KerbalX

Album contains 11 pictures.

V2 Change log:
- Fixed mod-polluted solar panels
- Added a pair of angled panels on the top for better appearance
- Inner structure overhaul

ES-14 SUMMIT (European Spacecraft model 14, Spaceborne Ultracold Multipurpose Multiband Infrared Telescope) is a mature and affortable solution for non-cutting-edge IR space telescopes. Such telescopes are needed in quantities for asteroid early warning networks or other average purposes, and people don’t want to launch ultra-expensive Webb-like telescopes for these relatively simple jobs.

Just like its appearance suggests, SUMMIT is a redesign of the old but reliable Spitzer Space Telescope launched in 2003. Spitzer is still operating after more than 15 years, even after its liquid helium used to cool the instruments to 1.4K (thus Ultracold) runs out after its planned mission duration of 5 years.

Key Features

• Simplified but moderately detailed Spitzer style telescope, lifter included
• 64 parts in operational state

Launch

• Control from the visible cubic core above faring base - should be already so.
• The launch vehicle is pretty forgiving methinks. It can provide >4000m/s dV @ LKO, enough to send it to distant places. The telescope weights 5.8t, you can use other lifters if you don’t need so much dV.
• After desired orbit is achieved, seperate the booster and fly it away from the telescope.
• Jettison dust cover, switch back to the telescope
• Control from the HECS core inside the golden spacecraft bus, point solar panel assembly roughly towards the sun

Fun Fact

The word summit can be translated into German as Spitze, likely a nod to its original design.

Man, thinking up an abbreviation that makes sense both in short and long form is so much fun.

Design Story

I got a telescope contract and decided to build a Spitzer for it. Made a much more complicated replica, but was not quite satisfied with the result. It’s somehow too bulky for me. The idea to streamline and simplifiy it came up when I saw this beatiful telescope created by CoyoteFoxtrot: https://kerbalx.com/CoyoteFoxtrot/MSOW-Vigilant-Space-Observer

Then the SUMMIT was born, and I like it.

I lernt a lot about the Spitzer telescope from this website: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/mission/100-The-Spacecraft
If you are also interested, it definetly worth a visit.

Wish you enjoy and happy launchings!

Description

A stock rocket called ES-14 SUMMIT. Built with 110 of the finest parts, its root part is fairingSize2.

Built in the VAB in KSP version 1.7.3.

Details

• Type: VAB
• Class: satellite
• Part Count: 110
• Pure Stock