Need help with a barge design for Eve.

[Himynameisjake]

I have been really struggling to build a wet lab for Eve. I'd like to put the following payload on a boat that can land from 400km orbit to the surface of Eve:

A single man lifter (seen here weighing in at 11T)

A mobile lab

4 science payloads (science jr, mystery goo, thermometer, sensor array, presmat, and gravioli detector)

The total of which can be seen here:

The barge does not need to move an inch after it lands, I can land any stable craft in a pretty small area. You don't need to worry about adding engines or fuel or anything else. I can take care of building the rockets to land it. All I need is a barge that can hold that weight, and allow kerbals to walk around on deck.

Total payload is just under 19T. If anyone has suggestions on how to build such a craft, please let me know. I have really been struggling to build something that will survive the landing. I am happy to upload the craft file if needed.

The boat can be as big as necessary, though, obviously I would like it to be as small as possible. Don't worry about the craft to get it there, I'll take care of that.

[EdFred]

The great thing about landing on Eve - just slap parachutes on it. Every craft I've landed on Eve has had a lower touchdown speed than when I tested it on Kerbin.

[Himynameisjake]

The great thing about landing on Eve - just slap parachutes on it. Every craft I've landed on Eve has had a lower touchdown speed than when I tested it on Kerbin.

I've been to Eve just fine, it's trying to land this monstrosity that eludes me.

[EdFred]

Decouplers (if you don't want the following sticking around after landing), struts, girders, and chutes.

Why isn't it surviving the landing?

[Himynameisjake]

It sinks too far and parts break off, or it's fall is unstable, or a thousand different reasons. Not to mention I was hoping someone might be able to recommend a minimal size ship.

[-Velocity-]

Put some empty fuel tanks- aka "pontoons"- on the bottom. They seem to float well enough on Kerbin, at least, last I tested. I used the longest 1.25 meter fuel tank for my pontoon test several months back. Two of those tanks were enough to support the weight of a small VTOL aircraft. It's easier to test now, since we can actually start fuel tanks on empty now

You have the limit the speed at which you splash down. If you splash down lightly enough, nothing should break off.

Edited July 7, 2014 by |Velocity|

[EdFred]

I would make a square (or rectangle if need be) with the weight distributed in the center. And like |Velocity| said, make pontoons with empty tanks. If needed, use girders to widen the pontoons to create more stability. Just like a lander needs to be wide to keep from tipping over, same thing with this. I would put some of the long girders on the corners horizontally, and put some empty 32s at the ends. Then lots o' chutes to make sure it touches down softly.