Feud

My strategy is to establish an orbit that allows for some intersection with the Mun's orbit, then wait for us to get close (takes a few orbits sometimes). That way I'm at a fairly low speed when I'm trying to land, as I'm near the peak of my orbit. I haven't figured out yet if a slow or hard retrograde burn works best, but I'll try to be around 100 m/s by the time I'm a 1000 meters up. This time I cut my burn too soon and dropped the last little bit, otherwise I think I'd of made it. My issue has been the fuel. I want to get to the Mun with as near a full fuel tank as possible, but it takes so much to lift off Kerbin and get out that far.

Maybe, I don't have any mods installed but down the road it could happen. In looking at the picture I now realize that the explosion blasted one of the landing struts off. I only see three and there were four on there when we left Kerbin.

I'm still working on getting a design that I like (and that can get a lander there with enough fuel), and my technique is really to just get an orbit going that puts me near the Mun's orbit and wait for things to line up. But I managed to make my first Mun landing! Sadly, things did not go so well. The first time I landed on uneven terrain and the lander rolled. There goes that mission. The second time I might have made it back, fuel was scarce but possible. I came in a bit too hot though, and on touch down my engine exploded. Kerbalnaut Mivkin freaked out a bit about that, but miraculously the rest of the ship remained intact and settled upright. With awe the first boots were set upon another world. It was a terrible moment, for he knew he would never again leave... Felt kinda sad to leave him up there, maybe I'll get him home someday.

Completed my first orbit (and return) today! Lifted with my Phoenix III rocket, a three stage rocket that didn't have the best track record. The first attempt didn't go well. The rocket definitely has enough kick, but I didn't have my physics down. I used a bit too much power, achieved escape velocity, and shot the capsule into an orbit...of the sun. Oops! The next closest attempt did establish an orbit. But, I was way too high and used too much fuel getting there, and the capsule got stuck in orbit. The radio was quietly turned off, and we assume that they are still up there somewhere. Finally managed it today, the video tutorial helped a ton. Day 2 of the mission, passing over the launch facility. Splash down! Very fun, might be time to upgrade from the demo.