Orbital fuel producton

[Mechtech]

In my ongoing attempt to get more out of orbital stations, I'm looking for means of making fuel depots self-sufficient so I don't have to deal with tedious refueling missions.

 

so are there any mods out there that allow for closed-loop* fuel production in orbit?

 

*meaning does not require a resource that is not generated in orbit. there's no point in trading LFO for something else, after all.

[Evanitis]

Alt + F12, toggle infinite fuel?

If you want unlimited resources out of thin air (well, thin vacuum), you might as well use the simple stock solution.

[Mechtech]

the idea would be to have a semi-plausable method (for example, [Algae farm that works like a solar panel] => 'biomass', crapton of power => [refining module] => LFO or MonoP) for Career or Science mode. if  I need ALL THE FUEL I can just put Crewmanifest into cheat-y mode or something.

 

essentially, I'm attempting to cut down on the need to work backend things like keeping my supply depot, well, supplied, so I can do the fun stuff like crashing my Duna SSTO again.

 

because honestly, I'm spending hours dicking around with assembling that danged Jool mission, it'd be really nice to not have to spend another three to six hours shuttling up fuel after I dock at the depot and realize there's not enough in storage.

[Mecripp]

You could just make your own FuelCell and use what ever INPUT_RESOURCE and OUTPUT_RESOURCE you want.

[wasml]

I thought RoverDude's Karbonite had some scoops that would collect Karbonite from low orbit - not sure if they're still there.

[theJesuit]

14 hours ago, Mechtech said:

the idea would be to have a semi-plausable method (for example, [Algae farm that works like a solar panel] => 'biomass', crapton of power => [refining module] => LFO or MonoP) for Career or Science mode...

essentially, I'm attempting to cut down on the need to work backend things like keeping my supply depot, well, supplied, ...

...it'd be really nice to not have to spend another three to six hours shuttling up fuel after I dock at the depot and realize there's not enough in storage.

The universe don't work like that unfortunately.  Algae don't produce mass from nothing.  You might simply see them as converters utilising solar energy or else the energy released in the conversion process.

Might you be suggesting something that would distill electromagnetic energy into mass perhaps at a ratio of e=m*c^2?

Can I suggest instead that a mission to capture an asteroid as a fuel source is your best option.  Not as tedious perhaps as refueled missions.  Either that or I am sure there is a mod that repeats LKO flights through coding magic if you aren't trying to avoid spending funds.

Peace.

[Fury1SOG]

1 hour ago, theJesuit said:

The universe don't work like that unfortunately.  Algae don't produce mass from nothing.  You might simply see them as converters utilising solar energy or else the energy released in the conversion process.

Might you be suggesting something that would distill electromagnetic energy into mass perhaps at a ratio of e=m*c^2?

Can I suggest instead that a mission to capture an asteroid as a fuel source is your best option.  Not as tedious perhaps as refueled missions.  Either that or I am sure there is a mod that repeats LKO flights through coding magic if you aren't trying to avoid spending funds.

Peace.

Routine Mission Manager can repeat flights. Also, Davon Supply Mod can let you order fuel shipments to your station.

I admit that I use Hyperedit if I feel something is getting too tedious.

[theJesuit]

2 hours ago, Fury1SOG said:

Routine Mission Manager can repeat flights. Also, Davon Supply Mod can let you order fuel shipments to your station.

There we go thanks Fury1SOG! RMM was what I was thinking as Davon Supply Mod was unknown to me till I read your post!

Been thinking of the EM distillation though in serious way and I'm sure colliding photons (if waves can collide) to create a matter/antimatter pair is somehow some form of legit way to begin the do what the OP is requesting.  Perhaps even with the large amount of energy (even including algae).

So, energy converted to matter/antimatter and separated.  Antimatter discarded and the matter (protons?) then placed in an orbiting fusion reactor to create the stock elements necessary for Liquid Fuel and Oxidiser.  Stock elements then fed to algae to produce the Liquid Fuel with the Oxidiser chemically crafted.

Seems a legitimately 'kerbalised' system and a mod should be requested.  Perhaps requiring three parts?  I hope someone can oblige!

Peace.

[genericeventhandler]

Look for the Bussard Fuel Scoop by WillStr1, I'm at work and my ability to search is restricted. 

It adds a Scoop that needs ElectricCharge that creates particles which are compressed into ore, then run through an ISRU to get you the fuel you want. Comes in a nice Universal wedge too.