Moon landing with reusable SpaceX rockets in KSP/RO

What can you do with the Falcon Heavy? Well, a manned moon landing for example.
You can download the craft files for each of the three launches here:
drive.google.com/open?id=1cBc...
NOTE: Use this at your own risk, you won't be able to load these crafts if you haven't installed the Launchers Pack, KRE and SSTU (+ their RO configs).
This was done with KSP 1.2.2 and Realism Overhaul including all recommended mods. Most important additional mods:
- Launchers Pack
- kOS
- Kerbal Reusability Expansion
- SSTU
- RSSVE
- FASA
Music:
Victory by Two Steps From Hell
Rocket Man by Elton John

[@winnermarcelosc]

SATURN V launch cost: 1.6 B Falcon Heavy launch cost: 90 M Falcon 9 launch cost: 62 M So if we did this today we could go to the moon apollo style with only 240 M!! That's 85% less expensive than going to the moon with the Saturn V back in the 70's..

[@HFeyn]

You'd have to design the lander, the transfer stage and the command module from scratch. That'd add at least another billion.

[@winnermarcelosc]

true, but don't think it will cost 1 billion thought, at least a few millions

[@aasquared8191]

@@winnermarcelosc we are talking human life here, you cant go cheap on that one.

[@winnermarcelosc]

@@aasquared8191 well back in the days the Lunar Excursion Vehicle and apollo capsule costed billions because it had a half billion dollar computer plus more millions in space lunar suits and a few more millions on the transfer stage engine, you can get a better and smaller computer that does all the apollo math for a few cents nowadays so i would say that if an identical replica of the LEM was built nowadays it would only cost a few millions

[@aasquared8191]

@@winnermarcelosc why should one build a lem in 2018?

[@caryweaver2871]

Amazing display of what is possible already with what we have now. Falcon Heavy is truly a game changer! I can't wait to see BFR. Fingers crossed!

[@RandomNumber141]

John Doe Sure. But, if the project is funded, it’s more than possible with current technology...

[@xenotriver]

@@RandomNumber141 I mean, they landed there in 1969, so it's more than possible. I think the SpaceX landing should be made close to the Apollo lander

[@Reaching1]

wow 1969 they used one saturn 5.. In 2018you would need 2 falcon heavy, one falcon 9 to do the same job. thats some steps backwards, not forward. Regardless, nice demonstration

[@RandomNumber141]

Reaching1 Being able to do it cheaper and more efficiently is a step forward. Using multiple smaller vehicles instead of one large vehicle does not imply less capability. If anything, it allows larger-scale missions to be planned that would not be possible with just one large vehicle. And let’s not forget that the SpaceX rockets have many other uses besides manned missions that a larger vehicle would be overkill for (satellites, ferrying cargo / humans back and forth to a space station, etc)

[@marrowfilms6187]

@@Reaching1 1.1 billion dollars (2016) for the Saturn 5 per launch Vs 242 million for the space x for all 3 launches together. So you got 768 million dollars for everything else... Est 500 million additional for everything else (over kill) and boom your still got 268 million kicking around In all its massively cheaper and more efficient.

[@alexanderthehunter7435]

FH central core crash Elon: *sniff* it worked in ksp!

[@Brixxter]

Fingers crossed for tonight!

[@moth4256]

finally worked in real life AND they recovered the fairing too

[@redactedagentdataexpunged9431]

@@moth4256 yeah. #FalconHeavy

[@Hi-do6fo]

moth kinda just kinda.

[@kyle.saikiulee7431]

the 6 words you never say at NASA

[@MarcusHouse]

Siiiiick! Smooth as silk mate.

[@aasquared8191]

@@commandercloud1684 yeah no shit

[@graham7402]

Yes

[@Kornelius.1228]

Hey I love your space X vids

[@hccphysics]

We could make it completely reusable

[@KapybaraKSP]

aasquared he was doing his intro you *uncultured* swine

[@user-vb9jj6vb2v]

RIP dragon propulsive landing

[@mariog9202]

巨人小 F F F F

[@user-cu7co9pj9e]

It's possible

[@howard5030]

F

[@deniskus6856]

F

[@WhoisVinnie]

F

[@PaulEIvory]

Great choice of music

[@Nae_Ayy]

Really? I found it quite obnoxious.

[@stanislavzoldak2198]

I did not like the first one, because I find all these "epic" pieces to be really cheap and cheesy, however the Rocket Man was a great choice IMO. The whole video was spectacular regardless the music though. :) Superb editing.

[@wildgurgs3614]

I liked Rocket Man for the moon part too!

[@AvoxionYT]

I loved both. I love songs that make you imagine and inspire.

[@cooldloop2381]

The songs make sense because of there names, first being “two steps from hell / victory” and then “rocket man”

[@kerbonautics5217]

Wow. I am completely speechless. Wow. Let's raise our juice boxes to Nessus for that amazing gameplay.

[@spacecoyote7706]

Kerbonautics I’ll raise mine

[@midodan1254]

I'll raise my bepis

[@fredboi5519]

Lol raise our juice boxes. Love it! *raises my water instead*

[@cloverdove]

Juice box raised

[@dudeman4514]

**raises water**

[@Oligar]

Elon Musk wants to: Know your location.

[@granzt28]

I am here!

[@richard--s]

Moon.

[@ikryxxdev4756]

Why tho

[@justtill4902]

i'm dancing on Kepler 1649c

[@richard--s]

@@justtill4902 looks great!

[@gregorysiebers3721]

Beautiful cinematography. Love it... The music choice too stunning.... Real time and thought put into this thank you and keep streaming brother

[@nktslp3650]

OK dude. Not only your performance as a rocket guy is amazing, but it is also one of the best editing i've seen in a while. Great choice of music as well. YOU DESERVE BETTER! See you around!

[@King0Random]

is there life on mars is better in my opinion

[@brawlgaming4612]

@@King0Random oh!that's from atlis pro I believe?I love his channel and content

[@dankdachshund]

the fact that they're autonomous is extremely impressive to me surprised less people are talking about that

[@XpertPilotFSX]

This is a really cool concept for a moon mission. The reusability and use of transfer stages and things like that would make this a lot cheaper that a saturn five. Great work!

[@hccphysics]

I think we can use a completely reusable transfer stage

[@Joao-ur7ey]

Yeah, and for some reason Nasa is ignoring this technology on the Artemis project...

[@_apsis]

⁠​⁠@@Joao-ur7eystarship is as-of-now unproven and the only launcher planned to be capable of matching the sls in what it can lift to orbit and they’re not even ignoring this technology, their primary lunar lander is going to be a variant of starship i have a feeling if starship becomes proven technology launches will transition to using it like nasa is currently doing with launches on falcon rockets

[@adamsundelin]

Her: lives on the moon Also her: my parents aren’t home Me: 0:30

[@SpaceTalk-Aero]

Hilarious

[@anzio_52]

no

[@farragutclassdestroyer3129]

no

[@anzio_52]

no

[@ClearlyNOTaFedandNOTatiktoker]

@@SpaceTalk-Aero u don't realise something

[@JeffNotes]

Mann rocket man is such a great idea for the music of this whole travel! I hope they play it when SpaceX goes to the moon 🌒! Awesome work! =)

[@michahermann7869]

Wow that was really impressive. Nice idea, good rocket design, great execution through well programmed KOS and attention to detail (lite up 3 engines for landing) although I don't think spaceX uses dropping nozzle extensions I think it's a great idea (didn't know there's a mod that includes them), also great camera work and editing (I hope you don't get in trouble for the music you used). Subbed

[@NessusKSP]

Yep, what Lexi said, I just can't monetize the video. I'm happy you liked the video, the engine with the extending nozzle is from one of the Realism Overhaul mods (SSTU I think...) and it's supposed to be the RL10B-2 which is actually used today on the upper stages of the Delta IV rocket, including the extending nozzle.

[@user-qu8mc3xe2n]

@@NessusKSP ววสสสสาพำำำำำำำำนนนนนนน

[@ericbaker8807]

The attention to detail in this is pretty impressive. You even had the reaction thrusters in order to ensure vacuum stage startup. Never would’ve expected you to include that until I saw it lol nice job

[@technocracy90]

That's a standard thing if you play Realism Overhaul: you have to settle down fuels to ignite the engines.

[@zaptheking3942]

Watching the rockets land on the target was just as satisfying as watching them live

[@komitadjie]

That is EXCEEDINGLY well done, perfect cutting to the music, too, and excellent choice of songs.

[@sriramradhakrishna878]

It's 2020, I've watched this video beginning to end at least 5 times and still enjoy it for some reason

[@Seany-pp8zp]

This is by far THE BEST KSP VIDEO I HAVE EVER SEEN! Keep up the great work Nessus! Ur a star!🤩

[@lolskigaming8627]

This is a challenge to elon musk

[@brawlgaming4612]

Nah

[@danielxplay2211]

The guy that laughed at a dead deer

[@connieshoes9564]

@@danielxplay2211 "why my dolphin not working lmao"

[@hippityhoppityabolishpriva5916]

No its a task

[@blackshadow0620]

Elon musk is not going to do that (not with these rockets) because there is Starship design that is going to be better solution

[@vanleeuwenlevi]

Indeed it is awesome to see what the Falcons are capable of doing. And, you did quite an amazing job at launching, designing and capturing the missions! Great to see these great video's about space.

[@shayanirenberg3294]

Listening to rocket man sent the same chills through me that I watched star man in the Tesla

[@cmdrterrorfirma4244]

Cool simulation !!! Interesting that they could do this if they wanted to.

[@spacious3544]

It's not a simulation it's a game

[@OPservatorV2]

@@spacious3544 actually, KSP is space-flight simulator, so.. :P

[@spacious3544]

@@OPservatorV2 There's a difference between a simulator game and a simulation

[@dt2419]

Spacious354 it’s a game with some slight realism

[@cdw2468]

This is done in RO, so real solar system with real physics, life support, etc. It’s a lot closer to reality than stock ksp

[@spacecoyote7706]

THANK YOU FOR USING ROCKET MAN

[@tranquilityoverload2947]

Same!

[@wiblo6073]

𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗜𝗦 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗔𝗣𝗦 𝗔𝗛𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗛𝗔𝗛𝗛𝗛𝗛𝗛𝗛𝗛𝗛𝗛𝗛𝗛𝗛𝗛𝗛

[@unhommequicourt]

* I DON T UNDERSTAND, OF COURSE HE USED ROCKET WHAT ELSE COULD SEND A SPACESHIP? *

[@laykenhinch7804]

Starman would have been good aswell

[@starfishif9103]

@@wiblo6073 *AAAAAAAHHHHHHAHHAHAH*

[@limitlesssfs4392]

All the hard work you put into this makes me go: *yes*

[@carltonblend]

This is my kind of art. Well done Nessus, perfect execution.

[@mrsnowman2163]

I love how the booster are able to “glide” when landing

[@lipo8426]

Even a brick thrown fast enough can generate some lift, as some wisemen said.

[@bobby1081]

Great display of how you landed the boosters on the sides and wondering on the moon I tried to do that in Kerbal Space Program when I crashed

[@pinkylolo1768]

Im litterally like HOW IS THIS SO GOOD cause its good and realistic but idk why its good

[@WhoisVinnie]

6:34 I think the Kerbal likes the song!

[@MarcusHouse]

Still amazing. :P

[@simonpugh7549]

Marcus House k

[@Zulfa1065]

Still amazing. :P

[@joolfive]

Marcus House Fancy seeing you here after all this time.

[@frozetti434]

Love the song, thank you for putting it in the description

[@dkadayinthailand3082]

This was really nice. Kept me watching until the end. I will try to build my own.

[@rowlsskan9495]

I love when the space ships are landing perfectly.

[@rowlsskan9495]

@Jebediah Kerman Oh. Boosters....

[@switch_lp1386]

I am impressed !!! And the music!

[@ScorchedWT]

Wow i watched this video many many times over again but it is still epic and you deserve way more subs

[@bru6104]

Verry awesome good job landing all the boosters pinpoint directly at their prospective landing zones

[@DrKnow-ye6rv]

SpaceX has already cancelled the red dragon and just about everything else not BFR. This is causing a lot of friction with NASA, who are not BFR believers yet.

[@phoenixrising4573]

Dr. Know they canceled it because NASA refuses to support it. They've dug in about SLS, so no real reason to jump through the hoops for man rating on heavy. I'm sure if you want to fund it, they'd be happy to put this mission together for you.

[@DrKnow-ye6rv]

+kyndal anne red dragon was not being done for NASA. That was an internal SpaceX concept. BFR just made it redundant.

[@halnineooo136]

BFR is a direct competitor (a direct insult I may say) to SLS. NASA will not fund both.

[@that_llama_in_a_tuxedo4584]

Also because Falcon Heavy won't be human rated. Falcon 9 can do majority of Falcon heavy missions in expendable mode which they have a plethora of unneeded Non-block 5 Falcon 9's laying around. Falcon 9 will take Commercial Crew and BFR will take the moon and Mars operations since BFR is already in construction and so will probably be launched within the next 5-7 years making it not worth the trouble of human rating the Falcon Heavy if they will have Falcon 9 Block 5 human rated once they have 6 more successful launches with no major design changes.

[@Chosenone10356]

BFR is just powerpoint slide.

[@nobodyneedstoknow.7308]

9:54 *when u forget to pack parachute*

[@marrakesh_3589]

Space x is allergic to parachutes

[@nobodyneedstoknow.7308]

@@marrakesh_3589 tell that to the dragon capsule

[@MatttyBfr]

Wow... I have no words... *You are sooo skilled*

[@soontobesopwith_production4705]

This left me in awe In other words AMAZING!!!!

[@blackkissi]

Awesome! Well done! The only thing that could have made this video better is if Mr.Steaven was involved

[@tristunalekzander5608]

I had an existential moment at the end there.

[@puffsthepenguin]

The music makes it 10 times better! Rocket Man was perfect.

[@woistwalter7037]

Earthrise at 7:20 was beatiful.

[@MattJohno2]

You earn a like for using one of my favourite soundtracks. Nice work.

[@karlthemel2678]

A three-launch Apollo mission! The cryogenic TLI-stage is the missing BFR-Superheavy´s upper stage for interplanetary missions.

[@annikajohnson5086]

This was perfectly set up! This is awesome

[@TheOneWhoMightBe]

Nice! I can't imagine the amount of time put into this.

[@KnedlikMCPE]

10 min vid... This must have took at least 3 hours editing... Nice work mate!

[@theambergryphon4266]

Way more than 3 hours.

[@jjgarza70]

2 week at least

[@justvibemusic8556]

3 hours ahah i think he wished that, smthing like this take 10s of hours

[@elvyn4731]

3 years later, I'm still wondering how anyone can dislike this video.

[@seantaggart7382]

I'd do a fanchen but nah

[@EmilioGameair]

I think that one of the dislikes is from jeff bezos

[@jobenco2751]

This was the video that made me play KSP myself. I Love it!

[@RedBlueGamez]

Wow amazing Job landing the stages and landing on the moon wonderful video!

[@universallogoeditor6113]

The Mars Rovers 2020 mission with the FH, it's very interesting.

[@dinowitho4289]

0:30 :O what shake

[@pricelessppp]

Great video exactly how I pictured a Falcon moon mission!

[@flappy3317]

Love it btw can't stop watching this vid tbh the landing is very dope

[@nathan_w9236]

The addition of Elton John's "Rocket Man" made this video go from a cool little KSP showcase to a work of art.

[@Freak80MC]

What, no fairing recovery either?! /s Seriously though this was amazing to watch!

[@floo1465]

Ryan Chen _sarcasm_

[@bigmac3373]

SpaceX never recover the fairing

[@natend741]

@@bigmac3373 they do

[@alanmaclaren4118]

@@bigmac3373 they did though.

[@raegquet5839]

Here I was happy with myself when my rocket returned without exploding... Incredible video :)

[@craigrmeyer]

This helps me appreciate and root for the Superheavy/Starship scheme. To be able to do all of this, but with only two different (allegedly) reusable machines - albeit a great many of them plus a lake full of liquid methane and LOx - sure would change the game.

[@diegoperez8386]

I love it 8:06

[@captainpoopyshoes2023]

Just curious: would they use the Dragon Crew for that transfer stage? I guess this is all theoretical and they'll probably want to send the Starliner there first, but we'll see!

[@44R0Ndin]

The capsule they used didn't bear much in common with Dragon 2 (the crewed version), especially because it did a propulsive landing, and only had 3 SuperDracos (or twin clusters of superdracos) when a normal Dragon 2 capsule has 8 of them (in 4 clusters of 2 each). Put another way, something tells me that that capsule was significantly different from a Dragon 2, especially because it has a service module with an engine, instead of Dragon 2's mostly hollow Trunk. Not saying they couldn't make a service module for Dragon 2, but the thing is that Dragon 2 is special because it brings back most of the service module, because all the functions that the service module usually has are instead located in the capsule itself (except for the solar panels and radiators, which are located on the trunk). Now, if they DID make a service module for Dragon 2, the main thing I think it would be composed of is just extra fuel tanks for the existing capsule's RCS thrusters and SuperDracos, along with maybe some extra life support consumables (water, oxygen, that kind of thing). That's because that's all there is to add to the existing capsule to extend its mission duration, it already has solar panels so power's not a problem, and it already has a full complement of RCS thrusters for moving around in orbit (and no, it doesn't use the SuperDracos in orbit, to raise its orbit it actually faces blunt-end-first (aka retrograde) and uses the 4 retrograde-pointing Draco RCS thrusters in the nose (they're located under the hinged nose cone, near the docking port).

[@guy.like.me1]

This is the most beautiful thing in my life it almost made me cry

[@harveywest8861]

100% the best ksp video of all time. I love it

[@_sadnight_]

THIS VIDEO DESERVES A LIKE!!!!!!!!!

[@DayMow1]

I feel like a nerd when I watch this while I still figuring out how to leave the atmosphere...

[@truth12340]

dont worry u will get there

[@artandstuff9026]

This is the only person who can say that something isn't rocket science. When asked how he knows, he shows this video.

[@astrionix7140]

Ooh! I like your choice of Rocket Man for the music

[@quinnodonnell577]

If you expend the center core and recover the side boosters at sea, you can get 57 metric tons into LEO

[@dubsy1026]

Good luck recovering 2 boosters with one ship. They'll need to build another to do that.

[@phoen-gr7914]

Why not to use 4 boosters?

[@kspsuchti5673]

Dubsy 102 They do have two. „Of Course I still love you“ and „Just read the Instructions“

[@MobinMGreen]

In reality, this mission would cost less than a billion dollar. Elon Musk actually has the money to self fund this.

[@stanislavzoldak2198]

If Elon was doing it, you could dismiss the margins, so the cost would be much less than that :) The most expensive part would probably be the lander R&D.

[@reb7373]

I think it would cost more than that, since the development of the modules are expensive, but I get you.

[@mandives356]

Man that MUSIC!!! Is so BEAUTIFUL ❤️ 😍

[@Obi_Wan_Kenobi_027]

Victory and Rocket Man, two of my favorite songs

[@jaymea4553]

3:17 is super amazing

[@dwhaviation8541]

if you want to know what the song name is? its two steps from hell -victory

[@ulrich976]

i think in this case it's called two steps from heaven ;P

[@dwhaviation8541]

its from victory me friend says its from victory so it is

[@bigmart932]

@@dwhaviation8541 it was a joke lmao

[@_-ALASKA-_]

I love how you added the dog leg! Great video!

[@KIDO78150]

little push with rcs before the engine start. amazing

[@Euer_Hochwuergen]

Awesome! Would you like to share the KOS Scripts? :)

[@e46matt7]

2:37 - actual footage of Space X actually landing a Falcon 9 Heavy core booster correctly

[@jupiterismyhome626]

It's only Falcon Heavy, not Falcon 9 Heavy

[@goldgamercommenting2990]

@@jupiterismyhome626they are technically falcon 9s Sooooo Rocket nerds….

[@donogoobo9992]

VERY nicely done! May you find the Ringworld one day.

[@joebutin698]

Nice touch with the flag. Two-headed monster. Thanks, Pierson.

[@bobbert516]

Reusable space x rocket *leaves lunar module base and lunar module behind*

[@theenjeneer2493]

ELverdaderoOVALAO it’s the rocket that’s reusable not the craft

[@Loke101]

Should have missed the droneship for the sake of realism

[@mannydib]

3 years later still loving this video!

[@o-manthehuman7867]

Why is this such a good video I have watched it like 20 times

[@remaromay2595]

how much this game cost?

[@sandroantadze]

20 dollars

[@albertthorval4674]

actually it's now 40 but I just found it for 10 on instant-gaming

[@tim19962]

u only realy need 2 the falcon heavy can trow the capsule to the moon

[@ThomasKwa]

Falcon Heavy isn't human-certified.

[@tim19962]

ow yea tru forgot about that ......

[@stanislavzoldak2198]

Falcon 9 might be human certified in future, but will it be Kerbal certified? :O

[@cdjurfitbghynkmv7787]

*coughs west virginia *coughs

[@agtshaw]

@@ValentineC137 that could be taken the wrong way... at least in the USA

[@ladansemacabre6590]

Most smooth falcon heavy and falcon 9 this game ever!!!! +Very smooth kos scirpts

[@spaceprintsbyalex9703]

Beautiful Work. Amazing

[@dwhaviation8541]

that is first song

[@XavierBetoN]

IDN:( SOMEBODY?

[@XavierBetoN]

Love the opera vocal,, Seriously I ll make morning alarm sound if i find what song is this

[@GComas-jn2yc]

Look 👀 at 9:03 , these Astronauts look 👀 like they are scared 😱 of something. Lol 😆

[@santigabrielkalaw5055]

Nessus i love the music of the spaceX falcon heavy the only thing i dont know about it is that i dont know the name of the music but i lovee this video and the music of course keep up good work!:) the music of the falcon heavy was so good:)i subscribed and hit the notifications on:)

[@aasquared8191]

Level of production is awesome. Looking forward.

[@mavis0819]

is elon musk happy

[@Usa12333]

I think

[@kimtaehyung7390]

That background music was perfect

[@jetgamer5386]

truly ground breaking... Surprisingly inspirational

[@sugar_HH]

OMG you are so good at landing the boosters.

[@TheSavageProdigy]

Dude that was so EPIC!!

[@xboxFiNeSt]

Great video dude look forward to more!