Orbital rescue vehicle/shuttle dV

[Freshmeat]

 

I am building on a small craft to rescue kerbals, catch science from probes to my orbital station, transfer crew from ships to SSTO's etc. The question is: How much dV to put on such a craft? I will eventually need to refill it, but every refill is going to take some orbital transfers. On the other hand, if I pack to much fuel from the start, I loose out to the tyranny of the rocket equation. If you have such a craft (stock engines and system), what kind of dV have you used, and what is your experience with it?

[Tex_NL]

Don't know the exact dV numbers (I don't have MechJeb or KER installed on 1.2) but 580 units of liquid fuel in a 12.69 ton craft powered by an LV-N Nerva will get you from LKO to Minmus or Mun orbit and back with ease. More than enough to shuttle science around and herd stranded Kerbals back to your station for pick-up.

Edited October 9, 2016 by Tex_NL

[Aegolius13]

I am a big fan of the flat 800 tank plus Terrier for smallish craft.  If you just have a small lander can on top plus basic solar panels etc., you'll be pushing 4,000 delta-v.  A bit less if you have a bigger crew cabin, like the hitchhiker.  And it makes for a nice compact shape that's easy to maneuver, and aerobrakes well if you end up going to one of the moons and want to come back cheaply.  You could look at the Spark too, but I'd take the better thrust of the Terrier over the small delta-v savings the Spark might offer.  

 

[Freshmeat]

@Tex_NL You sold me on that craft. I toyed around with mk2 parts, but that is quite an inspiration to go back to VAB.