ZeeWulf

You'll have to tell us if you can get the mugs produced somehow. I rather like the stackable ones and I'm having a few ideas on making them...

My Mun rover.

Could it be? Krakens are made from mutated kerbals?

Here's an example of 99% stock (a couple RCS thrusters and some KAS fuel connections I'd forgotten to install in the VAB being the exception) ship to similar specs as yours. I'm using all large docking connectors, aside from the one connection to the lander module, which shakes wildly sometimes. (Again, I've recruited KAS to put struts in, because, damnit, this is gonna work) I'm sure if you made a lander using a Senior port, you'll be fine.

I just read an article that made me rather sad, though I couldn't help but think of some of it in Kerbal terms... To summarize: When the Columbia was lost, Atlantis was already under prep for STS-114, a trip to the ISS. The linked article discusses the mission NASA would have had to pull off to use her to save the Columbia's crew. It's a tough read, was audacious and the stuff of legends, and think would have made a fine movie if done. Of course, now I want to try to enact something like it in this, if the parts were in place to do so. Just because...it's tough to look back and not do anything.

After a grueling hour of coffee without donuts, engineers at the Kerbalwerks successfully redesigned the Duna Lander module. Instead of the old Poodle, they installed a new, low-profile engine. A larger fuel tank was added to the design as well, which means, of course, more ladders and parachutes. Unfortunately, that design exploded violently when the crew module was ripped right off from the SAS and the entire assembly plunged into the ocean. Thankfully, it was only a drone core installed instead of a pilot. Pay no attention to rumblings from the other cores regarding their lost brother(s--they actually went through three iterations just to make sure the first wasn't a fluke.) and the eventual drone uprising.... This would not do, so the engineers hit the drawing board again, with donuts this time as well as coffee, and decided to reinforce the connection between the SAS and command module. This version hit the ground running. Quickly. And left pretty much only a scorch mark. In a fit of caffeine fueled desperation, they turned to Jeb, who suggested just adding some drogue chutes on pylons. Another one exploded, the engineers were enraged and confronted Jeb who merely grinned at them and asked, "what, you didn't cut the drogues?" This time, the plan worked and the capsule landed safely. Planning a success, they sent a new lander into orbit, docked it with the Explorer and defueled and de-orbited the old lander into the ocean (Since, you know, it wasn't particularly safe to ride home in.) KS-4 (Broken Wind) was launched, commanded by Macfal once again, who attached the new struts, topped off all the tanks one last time, and now the whole ship is ready for departure...in about three or four more months. Final refueling operations Upon return, Jeb and Macfal, against Bill's better judgement, decided to work on a side project, considering there were MONTHS until the show would begin--a plane they could use to fly around Kerbin and explore random biomes. Both took their own versions of the Shrike out, attempting to land at the island airstrip just offshore from the KSC, but Jeb had decided BIGGAR ENGINES was the way to go; his 'landing' was more of an example of a game of Lawn Darts, but, as he likes to say, "Any landing you walk away from is a good landing." Macfal's design, also very much lawn-dart like, did successfully land though was so rear-heavy it rested on the tail. Macfal taxiing the Shrike to one of the island hangars. Bill, meanwhile, needed to pass the time in a more productive manner. Specifically at the bar. While downing his third mojito, he realized they'd not yet sent a probe to Moho... And thus, the Mojito Probe was born. It was a monster, built too big, but Bill, who had continued working through his drink of choice, demanded it be launched anyway. The result was predictable. "It's a good idea! I'll show you! Now get me another drink!" Bob cried as the last explosion faded. Not to be dissuaded, he took a page from the Explorer and split the probe into two parts: the landing module and the engine module. The mission profile was different this time, since previous probes would transmit all their data back to the KSC. This new probe would actually bring the experiments back...hopefully. In short order, the two parts were sent into orbit. The engine module launched first. The probe assembly in flight. After a successful docking operation, Bill finally got around to checking the charts...Moho was already in window! With not a moment to lose, he sent the intercept data to the probe and sent it off on what would hopefully be a round trip. The Mojito probe on its escape burn. We'll continue later with coverage of the Mojito probe since..you know, it's a quite long while yet until the Explorer launch.

This..is so wonderfully KSP. I do believe i shed a tear.

Quick update: tests have shown the lander will not have enough delta v to launch from Duna, and worse an unmanned trial resulted in total lander destruction due to parachute deceleration issues. The kerbalwerks is currently redesigning the lander and will be replacing the current once it is prepared. Thank goodness for that 120 day window.

The next refueling mission was successfully launched, with KS-1 (Shortfall--The previous shuttle was Longshot and the first shuttle, which had conducted the fuel-line installation mission, was Impeccable Timing of Unexpected Intervention and Occurrences) completing all rendezvous and supply operations in good time. Unfortunately, it was discovered during an engine array test burn there was unacceptable 'wobble' between the Lander Module and the Crew Module, which started to cause dangerous oscillations in the 214 ton Explorer and made it nearly impossible to control under thrust. Worse, there was a second 'wobble' between the main engine module and secondary engine modules. Jeb, through what was no doubt divine providence, anticipated this issue while he was preparing the fuel shuttle loadout and ensured there was a supply of struts available aboard, which Macfal Kerman spent several hours on EVA installing between the different modules. Another test burn was conducted and found the wobble to be reduced to safe levels, thus bringing the Shortfall's mission to a close. The crew is currently de-orbiting and returning to the KSC to await further trial runs. The Duna Explorer is scheduled to begin it's transfer burn in approximately 118 days; since the entire operation is basically running on trial-by-error, engineers demanded plenty of time to work out the bugs--it had nothing to do with a lack of foresight from Mission Planning. Really. Calculations have placed the Explorer's fuel reserves to be at approximately 60% once it achieves Duna Orbit. Further, the transfer burn should only last approximately 4-5 minutes. At least, that's what they told us, though the planner didn't look too convinced... The Shortfall alongside the Duna Explorer, Macfall Kerman towing the fuel transfer line into place.

Yeah, I guess it is, isn't it? Wasn't the original intent, but, we'll run with it.

Why thank you! Mission Control okayed the refueling operation, modifying one of our KS-1 Shuttles with a second LO fuel tank as well as several externally secured tanks that would be jettisoned before re-entry. The main fuel tanks of the Explorer have been topped off, however there was an issue with re-entry guidance, which forced an emergency shuttle landing. Thankfully, the KS-1, due to our..preponderance of said navigational issues, was built with a rugged off-strip landing in mind, thus was easily able to land on a beach. Advanced Kerbalnautics & Widgets also requested us to note that in the event of a water landing, the KS-1 is equipped with parachutes to allow it to safely make a sea touchdown. Operations and control are debating the merits of a second fueling mission currently, this one to ensure all RCS tanks are filled before the departure to Duna.

Why yes, our intrepid explorers were willing to do an EVA to get you a good picture!

In the desire to go where no Kerbal (in my world, anyway) has gone before, we've completed assembly of the DUNA EXPLORER, a testament to patience and bad ideas. Allow me to introduce her: Mounted on the main body is a single Poodle, surrounded by six LV-N engines. This module also contains the majority of power systems, including four large solar arrays as well as an RCS thrust assembly. The next module features four LV-Ns on outriggers, each equipped with a set of RCS and tanks as well as a massive light bank and a second power system with four more large arrays. The third module consists of the lab as well as Return/Reentry pod 1, more RCS and emergency power supply as well as supplementary lighting. The last vehicle, and it is a vehicle, is a specialized lander made just for dropping onto Duna. It has...um...a very large number of parachutes, and is also equipped to carry extra Kerbalnauts. It is also a secondary return vehicle; once the mission is completed and the module rendezvous with the main ship for return to Kerbin, it will jettison the engine module and act simply as a return vehicle for the extra Kerbalnauts. Overall, I expect the mission to be a wild success/spectacular failure. It should not disappoint.

I have no idea how far along the naming process is, but I had to toss my two cents in... Kerbits.

So far, I've been working on my Superheavy Rover project (I call it Beagle, but it looks like an Armadillo from Armageddon, through sheer chance.) for about five days. The design was quick, the proofing runs on Kerbal were satisfactory. Building a good rocket for it took some help and a couple of days, but I finally hammered the last of the rocket bugs out last night....but through all the work the past week, I've lost count of the number of rovers that I've plowed into the surface due to running out of fuel, coming in at a bad angle, separating the landing stage from the decelleration stage too early/late/wrong angle or looked at it funny. The fuel situation's so bad, I've resorted to putting first a fuel station in orbit (And then trying to get the establishment crew home, we ran out of gas mid burn, and were projected to enter solar orbit. I then had to slap together a rescue ship and send that out to save them and tow them home) only to destroy it because a finger slipped mid-attempt, sending the Armadillo/Beagle into it and wrecking the station, leaving the lander adrift. I then sent up a Space Oiler (think fleet oiler for wet-navy) with a redesigned docking section and eventually got it to dock with the Rover, refuel it, and then send the Rover on the way. Of course, once I got a klick away I realized I needed to refuel the RCS system as well, since I was running low. Ah well, I had enough to land the thing. I then started my decel, and promptly proceeded to screw up the stage separation, leaving the landing-engine facing the wrong way and the lander coming in too hot. So far, two Kerbals have died in the process.

Thank you all for the layouts; I ran with the Nova (modified with miniboosters to aid in separation because i kept having the other tanks take out engines), but discovered two fatal flaws: 1. I forgot to run a fuel line to the descent/landing engine 2. I need an upper maneuver/braking stage. Poor Merdon. Probably shouldn't have stowed away on the thing in the first place....

So, I made an Armadillo. Okay, I'm torn between calling it a Beagle or Aardvark, but it's basically an Armadillo; I wanted to use those gigantic rover wheels, and I wasn't getting enough torque to get up the crater sides on the Mon. Unfortunately, the rocket I attempted to build to lift said rover shredded itself within moments of launch (TWR so tight I had to run 7 mainsails at full power on the base stage, second stage was running a Mainsail, 6 large SRBs, and 6 of the FL15 or whatever engines..) and I'm having trouble trying to find a way to hold this thing together. Here's what the rover looks like, just so you can get an idea of just how wide this load is: Any suggestions?

I bought the game a week ago; I've since put in over 40 hours. Yes, I probably have a problem. Issues aside, Hi. I'm pretty much sucked in, and it's been awesome. Seeing this active forum full of ideas, challenges and just...cool stuff has been great, and I look forward to rummaging through while asking for a few suggestions. While I enjoy working with stock parts, any recommendations of MUST HAVE!!! mods I should really pick up? Aside from MechJeb, of course. (Also picked up the Procedural Fairings.)