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Duna's a rough guess, but by like Eeloo, my solar probe was running on about nothing, no surplus. I had enough solars to power the engine, but 3 thermals to keep my battery full. For yours, you'll probably be able to run a 4th of them, maybe more if you manage it effectively.

So, I created an ion probe. But not just any ion probe! This probe is designed to go as far out from Kerbol as possible without escaping. The results are a tad absurd.

I present: The Hestia!

1 word: How.

I did all my speed-increase burns while in either Kerbin's or the Mun's SOI, so I got a little bit of a gravity assist effect. The speed increase totaled about 4500m/s, with the first 600 or so being applied by the remains of my orbital insertion stage, and the rest applied by the ion engine. The speed increase was spread across two burns, one at 1800m/s at Munar periapsis, and the other while exiting Kerbin. I still have about 600m/s dV left, but if I were going any faster I would be on an escape trajectory.

Sorry for bigwallotext, but I'm on a mobile device right now.

It's really getting to me that the game can't run any large craft without massive performance issues.
I can't really fly any of the big stuff I showed in this thread because just looking at it pretty much turns the game into a slideshow.

I just run that line of code until space.

In other news, I finally figured out how to build a decently stable suborbital aircraft.

I present to you, the Hermes-1.

The single turbojet engine can be feathered up to about 35km, beyond there it cuts out. I've managed to get it up to about 1450m/s, and up to a maximum altitude of 39.5km. It's surprisingly stable. Takeoff is done vertically, landing is done via parachute. (What? Landing gear is heavy.)

I also put a 15-kerbal manned mobile base on the Mun. I present, the Dionysius.

(This image is of the first one, which I put on Minmus. The results weren't pretty. The amount of individual parts left could be counted on one hand.) I don't have any images of the Munar version, it's the exact same thing as the one in the photo except it's on the mun.

Wow, taking another look at those screenshots, they're horrible. I'll post some better ones later.

Why not make drone orbital planes and then just carry enough fuel to get up? You could have wings with atmospheric jet engines then a body with fuel and a rocket, then just split the wing off when you need to.

is there an alternative to asparagus staging? I find myself going no further than the moon anymore without HyperEdit because I hate setting up asparagus staging. it takes forever.

Tower staging? Alternatively, there is also backwards staging where the capsule is on the bottom and things are awkwardly asparagused to the top.

Those are certainly some pretty original designs, Tau

I think the alternative to Asparagus staging, that isn't just regular staging, would be what I'm doing. Send your craft into orbit piece by piece and assemble it in space.

But really, I easily got to Duna with asparagus staging. Couldn't land, but that was because of design flaws.

If you think the designs themselves are creative, you should see some of the launch vehicles. I'd bundle up all the craft files and post 'em, but I use MechJeb so anyone who wanted to use them would have to install that (or I'd have to modify all 16 or so craft files, which I'd rather not do). There is one I'll edit and post later, though; the Diana lander, capable of landing on and returning from Laythe.

Also, I'm not sure if you were being sarcastic about that compliment.

have been doing some fun things with hyperedit lately. I've been hyperediting gliders into a 5000 meter orbit of Duna. The results are a wonderful 20 minute glide down to the surface. Don't try gliding on Eve though. I thought it would be fun but the gravity is too strong, the atmosphere is way too thick, and the only flat part of the planet is the ocean. The rest of the planet is covered by mountains that stick about 6000 meters above the ground. :l Gliding on Laythe is a waste of time. There's nowhere to land. Have I tried every planet with an atmosphere besides Jool? You have to be stupid thinking gliding on Jool is fun. :P

Try to keep the lowest possible orbit on Jool. I once was able to get within the atmosphere for an orbit, but I had to burn every little while or risk dying.

can one land on jools hitbox if going slow enough?

I think the gravity is too strong for anything to survive.