What should I do next?

[FireBlast]

Hi this is my first post so please tell me if I'm doing anything wrong.

OK on my main save I've done Probed and manned missions to Mun,Mun surface,Minmus, Minmus surface and a probe only landing on Duna. I've created a Kerbin space station and a Mun space station but I am not sure what to do next. I don't fancy going to eve but I still haven't done any science recovery from Duna or a manned mission. I either needs some tips on how to get a manned mission to Duna and back or any suggestions on what to do next(please don't suggest a surface base of any kind as I have ruled them out as pointless except minmus mining bases.)

[Chiron0224]

Manned Duna landing is probably your next step.  I've only done it a couple of times but I do mine Apollo style with a Command and service mother ship and a disposable lander.  One advantage that Duna has is that it has an atmosphere so you can make use of parachutes to help kill velocity thus conserving a lot of fuel on the lander.  Here is an album of my own Duna mission, don't click if you don't want spoilers and want to figure it out on your own but do click it if you want an example of one way it can be done http://imgur.com/gallery/BCeWu

[Magzimum]

I say a Kerballed mission to Duna or Gilly! 

Duna is the bigger challenge, but by the description you give us, you should be able to pull it off. Don't be afraid to fail, then you will only learn faster. If you wanna take it slow, you can first get your Kerbal in orbit and back. But you are probably ready to land them on the surface.

Gilly is also fun. It's super-low gravity and weird orbit gives new challenges. With Gilly, orbit and landing are nearly the same thing. So if you go there, make sure to touch the surface. (I can't really call it landing). 

 

Edited November 30, 2016 by Magzimum

[septemberWaves]

Okay here's the important question: can you do rendezvous and docking yet? If not, you should practice. Assemble a multi-module station around the Mun, because the lower orbital velocity there gives you more room for error on docking (e.g. around 20m/s instead of several hundred for a moderately efficient rendezvous). Most interplanetary missions pretty much require the ability to dock; you can do them with a direct ascent profile but it's rather difficult.

Now, when you can dock spacecraft in orbit with reasonably good efficiency, a Duna mission is probably the first step to take towards making a successful interplanetary space program. You'll want a Duna lander, and a mothership that waits in Duna orbit. Duna missions are pretty easy once you know how to do orbital rendezvous; not much more challenging than the Mun. You'll need to know how to find the right launch window, because you can only get to Duna efficiently at certain times.

[Ty Tan Tu]

Looking at your already impressive accomplishments, how about landing an unmanned mining ship on Duna with a large fuel tank and some type of habitation module? That way you make make fuel on Duna for a return trip to Kerbin while you are planing your manned mission.

Edited December 1, 2016 by Ty Tan Tu

[DocMoriarty]

Not sure how you are doing with science and if you are actually playing career, but if so i recommend doing missions on Mun (all large craters, each is its own biome) and to Minmus to do and return science so that you can unlock most of the research tree.

I usually have unlocked nearly all the science before I start going to other planets. And when i do, i usually assemble large exploration "ships" in Kerbin orbit, go to Minmus to fuel them up and then send them to their target planet.

 

[Sharpy]

Completely independently, send a multi-microlander mission to Eve. Unkerbed, a carrier craft with a bunch of tiny landers to radio the science from multiple biomes.

 

Also, once you unlock the orbital scanner (and ScanSat if you have installed) send small satellites with basic science and scanners to EVERYWHERE.

Especially with ScanSat the scan takes time. By the time you're ready to send the actual missions, you want to have good maps ready.

Edited December 2, 2016 by Sharpy

[RentedTritium]

Manned Duna was the first time I felt like I was overseeing something really grand. That was the first truly large rocket I launched and the first time my margin for error was that low. I was taking notes and making careful adjustments the whole time. 

I wouldn't need to if I did it right now though. That first time was the best. 

THAT SAID, when I was where you are the next thing I did was get big eccentric polar relays around Eve, Gilly, Duna, and Ike to get good coverage everywhere. Seeing all those nice green lines felt like a real accomplishment. 

Edited December 2, 2016 by RentedTritium

[FireBlast]

Thanks guys for the help! Since this post was made I've put a relay in orbit of duna and Ike and I've performed an apollo style manned mission to Duna. I've already created a ship to land a probe on Eve as well. Thanks these tips really helped!