for the next two
days by crew members of the SPD-01 to collect the debris before it drifts away,
collect it, and launch it into the Jovian atmosphere using an XR2 as a tug to
do so.

MJD 52982.6212
Cleanup complete. SPD-01 will go to a lower orbit around Ganymede to keep
station-keeping at a minimum while orbiting the planet, due to Jupiter's strong
gravitational influence.

MJD 52982.9795
Orbital circularization completed. Gravitational influence of Ganymede is 93% of
total influence on the SPD-01. Current PeA is 47.52km, Semi-Major Axis is
2682km, Inclination is 0.13 degrees, LAN is unsteady around 58.9 degrees, AgP is
unsteady around 108 degrees, and LPe is unsteady around 165 degrees. Orbital
velocity is currently 1.9km/s, orbital eccentricity is 0.0002.

MJD 52983.0261
IC-03 takes off to begin the exploration mission to the inner moons of Jupiter.
The IC-03 has been filled with a special high-ISP fuel combination, which gives
it a longer range for its missions. This fuel takes its toll on the intakes, and
will require extra maintenance, but the extra maintenance is considered to be
a non-issue, as it is not expected to erode the engines enough to cause a
danger to ship and crew. Commander Trent Lanford, Pilot Hadia Saliha, and
mission specialist Keelan Gallagher are on board for the tour of the Jovian
moons. Landings will not be done on any of the moons - penetrator probes will be
launched to each moon on the flyby schedule, and will send telemetry back to
the SPD-01. The probes will send back information on soil composition around the
impact point, and will launch a secondary probe above each moon's surface to
take high-resolution pictures of the surface.

MJD 52983.3039
IC-03 aligning for escape burn from Ganymede orbit, en route to Adrastea.

MJD 52983.3059
IC-03 begins escape burn from Ganymede orbit. En route dV is 4.6km/s.

MJD 52983.3091
Escape burn complete. Correction burn will be performed en route to Adrastea,
once outside of the influence of Ganymede. 75.3% main fuel remaining.

MJD 52983.5696
IC-03 is outside of Ganymede's gravitational influence. A minimal correction
burn of 90m/s is expected, with other burns once closer to the moon Adrastea.

MJD 52983.5718
IC-03 performs a 10-second burn to correct course 74.9% main fuel remaining.
Time en route is 26 hours, 23 minutes. The first shift will begin at 1900 ship
time and extend to 0500. The second shift will go from 0500 to 1500. Rendezvous
with Adrastea is expected to be MJD 52984.6711, 1606 hours ship time, with all
crew on hand. Correction burn will be performed during shift changeover.

MJD 52983.7917
Commander Lanford and Specialist Gallagher off deck. Pilot Saliha in command of
IC-03.

MJD 52984.2085
Shift changeover. Pilot Saliha reports no unusual occurences during her shift.
Commander Lanford and Specialist Gallagher on deck for correction burn and start
of their shift. Autopilot is being programmed to perform a minor burn for 18m/s
dV to correct course.

MJD 52984.2109
Correction burn completed. Main fuel currently 74.7%, RCS fuel currently 98.2%.
Pilot Saliha off-deck, Commander Lanford and Specialist Gallagher on deck for
shift.

MJD 52984.4341
Micrometeor strike noted on port window #3. No loss of pressure noted, but the
first wall of the window is cracked. Patch applied to window panel to prevent
unexpected pressure loss.

MJD 52984.6251
Pilot Saliha on deck. Commander Lanford and Specialist Gallagher note
micrometeor strike on port window #3, no other unusual occurences. Rendezvous
with Adrastea in 1 hour, 6 minutes. Crew has decided to patch the window once
back aboard the SPD-01, since the current tour is in the inner Jovian system
only, and damaging strikes are rare enough that the risk of a second strike in
the same spot is negligible.

MJD 52984.6287
Ship aligned prograde with respect to hyperbolic orbit around Adrastea.
Penetrator probes are prepared for firing. Pilot Saliha at the helm. The current
plan is to pass at 20km above Adrastea and fire the probe. Current RCS fuel is
98.1%, current main fuel is 74.7%.

MJD 52984.6717
75km from Adrastea, penetrator fired. Periapsis with regard to Adrastea is
18.5km. Current RCS fuel is 96.7%. Course is being planned to the moon of
Callisto.

MJD 52984.6906
Attitude burn for injection to Callisto orbit begun.

MJD 52984.6926
Injection burn begun.

MJD 52984.6933
Injection burn to Callisto orbit complete. 69.3% fuel remaining in IC-03 tanks.
Expected time in transit is 74 hours.

MJD 52987.7840
Pilot Saliha completes burns for close approach and flyby of Callisto. Current
PeA is 4km. Pilot will continue to adjust as we approach the planet to aim for
a closest approach of 5km.

MJD 52987.9463
Callisto is currently the major gravitational influence on IC-03. Autopilot
will be configured for a return to Ganymede orbit once we leave the influence of
Callisto.

MJD 52987.9728
Probe fired at Callisto. Current altitude is 450km, current PeA is 5km.

MJD 52988.0060
Leaving gravitational influence of Callisto. Configuring autopilot for return to
Ganymede.

MJD 52988.0076
Autopilot configuration completed. Time to injection burn is 5 minutes.

MJD 52988.0107
69.3% main fuel remaining. Attitude adjustment for injection burn begun.

MJD 52988.0127
Injection burn begun.

MJD 52988.0150
Injection burn complete. 51% main fuel remaining. Time in transit is expected to
be 5 days, 20 hours.

MJD 52991.4527
Mid-course correction burn. 45.2% main fuel remaining after burn. 83.9% RCS
fuel remaining.

MJD 52993.6020
Approaching Ganymede. Current altitude is 35.78Mm. Pilot is currently aligning
planes for rendezvous with Ganymede.

MJD 52993.7688
Ganymede is now the dominant gravitational influence on IC-03. Current altitude
is 6.763Mm, current PeA is 301.1km. Turning ship retrograde for injection burn.

MJD 52993.8114
Current altitude above Ganymede is 313.3km. Beginning injection burn.

MJD 52993.8121
Injection burn complete. Current orbit is 267.3km x 372.4km. Inclination is
11.16 degrees. Programming autopilot for rendezvous with SPD-01.

MJD 52993.8619
Autopilot programmed for rendezvous with SPD-01. Attitude adjustment in progress
for burn.

MJD 52993.8623
Burn completed for rendezvous with SPD-01. Expected arrival time is 81 minutes.

MJD 52993.9147
Contact with SPD-01. Distance is 91.52km. Pilot Saliha at the helm, commencing
docking maneuvers. Initiating cross-feed to RCS fuel tanks for maneuvers.

MJD 52993.9275
Distance to SPD-01 is 9.176km. Current approach speed is 55m/s.

MJD 52993.9370
On final approach to SPD-01 Dock 2. 14m to dock, current speed is 0.14m/s.

MJD 52993.9387
Hard dock to SPD-01 Dock 2. Welcome home, and congratulations on a successful
mission.

MJD 52993.9747
Planning begun for the next leg of the trip to Saturn. Debriefing for crew of
IC-03 shows nothing unusual. Probes will relay telemetry to the ReFuel base on
Ganymede, which will be relayed to Paradox Prime on Earth's Moon.

MJD 52994.0423
Ejection from Ganymede orbit. We will be placing ourselves in an orbit around
Jupiter in preparation for the ejection en route to Saturn.

MJD 52997.5490
Parking orbit of 501.9M x 496.6M achieved. Planning for trip to Saturn
continues.

MJD 52999.7156
Attitude adjustment in preparation for burn to Saturn begun. Current fuel in
main tanks is 94.8%.

MJD 52999.7532
Burn complete. Main fuel in tanks is 61.5%. We will be passing the Sun at an altitude of 0.268AU, allowing us to intercept Saturn in just short of 2 years,
rather than the 6 that a "best fuel" course would take us.

 

[Epsilon]

As a side note, I'm going to leave this as the end of the posted grand tour. I'm posting the scenario below, so anyone who wishes to fly out the rest can do so. Requirements for the scenario are the DCIV vessel, the marvelous XR2, IMFD (since the scenario has the course saved, IIRC), and... that should be it. A couple of the bases I mentioned are nice to have, but the last one mentioned (Paradox-ReFuel Titan) isn't released yet.

Basically, I've lost the enjoyment that comes from documenting the assorted maneuvers and stuff - you'll notice that the last update's a bit sparse.

Either way, enjoy what I've got, and if you decide to continue on and do some documentation yourself, you're welcome to post continuation in this thread. Remember, the primo refuelling point for the DCIV is Saturn's rings - plenty of ice there, but it can run on pretty much anything liquid - just not without extra maintenance. Any questions about it, gimme a holler - and I'll be happy to answer.