KerbalX

Mars Science Laboratory was a mission launched in November 2011 to deliver a large rover named Curiosity to the surface of Mars. This rover represented the first in a new class of robotic explorers being sent to the red planet. Compared to its predecessors Spirit and Opportunity, Curiosity is five times heavier at 900kg, and carries over ten times the scientific equipment mass at 80kg. Due to the rover’s sheer size, previous landing methods were deemed insufficient and a new entry-descent-landing (EDL) system was developed. During the last phase of the novel EDL system the rover detached from its parachute and descended using a rocket-powered descent stage. Curiosity was then lowered from the descent stage on a sky crane and set down gently on the surface, successfully landing on Mars on August 6 2012.

Craft Description

Built for KSPv1.10.1
Requires Breaking Ground DLC
A stock+DLC replica of the Mars Science Laboratory mission, including the Atlas V 541, Cruise and Descent stages,and Curiosity.

Curiosity features a functional rocker-bogie suspension system, and servo-powered wheels controllable via action groups for driving and steering

Update 10/27

The rocket and rover have been updated with slightly more authentic detailing. The rover now features a robotic arm, which comes with a sample collection animation.
Controls have been added for mast head and robotic arm control.

Details

• Type: VAB
• Class: rover
• Part Count: 1180
• Pure Stock
• KSP: 1.10.1

Custom Flags

The Atlas V uses some custom flags for decoration. If you’d like to use them you can download them here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SpspcwvqVCXwFf2WQhy5ZXN1GOdFAHvr?usp=sharing

Controls (Atlas / Curiosity)

1: Left steer
2: Drive forward
3: Right steer
4: Enable Cruise Stage RCS
5: Enable Aersoshell RCS / reorient control axis
6: Disable inner 4 descent engines
7: Unpack rover / loosen suspension
8: Toggle arm animation
9: Left steer minimum radius
0: Right steer minimum radius

G (gear): Activate skycrane / unfold suspension

Throttle: Mast head elevation
A/D: Mast head rotation
I/J/K/L: Arm shoulder rotation
H/N: Arm elbow rotation
W/S/Q/E: Arm wrist rotation

Instructions

Advanced Tweakables

Certain parts of the rover may not work if the Advanced Tweakables option is disabled. To enable it, go into the settings or press Esc and enable it from there.

Flight

Start your gravity turn by pitching up/back, then roll the rocket 180 degrees to assume the proper attitude.
The payload produces a lot of drag, so take a high ascent trajectory. The rocket should hit 45 degrees tilt at 15000m - 20000m.
Jettison the fairing at an altitude of 40000m.
After releasing the cruise stage from Centaur, press 4 to enable RCS control.

Atmospheric Entry/Landing

Before atmospheric entry turn off SAS and press 5 to enable aeroshell RCS. This also reorients the probe core for better landing control.
Turn SAS back on and hold retrograde for the entire landing sequence.
After the parachute has been deployed, stage to release the heat shield. Stage again at 2500m altitude to release the rover and descent stage.
Throttle up to max at 2000m to slow your descent. Once velocity drops to 20 m/s, press 6 to disable the inner 4 descent engines.
Press G to lower the rover on the sky crane. After touchdown, stage to separate from the descent stage.

Driving Curiosity

Press 7 to unpack the rover and to loosen the suspension for driving.
Curiosity comes with five driving modes, one for driving straight ahead and four for steering left or right at maximum or minimum radius.
Each mode is toggled on/off. Forward mode and any steering mode can be toggled on at the same time, but enabling another steering mode will override the previous.

Arm Control

The robotic arm comes with an animation for sample collection, press 8 to toggle.
You can also control the arm manually- I/K/J/L controls shoulder rotation, H/N controls elbow rotation, and W/S/Q/E controls wrist rotation.