M700 Survey Scanner

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M700 Survey Scanner
Part image
Scanner by
Experimental Engineering Group

Radial size Small
Cost (total) 1 500.00 Funds
Mass (total) 0.20 t
Drag 0.2
Max. Temp. 2000 K
Volume  ?
Impact Tolerance 7 m/s
Research ScanningTech.png Scanning Tech
Unlock cost 4 500 Funds
Since version 1.0
Part configuration SurveyScanner.cfg

The M700 Survey Scanner is an orbital low resolution resource scanner. It is used to map broad areas of resource concentration on a celestial body. It is the first step in finding locations which are rich in resources, for subsequent extraction. It provides a low detail overview of the entire celestial body, which can then be used to target specific areas for further detailed scanning with high resolution scanners (which can only scan a small area, not an entire celestial body).

Product description

This orbital survey scanner uses a combination of advanced sensor technology and witchcraft to provide information on a planet or moons natural resources. These images can be viewed either in flight, or in relative safety and comfort back at the KSC. Be sure to bring an antenna capable of transmitting the information back, and sufficient power.

Usage

The scanner works well on a small 1.25m satellite, but has a large electrical demand when activated, so a Z-1k battery, or equivalent, is recommended. The electrical demand is brief, so it is not necessary to have a huge generating capacity. It is not particularly heavy, so a FL-T200 fuel tank and LV-909 engine are quite adequate for the final stage, providing the necessary power to establish and adjust the orbit, either from LKO to Mun and Minimus, or entry from solar orbit to another system. An antenna is required to upload the data back to KSC, and any antenna will suffice.

Launching should probably make use of a payload fairing or cargo bay, as the scanner is large and not a good aerodynamic shape, so is likely to cause atmospheric control issues when placed on top of a rocket. The scanner requires a stable polar orbit at an appropriate altitude (see below). Once established in orbit, it must first be opened, then the scan can be performed. The scan is a once per body operation, and only takes a few seconds. The data acquired by the scanner is automatically transmitted, and it is the transmission which uses the large quantity of electricity. The scan result can be viewed in map mode (M) while controlling the scanner satellite, or from the KSC Tracking Station. To view the results, right-click on the scanner while it is deployed and select Toggle Overlay. Other options to change the data are available to modify the display cutoff value and the results color. You cannot change these parameters from map mode. Retracting the scanner will hide the results until the scanner is re-deployed and the overlay is toggled again.

After using this scanner, it is possible to start resource extraction based on its results alone, but the best results will be achieved by using the scan results as the basis for performing detailed, targeted scans with the high resolution scanners:

Scanning altitude

Celestial body Radius Altitude
Min. Max.
Kerbol 261.6 Mm N/A N/A
Moho 250 km 25 km 1.25 Mm
Eve 700 km 70 km 1.5 Mm
Gilly 13 km 25 km 65 km
Kerbin 600 km 60 km 1.5 Mm
Mun 200 km 25 km 1000 km
Minmus 60 km 25 km 300 km
Duna 320 km 32 km 1.5 Mm
Ike 130 km 25 km 650 km
Dres 138 km 25 km 690 km
Jool 6 Mm 600 km 1.5 Mm
Laythe 500 km 50 km 1.5 Mm
Vall 300 km 30 km 1.5 Mm
Tylo 600 km 60 km 1.5 Mm
Bop 65 km 25 km 325 km
Pol 44 km 25 km 220 km
Eeloo 210 km 25 km 1.05 Mm

The scanner has a minimum and maximum scanning altitude based on the radius of the body it is scanning, clamped to a lowest minimum altitude of 25 km, and highest maximum altitude of 1.5 Mm.

Changes

1.0
  • Initial release