The Mun is KSP's equivalent of our Moon — and landing there is the first great adventure. Here's exactly how to plan the mission, execute the transfer burn, and stick the landing.
The Mun is Kerbin's largest moon, orbiting at about 12,000km altitude. Getting there requires two main burns: a Trans-Munar Injection (TMI) burn from Kerbin orbit, and a Munar Orbit Insertion (MOI) burn to capture at the Mun.
You need roughly 870 m/s of delta-v to get from low Kerbin orbit to a Mun transfer, and another 280 m/s to circularise at the Mun. Budget 600–700 m/s more for the landing itself. Total mission delta-v budget from Kerbin surface: about 6,800 m/s.
ROCKET DESIGN
For a Mun mission you need a proper multi-stage rocket. A reliable design:
• Command Pod + parachute (top)
• Service module with some monopropellant for RCS
• Lander stage: LT-2 Landing Struts + LV-909 Terrier engine + two FL-T400 tanks
• Transfer stage: Poodle engine + two FL-T800 tanks (gets you there and back to orbit)
• Launch stage: 3 or 4 Mainsail engines + large orange tanks with fuel crossfeed
Separate the lander from the transfer stage — you'll leave the transfer stage in Mun orbit and come back to it.
THE TRANSFER BURN (TMI)
From a 100km circular Kerbin orbit:
1. Open the map view (M). Switch focus to the Mun.
2. Wait until the Mun is about 45° ahead of your current position on its orbit.
3. Burn prograde. Watch the projected trajectory in map view — you want a line that intercepts the Mun's sphere of influence.
4. A 860–880 m/s burn should give you a Mun encounter. The trip takes about 8 in-game hours.
Use a manoeuvre node (right-click on your orbit in map view → Add Manoeuvre). Drag the prograde handle until you see the Mun intercept. This is the safest way to plan burns precisely.
ENTERING MUN ORBIT (MOI)
As you approach the Mun's sphere of influence:
1. Flip your ship retrograde.
2. When Pe shows roughly 15–20km above the surface, burn retrograde to slow down.
3. A ~280 m/s burn should capture you into Mun orbit. Circularise at about 20km altitude.
4. From 20km orbit, plan your powered descent.
THE LANDING
This is the hard part. The Mun has no atmosphere so parachutes are useless — you land on engine power alone.
1. From 20km orbit, start a deorbit burn retrograde (~300 m/s) targeting a flat crater rim.
2. As you descend, keep burning retrograde to kill horizontal velocity.
3. At 5km altitude, your vertical speed should be under 100 m/s.
4. At 1km, slow to under 20 m/s vertical. Kill remaining horizontal drift.
5. At 100m, slow to 5 m/s and deploy landing legs.
6. Touch down at under 5 m/s. You've landed on the Mun.
EVA Jebediah to plant a flag. You've earned it.
Watch your fuel. The lander engine is your lifeline home. If you're burning more than expected, abort early — burn straight up to 10km and then fly to orbit. An alive Kerbal in orbit can be rescued. A dead one cannot.