Is there hope for Bob?

[Streetwind]

Well, after a failed attempt at the first Mun landing, Bob ran out of fuel on his way home. He managed to come close, so very close... Kerbin periapsis at 180,000m.

Now, while I can effortlessly send a vessel into a similar orbit, the question is, does it matter? Bob's craft has no docking collar. Can I even attach another spaceship to his, and either a.) transfer fuel or b.) transfer Bob or c.) deorbit Bob's vessel?

What would you recommend I should do?

Edited January 2, 2014 by Streetwind

[GamerMitch]

Take up a ship with extra crew space,come close to Bob's ship, EVA Bob and enter the new ship. Deorbit and you're home free.Remember the chutes.

[Woopert]

Was about to say something but was ninja'd by GamerMitch.

[KSK]

Get out and push. No seriously!

You shouldn't need much of a burn at apoapsis to drop your periapsis by another 150,000m. Set up your maneuver node as normal, orient your ship for the burn then EVA your pilot, move him over to the back of the ship and drive into it. You probably won't aim dead straight but for the length of burn you'll need that won't matter. Just be careful to leave enough reserve fuel in your EVA pack to get your pilot back into the capsule.

[ThatKerbal]

There's always Whackjob's Way. Extreme EVA!

[Streetwind]

Ahaha... pushing with the jetpack? I am not nearly confident enough to handle myself in EVA to dare something that crazy. I'll end up spinning off into deep space or something Even the transfer from one craft to another is something I'd approach with great, great trepidation.

Besides, I got over 3 tons of equipment to deorbit... how much delta-V can a personal jetpack supply? According to this maneuver node I need at least 18, better 18.5 in order to get into the outer atmosphere.

I suppose though I can keep the option in mind for the future. After all... Bob isn't going anywhere in a hurry!

[Skorpychan]

Get out and push. No seriously!

You shouldn't need much of a burn at apoapsis to drop your periapsis by another 150,000m. Set up your maneuver node as normal, orient your ship for the burn then EVA your pilot, move him over to the back of the ship and drive into it. You probably won't aim dead straight but for the length of burn you'll need that won't matter. Just be careful to leave enough reserve fuel in your EVA pack to get your pilot back into the capsule.

This. Getting out and pushing is a legitimate tactic in KSP!

[Galacticruler]

I thought that pushing was limited by .23 now making EVA packs actually use RCS fuel.

[Taki117]

EVA packs use EVA fuel, which is limited, but the tactic is still viable. Since EVA fuel is replenished upon entering the capsule again.

[DeMatt]

I thought that pushing was limited by .23 now making EVA packs actually use RCS fuel.

Nope. The devs playtested it, found that it just wasn't fun or easy to balance, and made EVA packs use their own special EVA fuel (which replenishes upon entering a command pod). Command pods do now carry their own small stocks of monopropellant, so you can either forego a monopropellant tank on a small craft, or use the tweakables to strip it out and make the pod lighter (right-click the part in the VAB).