Here it is. The culmination of my time in pre-vanilla KSP. The Hover-Bot.1. It is a single stage to 'Munar' encounter, VTOL, all electric, Ion-propulsion driven lander vessel. After all of the lessons learned from the Hover-Moth, I ended up here. Addressing the problems I encountered with the Hover-Moth, this vehicle ended up bigger, heavier, but far more prepared for round trip 'Mun' encounters, and actually all around easier to fly. The HoverBot.1 is a practical linear flyer (nothing remarkable), but is actually very adept in VTOL and close proximity maneuvers. The HoverMoth.1 was a test bed for the VTOL and electric propulsion systems, but it didn't have re-entry systems, reverse thrusters, or even lights (which made for deadly conditions in the dark craters of Mun). I added the aforementioned systems to the HoverBot.1, and set out for Mun encounters and return trips. I was still using the WASD/SHIFT/CTRL control systems with a single throttle control with multiple toggle switches for various propulsion combinations. I eventually got the hang of flying around Kerbin, and gently hopping around the Mun. The HoverBot.1 performed excellently in all scenarios, and was an all around success. This vessel's performance was a major inspiration in the my second novella Hydray.5. This video is sped up 4x Orbit This was the only screenshot I took from the Mun encounters. It sucks, but it's true ("It's a HOAX!"). The HoverBot.1 was the easiest vessel to explore the Mun with that I personally have experienced. It had great control in the sinewy gravitational field, and was able to set down and hop off repeatedly with little fuss or struggle. I have since learned so much more about the static effects of Lunar silt and am wondering if Ion propulsion would be able to function for long without some form of repulsive field emanating from the mechanisms. I'm still hopeful. -NR
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Nicholas RodriguezArtist, designer, musician, writer, craftsman, nature geek... Archives
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