Working on Eve Visit & Return

[BenKerman]

Hi,

In the past few months I've been trying to visit and return from Eve.  I've successfully landed my vehicle on Eve a few times, but haven't managed to get back to orbit for one reason or another.  It's a tricky balance of competing interests.

Successful Eve EDL  - Imgur  This guy had a fatal flaw -- the mining drills inside the fairing blew up on EDL.  I think this was because the fairing terminated on the fuel tank that the mining drill was attached to.  It might also be because in extended position the drill went below the heat shield, but I'm hoping this was not the case, because I didn't account for that in my latest ship...

Latest ship:  Latest Eve Ship - Imgur   It's a bit ugly.  The trusses were necessary because the vehicle was flexing too much in the middle during Kerbin take-off.  As a matter of fact, it was quite difficult to fly even in this configuration, which was successful in getting to orbit.

Next I'll refill this guy in orbit and re-use the lowest stage to get me to Eve and then brake into orbit and then land.  Hopefully the drills won't explode during Eve EDL.

I don't think they designed the game to make returning from Eve that do-able.  It wasn't the first thing on their minds.

I'm doing this in sandbox mode because I kept running out of money in Career mode.  These things are expensive.

 

Ben

Successful Eve EDL:  

Latest ship: 

[Vanamonde]

If you achieve it don't tell me because I'll be mad and jealous. 

[BenKerman]

Hahaha...I just realized I forgot to add landing gear to my latest ship, so I'll need to land this sucker and then launch a new one.  

 

[Vanamonde]

These things happen. 

[BenKerman]

I managed to land safely, and have now re-fueled the ship and am ready-ish for takeoff!  I have some cool screenshot, but for some reason imgur won't let me upload them.  I'll try again later.

 

Oddly enough I find that I can't do an EVA.  One time I tried to EVA, and my kerbonaut "crashed into the terrain" and exploded.  I think the gravity is too great.  Another EVA avoided that problem, but then the Kerbal couldn't climb back into the ship -- again, I suppose too much gravity.

Edited June 30, 2021 by BenKerman

[BenKerman]

Ship is fueled up, and extra equipment has been jettisoned in preparation for takeoff.  It's at about 1800 m above sea level, and the ship should have more than 8000 m/s delta-v in a vacuum.  I wonder if it will work.  I'll probably fly later today or tomorrow.

[BenKerman]

Ok, this guy will not get me to orbit.  The farthest i can get is maybe 10 or 15 km in altitude at best, and usually i lose control well before that.  I will post a video later.  Need a new design.

[BenKerman]

Here's a video of my unsuccessful launch:  https://youtu.be/yZeIsGAFFMA

 

Back to the drawing board again.