So I'm a bit of a n00b and need a little help saving Jeb...

[chris101186]

I'm playing career and I'm really, really new to this game (owned it like 2 weeks)

I wanted to attempt to orbit the Mun as part of a contract and for the Science!. i did this with Jeb as pilot but I ran out of fuel upon returning to Kerbin.

Now I have Jeb stranded in a vessel containing so much Science (100, I'd guess) in a orbit of Kerbin with AP 14,500,000 and PE 1,400,000I'd like to return the vessel as a whole as there is so much Science on board so subsequently save Jeb, my question is; Is there a way to refuel the FL-T400?I have the first 4 linear Tiers unlocked in RnD. I also have 'Heavy Rocketry',, 'Fuel Systems, 'Electrics' and 'Space Exploration' unlocked of the next tier. I have 203 Science...Any help would be awesome

[Mad_Maelstrom]

I think you are going to have to send a rescue mission for Jeb. If your spacecraft doesn't have docking ports you are not going to be able to refuel it. Assuming Jeb can EVA, an empty capsule controlled by a probe can rescue him. Jeb can collect all of the science on your spacecraft by flying to the instruments in EVA, right-clicking on them, and selecting "collect data" (or something like that). Also, if you have not rendezvoused in space yet you should check out some tutorials on it, it can be very anti-intuitive.

Scott Manley is a great resource. Below is a good video on rendezvous, it's an oldy but a goody.

https://youtu.be/AHkY3FusJIQ

[DeMatt]

If you can send Jeb on EVA (upgrade the Astronaut Complex to level 2), then you can get out and push. Really.

Wait until your vessel reaches apoapsis, aim it in the retrograde direction (so you know which way to push), then EVA Jeb and have him push the vessel with his EVA pack. Make sure you're pushing straight and not causing the vessel to tumble. Don't use up all his EVA fuel; save some to get back in the vessel so he can refuel. Repeat until your vessel's periapsis is low enough (~40 kilometres) to aerobrake effectively.

Or you can turn on "Infinite Fuel" in the debug menu (Alt+F12) and pretend you did the pushing.

Rendezvous (so you can transfer Jeb and all his science to a new craft) is probably beyond your skill level at this point.

[RocketPropelledGiraffe]

The only way to refuel your vessel in flight is by docking with a tanker. This is only an option if Jeb's craft has a docking port or if you have the Klaw ("Advanced Grabbing Unit") available.

Nevertheless, you can still get your science back home without refueling, if you have unlocked the first upgrade of the Astronaut Komplex. This allows you to perform EVA.

Send a craft with an empty seat up and perform an orbital rendez-vous maneuver, when you are close enough goe on EVA with Jeb. You can use the jetpack to fly to all your scientific instruments and right-click to grab the stored data and then get into the rescue ship and get everyone home.

[Snark]

There are two ways to refuel a craft in stock KSP:

- If it has a docking port, you can dock to it and transfer fuel.

- If you have a craft with a claw on it, you can grab hold with the claw and transfer fuel as if you were docked.

However, if neither of these is available to you, you do have another option: You don't need to recover the craft, just Jeb and the science. So you can do this:

1. Build a rescue craft that has enough fuel to make orbital rendezvous with your stranded one. The rescue craft needs to have a crew module with an empty slot that Jeb can ride in. The easy way to do this is just to have a Mk1 command pod, and put a probe core (like an Okto) on it, so that you can launch it unmanned.

2. IMPORTANT, before you launch, make sure there's an empty seat for Jeb. By default, the game will pick an available kerbal and put them in, so you just need to empty them out.

3. Rendezvous with your stranded craft (i.e. end up right next to it, at zero relative velocity). This is an important skill in KSP, not sure if you've done it before. If you haven't, here's a good opportunity to learn. "How do I rendezvous" is a whole other topic, though, so for now I'll just assume you know how to do this.

4. Send Jeb on EVA and collect all science from your stranded ship.

- You may have science that's still sitting in the instruments. Move Jeb next to an instrument, click on it, then click the button to "take data." Repeat for every instrument that has science in it.

- You may have science that's sitting in the command module of the stranded craft (e.g. surface samples, whatever). Have Jeb take the science out of there, too, by the same method.

5. Now all your yummy science is being carried by Jeb. Use his EVA thrusters to move across to the rescue craft, and board it. Now the science is on the rescue craft.

6. Bring the rescue craft home

7. Yay science!

[Bluelogic32]

I have no Idea what parts you've unlocked because I don't play career mode. So I'm just going to assume you don't have docking ports. Here is what I'd suggest to you as a beginner: Build a rocket with a space craft with room for 2 kerbals, make sure it can get into a circular 1, 400, 000m orbit and enough to adjust the AP to at least 2, 000, 000m, and then back to 1, 400, 000, and enough to return to Kerbin.

Step 1: Launch your craft into space (1, 400, 000 m AP and PH)

Step 2: Target the craft jeb is in. Doing this you will be able to see the two vessels closest approach.

Step 3: (Now would be a good time to quick save (F5)) Play with the maneuver nodes until you get an encounter with nothing larger then 5km distance.

Step 4: Switch over to Jeb and do a EVA. Collect the science data you have. And store if in the command pod, and get jeb back in there.

Step 5: Once the two vessels are In range of each other, EVA jeb and collect the science data, then aim for the rescue ship and shoot for it (you'll need to slow down though once you get close to it). Now would be a good time to quick save (f5)

Step 6: Once Jeb has reached the rescue ship, store the science data and get jeb on board.

Step 7: Return to Kerbin and recover the craft.

I can add pictures of what I'm talking about if you didn't understand. Just let me know.