Kerpollo XIII with seperate Mun-Lander [ERKLE Docking Mod required]

[Alpha372]

I played a little bit around with Erkle's docking mod and came up with this design:

The upper stages consist of the landing module and the Service-module.

After boosting into a 100km orbit you detach from the booster stage, detach the lander, turn around 180° with your RCS and dock your lander to your servicemodule [working].

(Everything from here does not work at the moment because of incompabilities with 0.17 when using warp)

After that the CSM provides the Engine power to bring you into Munar orbit.

Once in orbit (i would suggest a low orbit) move 2 kerbals over into the LEM, and land with Mechjeb landing autopilot. The last kerbal orbits the mun in the CSM. After your time on the mun use mechjebs ascent autopilot for a rendevouz orbit .....dock up again , move the kerbals over to the CSM, decouple the LEM and use the attached Mechjeb to let it collide with the mun. Go back to kerbin using the CSM, drop the SM before reentry and land. Mission accomplished.

EDIT: even the Booster stage is equipped with mechjeb ..it has plenty of fuel left after 100km orbit is achieved....so you can use the engine to de-orbit it.

EDIT2: Added short Youtube demonstration of docking:

EDIT3: For those of you who enjoy long videos.....a full mission:

EDIT4: make sure you pick an 15km orbit around the mun and replace the config in the ERKLE warp clamp BACE folder (in your parts folder)

with this one

http://www./?qvxy0el256w6lex or manually change it back from a "strut" to a "decoupler" ....as it was before the 0.5 experimental (In part.cfg change 'module = Strut' to 'module = DecouplerGUI')

to reenable the decoupler function of the warpclamp

Mods used:

-[Plugin][Part][0.16] Erkle Mods - Warp Capable Docking Clamp - v0.5 experimental , can be found on page 23: http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/forum/showthread.php/20503-Plugin-Part-0-16-Erkle-Mods-Warp-Capable-Docking-Clamp-v0-4-released/page23

-[0.17] Crew-able empty pods 0.3.1 http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/forum/showthread.php/15016-0-17-Crew-able-empty-pods-0-3-1?highlight=crewable

-[PLUGIN, PART, 0.17] Anatid Robotics / MuMech - MechJeb - Autopilot - v1.9.3 http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/forum/showthread.php/12384-PLUGIN-PART-0-17-Anatid-Robotics-MuMech-MechJeb-Autopilot-v1-9-3

have fun

Edited October 8, 2012 by Alpha372

[Alpha372]

with the new experimental release 0.5 warping works again ..... but he changed the clamp from a decoupler to a strut, can be fixed with: In part.cfg change 'module = Strut' to 'module = DecouplerGUI', the one that looks like a decoupler is still a decoupler though.

First test was promising ....but the change of SoI ripped the ships apart without damage though ....(1000x warp) so maybe dewarp before changing SoI

[Alpha372]

Added a short youtube presentation of the docking procedure

[Oddbin]

Very interesting. Really like the whole flip round and dock.

[Alpha372]

Very interesting. Really like the whole flip round and dock.

thank you very much

[Alpha372]

Added a full mission:

[Tommyrocket]

This is a very nice design!

[Alpha372]

Some pictures from the mission

[gmpd2000]

I was going to make a craft with the same name

[Alpha372]

I was going to make a craft with the same name

haha , everybody does ..... feel free to do it just call the thread something like "Kerpollo XIII ...the other one ...you know" or else

[gmpd2000]

haha , everybody does ..... feel free to do it just call the thread something like "Kerpollo XIII ...the other one ...you know" or else

Then i will name it, "Kerpollo...The one by 2000gmpd"

[gunlugga]

quick question, when i fly this thing, the LEM engine never seems to work? any thoughts?

[jemo1117]

Hey when i download the file and try to load it up it says cannot load craft because Mark 1-2emptypod is missing.Any ideas? thanks!

-Dale

[Alpha372]

quick question, when i fly this thing, the LEM engine never seems to work? any thoughts?

check the staging . the LEM engine needs to be activated before you decouple the LEM from your upper stage (make sure you have the newest version of mechjeb , and erkle mod 0.5 experimental (page23 of the thread), and be sure to activate the LEM engine with no thrust ....u need every bit of fuel later)

EDIT: LEM only works if atleast one kerbal is on board.....

Edited October 7, 2012 by Alpha372

[Alpha372]

Then i will name it, "Kerpollo...The one by 2000gmpd"

haha very nice

[gunlugga]

thanks dude:D