Kerbal Space Program Codexery

Tylo

The icy, gravity-defying moon of Jool that demands the ultimate test of engineering.

Tylo is a massive, icy moon orbiting the gas giant Jool, standing out as one of the most challenging and formidable celestial bodies in the Kerbal system. Often described by mission planners as 'the moon that eats rockets,' it possesses a gravity well nearly identical to Kerbin's own, requiring immense delta-v to land on its surface or escape from it. Its heavily cratered, snow-covered terrain hides no atmosphere, making aerobraking impossible and demanding precision engineering for any successful expedition.

Quick Facts

Parent body
Jool
Surface type
Icy Craters
Gravity relative to kerbin
~1.0 g (Very High)
Exploration difficulty
Extreme
Key feature
Deep Gravity Well

Lore & Background

The first Kerbal to step onto Tylo's frozen plains did so with the knowledge that returning home would require as much effort as arriving there. Unlike the airless but low-gravity Mun or Minmus, Tylo forces engineers to build vehicles capable of fighting a gravity pull almost equal to their home world. This has led to a unique class of heavy-lift landers and robust ascent stages designed specifically for the Jool system.

Reader's Guide

Tylo is an airless moon with a surface gravity almost equal to Kerbin's, making it one of the most difficult destinations in the system. Without an atmosphere, spacecraft cannot use aerobraking or parachutes; every phase of landing and takeoff must be achieved through propulsive means alone. The terrain is dominated by high albedo ice fields interspersed with deep impact craters and rugged mountain ranges. The lack of weathering processes means these geological features remain pristine over eons, offering a stark, frozen landscape for exploration. Exploration significance lies in the sheer engineering challenge Tylo presents. Successfully landing here proves an agency's ability to manage high-delta-v missions. It serves as the gateway to the outer Jool system and is often used as a staging point for further jumps toward Eeloo or the interstellar void.

Did You Know?

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