Jeb Modifies a Deep Space Fuel Tanker into a Lander

[Landge]

Until now my Deep Space Fuel Tankers have been delegated to orbital craft with only the Mk 2 Cockpit surviving re-entry.

Just delivered the 4th fuel tank up to Kerbin Station...

Jebediah modifies the tanker into lander so the whole upper stage is now re-useable...

Jeb decides a test flight to Minmus is in order...

There happened to be a Fire Sale on landing legs and parachutes. 8 mains and a Drogue are just barely enough to land safely. So...

Jeb added 4 LV-909's to assist with landings and threw in a 2 seat buggy, under the cockpit, for getting around. Never know when somebody might need a lift...

Should be able to take-off on low G planets and moons. Might have to consider using Aerospikes for another test.

Firing LV-909's...

Making a descent to Minmus. Just have to shift some fuel around to help balance out the ship.

Using forward facing rockets to help stop horizontal velocity...

Jeb's first landing on Minmus in 0.20...

The rover is hard to manuever on Minmus. Just noticed I forgot to put batteries on it. :oops:

The low gravity allows re-docking of the Buggy. The magnetic ports pull the buggy right off the ground...

We have liftoff. A piece of cake.

Shutting off 909's and switching to main engines...

Increase angle to 45° bearing 90° East.

Returning to Kerbin...

Aerobraking in the upper atmosphere.

An almost perfect landing...

Jeb had to burn up all the fuel to keep from overshooting the base and splashing down in the water.

With no fuel to help slow down the landing, it was a bit rough. Even with a ~9m/s touchdown, a couple of the engines snap off.

Edited June 23, 2013 by Landge

[Scotius]

MOAR STRUTS But this craft is beautiful in its ugliness otherwise. How much fuel can it carry, and can it launch fully loaded?

[Landge]

Deep Space Fuel Tanker...

Tops out at 511 parts, 975 tonnes.

If I choose to keep the final 2 boosters attached, the tanker can be refueled in orbit and be sent off to another planet...

to await future missions that might be in need fuel when they arrive. It has a probe body so that it can be remote controlled.

Or it can dock with Kerbin Station parked 250km above Kerbin...

It can deliver 1 stack consisting of 1 orange tank, 2 large metal tanks, & a large RCS tank into Kerbin Orbit...

Detach from the Command Module...

and dock with the station...

I might have to abandon the whole being able to land and take-off again option.

Trying to keep the fuel tanks all balanced is just too complicated.

If Squad were to make all connected tanks work as one then it wouldn't be an issue.

[bgraves]

If Squad were to make all connected tanks work as one then it wouldn't be an issue.

Squad tried that, but there were some massive glitches involved. It's really too bad. I like your ship, though.

[Landge]

Squad tried that, but there were some massive glitches involved. It's really too bad. I like your ship, though.

No biggy. This ship has been the backbone of my fleet prior to 0.20 and will remain so.

Always in the shadows, never in the forefront but crucial to the overall completion of the main missions.

They have played an integral part in all these missions...

Dual Duna/Ike Mission

Return to Duna

But more so in this one...

Moons of Jool

It has served as re-fueling ships, transfer of personnel, and mini-rover deployment vehicles.

I just probably pushed it to the limit on multi-functioning. I have other ships that can handle landings, rovers and such.

I think I will keep the ability to land the whole command module though. Doing my part to keeping space clean!

Edited June 23, 2013 by Landge

[Tw1]

So many chutes....

It must be very heavy, or fragile.

[Landge]

So many chutes....

It must be very heavy, or fragile.

A bit of both. It's all those nukes plus with all tanks nearly full, using just enough to de-orbit, It's slowest speed before touchdown w/o rocket assist is ~15m/s. Nearly empty is ~10m/s with just enough fuel to burn before touchdown. At ~5m/s it can land safely with all parts still attached.

[Tw1]

But still, looks like a very versatile craft. It has quite a character about it, and I like that.

I'm wondering why you chose the LV-N for the retro-thrusters? Do they get used so much you need the efficiency, or do you need the weight for balance? Or is there another reason?

Edited June 23, 2013 by Tw1

[Landge]

Oh it's versatile. I have 3 variants, Stock, Dual Seat Cockpits, and Dual RC Mini-Rovers. This is the 4th variant.

The LV-N's are mainly for efficiency. Trying to turn the ship with it's payload is a chore, even with RCS. I originally had 909's but initiating and circularizing orbits can take several minutes and uses up lots of fuel.

Edited June 23, 2013 by Landge