turmith

It's an interesting idea, but i've not invested in that part of the tech tree :-( I'm going to look at doing seprate launches closely spaced together with a refuel in orbit of Kerbin for the larger items(miner,science lab, etc.) to minimize the caust of the Kerbin launch. The kitchen sink was a really cool idea I had for an all in one planetary footprint system. But i'm not convinced there's significant cost savings because of the cost of larger Rocket Motors(Mainsails and skippers mainly) that i'd need to launch larger masses off of Kerbin. Plus cost of the Nerv's needed to move the thing out of Kerbin system once it was assembled. I'll build each system and then compare costs and then post back here on what i've found.

I figured there would be some cost savings in having not to lift the fuel needed for the trip from Kerbin to orbit. I figured that'd be the most expensive part of the trip and where I could get the biggest savings. Does it then make more sense to transport fuel in from minmus and refuel in orbit over Kerbin then start for Duna?

Trying to set up a foothold on duna. Due to the long periods of time between Duna launch windows; I came up with the idea that i could do it in 2 launches mainly due to lifting limitations i currently have in carrer. These 2 launches would assemble in Minmus orbit. This final rocket would contain 1 survey sattelite, 4 communication relay satelites, lander module, a Science lab, Mining Rig, transport tug, and a orbital fuel depot, Essentially the kitchen sink of rockets. I'd refuel said rocket in Minmus orbit(from existing ISRU setup) and then launch for Duna at the appropriate time. Mid-transfer i'd uncouple the survey scanner and it would boost it'self into a polar orbit and then shortly after the 4 communication relays would uncouple and boost themselves into orbit as well. Mining Rig would head to Ike with the tug following into Ike orbit and the Fueldepot(orange tank)/Science Lab would orbit around duna to facilitate refuling lander which would land on duna. The question is, does it make sense to do this as 1 mammoth rocket, or do i do seperate launches from Kerbin/Minmus. I'm in career and cost efficiency/time efficiency are my two most important critera. Opinions? Thanks, Turmith

Thanks for the response. The Relay said combinable so i assumed. Oh well, guess i need a better relay then.

Not understanding Commnet, can someone advise. There are 2 sats in orbit of Duna. DSN is at level 2 The one with the polar orbit has a RA-2 and a Communotron 88-88 - Full connection to Kerbin The second one with the Eqatorial orbit has a Communotron DTS-M1. There are green lines that show the sattelites connecting to eachother but I have limited probe control and no signal. Shouldn't the DTS-M1 bounce the signal of the RA-2 and then out the 88-88 back to Kerbin allowing me to Comunicate and transmit science? https://postimg.org/image/r6c8jhnzj/