Expedition V - The Black Void

[Deluvian]

The Goal

On 25th Oct 3303 I stretched the size of the Galaxy by supercruising beyond Ishum's Reach 65,652Ly from Sol.. at the same time beating the old record of 65,649Ly by Cmdr Schumy
On 13th Jan 3304, after 249 hours of cruising this limit was stretched even more.. I crossed the marker of 65,705Ly from Sol

On 1st Jun 3304 the record got busted by Cmdr Keef Drow... 9 more.. 65,714Ly from Sol.. not sure about that, but if I understood correctly this was a slingshot run (including refueling by Cmdr Major Klutz)

what do you think is my response to that going to be??

The Ship: DEL-77 Rocinante

Oh.. she is bred for one purpose only: to reach the limits.. Long hours of collecting materials, engineering different modules and finding the perfect fit for this mission. I tested at least 4 different sets of modules to come to the final conclusion.. She is ready...

Photo Documentation

Gallery dedicated to this expedition: Expedition V - The Black Void

 

[Nick Sticks]

Good luck in your adventure Cmdr.

o7

 

[Guy De Lombard]

Good luck and fly safe !

 

[LifesAJourney]

Deluvian, when do you plan to arrive at Semotus Beacon? I could make you a sandwich or something...

 

[Penny Umbra]

I wish you success!

Fly far cmdr

 

[Deluvian]

Thank you fellow Commanders.. I know that I said lately (during Expedition IV) "oh, it's not gonna be fast" and then I made it to Star One and Erikson's Star in 3 days... I was overwhelmed by almost 80Ly jump range of Rocinante

Now though, jump range is reduced and honestly I cannot focus much on flying, so I am using normal/automatic navigation.. that is going to be around 1800 jumps.. maybe a bit less to get to Ishum's Reach.. it is going to take a while.. sandwiches very welcome

 

[LifesAJourney]

Now though, jump range is reduced and honestly I cannot focus much on flying, so I am using normal/automatic navigation.. that is going to be around 1800 jumps.. maybe a bit less to get to Ishum's Reach.. it is going to take a while.. sandwiches very welcome

Yeah, yeah, whatever. So... Sunday?

 

[Deluvian]

Yeah, yeah, whatever. So... Sunday?

Not this time.. I really have a hard time to get to flying. Moved maybe 150 jumps out of the Bubble. If I could plot manually and jump on fumes then maybe, but in a current situation - no chance. I hope it is going to get better in a couple of days (weeks) so I can speed it up

 

[Deluvian]

Day 5 - 7,221.70LY from Sol

First refueling.. this indeed is going to be a really long journey..

 

[Deluvian]

... it took more than two hours to fill that sweet whale with fuel

 

[LifesAJourney]

2A scoop?!?

Would it be reasonable to travel with 5-10% of fuel in tanks to have decent jump range? And refuel completely only once in Semotus?

 

[Orvidius]

I think the course plotter still assumes you'll have full tanks, and set the jump ranges accordingly. So then it would be manual jump plotting, which probably would negate the time savings.

I really wish we could turn fuel tanks "off" in the module panel, so that they're not used until you're ready to turn them back on.

 

[Deluvian]

So much true.. flying on fumes with manual plotting is fast but requires a lot of attention from the pilot.. I just cannot afford it now.. maybe in a few days

 

[Deluvian]

Day 7 - 20,019.53LY from Sol

2A fuel scoop is no fun.. but I am slowly moving towards the center of the Galaxy.. I was able to leverage manual plotting for last few hours, hence why a bit more progress.. still, I have a long way to go..

 

[Deluvian]

Day 9 - 32,878.60LY from Sol

Just crossed the marker.. Half way to the Death Zone.. this is really taking forever

 

[Deluvian]

Day 12 - 46,751.00 from Sol

Crossing Styx.. it got a little bit bumpy here. Jumps are irregular and risky.. luckily most of the stars scoopable

 

[Deluvian]

Day 12 - 57,158.42LY from Sol

Cleared The Galactic Aphelion.. falling slowly into The Abyss.. The Solitude Void just in front of me.. The Milky Way glows behind..

 

[Deluvian]

Day 13 - Ishum's Gate - 65,317.02LY from Sol

Finally at MYEIA THAA EL-E C25-0, the place I called Ishum's Gate as for me this is always the entry point to the final corridor.. Not too many jumps left to Ishum's Reach..

 

[Deluvian]

Day 13 - Ishum's Reach - 65,647.34LY from Sol

At the doorstep of The Void. Rocinante is pretty beat up.. I was not concentrating enough going around Praei Sector, had some "close calls".. Now it's time to fuel her up and then trim the modules for a very long cruise.. Refueling alone will take another 2 hours..

 

[Deluvian]

Day 13 - Super Cruise 0.0h - 65,647.34LY from Sol

Throttle: Dead "Zero"
Fuel Scoop: Off

Solar alignment: 0 degrees

Lights: Out

Lemme just concentrate for a moment.. is the 13th day of the journey a good one to start such a challenge? Not sure about that.. not that I am superstitious.. maybe just a little bit stitious

7 minutes to departure..