A fuel freighter / tug to fit any need, the Hydra Class Modular Tug.

Arendey · December 4, 2013

The Hydra is a highly modular fuel freighter / space tug that can be reconfigured to carry any amount of fuel to any destination. This allows the user to configure a customized freighter by assembling several of the tugs together; they have a very large array of possible configurations, from a single orange tank to however large your computer can handle. This flexibility comes at a cost though, large arrays have to be assembled in orbit, and people not used to multi-docking may find this difficult.

The included screenshots show an assembly being done 80 Km above Kirbin.

Pros:

-Can carry from small(ish) to vast amounts of fuel to any destination.

-Highly Modular: can dock itself side to side, as well as end to end

-The RCS tank is fully remote controlled, allowing the user to de-orbit the unwanted launch stages.

-The Nuclear engines are also remote controlled allowing the user to de-orbit unwanted units.

-Keeping some of the launch stage Mainsails allows for very fast insertion into solar orbit.

Cons:

-Complex assemblies can be difficult to put together in orbit, make sure you are comfortable with multi-docking.

-Sluggish attitude control, mostly due to the sheer amount of fuel that is left in the launch stage on top of the payload.

-Staging may need to be rearranged, mostly depending on whether the user wants to use partially fueled launch stages for solar orbit insertion.

Parts count at launch: 274

Parts count at final Assembly: Variable, depends on the user's desire between payload size and computer performance.

The Senior to regular docking port adapter can be removed in the VAB or in orbit. Any unwanted / empty launch stages can be de-orbited by the remote controlled RCS tank.

Here we see the RCS tug return to the main craft after de-orbiting the launch stage.

Any undesired Nuclear engine can be remote controlled for easy de-orbit.

The next images show one of MANY possible configurations, being assembled around a compatible probe carrier.

The .craft file: http://www./view/pvl30gqktdqrrn1/Hydra%20Class%20Modular%20Tug%20Mk%20II.craft

Links to my previous shared projects:

The Minotaur X-Light Fuel Tanker: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/51994-The-Minotaur-class-X-Light-fuel-launcher-%28with-tank-tug%29

The Tiny Titan Medium Tanker: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/51117-The-Tiny-Titan-Medium-Tanker-%284-orange-tanks-to-LKO%29-%29

The Desert Rose Duna Base: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/50670-The-Desert-Rose-Duna-Base-D

The Hercules 9 MkIIa and b heavy tankers: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/50985-The-Hercules-9-Mk-IIa!-This-puppy-will-bring-about-9-2-orange-tanks-to-a-90KM-orbit!

The Farscape Launchpoint Space Station: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/50344-I-present-to-you-the-Farscape-Launchpoint-Space-Station-%29

The Agamemnon Exoplanetary Outpost Deployment System: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/51494-The-Agamemnon-%28Exoplanetary-Outpost-Deployment-System%29-D?p=674546#post674546

Planceception: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/59489-Planceception!-A-plane-Within-a-plane-Thanks-Spootyman-for-your-awesome-video-of-it