Tutorial:Returning From Eve

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Revision as of 16:46, 30 September 2013 by Von Ziegendorf (talk | contribs) (expanding article)
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Because of the extreme difficulty concerning any return attempt from Eve, I have decided to write a separate tutorial.

Returning from Eve

Despite being the closest planet relative to Kerbin, it is extremely difficult to get a lander back into orbit around Eve. Additionally, you must overcome Eve's large gravity well in order to successfully return home, requiring even more Delta-V. As a result, many Kerbals have been lost in attempts to investigate their distant neighbor.

Though getting your crew home from the surface of Eve is extremely difficult, it's not impossible.

Specifications

  • Length: 1-3 hours
  • Difficulty: Very Hard
  • For version: 0.20

Additionally, you will need a good understanding of orbital mechanics (see Tutorials section), angles, and a lot of patience. Some knowledge about aerobraking and Advanced Rocket Design might also be useful.

Method 1 : Rendezvous and Crew Transfer

Designing your Landing Rocket

Ascent rocket will use asparagus staging (see Tutorials) with Upper and Middle Stage in a core and multiple Booster stages grouped in pairs.

Upper Stage

This stage has to get above the atmosphere and accelerate itself to orbital velocity. It's important to keep it as lightweight as possible. First choose is a command pod. The best idea is to put single Kerbal in a EAS-1 External Command Seat. Next (but much worse) would be Mk1 Lander Can. I recommend first option and a following stage design:

Middle Stage

This stage will propel the ship through middle atmosphere (20km-35km). It's engine should be activated with all lower stage boosters and fed from their tanks:

Booster Stages

There are two possible ways to build them. One is to use 2xFL-T800 Fuel Tank and LV-T30 Liquid Fuel Engine. Second is: FL-T400 Fuel Tank, FL-T800 Fuel Tank and Toroidal Aerospike Rocket. They have very similar performance but I think aerospikes are better because they lower ship's drag coefficient. The basic rocket will have 3 pairs of aerospike boosters attached around the core stack.

Additional Equipment

You may also need parachutes and landing gear.

If you want to send lander alone to Eve, add somewhere a probe.

Designing your Return Rocket

Assuming that we sent ascent rocket alone the return rocket could be as simple as this:

Such rocket has Delta-V of almost 6km/s which is enough for departing Kerbin's orbit, Eve capture, rendezvous with ascent ship and then return to Kerbin. It's advisable for this ship to stay in highly elliptic Eve orbit to make plane changes cheaper.

Landing on Eve

Ascending from Eve

Rendezvous with Recovery Vehicle

Interplanetary Transfer back to Kerbin

Method 2 : Single Rocket Landing and Return

Follow the steps of the two rocket method, ignoring the Rendezvous step.

Rocket Design

Upper Stage

Middle Stage

Lower Stage

Special Considerations