Probe Drop Pod Challenge

[cyagrdner]

Hard

The Challenge is to make a drop pod that you launch from orbit and leave it. The pod would then travel towards the ground at 500+ meters per second and hopefully survive.

The idea is that you make a probe covered in impact resistant plating so that it could survive a harsh landing, without any rockets or parachutes etc.

Please include screenshots!!

[Giggleplex777]

Drop it on the Mun?

[cyagrdner]

Any body really, the challenge is to make a impact resistant drop pod. Any planet or moon would be impressive, but yes the Mun would likely be one of the harder ones because of the high gravity and no atmosphere.

[Spartwo]

So lithobrake successfully.

[Francesco]

Alright guys, who's going to try this on Tylo?

[Francesco]

Also it should be noted that probes have different impact tolerance, the stronger being the QBE (40 m/s).

Maybe we could use that as a standard for this challenge.

[cyagrdner]

Essentially, however this is a challenge to make the most reliable drop pod that can be executed from orbit and left.

Lithobraking in my experience is in no way easy so making a drop pod that could do this(reliably)would be awesome.

So I encourage you to try!!.

[cyagrdner]

@Francesco

Any pod probe would work, although using the QBE would be advisable

Thank all of you for the responces

[Spartwo]

Lithobraking is the challenge,No other methods of slowing down.

[cyagrdner]

Wrong On planets with atmospheres including Laythe a wing configuration could slow your craft down to acceptable speeds so that your craft could survive. However on planets without atmospheres yes lithobraking is the only way.

And BTW i did not exclude mods however stock would be better. They would both have their respective completion sections on this thread.

[Spartwo]

So glider or lithobrake?

[DisarmingBaton5]

You could almost certainly land a QBE with no plating if you had a glider. However, Tylo won't be that easy...

[sparty48]

Hang on, lithobraking kerbin with 2 parts.

[sparty48]

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You like it? second try in 20 min.

Edited October 30, 2013 by sparty48

[Francesco]

Hang on, lithobraking kerbin with 2 parts.

I won't be able to play for a while now, but yes, the RoverMax XL3 have an impact tolerance of 150 m/s, which is higher than terminal velocity at sea level on Kerbin: maybe you could try attaching a single one to a probe core, and land with that?

Oh, and you don't need to go suborbital, just build some vertical speed

[sparty48]

Im doing it now!!! Be up in the morning.

[A Fat Pokemon]

Last time I did a drop pod challenge it ended up flying on its own...

[Keloooe_Pest]

Alright, time for me to start my own attempt! I'll have it up ASAP.

Edited October 30, 2013 by Keloooe_Pest