KSP - NASAs Dragonfly Mission to Titan & SMART re-use in RSS / RO

NASAs Dragonfly is a rotorcraft drone mission to Titan. Here, I've recreated it the best that I can in KSP with the RSS/RO mod suite, as well as ULAs SMART Re-use system, with mid-air helicopter recovery!

The likely launch vehicle for the mission is the Vulcan Centaur. The trajectory I'm not entirely certain on - this is going off of the original 2026 E-V-E-E trajectory, which I think will be similar for the 2027 launch. (but I don't have the NASA computer to calculate it)

It's similar to an Atlas V, but it now has the Centaur V upper stage, with 2x RL-10Cs, and uses Blue Origins BE-4 methalox engines, that are recovered and re-used on further flights.

Dragonfly is a rotorcraft designed to take advantage of Titans unique characteristics - a lower gravity than Earth, yet a thicker atmosphere means it's perfect for flying drones around - much further and faster than the Mars rovers!

Game: Kerbal Space Program
Modpack: Real Solar System & Realism Overhaul

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Contents:

0:00 Intro and prelaunch
0:40 Launch
1:50 ULA SMART Re-use
3:21 Payload deployment
5:15 Flyby sequence
6:48 Arrival at Saturn
7:20 Entry Interface
8:55 Dragonfly deployment

[TDChannelKSP]

Hey all!

Decided to try something a bit different this time around. Took quite a bit longer than usual for an 11 minute video, but I think it was worth it!

For those wondering about Terminal Velocity, don't worry. It will return as well - I'm aiming to do bi-weekly episode releases of the usual length. I'll post the updated intro along with the release date of EP18...soon.

[ryanbudrow]

Amazing how he did this all without a Tylo gravity assist.

[TechTekker]

Splendid planning, execution, camera work, editing, everything. You deserve many, many more views! Hope you don't stop here 👀😛

[Prof_Tickles]

Love the little detail of the methane lakes being illuminated off in the distance at 8:05.

According to Dr. Zibi Turtle, Principal Investigator, they actually won’t be visible when dragonfly lands bc the poles will be in seasonal darkness. 😭

That’s too bad because the only photo I want from Titan is one of those gorgeous seas. I mean it’s the only other celestial body with stable surface liquids and you don’t plan a mission when it’s most defining feature is visible? Ahh well. Beggars can’t be choosers.

Hopefully we’ll get some amazing photos from Dragonfly.

[Lewy]

Magnificent! It seems so crazy that this will only be the second Titan lander in history.

[jakecachia]

One of the best KSP videos I’ve seen in a while, very underrated channel, keep going man!

[gakageke]

Ok that transition for arriving at Saturn was just way too cool

[kevintang]

Pretty solid mission!

Love the CH-53 recreation.

[nothendr]

Absolutely beautiful. it's a crime for this video to not have 1k+ views, in my opinion it deserves MUCH more than that.

[AstronAndry]

Absolutely incredible mission and recreation, couldn't have been happier with it!

[mainsailor]

Those cinematic shots are amazing - great video!

[CalvinMaclure]

Awesome job, mate. Fantastic execution! Cheers!

- CM

[THUNDERSHOCKR]

Beautiful! And I love that you used Vulcan Centaur not many people showcase the Vulcan in KSP

[codingevolution]

Wow, you are great at telling a story and keeping me engaged

[rustyshackleford]

I know this mission won’t arrive until I’m 30, but it’s going to be worth the wait and I know it. 😌

[georgeharrison]

More of these types of video please-very good!

[orbitalmaneuvers]

Well, this presentation was really impressive. You've done an amazing job with the filming and editing and all the post stuff, too. This mission is near and dear to my heart so I have about a trillion questions. I've flown this mission in both JNSQ and KSRSS @ 2.5x, both a far cry from RO/RSS, but yeah - it's a captivating mission. I originally built an Atlas V 522, as that was the last rocket I'd seen in the press. Then I saw your reddit (?) post with the Vulcan and decided to try that, too. Both versions worked out great and I had a blast. Of course I cheated and did a hohmann transfer to Saturn because gravity assists in KSP are basically impossible to do like they're doing for this mission! Anyway, great job - really impressive video. My trillion questions are all about peeking behind the curtain but maybe it's best to just enjoy it as shown :) In other news, have you seen the Bumblebee mod? I don't know if there are any RO configs for it, but it's a really pretty model.

[stekra]

Thank you. Wow, that is amazing. Your best work jet. To the next decade it will be wild.

[electricminecrafter]

those arwe the cutest SRB's i have ever seen, they are so small.

[jackas]

i think we're just in a lack of informations of titan's surface, that is why it isn't detailed