Satellite help?

[Grindcore]

I was just looking for a few pointers on building a satellite, I have built one using the Kethane mod and i think it turned out pretty well, but i would love some input and hints from you folks.

Here is what i managed to build.

[painking]

Well it certainly is a satellite. If you like the orbit and want it to scan Kethane like that forever than there's really nothing more to say. Could definitely look visibly better if that's something you care for. It could even use a tiny baby xenon engine with some fuel if you want it to do small orbital changes. Of course, you'd probably need bigger batteries to have a larger electricity supply for them.

[lammatt]

you actually dont need to scan the whole planet

i never put a kethane probe polar since i wouldnt want my mining station too far from the equator anyways.

however... if you are sending an ISA MapSat probe; you need to orbit it at> 80 inclination.

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anyways...

get back to your question

i usually try to put everything in my probes so that i only need one single probe sitting at each planet.

normally my all-in-one probe is like:

both Kethane scanner and ISA MapSat surveying unit in the same probe.

and usually i put at least a couple of those 500unit batteries and at least one thermal generator; trust me you dont want your probe dies during an interplanetary transit

and since the gigantor solar plannel is OP; i always pack a pair of it

these things altogether is a ton or two at least and ion engine cant give a meaningful thrust for my probe then.

so i always use the LV-N engine on my probes

sometimes i would snap a small size Ordin Telescope on it too...

and in rare occasions which i may want to refuel my probe; i'll add a Kerbal Attachment System port together with a few grips on it. so that someone from the refueling ship can EVA to the probe refueling it.

Edited July 15, 2013 by lammatt

[bobert577]

Looks like you don't need any help! A more specific question would be helpful. My only tip would be to remember that with a small payload lika a sattelite, your launch vehicle doesn't have to be very large.

[lammatt]

it's always nice to have some spare fuel tho...

(well.. i know it's more fun and challenging to have the vehicle housing just the right amount of fuel to get the job done tho')

Looks like you don't need any help! A more specific question would be helpful. My only tip would be to remember that with a small payload lika a sattelite, your launch vehicle doesn't have to be very large.

[jwenting]

hmm, spare fuel... Reused a manned Jool ship to build a Kethane detector satellite. Now sitting in a parking orbit around Kerbin with the detector pinging and 12000 dV while I decide where to send it