Setting up a comm sat network on Duna.

[Kerbal01]

I'm thinking of setting up a comms network(stock communotrons not remote tech) from my (yet to be designed/launched unmanned Duna mission) Duna rovers orbiter part from an equatorial orbit on Duna. Could someone provide me with general instructions for setting up a 5 sat network (im thinking of attaching the sats to the 6-way hub part using docking ports) on Duna? Amounts of fuel required for each satellites boost stage, earliest Duna launch window, etc....

[Kimberly]

The principle is pretty much the same as setting up a network around Kerbin. Because Ike is in a geosynchronous orbit, however, you can land one satellite on Ike that will always remain pointed at Duna, and cover most of its orbit plus about half the surface. One more satellite on the other side of Duna, at the same altitude, should pretty much cover the surface except for the poles. Use three polar satellites to cover those and also keep the two satellites opposite Duna in touch with each other. That's a pretty solid network with just five satellites.

Edited August 13, 2013 by Kimberly

[RoboRay]

For a twist on the standard comm network...

Duna and Ike are mutually tidal-locked, so a relay probe landed on the Duna-facing side of Ike has LOS to nearly half of Duna's surface. Land another relay probe on Duna, directly "below" Ike, and one of them will nearly always be in LOS of Kerbin.

So long as your surface explorers keep Ike above the horizon (it's stationary in Duna's sky), they have a link to home.

Augment with satellites if you want global coverage.

Edited August 12, 2013 by RoboRay

[Dewm]

This may be a dumb question.. is the "comm network" just for fun, or does it actually serve a purpose in game?

Thanks

[krenshala]

With the Remote Tech mod, its a required feature to control things away from Kerbin and possibly in Kerbin orbit as well; I haven't tried it yet so I'm not clear on the range for "basic" communication with it installed.

[Crown]

I think the easiest way to set up a communication network with satellites is to launch a spacecraft with all six satellites onboard (one for spare). Scott Manley made a video about

.

To determine what periapsis the orbit should have, there's no way to avoid Kepler's laws of planetary motion and the Vis-viva equation, which both include some maths and geometry.

For the satellite itself, a Oscar-B and LV-1 should be enough. But with the invention of tiny RCS tanks, a FL-R10 with some thrusters might be useful.

In Duna orbit a Clamp-O-Tron Jr. could be useful to refuel the satellite.

The launch time can be found out by guestimating the angle between the two planets. And with the use of http://ksp.olex.biz/, which provides very good data.