Get a thing to Mun without ridiculous wiggliness?

[spudman2]

So, firstly, hi, I'm spudman2, and also new here. I hail from the great northern lands of the Orbiter forum, and have recently found KSP, and fallen into a committed relationship with it.

Anyway, I'm trying to put a 26 ton payload into a Munar orbit, preferably as a straight shot (i.e. no LKO docking to refuel), but I continually run into my launch vehicle being too... terrible to do that with. So, my questions are A: Are there and tutorials on building specifically big launch vehicles? and B: Is putting this payload straight to Munar orbit possible? Thank you guys in advance.

[Specialist290]

Welcome to the forums!

26 tons should certainly be doable.

As for tutorials: Going on your thread's title, I'm guessing that the main problem you're having is the old "wobbly rockets" issue. You might find this advice on how to effectively use struts helpful; it's older info, but still sound for the current version of the game. There are also a number of other useful tutorials available at the Drawing Board, which is linked in my signature.

Also, putting up a screenshot of the vehicle you're trying to launch (lifter + payload) might help us diagnose it specifically a little better.

[SRV Ron]

So, firstly, hi, I'm spudman2, and also new here. I hail from the great northern lands of the Orbiter forum, and have recently found KSP, and fallen into a committed relationship with it.

Anyway, I'm trying to put a 26 ton payload into a Munar orbit, preferably as a straight shot (i.e. no LKO docking to refuel), but I continually run into my launch vehicle being too... terrible to do that with. So, my questions are A: Are there and tutorials on building specifically big launch vehicles? and B: Is putting this payload straight to Munar orbit possible? Thank you guys in advance.

A picture of what you are launching would help with the problem. If you are using a Saturn 5 style rocket built from the Nova Punch mods, those big pieces are notorious for wobble. Even the Captain Morgan design is hard to fly to Mun. With proper bracing most designs will fly without the wobble and drifting associated with the forces from flight. This early example flew well with proper bracing;

This was a nightmare to get to fly without the excessive wobble that made it impossible to steer into low orbit;

Once I got the bracing correct, this one was easily flown and landed (crashed because it came down too fast but didn't blow up,) on Duna.

[spudman2]

Wow... So yeah, even more struts was the answer. Haven't been able to actually get to Mun yet with the new design, but it gets out of the atmosphere just fine. Time to try again... And thanks for the link to the hilarious guide! "Ladies don't like a wobbly rocket."

Update: Yay! It worked perfectly! The payload itself doesn't, but it can get there!

Edited October 6, 2013 by spudman2

[Specialist290]

Update: Yay! It worked perfectly! The payload itself doesn't, but it can get there!

One thing at a time, I guess Let us know if you need any help on that front as well.

[xoknight]

I got a 60ton cargo craft to a Minmus orbit and I landed it. The whole rocket weighs 700tons at lift off and the lander can carry RCS, Fuel, 3 kerbals (more if you modify it), and a 8 ton cargo.

-I did use mechjeb

Rocket/liftoff:

Cruising stage(to Minmus):

Orbiting Minmus:

Landing:

Landed:

Releasing 8t cargo load:

If you want the download link, tell me and I'll put it up

[DaveofDefeat]

Heck I'll build a lifter for you so you can see how to do it if you give me the craft file of what your trying to lift.

[SRV Ron]

Replace all those heavy nukes with LV-909 and that mission would be a lot more efficient on fuel.

[Starwhip]

Yes, a picture would be nice, as I'm relatively new at this and can't visualize 26 tons. But some SRB's to help get into orbit would help, provided you can safely detach them. You should also have a stage designed solely to get from Kerbin orbit to Mun SOI, and able to retro thrust to circularize in Mun SOI. My current rover (although it isn't 26 tons) is based on this principle.

Welcome to KSP!