Kerbal Space Program Megathread V1

[Tau]

Solar lander?

Have you guys heard about the new 0.21 update? It's supposed to be coming out soon, it's shaping up to be great.

[Professor Fenway]

Prototype, HOW DID YOU GET THAT PICTURE! I swear I crashed into the sun with a vessel LOOKING EXACTLY LIKE THAT! HOW! WHAT IS THIS SORCERY!

[Keon]

Solar lander?

Have you guys heard about the new 0.21 update? It's supposed to be coming out soon, it's shaping up to be great.

It adds?

[Tau]

Solar lander?

Have you guys heard about the new 0.21 update? It's supposed to be coming out soon, it's shaping up to be great.

It adds?

Revamped models for the VAB and SPH, new textures for Kerbin, PROCEDURALLY GENERATED CRATERS, and save-breaking convenience.

[ACH0225]

I get the feeling the craters will procedurally generate under one of my landers and break it.

[Vinyl]

I get a feeling the Kerbol system will get a lot more war-torn looking.

[Pat22]

Introducing the Ion Ring, Large size. For when you want to carry a lot of stuff around.



Can't maintain its power supply on its own, even when facing the sun head-on. I'll need to develop a power supply addon for it.

[Professor Fenway]

There is the deep space addon which adds nuclear power... things... may be helpful.

[Tau]

Double post, somehow. Ignore.

[Tau]

He plays all-stock. Masochist bastard.

EDIT:
A while ago I was planning to create a vehicle capable of putting a one-man lander on Eve, and successfully returning it to a low Eve orbit to rendezvous with a return vehicle. I got as far as creating the lander and interplanetary transfer / return vehicle and testing them around Kerbin. Then I found out that getting a launch vehicle from Eve sea level to the lowest possible Eve orbit required 11,500 m/s dV.

Pack your bags! We're going to Laythe!

[Pat22]

There is the deep space addon which adds nuclear power... things... may be helpful.

Every part I add to the ring comes with thermal generators and solar panels. I imagine by the time I've added the Xenon/RCS container, fuel storage and living quarters, it'll be able to keep its power supply up.

[ACH0225]

If you're going anywhere past Duna, you'll need a good supply of batteries and the thermals; the panels decrease in effectiveness rather drastically, if I remember correctly.

[Pat22]

That's good to know, I had no idea.

[Tau]

Well, I got to Laythe. And returned. In doing so I accomplished:

1. My first manned landing on a body outside the orbit of Duna
2. My first successful return of a manned vessel from outside the Kerbin system
3. My first mission to (successfully / intentionally) reach Laythe
4. My first orbital rendezvous & docking (occurred at 130km around Laythe, when I docked the manned component of the lander back to the interplanetary transfer stage)

MechJeb was used for takeoffs, all other maneuvers were performed manually. All components were either deorbited or returned to Kerbin. Only one launch took place, the vehicle that got the lander to Laythe is the same one that got it back.

I'm really fuckin' proud of myself.

[ACH0225]

Now try doing a a double loop aero-braking maneuver on Green Gas Giant to Laythe. You go in at an awkward angle, you have to get orbit on Green Giant, then slow, then figure out an orbit of Laythe from there.