Landing on the Mun - help!

[Nathaniak]

OK. I'm pretty new to this game, and I'm having trouble landing on the Mun. My Career Mode lander (see image) can get to the Mun without any trouble, Fuel isn't an issue - the stage I use to deorbit is also used to perform a suicide burn. I bring my lander to almost stationary about 50m above the Mun, decouple from the propulsion stage, and slow down to land at less tham 5 m/s surface velocity (usually). I hit the ground, and... the lander topples. Damn. I'm using automated missions ATM, and I want to make it back for the Science points. Even with saving and reloading, I almost always topple. Grr! Any help gladly appreciated.



The lander
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/864982546495693328/4B098CCB475BC2AC35E7053B6768367AAC0384CD/
The lander with final stage
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/864982546495800316/CDCC1B6EB27130ACFFA0FC8A2D83578DBE5A7391/

[A Fat, Angry Serval]

I'd recommend building a lander with a wider base when landing on the moon. Keep in mind that you can mount fuel tanks and structural components radially.

[Horza2002]

My landers often look like that and it is tricky to land them. Firstly, make sure you are landing on level ground and not on a slope as this will just make things worse for toppling.

I now tend to use RCS thrusters to stop me from toppling over. Once you land, set your SAS to vertical and let the RCS thrusters stop you from toppling. Once your lander doesn't move anymore, turn them off and everything should be ok.

Provided you havn't landed on a slope, then you should be ok getting your kerbal out to have a play on the Mun! If you have landed on a slope, be very careful as knocking the lander with your Kerbal is enough to topple it

[Nathaniak]

Thanks for the advice!

[Mr Flibble]

Also, try to land in the bottom of a crater, they are usually flatter!

[tam1g10]

Toppling is a big issue.
I do have a few tips however.
1. Make your craft wider with struts or extra fuel tanks and put the landing stuts on them; it makes it less likely for your centre of mass to be beyond the landing struts.
2. 5m/s is survivable but remember it's still almost 15mph. Try and land at around 2m/s.
3. as soon as you touch down focus on the navigation ball and try to manhandle your ship to point directly perpendicular from the grond then activate S.A.S.
I have become quite good at landing but I still do this every now and again don't worry

[Ric]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Mista Mista:

(you do not need RCS to land like Horza2002 is suggesting, that is just complicating things for you, and a pointless waste of monopropellant.

I could not disagree more with this statement.

The amount of times I've landed on a slope(coming down in perfect line) & RCS has saved my butt from toppling over is.....well lets just say a lot ;)

[Ric]

lol! Sure.....

You have to assume someone who can't land on the mun properly yet is not great at landing so everything they can do to help them land is important. Hence, RCS is critical when starting out. Try & remember what is was like when you started in this game.

[Ric]

Wrong! You should always recommend this for beginners. Just because you didn't do it doesn't make it improper.

It's not necessary but it's recommended.

http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Tutorial:Mun_Landing

[Nathaniak]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Mista Mista:

Nathaniak (original poster) make a point to learn stuff for yourself, if you listen to people like Hora2002 or Ric666 you'll end up learning things wrong.

Well, seeing as they can't seem to agree on anything, I'm just trying random things and hoping for the best!

[Pixelsarg]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Nathaniak:

Opprinnelig skrevet av Mista Mista:

Nathaniak (original poster) make a point to learn stuff for yourself, if you listen to people like Hora2002 or Ric666 you'll end up learning things wrong.

Well, seeing as they can't seem to agree on anything, I'm just trying random things and hoping for the best!

Well, there have been a couple of valid advices, like, read and watch some tutorials on munar landings, try constructing a "wider base" etc.
Additionally, after taking a closer look at the screenshot of your lander, i'd say try 3 landing struts instead of 4. No, seriously, try it. ;)
Also, listen to what the crew has to say when you request a report while orbiting the mun: "We probably should try to land in one of the craters." Those big dark craters on the munar surface usually have a much less rugged surface then the rest of the mun.
And last but not least, practice. You're saying that fuel is not as issue? Great. If you see a better landing spot 50 metres ahead, keep in mind that you can try to hover your lander and gently steer it towards that spot.

Also, if you need more practice, you can go for a minmus landing first. Yes, you have to travel a little bit farther, but the little green moon has even less gravity then the mun, so the landing is far easier because last minute adjustments on your landing spot and velocity don't take that much thrust and time.

[Ric]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Nathaniak:

Opprinnelig skrevet av Mista Mista:

Nathaniak (original poster) make a point to learn stuff for yourself, if you listen to people like Hora2002 or Ric666 you'll end up learning things wrong.

Well, seeing as they can't seem to agree on anything, I'm just trying random things and hoping for the best!

I was just trying to help. Using written tutorials that I've read online and by my own trial and error. Not the""I've never used it so its not right" attitude.

Take whatever tips you need to improve. Listen to me, don't listen to me, it's your choice. Just don't listen to Mistax2 ;) jk jk...

[Nathaniak]

Thanks for the advice. I made a new lander with landing struts set further out, and had no problems whatsoever. It's good IMO to get a range of opinions, so thanks to all of you.

[Horza2002]

Opprinnelig skrevet av Mista Mista:

Opprinnelig skrevet av Ric666:

just means you're not very good at landing thats all.. RCS only needs to be used for docking and thats it.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=189392174

Me landing on a slope, no rcs, no toppling over.. winning ship design and knowing how to land

Yes exactly...you know how to land. This post was somebody asking for help because they don't know how to land. And your design is fine provided you don't land too hard and snap the limbs off...again not a problem because you know how to land.

Nathaniak the best thing is just try out a few people suggestions and find whats best for you. The same as in life, everyone has their own way of doing things.

[Ric]

lol!! Thats a very very old screenshot there mate....Like 6 months old. In fact, that may have been my first Mun landing ever? Thx for bringing back some memories.

A small note, I never said you had to use RCS, just that it was recommended for new or any players for that matter as an additonal landing assistance.

Thx for misunderstanding my point though & creating a childish response like the above. Your landers look alright though. Good job.

My mum likes to poke you in the bum? Is that your point from the flag? Each to their own I guess. What she does her personal time to folk like you is up to her. At least shes wearing a glove. Did you enjoy it?

[Nathaniak]

So, my first Mun landing! Whoo!

http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/864982546509065216/EA0E7ABE3E91087ECCC3DFE615719D57B1375053/


By the way, how do you embed the images?