Rescue mission advice?

[Doozler]

Love this game. Not sure where to post this, but I'll try here because I think people will be nice!

So, I've been playing a couple of weeks now, and have done sample returns from Minmus and the Mun.

My latest mission is a "routine" Mun sample return, but I woke up in the middle of the night and realised I forgot to put the additional radial parachutes on my lander (Science jnr + 2 T200 tanks and engines). So I only have the one nose-cone chute, which is not going to land me on Kerbin safely. I think I need some kind of rescue mission!

My objectives are: 1) get Jeb back safe 2) get all the science back safe.

As far as I can see there are 3 options:

1) Send another Mun capsule to do a rescue on the moon.

2) Return the lander to Kerbin orbit, and attempt a rendezvous and eva rescue

3) Attempt a hybrid parachute/ rocket slowed landing on Kerbin.

I'm not sure if I can transfer all the science in a rescue mission, so I'm thinking of going for option 3... but it seems risky! Half tempted by option 2, but I've never done a rendezvous before and again I don't know if I can transfer all the science.

Any thoughts?

[Doozler]

So, I went with the gung-ho chute+rockets landing.

A single chute was actually able to hold pretty much the whole craft, I just had to get the speed low enough for the chute to open fully.

Jeb made it back safe, with enough science to unlock docking ports and the extendable solar panels. Now for some docking practice!

[Sekonda]

Hey!

First of all, you can have Jeb exit the lander and right click each science module to collect the data (this can render certain experiments inoperable however) and he can store it on his body, you can then launch another remotely controlled craft towards him and try to match velocities, so the best thing I can suggest is try to set up a rendezvous as close as you possibly can, once you are close enough you can use RCS thrusters to finely adjust your target speed by ensuring you are travelling at 0.0 M/S and you can either have it with an alternative launch cabin and you can transfer Jeb back into that.

You can also install a mod called KERBAL ATTACHMENT SYSTEM, you can use this mod to actually launch parts to Jeb in a safety box, he can then remove the extra radial parachutes from these boxes and then you can attach them during an EVA emergency repair of your ship and then carry on as normal!

Here is a link for KAS, http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/0-18-2-kas-kerbal-attachment-system-v0-1/ - If you are going that approach, you can install the Mod by dropping the folder "GameData" into your main KSP folder, and then loading the game again. You then have to unlock the parts in Science and Research if this is a career game or they are readily available in sandbox. You then should look for a small container box that is silver and flat in nature, this fits to a bracket on the side of your ship and you right click it and can manually add numerous essential repair parts, in this case, radial parachutes, which you can then take to your capsule.

Also, if you ever run out of fuel, you can use this same procedure and set up a refuel line in space.

Good luck! Let us know what you decide upon and if you need any more help.

[Javster]

So, I went with the gung-ho chute+rockets landing.

A single chute was actually able to hold pretty much the whole craft, I just had to get the speed low enough for the chute to open fully.

Jeb made it back safe, with enough science to unlock docking ports and the extendable solar panels. Now for some docking practice!

The speed doesn't affect parachute opening, it's altitude that does it. You do want to slow down though, or the force of the parachute opening could tear your craft to bits.

[Doozler]

Sek, that looks like a pretty cool mod. Altering craft in orbit seems like a really useful addition to gameplay. I'm doing completely stock and mod free until I finish career mode first time through, but UI will probably go back and play "with mods" after.

Jav: Cheers - very useful bit of info there. It was a bit of a scary ride down, and the retro rockets were a bit of a panic!

Next stop Duna...