Mun space station creation.

[Psycho529]

Because I was planning on mining Kethane on the Mun I decided that I would need a Space station there and I was wondering what would be better, build it in LKO then send it to the Mun or assemble it in Mun orbit?

[lockpicker]

In my opinion, it comes down to how your space station is going to be.If the station is easy to control and has enough delta-v when it is fully assembled, then i'd say build in LKO and the send it to Mun orbit. If otherwise,sending the parts to the Mun and docking them there seems much more efficient.

[AfailingHORSE]

it depends on the station's size and how symmetrical it will be.

[SargeRho]

I'd build it in Mun orbit. It's much easier to rendevzous there.

[Decho]

I'd build it in low Munar orbit, because performing rendez-vous maneuvers are easier to perform, consuming less delta V, in the lower gravity environment. Certainly that's what I plan to do once .21 hits. Will also be constructing it entirely unmanned then moving crew over in a largeish purpose-built space bus, which will also be used for crew rotation if I can be bothered to do that.

[Psycho529]

it depends on the station's size and how symmetrical it will be.

Well the station will be fairly big (ish) and rather symmetrical (I just love building space stations like that).

[Psycho529]

Or should I assemble a bit (1/2 extra modules to the core) in LKO, send it to the Mun then continue to expand it?

[AfailingHORSE]

Well the station will be fairly big (ish) and rather symmetrical (I just love building space stations like that).

How big we talking, theoretically you could assemble it in LKO then attach two tugs with enough thrust to get to the mun, pointing in opposite directions (so you dont have to turn the damn thing around). However, at a certain point in the stations size, any form of movement can cause deadly oscillation, especially if you have SAS enabled and its not .21.

[geb]

Build it as a single piece. Send it to Munar orbit in a single flight.

Most of the decorative pieces are very light, and fuel tanks just give you extra range. Unless you're adding dozens of crew tanks, you should be able to do it in one launch.

[Psycho529]

http://imgur.com/a/CxU6p#5xnN1x6

That's roughly the size of my space station I had in mind.

[geb]

It should be possible to do that in a single launch, as long as you don't mind those big tanks arriving empty.

Check out Temstar's heavy lifter series if you need some ideas for how to launch things that big:

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/33381-0-20-2-Zenith-rocket-family-%28modernised-for-0-20-x-with-perfect-subassembly%29

[AfailingHORSE]

http://imgur.com/a/CxU6p#5xnN1x6

That's roughly the size of my space station I had in mind.

while I agree that it COULD be done in a single launch, for structural rigidity reason I recommend assembling it at the mun, however large sections can be launched in one piece.