3 man LOTUS lander RELEASED *includes launch vehicle* See first post

[Majorjim!]

Now ready for download on the Spaceport!

The LOTUS now boasts not only a three Kerbal rover but also a hidden mini probe rover.

And I gave in and have included a simple three stage launch vehicle to get you to the Mun.

Fly safe and let me know what you think.

MJ

LINK: http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/lotus-m1-rii/

Edited July 7, 2013 by Majorjim

[KissSh0t]

Very good, very clever design..

[GusTurbo]

Awesome lander! It looks like it has tons of fuel, which is handy. I'm also a fan of the ascent stage. It looks like what I did with my Sandpiper lander. It's a very tidy way to package fuel.

One question I have: what is the TWR of the descent stage? With 6 LV-T45s, it has to be pretty high, which would eat up your fuel quickly. Where are you looking to land this beautiful lander?

[Majorjim!]

It looks like what I did with my Sandpiper lander. It's a very tidy way to package fuel.

Hi Gus, yes I should have said that the ascent stage fuel design was inspired/copied from your design. So thank you for that, it looks great!

As for the TWR of the thing I couldn't tell you right now as I'm super sleepy and off to bed. Its 02:30 here in the UK. Not sure where you're from buddy.

I will check these things in the next few days and report back. Oh, and planning a Muna landing first. Then, who knows?

Nighty night.

[RedDwarfIV]

This is an awesome looking vehicle. Looks kind of like the DC-X, except two-stage.

[Commander Zoom]

Truly a thing of beauty. I love that second, overhead shot.

Looking forward to a .craft of this, once you're done testing it.

[Cinocal]

Very nice, clean design.

[GusTurbo]

I also have to say that I really like your placement of the lights.

[FuryDrone]

Really nice, waiting for .craft as well. Good job.

[Capt Snuggler]

Stunning! absolutely stunning! definitely want to take a close look at this thing.

the kerbal on the left is not happy through...

[Majorjim!]

Stunning! absolutely stunning! definitely want to take a close look at this thing.

the kerbal on the left is not happy through...

Yeah, thats Bob I think. They just had a test flight flown by Jeb! Hes the one with the grin.

Test flights tonight me thinks.

[Majorjim!]

SOOO,

I have been testing this beast of a lander and I have, with some very fiddly fuel transfers, landed her on the Mun. phew.

She is an ungainly beast at the moment but the landing has shown me exactly what needs fixing/tweaking.

Some pics.

Those motors really scrub off speed fast so you have to burn at just the right moment.

MJ

[GusTurbo]

Do you have fuel tanks in the center of the lower stage? What's under there?

Also, it looks like those lights came in handy. It's always exciting to have a successful test.

[Majorjim!]

Do you have fuel tanks in the center of the lower stage? What's under there?

Also, it looks like those lights came in handy. It's always exciting to have a successful test.

Thanks Gus, yeah its very satisfying!

No tanks in the center of the lower half. There is a large Rockomax brand adapter attached to the separator under the ascent stage.

Then simply put the tanks around it.

So you can imagine there is a lot of space under there. And the legs hold it high enough to just drive out.

You could even have a detaching tray for it to sit on. Detach the tray and drive off it.

I need to tweak the fueling system as its all out of shape.

Then release.

[Frostie2002]

Thanks Gus, yeah its very satisfying!

No tanks in the center of the lower half. There is a large Rockomax brand adapter attached to the separator under the ascent stage.

Then simply put the tanks around it.

So you can imagine there is a lot of space under there. And the legs hold it high enough to just drive out.

You could even have a detaching tray for it to sit on. Detach the tray and drive off it.

I need to tweak the fueling system as its all out of shape.

Then release.

Nice lander dude!

So your saying you could put a rover up in there? That would be sweet if you could, because all the landers with rovers I have seen have had the rovers attached to the sides, and I don't like the look of that. So if you can attach a rover inside, I think I'll be using it for future mun missions.

[Majorjim!]

Nice lander dude!

So your saying you could put a rover up in there? That would be sweet if you could, because all the landers with rovers I have seen have had the rovers attached to the sides, and I don't like the look of that. So if you can attach a rover inside, I think I'll be using it for future mun missions.

YUP. I didnt plan it but it is perfect for it. And as long as the rover isnt too tall you wont see it from anywhere except directly below the lander.

Im quite new at all this 'proper' design of landers so bare with me as I iron out the glitches.

Thanks for all the interest guys.

[Giggleplex777]

For some reason your lander reminds me of the Munitaur II: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/16526-0-16-STOCK-Munitaur-II

[Majorjim!]

For some reason your lander reminds me of the Munitaur II: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/16526-0-16-STOCK-Munitaur-II

Is that an old version of KSP? So glad they changed those ugly grey tanks.

They look like beer kegs!

[Majorjim!]

Hello lander lovers.

I have been testing this thing and have decided to release it in two forms.

The one I have been showing has WAY too much fuel. After I changed the engines to smaller ones I even managed to land on the Mun then fly the whole lander safely back to kerbin! So..

That's too much fuel. I changed the top larger fuel tank for a much lighter structural tank thing with no fuel in it. Sorry but I forgot the name, you will

see it in the pictures.

So I will release the lighter one for Mun trips with a rover and such and then the heavyier one for a Duna mission maybe? Need to test that.

Also, I was getting quite a lot of lag with the lander when near a planet. I have reduced the number of struts and it has reduced the lag a bit.

On the Mun again with the smaller engines

Bringing the whole lander home!

This is the final design of the Mun version

Cleaned up the stuts and made the gap between the top ascent stage and bottom part smoother, looks much better.

I will release this as a lander only tomorrow.

MJ

[Majorjim!]

Hi all,

So here it is. ready to go as a lander only release. It now has a three man hidden rover!

It has enough fuel in the base for Mun orbit burn and landing.

Top ascent stage has enough for Mun orbit, escape and Kerbin encounter.

I'm super happy about this I hope you guys enjoy it!

This is all you can see of the rover before its deployed.

TA-DA!

I took a while to make the rover and land it so I will try to upload the .craft file tomorrow.

Night all. mj

[GusTurbo]

Awesome! I can't wait til you release the craft.

[firerider521]

I like how the I-Beams blend with the rover bodies.

[Shadowsun]

What sort of launcher are you using for this?

[Majorjim!]

What sort of launcher are you using for this?

Hi Shadowsun. I use a simple design of three stages, the third being the lander itself. I want to release this as a lander only simple because I don't

like using other peoples launch rockets. They are so easy and quick to make I only ever use super simple designs that would ruin the look of

the overall package.

So, lander only. You guys can come up with a cool launch design.

Also, all my KSP vehicles will be only rovers and landers now. I want the perfect lander!

I would also like to say that the lag with this lander persists.. I have no idea what causes it.

Does anyone know if clipping parts causes lag?

[Oddbin]

For some reason your lander reminds me of the Munitaur II: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/16526-0-16-STOCK-Munitaur-II

I was thinking the same thing. Loved that craft.

Really like the tightly packed design of this craft. Looking forward to getting a shot of it when finished. What's been the worst annoyance in the design process so far?