Hello! My first Mun landing

[tzink]

Hello! I'm new, so I thought I'd stop here and post a picture of my first Mun landing. All of my learning in KSP since this mission has been an attempt to bring poor Jeb and Bill home, as the lander had enough dV to get back to Munar orbit, but not home.

I'm now trying to get KAS to work so I can go drag them back home.

Edited October 4, 2013 by tzink

[Vanamonde]

To post pics in the forum, upload your screenshots to a free service like Imgur.com, and then use the link they provide in your post.

[SuperWeegee4000]

I'd recommend Postimage. Easier to use.

[tzink]

Thanks.. I was just posting the URL.

If anyone has any experience with KAS, I'd appreciate some insight on my post in that forum (which is so far being ignored )

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/25563-0-21-1-KAS-v0-4-1-Struts-pipes-part-storage-containers-merged-winches-more?p=676081&viewfull=1#post676081

[Specialist290]

Welcome to the forums!

Unfortunately, I don't have enough experience with KAS to diagnose your issue, but I could suggest an alternative: Since you can get the lander back into Munar orbit, put it up there and leave it there for a moment, then launch an unmanned "lifeboat" with a probe core (for control) and an empty command pod to rendezvous with your lander and retrieve the kerbonauts. You can set crew assignments in the VAB through the "Crew" tab, which should be the third blue tab from the left along the top of the screen.

[SuperWeegee4000]

Now, that is an interesting lander design!

[tzink]

Now, that is an interesting lander design!

haha I made it before looking at anyone else's designs...

"interesting" bad or "interesting" good?

I think if I had landed more efficiently I would have had enough juice to get home. I futsed about hovering for a while, afraid to hit the ground too hard.

[Chrisd857]

Well, I think its "interesting... why is the fuel on top?" Also, is there a ladder to the ground, or do you need the jetpacks?

[Specialist290]

Well, I think its "interesting... why is the fuel on top?" Also, is there a ladder to the ground, or do you need the jetpacks?

I'm sort of thinking these two facts might be related

That said, overall it's not a bad lander design. Fuel tanks over the can instead of under it is an unconventional choice, but it seems to have worked out for you. The only things I really see are a superfluous fuel line (I think reaction wheels can crossfeed) and the aforementioned lack of fuel (which, honestly, a pair of drop tanks could probably sort out).

[tzink]

Well, I think its "interesting... why is the fuel on top?" Also, is there a ladder to the ground, or do you need the jetpacks?

Haha.... there was a ladder at launch! It was lost along the way somewhere. Fuel on top was just fine for landing. Just needed more of it. And below (or above? can't remember) the reaction wheel is a stack decoupler, with the idea that I was going to come back in to Kerbin with just the pod. But now that I look at it again, with the chute on top, I'm not really sure what I was thinking....

[tzink]

Update: I finally successfully rescued Jeb and Bill! It was a long lonely 5 days out there, but they're back home now. Victory shot:

[Specialist290]

Nicely done!

[hempa2]

nice job dude, i can to mün but have trouble making landers

[3_bit]

I don't understand how interesting the designs new people make are. I would never design a lander like that. And yet it works and is attractive. Nice work. Bigger question: can you get it back?

EDIT: I now see your post of a safe landing. Great job.