Difference between revisions of "Tutorial:Moon landing using mods"

Revision as of 15:05, 23 March 2013

This article is currently undergoing a major expansion or revamping. However, you are free to help in the construction of this page by improving it.

Landing on the Mun is no easy task. With a reasonable gravity well, and no atmosphere, the rocky natural terrain make a rocky grave for Kerbanauts. This tutorial provides tips on how to land on the Mun using MechJeb.

Specifications

• Length: 5-10 minutes
• Difficulty: Moderate
• For version: 0.19 and above

Steps

Step 1 - Getting MechJeb

Get MechJeb from [1]. MechJeb is a autopilot plugin that allows you get into orbit, and go to the moon in the fastest and efficient way possible.

Suggested mods to find include:

• MechJeb Command Prods & Probes [2]. This extra mod enables MechJeb on all the command pods.

Step 2 - Building the Mun rocket

Since MechJeb doesn't use much fuel you may use Kerbal X which is included with KSP, and add two extra Rockomax X200-32 Fuel Tank at the the middle section at the bottom. If you don't have the MechJeb Command Prods & Probes you need to add a MechJeb AR202 case.

Step 3 - Launch the rocket using Ascent Autopilot

Open the Ascent Autopilot from the MechJeb menu.

Make sure the following settings are as listed:

• Orbit altitude should be 100km.
• Auto-throttle is checked.
• Auto-stage is checked(do not check if you are unsure of the staging setup).
• Auto-warp is checked(to speed time up).

Press engage and hit the space bar to launch.

Step 3 - Going to the Mun

• After you entered Kerbin orbit close the Ascent Autopilot and open the Orbital Operations from the MechJeb menu.
• In the Orbital Operations click on TRANS and select Mun. MechJeb then will fast forword to the Mun injection burn point and fire the engines.
• If you run out of fuel on the first stage press space twice to start the engine.*After the burn has complete click on WARP and select periapsis and press warp.
• After you finish warping, click on CIRC and click Circulaize. This will put you in the Mun orbit.

You are now in the Mun orbit. Follow step 4 to land on the moon or follow step 5 to return to Kerbin.

Step 4 - Land on the Mun

• Once captured by the Mun, Retro-burn to first counter-act the slingshot, past, slowing into an eliptical orbit.
• Continue retro-burn to place Periapsis on the surface of the Mun.
• From here, several large burns, or one long gentle burn will be required to negate your horizontal and vertical speed.
• Aim to hit the surface land with less than 5 m/s vertically and less than 3 m/s horizontally to ensure a safe landing.
• Keep SAS on, to stabilize the vehicle on landing.

Step 5 - Return to Kerbin Optional

• If your rocket has the fuel to reach the Mun's escape you can most probably return to Kerbin.
• First fire your rockets but monitor your map view for the point at which you reach the Mun's escape velocity and cut the rockets.
• Once in the gravity well of Kerbin burn to lower Periapsis to lower the 70,000m.
• Warp to your Periapsis. Lower than 70,000m the drag from the atmosphere of Kerbin will lower your orbit without the need for additional burns.
• With luck you will have some fuel left that can be used for canceling extra vertical and horizontal velocity before the opening of your parachutes or a power landing. (Parachutes are much easier than power landings on Kerbin.)

Finishing word

Flying to Mun is a great achievement and one which all aspire to accomplishing. This guide should help you to achieve your goals and begin to look at even more challenging possibilities in KSP!

If you feel you have anything to contribute to this tutorial, please feel free to add, as this is still very short!

Thanks for editing the rest of this PD.~Longmvu