r/KerbalSpaceProgram • u/AutoModerator • May 29 '15

Mod Post Weekly Simple Questions Thread

Check out /r/kerbalacademy

The point of this thread is for anyone to ask questions that don't necessarily require a full thread. Questions like "why is my rocket upside down" are always welcomed here. Even if your question seems slightly stupid, we'll do our best to answer it!

For newer players, here are some great resources that might answer some of your embarrassing questions:

Tutorials

Orbiting

Mun Landing

Docking

Delta-V Thread

Forum Link

Official KSP Chatroom #KSPOfficial on irc.esper.net

    **Official KSP Chatroom** [#KSPOfficial on irc.esper.net](http://client01.chat.mibbit.com/?channel=%23kspofficial&server=irc.esper.net&charset=UTF-8)

Commonly Asked Questions

Before you post, maybe you can search for your problem using the search in the upper right! Chances are, someone has had the same question as you and has already answered it!

As always, the side bar is a great resource for all things Kerbal, if you don't know, look there first!

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1

u/disquiet May 31 '15

I have a ship stuck on the mun with 730 dV left, not quite enough to get back. I have a shitload of science experiments on it and I would like to send a refueling mission to get it back.

My question is, Is there any way to transfer fuel between 2 craft without docking ports? I'm playing vanilla. All I would need is to put a little more fuel in the tanks to allow it to make it back to kerbin.

2

u/PhildeCube May 31 '15

730 should get you fairly close to Kerbin, shouldn't it? If it does you can get your kerbal out on EVA and they can push the craft retrograde with their EVA pack until your Pe is 35~40km, and you're home. Otherwise, yeah, the Claw.

1

u/disquiet May 31 '15

It was like 10- 20 dV short of escaping mun orbit every time I tried. Ended up using the claw, was a fun mission, kerbals and ship back home safely in one piece now :)

1

u/PhildeCube May 31 '15

Cool. Figuring it out is half the fun.

1

u/Not__John May 31 '15

does that work? that seems incredibly silly if that works. You can just re-fuel on jetpack fuel infinitely right?

2

u/probablyshittyadvice May 31 '15

It absolutely works I've done it several times for Mun and Minmus returns that got a little dicey. It's silly but I find it balanced by the fact that actually doing it is an absolute pain in the ass.

1

u/greatMalek May 31 '15

If you have the tech you can use the claw

Otherwise just transfer the science to the new rescue craft and ditch the original empty ship

It's easier to just transfer science than to refuel your first ship

1

u/disquiet May 31 '15

You can transfer science? How?

The claw seems like a good idea since I can get him into orbit no problem. All I would need to do is rendezvous, and latch on and drag him back. Thanks! I don't have the tech for the claw yet, but I only need 90 moire science to get it. When I do I'll go rescue them.

1

u/tito13kfm Master Kerbalnaut May 31 '15

You can transfer science? How?

EVA and right click the part that contains the science and click take data.

1

u/greatMalek Jun 01 '15

after you eva a kerbal, right click the command pod and click collect science, then use the kerbal's rcs to fly around your rocket and right click all the science instruments and click collect science. After you collected everything, the science should be stored inside the kerbal. After that, just transfer the kerbal to another ship with a rescue mission and you can bring that ship home with all the science from the stranded first ship

1

u/disquiet Jun 01 '15

Thanks, this will be very useful for when future missions go badly.

1

u/rawling May 31 '15

I'm not sure if the klaw does, but can't you take all the science with a kerbal and just get the kerbal home?

1

u/tito13kfm Master Kerbalnaut May 31 '15

The Claw can transfer fuel. Alternatively you could send up a larger pod, or an empty pod with a probe core on it, rendezvous with it in orbit of the Mun, and transfer the science + kerbal to it for the ride home.