2.5m xenon tank

[wizzlebippi]

I know I'm probably in the minority, but I like using the ion engines. I recently built a craft with 13 ion engines and more xenon tanks than I care to count to drag a lander to Eeloo. The problem is this craft is impossible to refuel because I can't click on all the tanks to transfer fuel, which makes it useless on future missions. The best solution would be a 2.5m xenon tank. I know there's mods for this, but why can't there be a stock 2.5m xenon tank?

[Brotoro]

Because there wasn't a 2.5 meter Round8 tank for Squad to 'repurpose'?

Edited April 17, 2015 by Brotoro

[Pthigrivi]

There will be a new 1.25m tank which Im jazzed about, no idea how much it will hold. If it held 3-5k in xenon Id be pretty happy.

In the mean time I've built disposable tanks for large solar sailers by putting 2 PB-X150's with clamp-o-tron jr's on both ends, with 8 radial xenon tanks around it. Once its drained I dump it and dock on a new one.

[LABHOUSE]

There should be one, I agree.

Squad, repurpose the 1/8 orange tank rockomax to become xeon.

[wizzlebippi]

I'm glad other people feel the same way.

[OrbitusII]

I'd rather keep the 1/8 Jumbo for LFO, it's practical as-is and changing it would create a gap in the LFO tank lineup.

This is beside the fact that a 2.5m xenon tank is pushing the limits of practicality for xenon-propelled spacecraft.

[wizzlebippi]

How is a 2.5m xenon tank pushing the limits? Like it or not, you'll have to sit through lengthy burn times for any long range mission. You just have to cluster the ion engines to have adequate thrust.

[Pthigrivi]

I just don't know if its necessary before we get a large vasmir type engine. You're talking about a huge amount of weight for so little thrust. At some point you're just adding more engines to push more fuel to push more engines to push more fuel. You can get a nice manned mission to Jool with a science lab and all that down to 8 minute burns with 12 ion engines. You just have to be careful about weight. If each of the new 1.25m xenon canisters held 4k in fuel 2 of them should be more than enough.

[OrbitusII]

The ion engines are designed with small, long-distance probes in mind and not large manned missions. NERVAs have been the go-to for all sorts of large-scale interplanetary missions for a while now and taking options away from that in order to benefit the ion engines (which are used quite a bit less and for much smaller missions) doesn't make sense. You also need to remember that unlike the ROUND-8, the Rockomax X200-8 is a staple part and changing it would garner much more outcry than the donut.

[Technical Ben]

Only if a larger ion thrust can be made so as to not need multiple ions (perhaps name it a "plasma" thruster?).

[Windspren]

Just get NFP. If the largest 2.5 m Xenon tank isn't big enough, I don't know what is....

[Daze]

I quote the OP but i think it would be better to have along the 2.5mt tank a new ION engine (maybe a sort of Vasimir of 1.25mt?)