How to make this craft more efficient?

[paulthebob]

Hi,

I'm relatively new to Kerbal, been playing for about a week now, just.

I sent a 3 man mission to the Mun yesterday which resulted in a crash landing but thankfully the guys survived. Not one to leave a man behind, I'm launching a rescue mission!

However, the craft I make either A) Make it to the Mun but don't have the right setup to slow sufficiently so as not to crash land or they DO have the required setup but as a result won't make it above, say, 200,000m orbit above the earth.

What am I doing wrong?? This is the rocket I'm using, should be fairly self explanatory as to how it works.

Thanks.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/41/ksp2013042221272948.jpg/

[icaruza]

For a moon mission you will see huge improvement by removing RCS thrusters and RCS fuel tanks altogether. You don't need them as the command pod can adjust attitude without them (there's a big gyro inside, I guess). RCS is only needed for translation (changing position while holding attitude; used when docking). Also, if you're going with the small command pod, rather use the smaller tanks (FL-T200), and the smaller motor (LV-909). It has a much higher specific impulse (which is the measure of how effectively it turns fuel into thrust). Lastly,go with the smaller landing struts. Try that with the rest of your setup; you should get better range and have a more controllable lunar lander at the other end.

[blurrr 2]

Firstly, get rid of those two massive RCS tanks. Secondly, switch out all the pairs 400L tanks you can for 800L tanks.

[Quasar]

Also worth noting, a one-man command pod won't have enough room for your 3 stranded kerbals... (this might seem obvious, but I've launched rescue missions before without remembering to allow enough crew storage for the rescuee's, so I thought I'd mention it).

[Giggleplex777]

Why are you using air intakes?

[Scoundrel]

Welcome to KSP!

Here is a ship I just whipped up that *should* get you to the mun (I haven't tested it fully) - tear it apart so you can see how I built it. It has plenty of RCS for you to use IJKL to burn off your lateral momentum as you come in to land, which as a new player you will find invaluable for successful landings.

http://imgur.com/a/bTRM4

Hmm for some stupid reason I can't get the Imgur image to work... and typing Imgur and image in the forum search gets me every post with an image in it lol. I guess the URL to the album will have to do until I figure it out.

http://ryushare.com/fq341za0uwnl/Rescue_3.craft

And sorry for ryushare, I don't have an account with any file sharing services and it seems a bit simplistic to upload to Spaceport.

FYI: There are no action keys, so you'll have to click the ladders by hand to activate them (there are two). Add NTGs or solar panels, lights, etc. to your heart's content to make it suit your needs.

[neoblacksmith]

i really like this design

[paulthebob]

Thanks for all the helpful replies! Appreciate the ship, Scoundrel. Will give it a go.

In other news, I just spammed the life out of my rocket and I got her to the moon and landed safely. The reason I only used 1 pod was to keep light and just do 3 runs. However, having landed 24km away and not enough fuel to correct to a closer location & return to earth, I tried to jet there but killed 2 of the 3 guys. Oops.

On the plus, only one return mission now. On the downside, 24km walk.

Anyone know of a teleportation hack? lol.

@Giggleplex: to keep cool the engines and stop them from overheating...

EDIT: Found out about the debug mode and used unlimited EVA to get me there. Bit of a cheat but sock walking for 4 hours on the moon.

So there we have it, my first.. somewhat successful munlanding. 3 men sent to the mun, spent 67 days stranded, 5 rescue attempts later and one Roddin Kerman returns safely to Kermin whence he came.

The End.

Edited April 23, 2013 by paulthebob