Most Basic Mun and Back Capable Vehicle

[Simmer]

Hi Guys i need to fly to the Mun, Orbit, Land then fly back to Kerbin. Would like to get as much science as possible too. Ill post a picture of my TechTree, is it possible and whats the best parts to use? Any help appreciated. Hope this is not too much of a novice question. Many thnx. Oh and i do have enough science to get one more block in the tree below 112points.

[capi3101]

I'm in the middle of a low-tech run for science my own self at the moment. In addition to your tech tree, where are your buildings at the moment (VAB level, R&D level, etc.)?

If I would suggest one to unlock right away, it'd be Electrics. You'd gain the OKTO core and along with it you'd gain the ability to pilot a craft without a Pilot at the helm - and the potential to harvest thousands of data points from Minmus...

This topic has been brought up recently. I'll point you to two different posts from the same thread regarding early science strategies: one from Streetwind and the other by Geshosskopf. In your case, pay particular attention to Geschosskopf's advice; he's been kicking butt on the science-gathering front since 0.22 (i.e. the beginning). That low-tech run? I'm following their advice and I can tell you right now their strategies work (I'd only add that you should level up Mission Control prior to step #7 of Streetwind's strategy, and that only because it's necessary to do what he suggests doing...).

Edited August 6, 2015 by capi3101

[Tatonf]

How about this ?

The boosters are equipped with LV-T30, the main stage with LV-T45 and the lander with an LV-909.

[capi3101]

How about this ?

Slight design change - on the lander itself (S2 in the pic above), I'd recommend replacing one of the FL-T400 tanks with a quad of radially attached FL-T100 tanks, and I'd recommend two or three of the little mini lander legs attached to each FL-T100; this will shorten and widen out the lander's base. If you try to land that design on the Mun as is, it's almost certainly going to tip. You'll have to manually pump fuel from the outer tanks when the center runs out of fuel; that's the main problem with the radial tank idea (and it'd be particularly bad if the center tank ran out of gas during......say, landing). I'd suggest unlocking Fuel Systems (for ducts), but I still think Electrics should be a higher priority.

[Tatonf]

I actually tested it and managed to land it without problem. Of course you have to pick a relatively flat landing site.

I agree on the fact that a wide base would be better, but it requires at least manual fuel pumping, which is only available if you upgrade the R&D building to lvl 2.

And if you're about to launch it you probably already spent money on :

-VAB and Launch Pad lvl 2 for launching it

- Mission Control and Tracking Station lvl 2 for maneuvre nodes

- Astronaut Complex lvl 2 for EVA

Actually a mission on Minmus would be wiser at this point.

[ghpstage]

My early career Mun lander.

It does need Heavier Rocketry, but not Aviation. It has only a minimalistic payload of a pod chute and mat lab and uses radial SRBs in order to keep the parts count down to not need the expensive VAB upgrade (27 parts total one of the spare three could be used for a thermometer).

This tends to be my fourth launch on hard career after a goo armed flea, an orbiter and a combined Mun flyby-orbit mission with only the astro complex and landing pads upgraded, i've not seen anyone manage a third launch to Mun landing so its comfortably among the more 'basic' designs.

I would advise that you consider the first Mun landing be primarily to complete the very valuable landing contract and things you can tie to it (science from surface, science from space around, and flag planting contracts) and to open new milestone contracts (hopefully Minmus very soon after!). Grab science opportunistically while your there, but the most effective target for a dedicated science grabbing mission is Minmus as its much easier to land on due to gravity and the flats biomes freeing up fuel for more payload and more biome hopping.

Any help appreciated. Hope this is not too much of a novice question.

Don't worry, doing this with basic tech and infrastructure is far from a novice question! Edited August 7, 2015 by ghpstage

[Phil deCube]

In my career mode tutorial for beginners (Part 3) I used this craft to get to Mun. It has one more tech tree box than you do, the fuel ducts. It's only an orbiter, not a lander, but you can get hundreds of science points for the right orbit.

Edited August 7, 2015 by Phil deCube

[Simmer]

Thnx Guys, before i attempted the landing i thought i would just orbit some planets getting science then fly back to Kerbin and land to get some more Tech upgrades. I got a huge amount of science and on the final descent to Kerbin when i opened the parachute it had overheated and the last few hours wasted.. ahh well i need to work out why the parachute got damaged. Thnx for all the help guys.

[legoclone09]

Thnx Guys, before i attempted the landing i thought i would just orbit some planets getting science then fly back to Kerbin and land to get some more Tech upgrades. I got a huge amount of science and on the final descent to Kerbin when i opened the parachute it had overheated and the last few hours wasted.. ahh well i need to work out why the parachute got damaged. Thnx for all the help guys.

Right click on the chute and when it says 'Safe' you can deploy it. Never deploy it during re-entry or when you are going faster than 240 m/s. And keep opening altitude at 1000, it takes a while to open.

[Fearless Son]

Thnx Guys, before i attempted the landing i thought i would just orbit some planets getting science then fly back to Kerbin and land to get some more Tech upgrades. I got a huge amount of science and on the final descent to Kerbin when i opened the parachute it had overheated and the last few hours wasted.. ahh well i need to work out why the parachute got damaged. Thnx for all the help guys.

Yeah, you can do a lot in a low orbit over an airless body. Is your astronaut facility upgraded to the point that you can do EVAs? If so, that opens up a wealth of science options. Send a capsule to orbit the Mun or Minmus, make sure its orbit is low but not enough to crash into anything, then just wait to drift over distinct biomes. Have your crew go EVA, take an EVA report, get back inside. If you have electricity generation and an antenna, you can send the results back right away with no loss, otherwise you can get it back when you return. Make a few incremental inclination adjustments and drift over a whole new set of biomes. That will rack up a ton of science without ever actually having to land.

Incidentally, I find Minmus easier to reach, land on, and escape from, than I do the Mun. The lower gravity makes landings much more forgiving than the Mun and getting back to Kerbin is much easier. If you are not confident in your lander (lack of fuel transferring or safe landing gear,) that might be a better place to start.