tadswana

Love it ha ha, so precariously positioned!

Yep, that's the way I think it rolls... - - - Updated - - - So, Here's my first pass at the DAV, it's sitting on Duna right now mining away and replenishing. I'm sending the KRV now, and the manned HAB will go once the DAV is full up. Mental note to self: don't put OX panels on the DAV again, as they can't retract and burn up in the aerobrake Drilling very slow with secondary panels only... lol. - - - Updated - - - This is the aerobrake into Duna (with aforementioned OX panels... doh!). and the drogue chute for the descent <1000m/s. Small amount of propellant used for the final touchdown.

Ha ha, just read this thread about 2h from a 30km aerobrake on Duna too... going to have a useless mining rig on the ground pretty soon I think

Foxster - thanks for the images, you gave me some great ideas, particularly for the DAV and the rover. I'm hoping on running the mission and posting the photos soon with my concepts!

I would think so, send some pics. I'm thinking that the nuclear engine would be very well suited for the KRV as it's working in vacuum for the entire mission profile.

Crew land in the HAB and go back up in the DAV (I've amended the post for clarity). It's made me really think about the details of this, any comments really welcome! - - - Updated - - - yep, that's the plan! - - - Updated - - - So, I made my first attempt at the DAV last night with a delta-V of 1500m/s. I'm going to put a jettison-able heat shield on the top for Duna atmospheric entry and then pop the chutes for the ride down. I'll use the last bit of fuel for the final touchdown. I'm starting to understand the beauty of Zubrin's idea now, as the delta-V to Duna is about the same as the ascent from Duna, so no fuel is wasted and mass is minimised. Running the ISRU and drill is probably a little heavier than the idea of direct methanation of the atmospheric CO to liquid methane for the fuel, however does the same thing.

Dunatian it is! Would love to see screen shots of your vehicles!

So, I've recently been reading Zubrin's "the case for Mars" in preparation for the upcoming The Martian (which I'm super excited about), and have been inspired to attemp the "Mars Semi Direct program" put forward with a minimal 4-vehicle program for KSP. The four vehicles required are: Launch Vehicle (LV): getting to Kerbin orbit (4500m/s) and lift for the three below. Duna Ascent Vehicle (DAV) - sent in advance with fuel production on Duna for the ascent (maybe also to refuel the KRV?). Habitat (HAB) - sleeps 3 with research capabilities, science lab, power, comms, and a dockable rover. This is the initial transport of the 3 Kerbals from Kerbin all the way to Duna. Kerbin Return Vehicle (KRV) - Kerbin to orbit of Duna and return to Kerbin. Transports the little guys. Key delta-Vs: Kerbin to Orbit: 4500 m/s Orbit to Duna: 1430 m/s Duna Descent: (aerobrake) Duna Ascent: 1380 m/s Duna return to Kerbin: 1060 m/s The mission concept is based on Zubrin's "Mars Semi-Direct" which you can see in his presentation here Basically it involves: DAV sent to Duna unmanned for production of fuel. DRV sent to Duna orbit unmanned. HAB sent to Duna with crew and descent to within IVA of the DAV. Crew science the hell out of Duna, then ascend to Duna orbit in the DAV and return to Kerbin in the DRV. Originally it was proposed by Zubrin without the DAV, and two DRVs that produce fuel on the ground and transport the crew. This allowed the first DRV unmanned to be delivered and produce fuel, and then the next DRV with crew and return in the first DRV, allowing colonisation through leapfrogging. The Mars Semi Direct concept was developed to minimise cost, and only commit the crew once the ascent vehicle was fuelled and ready and the return vehicle was in orbit. I understand that Mars Semi Direct is the basis of Andy Weir's "the Martian" which got me thinking. I'm doing concept design now and will post pictures as I go. Needless to say they will be stock, and going for lowest cost as possible due to fiscal constraints on Kerbin. Embrace your inner Dunatian (thanks Davidy12)!

Hey Clipperride! I'm working on the same problem, trying to optimise refuelling runs from atmosphere. At moment I'm using the brute force method. The White Knight method is appealing to me too, however I'm torn to whether the structural inefficiency of having the landing gear/aerodynamics to do it are worth the "free boost" you get from the lower atmosphere. For me it hasn't worked... Let me know how you are going and post pics, I'll do the same.

30km periapsis on return? Wow, you don't have any thermal problems with the new patch? I like the aggressiveness. Been trying to work out the optimal periapsis for Duna, anyone have any experience here? I hit way to aggressive last time and burnt up...

Hi Guys, I've just started mining on the Mun as well, have a mining rig filled up with 600ore and put a docking port on the top. Was thinking about getting a lander down to dock on it, and haul the ore up into orbit for processing with around 600dV. Is this how other people do it? The other option was to have a mining rig that launches to orbit to dock and then transfer ore for processing. Which is the better way to go?

how did you get that up there? I'm impressed. My stuff looks like nailed-together tin cans in comparison...

Agree with that... fusion has always been "just over the horizon" as a smoke screen for inaction. The technical challenges for fusion are immense (as are the rewards). However, even if cold fusion was developed - could it really compete on the cost of energy? Unsure... can imagine it would be very bloody expensive!

I guess it's price per Kw.hr we are talking about (energy), consumers don't really cares (or understand) what the capacity is. The old argument of "ittermitency" is a little misleading, as it assumes demand is static (which it isn't). Smart grid are trying to get there with market-based pricing helps in these situations when supply drops by increasing prices. Imagine a future where people are basing their energy usage on wind/solar forecasts... Course, I'm hugely biased - as I work in the wind industry!

I like it, particularly the spindly undercarriage to get the prop clearance! What if you increased ground clearance using a "gull wing" with the undercarriage at the wing low point? Like a Stuka bomber... I want to try it...