No, I am not an Admin here... Yes, this is a time consuming challenge... WIP...
The Wanderer Epic Challenge, is to send one Capsule, to land on every Solid Body in Vanilla, and return to Earth Safely.
Suggested order: Moon, Venus, Mercury, Mars, Phobos, Deimos, Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, and Earth.
Refuelling, Docking and Assembly on the ground, or in space is allowed at any point in the solar system. You are limited to three Blueprints, and your final score, is the total Tonnage launched into orbit from Earth, to complete the challenge. Ie. BP1 is 2000 Tons times 1 launch is 2000 Tons, BP2 is 3000 Tons times 6 launches, is 18000 Tons, BP3 is 2500 Tons times 3 Launches is 7500 Tons, makes a grand total of 27500 Tons Launched. The less total mass launched, the higher your ranking for bragging rights. You may not launch more than one Capsule, must start with a fresh world, and regularly use the Clear Debris Button (so screenshots don't become cluttered.)
Each BP should have several stages and modules, including different types of Landers, Transfer tanks, and of course Launch stages. BP1 should have your Capsule, BP2 and BP3 should have at least one Satellite for remote control, although you may want to launch multiple Satellites each time. BP1 or BP2 may have modules for a LEO Space Station, although there is no limit on how many Space Stations you place to complete the challenge with high efficiency. Using a reusable shuttle may be an advantage, because launching it each successive time does not count towards mass launched. Consumables, like Fuel, Parachutes, Heat Shields, Satellites, used to replenish a shuttle will count towards total mass launched. Including a shuttle will make this more of a challenge, since you are restricted to three BP. Crawlers and Towers used to replenish a Shuttle, will only have their empty weight counted towards the total mass once.
Ideally you should have already completed Team Hawk, although that is not necessary. Before attempting this challenge, I recommend having done Venus return at least once, Mercury Return, and can put 600 Tons (400 Tons without Expansion Packs,) of Payload into LEO in one launch. Some legs of the journey require very little fuel, Ie. Earth-Moon. Other legs require substantial amounts of fuel, ie. Venus-Mercury. Therefore design BP which allow flexibility in your interplanetary Cruiser design. You should try to make use of the Oberth effect, the VEEGA slingshot, and any other slingshots which save fuel, although they are not essential for completing the challenge.
Typically a Cruiser has one or more Fuel Tank Modules for the First Transfer burn, a Lander with your capsule module docked, and a Satellite with one or more Tank Modules for the Second and/or Third Transfer burn. With the latest update including Heat Shields, designing versatile landers with or without Heat Shields, and detachable Umbrella Stabalisers, and different number of stages, customised for each body visited, is suggested to get decent efficiency and save fuel in Transferring payloads between destinations. Aerodynamic braking over Venus, Mars and Jupiter are suggested, but not essential. Use Quicksave often especially before doing Aerodynamic braking. Rovers, and Rover wheels are discouraged, except for replenishment of a Shuttle with a Crawler.
Landers typically have one to four stages, Satellites typically have one to three stages, Cruisers typically have six to ten modules, and Space Stations typically have four to a dozen modules. BP typically have two or three launch stages, and a Payload of a dozen modules. Without Expansion packs, smaller BP might have only a handful of Payload modules.
Reusing parts of your Landers is not required, but may make your epic journey more efficient. My aim is to not only to pose an epic challenge, but setup a leader board for each person completing the challenge, which you can attempt as many times as you like. No cheats allowed, standard solar system, expansion packs allowed, infinite space allowed, no parts clipping, no engine stretching, no engine clipping, BP editting is otherwise allowed, and stretched parts are allowed. Ion drives are allowed, but transfer burns should have at least two Frontier Engines or two Valiant Engines, to make this challenge less laborious. The first stage of all Launches must use either Titan or Hawk Engines, for similar reasons. Shuttles and Crawlers can use any engine type. Satellite Modules do not require Engines, but they do require at least two RCS and at least one Solar Panel. There are no restrictions on what constitutes a Space Station.
Please don't post screenshots unless you have completed the challenge. The minimum Screenshots required (which will require multiple posts,) include the three Blueprints used (showing Tonnage,) Landings on each of the Ten solid bodies, each Space Station Assembled (once at any stage of the challenge), each Cruiser assembled (before or during first main interplanetary Transfer burn,) and the final mission log at the end (multiple pages.) If you use a Reusable Shuttle, please also add screenshots of each landing back on Earth, and just before the next launch. You should also detail in text, how many of each BP were launched, and a rough idea of how each Cruiser/Shuttle was assembled, on the ground, and/or in space. I am more interested in tracking each modules journey, to verify total number of launches, since this is critical to prevent cheating. Ideally you should name each Lander, Satellite and Cruiser for clarity, but it is not essential. Damaged parts, crashes and explosions are all allowed, as long as the original Capsule returns to Earth Safely.
I will be posting an example, from an older version of the game, until I complete the challenge with this set of rules myself. I will also post three sample BP screenshots which conform to this set of rules, which you can re-create or use as inspiration for your own design. This challenge has been setup to allow both Free To Play and Veterans to attempt, with no clear advantage either way. You can either launch several small payloads, or launch a few really big payloads.
Ranked Leaderboard:
Legendary Wanderers (less than 20000 Tons, or Reusable Shuttle utilised):
1. Nil.
Accomplished Wanderers (20001-30000 Tons):
2. Nil.
Passing Wanderers (30001+ Tons):
3. Nil.
The Wanderer Epic Challenge, is to send one Capsule, to land on every Solid Body in Vanilla, and return to Earth Safely.
Suggested order: Moon, Venus, Mercury, Mars, Phobos, Deimos, Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, and Earth.
Refuelling, Docking and Assembly on the ground, or in space is allowed at any point in the solar system. You are limited to three Blueprints, and your final score, is the total Tonnage launched into orbit from Earth, to complete the challenge. Ie. BP1 is 2000 Tons times 1 launch is 2000 Tons, BP2 is 3000 Tons times 6 launches, is 18000 Tons, BP3 is 2500 Tons times 3 Launches is 7500 Tons, makes a grand total of 27500 Tons Launched. The less total mass launched, the higher your ranking for bragging rights. You may not launch more than one Capsule, must start with a fresh world, and regularly use the Clear Debris Button (so screenshots don't become cluttered.)
Each BP should have several stages and modules, including different types of Landers, Transfer tanks, and of course Launch stages. BP1 should have your Capsule, BP2 and BP3 should have at least one Satellite for remote control, although you may want to launch multiple Satellites each time. BP1 or BP2 may have modules for a LEO Space Station, although there is no limit on how many Space Stations you place to complete the challenge with high efficiency. Using a reusable shuttle may be an advantage, because launching it each successive time does not count towards mass launched. Consumables, like Fuel, Parachutes, Heat Shields, Satellites, used to replenish a shuttle will count towards total mass launched. Including a shuttle will make this more of a challenge, since you are restricted to three BP. Crawlers and Towers used to replenish a Shuttle, will only have their empty weight counted towards the total mass once.
Ideally you should have already completed Team Hawk, although that is not necessary. Before attempting this challenge, I recommend having done Venus return at least once, Mercury Return, and can put 600 Tons (400 Tons without Expansion Packs,) of Payload into LEO in one launch. Some legs of the journey require very little fuel, Ie. Earth-Moon. Other legs require substantial amounts of fuel, ie. Venus-Mercury. Therefore design BP which allow flexibility in your interplanetary Cruiser design. You should try to make use of the Oberth effect, the VEEGA slingshot, and any other slingshots which save fuel, although they are not essential for completing the challenge.
Typically a Cruiser has one or more Fuel Tank Modules for the First Transfer burn, a Lander with your capsule module docked, and a Satellite with one or more Tank Modules for the Second and/or Third Transfer burn. With the latest update including Heat Shields, designing versatile landers with or without Heat Shields, and detachable Umbrella Stabalisers, and different number of stages, customised for each body visited, is suggested to get decent efficiency and save fuel in Transferring payloads between destinations. Aerodynamic braking over Venus, Mars and Jupiter are suggested, but not essential. Use Quicksave often especially before doing Aerodynamic braking. Rovers, and Rover wheels are discouraged, except for replenishment of a Shuttle with a Crawler.
Landers typically have one to four stages, Satellites typically have one to three stages, Cruisers typically have six to ten modules, and Space Stations typically have four to a dozen modules. BP typically have two or three launch stages, and a Payload of a dozen modules. Without Expansion packs, smaller BP might have only a handful of Payload modules.
Reusing parts of your Landers is not required, but may make your epic journey more efficient. My aim is to not only to pose an epic challenge, but setup a leader board for each person completing the challenge, which you can attempt as many times as you like. No cheats allowed, standard solar system, expansion packs allowed, infinite space allowed, no parts clipping, no engine stretching, no engine clipping, BP editting is otherwise allowed, and stretched parts are allowed. Ion drives are allowed, but transfer burns should have at least two Frontier Engines or two Valiant Engines, to make this challenge less laborious. The first stage of all Launches must use either Titan or Hawk Engines, for similar reasons. Shuttles and Crawlers can use any engine type. Satellite Modules do not require Engines, but they do require at least two RCS and at least one Solar Panel. There are no restrictions on what constitutes a Space Station.
Please don't post screenshots unless you have completed the challenge. The minimum Screenshots required (which will require multiple posts,) include the three Blueprints used (showing Tonnage,) Landings on each of the Ten solid bodies, each Space Station Assembled (once at any stage of the challenge), each Cruiser assembled (before or during first main interplanetary Transfer burn,) and the final mission log at the end (multiple pages.) If you use a Reusable Shuttle, please also add screenshots of each landing back on Earth, and just before the next launch. You should also detail in text, how many of each BP were launched, and a rough idea of how each Cruiser/Shuttle was assembled, on the ground, and/or in space. I am more interested in tracking each modules journey, to verify total number of launches, since this is critical to prevent cheating. Ideally you should name each Lander, Satellite and Cruiser for clarity, but it is not essential. Damaged parts, crashes and explosions are all allowed, as long as the original Capsule returns to Earth Safely.
I will be posting an example, from an older version of the game, until I complete the challenge with this set of rules myself. I will also post three sample BP screenshots which conform to this set of rules, which you can re-create or use as inspiration for your own design. This challenge has been setup to allow both Free To Play and Veterans to attempt, with no clear advantage either way. You can either launch several small payloads, or launch a few really big payloads.
Ranked Leaderboard:
Legendary Wanderers (less than 20000 Tons, or Reusable Shuttle utilised):
1. Nil.
Accomplished Wanderers (20001-30000 Tons):
2. Nil.
Passing Wanderers (30001+ Tons):
3. Nil.
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