One Giant Leap: If History Had Gone Differently - Kerbal Space Program (RSS/RO)

[@chrishunter7065]

Honestly, this made me a little sad. it was a beautiful video that visually displayed one of the biggest losses with post-apollo NASA. When Nixon cancelled Apollo and approved the Shuttle we lost decades of progress in space. Combining a launch escapeless manned vehicle with a payload on top of lifting body design was a compromised disaster waiting to happen that had no clear goal in mind other than making money. Once we had our first shuttle disaster it had absolutely no chance of returning its investment because no company wanted to risk human lives to launch a satellite that an expendable rocket could do much more economically and safely. I understand a mission to Mars would be risky and may result in a dead astronaut, but I can imagine the national response would be much less traumatic to lose a couple people on Mars than a dozen people in our atmosphere from the shuttle....

[@danielsykesvlogs]

At least Elon Musk is doing something constructive with his money, he's our best chance of getting to Mars

[@alqualonde2998]

Chris Hunter My personal unprofessional opinion is that before we took a voyage lasting more than a month in a microgravity environment. It was wise to study it. As for shuttle, it was a disappointment for sure but concept of having a reusable spacecraft was what drive people to root for it... And they looked hella cool.

[@Norkeys]

We wouldn't have known near as much about the solar system if this had taken place, our timeline knows a lot more about the solar system and space in general because we didn't divert the funding from research to a manned mission to Mars.

[@stevebruns1833]

Beautiful video. Agree with Chris Hunter 100%. NASA could have gone down so many other post-Apollo paths that would have been more fruitful. For example, they could have begun exploring truly re-usable vehicles via Dyna-soar or some other smaller-scale program (Big Gemini para-glider!), a *small* truly-reusable shuttle system would have been a gamechanger that could have been incrementally enlarged. Thanks, Pentagon. (It's ironic beyond words that the X37 is one of theirs. That's exactly the kind of vehicle we should have started with.)

[@teknoman117]

Eh, we didn’t so much loose progress as step back and study things of concern. Before the space station, we had no idea of the effects of long duration space travel. They’re awful. Even with the rigorous exercise routines of the astronauts on the ISS, 6 month+ stays result in massive bone and muscle loss, organ damage, eyesight damage, etc. If we went forward with the mission plans laid out by the Apollo Applications Program, it’s entirely possible the crew would be functionally blind by the time they got to Mars. It was only recently that we learned the Martian soil is toxic. I’m not saying we should wait forever, but a two week trip to the moon is a far different risk factor than a two year trip to Mars. I’m glad we studied the effects. But now, knowing what we know, let’s get up and spend the money to address the problems.

[@abrahkadabra9501]

A Mars mission in 1981 would have been a brutal experience for the crew IMO. Spending months in a small room with other crew members only to look forward to months on the return trip. I understand the astronauts are intelligent and highly motivated, resourceful people...but it would been a super difficult mission.

[@Hiperruimteindustriee]

They would all probably (have to) be former navy people, so that they would be used to the cramped spaces.

[@A_GoofyCat]

I agree there is no way the crew spent a year in a seat and only stayed at mars for 2 month the lander can carry more food, water and air to let the crew stay for more but one point it kerbal space program the kerbal don't care but if its real life the crew will get very homesick and stressful

[@HAL-su8uc]

Absolutely BRUTAL!... especially in 19 ANYTHING! I agree with you 100%!

[@mrmucro2704]

No artificial gravity and no protection from cosmic radiation. Poor astronauts.

[@whirlwindeddie2124]

Yea no shoot, plus they’re having problems with their probes as well😂😂😂

[@almondpotato9483]

You had me hooked at "Giant Saturn V with 8 boosters attached to it."

[@og7189]

Je-sus Christ. That power tho

[@log_by_bolb]

AKA *Just put MOAR boosters onto it*

[@stuartyoung4182]

Although I think Saturn V variants proposed by Boeing, which used Titan boosters, maxed-out at 4; I wonder if the Saturn V could have handled 8?! ;-)

[@davidvreugdenhil4557]

Ksp at its finest

[@awsumguy-bh9pz]

poggers

[@JayFolipurba]

If this was a movie, something the audience doesn't understand would have gone totally wrong, multiple people would have died and the thing would have turned into a rescue mission. Oh, and something with potatoes

[@huntersmith4153]

JayFolipurba lol

[@brianarbenz7206]

And they would have argued about whose fault the problem was.

[@Tremor244]

And they would have used a plastic sheet as an airlock

[@genevievebarbeau6430]

This thread is rather obviously about a movie that I don't know of. Could you please name it for me?

[@Wildstar40]

Mark Watney Potato Farms. Bring more ketchup than needed and don't forget the disco music.

[@lhaviland8602]

Would've launched on the same day as Mt. St. Helens blew, what an evening newscast that would've been!

[@donut5818]

Imagine watching a crew launch for Mars but then it gets cut off by news that a fucking volcano erupted.

[@floo1465]

Bagel It’s not like you don’t have at least 6 months to complete this mission, and the news can re-air the original Manned Mars Mission launch. Mt. St. Helens also killed fifty-seven people, I feel like it’s a little more important to talk about that disaster than reporting a Mars launch the day it happens.

[@floo1465]

@Un Softgunner lol yeah i was stupid

[@clarkheredia5058]

@Donut "good think we got off this fucked planet at the last minute"

[@TheSealinBlack]

@@clarkheredia5058 Meanwhile In 2024 when the Artemis crew takes off:

[@jaytjay870]

The cinematography was amazing, obviously you put a lot of time into the video and game play. The usage of mods and visual enchantments are great and you definitely deserve more than 249 subscribers, I mean... 250! :)

[@kevincgustafson]

I really think it was the music that made it - Big shout out to Mortifer V. for the music - kzbin.info/door/VIig7ceMjt7k9vylTsGpiw

[@kieronbrown73]

It was faked like the moon landings

[@williamta9408]

@@kieronbrown73 omg. Ive been saying that for years....

[@jayplexy5983]

@@kieronbrown73 I really don't get if you're joking, but you are smart enough to realise that this is just a game? No one ever landed on mars, however we did land on the moon!

[@cmdrblitzkrieg1012]

@@kieronbrown73 the moon landing was real

[@1moredayof]

This was a very interesting video, however I did have a good laugh when I saw the astronauts.

[@tedwardfox]

In case nobody else has said this, those are typical Kerbal workers. They provide a little comic relief in these simulations.

[@handsomechocolatebar276]

usually green

[@jkenny1]

@@handsomechocolatebar276 just doesn't look quite right as orange/skin colored haha

[@MrCubFan415]

Makes them look like Muppets IMO

[@vaos3712]

This is beautiful! Lots of work went into this. It may not be very realistic but still a great video! :D

[@sashabraus9422]

VAOS found ya! now I'm gonna eat a peanut

[@Nasa742]

VAOS I turn off tac life support and just put my kerbal in a lawn chair on a mission to Pluto and back

[@jm131719]

Agreed. This is beautiful (except for the cartoonish astronauts), but niot very pratical. It would have been advanced Apollo components only.

[@phillipkalaveras1725]

And they will be in a seated position with no room to move for about half a year?

[@TheEventHorizon909]

phillip kalaveras maybe they would use the transfer stage as a wet workshop?? Like clear it and fill it stuff for the crew like Skylab did?

[@phillipkalaveras1725]

I would not have jettisoned the mars launch vehicle. That would be my room for the return. The other guy could have the Gemini

[@kevincgustafson]

There is a lab section where they did the EVA from that has extra space and the Gemini ship is a Big G version, with plenty of additional space. It would be totally possible to use the S-IVB as a wet workshop, but it wouldn't survive the aero-braking at Mars, that's why it detached.

[@phillipkalaveras1725]

Thanks for the info that is a little better than what I thought but I don't see us going to mars until we can create a mini magnetic field or better shielding and a much larger spacecraft that spins creating artificial gravity. Another way of escaping earth without lighting off a bomb would be nice too.

[@TheEventHorizon909]

phillip kalaveras haha. The only reason I would see us using Project Orion would be as an escape ship if Earth was about to be destroyed.

[@fernandochavez4312]

Excellent! Brought back fond memories of my childhood. Watching the moon launches and the returns. And yes, we did go to the moon.

[@jeb156]

It had to have been incredible to watch. So sad people these days think the moon landings were faked and the earth is flat. I'd never once think about believing those moronic theories.

[@JMANGREEN]

my god, this deserves more credit. you read "Humans to mars: Fifty years of mission planning" and used the same lander for mars.

[@grayfox665]

Amazing work, One of, If not the best KSP video's I've seen in a very good while. Great Work!

[@thekornwulf]

Very nice. The Gemini era hardware would have been outdated though, and the lander being pointed retrograde throughout the trans mars burns would have been seriously uncomfortable for the crew. As it is, VERY nice job. You got it done far more economically than Stephen Baxter.

[@stuartyoung4182]

The Big Gemini spacecraft used in this video was proposed, but never produced. Apollo actually pre-dated it. I agree with you that this mission architecture is MUCH less complicated than Stephen Baxter's, and to me is reminiscent of both Zubrin's Mars Direct and NASA's Semi-Direct.

[@hh7426]

Not to mention it appeared to be pointed backwards throughout the LAUNCH too, i can’t imagine how uncomfortable that would’ve been

[@slavaukrainisfs8238]

Also the crew would've been fucked if a launch failure occured. ​@@hh7426

[@Nico1129x]

Aint nobody spending 2 years in a Gemini capsule

[@kevincgustafson]

Its a big G, with much more space - and two years?? - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Gemini

[@colinmerritt7645]

How do you feel such a sense of awe and triumph for a bunch of Kerbals? Well done

[@SubhanKhan-lm9eo]

Some people are taking this too seriously acting like it was exactly what they were going to do like come on man chill give the man some respect for at least posting this amazing video.

[@NarwahlGaming]

Bad Luck Brian Version: "Spend two months on Mars. Crash land in North Korea."

[@IneptOrange]

That's an old, shit, dead meme and you should feel bad for saying it.

[@plant5875]

@@IneptOrange did you just describe yourself m8

[@dividebyfive]

this thread is just a tube of long memes.

[@justsomerandombirdwithinte5896]

IneptOrange no u.

[@Luigipopdrop]

@@IneptOrange shut up meg

[@THEScottCampbell]

Congress, Jimmy Carter, and a hostile mass media killed any real space program as soon as Nixon left office. I remember Tiny Tim defending the space program while Johnny Carson parroted the cliche that "the money should be spent solving problems here on Earth". As Tiny Tim said, "there was poverty in the Middle Ages but it didn't stop them from building the cathedrals we can still appreciate today".

[@jbaltusstuff5908]

I never thought such a simple mechanism could reach Mars. I know it sounds silly to say It is simple but the fact that you could do it in 2 launches amazes me. Amazing video, will share it without a doubt!

[@ScienceRules118]

Okay, I'll admit, the cinematography was great. However, anyone saying this is realistic isn't correct, unfortunately. First off, NASA wouldn't have re-used Gemini hardware for something like this. In 1969, much less 1972, Gemini hardware was considered obsolescent. As such, you would be much more likely to see a modified Apollo CSM with some sort of additional hab module. Also, the crew would have never launched in the MEM, not the least of which because in the video, you showed it as being launched with the MEM pointed retrograde all the way until transfer stage separation. This would have never been okayed by the designers, because every burn until transfer stage sep would have induced pushed the crew towards the "roof" of the MEM, away from their seats. This could result in significant injury or death for the crew. Additionally, you're using cryogenic propellants long after they logically would have boiled off, even in cryogenic tankage. More realistically, you'd have used the S-IVB stages for trans-Martian injection, then switched over to a hypergolic transfer stage for mid-course correction. Also, the MEM wouldn't have done a direct descent from Mars entry, as there wouldn't have been sufficient delta-V on board for that maneuver, even including the lander, unless they were only spending a tiny amount of time on the surface and lacked anything remotely resembling lab space or an equivalent to the Apollo program's ALSEP. Another reason they'd have never launched in the MEM is that there are no provisions for a launch escape system, which would mean that in the event of a launch failure the crew would be unable to save themselves, and would almost certainly die horribly. Please don't assume I hate this video. As I said, the cinematography is great, and it does show that you put a lot of thought into this. However, I tend to nitpick things like this, and I felt that I should leave my feedback on the video.

[@kevincgustafson]

Hey, you aren't wrong. I originally had the crew launch in the Big G and did a LEO rendezvous to transfer. I actually had that included, but thought it took too much time, through with your comment, it may have been worth it! I did very efficient burns to Mars and adjusted with RCS unites on the ships, it was enough to do course corrections in the game, but I agree with you in reality. I'm not sure why the direct descent wouldn't be possible unless they only stayed a little while. If you had the orbit low enough I think you could get sub-sonic and deploy the chutes, so what do you think they needed to do?

[@ScienceRules118]

My knowledge of the MEM suggests that they would have needed to decelerate into a circular, or at least highly eccentric orbit to land, as the MEM was IIRC designed to be carried to Mars by a mothership, similar to how the Apollo Lunar Module was carried to the Moon by the CSM. In the information I found online, there was never any mention of attempting descent prior to making orbit, which leads me to believe that the MEM wasn't designed with that capability. Could it potentially have had that capability with a full fuel load and a good trajectory? Sure, maybe. But the designers would have never taken that risk.

[@dittovlogger8232]

ScienceRules118 how come everybody isn't this smart?

[@ScienceRules118]

IDK.

[@ScienceRules118]

Well said.

[@themartiangamer52]

The whole thing looks go good and you really get pulled into it. Until i heard the KSP staging sound. I was pulled straight out of the simulation.

[@Skyfox94]

I didn't realize how big the lander capsule actually was until the ladders were deployed ... wow... Thanks for the video man, it actually felt somewhat like a documentary to watch - you know those 45 minute "what-if" documentaries. The only thing missing was the voice-over/cut-in-between commentary from experts. This could totally be used for something like that. Also excellent choice of music and obviously fantastic camera work.

[@kilianclasen5521]

Thats a really Kerbal thing. Got most powerful rocket in the world? NEEDS MOAR BOOSTERS!

[@steverabson4049]

Oh my goodness. That was beautifully done. Thank you

[@danielhoven570]

Amazing work on the audio clips. While the hardware is a little inaccurate, amazing video

[@cerealdreamer7577]

We need a Mars Direct video one day, that would be cool

[@srippopolandino6174]

Amazing video man. I'm speechless. Can't even imagine how much work that video needed. You just earned sub

[@teknoman117]

I hate to say (as someone who loves space tech), I’m actually kinda glad they didn’t go to mars in the 80’s. Knowing what we know now, the trip probably would have killed the crew, or at the very least disabled them by the time they got to Mars. The people coming back from 6+ month stays on the ISS are in pretty rough shape. We really should be throwing our efforts at simulating gravity.

[@devikwolf]

Your videos are absolutely beautiful and inspiring, and among the best KSP vids I've seen anywhere. Keep up the good work!

[@kevincgustafson]

Thanks!

[@jessgarcia4100]

No dialogue whatsoever, and it's still better than any sci fi movie made this year.

[@kevincgustafson]

Wow! Thanks Jess! Though there is a little audio at the beginning!

[@jessgarcia4100]

oops, you're right. Still though, the fact that I found this more creative and fresh than anything I saw last year at the movies. Just thinking about making a trip to mars with the tech available in the early 70's. It floors me. What a treat this was to see.

[@offset_2]

Everything about this video is beautiful. The score, the camera work and gameplay. Absolutely sick :O

[@kevincgustafson]

Thanks!

[@jimwestlake4342]

Awesome job again. You nailed it!

[@christianlabanca5377]

simply watching this video and beeing an space exploración fan...I have felt a little sample of that feels that a person there would feel

[@yassm]

Literally speechless. Amazing man, very good job 💪 😍

[@6011508]

A delghtful visual experience Thank you and the team

[@jacobmulhearn1079]

Amazing man! Great work love it!

[@B0aws]

Thank you for making this, it was realy cool

[@kevincgustafson]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@AmusedWalrus]

Amazing video man, definitely the most cinematic KSP video I ever saw

[@adzaaahhh]

A wonderfully made video, with great attention to detail (although not sure on the Simpson-like characters?!) Truly awe-inspiring to think that the technology to achieve this was essentially already available - with a bit of tweaking - some 50 years ago. It's high time we made this happen - and I'd quite like to see it before I cark it!

[@hariotic4017]

It's KSP, thats why they look like the Simpsons

[@NeroXV]

this was very impressive. nice work!

[@JMgamerZzz]

Great usage of mods and visual effects!

[@frankmarburger6587]

One giant leap awesome video especially the end when you traveled from Mars to the Earth in a Space Capsule crew will be going nuts impossible can't live in a capsule

[@phil3895]

Two saturn V launches in 3 days ? Nah, doesn't sounds realistic enough, knowing NASA's ability for always being accurate in time :x Btw, great video ! Keep goin'

[@lyricaltraveller]

What a great video. Really makes you wonder about what could have been. Only one critic though. In the video, you have the crew going toward the sun to go to Mars and away from the sun heading home.

[@hokutoulrik7345]

Orbital mechanics and transfer windows. Burn has to start at a specific point to raise the apoapsis (the highest point of the orbit) to the correct position to allow for escape velocity and to set them on the proper course.

[@b0skabouter]

very nicely done. great shots.

[@maroon5man]

Amazing video!

[@Sootaroot]

This is superb. It reminds me of Stephen Baxter's Voyage in many respects. Natalie, the astronaut who takes the first steps, says it all: "I'm home!"

[@donsylvester2372]

Thanks for watching? Thanks for making this. A thousand times thank you.

[@TsukasaOshiGW]

Imagine living in Gemini capsule for more than a year, it must've been a terrifying experience

[@kevincgustafson]

Sure would be, good thing it is a Big G, with significant more room.

[@TsukasaOshiGW]

@@kevincgustafson Well, uh sorry, my bad, i thought that was just a small gemini. Now i have figured out that it was actually a Big Gemini

[@Sparble]

Awesome Video + soundtrack

[@littlemrpinkness295]

Awe-inspiring! This was incredibly beautiful. I cried. That said, we sure did leave a lot of garbage behind at every stage. I guess that is the price we pay for progress.

[@LarryH54]

No, it's the price we pay for allowing Banksters to control us all. We could have personal flying saucers by now without them.

[@MrBmnmtfk]

Absolutely stunning video!

[@Nottsboy24]

Really enjoyed watching this but the return vehicle was an Apollo capsule and not Gemini if the mission had gone ahead. Also the proposed plan at the time was to land the return vehicle 9 months before the actual landing with another return vehicle in Mars orbit for backup. Both return vehicles had the ability to land in case the primary vehicle had any issues ☺

[@mirozen_]

Nice video. (But if you make another one please consider making the parachute(s) used for reentry MUCH bigger. I kept waiting to see the primary chutes deploy!) Again, good looking video!

[@MatterBeamTSF]

Excellent work!

[@conkick8966]

I absolutely adored your video and loved the cinematography. However I do have a small bit of criticism nothing really just a personal pet peeve, when there are scenes outside of the interior vehicle muting the sound may add to the effect of it being in space. Again a personal pet peeve and a small criticism however i still did absolutely love all the effort and heart i saw in this video and i think it is a wonderful creation.

[@kevincgustafson]

I hear you...that is good advice.

[@2150dalek]

I think it would've been suicide to attempt this in 1980. NASA still has like a 60% success rate landing probes on Mars.

[@stepankotek]

I love this video, keep up!

[@pictobloxer5412]

13:58 gosh it looks like we are really the aliens since the lander is like a ufo

[@AvielMenter]

How are you doing mid-transfer corrections with cryogenic propellants?

[@kevincgustafson]

I did very efficient burns to Mars and adjusted with RCS units on the ships, it was enough to do course corrections in the game, but I agree with you in reality, it would need to be hyperbolic or something else.

[@williamgreene4834]

@@kevincgustafson Hypergolic.

[@kevincgustafson]

@@williamgreene4834 true, damn auto correct

[@williamgreene4834]

@@kevincgustafson I know, when I typed it, it said it was wrong but gave me no suggestions that made sense. All these new fangled ( also apparently not a word) tech words. :)

[@askhowiknow5527]

Imagine being the first man on mars and having been in a zero g environment for 2 years - you couldn’t walk when you step out

[@daveday5507]

According to some accounts, man was already on Mars.

[@LarryH54]

@John Peel Possible. There are numerous nuclear detonation sites in the earth's archaeological record.

[@robertm.7441]

thats a fuckin pain to sit facing the engines, with you back facing space

[@toffeesky6227]

Great video! Would you mind telling me the name of the song / music that starts at about 16:50? Thanks

[@legokid-_-6902]

Darude- Sandstorm

[@toffeesky6227]

@@legokid-_-6902 Eurasia by nordwise actually

[@joannawie]

I think it would be more simple (and reasonable) to deliver large fuel cannisters to the Mars orbit instead of whole new crew module. It would, in effect, ensure bigger internal space for the crew, which (even in a, so called, big Gemini) would be for such a long (!) flight crucial.

[@GWGuitarStudio]

Great job.I can’t imagine being cooped up, even in the larger Big Gemini capsule for months. I don’t see how those guys managed two weeks in LEO missions.

[@jbyoung100]

Riding a Gemini from Mars all the way back to Earth must really suck.

[@tidespath2240]

A favorite but sad joke in our Family is that what if in the future we get good at space travel (to more likely far distant Stars ) but then unfortunately have to only pass by those still in route because we are unable to dock and pick them up as we go on by.

[@tidespath2240]

Like passing them on the sidewalk. Sorry guys were going to Fast !!!

[@nickfelten5068]

where do you have this baloon-like parachute from?

[@stuartyoung4182]

It's called a ballute.

[@dogmaticpyrrhonist543]

The NAR MEM mod where he got the Mars excursion module

[@matthewblack7206]

Many Saturn V redesigns were briefly considered. But with 4x Titan strap-ons, not 8. The Saturn V S-1C first stage would have needed a fair bit of redesign to handle the torque, twisting and compression loads of more than 8 million pounds of solid booster thrust. That would have made the S-1C really heavy. Would have been easier to use the already-tested F-1A engines, stretch the first stage fuel tanks, and stick to 'only' 4x Titan solids. The S-2 upper stage could use the newer, more powerful J-2S engines as would the S-IVB upper stage. In fact: a new upper stage could have been designed that would have matched the width of the S2; used 2x J-2S and had a lot more propellants - and it would have been no longer than the older S-IVB stage. Such a described booster would get 200 metric tons into low Earth orbit, or shoot 70+tons directly at Mars. This booster design *WAS* considered. Check out Mark Wade's Astronautix.com: www.astronautix.com/s/saturnv.html I know you wanted a single-shot Mars launch. But 2x launches of the booster I described would still get you the Mars mission with minimal rendezvous and docking maneuvers in Earth orbit before departure. And the launch vehicle would use a lot less time and money being redesigned...

[@MrPLC999]

If going to the moon was like strolling across town on a sunny spring afternoon, getting to Mars would be like hiking to the North Pole in the middle of winter.

[@Emdee5632]

This reminds me very much of the alternate history / parallel reality science fiction novel "Voyage" by Stephen Baxter, in which the first human landing on Mars happens in the mid 1980s.

[@foreveraseahawk7506]

Beautiful. And extremely realistic.

[@kevincgustafson]

Thanks!

[@technocracy90]

Not realistic at all, sad to say.

[@pedrovicnt_]

yea,mem pointing downwards will certainly explode your rocket in ksp

[@pedrovicnt_]

specially in probe cores that you cant know where it is pointing without the navball

[@stuartyoung4182]

Fascinating! IMHO, the MEM and Big G conceptual spacecraft were plenty roomy for outbound and return Mars transits, respectively, for small crews. There was a Big G variant with enough Delta V for Moon landing and return - so perhaps the same vehicle, aerobraked into Mars orbit, would have been capable of the trans-Earth burn. The actual Big G was designed for rear-docking - but perhaps a front docking hatch was possible, too. I do believe that NASA would have insisted on the MEM be launched upright, if the crew was meant to be aboard during the ascent - otherwise, eyeballs-out, you know... ;-)

[@stuartyoung4182]

The more I look at this, the more I think this architecture may have been viable. The Big G passenger compartment was designed to carry a maximum of 10 passengers - so with a crew of 4, each with their personal "cabin" (as with the current ISS), with consumables, water tankage, etc. arranged around the periphery of the compartment to absorb radiation, and a hypergolic propulsion module, the Big G may have been a practical Earth Return Vehicle to loiter in Mars orbit, as with the so-called "Mars Semi-Direct" architecture NASA proposed as its alternative to Robert Zubrin's "Mars Direct" plan. IMHO, the Big G Mars payload could be lightened by deleting the forward docking collar (just have the astros do an external EVA from the MEM ascent module to the twin external hatches of the Big G passenger compartment), and deleting the launch escape tower (not needed; the astros are riding to Mars in the MEM). Another possibility: perhaps have the S-IVB/MEM spin-up end-over-end after trans-Mars-injection, with solar panels facing the sun flat-on, to simulate Mars gravity via centrifugal force. There would be no room for that in the Big G on the return flight - but ISS astronauts endure 6 months of microgravity all the time. Accordingly, I would recommend that this architecture be used for Earth-Mars conjunction launch windows.

[@stuartyoung4182]

...plus, if the ascent stage of the MEM was meant as a launch escape craft in case of abort during the launch from Earth, it would need to be upright. ;-)

[@volta1337]

It is shock to see a 100 meters tall rocket returns in just a capsule.

[@Slikx666]

I'm not sure how long it took to make this video, but I love.

[@crustyplunger8738]

Slikx666 Why does your profile pic have to exist

[@Slikx666]

Crusty Plunger Because Donald Trump.

[@crustyplunger8738]

Slikx666 👌

[@nicholaschavez5120]

Very well done! :D

[@shakedlw3394]

the rendering is great!

[@karldean2]

Fascinating to watch but far fetched. I can't imagine travelling from Mars to the Earth in something the size of a Gemini capsule. That said, Nixon should have started a Mars mission rather than pursue the space shuttle. Thanks for bringing this study to light.

[@kevincgustafson]

Just for clarification the Gemini based capsule is a Big Gemini - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Gemini

[@andrewcharles459]

Well that's the coolest lander I've ever seen.

[@Aj61406]

This would've been the biggest thing since Apollo 11

[@tokus64]

KSP. The most awesome simulator ever.

[@charliecaco8002]

25 minutes and 02 seconds and I didn't even blinked!!

[@alexanderkuhn2298]

I was expecting something closer to Werner Von Braun's 1981 mission concept with the 2 radially mounted nuclear "shuttles" (basically if the third stage of a Saturn 5 was equipped with a nuclear thermal rocket) for the Mars transfer burn. However this design relied on a plan for other technologies that ultimately lost funding before the Apollo program ended. Your mission was very creative, using the tech available then. Would have been horrible for the astronauts but certainly feasible. I'm in the process of building a stock version of Werner's 1982 Mars landing concept, which you can find online. I am thinking of not making it a manned landing however, his lander design looked a bit premature and relied on the data available at the time in 1969

[@craigrmeyer]

Needs more space for the return trip, and that MEM is pretty iffy you have to agree. Consider: To get more mass out there, I’m still stuck on the idea of chaining together multiple third stages, like attaching them in earth orbit with tinker toys and extension cords or something, and then spending them one at a time. One could stage-separate with the same socket wrench. What’s the rush. (How one animates Kerbals assembling/disassembling a rocket-train of Saturn 5 stage 3’s with tinker toys and socket wrenches I have no idea.)

[@rodg011]

this was actual footage from the mission,they found the return capsule 2 years later will all dead on board. door was stuck shut

[@maxwestern6903]

At 13:20 I was like , ahh yeah here we go ... there goes the parachute aaaannd ... WTF is that

[@kevincgustafson]

The Ballute!

[@fishsquishguy1833]

Was going great until Lego Marty Feldman stepped out Jk great vid! Really well done!

[@frenchfriar]

yeah, the weird little astronauts sort of lost the vibe for a second.

[@1kittybob]

May I add something ladies and gentlemen? I believe that the return vehicle should be on or at Mars months before the crew is sent. ( Preferably on Mars )This to ensure that it arrives safely and all components on the craft are in working order. But that's just how I feel about it. And I don't think NASA is going to listen me anytime soon. LOL By the way..And I think you'll get a big kick out of this.. Now please understand just because I've worked at the Manned Spacecraft Center doesn't mean I am knowledgeable on the subject. I've lived near there since my father retired from the NAVY in 1969 and went to work as a manager for the NASA T-38 aircraft at Ellington. I am a retired sheet metal worker and worked on what we call the new Mission Control Center when it was built in the early 90s. Here's the fun part. You know those egg crate looking fluorescent light covers for the lights? LOL They spent $600 each for those. Our tax dollars at work. LOL Rumor was there were two control rooms. The other for Reagan's Star Wars. I never saw it. They did tell me that they wouldn't use the control room for 5 years because that was how long a battery would last in a bugging device. But that doesn't mean a thing. They will tell you anything. And I don't remember when they first used the new control room.

[@tomsmith2794]

BS!!!!....if you were on the program what was your clearance level and color of your pass?....

[@tomsmith2794]

Big lie.....Wait 5 years!!! All control rooms of this category had "Faraday" enclosures (you should know what that is) which prevented any types of clandestine devises that were not hard wired from working . All wiring was routed through portals and monitored.

[@topsecret1837]

Question: would it have been better to use the Apollo CSM for the return instead of big G? What made the latter a better option than the former for deep interplanetary space?

[@CheesyMez]

big g had room for 7 people, apollo had room for 3, i just assume it is a more spacious capsule, but this mission plan is quite unrealistic anyway.

[@craigrmeyer]

Did anyone ever suggest chaining 2+ third stages together in earth orbit - like with a socket wrench and erector set - and then spending the day shooting them off one after another, perhaps stage-separating with the same socket wrench? If it were me I’d just stay in my EVA suit, ride it through the burns like the Lone Ranger, then go back to detach each spent stage when it was done. The idea would be to somehow arrive at Mars with enough unused hypergolic to keep your habitat module and then push it back to earth. One would have to somehow heat-shield the big thing to aero-capture it into a parking orbit. Ouch. Perhaps could stash heat shield segments - like pie pieces - in an inter-stage ring and then get them out when the time came. Hm. One thing I know is that with a mission this long, there’s plenty of time to assemble/disassemble stuff by hand. Might as well use it.

[@nursesteve2004]

the vehicle would have to be much larger to accomodate all the consumeables, plus there would have to be some way of simulating gravity. It's already been shown that humans lose bone mass and muscle tone in zero-G over long periods in time. Without any means to simulate gravity, by the time they came back they would have no bones left. Also what contingency plan would be available to abort in the middle of the mission if there was a problem with the ship, like a micrometeor strike, or a major system failure?

[@LarryH54]

They can always send out a TR3B rescue craft...

[@rickyvarona848]

very cool video!!!

[@micaiaskauss]

Great work

[@jbaltusstuff5908]

Sorry for the dumb question but whats the first song name?

[@donogoobo9992]

They could have sent the first manned craft (basically another SkyLab) with a lander on a Mars injection orbit. A week later sent a second, unmanned identical craft, also with a lander (for just in case) to a polar Martian orbit. When they were ready to leave, they had their lander plus another lander by radio control in case of a problem. They needed to dock the two big craft in orbit, transfer all remaining fuel out of the old used craft, leave the two landers and old craft in a stable orbit for later missions. Return in the new craft with plenty of fuel, a clean interior and maybe not kill each other on the return trip..LOL.

[@tski3458]

poor MEM. OutstandingShould be a Academy Award for this

[@jmstudios457]

I'm just thinking how they get 2 gigantic rockets stacked, rolled out and loaded in 3 days.

[@jacko4932]

2 launchpads

[@sarahjanereeve]

Nicely done. Fanciful, I think (there was a proposed Venus flyby but I’ve never heard of anything like this), but still interesting. 😊

[@craigrmeyer]

The idea of solid boosters on a Saturn 5 is fantastic. Was that really considered back then? I wonder why they didn’t include them on Saturn 5 or Nova?