Mission Planner Example: Supplies

Mission Planner Example: Supplies

Here we will run through the planning stage for a long duration mission with a crew of 3 Kerbals.

1 Kerbal = 1.8 supplies consumed per hour

3 Kerbals = 5.4 supplies per hour

The RT-5000 recycling Module will reduce the supply consumption of 3 Kerbals by 79%,

(3 Kerbals) x (1 RT-5000 recycling Module) = (5.4 supplies per hour) x (100% - 79%)

(3 Kerbals) x (1 RT-5000 recycling Module) = (5.4 supplies per hour) x (.21)

(3 Kerbals) x (1 RT-5000 recycling Module) = (1.134 supplies per hour)

(1 Kerbal) x (1/3 RT-5000 recycling Module) = (0.378 supplies per hour)

The Nom-O-Matics will produce:

The Nom-O-Matic 25000-I can produce up to 4.752 Supplies per hour

The Nom-O-Matic 25000 can produce up to 2.376 Supplies per hour

The Nom-O-Matic 5000 can produce up to 0.4752 Supplies per hour

So the number of Kerbals each greenhouse can support when using an RT-5000 recycler can be worked out as follows;

(4.752 Supplies per hour) / (0.378 Supplies per hour per Kerbal) = 12.57 Kerbals

(2.376 Supplies per hour) / (0.378 Supplies per hour per Kerbal) = 6.286 Kerbals

(0.4752 Supplies per hour) / (0.378 Supplies per hour per Kerbal) = 1.257 Kerbals

The same calculations can be applied with the RT-500 as well, which does 60% for 1 kerbal.

Number of Kerbals 1 Greenhouse Can Support

Converter	With RT-5000	With RT-500	Without any recyclers
Nom-O-Matic 25000-I	12.57	6.6	2.64
Nom-O-Matic 25000	6.285	3.3	1.32
Nom-O-Matic 5000	1.257	0.66	0.264

In this case, running the mission with the RT-5000 and the Nom-O-Matic 25000 will provide twice the needed life support capacity--more than enough to feed the three Kerbals aboard the vessel. This is more capability than is required; three Nom-O-Matic 5000 greenhouses can provide support for 3.771 Kerbals at a savings of mass (but with the added complication of needing to manage three greenhouses instead of one).

Note: Greenhouses also require Fertilizer and ElectricCharge to produce Supplies; these calculations merely reflect their capacity to produce Supplies compared with Kerbals' consumption, provided that they have been given everything required.