MK1 Lander Can Reentry to Kerbin?

[Renaissance0321]

Hello I have designed an all in one exploration shuttle capable of deploying to the moon or Minmus, deploying a flying rover to collect science and returning back to Kerbin. However, it utilizes the MK1 Lander Can as it's primary command module and I was wondering if it is feasible to use the can as a return pod granted I strap enough parachutes to it? I'm sure it would be fine in the game but it doesn't look very aerodynamic in RL. Is it used for reentry? Thanks.

Edited March 17, 2014 by Renaissance0321

[Dave Kerbin]

Unless you have mods installed it can be used for launch/reentry just like any other pod. Example

[Silverchain]

It is fragile compared to the heavier pods, mind. Don't hit the ground hard.

[Renaissance0321]

Is it realistic tho?

[vger]

Put legs under it to soften the blow and you'll probably be fine. If you can stand to give it just enough fuel and thrust to slow the descent to under (I think 6m/s is its crash tolerance?) you could do that too. With the parachute doing most of the deceleration work, you won't need much at all if you time it right.

[Tex]

Is it realistic tho?

Technically: Absolutely not. Of course. It was only made for landing on the Mun and Minmus and such. IRL, the can would be torn apart because of the lightweight and fragile materials used to make it. For example, look at the real life Lunar Module: as astronaut Jim McDivitt said in the When We Left Earth series, "... it turns out that the external portion of the Lunar Module was made up of mylar and cellophane, and held together by Scotch tape and staples. You had to have pads on the floor because if you dropped a screwdriver, it'd go right through the floor.

Holy Christmas! And we were gonna try to fly this thing?!"

[Renaissance0321]

Crap ok thanks guys!

[Pecan]

A lander-can is designed to work in a vacuum and is the lightest possible frame and 'balloon' that will hold the atmosphere needed for the crew. It has no chance in high-pressure and temperature atmospheric re-entries, apat from the fact that it doesn't have any kind of heat-shield. But KSP isn't Orbiter, I use them a lot.

[vger]

Technically: Absolutely not. Of course. It was only made for landing on the Mun and Minmus and such. IRL, the can would be torn apart because of the lightweight and fragile materials used to make it. For example, look at the real life Lunar Module: as astronaut Jim McDivitt said in the When We Left Earth series, "... it turns out that the external portion of the Lunar Module was made up of mylar and cellophane, and held together by Scotch tape and staples. You had to have pads on the floor because if you dropped a screwdriver, it'd go right through the floor.

Personally I would love it if crash tolerance also somehow factored into the ability to withstand atmospheric turbulence, possibly even G-forces. It would require far more diversity in rocket design for specific destinations. A lot would argue though that this would make the game too difficult.

[Claw]

Personally I would love it if crash tolerance also somehow factored into the ability to withstand atmospheric turbulence, possibly even G-forces. It would require far more diversity in rocket design for specific destinations. A lot would argue though that this would make the game too difficult.

I'm sure it will be added at some point, perhaps in the form of reentry heating. The Deadly Reentry mod will give you this behavior if you're looking for it.