KerbalX

Description

7:hibernate

A parasitic, finalizer stage called Marvel.

I found this buried under a fairing in a prototype ship (Asterisk Simplicity 2). It’s job is to finish circularization quickly enough to allow ride&recovery of the first stage (Simplicity). It depends upon fuel from the payload to power its work; hence the term ‘parasitic’. It is roughly equivalent in purpose to my Puffing Billy but far cuter.

I did some testing with it to make it, too, recoverable, switching from 2x Ants to 4x Cubs for oomph; adding chutes; tuning solar panels.

It was only late in testing that I came across a buried antenna and thus realized, this little marvel buried in my VAB was of alien design! Because I don’t need or provide antennae on craft to be used in the inner Kerbin system – coverage is good enough that craft antennae are not required.

Credit for the concept and original design go to the illustrious Dr Swiss, as usual.

Having just built my first VAB on the Mun – and initiating a program to launch objects into LMO from its rooftop – I immediately perceived that this petite second-stage booster could function well as the entire lifter for light-weight launches on the Mun. And lo, it has come to pass!

In addition, launched on the Mun, it is still easily recoverable. Having done its job, separated and in LMO, orbit to 18W and tehn accelerate to 825 m/s. This will effect a Mun escape and lower the Kerbin PE to somewhere just over 50km. Then tune that PE to 50km. At re-entry, half fuel remaining is sufficient to retrobrake and land directly for safe recovery.

NOTE: keep craft pointed at the sun when in hibernation not in use.

“Good things come in small packages!

(You will see a usage demonstration in upcoming publications of Obelisk 3 and Obelisk 3 Luna.

Built in the VAB in KSP version 1.11.2.

ECO 2023-06-23 only single solar panel required