Kerbal Space Program - From the Kearth to the Mun

[Logan Darklighter]

So after some preliminary messing around with practicing orbital trajectory, it was time to get serious. And actual attempt at landing on the Mun.

First attempt was looking good. 





Naturally I flub the landing at the last second. DAMNIT. 



There was a second attempt I made with a slightly different config of lander. For some reason I took no screenshots of that one. But it failed in much the same way. Kerbals were alive, but the capsule tipped over, broke apart and they're trapped in the command module on the Mun. 

Actually the fact that I didn't just outright crash and EXPLODE on my first two attempts might speak well for me. I'd like to hope so...

So I did some more research. Did some more tests. Practiced with landers in Kearth gravity. And found something interesting.



A Soviet style Mun lander and booster rocket! (Downloadable here if you're interested) 

This turned out to be an excellent design, both in individual parts and overall balance. The lander itself is sturdy. I was at first concerned, because it's all one unit. No separate ascent stage. Which means you have to be careful of your fuel use on the way down. Because you're going to need it to get back up again!

This needs some good music.  

















Once around the planet and then off we go! 





Here's where it's going to get tricky. But this lander is very steady.



If you can't find a FLAT piece of ground, at least find some that's SMOOTH. Cross fingers...



And down! But sliding down the slope! O_O



And... we stopped! We're okay? Nothings broken? Nothing went kaboom? 



We're HERE. We MADE it!



On the MUN! 



Magnificent desolation...



Turns out that despite the grade, this was the safest spot to land in for miles. 



That's one small step for a Kerbal...



Reason why I landed HERE is that taking off straight up puts me in retrograde to the Mun's orbit. Meaning not only do I escape the Mun's gravity, but at the same time, cancel out a lot of general orbital momentum in respect to Kearth. Making it that much easier to vector home. 



The nice wide plant of this lander's legs was really helpful. Especially on that slope when I landed. They acted like skis. 



Interestingly, they are the only part of the lander to be dropped on the way up. 









Okay... coming out of the Mun's gravity well... and... 



... caught by the Kearth's!



After some vector adjustments, it's time to sit back and wait a bit for the next part. 

   


Successfully bent the arc down to the planet! It's all downhill from here!









May as well bleed off that excess fuel before we jettison the tanks. 





Oh look! It's the Heart of Gold space capsule! The little teakettle that could!











And we are in the Stable 01 position with the egress hatch ready for the frog-kerbals to open us up and take us to the carrier. 





And that was my first successful Mun-landing and return!