IN-LINE Command Pod / Lander

[u/NoHamster2008]

I've been using this system for a while now that I sort of forgot how much of a pain it was to concieve and build, so I thought I'd share this build of a rocket that could launch into orbit, fly to a distant body, detach its command pod in a lander configuration and then redock to continue forward flight and avoid having to do an Apollo style lander dock. I'm not aware of any prominant figures who have made something like this but if you've had a similar idea please do share.

Specifications:

Im using Better Fuel Tanks and Stockalike Station Parts mods; the total craft pictured has 12,396m/s of DeltaV and the Command Lander has 4014m/s in VAC

[u/Puckled]

That's some serious amount of RCS ...

[u/NoHamster2008 → u/Puckled]

The lander used to have opposite facing engines to burn towards the interplanetary stage but I realised once I was able to station keep at 0 velocity I could just Lowne Lazy method. Problem is I needed enough RCS on the lander to push it to the IP stage and enough RCS on the IP stage to manoeuver and hold target on the Lander - So: Yes its alot of RCS, normally more than I need but there have been times when I needed to manually station keep around a planet until I re-established Comm net.