I need help on de-orbiting a capsule with kerbals in it!

[CrazedGunman502]

A long.. LONG time ago I sent a rocket up into orbit - With Jebediah in it... Hoping to return I ran out of fuel when I was trying to re-enter and I'm stuck in orbit around kerbin with a periapsis of about 120km. Here's the issue, the only thing left of the rocket is the capsule and the parachute. I was hoping that I could send a rocket up there, change it's orbit so that it can get cought in the atmosphere by it's self, and parachute home to safety! But... My problem is... How? It has no docking clamps, and I am NOT killing Jebediah. How am I going to get it to re enter? Can I nudge it with a rocket enough times so that it can re enter?

[EDIT]

Nevermind, I solved the problem. With a very tough cost. I had flipped landing struts upside down and used it as a temporary claw. However when I cought up to the capsule, I realised the claw would not grab on properly. I had to abort the mission. However one of my kerbals had a great idea, he would exit the rescue ship to make room for Jebediah, and have Jebediah board the ship. The plan went through perfectly. I'm planning to send another rescue mission to retrieve the kerbal orbiting Kerbin. Thanks for your suggestions anyhow!

Edited September 9, 2013 by CrazedGunman502

[Scorpi15]

You can, but that would mean you need to learn how to rendezvous, and that's very hard. Alternatively you can get Jeb out of the capsule, press 'r' to activate his EVA jetpack, maneuver him to the back of the pod, press 'w' and de-orbit him that way. If you do that then remember to return to the capsule to refuel his jetpack when it gets low!

[Temstar]

Get Jeb to come out and push the capsule retrograde with his MMU pack. When the pack is nearly empty jump back into the capsule to refuel and repeat. Once your PE is low enough hope in and ride the capsule home.

[Sirine]

"Scorpi15" means push the capsule with EVA jetpack...that is very hard, compare with sending another rescue craft.

Anyhow 120km rendezvous is easy. Or more easy....give us your save file. We do it for you.

[sgt_flyer]

Yup, if you know how to make a rendez-vous, it doesn't matter if you have docking ports - simply send a rescue spacecraft with room for 1, rendez-vous with the lost capsule (you just need to have 0 m/s of relative velocity near the target) and eva jeb to make him board the rescue ship and return jeb to land with the rescue.

Else, if you really wish to deorbit the stranded capsule, you will need to build a 'basket' on your rescue spacecraft, make a rendez-vous with the capsule, catch it in your basket and 'push' the capsule to deorbit it.

[Kerbart]

Nevermind, I solved the problem. With a very tough cost. I had flipped landing struts upside down and used it as a temporary claw. However when I cought up to the capsule, I realised the claw would not grab on properly. I had to abort the mission. However one of my kerbals had a great idea, he would exit the rescue ship to make room for Jebediah, and have Jebediah board the ship. The plan went through perfectly. I'm planning to send another rescue mission to retrieve the kerbal orbiting Kerbin. Thanks for your suggestions anyhow!

Hahaha! Mission control should have thought that one up before sending the rescue mission to space and only put 2 Kerbals in the MkII pod instead of three. (I'm going off on the wild assumption that you sent a Mk1-2 command pod). I hope you put the “volunteer†in Jebediah's capsule so you can track him down easier.

BOB: “There's Jebedia's capsule! Radio him to tell him to EVA aboard!â€Â

JOLFRUED: “Ehm dude, there's no room for that with the three of us in hereâ€Â

[Everyone looks as Jolfrued]

BILL: “That was so kind of you. I'm very impressed with your team-playing abilityâ€Â

JOLFRUED: “Huh? What?â€Â

I liked your plan of using the landing gear as claw. You still need to de-orbit that capsule (Kessler syndrome) so why not execute that plan anyway? It's a good exercise for your docking skills. I've deorbited 10t spacecraft in a similar way.

Edited September 9, 2013 by Kerbart
Debris

[Thomas Cook]

Nevermind, I solved the problem. With a very tough cost. I had flipped landing struts upside down and used it as a temporary claw. However when I cought up to the capsule, I realised the claw would not grab on properly. I had to abort the mission. However one of my kerbals had a great idea, he would exit the rescue ship to make room for Jebediah, and have Jebediah board the ship. The plan went through perfectly. I'm planning to send another rescue mission to retrieve the kerbal orbiting Kerbin. Thanks for your suggestions anyhow!

LOL!!! Awesome. As long as Jebediah is safe I consider it a mission well done.

[HeadHunter67]

Are you kidding? While Jebediah is alive, no one is "safe"...