KerbalX

Details

• Type: VAB
• Class: probe
• Part Count: 36
• Mods: 1
• KSP: 1.11.1

Mods

• Bluedog DB

JFK’s speech that led to a commitment to landing American astronauts on the Moon naturally had to involve many steps and goals to achieve before a manned landing was even a remote possibility. One of the steps was successfully sending probes on lunar flybys and, eventually, successful orbits to begin collecting information that wasn’t available to ground astronomers. The first step was proving the feasibility of reaching the moon while simultaneously gathering information about the Earth, Moon, and the space in between the two.

The Pioneer program, which was partly America’s first lunar exploration attempt, was largely met with failure with only one, Pioneer 4, actually achieving a lunar flyby much less a successful orbital insertion. The Soviets, on the other hand, had achieved a number of firsts in lunar exploration including the probe to reach and flyby the Moon, Luna 1, the first artificial impact on the Moon with Luna 2, and lastly the first photographs of the Moon’s far side (and by a probe) with Luna 3.

The Ranger program had more lofty goals of collecting impact data and providing first close-up photos of the lunar surface. The program sent 9 probes, divided into three blocks of different capabilities and equipment, over the course of 3 ½ years with only final four in Block 3 deemed a complete success. The first impact of an American probe happened with Ranger 4 but it wasn’t until Ranger 7 that the first close-up pictures of the lunar surface occurred. The photographs from the last three Block III missions provided considerable data on lunar topology and moved the lofty American goal forward.

The pair of Block I Ranger probes had relatively minimal systems and were designed just to test out the basic capabilities of the probe bus and the new Atlas/Agena-B rocket. They both failed to achieve high orbit from problems that would continue to plague the Ranger program until corrected prior to the launching of Block III. The Ranger design was adapted for use in the first two Mariner probes which performed flybys of Venus.

The SM-65 Atlas became America’s first ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) and became operational in October 1959 as the Atlas-D. The Atlas-D was developed into an entire family of heavy lifters including the man-rated Atlas-LV-3. The Atlas LV-3A was used as the first stage-and-a-half for a number of missions including the Atlas/Agena-B which was even an more successful lifter than the previous Atlas/Agena-A with a success rate of 28 launches in the span of four years.

The Agena-B was an upgraded version of the problematic Agena-A and had a number of new capabilities such as an engine that could be shutdown and restart in the vacuum of space and a larger fuel tank and was used for 28 launches that included the SAMOS and MIDAS satellites launched by its predecessor but also the Ranger and the first two Mariner missions. It had a qualified success rate and proved the Agena as a reliable upper stage for Atlas and Thor rockets.

The Bossart is Bluedog Design Bureau’s approximation of the Atlas and in this configuration approximates the Atlas-D as used for the Atlas-Able rockets. It is still a one-and-a-half stage rocket just like the actual Atlas-LV-3A. The sustainer and booster stages are fired together along with Vernier motors on the side that control pitch and rotation. Once the rocket has entered the upper atmosphere then the booster engines are no longer necessary and jettisoned along with the booster skirt.

The Belle-B is an improved version of the Belle-A and is an approximation of the Agena-B with additional lifting capabilities for a larger payload. It is otherwise very similar to the Belle-A with most of the key differences not represented in the game. It is used to lift the Burke probe into either a High Kerbal Orbit (HKO) or to make a Trans Munar Injection (TMI) burn and even a Munar Orbital Insertion (MOI) burn.

The Burke 1 is an approximation of the Ranger 1 and Ranger 2 spacecraft including having a number of limitations such as no on-board engine but it’s battery and solar panel systems allow for an indefinite mission with a powerful antenna that can reach Kerbin from a great distance. Since the only on-board engines it has are some yaw thrusters the Belle-B is responsible for any additional burns.

You have a couple of options for a mission profile and they can either be a historical HKO mission to test out the Bossart/Belle-B’s capabilities or shoot for a successful orbital mission to Mun or even Minmus if you are feeling adventurous. The initial ascent and, if part of the mission, the establishment of a parking orbit is handled by the Bossart while everything else is handled by the Belle-B.

Built in the VAB in KSP version 1.11.1.