reusable rebuildable Eve ship?!

[Arugela]

I was watching someone video where he launched a big ship to get a retrogade orbit around kerbol... It gave me a random unrelated idea. What about a reusable ship for eve to save space.(it's not totally reusalbe. But resuable from the missions perspective.)

This may be similar to some other attempts in logic but i don't think it's the same.

1. First launch section is designed to launch from Kerbal, seperate and fly itself to Eve. It has mining equipment(for refueling on Eve) and fuel sectioned off for it's own transfer burn from kerbin to Eve.

2. Any other sections have the same design(if needed) except the mining equipment and all travel to Eve separately after launch.

3. After each parts get to even it reconnects as on large vessel.(or as many parts are needed connect.) This is presuming they can travel on less fuel getting to Eve.

4. It lands on Eve.

5. Carry out missions and relaunch as one massive vessel shedding parts as needed to get into orbit and get the small capsule to Kerbin with any science pods if possible. If not the rest is sent back via satelite.

 

It should be designed to shed whatever it needs for takeoff with whatever less mass from dropping off stuff as possible on Eve ascent. The difference makes it launchable from kerbin then with less parts Eve. One "Stage" meant to get everything off Kerbin. The rest designed to get off Eve with only the needed parts.

Basically trying to save fuel by making each part carry itself and lessen total fuel for the return trip. but still having anything like breakaway empty pods or other equipment to get off eve... Or is it just as good to make one large ship to Eve and do the same thing. I'm assuming the thrust needed for eve may make this pointless though as the extra mass would be near pointless... Or could you use this to make it so the ship can save a little fuel by minimizing the initial ascent off kerbin and get each pert into orbit and minimize an even take off later? (AKA seperate at 20k and fly both/multiple sections up to orbit and reconnect them in orbit or at desitination.)

If this is not usefull for Eve is it usefull in any other cases in the game. Or are there logical cases where it could be useful but not in this game? Is there a case where you can launch with lots of empty tanks or anything odd from Kerbil and fill them on even to get off the planet in the end(not and ssto though.).

I would try this but I have an issue with the game or my computer atm and I haven't fixed it yet.

Edit: not sure if this makes any sense. But is there any use for taking apart your rocket(possibley moving them around seperately) and putting it back together for missions? Especially since we have mining now.

I imagine this would come out like a normal Eve mission craft though. although thinking about it would this be better for zero atmosphere destination like tylo or other places. Maybe as a resuable multipart rocket for travelling multiple planets in one go. Maybe if you combined the idea with lots of ore storage tanks... Which sounds alot like a normal mission craft for the mun... Still. 8)

 

Edited January 12, 2017 by Arugela

[Aegolius13]

Generally you do not save fuel by launching a rocket in parts.   More likely it takes more fuel and money to split up, since larger enines tend to be more efficient.   Also,  if you launch in pieces you have to double up on probe cores, etc.  The major exception would be a ship that's very bad aerodynamically when assembled,  like a cross shaped space station. 

It is feasible to launch with empty tanks and refuel in space.   Alternatively,  you can launch with the upper stage tracks full and use them with detachable launch engines.   Then refill in space. 

It could be useful to seperate and land a mining module to refuel.   Especially if you intend to make multiple trips up and down to a planet or moon to mine.   But you can still do this, even if you launch the ship in one piece. 

I have never tried refueling on Eve.  It should be possible,  but it's pretty hard to get stuff down to the surface intact.   It would be quite difficult to get heavy and draggy mining equipment back off the surface.   Very hard to get anything more off the surface than a simple capsule.  It's likely easier to refuel on the Mun, Minmus or Gilly, where you can reuse the mining equipment. 

 

[Sharpy]

9 hours ago, Aegolius13 said:

It is feasible to launch with empty tanks and refuel in space.   Alternatively,  you can launch with the upper stage tracks full and use them with detachable launch engines.   Then refill in space. 
 

The simple approach is to have first stage with disposable boosters (SRBs), and second stage to reach orbit and refuel there, with moderate thrust high ISp engines.

 

Quote

I have never tried refueling on Eve.  It should be possible,  but it's pretty hard to get stuff down to the surface intact.   It would be quite difficult to get heavy and draggy mining equipment back off the surface.   Very hard to get anything more off the surface than a simple capsule.  It's likely easier to refuel on the Mun, Minmus or Gilly, where you can reuse the mining equipment. 

Landing on Eve is quite easy if you're not too picky about the landing spot. Mining on Eve is quite easy too. Atmospheric flight is quite easy with electric props or nuclear jets (not stock unfortunately) so your ISRU platform may be on an airplane meant to travel Eve to your ship's landing spot. The real difficulty begins on ascent from anywhere below 7000m. You need really mighty boosters which you need to lose around 10-15km when you can start using somewhat more efficient engines. And you won't go far beyond low Eve orbit regardless - it's good to have another refueling craft there, say, picking fuel from Gilly.