Minmus Station Contract

[Dan Kerman]

Decided to try a contract for a station in Minmus orbit. One requirement is 6,000 units of fuel. Is there a simple way to achieve this other then lugging a Kerbodyne S3-14400 fuel tank? 2 smaller tanks in separate launches? Damn thing weighs in at 81 tons. I can get a 10 ton into orbit easily now but 80 tons will be challenging to my lack of launch vehicle building skills.

[bewing]

In general that contract requires landing, then mining and refining the fuel at minmus, then returning to orbit. Unless you want to haul something crazy with a ground launch at Kerbin, as you say.

 

[Aegolius13]

18 hours ago, Dan Kerman said:

Decided to try a contract for a station in Minmus orbit. One requirement is 6,000 units of fuel. Is there a simple way to achieve this other then lugging a Kerbodyne S3-14400 fuel tank? 2 smaller tanks in separate launches? Damn thing weighs in at 81 tons. I can get a 10 ton into orbit easily now but 80 tons will be challenging to my lack of launch vehicle building skills.

If the contract requires fuel only, you could leave the oxidizer and save half the weight.  Can either use LF-only parts (Mk 3 liquid fuel tanks would be great for this), or drain the oxidizer out of regular tanks.  Of course, that fuel might not be as useful at the destination without oxidizer,  but if you're planning on using nukes, then it's great for that.  Or you can mine some oxidizer, or send it up later.

[Tacombel]

And yes, you can send it in several trips.

[Dan Kerman]

Thanks for the responses. Will attempt to send an empty tank, or two smaller empty tanks, and fill them from the surface. I sent survey scanners to the Mun...  trying to figure this part out, finding a site, extracting and refining.