KerbalX

DISCONTINUED. PLEASE SEE UPDATED VERSION HERE

Overview

I was recently reading about the Chinese Shenzhou spacecraft, and one of the articles mentioned that its orbital module can be either added to a space station as an additional module, or left in orbit as a sort of makeshift space station core.

Simultaneously, I was in need of a crew transport vehicle in my career save, and wanted to build something that looked like if America had created a Soyuz-alike system.

Thus, the CTV-6 was born.

This craft uses THESE custom flags.

If you have already downloaded my Saturn-1B, you will not need to redownload this flag pack.

Details

• Type: VAB
• Class: ship
• Part Count: 228
• Pure Stock
• KSP: 1.10.1

The Rocket

The CTV-6 launches atop a custom-built rocket, somewhat inspired by American rocket design, the Soyuz, and the Long March.

The first stage is comprised of a core with 5 Thud engines, and four boosters, each with four additional Thud engines. I selected these engines because they do not leave an exhaust plume, which makes them appear to burn clean like rockets running on UDMH/N2O4.

The second stage utilizes a single-bell Poodle engine variant, and features automatically-activated retro-rockets, to deorbit the stage and prevent orbital debris. Ignore the fact that the sepratrons appear to burn the solar panels. It’s just your imagination :)

The Spacecraft

The Freedom craft is comprised of three sections. The Service Module (SM), capsule, and Orbital Module (OM). As a unit, the Freedom has approximately 1,723 m/s of dV after 2nd stage separation, giving it the ability for rendezvous around the Mun, Minmus, or beyond.

The OM carries 72 units of liquid fuel and 88 units of oxidizer, as well as the majority of the system’s monopropellant (100 of 115 units).
Utilizing the fuel priority options, the OM is drained of fuel and monopropellant before the SM. After separation, the OM features two regular-sized docking ports (one at each end), and a jr-sized port on the ventral side. It also has a dedicated probe core, two solar panels, an antenna, and 1,060 units of electric charge.

After separation, the SM/capsule system has just 15 units of monopropellant, which should be enough to safely maneuver away for deorbit burn.

Note: Due to minor part clipping, separation of the OM is rather aggressive, and results in a speed difference between the two sections of ~10 m/s

Special Features

-The Freedom features a custom Launch Escape System (LES), utilizing the breaking ground controller to greatly overclock the thrust output on the separation motors. This provides more than 1,000 kN and 11.1g of acceleration, yet keeps part count down to a reasonable level.

-The OM includes a spotlight to assist with nighttime docking maneuvers, which is controlled separately from the rest of the lighting.

-A fuel line runs from the OM to the SM, which allows fuel an monopropellant to be used from the OM first. 72/88 units of LF/O are stored in the OM for an extra kick. This fuel can also be turned off, and left in the OM if desired.

-The capsule does not have any SAS functionality, but does feature 100 additional units of electrical charge, to keep the exterior lights running well after landing.

Action Groups

1) Toggle SM Engine

2) Toggle OM Spotlight

3) Decouple OM from capsule

4) Empty

5) Extend Solar Panels / Antenna

6) Empty

7) Empty

8) Empty

9) Cut Drogue Chute (optional)

0) Empty

Abort) Activates Abort Feature (11.1g for approximately 3 seconds, shutdown of all other engines)

Thanks for viewing, I hope you enjoy it!

A stock rocket, the Freedom CTV-6. Built with 228 parts and both DLC’s, in the VAB, KSP v1.10.1.