360 Science from my first ever Minimus landing and return!

[Oddible]

I'm sure others have gotten more science than me but this was a) my first landing on anything, and my first big science haul. I was so geeked to actually have nailed the landing that I planted my flag and didn't even take a screenshot : /

Returned to Kerbin with 0 fuel, 0 battery, yay!

Oh well, here are a couple screenshots of the ship that did it. First is the launcher, second is the science tree I had when I did it (made a bee line to Fuel Systems to do asparagus staging, also needed batteries, lots of batteries).

[The Destroyer]

That was basically me. But I built it a little bigger, had a little more fuel for landing.

Wasn't asparagus either, I don't think I had fuel lines yet.

And no bats!

[Doc Anderson]

Congratulations! It is amazing just how much of an accomplishment it feels like, isn't it? But, before you get too big of a head, you may end up with a demerit on your record for not having the requisite number of explody things explode. Aside from that, WELL DONE!

[Mipi]

I managed to land on minmus yesterday too (even with recovery).

In my moon mission approach I had barely enough fuel to get home (had something like 7/180 liquid fuel after setting up the way home).

So I thought: I need more fuel for Minimus!

Well, it was a little too much at the end. But maybe I´m able to do my first planet visit with it.

http://imgur.com/55ybQM7

And I underestimated the low gravity. Took me half an hour for starting again (my landing part was flipped on the side).

[DevoidLight]

Just did a trip to Minmus, and did all the high and low orbit experiments. Soft land in the water at 6m/s, and every single goo experiment and materials pod falls off.

[Spatzimaus]

I did my first Minmus landing (in this new version, I mean) tonight as well. Between a half-dozen crew reports, an on-surface EVA, sample, one science bay, and two goos (one on the surface, one in orbit) I think I cleared about 430 in total. Added to the ~350 from Mun, and I was able to unlock a lot of what I consider to be essential tools for my upcoming Duna trip. It was really nice to have plenty of science points to work with, after the nickel-and-dime packets you'd get for Kerbin accomplishments.

Actually, the design I took to Mun and Minmus is just about enough to make Duna as-is, so I don't need to do much more. It was SERIOUSLY overbuilt for Minmus, but was pretty much idea for Mun:

(What's shown is the post-Minmus version; pre-Minmus there wasn't a ladder.)

I'd be set if I had LV-Ns to make a proper transfer stage, but I can brute-force it with chemical rockets until then by enlarging the transfer stage tanks (the side pods at the top) a bit more. I might try sending an unmanned probe to Duna first, to get the science points for a flyby, but I can probably just go manned from the start.

Career mode is a fun challenge, although it doesn't have much staying power; once you've unlocked everything, it's the same old sandbox experience. (At least, until they implement the REST of career mode.)

[PrZe77]

Just did a trip to Minmus, and did all the high and low orbit experiments. Soft land in the water at 6m/s, and every single goo experiment and materials pod falls off.

If you recover the Debris, you get still the science

[DrStrangeLug]

If you recover the Debris, you get still the science

Today I learned...

[CreepyD]

I did my first Minmus science quite early on, the Mun has caused me much more trouble since you need over 500m/s escape velocity compared to like 100m/s for Minmus, 3 times I ran out of fuel before the 4th attempt made it back (once I had fuel lines to assist taking off).

[Crown]

Do we get science for recovered space debris? Like a burned-out transfer stage? Would be another reason to clean up Kerbin's orbit.

[Epthelyn]

Do we get science for recovered space debris? Like a burned-out transfer stage? Would be another reason to clean up Kerbin's orbit.

Only if it has a science part on it and you safely return it to Kerbin or dock with it and transmit the data.

[DevoidLight]

If you recover the Debris, you get still the science

Really? Awesome! I rage quit and stop playing for the day. I'll go cash that in now!