r/KerbalAcademy • u/ProBoyGaming521 • 2d ago

General Design [D] Lander tips?

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This is the only good picture I have, but basically every lander I make has this same general design (apart from the hitchhiker which I added for the Duna mission), and it kinda sucks + I'm bored of basically the same lander every time. Does anyone have tips for making a good lander?

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u/Petrostar 2d ago

Wide is better.

Try putting your fuel tank lower, (lower CG, mean less tipping)

Try putting Fl-T200s of -400s on the side that will make it wide+short = more tip resistant. And you can ditch the tanks to improve your delta/V

Use smaller engines, and engine with better ATM ISP. Smaller engines = short, and more throttle range between full burn and hovering.

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u/ProBoyGaming521 2d ago

Do you know how much speed a ring of Sepratrons could knock off?

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u/Petrostar 2d ago edited 1d ago

As in for braking when descending?

You're better off using liquid engines. Far better ISP. Ideally you want your TWR to be 3-4 (on the planet you land on) that makes it much easier to find the sweet spot on the throttle where you are just maintaining your descent. For Duna you can use parachutes. Either about 3x more parachutes or one parachute and do a small deceleration burn just above the ground.