All in one Duna and back no docking/refueling (Pic Heavy)

[Oxytropis]

First the ship. This 28 stage rocket has blown up only once and that was do to human error. The small outer tanks were needed for timing the solid fuel and first real stage to run out at the same time I realize it is not a very efficient design in that respect.

Needless to say that those small tanks stage off rather quickly

But it works out well for timing

I didn't bother taking any screenshots of the transfers to Duna or back to kerbin

But you can tell by the MET and fuel left that I didn't bother getting the most efficient xfers. I had originally planned for this behemoth to be an Eve sea level lander and return craft. So fuel was a none issue

Chutes glorious chutes

I made a mistake when trying to land a similar craft on Duna by trying to use the parachutes as the only means to slow down. That ship ended up in pieces when they fully deployed, that ended up leaving poor Jeb stranded(luckly that was in a different dimension). I avoided the same fate for this craft by slowing down with the engines and staggering the opening height(wasn't possible before)

After finding the answers to the most important scientific inquiries about this giant red planet it was time to head home

Jeb feel asleep with the lights on draining all the power. He twirled around as fast as he could though and it was enough to keep a good heading

I skipped landing on the Ike as my science modules were already in use but I did get a high and low flyby eva reports

o/

Back to Kerbin

Tasty data

Edited December 20, 2013 by Oxytropis

[Oxytropis]

The first attempt at flying this beast ended in tragedy when I staged the small perimeter tanks to early.

In this pic you can see the tank flying up and in to the main rockets. It was probably going about 5m/s faster than the ship.

Edited December 21, 2013 by Oxytropis