Return Pods

[GigaG]

I am planning a Jool mission and I figure that I should add an ion-powered, long-range Kerbal transporter in case I don't have enough delta-v to get back. Does anybody else do this?

[Madrias]

I've built my share of abort sequences. Usually something designed to get the Kerbals into a safe orbit around wherever they end up so I can send a nice friendly return mission (Probe controlled, so I don't strand more Kerbals because of my incompetance. I can claim a misguided probe to be an intentional satellite.) and bring 'em home. Mun and Minmus coffee runs have a powerful enough abort sequence to throw them home, usually of the variety of "Point ship retrograde, light sepratrons, hold on to helmet."

Yes, I'm insane enough to use SRB's as an abort stage...

[GigaG]

My plan is esentially to send a mini-space-station to Jool... lab, nukes, everything, and more than 3 Kerbals. My only issue is getting everything there in a small number of launches... preferably a single launch, maybe 2, and maybe even 3.

Out of curiosity, can you tackle Pol and Bop with ion engines alone? I know you can for Gilly. And on another note, is Minmus "ion-able"? If I knew this, it could save me lots of energy in sending chemical-fuelled landers. Laythe will probably be tackled like a giant Duna, with parachutes. Probably also a jet craft. Vall will be done like a normal Mun landing. Tylo might be left off. I'd probably send 2 separate missions, actually.

Edited July 30, 2014 by GigaG

[mythic_fci]

I usually attach 2 seperatrons to detach the entire crew module, use RCS to fine tune the trajectory,then send an over designed rescue ship to pick them up.

[Kerba Fett]

Ive used ion landers on the Mun. 4 ions on a small lander gives you a TWR of about 1.35.

The problem is that you need to burn at full thrust for a lot of the descent and it uses a lot more dV than chemical landers.

[SpaceSphereOfDeath]

Out of curiosity, can you tackle Pol and Bop with ion engines alone? I know you can for Gilly. And on another note, is Minmus "ion-able"? If I knew this, it could save me lots of energy in sending chemical-fuelled landers. Laythe will probably be tackled like a giant Duna, with parachutes. Probably also a jet craft. Vall will be done like a normal Mun landing. Tylo might be left off. I'd probably send 2 separate missions, actually.

Pol and bop are 'ion-able', as minmus is as well.

[GigaG]

With Pol and Bop, can you get away with a light ship with one ion engine?