Will this get to Duna?

[MDBenson]

Simple question....

I have never sent anything beyond Kerbin's satellites before, I want to send and ISA satellite to Duna to map the surface and prove if I can get there. What I need to know is will this reach Duna? Has it got enough Delta-V if I time the launch in a suitable transfer window?

[Razor235]

Yes, it does have enough ÃŽâ€v to reach Duna and make orbit. Heck, you might even be able to get to Dres.

[Uberick]

I assume it has an Ion engine in there?

Yes, that can go to Duna. It only takes about 1050 d/v to get to Duna with a proper transfer. However, because Duna is an outer planet, to get there you need to do a Dark Side burn, which means that Ion engines won't work for the ejection burn.(no Sun).

As such, you should put a small fuel tank with a 909 or something under your probe with enough delta v for the initial ejection burn.(give it about 1200d/v prolly) You can also throw some batteries on that same fuel tank if your probe will run out of juice without them. If your launcher has enough D/v(which it might), then that'd work too.

Good Luck!

[kyle.mk.howard]

Looks more than capable to me, do you plan on transferring over to Ike afterwards to map that bad-boy?

[MDBenson]

Yes, it does have enough ÃŽâ€v to reach Duna and make orbit. Heck, you might even be able to get to Dres.

I assume it has an Ion engine in there?

Yessir.

Yes, that can go to Duna. It only takes about 1050 d/v to get to Duna with a proper transfer.

That's not a hell of a lot, much less than I was expecting. I have literally no idea about transiting to other planets, so that's a surprise.

However, because Duna is an outer planet, to get there you need to do a Dark Side burn, which means that Ion engines won't work for the ejection burn.(no Sun).

As such, you should put a small fuel tank with a 909 or something under your probe with enough delta v for the initial ejection burn.(give it about 1200d/v prolly) You can also throw some batteries on that same fuel tank if your probe will run out of juice without them. If your launcher has enough D/v(which it might), then that'd work too.

Good Luck!

Ahhhh... see this is why I ask these questions I'd never had known that. I guess I'll rebuild the probe around liquid fuel and a little high ISP engine instead and see if that generates the required Delta-V, or I might use abd L-fuel tug to push it out there then use solar/Ion for manoeuvres around Duna once I get there.

Thanks for the advice!

Looks more than capable to me, do you plan on transferring over to Ike afterwards to map that bad-boy?

I didn't know it was there but if I have the fuel left I don't see why not

My biggest issue right now is the Dev Build of ISA MapSat keeps crashing my game so I can't run the mission!! :|

Edited June 5, 2013 by MDBenson