KerbalX

Details

• Type: VAB
• Class: probe
• Part Count: 23
• Mods: 2
• KSP: 1.11.1

Mods

• Bluedog DB
• Squad (stock)

One of the first steps in paving the way to manned lunar missions would be to simply prove the feasibility of reaching the Moon. This set the course of the first Pioneer probe whose mission was to be the first payload launched beyond simply orbiting the Earth, orbit the Moon, and prove basic but valuable data. Unfortunately three separate attempts carrying the original and two copies of the probe carried by the Thor-Able were failures although the second and third attempts did provide some useful data on radiation fields with the second attempt reaching the highest altitude of any man-made object to that date.

The Thor rocket began life as America’s first intermediate ballistic missile, which while having only a relatively short deployment, was the beginning of an entire rocket family using the Thor rocket as the first stage which eventually evolved into the Delta rocket family which is still used today such as the Delta IV Heavy which is used for heavy classified payloads.

The Able rocket began life as part of the USN’s Project Vanguard where it served as the second stage of the Vanguard rocket before being re-purposed and modified as one of the few liquid-fueled upper stages. It served as a reliable upper stage, along side the Agena, for several years before being retired but its engine would serve as the basis for a long-line of engines used for both upper stages and even the Apollo’s service module.

The Altair solid rocket also began life as part of the USN’s Project Vanguard where it served as the third stage of the Vanguard rocket before it began its own family of upper stages initially used in a number of Thor-Able flights such as the ones launching the first Pioneer probe attempts. While the stage was historically reliable problems with it are what led to the failures in two of the attempts.

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-D. 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 Alpha is an approximation of the original Able rocket stage and is a highly efficient liquid-fueled upper stage which allows for precise control over the payload’s orbital parameters. It is most efficient, by more than 400%, in a vacuum so is designed for use once you have reached space.

The Staara-20 in the X-248 configuration approximates the Altair and is a vacuum-efficient solid rocket that provides the final boost for the payload. It will provide approximately 700 m/s dV which can be fine-tuned by reducing its fuel.

The P1 Ramo is an approximation of the original three Pioneer probes and has two small engines – one provided a mere 17 m/s dV while the other provides about 128 m/s dV meant for the actual orbital insertion burns. The instruments are relatively primitive with the payload’s intent being simply to provide the feasibility of reaching the Mun.

Built in the VAB in KSP version 1.11.1.