DART questions and thoughts.

[theJesuit]

I always figured that a 'Falcon 9' returnable rocket would be easier in stock:

1. Using a booster that lofted a payload into a high apogee
2. Then the booster landed at the stretch of land that is west of the KSC. 
3. It might be possible to land it before switching to the payload?
4. Then refueling the booster via plane for a backwards hop back to the KSC (or recovery or whatever).

For the DART download mod #shouldbestock  Has anyone thought of doing these things?

1. use ground anchor to create a space tower and grapple the asteroid

[theJesuit]

Another thought...

2. A space tower tall enough to give a radial velocity that exceeds escape velocity for an interplanetary transfer 

[KerikBalm]

20 hours ago, theJesuit said:

I always figured that a 'Falcon 9' returnable rocket would be easier in stock:

1. Using a booster that lofted a payload into a high apogee
2. Then the booster landed at the stretch of land that is west of the KSC. 
3. It might be possible to land it before switching to the payload?
4. Then refueling the booster via plane for a backwards hop back to the KSC (or recovery or whatever).

I do this all the time in 3x rescales. I also try to switch to the booster and reverse trajectory at Apogee to recover at KSC...

But winged boosters with air breathers are preferable for recovering on the runway (100%) recover

20 hours ago, theJesuit said:

For the DART download mod #shouldbestock  Has anyone thought of doing these things?

Never heard of that mod, what is it?

20 hours ago, theJesuit said:

1. use ground anchor to create a space tower and grapple the asteroid

There is a limit to the size of the physics bubble, you can't build one big enough to make a space elevator on Kerbin

13 hours ago, theJesuit said:

2. A space tower tall enough to give a radial velocity that exceeds escape velocity for an interplanetary transfer 

That requires a tower going past geostationary orbit.... not possible within the game engine limitations for any of the stock bodies.

[theJesuit]

1 hour ago, KerikBalm said:

I do this all the time in 3x rescales. I also try to switch to the booster and reverse trajectory at Apogee to recover at KSC...

Ah... someone who is living the dream!  I'm thinking that I'm going to try and do this with my limited kOS ability

1 hour ago, KerikBalm said:

Never heard of that mod, what is it?

I'm wondering about the space tower with the Didymos.  I wonder how far out it would have to go.  It's rotational period is quite high I understand?

 

[theJesuit]

@KerikBalm so... downloaded and had a small amount if time to try and land.  Harder than Gilly .  the landing leg springs can launch into space.

Rotational period is liken 2 hours 15mins

Turns out, according to KER, that synchronous orbit is 93 meters.  So, well within a physics bubble.

[KerikBalm]

1 hour ago, theJesuit said:

@KerikBalmRotational period is liken 2 hours 15mins

Turns out, according to KER, that synchronous orbit is 93 meters.  So, well within a physics bubble.

Well then for this non stock body, it seems like you can make it work

[theJesuit]

You can put  a ground anchor on it.  I managed to do so but then my kerbal accidental bumped up and into an escape velocity. But Kerwin didn't have an EVA pack.  It was a trial sandbox run anywho.

Once the ground anchor and a structural piece is there then it is trivial to place more parts to reach the 93 or so metres to geosync orbit

Also potentially it would also make a cycler to Duna.  With kerbalism itbcould have all the amenities, but massively shielded. Then a small craft with minimal delta vee could make the run from kerbin to the place then off at Duna. Lighter craft means less delta vee!

Will need to see this with transfer window planner.