Nova-C Falcon 9 Mission in KSP (first and second stage recovery)
This is my entry to the #NovaCChallenge. It is a "pre-creation" of the upcoming Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission, set to launch their Nova-C lander to the Moon. I completed this in 100% stock KSP and without DLC parts.
Notes:
Extra craft mass is due to the 12 landing leg struts, a tradeoff for visual accuracy
Unrealistically steep ascent after launch allows enough time to complete second stage burn and recover first stage without quick save "parallel universes".
Vehicle Details
Falcon 9 - Like Launcher
3.75 m tank diameter
565 T Launch mass (inc. payload)
64 m tall
9 Vector Engines (first stage)
1 Rhino Engine (second stage)
Nova C Recreation
3 T launch mass (including payload)
4.5 m height (no legs)
6 m height (with legs)
2 m width (no legs)
4 m width (with legs)
US Flag and Intuitive Machines Custom Flags
Science Payload:
Mystery Goo
Seismic Accelerometer (2)
PresMat Barometer (2)
Gravioli Detector
Thermometer (2)
Magnetometer boom
Surface Scanning Module
Fluid Spectro-Variometer
1 Spark Engine
2 Twitch Engines (not sure what these are used for in real life so I left them deactivated mostly)
00:00 Vehicle Overview
00:35 Launch
00:54 MECO and Second Stage Burn
01:39 SECO and Stage 1 Boostback
01:58 Fairing Deploy
02:08 Stage 1 Reentry and Landing
03:45 Nova C Seperation and Coast
04:35 Mun "gravity assisted" Injection Burn
05:10 Booster Recovery (Because I forgot before)
06:00 Munar Capture
06:30 Skip a few orbits (so landing will be visible on video)
07:02 Mun Deorbit Burn
08:15 Nova C Landing Burn
08:35 Nova C Landing
09:29 SCIENCE!
10:26 Second Stage Deorbit Burn
11:00 (Bonus!) Second Stage Reentry and Recovery
12:47 Nova C Hop, Coast, and Second Mun Landing