KSPI/DRE/Heat Managment/RSS - How to prevent nuclear armageddon on reentry?

[raxo2222]

I have *ahem* little problem - I can't seem to return from space without exploding.

My 67 ton spaceplane contains antimatter - hence my title - so explosions are deadly for everything below me too, turning DRE into F Extreme DRE

I have 4 large airbrakes, but they are too weak up high, and they cant slow down me.

At first parts at sides are overheating and exploding, but later, when I lose all parts at sides (which means doom, as I cant land safely anymore) my spaceshop folds like paper at 10 G destroying me and my container with ~1 kg of antimatter (isn't that around 9*(10^16) joules of fiery doom?)

Space ship core has radius of 2.5 meters.

Here is spaceship: http://www114.zippyshare.com/v/2yzjT14B/file.html

 

 

 

Edited January 17, 2016 by raxo2222
Added screenies and ship.

[Nansuchao]

What periapsis do you have at re enter? I suggest to re-enter from a lower orbit, otherwise tou can put a ATTILA thruster radially attached at your CoM and brake with it during the high atmosphere.

[raxo2222]

Periphrasis was at 70km. I guess you can skip reentering altogether...

[NathanKell]

Pretty sure you're going to reenter if it's below 130km...

[raxo2222]

8 hours ago, NathanKell said:

Pretty sure you're going to reenter if it's below 130km...

Err that's what I trying to do - highest Apotheosis is at 140 km and Periphrasis is at 70 km. Looks like 60 ton fat cats can't reentry.

So basically I have to return from orbit like there was no air.

[Starwaster]

Woeful lack of information here. How is your ship oriented? If you're relying on those airbrakes then... I have to assume (hate assuming, give more information dammit) that you're coming in low angle of attack? That would be fatal for space plane parts (like those wings and the rudder that you're using as a canard, assuming not altered by KSPI). Not sure what the thermal properties are of some of those parts, but for a space plane, (given space shuttle like protection, tiles) you need shallow reentry and high angle of attack. The space shuttle had an angle of attack of 40 degrees, but again, I don't know what some of those parts are in the main stack so I don't know if they can survive direct exposure.

But, as far as the size that's not an issue. I've landed craft that big or bigger. The problem is  you're just not generating enough drag, so again, you need a high angle of attack.

Another thing to consider; 70 km pe might actually be too shallow... not sure really for that plane of yours.

Edited January 20, 2016 by Starwaster

[raxo2222]

Well I kept it prograde - so 0 angle of attack.

So I have to give it powerful RCS from Interstellar to maintain 30 - 40 degree aoa.

 

[Nansuchao]

When you re-enter the atmosphere with a spaceplane you really need an High Angle of Attack, you need to have more drag as possible to slow down. You can't reenter just with the airbrakes deployed, they're not enough. Try a Space Shuttle style re-enter and prbably you'll succeed also with a lower (not too much) Periapsis.