Any ideas on getting this mammoth onto Eve and back off of it?

[FungusForge]

For some time I've wanted to to a Grand Tour mission. I decided to challenge myself and try to use one core vessel for the entire mission. The one core vessel I chose is this:

It is a revival of a shuttle of mine that broke in 1.0. On dry runs it can reach LKO. The only celestials I believe will present a significant challenge are Tylo and Eve. For Tylo I'm sure I can cook up some assistance package (whether external or internal has yet to be decided) that can get it safely on and off of Tylo. Eve on the other hand is a good deal different.

It clocks in at a whopping 152 tons, with dimensions of 10.2x28.9x39.9m. It bears 8 SCIMITAR engines from the Mk IV pack, as well as 3 Badgers from Vens stock Revamp

(which are angled as they are intended for when it launches as a shuttle). It also shielded docking ports on its nose and on its belly, as well as a Sr. port in the bay.

My question is this: Without modifying the core craft itself, can anyone conceive a possible method of getting this safely on and off of Eve? I'm not quite looking for an extremely detailed or surefire means of accomplishing this task, as I don't even know if its actually possible.

If you require more information/images on this vessel, or wish for a download so you can test things yourself, I will provide.

[TimePeriod]

I think it might be possible thou the amount of parts needed, weight and general insanity is too much.

Every time I have gotten to Eve I pretty much used a probe/ultralight lander to do the science.

I do think however, you must use some kind of staged rocket else the weight will simply be way too massive, huge drag, thick as syrup atmosphere, gravity.

Edited July 25, 2015 by TimePeriod

[Frank_G]

Spaceplanes and Eve... it was impossible back to version .90. It may be possible for a highly optimized system now (delta V requirements have been reduced), but honestly... the one i see here: no. You would still need to pack 8 - 9.000 m/s of delta V into a purely rocket powered plane.

And going to Tylo by spaceplane? Very inefficient because the weight of the totally useless wings alone will increase your fuel usage immensely.

In stock KSP i sense an early mission abort here...

[KerikBalm]

I'm not familiar with those modded engines or how OP'd they are.

Assuming they aren't too OP'd...

You would need to have lots of external boosters on this thing....

I can't imagine *why* you want to bring that thing down to Eve though...

I suppose you could mod an air augmented ram-rocket type engine, and then make it as an SSTO if you made the engines OP'd enough

[LethalShade]

152 tons ? How ? It weights three times more than my modified stock MK3 plane (57 tons)

[Foxster]

What just might be possible - and hugely fun to try - would be to pack an Eve lander and orbital return craft inside it. It would mean leaving this main craft in orbit but it would be halfway to what you are looking for.

Otherwise, no, you are never going to get that thing into orbit from Eve, or even close. Well, not unless you used some stupidly OP modded stuff.

Edited July 25, 2015 by Foxster

[FungusForge]

What just might be possible - and hugely fun to try - would be to pack an Eve lander and orbital return craft inside it. It would mean leaving this main craft in orbit but it would be halfway to what you are looking for.

Otherwise, no, you are never going to get that thing into orbit from Eve, or even close. Well, not unless you used some stupidly OP modded stuff.

Starting to look like the only option if I want to stick a flag on every world.

[Sharpy]

Note Eve atmosphere has thinned a lot since 1.0.3. My probes using an earlier parachute calculator should have slowed to 3m/s on a single drogue chute, meanwhile they were hitting the surface at 10+ m/s.

[Frank_G]

That is quite interesting Sharpy... Time to send a probe to Eve in my latest career game

And i love Foxters idea, having a return craft inside the cargo bay.

[Pecan]

At the opposite extreme: Gilly is always loads of fun with big craft and its 'odd' collision model. Park in orbit then EVA down and back using suit RCS.

[cantab]

A big, big launcher. Something that dwarfs the plane. Probably using 5 metre or larger fuel tanks and perhaps mod engines.

[Vanamonde]

How-to question moved to the how-to subforum.

[Laie]

A big, big launcher. Something that dwarfs the plane. Probably using 5 metre or larger fuel tanks and perhaps mod engines.

This.

It's still advisable to use a purpose-built vessel for Eve, but these days it's no longer strictly necessary. Between ISRU and the new aero, it has become possible to lift a lot of heavy gear from Eve using the tried-and-true MOAR BOOSTERS method. Still, expect this plane to at least triple in size, and you probably won't land it as a plane but as a tailsitter.