Tips about Ion engines.

[Single stage to ocean]

You might have issues with ion engines and how they always need sunlight. This is a serious problem if your on the dark side of an orbit. However, there are many easy ways to fix this problem.

1.RTGS:They're heavy and reduce acceleration, as well as expensive and can irradiate the crew in life support mods, but this is one solution.

2.Fuel cell powered ions. This reduced the ISP to a mere 1200, but its nice to add 1 or two dumplings and a single fuel cell for backup power.

3.This is the easiest. Just start from a higher orbit. Not only will you have more time to do the burn, but the time in shadow relative to the orbital period is low.

4.Perapisis kicking. For the ones who are really stingy about fuel, perapisis kicking is helpful, but when you have 50,000 delta-v, would simply spending 1000dv to enter a higher orbit be way easier?

5.Batteries. Not very practical, for a ship entirely made of batteries and irgnoring xenon, you can get a max of 3000dv. Still, helpful for emergency manoeuvres or in Kerbalism where fuel cells can fail any moment.

6. Staged batteries. Good for Vall landers, not much else.

I hope this helped you!

Edited March 31, 2021 by Single stage to ocean