Landing on the Mun, with ion thrusters.

[jsisidore]

So I got bored with KSP, and now thinking of going on missions using only ion thrusters, of course after I escape Kerbin's gravity.

For my first mission I chose the Mun. After the first unsuccessful attempt, crashing with 80m/s and zero charge, I realized that I will need as many solar panels as I can carry (without being ridiculous), less weight as possible, and a nice fuel/engine ratio.

Second mission turned out successful, I never had a smoother landing, and with all the solar panels in direct sunlight, the battery banks became nothing but dead weight.

Too heavy, not shiny enough!

Three thrusters and one fuel tank was a wild guess, chosen more for aesthetic reasons.

A risky mission this is, it's a good thing there aren't any kerbals on board, cause they're too heavy!

Mission accomplished... hmm I might have skimped on a fuel a bit.

[Agifem]

Impressive and pretty. I like your attitude as well as your ship's design. I myself have only used ion thrusters for satellites, and one test for an ion glider. You look like you enjoy doing it.

Now, Tylo!

[Yukon0009]

Impressive and pretty. I like your attitude as well as your ship's design. I myself have only used ion thrusters for satellites, and one test for an ion glider. You look like you enjoy doing it.

Now, Tylo!

Not possible I think.

[Agifem]

Not possible I think.

Don't think, do it. Thinking is SO not kerbal-like.

[jsisidore]

Actually I was planning my first mission straight to Eeloo and back to Kerbin, but had to try it out first with the Mun.

Tylo's gravity is almost that of Kerbin, and no atmosphere, what a sad moon that is!

Of course Eeloo will be a pickle, I really don't want to bring a parachute with me, so I might leave it in Mun's orbit, or I can do that in the Eeloo's orbit together with some fuel tanks and battery banks... but then that would make it more difficult to rendezvous and dock back afterwards...

[Majorjim!]

Hey man. It is possible to land a Kerbal on the Mun with a single ION engine:

Video showing the landing @ 2:20:

MJ

[Yukon0009]

Actually I was planning my first mission straight to Eeloo and back to Kerbin, but had to try it out first with the Mun.

Tylo's gravity is almost that of Kerbin, and no atmosphere, what a sad moon that is!

Of course Eeloo will be a pickle, I really don't want to bring a parachute with me, so I might leave it in Mun's orbit, or I can do that in the Eeloo's orbit together with some fuel tanks and battery banks... but then that would make it more difficult to rendezvous and dock back afterwards...

Eeloo gravity is okay for ion, the main problems is solar panels.

[jsisidore]

That is crazy awesome man! Shame I have no patience nor brains to fly space planes.

[Wabbit]

Ion engines are great. I can fet >9000m/s dV with three tanks and one thruster. Just last night I put asat in orbit of the Mun... And then I changed it to a polar orbit right in Munar orbit!

EDIT: And Tylo is gonna be a pain in the booster

[Norpo]

I think an ideal interplanetary target for Ions would be Moho... if you do the transfer right, when you rendevouz your relative velocity isn't that high, so you have plenty of time to slow down.

If you do it a bit differently, though, then your relative speed is ridiculously high. Simply put, it depends on what method you use to transfer to Moho.

Source: i've been to moho

In any case, good job, well done!

[jsisidore]

Eeloo gravity is okay for ion, the main problems is solar panels.

Because it is on the edge of the solar system? So how efficient are solar panels in direct light on Eeloo?

[jsisidore]

I think an ideal interplanetary target for Ions would be Moho... if you do the transfer right, when you rendevouz your relative velocity isn't that high, so you have plenty of time to slow down.

If you do it a bit differently, though, then your relative speed is ridiculously high. Simply put, it depends on what method you use to transfer to Moho.

Source: i've been to moho

In any case, good job, well done!

Thanks. I like to stay close to the ground, shifting from planet to planet, or moon, rather than burn straight towards the target.

[Majorjim!]

That is crazy awesome man! Shame I have no patience nor brains to fly space planes.

Thanks! Maybe it will inspire you. I put off making SSTOs for ages. They are not as hard as you think. You just need a little patients when ascending.

[Pseudo Gold]

Reminds me of when I tried this sort of thing before. Didn't work too well.

At least you actually did it you maniac. You landed it. Landed it all the way on the Mun.

[LABHOUSE]

Hey man. It is possible to land a Kerbal on the Mun with a single ION engine:

I have landed 3 with one before.

yes, kerbals were in lawn chairs, and no, it was not ssto from low orbit to mun

[Wabbit]

I've got my... ion you.

*Ba-dumm-tss*