KerbalX

Description

The Eve probe, an automated and inexpensive aerobraked lander for science missions to the purple planet. Uses Universal Storage for the probe body and science suite, providing all stock experiments or equivalent, including:

Magnometer
Accelerometer
Gravioli Detector
Surface Scanner
Goo Bay
Materials Bay (Science Jr.)
Thermometer
Barometer
Fluid Spectro Variameter

The Goo and Materials Bays include enough material for two experiments, enough for both an orbital and surface biome.

Also includes fuel cell, integrated solar panels and a hinged Communotron 88 antenna to send the science back to the KSC.

For landing, use the twin Spider thrusters to fine tune the periapsis to 55-57 km roughly over the target area, and use a combination of retro and radial out thrust to hold the altitude and kill as much velocity as possible before atmospheric entry. After that, just flop in heatshield first and hold on for the ride! Expect the parachute to deploy ~35 km up and a final landing speed around 4m/s. Things will get very toasty, but success is more likely than not, which is a win on Eve.

The booster consists of a 1.8m Pollux SRB pushing a Cheetah second stage for orbit and interplanetary yeeting. From LKO, the second stage has ~2000 m/s delta V, enough to keep the transfer window open for a few weeks beyond the optimal period. The probe itself has ~400m/s of fuel for fine tuning the approach, power production and a certain amount of retrograde propulsion. Note that the probe itself has the thrusters on the top, so after third stage separation the control point on the guidance core must be swapped from Default to Reversed.
Built in the VAB in KSP version 1.11.1.

Mods

• Breaking Ground DLC
• Making History DLC
• Squad (stock)
• Universal Storage II

Details

• Type: VAB
• Class: lander
• Part Count: 34
• Mods: 4
• KSP: 1.11.1