Some questions about Eve

[Dreadthrone]

1. How can I find the highest mountain on Eve (visually) and what are it's coordinates?
2. How much Delta V is needed to launch to orbit from the highest mountain on Eve? 
3. How big of a concern is re-entry heating? How fast can a MK2/MK3 ship be going before it burns up in Eve's atmosphere?
4. Between Mammoths or Vectors, which would be better for a VTOL SSTO from Eve's highest mountain?
5. Any other recommendations for how to build this thing?

I'm getting ready to build an Eve SSTO, either taking off vertically or horizontally, with refueling on the surface and once in orbit around Eve. Since I've never been to Eve before, I have no idea what specifications I need to build it to, hence these questions  

 

Edited November 12, 2016 by Dreadthrone

[Foxster]

1. I forget. I'll see if I can find this. I'd say its fairly unlikely you can hit the spot from orbit though. Better to HE in. 

2. Depends. Even from max elevation, Eve atmos produces a lot of drag. So the dV needed will vary a lot depending on the shape of the craft. 

3. I'd plan to use a 10m heatshield. Or burn a lot of fuel going down retrograde.

4. It's been done with a Mammoth. Not sure about with Vectors.

5. Seriously - why bother? It's a craft without a purpose and it's been done. As you haven't done Eve before, a better challenge is to get a manned craft, with a disposable science package, down and back to orbit. As an extra bonus challenge - do it with a craft massing less than 50t before de-orbit.