Reusable rockets... auto return/land of stages

[Jimbodiah]

Hiya,

In light of what SpaceX and Blue Origin are working on, would it be possible to have a stage that is expelled along the way, autonomously land itself for retrieval? Looking at MechJeb, hint hint :cool:

[Pipcard]

It is possible. I use MechJeb for my [URL="http://imgur.com/a/QNgA2#2"]Kappa launch vehicle's first stage[/URL].

But it is also important to use [URL="http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/80292-1-0-2-Flight-Manager-for-Reusable-Stages-%28FMRS-v1-0-00%29"]Flight Manager for Reusable Stages[/URL] (it works for 1.0.4, haven't tried it with 1.0.5). Edited November 26, 2015 by Pipcard

[More Boosters]

You might want to look into Stage Recovery.

[Jimbodiah]

Pipcard... that would work if you get into orbit with that first stage, you'd have time to switch back to the main stage. But I often have a main stage that is rejected while still underway to the apoapsis. I've tried adding chutes but there is no control to have them open on time (besides manually switching back and waiting until it is safe).

I'll check into Flight Manager. [edit] that seems not to work on 1.0.5 according to the thread Edited November 26, 2015 by Jimbodiah

[More Boosters]

[quote name='Jimbodiah']Pipcard... that would work if you get into orbit with that first stage, you'd have time to switch back to the main stage. But I often have a main stage that is rejected while still underway to the apoapsis. I've tried adding chutes but there is no control to have them open on time (besides manually switching back and waiting until it is safe).

I'll check into Flight Manager. [edit] that seems not to work on 1.0.5 according to the thread[/QUOTE]

[url=http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/86677-1-0-4-StageRecovery-Recover-Funds-from-Dropped-Stages-v1-5-7-%287-11-15%29/page70]Stage Recovery[/url]

[Pipcard]

[quote name='Jimbodiah']Pipcard... that would work if you get into orbit with that first stage, you'd have time to switch back to the main stage. But I often have a main stage that is rejected while still underway to the apoapsis. I've tried adding chutes but there is no control to have them open on time (besides manually switching back and waiting until it is safe).[/QUOTE]
Flight Manager was supposed to make it so you didn't have to do that, but sadly it doesn't work in the latest version, as you have pointed out.

[obney kerman]

Try adding parachutes to the boosters of the aeroequus