Space Planes for Duna!

[700NitroXpress]

I'm working on making space planes and SSTO's for Duna. Obviously, air intake engines will not work so the plane has to fly under rocket power, be capable of landing and be capable of being refueled both on the ground and in orbit.

Post your ideas here, stock parts only, no mods.

Here's an example of what I have so far. This SSTO flew from Kerban all the way to Duna with only its two NERVA engines. However, it doesn't have the power to land or fly very well in Duna atmosphere, but it can glide very well.

Here is a design, that I think will work.

Edited October 28, 2013 by 700NitroXpress

[-ty-]

A backlit picture where the plane is completely blacked out isn't very useful to us.

[sal_vager]

The solution is Moar Pics!

[700NitroXpress]

Well no, because the craft in the picture isn't what I need. I'm looking for all rocket powered craft that can fly on Duna. The one that I tried landing there was just a test flight of a regular SSTO.

I made what I want to accomplish into a challenge and posted it in the challenges forum. For full details go there.

Edited October 27, 2013 by 700NitroXpress

[redteddy23]

Well no, because the craft in the picture isn't what I need. I'm looking for all rocket powered craft that can fly on Duna. The one that I tried landing there was just a test flight of a regular SSTO.

I made what I want to accomplish into a challenge and posted it in the challenges forum. For full details go there.

I find the hardest part is slowing down and finding a good landing spot on Duna. The air is so thin your stall speed near ground level is pretty fast and its murder finding a nice flat bit. Perhaps the poles like on Laythe but then you are in a crappy position to reach a nice 90 degree orbit...

[700NitroXpress]

I find the hardest part is slowing down and finding a good landing spot on Duna. The air is so thin your stall speed near ground level is pretty fast and its murder finding a nice flat bit. Perhaps the poles like on Laythe but then you are in a crappy position to reach a nice 90 degree orbit...

One thing I'm looking into is having the afterburners on the sides, have rockets that can fire in the reverse direction so that way you can stop very quickly on the ground once you touch down. I'm also trying to use parachutes to help because you can always repack those. Finding a good LZ is a bit hard, but there are some good flat areas.

[redteddy23]

One thing I'm looking into is having the afterburners on the sides, have rockets that can fire in the reverse direction so that way you can stop very quickly on the ground once you touch down. I'm also trying to use parachutes to help because you can always repack those. Finding a good LZ is a bit hard, but there are some good flat areas.

That's a interesting idea. I had never thought of retros.

[700NitroXpress]

That's a interesting idea. I had never thought of retros.

Yeah, the new image that I posted under the first one shows the plane I have now, I'm going to do a test flight to Duna and test it. This idea comes from docking tugs. A docking tug needs to have rockets that point in both directions to stop heavy payloads quickly because turning around isn't an option. I also have mini docking ports on the top and bottom of the plane. The top port is for orbital refuel and the bottom port is for surface refuel. Ideally, I'd like to have a rover on the ground that can slide an arm under the plane and dock to the port on the bottom and then refuel it. I still need to develop this rover though.

All of the rockets need to be controlled with action groups for quick use when it comes time to land.