This is EXACTLY what I have been doing, btw playing with TAC Life support, RemoteTech 2, KSP Interstellar and few other mods (no deadly reentry tho), makes missions much more complex, but infinitely more fun. My philosophy is: Phase 1 - Simple explorer drone - Mission - Feasibility check Test Comm Dishes - range, cone, signal delay(with RT2 it plays a huge role), electricity consumption Test Electricity - generation/consumption, solar panels, waste heat generation (from KSP interstellar), radiators, etc. Test Manuvering - again signal delay but from the aspect of manuevering, how does it feel, how much delta v for insertion, etc Phase 2 - Complex drone carrier - Mission - Comm Network set-up Carrier carrying up to 4 probe Long range communication satellites that will be orbiting main celestial body - i.e. Duna Comm sats would have basically 1 Long Range dish - To reach Kerbin Satelite network, 2 - 3 Short Range dishes Comms DTS-M1 (Science Tech) to communicate to moons, and 1x communotron 32 to communicate between themselves / surface I launch them in similar fashion as you launch satelite network around Kerbin - there are many youtube vids for this Phase 3 - Complex drone carrier - Mission - Recon and preparation - core base set-up Carrier carrying up to 4 probes - depending on planet but typically 2 Rovers, 2 science satellites (including Kethane scanners). Each of science spaceprobes are equipped with remote unit, solar panels, communotron 32's, batteries, RCS, and orbital science (goo, magnetometer, gravioli), as well as kethane scanners Each of rovers contain seat for kerbal, remote unit, panels, communotrons, batteries, communotron 32's and surface science (accelerometer, temparature, atmosphere, gravioli etc.) Typical use is pre-launch drones to/around planet/moons, then set up base craft in stable circular orbit, then detach junk and leave core to be docked with kerbals later Phase 4 - Kerbal-manned mission I will report when i get there Craft: Simple Explorer drone - a flyby drone carrying some science, but mostly testing Complex drone carrier - a very large (3,75m) craft carrying up to 4 drones: Communication Satellites, Science Probes, or Rovers Main carrier core carries NO living quarters but from TAC 2x LargeFood, 1x of other resources, and recyclers, and Sr docking ports, and is reused as Orbital Station Core to be docked with when Kerbals arrive Kerbal-manned mission - still not there yet :-)