Career first mission

[1337kitten]

Short story: go as far as possible with the first 5 parts you get in the beginning of the career mode and recover the vehicle (the pod at least)

Long story: I've recently started a new career game and wanted to get the most out of my first mission. So I developed a spacecraft capable of intercepting the mun and back. But that took a LOT of work. I don't like to transmit information because it's not worth the full amount of science from the beginning, that's just me I guess. Anyway, the point for me was to get as much science in one trip using one command pod and one kerbal as possible (I think it was 60 or something since I got out and took a sample of the highlands afterwards).

As for the challenge go nuts!

• build the most capable craft possible.
  
• Science isn't part of this challenge just the trip involved.
  
• go as far as possible (meaning be as impressive as possible. land on minmus, orbit duna, slingshot between the mun and minmus several times, whatever) just make sure to come home afterwards
  
• no cheaters or mods or anything like that now
  

make sure to post key screenshots.

I know I didn't but I will as soon as I remember to.

also have to remember to redo the launch and take screen shots this time.

now go! have fun! be creative!

[Sillychris]

I was doing the same thing this weekend. I managed to do a return trip to minnmus with starting tech. I didn't take any screenshots but I will take a picture of my rocket design for your benefit.

With my single return trip to Minnmus, I landed on the border between two biomes and strategically maximized crew reports. I was able to unlock 520 science points on this launch which gave me enough tech to do a return trip to Duna on launch 2.

Edited April 22, 2014 by Sillychris

[rtxoff]

There is already a similar challenge to this: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/76699-Jeb-in-a-Bucket-to-the-M%C3%BCn-and-back

[1337kitten]

Wow, that's a lot simpler than what I had. Similar designs I had were just barely getting into orbit. I'm sure mine could push towards minmus but I was just too lazy to setup an encounter. only had 4 liquid fuel tanks too for the last stage. problem was I couldn't steer it for crap. at the smallest inclination It would flip over. had to wait till I was near 50,000 before I could even think about turning.

[Sillychris]

The trick is to use extra command modules to get more gyro torque, then you can control your rocket!

[Vector]

This has been done several times. Not the same version, but previously I flew by all bodies in the solar system except Mun and Minmus and returned safely to Kerbin. I.e. I visited Moho, Eve, Gilly, Duna, Ike, Dres, Jool, Pol, Bop, Tylo, Vall, Laythe, and Eeloo (not in that order). Also landed on Pol, Bop, and Gilly.