Project ELTER: World's #2 Eve Return with stock parts in 0.17!

Kerbal123_Furry · January 22, 2023

Last month when I was surfing in the forum for topics about 0.17, I found a topic about Eve return. I was shocked by this idea, which was treated as impossible before.

I did tons of testing but none of these designs succeed entering Eve orbit.

But, just before I give up, a video of Scott Manley appeared.

He made it.

I copied his craft and made some tiny tweaks, reduced this craft's part count.

So, let's return his miracle!

Kerbal123_Furry · January 23, 2023

The Vessels

Lander

\

The lander have 743 parts, ~1300 tons. This size had reached the limit of stock 0.17 craft.

Still, heavily crossfeeded. This spacecraft lowers the FPS to ~0.85FPS.

As you can see, there are plenty of struts between the boosters.

Rescuer

Kerbal123_Furry · January 23, 2023

Part 1--Launch Lander

Launching this craft is truly difficult because of the lagging issue, even with the help of mechjeb.

Kerbal123_Furry · January 24, 2023

Part 2--Transfer Lander

The center stage's fuel went out quickly.

From now on this craft will be powered by a single NERV.

Due to the NERV's poor TWR(0.03 at kerbin), the ejection burn was separated into 3 kicks.

As you can see, this lander stacked 2 layers of boosters.

File:Screenshot584.png

After hours of acceleration, spent plenty of fuel, a direct orbit to eve finally appeared!

Deddly · January 24, 2023

It's pretty cool to see the nostalgic retro visuals of 0.17 compared with the footage and images we have been getting of KSP 2 lately. Kerbal Space Program has come a long way, but it has always been a great game from day one.

Kerbal123_Furry · February 1, 2023

Part 3--Landing

With the help of MechJeb, I successfully predicted the landing spot after aerobraking on an escaping trajectory.

The landing spot is a plateau, which is 11000m high and ~35000m wide, it's the highest point on Eve in 0.17.

With the help of parachutes and aerospikes, I made a landing on Eve.

Sadly due to the craft's structure the pilot cant leave the pod.

2009Tartigrade · February 1, 2023

Woohoo: now the hard part coming home!

Kerbal123_Furry · February 6, 2023

Part 4--Ascending From Eve

At this plateau i can easily escape the lower atmosphere.

Chutes dethatched!

Boosters rain onto the ground. The lander will rise in a not-so-steep route, gravity turn start at 35000m.

Final stretch on the edge of atmosphere!

Stable Orbit achieved! 2 layers of boosters all discarded. Due to the strange drag effect and a terrible 390 isp at eve lower atmosphere in old days the craft have no need to be too huge, making an eve return craft have a proper size.

A rescuer will soon be send...

LHACK4142 · February 6, 2023

I love reading your reports- you have a great balance of conciseness and detail, and the missions themselves are always very fascinating!

Kerbal123_Furry · February 8, 2023

Part 5-- Rescuer launch

A poor Kerbal was kicked off.

Kerbal123_Furry · February 9, 2023

having tests these days.

no updates xwx

Kerbal123_Furry · February 24, 2023

Part 6-- Rescuer transfer

The first approach try failed. I quickly matched the relative speed with eve, deaccelerated a bit and created a rendzvous!

The craft was placed at a high orbit around eve to make the transfer easier.

Abel Military Services · February 24, 2023

3 hours ago, Kerbal123_Furry said:

Part 6-- Rescuer transfer

The first approach try failed. I quickly matched the relative speed with eve, deaccelerated a bit and created a rendzvous!

The craft was placed at a high orbit around eve to make the transfer easier.