SpaceSylvester's "Muna Express"

[SpaceSylvester]

Greetings fellow Kerbinauts! My previous posts were all lost in the great forum disaster, but now I'm back with a new series on my different spacecraft creations. Some are built for payload, others for looks, others still to test new technologies. My latest design, Muna Express, is designed to be able to transit from Kerbin to the Mun, land, and return the entire lander to Kerbin. With the help of some wonderful parts from the KW and NovaPunch mods, I was able to create a 3-stage rocket which I took to the Mun and returned for a controlled landing on the surface of Kerbin, via both parachute and a quick braking burn at the end. One of my goals with my rocket designs is to make them as realistic looking as possible - this means fairings, aerodynamic shapes, and no weird asparagus staging. Without further ado, I present the Muna Express:

Here we see the first stage lifting the express skyward. It uses the NovaPunch 5M 5xK50 engine to do the heavy lifting.

The second stage burns for orbit. This stage uses a KW Wildcat XR, which provides a good balance between power and efficiency. This stage has enough delta V to get the lander all the way from Kerbin orbit to Munar orbit.

Once free of the atmosphere, the fairings are jettisoned prior to achieving a stable orbit, as to limit the amount of space debris.

Kerbin is getting mighty small in the window.

The lander heads for the surface of the Mun. It uses two heavy radial boosters from the NovaPunch pack on a 2.5M KW fuel tank with an observation module serving as the command pod. Two small solar arrays and a couple of embedded rcs tanks round out the features.

Touchdown on the surface of the Mun.

Jeb takes the chance to stretch his legs.

Beginning the voyage home. The lander has enough juice to sucessfully land from about a 35 km parking orbit, return to that orbit, and then burn for Kerbin. It's a free return trajectory back, but you can adjust your landing sight by using small bursts to adjust your periapsis while still pretty far from home.

Coming in for re-entry.

Successful deployment of the drogue chute.

Main chute opened - prepare for touchdown.

After a quick burst on the thrusters, using the ~80 or so delta V of gas I had left, Muna Express sucessfully lands back on Kerbin intact, allowing the entire lander to be re-used for future flights.

I hope you all have enjoyed this first design. Comments and critiques are welcome - happy flying!

Edited May 15, 2013 by SpaceSylvester