KerbalX

Details

• Type: VAB
• Class: ship
• Part Count: 24
• Mods: 2
• KSP: 1.11.1

Mods

• Bluedog DB
• Squad (stock)

Biological satellites or satellites with a biological payload have been an integral element of space exploration since early tests with fruit flies on-board V-2 rockets by Americans in 1947. The experiments would continue with upper atmosphere and sub-orbital flights by both the Americans and Soviets throughout the 1950s. The next step was on-board Sputnik 2 when Laika, a stray dog, became the first creature to enter Earth’s orbit. Unfortunately her journey was one-way and she died within a few hours into a mission due to overheating possibly due to systems failures. The American space program famously flew squirrel monkeys on sub-orbital flights between 1958 and 1959 and then moved to chimpanzees in 1960 and 1961 in preparation for America’s first manned missions.

The Biosatellite program flew three missions between 1966 and 1969 studying the effects of weightlessness on various biological samples that included a number of species and meant to return the samples to Earth for further study. The first satellite’s return capsule unfortunately failed and was destroyed during re-entry, the second had to return early but was otherwise fine, and the third one had no significant problems.

The first two satellites were carried by the Delta G rocket which was simply a Delta E rocket minus the solid rocket upper stage. The core stage was a Thor DSV-2C rocket augmented by a set of three Castor-1 booster rockets. The second stage was the same upper stage used for the Delta E. The Delta G’s configuration was only used for the two satellites but was otherwise just a variant of the Delta E. The Delta E flew 23 missions between 1966 and 1971 with no significant failures on the part of the lifter.

The Biosat is an approximation of the real-life Biosat from Bluedog Design Bureau with its return capsule design similar to other satellites such as spy satellites which also utilized a return capsule. It also possesses a fuel cell in lieu of solar panels which can give it considerable but not infinite longevity which can be extended by periodically turning off the fuel cell. It has an unusual attitude control boom which also functions as a magnetometer experiment and provides additional SAS functionality.

The historical mission profile has the Daleth G’s core stage bringing the payload into the space while the Daleth E upper stage potentially completes the ascent and handles the orbital burn. A fairly circular orbit between 200 and 300 km which is why the solid rocket stage was eliminated from the Delta G due to the relatively low orbit.

Built in the VAB in KSP version 1.11.1.