Help required to launch this to the Mun

[Windchild]

Hello,

I need some help building a rocket/ lander to get this to the Mun, where it will be transport for far away Kerbals...

I would prefer if this wasn't changed from the current design (except the Rockomax 24-77's can be removed), as it is a series that I currently am using on Kerbin and plan on sending to Laythe.

Craft File at: http://www./?z8y89gpq6ao4ud7

[Allister]

I assume you have not been able to get it to LKO yet then?

[Scoundrel]

This might do the trick, though it's really tough to fly because the CoM of the rover isn't centered and there is only one attachment point on it for a launch vehicle. I had to modify the file so it opens in the VAB (that's the only modification) so I could take advantage of the VAB symmetry. The weight shift will make it slowly spin once in space, so you'll use your RCS past 53km altitude to keep it steady (though don't leave it on!).

How I did it:

1) 100% throttle and activate ASAS

2) stage 1: activates the jet engines, I wait until they're past 100kn thrust to stage again.

3) stage 2: activates the rockets and disengages the launch stability enhancer.

4) go up.

5) go further up.

6) at 14km do a gravity turn to 70° normal or thereabouts. Start to throttle down to keep it just below 2g acceleration.

7) at 20km do a gravity turn to 40° normal or thereabouts. Keep throttling down to keep it just below 2g acceleration.

8) stage 3: gets rid of the jet engines and drop tanks. Try not to hit them. Go 0° normal. Throttle up if necessary.

9) stage 4: at 50km gets rid of plane parts which are now useless. Activate RCS, though don't leave it on. You just want to counter the spin induced by the engines.

10) go to mun.

11) set throttle to 0 then stage 5: activates the retro engines. Hit 1 to activate main thrusters/deactivate retro engines. Hit 2 to activate retro engines/deactivate main thrusters. Practice until you're happy.

12) pick a spot, eat up your fuel going back and forth between retros and main engines, remember to pitch up once you've killed your lateral velocity and are falling straight down.

13) at 500m or so above the surface pitch down to 0° normal and stage 6: jettison the bottom rigging.

14) stage 7: jettison everything else.

15) stage 8: make rover go. Try not to crash it into the mun on the way down. Quicksave is your friend.

[CaptinKornflake]

Scoundrel... you scoundrel you

[Windchild]

I assume you have not been able to get it to LKO yet then?

I haven't got it past 30k meters

I had to modify the file so it opens in the VAB (that's the only modification) so I could take advantage of the VAB symmetry.

That's no problem...

I've only had time for two launches yet, neither of which were successful...

Launch 1 got to 24,986 meters when it entered an unstoppable spin (game bug )

Launch 2 got to 70k meters when I had to end flight (no game related reason)

For launch 2, I added some SAS Units for more Torque (please tell me if this doesn't work above 1, as I put on 6)...

Handled much better and didn't require any RCS

Thanks!

[Scoundrel]

Yeah, this sucker is a real beast to handle, and definitely not for inexperienced pilots. I'm on an ancient imac and getting it into orbit was a pain, but I've put this badboy on the mun where it runs like a boss (despite the fact that the devs haven't coded in traction for the wheels lol) and those thrusters are damned handy I have to say. ASAS is your friend there.

FYI, though the part count is high, it's not as bad as the first time I got it to the Mun - which took me two hours once I had figured out how to build the frame - and was finally landing and realized that there was no way to get the rover out of the launch vehicle as I was descending!

Needless to say, -1 kerbal and it was back to the drawing board.

This is why this current incarnation includes exlopsive parts to break the LV up.

On a side note, if you experience rotational forces, and you notice a difference with SAS modules, then yeah, lots of SAS is good. Unlike ASAS, you can have more than 1 without issues.

[Sorcie]

So help successful? I had time to throw a frame together briefly and slap a 100T lifter on, I got it a ways, can't remember. Let me know if you still need help.

[Windchild]

Yeah, this sucker is a real beast to handle, and definitely not for inexperienced pilots. I'm on an ancient imac and getting it into orbit was a pain, but I've put this badboy on the mun where it runs like a boss (despite the fact that the devs haven't coded in traction for the wheels lol) and those thrusters are damned handy I have to say.

I'm an inexperienced pilot (~100 launches, including failures at 25,000m or more, 0 casualties outside of testing [1 in testing] and bugs)

Lucky, this is easier to control on a Gaming Laptop with 20 FPS to 2.3km, 40 to 20km and 60 above that

The surface bug is so stable on Kerbin, I guessed it would be good on Mun...

A few changes (mostly through batteries), and the Mun bug was born

Glad to hear I was correct

Though the part count is high

I can handle more parts, so ~550 isn't bad (I can do up to 700)

Interesting to learn about it's previous iterations (thanks again )

On a side note, if you experience rotational forces, and you notice a difference with SAS modules, then yeah, lots of SAS is good. Unlike ASAS, you can have more than 1 without issues.

That's good to know

I'm currently traveling, so I haven't had time to launch again...