Tutorial:Building a Lunar base
Contents
Prerequisites
Before you build a lunar base, you will need to be able to accomplish several things.
- Have landed on the Mün at least once (the more you have landed, the easier it will be for you).
- Know how to use the maneuver node
- Have a vehicle capable of carrying large payloads to AT LEAST Kerbin orbit.
To the right is a vehicle that can reach the Mün with ease and return carrying a heavy payload.
Step 1: Reaching the Mün.
Before attempting to build a lunar base, you'll need to reach Mün, having more than enough fuel to correct your orbit, land, and return Kerbin so you can carry crews. Here is a good way to test this:
- Land on the Mun, return to an orbit of 20,000 Meters.
- Land on the Mun again, targeting your first landing site.
Your vehicle can be manned or unmanned, but you'll want a vehicle that can ferry Kerbonauts to and from the surface. Also, it is wise to design your vehicle with extra fuel in the event of an emergency, such as the one that occurred during Apollo 13.
Step 2: The Proper Location
It is imperative that you find an area with few surface features. If the area you choose is not flat, your docking ports (used to connect the modules of your base, provided you choose to build a multi stage base) will be stressed when connected, or they won't connect at all. Once you find a suitable area, mark it with a flag or other piece of debris. It is strongly recommended that you choose a location on the near side of the Mün to help save fuel.
A lander coming in over a relatively flat area on the Mün.
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The lander on the surface. The terrain is uneven, so the flag is placed at a different location.
Jebediah Kerman places a flag to mark our position for the base.
Step 3: Construction options
There are two options for your base, a One Stage Base, and a Multi Stage Base.
- One Stage Bases are cheaper to build, faster to construct, and easier to assemble. However, single stage bases are smaller (due to limited rocket power), and thus they have fewer uses.
- Multi Stage Bases can be nearly endless in size, be moved, expanded, and have lots of opportunity for science and overall exploration. However, it is FAR more expensive than a single stage base, and is extremely difficult to build in career mode.
Single Stage Base
Coming Soon!
Step 4: The Command Center
Start by placing a command module on top of your Mun capable rocket. It can be manned or unmanned, but this module should act as your initial command center for your base. Include at lease one docking port. Once you have completed your first part, place it on the BOTTOM of the rocket stage that will land it on the Mun. See image below for additional assistance.
An example of a good base to start with.
An example of how the base would be on the rocket. Make sure you can just drop it off, as your rocket won't be able to balance with the base if you try to land.
If this is your first base, there is a high probability that something will fail during the initial landing sequence. It is recommended that you either have the first stage unmanned, or that you have a way to bring back your dead astronauts.
Step 5: Delivering the Command Center
Launch your vehicle to a symmetrical orbit around the Mun at an altitude of 20000 meters. Alter your orbital inclination so that you are flying evenly with your flag. Create a maneuver node, decreasing your orbit until you intercept with your base on the surface of the Mun. Don't forget to take the Mun's rotation into account. Burn prograde as you normally would until you are hovering over or at least 5 KM away from your flag. Lower your altitude until you are just above the surface, and come into a hover. Drop your Command Center, and deploy any needed utilities. Welcome to the Mun.
Step 6: Building the second part
There are several ways to add new segments to your base, but the easiest way is to build a rover with docking ports on it. You can use any wheels you want, but the docking port must be the same as the first module, and it must be the same height off the ground as your first module; otherwise, the two modules will not connect. It is recommended that this stage has batteries and solar panels if you didn't add them in the first stage. Don't forget to add a command module. The Probodobodyne QBE is recommended.
Step 7: Connecting the part with your base
This is the most difficult part of the tutorial.
1-Launch your spacecraft to the Mun.
2-Using the maneuver node, move your periapsis over the location of your base.
3-Warp to your apoapsis, and decrease your periapsis to just above your base. Do not have the periapsis on the surface or below the surface. You want to be a few meters above the surface.
4-Warp close to your periapsis. Set your base as your target.
5-When you are 5 km away from your base, burn prograde (relative to the surface) using the map view until you are set to land close to your base. IMPORTANT: DON'T FORGET THAT LANDER WHEELS ARE FRAGILE. LANDING TO HARD WILL CAUSE THE WHEELS TO BREAK AND RENDER YOUR MODULE INOPERABLE.
6-Using target mode, continue burning until you are close to your base. The closer you are to your base, the less risk you will be taking when you drive to the base.
7-When satisfied with your landing area, come into a hover close to the surface and drop your rover.
8-' ' 'ACTIVATE YOUR SAS SYSTEMS' ' '
9-Begin a slow drive to your base. It is recommended that you do not go over 4 meters per second. Bugs on the Mun cause the rover to bounce and flip if you go over a change in terrain at a speed faster than 4 mps.
10-Get in line with your target port. Slowly drive towards the port. The docking ports will pull each other together, and you should connect.
10.1-If your ports touch but don't connect, you have 2 options. A: The area you picked is not level. Pick another area for the base. B: Using your original landed module, use the WASD keys to move it up and down to make them connect. This works sometimes, but will put stress on your docking ports and the wheels of your rovers. This might cause a structural failure.
11-Open your solar panels and marvel at your base.
Step 8: The future
Now that you've connect your first module, it's up to you. Build more and more. Try to construct a rocket on the Mun, or build rovers to connect to your base. Using the docking port method, the base can go on endlessly, so the future is up too you.
