MLAS Presents: The Deep Space Splitter

[WhiteWeasel]

The deep space splitter is essential to wide and long distance exploration.

Old pic-Stacks changed to decouplers, added probe core to main ship, another RTG, fixed OCTO orientation for radial probes, replaced round 8's with flt-200.

Total parts: 251

Mass: 522t

Probe Core:

720L of liquid fuel

Propulsion: 1x NERVA

Power: 2x RTG's

ASAS: Yes

Dockable: 2x jr docking ports

Probe Stats

Name: Splitterling

Parts: 12 (14 counting small strut and decoupler)

Mass: 1.4t

Electric Charge: 405

Xenon gas: 1400

Power: 2x gigantor solar panels, 4x Z-100's

Propulsion: 1x Ion engine

ÃŽâ€v: 4374

5x Probes

These probes are specifically engineered for a trip to jool, one for each moon. Carrying two gigantor solar panels to make up for the half strength of the sun at jool, even then able to burn a 100% with no charge loss in correct position. Has plenty of xenon gas for maneuvers, an avionics package for looks-with the bonus of flight assistance (.2t lighter than a small cone too!), and four batteries that keep through the night. However they can be modified for closer worlds by taking off the extra solar panel and replacing it with some other part that will be of use (to keep it balanced), or adding very light parts such as communotrons, dishes, or other useful small mod parts. They can also be mass deployed and heavily cover a single body instead, or deployed on your voyage and hit other planets as well. Their biggest advantage is the small weight and parts count for the DΆthey offer. So small, they barely weigh down a ship... with subassembly, you could add one or more of them to your jool destined ship and have a free satellite(s). Or you could add even more to a ship that launches them by themselves and mass deploy two or three for each moon! Also the Can stand up to 4x physics warp bo problem.

There isn't anything super special about flying it. Just remember to:

-Eva the kerbals and end... flight them, I put the lander can there for more torque EDIT: With the new update you might want to ditch that and add reaction wheels and some more RTG's

-The probes are light but can still throw the NERVA off balance, so only fire when the probes are even, or the last one on

-Speaking of the last one on it should be saved for Bop so you could use the NERVA for the huge inclination burn.

-Do NOT open solar panels until probe is deployed and taken control of it. Two hidden RTG's in main ship will keep 'em charged in the meantime.

Action Groups:

1-Open solar panels

2-Extend antenna

3-Lock gimbal

Destination arrival in chronological order:

If curious the parking orbit of the main ship was between tylo and vall, but after conquering tylo, vall, and laythe, was soon to be found on a collision course with tylo after several orbits, and was moved between tylo and bop, farther away this time.

Tylo:

Vall:

Laythe:

And to prove that these Ion engines can stand up to the big boys, It can even save itself from a collision course, and even then it still didn't use up the first tank! (I had already done some of the burn so it was even worse before the pic)

It even areobrakes like a 'real' probe. (Liquid engines can **** **!)

Pol:

Bop:

Craft. file

http://www./view/wv2c9tk8z628asc/Deep_Space_Splitter.craft

New craft!

The Near Space splitter,

For closer destinations like duna and eve all you need is one gigantor panel. Remember about what I said about adding useful things to balance it? Now you have a handy communications satellite for remote tech or roleplayers.

Probe Stats

Name: Splitterling

Parts: 17 (19 counting small strut and decoupler)

Mass: 1.17t

Electric Charge: 405

Xenon gas: 1400

Power: 1x gigantor solar panel, 4x Z-100's, 1x RTG

Propulsion: 1x Ion engine

ÃŽâ€v: ~5k

5x Probes

Craft.

http://www./view/zrqqp27kyb3drgg/Near_Space_Splitter.craft

Edited July 30, 2013 by WhiteWeasel

[WhiteWeasel]

Oh come on, I know they're ions, don't by shy .

[Squiggy88]

This is certainly impressive. Is it using all stock parts for the entire ship? Whats the delta V like for the core with the probes stuck on it?

[Oddbin]

That's a very small, neat way to do it. Like the idea and will definitely have a look.

Thanks for sharing.

[WhiteWeasel]

This is certainly impressive. Is it using all stock parts for the entire ship? Whats the delta V like for the core with the probes stuck on it?

I've checked it with mechjeb, but yes all stock parts. The boost stage or core was around 7k Dv. Also I've added a variant (of the probe not the core) with more Dv for closer destinations.

If there's any design flaws let me know!

Edited July 30, 2013 by WhiteWeasel