REQUEST: Rocket that can get this probe into orbit/to the Mun

[osterizer8]

I was just wondering if someone could help me out and make a rocket to carry the linked probe into space. I am trying to experiment with lithobraking but I can't for the life of me get this thing into orbit. Rearranging of the parts is fine, I just want it to get into orbit. If the craft can also carry it to the Mun, that would be nice, but it is not a requirement. Thank you in advance!

Screenshots of the probe: http://imgur.com/eIxOdxR,5xknfW2,qZ991b9,AtIQElm,8qDOMVy,wMSNuN7,dsRixbi

Probe .craft file: http://www./?i49n9w9sfxu2026

[sgt_flyer]

here, your probe cage mounted on my angara modular rocket

the two first stages are there to put the third stage and your probe cage in LKO, with room for error.

the rocket's third stage has a powerful engine, which will make it ultra easy to go to mün and circularize around it (and it has still some fuel to spare for errors).

the .craft file : http://www./download/an8y8amfk8h0c6l/Probe_Cage.craft

you can still find my modular angara in my sig, if you wish to try out various configurations.

(here, i used a A5 configuration, with a standard soyuz block I, and a KVTK as a transfer stage.)

note : the probe cage in this configuration seem slightly unbalanced, the SAS system may not be able to compensate for imbalance (so you might have to keep the rocket under control, as the SAS in his current form don't really correct imbalances when firing the engines)

ascent profile :

after liftoff, you can hit '0' two times to disable some of the gimbals if the rocket wobble too much.

start a smooth G-turn at 8000m, try to reach for 45° at 15000m, 30° at 20000m, and 20° at 30000m, then go to 0° at 40000m until you have a 100km apoapsis. (you will jettison the first stage during the g-turn)

once near apoapsis, circularize with the second stage (and correct your angle relative to mün's orbit if you need), and jettison the second stage (you can even deorbit it if you wish, it's autonomous).

use the third stage to make the transfer to mün, and circularize around it.

have fun

Edited August 16, 2013 by sgt_flyer

[osterizer8]

the probe cage in this configuration seem slightly unbalanced

Yes, it likes to tip over right after launching. I'm not sure exactly why, but I'll look into it. Thank you for the rocket, it looks great! I'll try it out today.

EDIT: I tested it out from Kerbin orbit and on the Mun. The rocket worked perfectly, it is a great design. It had a little trouble getting off the ground due to my ridiculous payload, however. The Kerbin test worked well and the probe survived, but the Mun test failed. The probe smashed to pieces on the surface. Basically, lithobraking like this is stupid, as in an atmosphere you could just add parachutes, and it doesn't work well outside of atmospheres unless you slow down a lot. You might as well land normally. Thanks for your help sgt_flyer!

Edited August 16, 2013 by osterizer8

[samstarman5]

If you managed to land that on the mun, I would recommending landing a tunacan module next to it, and then you will have your first Munar radio station, blasting the spacewaves with all the classic hits! (It's one thing I did with my orbital station. As soon as I had the antenna array docked, I knew which kerbal was up to be DJ. (No, it wasn't any of the big three. A rookie kerbalnaut by the name of Kermie Kerman had just the right expression)

[osterizer8]

Sadly, the landing was a bust. My lithobraking was very similar to the lithobraking experienced at the start of my KSP file, involving lots of explosions and not lots of debris left.

[Spyritdragon]

Be careful of poking large rods of girders into planets at high speeds. I saw a video a small while ago of someone who tried to brake a pod with a big beam. He ended up destroying the entire planet he was flying into .