Duna : do chute work ?

[Lohan2008]

Would a command pod on rover base plus 3 small chute make it ??

[Guest]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Seriously, what command pod? Even with chutes you'll probably still want engines to help slow the descent.

[Tex_NL]

Chutes do work on Duna. But the atmosphere is much thinner so they will be less efficient compared to Kerbin.

Several weeks ago I saw a chute calculator pass by on the forum somewhere. Can't remember how it was called but it let you calculate the chutes needed on any planet/moon based on the weight of the craft.

[Felsmak]

The chutes do help a little, but unless you bring lots of them you can't really land softly on Duna without some engine power.

[superm18]

Mabey this will help: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/showthread.php/21618-Tutorial-Duna-For-Dummies-How-to-get-there-without-math

[Tex_NL]

The chutes do help a little, but unless you bring lots of them you can't really land softly on Duna without some engine power.

This is not entirely true! It totally depends on the craft you're trying to land. I've landed plenty of rovers on Duna on nothing but chutes.

P.S.

I've found the chute calculator I mentioned earlier: http://ksp.freeiz.com/

[Lohan2008]

Thanks. Looks like that I will be sacrificing the miner ship on the Altar of Science.

[SRV Ron]

Depending on the weight of the craft and the number of chutes used, you only need a small burst from the rockets or thrusters at the last couple of seconds to reduce the speed for touchdown to about 4 m/sec to avoid damage.

BTY, 11.5 m/sec is too fast to touch down with. Lost 3 engines and a landing gear.

[ReptilianGameplays]

Put drouge chutes on your vessel alongside with normal chutes or else you'll NOT have a soft landing.

[Commander Zoom]

Or, for that matter, a soft opening.

[Captain Sierra]

Drogues are extremely helpful on Duna since standard chutes fully open so late by comparison. Without the drogues, you will probably not slow down enough in time and go splat. Also, even then, you may come in tad too fast. A quick engine burn usually gets you under the requisite <5m/s

[Lions]

Some over kill here, but it is a big boy

[Danger2007]

I'm just watching Scott Manley's reddit challenge with the orange tank, and he lands a tank with about 1/4 of its fuel along with a capsule and a couple of nuclear engines.

The craft was about 16 tons on landing with 6 Mk 2 R, 3 Mk 25, and a small blast of thrust.

Not very scientific but a good rule of thumb I'd say.

[Dogface]

This is not entirely true! It totally depends on the craft you're trying to land. I've landed plenty of rovers on Duna on nothing but chutes.

P.S.

I've found the chute calculator I mentioned earlier: http://ksp.freeiz.com/

^This. Excellent answer!

And thank you so much for the parachute calculator!!!

OP: Duna has lower atmosphere, but it also has lower gravity. The heavier and faster the craft, the more chutes and engines you will need. Chutes are effective on Duna. For more detailed answers give more detailed info.

[dudester28]

If you have enough chutes on board, you can do a landing completely unpowered except for the final touchdown. The key is having a shallow descent profile so that you utilize the atmosphere as much as possible.

[Tex_NL]

... except for the final touchdown. ....

Don't you mean "EVEN the final touch down"? Yes, a last minute retro thrust makes landings a lot easier but with enough chutes you won't have to. With the correct chute/mass ratio you can land ANYTHING!

P.S.

I didn't create that chute calculator. I just linked it.

Edited September 18, 2013 by Tex_NL