Duna/Laythe Colonizer WIP

[horndgmium]

So I've been building a cargo spaceplane with the purpose of carrying 3 Kerbal popcorns (habitation modules with parachutes). This will ultimately para-drop 12 kerbals onto the surface of either Duna or Laythe.

However, I came about 200 m/s short of landing on Duna last time I tried (although that was my error, I would have had enough had I taken the time to correct my trajectory early enough). But to further optimize fuel use I removed some unused monoprop, added some more Liquid fuel (which I ran out of first), and added a touch more oxidizer.

I'm thinking of adding Kethane to be able to land and perhaps make it back to Kerbin, but the to do list right now is simply landing the Kerbal popcorn on the surface. It will drop them out of the cargo bay essentially like bombs (except my spaceplane has to be upside-down ).

I'm using S2W parts from B9 as well as some other various mods like p-Wings. Also, I succumbed to intake abuse for the first time ha.

Once BahamutoD's Burn Together mod is up and running awesomely I'm envisioning taking a fleet of these to Laythe and dropping off TONS of Kerbal popcorn at once, without even having to ultimately land my spaceplane on the surface.

Here it is in the meantime:

[horndgmium]

Also, question: what's a good way to make stuff drop out of the cargo bay? I can't turn the cargo bay upside down because I have DRE installed and need the heat tiles for reentry. Turning my plane upside-down is an okay solution but I can never seem to get stuff to drop out just the way I want it to.

[KeithStone]

Also, question: what's a good way to make stuff drop out of the cargo bay? I can't turn the cargo bay upside down because I have DRE installed and need the heat tiles for reentry. Turning my plane upside-down is an okay solution but I can never seem to get stuff to drop out just the way I want it to.

You could use infernal robotics to create a large crane arm on the top, but with a cargo bay that large I assume you have some pretty hefty modules in there. Infernal robotics parts do a decent job lifting 5-7 tons without too much flexing (depending on how many extensions are in there) but any more and you have to start using counterweights or locking pins (ie quantum struts) to balance the weight and flex against other parts. I've also been experimenting using small "hover lifters" VTOL probes that have a KAS winch on the bottom to grab things, but my piloting skills are terrible and I havent had much success even using mechjeb to control my hovering lol.

Best of luck, that plane looks great!