Munar surface explorer (Rover? VTOL?) - craft design brainstorming

[Red Iron Crown]

You wouldn't think that would stop it from moving, just turning. Glad you got it working.

[Kasuha]

Today I finally got over to trying to make my own version of the explorer desing and my mildly successful result is below.

It has enough fuel to get to orbit and back on land three, maybe four times before it needs refueling. Plus it has rover wheels and power source to move on ground. Of course the engine can be used to move it on ground, too.

It is not very sturdy, though, and has no vertical engines which are truly missing in landing phase. Adding them should be no problem.

The nuclear engine is sticking out a lot and that's a bit more of a problem, although it might not matter that much if it had VTOL engines.

RCS is there mostly to allow docking to refuel (in orbit). It is not powerful enough to lift it on Mun. But that was not intended.

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[Sophistry]

Today I finally got over to trying to make my own version of the explorer desing and my mildly successful result is below.

It has enough fuel to get to orbit and back on land three, maybe four times before it needs refueling. Plus it has rover wheels and power source to move on ground. Of course the engine can be used to move it on ground, too.

It is not very sturdy, though, and has no vertical engines which are truly missing in landing phase. Adding them should be no problem.

The nuclear engine is sticking out a lot and that's a bit more of a problem, although it might not matter that much if it had VTOL engines.

RCS is there mostly to allow docking to refuel (in orbit). It is not powerful enough to lift it on Mun. But that was not intended.

http://imgur.com/a/JDws5

That looks like a really interesting solution; I'm using nuclear engines on my over-engineered skycrane, but due to the length of them I decided to land my mobile base on its butt and then tip over to rove. I think I'm going to steal your concept and try it myself though .

I did try ion craft, but I'm not that good at balancing power, mass and engine power/range!

[Kasuha]

Here is craft file of a slightly improved version if you're interested - it has VTOL engines and the LV-N is a bit more submerged into the rover body. It goes to the subassemblies folder and it can be attached by its docking port rather than the engine as in previous version.

It uses action groups 1 and 2 to toggle engines.

Edited May 3, 2014 by Kasuha

[Sovnheim]

Today I finally got over to trying to make my own version of the explorer desing and my mildly successful result is below.

I tried similar designs but at the top speeds, the slightest imperfection on the ground keeps making them explode in tiny pieces. Did you manage to avoid that ?

[Sophistry]

Here is craft file of a slightly improved version if you're interested - it has VTOL engines and the LV-N is a bit more submerged into the rover body. It goes to the subassemblies folder and it can be attached by its docking port rather than the engine as in previous version.

It uses action groups 1 and 2 to toggle engines.

Oh thanks, I'll have a try

[Othuyeg]

I too am going to be landing rovers on mun. My idea is to send down a full racing team with multiple rovers.

[Sophistry]

I too am going to be landing rovers on mun. My idea is to send down a full racing team with multiple rovers.

Bonus points if you build a racetrack to run them on too

[Othuyeg]

Bonus points if you build a racetrack to run them on too

Well... I already went for minmus racing as minmus has natural racetracks. Slippery, but nice.

Here is a mammoth of a gallery:

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