JHarvey

Here's a look at the orbit I was able to establish for the lost station. It will be a challenge, but I'll figure it out.

I've decided to take a more 'planned' approach to my space program. Now that I have a grasp of the basics I am going to try to progress in an organized manner. Job 1 - bring everyone home. So far I've managed to get the Kerbalnauts back from Mun, but there are still a couple on Duna. My last rescue attempt left another one stranded. I need to develop a lander that is capable of putting at least two Kerbals in orbit from the surface. I think the best plan is to build a station and start experimenting with unmanned landers. Job 2 - Rescue Jool Station. I did put a small station in orbit around Jool, but to my surprise it is now at escape velocity and is on a trajectory to escape the system. It's orbit was fairly elliptical and did take it outside the orbit of Jool's first moon. I have to assume that it got a slingshot launch from the moon. It should have enough fuel to decelerate back into a stable orbit around Kerbol, but i'm not sure what I'll do after that. Capt. James "Ace" Harvey

That was the whole idea behind the Toxic Tommy. I was working on a way to lift one orange tank into orbit, with a docking port on each end. I could then use it as fuel tanks for interplanetary ships. As the craft developed a fellow Kerbolnaut suggested adding atomic engines. What I ended up with was a cool combo stage that can be used for just about anything. I can get it into orbit with almost full fuel. It has solar panels, huge mono tank, and the extra tanks and engines can be jettisoned. The beauty is that it has a Clamp-o-tron Sr on each end. I'm not using any mods at this point. I think I want to just play the stock version for a while.

And here we are. I've have achieved orbit around Jool. It's a nicely elliptical orbit that takes just beyond the orbit of the closest moon. I figure I'll establish an orbiting station for exploration of the Joolian system, or maybe I'll find out if I have enough fuel to return home.

I'm not sure which of Jool's moons this is, but I did a flyby while establishing orbit.

I transferred fuel and dumped the first stage once I was on the way.

Not the prettiest trajectory, but I made it. I'm still not doing any math or planning. I'm still on the T.L.A.R mission planning. But now that I am building some skill I may actually try to organize my space program.

I slapped a space station core onto the front of Toxic Tommy. I think I'm going to take a shot at putting it in orbit around Jool.

Yeah, but I'm new here and didn't know. Maybe on of the mod's could move it.

Two Toxic Tommys docked together. I guess I could just keep stacking them up until I have enough fuel. I'm going to bring some small capsule up and try to place it in orbit around one of the planets using this as the primary thruster. I'll dump some of the atomic engines and tanks as the fuel is used.

That's the plan. Tommy has a docking port on each end for expanding the ship. I should be able to stack them up also. I managed to get this ship into orbit almost completely full of fuel. I am going to stage a couple of them at my orbiting station for refueling. Thanks for all of the ideas!

This is the Toxic Tommy. It has a docking port on each end, atomic engines, solar panels and a bunch of mono. I am developing the main stage for an inter planetary explorer. I recently flew a version with only 4 engines to Duna. I have a smaller ship that I use to lift modules into orbit, which I dock at my space station and hot dog stand.

Yes they are. Thanks for the help on that one guys. That is exactly what I am trying to achieve. I want to be able to lift an orange tank into orbit with a Clamp-o-tron Sr. on each end so that I can build ships in orbit. But they keep failing at the docking ports during lift off. Any ideas?

Aw, snap! Nedcas came in a bit hot and went out in a blaze of glory and rocket fuel! I think it's a moot point because there wasn't a lot of fuel left anyway. I think he might have made orbit after lift off, but that would just leave him stranded, floating around in orbit with 3 empty thrusters nearby. But, now that we know the atomic engine scenario works, we can refine our technique to avoid having to waste fuel doing correction burns and excess maneuvering. With this ship I should be able to fly to Duna and achieve orbit carrying a payload of one large orange fuel tank fuel of fuel. I can establish a orbital station here.

Oh, I see. I'm new here. Sorry. I found the NERVA engine and added it to the 4 external tanks I was using for fuel. My rocket design allows me to get into orbit without using the fuel from the last orange tank, or any of the 4 smaller tanks. So I am on the way to Duna. The 4 small tanks are about 1/2 empty, and the orange tank has not been touched. I should be able to rendezvous with Nedcas in Dunar orbit and refuel his lander. Hopefully then he can land on Duna and pick up Sigbo. If the lander is able to achieve orbit (fingers crossed) I should be able to bring them both home. Sit-rep to follow.

Where do I find this engine? Is it a stock part? I am trying to play stock only.

Here is the ship I was going to rescue Sigbo with. Unfortunately Jedcas flew it all the way to Duna and then realized it didn't have enough fuel to land!! I guess I'll start building an orbiting station so that I can stage fuel, etc. for a return trip.

I've seen the nuclear powered engines mentioned, but I'm not sure what they are or how to use them. It would be nice to be able to lift more into orbit.

Thanks, but getting there is not the problem, getting back is the problem! But yeah, I am learning, and having a lot of fun in the meantime! I'll do better once I start keeping notes and doing calculations, but for now it's all "yankin' and bankin'". Although I do feel bad about stranded Kerbals.

Aren't mission reports written?

Delta-V is not the problem. Fuel is the issue. The lander doesn't have enough fuel to reach orbit, and the thruster stage in orbit doesn't have enough fuel to return home. I have another ship on the way with more fuel.

They are at the north and south pole, Sigbo is near the equator.

The main thruster at the station waiting for the lander portion to arrive. I didn't get the burn right and there was no intercept point for Duna. Using my T.L.A.R method I picked a spot to do a correction burn and it worked. Each time to Duna was a bit different, but I made it to the planet each time. The first time I arrived the small solar panels were obscured and the batteries were dead. So I added larger solar panels. The second attempt ended in a fiery explosion after I bounced off of the surface and damaged my lander. I ran out of fuel during the third attempt and couldn't decelerate into Dunar orbit. The fourth attempt went well. And I managed to perform my best landing yet. I just I need to go back and get Sigbo.

I've been playing KSP for a couple of weeks now. I only have a couple of hours a day, but it sure has been fun. I'm playing totally stock at this point, and using my signature T.L.A.R method (That Looks About Right) to do things because I am to lazy for math. I have a small station in Kerbin orbit. I have a smaller station in Munar orbit. There are also 3 landers on the moon in close proximity. So I've learned how to achieve orbit, rendezvous, dock and land on the Mun. I figured the next logical mission was to fly to and land on Duna. It took 4 trys, but I made it!! and little Sigbo Kerman is standing on Duna. He'll be there until I figure out how to go and pick him up! Here is part of the ship that I used to get to Duna. This is the main thruster portion. I flew it up to the orbiting station and then brought the lander up separately because I couldn't figure out how to do it any other way.

Very cool, thanks for sharing. Ima test it out!