(1.0) The Spacebar Challenge

[Stratzenblitz75]

With the new aero, proper gravity turns are now possible in stock KSP (YAY!). Now, one-button launches are far more practical than they were before, so I think a revival of the “one-button†challenge is in order.

Inspired by Yakky’s Hand’s free challenge which in turn was inspired by Thunderous Echo's "One-Button Bill" Challenge.

Briefing:

Ever since Kerbin’s dramatic atmosphere transformation, Jeb has not been able to fly our rockets straight. We've built several hundred rockets already and he has crashed every single one of them (it’s quite amazing, really). As a result, we are now almost bankrupt; one more failed launch will put the final nail in the coffin for our space program. That’s why we need your help. We need you to build a rocket that requires so little thought to fly that Jeb cannot possibly crash it. We need a rocket that only takes one button to fly.

Interested? Great!

Here are some basic guidelines that you should follow while you build your space craft:

Rules:

- Only use one action to fly your space craft: The stage function (the Space bar). There is no limit to how many times you can stage.

- Once launched, you cannot change the throttle.

- No debug menu “cheats†(no infinite fuel, unbreakable joints, etc.)

- Stock only, no mods other than information/visual

- Provide pictures of all the key events in the mission WITH resource tab open.

- (Optional) Provide a craft file with staging time stamps. If your mission is complicated, I may ask you do this just to verify.

There are two categories you can apply for:

--- Explorer ---

Goal: Exploring the Kerbin system will never be easier (at least for the pilot)! Your mission is to send a one-man capsule to a stable orbit somewhere in the Kerbin system. (You can take extra, but we only care about the pod)

Scoring:

For Kerbin Orbit: ----- (semi major axis(in Km) * (1 – eccentricity of orbit))

For Mun Orbit: -------- 30*((Mun SOI radius(2230) - semi major axis(in Km)) * (1 – eccentricity of orbit))

For Minmus: ---------- 60*((Minmus SOI radius(2187) - semi major axis(in Km)) * (1 – eccentricity of orbit))

(Basically, you get rewarded more points if your orbit is large and circular)

1.5x multiplier for return trip.

0.9x multiplier for every stage past stage two. (For instance, if you stage four times, your multiplier is 0.9*0.9 = 0.81)

No points for leaving Kerbin’s SOI.

Multipliers are accumulative

Explorer Leader board:

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- Stratzenblitz75 (916.6, Only used SRBs)

--- Heavy Lifter ---

Goal: How awesome would it be to have a rocket that can deliver payloads to LKO without having to think about piloting it? Your mission is to efficiently deliver a payload to Low Kerbin Orbit using only the space bar. (Fairings are recommended)

Scoring:

log₂(Mass of payload)*(Mass of payload / (cost of rocket(not including payload)-cost of recovery))

Heavy Lifter Leader board:

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- None yet

--- Mile Stones ---

Goal: Prove the improbable! Be the first to:

Land on the Mun:

Land on Minmus:

Land on another planet:

Rendezvous with an asteroid:

Thanks for viewing and good luck!

(Also, feedback on the challenge, especially on the scoring system, is greatly appreciated)

- - - Updated - - -

As custom for starting a challenge, here is my entry:

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Score:

= (705.8 * (1 – 0.038)) = 678.99

= Staged three times * return multiplier*score = 1.5*0.9*678.99

= 916.6

Edited April 29, 2015 by Stratzenblitz75
Added my entry