TCIS's Guide To Surface Colonies

[Chel]

Exploring other planets and moons in Kerbal Space Program is a fun thing to do. You get to design the craft, send it off on it's mission, get to the planet, and then see what's on the surface. A short term option is sending a rocket, landing on the surface, and then lifting off again. But a long term option, like building a base, is great for scientific missions. But how do you build the base? How do you get it to the planet? This guide, for newbies and experienced players alike, is the answer.

Part 1: Construction

You've opened up the VAB, and want to build a base. There are so many choices. Do you want it to be a mobile base? Like a large rover? Do you want it to be a massive colony, connected by walkways or tunnels? Or do you, in the case of Laythe or Eve, want it to be a floating base? There's only one issue: Getting it to fit inside the launch vehicle. An easy design of a starting module is this: 1x Hitchhiker module. 1x Docking port hub. 1x Storage bay (or fuel tank), with landing legs on the sides. 4x Deployable solar panels (or two big ones). Place batteries either inside the storage bay, or on top of the hitchhiker module. 2.5m to 1.5m adapter. Antennae on the adapter.

That is a simple starting base module. It's not much, but once you have it down on the surface, you can create a better module, and transfer the crew over. Next, you want to design the launch vehicle. Depending on where you want to go, it will need varying amounts of fuel. I would build a probe core with large fuel tanks, and powerful (but efficient) engines. You will need a fairing to cover your base module, (so it doesn't get destroyed while going through Kerbin's atmosphere). Add SRBs if you want, and don't forget a method of power.

Part 2: Launch, and Nodes

Once you're happy with your craft, launch it. Before throttling up and lifting off, you should aim for a launch window (where two objects are closest to one another, therefore saving fuel). Once your in the air, follow the standard orbit guide (tilt 90' to the right, get to desired height above atmosphere, cut engines, re-engage engines, and watch apoapsis and periapsis meet. Once you are safely in orbit, you can release the fairing. Set a maneuver node to your target destination, and perform the necessary burn. From there on, simply timewarp. Once reaching your destination, do another burn to get in orbit. Now for the landing.

Part 3: Fancy heating effects and speed

You are preparing to land on the surface. If it has an atmosphere, then you will need a heat shield. Burn your engines towards the planet, and you will be heading on an impact trajectory (not really, as you plan to slow down and land). Once getting through the atmosphere, you will need to burn your engines to slow your descent. You should activate parachutes, and keep burning your engines. A good speed for landing is roughly 5m/s to 10m/s, as you don't want to get there and crash into the planet, after spending all that time and effort. Once your craft has safely landed, your mission is complete. Take science reports, look around, explore. You may want to send other missions to the planet, adding rovers or other modules. Just don't forget to dock them, or else they won't be connected.

 

Hope this guide helps you, TCIS.