Interplanetary Exploration Vehicle

[Arbitre]

This is currently my most advanced Interplanetary Exploration Vessel. As a treker, I couldn't resist christening her "Enterprise." She is a throwback to the carrier ships of the same name, with 6 deployable lander/probes attached via Clamp-O-Tron Jr ports. Each probe features its own liquid fuel engines, 2 1x6 solar panels, and a deployable parachute for atmospheric landings which is deployable and cuttable via action groups. All probes are theoretically recoverable and could also be used as missiles. The ship also has a manned lander attached to the aft of the ship via Clamp-O-Tron Sr. docking port. The engine on this lander can also be activated via action group to assist with thrust if necessary.

The ship itself boasts 6 LV-N Atomic Rocket motors mounted radially, 9 1x6 solar panels, 5794.44 units of liquid fuel, 600 units of mono-propellant, and a fore-mounted Clamp-O-Tron Shielded Docking Port for orbital refueling operations. When coupled with orbital refueling, this ship is capable of visiting, launching its probes/landers, and returning from nearly any, if not any, location in the system and may remain operational indefinitely.

Action Group Info:

Stage: Disable gimble on all non-central lifting rockets.

1: Toggle LV-N Rockets

2: Toggle LV-909 Lander Rocket

3: Toggle Ship Communotrons and Toggle Solar Panels

4: Toggle Illuminator Mk2 "Ship Brighteners"

5: Toggle Illuminator Mk1 "Forward Facing Docking Lights"

6: Toggle Open/Close Forward Clamp-O-Tron Shielded Docking Port

7: Toggle Probe Rocket

8: Deploy Probe Parachute

9: Cut Probe Parachute

0: Toggle Probe Communotron's and Solar Panels

Fore shot of the vessel as it departs the Kerbin system after completing refueling operations in orbit around Minmus:

Port-side view showing closer detail of ship and probes:

A rear three-quarter view of the ship highlighting the manned lander:

Finally, a shot of the 13-stage lift vehicle used to get this big beauty into orbit:

Edited October 22, 2013 by Arbitre
Edited to fix broken image link

[guz667]

I like it! That looks like a fun craft, and pleasing to look at.

[Arbitre]

Thanks, guz! I'm pretty proud of her.

[ScholarBeardpig]

You have inspired me to build something like this. Consider me very grateful.

[reschke]

You have a craft file for this one? It would be extremely interesting to get it moving in my KSP game if at all possible.