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ERV-11 "Polecat" Mission

This system delivers a ERV-11 "Polecat" compact rover to the surface of Duna in a similar style with the NASA Curiosity mission. Check that page for more pictures and descriptions of the rover itself.

The skycrane certainly works for smaller celestial bodies such as Mun and Minmus, but the aerodynamic shell, drogue chute and heat shield would become unnecessary.

The system also reaches Eve, the shell would survive a shallow atmospheric entry, but final touchdown speed would be 20-25m/s. Drogue chute/parachute and skycrane engines need to be upgraded for a safe landing on Eve.

Pure stock, no mods, no DLCs. 109 parts, root part is the OKTO2 drone core on the rover.
The "unknown part module" message is caused by MechJeb built-in autopilot function. The craft will load and work just fine without that mod.

- Curiosity style delivery system with aerodynamic shell, heat shield, drogue chute and skycrane.
- Transfer stage provides 2400m/s dV @ LKO.
- Skycrane provides 1300m/s vacuum dV (2min burn time with max throttle, far more than enough).

AG1=horizontal control point (press after touchdown to drive)
AG2=vertical control point (default)
AG4=rover antenna
AG7=self-rescue reaction wheel
AG8=experiments
AG0=transfer stage antenna and solar panels (press after achieving LKO)

If you enabled communication network in game setting, make sure there is a functional relay constellation around the destination, otherwise the rover will lose contact, landing will fail.

Too long don't read: simply looking though the screenshots would be enough to get an idea of how it works.

Launch
- Engage SAS, stage once for main engine, go full throttle, stage again to lift off.
- Conduct gravity turn, slowly reach 45 degrees pitch @ 15km, lock prograde. Stage to ditch burned-out SRBs (twice) in the process.
- Push AP to 80-100km, shut down engines, deploy fairing outside of atmosphere, coast till circularization.
- Core stage alone should be able to complete circularization with ~100m/s dV left. Use RCS for better control, there is plenty of monopropellant on board.
- Press AG0 to extend solar panels and antenna on transfer stage, otherwise it will soon lose control.

Duna landing
- Transfer to Duna, fine-tune orbit to flyby at 20km PE for a direct descent after being aerocaptured.
- Or: flyby outside of atmosphere, circularize around Duna, and deorbit later for a more precise landing at a specific location.
- Separate transfer stage shortly before atmospheric entry, lock retrograde, engage RCS.
- Activate drogue chute early on and wait for it to deploy. When it fully deploys @ 5km above ground, stage 3 times until skycrane engines are on. Slow down to a safe speed.
- Staging again ditches drogue chute. Do it with caution, avoid crashing into it during further deceleration (a bit maneuvering to the side will solve this).
- Keep final touchdown speed <0.5m/s.
- Stage as soon as wheel touches ground, watch skycrane fly itself away.
- Press AG1 to switch control point and start driving. Welcome to Duna.

Wish you enjoy and happy roving!