Help With Lander on Ike

[keyscapeunit]

Hi all,

In my Science Mode game, I have successfully sent an orbital scanner and a little rover to map out the best place for mining operations on Ike.  I have also landed a larger craft with mining and ore processing capabilities, yay.

I'm now trying to find a build for a lander that will connect to the ore processor, load fuel, and then transport it to a smaller craft that can launch it up into orbit for an orbital refueling station.  I did this on Minmus but I'm not sure I had the best design.

Does anyone have any simple landers that can drive, connect to one craft, detach, and drive/connect to another craft?  I could use my ore processing station to launch back into orbit but that seems like a lot of fuel wasted plus I have to bring it back down to the surface.  A smaller more nimble transport seems more ideal.

I'm looking for both the Kerbal launch loadout and the final landing product.

TIA!

[Foxster]

I'd probably make a rover with a big tank (delivered empty) for a body and a claw on the front. 

[Snark]

Gameplay question moved to Gameplay Questions.

[Pecan]

The biggest problem with surface bases/miners is docking the separate components as slopes and suspension can both wreck the alignment of docking-ports.  I'd suggest the KIS/KAS mods so you can connect a pipeline whenever you want to.  With this you just need any old rover/lander that can get close enough to the miner.

[Vanamonde]

As Foxster says, it is possible to transfer fuel through the Claw. I used a rover to do it. 

  

It is somewhat slow and laborious, though. 

[Plusck]

My first mining craft was ugly, but it was relatively balanced for flight in both directions, so I just kept adding to it.

Since the easiest way to ensure everything is the same height is to attach the biggest landing legs with mirror symmetry to the centreline (whether 1.25 or 2.5m tanks), I just do that. I have a low-profile rover that can run underneath and dock to move different bits around, but I've actually tended just to leave it attached and strutted (kinda like leaving the factory wrapping on).

 

[Yasmy]

EVA Transfer mod. Much simpler than KIS/KAS. Only needs one part, and can link to craft without any modded parts, i.e., all your already in place vessels. Very handy.

[Pecan]

8 hours ago, Yasmy said:

EVA Transfer mod. Much simpler than KIS/KAS. Only needs one part, and can link to craft without any modded parts, i.e., all your already in place vessels. Very handy.

ooh, I've missed that one.  Have to give it a try - thanks for the tip

[Jaeleth]

1. Land directly on the base, use a large docking port, on Ike should be ok. If unconfortable yet with precise landings use mechjeb2, that's the way I solved this problem. Although the klaw is a good prospect too.

2. Better still, my new approach, build a BIG ship with large fuel tanks, adequate engines, an ISRU, gigantor solar panels, ore storage, batteries, nuclear power generators and a couple of mining drills.

land ship on good mining spot, let one small probe there to mark the spot. Drill, convert, launch to orbit, refuel all ships. 

Fuel efficiency of this is less than land base, but not that much less, but game time efficiency increases ten fold!

this method only works on no atmosphere, preferably low gravity, worlds.... But than again, why would you build a mining station on any other kind of world?