Tutorial:Building a Lunar base
Contents
Notice
This page is under construction. More images and details will come as work progresses. Please allow time for completion before attempting this tutorial.
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 orbit.
To the right is a vehicle that can reach the Mün with ease and return carrying a heavy payload.
Step 1: Getting to the Mün.
Before you can even start trying to build a lunar base, you'll need to get to the Mün. Not only that, you will need to have a spacecraft that has more than enough fuel to correct your orbit, and land. A good way to test this is to land, take off, and land again. Your vehicle can be manned or unmanned, but you'll want a vehicle that can take men to the surface. Finally, your vehicle should be designed with extra fuel. You want to have more than enough in the event that you miss your landing area, or something goes wrong.
Step 2: Preparing for the base
Start preparing by completing multiple lunar landings. You'll want to find an area that is level and has few hills and is relatively flat. Your docking ports won't connect, or will be overstressed if the area you pick is not level. Once you find this area, mark it with a flag or a piece of debris. Another good tip is to pick an area on the side of the Mün that faces Kerbin. You'll be able to 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
You have two options for your base. You can put it all on one giant rocket, or you can build it in stages.
One Stage Base
If you choose to build a one stage base you will need a rocket with a lot of power. However, even with the most powerful rockets, your size will be limited. This tutorial goes more into detail with multi stage bases.
Multi Stage Base
Multi stage bases take longer to build, but they can be almost endless in size.
Step 4: The first part
Start by placing a command module (without wheels) on top of a rocket. It can be manned or unmanned, but it will need to be the basis of your base. Connect at least 1 docking port to it. Once you have completed your first part, place it on the BOTTOM of a rocket that will take it to the Mün. See image below.
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.
Your base does not have to be manned at first, but if you want it operational when it lands, you can have it manned. However, if it's your first base, there is a good chance your first drop off is gonna fail. Be careful.
Step 5: Delivering the first part of your base
1-Launch your rocket to the Mun. Use as little fuel as possible from your landing stage.
2-Get your rocket into orbit around the Mun. Try to make it so that your periapsis is close to the flag you planted.
3-At this point, you should have your lander, (hopefully full of fuel), and your base.
4-Go into map view and create a new maneuver node.
5-Decrease your orbit until it is close to the flag you planted.
5.1-IMPORTANT: MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE MUN'S ROTATION INTO ACCOUNT WHEN YOU DECREASE YOUR ORBIT.
6-Complete the burn as described by the maneuver node.
7-Begin your deceleration burns as you normally would, and set the flag as your target.
8-Decelerate to a slow descent speed. You want to be as close to the flag as possible. If you are satisfied with how far away you are from the flag, skip to step 9. If you want to be closer, turn your spacecraft toward the flag (using the target icon on the gyro) and burn towards it. DO NOT POINT THE SPACECRAFT DIRECTLY AT THE FLAG. POINTING BELOW THE HORIZON ON THE NAVBALL WILL CAUSE YOU TO CRASH INTO THE MUN SURFACE. Burn for a short period of time until your landing point is near the flag (use the map to plot your course).
9-Now, point prograde and continue deceleration. When you reach near the surface, come to a hover. Get as low as possible to the surface.
10-When you have reached a safe distance from the surface, separate your base from the lander. THe base will fall harmlessly to the surface.
11-Your rocket (assuming it is unmanned) will harmlessly fly away until it runs out of fuel or crashes. If you have a crewed lander, fly back to Kerbin.
View the images below for more details on the landing process.
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.
