Space Station designs,

[Othuyeg]

For me one of the bigger challenges in space stations is to keep the part count down because space stations can easily grow into proportions where they affect the performance of my computer. That is why I tend to go with very simple designs.

I have however done a few massive ones, but once I dock a massive space plane or two to it... it becomes a bit hard to use.

[Seret]

I find what knackers me is escape pods. I've tried to keep them as simple as possible, but once you add pods or hitchikers with sepratrons for de-orbit burn, parachutes, etc the part count starts to stack up.

[Othuyeg]

One of my favorite designs for an escape pod is the glider: http://www.twitch.tv/othuyeg/b/507346363

You can easily glide a space plane from orbit as long as you get it to touch the atmosphere on periapsis. Aerobrake will bring it into atmosphere and control surfaces will allow you to glide it down safely.

A solar panel or a generator is however needed to remain in control.

Or, just put one small command pod, one parachute and a small engine. One parachute will be enough to keep it from disintegrating.

[Othuyeg]

I'd like to introduce my Station X, which is devoted for my nuclear space exploration program. It is in orbit to tend to the needs of my nuclear probes.

It is basically a massive storage of fuel. I use it to refuel and construct my nuclear space trains. In this gallery I am constructing what I call a space train. It has an engine in the front (three nuclear engines) and a series of fuel tanks behind it in a chain. Once the rear tanks are empty I can drop them off. Here I am attaching the first tank in what is going to be a three to four part train.

(let's see if I can successfully attach a gallery, haven't tried it before.)

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(and yes, I use mechjeb, but not for the docking... I think docking is one of the funniest things to do)

Edited March 20, 2014 by Othuyeg