Operation Laythe. Kethane Miner + SSTO to Laythe

[Amphiprion]

In Preparation for my Journey to Laythe with an SSTO, I have been testing and experimenting with my craft.

So I attached my SSTO to the "Kethstral" Kethane mining rig with the KAS winches, and found the craft goes flying all over the place and alters the Kethstral's heading on burns.

I shall have to come up with some sort of docking collar to connect the two sturdily with some quantum struts if I want to make it To Laythe.

Edited July 3, 2013 by Amphiprion

[AustralianFries]

Well this seems like its just a mod problem. Perhaps it cant handle the stress of the separate crafts; although I don't have either of these mods so I'm not sure.

[Amphiprion]

Perhaps, trying to think of the real physics involved in towing something of this magnitude with cables is interesting. I think it should work.

But Alas it didn't.

So I made a docking collar with quantum struts for the SSTO to be towed with :

[Amphiprion]

I constructed and perfected the new Cargo Carrying SSTO, that will take place of the SSTO above. It will have a Large truck like racing rover that it will deploy via a ramp out the back once in atmosphere. Clutch turn and land nexto the parachuting rover.

craft file

http://share.cx.com/K83SVs

Part config parameters

http://share.cx.com/WgfZ4H

a modified XXL sabre engine that is needed.

Mods Needed:

b9 aerospace

TT multiwheels

KW rocketry

Spherical Fuel Tanks

TAC fuel balancer

Aviation Lights

Edited July 2, 2013 by Amphiprion

[Amphiprion]

Hokay, Progress College.

This Kerb had his life's first bout of epilepsia, So unfortunately for him, He was replaced with The next on the Kerb Laythe waiting list.

Loaded the Kerbs minus epileptic man up, seated ready for the roller-coaster para-drop, out the rear of the plane on laythe. ( they have toilet suits that completely recycle all fluid and send faecal matter out via a rear faecal disposer port).

Cargo SSTO on Ascent with precious kerb cargo

Built A larger Kethane Miner/Interplanetary Drive. This one takes over 2,000,000L of Keth to fill, Weighs in at 4032.07 T, yes, 4032 tons when fully fuelled up andconsists of 132 Parts. I used the mod that altered the texture of the spherical tanks to have them a white color which you will see in future pics.

It was launched with its outer Spherical Tanks completely Empty. The two KW rocketry tanks and the Smaller Rear Engine tanks were however, full. A refuelling stop on Minimus is planned before the Long Jool Burn.

Both of them Docked in Orbit with this Crappy Docking Collar that bugged out, So had to replace it with a new design.

After A refuelling stop at Minimus, we Arrived in Laythe Orbit. The burns went without issue. Dropped the Cargo SSTO off in orbit while the Miner/Drive went to BoP for Refuelling

Miner Landing on BoP. Was difficult to find a flat spot on the surface, with LoW-G and a top heavy craft, you need a relatively flat surface. Lots of coasting was done.

check out the Kerb at the bottom.

Self shot for Scale. The mining ship is Massive...

Edited July 3, 2013 by Amphiprion

[Amphiprion]

Laythe Roller-coaster Para-drop coming soon.

[Amphiprion]

We'll, an extremely annoying development has taken place.

Both times I have now entered atmo with the Carrier, a new flight anomaly/characteristic becomes evident.

the first attempt, The craft wanted to roll left and had to be kept from doing so.

second attempt: the craft wanted to pull up and had to be kept from doing so.

sigh..

this craft was shown to work perfectly after numerous tests in Kerbin atmo..

Edited July 9, 2013 by Amphiprion