My D.A.M. Buster Project

[maceemiller]

Hi all. OK, I have an idea for my next mission called the D.A.M. Buster Project (Duna Anomaly Marker) where I want to visit all the anomalies I have scanned on Duna but I want to do it in one trip out there and return home with all Kerbals intact.

Now, I don't want any "how to do's" here but I have 2 ideas and would like your opinion of which one you think I should try.

I'm quite excited about this mission! Its for me the biggest I've attempted so your poll choices will inspire me to start building

(Mining is not an option for me as I've never tried it)

Thank you for your time.

Edited October 19, 2015 by maceemiller

[Dfthu]

Instead of the space station with multiple landings you could build a big lander with mining stuff and hop around and refuel instead of flying all the way back to the space station.

[maceemiller]

Instead of the space station with multiple landings you could build a big lander with mining stuff and hop around and refuel instead of flying all the way back to the space station.

Mmmm......mining is something I've not tried before. Maybe I will send a test mining craft to the Mun and see how I get on. It's something thats never appealed to me though.

[Monkey29399]

You could also build a spaceplane. You could fly around Duna with the spaceplane and when you need fuel you could mine it or refuel at a space station.

[maceemiller]

You could also build a spaceplane. You could fly around Duna with the spaceplane and when you need fuel you could mine it or refuel at a space station.

Been looking at VTOL craft and getting inspiration from them......not so much a spaceplane but more like Space 99.......

Spent last night trying to fly planes and hated it if im honest. Wont be using any type of plane on Duna!

Edited October 22, 2015 by maceemiller

[Generalstarwars333]

Well, have you tried the aeris 3a? that flies like a dream. also, try putting a ramjet on it. pluss, spaceplanes can be more efficient for career mode since you only have to pay for the fuel to get the passengers to space, not the lower stages.

[Dafni]

Have you seen Cupcake Landers? Sounds like a perfect mission for a VTOL lander. If you want to build your own ship his crafts can still give you a lot of inspiration. Check them out! He even has a mining lander, the Pickaxe. A Pickaxe paired up with any lander can give you endless Duna flying.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/27424-Cupcake-s-Dropship-Dealership

Either way, you should definitely try out mining. Refueling is just too cool to pass up on.

[HippieGold]

Go for the station dude.

LOTS of fuel and at least 2 landers. Just only send one out one at a time. Whatever you do, DO NOT put all your eggs in one basket, because that basket can, and probably will, explode.

My basic explorer vehicle, the CSV Tornado, still has 2 landers on it even if only one is in use. So if something goes wrong, the other lander can go down to save them.

And you should always expect something to go wrong.

[maceemiller]

Have you seen Cupcake Landers? Sounds like a perfect mission for a VTOL lander. If you want to build your own ship his crafts can still give you a lot of inspiration. Check them out! He even has a mining lander, the Pickaxe. A Pickaxe paired up with any lander can give you endless Duna flying.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/27424-Cupcake-s-Dropship-Dealership

Either way, you should definitely try out mining. Refueling is just too cool to pass up on.

Mining in operation......

- - - Updated - - -

Ok, quick update on the mission. Ive sent a heavy lander with mining equipment into orbit around Kerbin, then docked with a "mother ship" I sent up, however I miscalculated the dV and had to transfer fuel from lander to mother......first problem.

Landed on Duna, no problem there.

Second problem, ive never mined before but my god, does it suck electric charge! Its gunna take me ages to mine and refuel my lander as the charge goes nowhere!

Ive just switched my laptop back on to decide what to do.....maybe send a kerbal to install more batteries or start new missions and keep going back to fill up.....very kerbal imho!

Either way, I love the way that all the planning, flying, errors and problems create new ideas and problem solving.

What other game can do this to a human brain

Next mission update hopefully wont be too long........

UPDATE - first anomaly visited, flag left and screen shot taken.......on to the next

Edited October 29, 2015 by maceemiller

[maceemiller]

Ok, another anomaly visited......living long and prospering

[maceemiller]

My work on Duna is done now just to get home and post some piccys of my trip........

[Guest]

You could just grab an asteroid...

[maceemiller]

Well, I've arrived back on Kerbin safe and sound

I have pictures of anomalies but I wont post them here so as not to spoil the fun for others, so here are a few of my craft bringing Bill home......