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ES-15 ICARUS

ES-15 ICARUS (European Spacecraft model 15, Intra-Corona Activities Research - Understanding Sun) is a ion-powered probe with sophisticated thermal protection design. Its mission is to perform dangerously close solar fly-by and gather precious data from space near the Sun and its outer corona.

Click here for version with launch vehicle and detailed mission instructions. This page is mainly about the spacecraft itself.

Pure stock, no mods or DLCs. 50 parts, root part is the QBE core.

- Stylish heat shield with active cooling system ensures safe operation at 180,000km solar PE.
- 7km/s dV from two ion engines, practical when performing bi-elliptical transfer with a very high AP (near Dres orbit).
- Ion engines can be safely and effectively used at solar PE for orbit maneuvering, such as lowering AP.

AG1=vertical control point (default, lock surface radial-out over the Sun in this mode)
AG2=horizontal control point (fire ion engines at AP in this mode)
AG4=toggle solar panels and antennas
AG8=conduct experiments
AG0=ion engines ON/OFF

- The concept is based on the NASA Parker Solar Probe (PSP) launched in 2018. On Sept 1. 2019, it completed its third close approach of the Sun.
- Icarus seems to be a common name for stuff related to the Sun, but I'm pretty proud of my reverse-abbreviation for this one.
- I use fairing with 2600k heat tolerance instead of dedicated heat shields with 3300k heat tolerance because it looks cool (main reason) and can be DIRECTLY cooled by radial-mounted radiators, which the heat shields can't. Heat shields explode even earlier than the fairing in my tests, they seem not suitable for this particular design with many "passive" heat sinks and only one "active" one.
- The radial-mounted radiators won't work at peak efficiency, because they only respond to the "inner temperature" of the fairing, which remains merely 600k while its surface has long been glowing at >2500k and is about to explode. I'm trying to understand the game mechanism behind heat management, and this project provided some really fun insights.
- There is actually not in-game scientific value getting too close to the Sun - anywhere under 1,000,000km would be equally considered "space low over the Sun", unless you actually dive into its extremely hot atmosphere which seems impossible without cheating. To fly as low as possible and survive is merely an exciting thing and a personal challenge.

- CLICK HERE for version with launch vehicle. Flight instructions will be listed on that page.
- Note that in-game cheat menu doesn't allow setting to low solar orbit. This means you have to use the launch vehicle or attach powerful engines and use infinite fuel cheat to get the probe there.

Wish you enjoy and happy baking a satellite!