[Stock] [0.20.2] Nomad Interplanetary Drive Family

[YarTheBug]

New Release for 0.21.1!!!

I won't lie. I got the idea from Temstar's Zenith Rocket Family to create a group of premade assemblies to help out anyone who loves to fly, but not necessarily build rockets.

Since I won't pit myself against these excellent designs by Temstar, the next logical objective once you're in orbit, was to help get you to other places in the Kerbol system. With this in mind, I present:

The NOMAD Family of Interplanetary Drives (IPDs)

Features of the Nomad family:

• Extensive use of Highly Efficient LV-N NERVA engines
  
• Assumption that the "full size" Rockomax tank is about the right weight for a nuclear engine to push
  
• 4 IPD classes (P1, S2, Q4, F6) to provide for nearly any Interplanetary mission
  
• Various fuel-routings to Maximize Delta-V (-T1, -T2, -22, -42, -222) or Minimize Space junk (-0, -F)
  
• Compatibility with Zenith Rocket family (most have capacity to spare for single launch with payload)
  
• Stackability: Every Nomad IPD comes with same-size docking ports top and bottom. If one's not enough, just pile more behind!
  
• 
  

Addendums and Caviats:

• MechJeb and possibly Kerbal Engineer will tell you these have more Delta-V than listed. I calculated these myself and the best I can guess is that MechJeb estimates are base on empty RCS tanks. Let me know if you have a better explanation, and I'll update this posting.
  
• I've used the F6-222 and P1-T1 extensively in recent explorations. Let me know if you have any trouble with the rest of these so I can correct and repost!
  

Using the Nomad-F6-42 to take zombiphylax's Fat Sparrow to Eve and back (Yes the landing was faked. You can see the flag wave)

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TheUndeadFish's Subaseembly Manager

Temstar's writeup on saving subassemblies (2nd post)

NOMAD Interplanetary Drive Family

Enjoy!

Edited August 26, 2013 by YarTheBug

[Mekan1k]

I like how your 3-point landing has the destroyed shuttle, and all 3 kerbals standing happy outside the wreckage.

[Flixxbeatz]

The Nomad P1-T1 reminds me of this:

[Commander Zoom]

Nice work, and follows naturally from your inspiration. I'll be sure to check these out.

[YarTheBug]

Mekan1k - That's the nice thing about FAR. Landing (actually anything with) a small, agile plane like this is realistically difficult. I've come to accept these Jeb-approved landings as successes.

Flixxbeatz - Nice vid and nice setup! I think you could take that anywhere in the Kerbol system. I also like the Pangolin. I don't see many people using the structural parts for engine mounts. If you look closely at the Q2-0 you can see the small cubics used there.

Cmdr. Zoom - Thanks! I'll recommend Duna as a first non-Kerbin SoI visit (Have a look at Flixx's vid). With a small satelite (or parachute probe) on a P1- you should have loads of Delta-V. Let me know how it turns out, and please post pics for our mutual enjoyment.

- YarTheBug

[Flixxbeatz]

Flixxbeatz - Nice vid and nice setup! I think you could take that anywhere in the Kerbol system. I also like the Pangolin. I don't see many people using the structural parts for engine mounts. If you look closely at the Q2-0 you can see the small cubics used there.

Thanks I've already sent it to Eeloo with the same setup back in 0.18.4, and confirmed that it can do reach Eeloo (though only got barely enough fuel for the capture burn).

[zombiphylax]

Nice concept from you and Temstar, these look like they'll be incredibly helpful to folks, especially with the new influx of summer-sale kerbalnauts!

[silentdragon]

These great designs need more attention! Seriously, these crafts are awesome and handle every task... No issues to report with 0.21 yet.

[Saberus]

I need to rebuild my Blackball series and rebalance them for 0.21.1, it seems.

[YarTheBug]

@silentdragon: Thank you muchly! Vote it five stars and hope to see it at the top. I've been meaning to rebuild them with octo-probes as root parts for those who use sub-assembly manager; keep finding something else to do though...

@Saberus: Was the Blackball series before forum-pocalypse? I couldn't find it.

Cheers!

- Yar