doggonemess

This is so funny. I've actually built a craft like this as a joke. I even wrote some lore to go along with it. I'm going to add a secondary engine(s?) and submit it for approval. Until then, enjoy the first version: XRA-69 Description Here at Lev Aerospace, we’re always pushing the boundries of aviation technology. While examining one of our planes, an engineer remarked that maybe we had been building them all wrong this whole time. The XRA-69 is the realization of that idea. The whole aircraft is backwards, upside down, and inside out. We’re breaking every paradigm with this one, and thinking so far outside of the box that the box is a dot to us! If it actually flies, it’ll be a miracle. So far, nobody has volunteered to test pilot it. Info Built in the SPH in KSP version 1.3.0.

That reentry image is frickin' hilarious. Reentry window? Controls? A hull? Who needs that crap - I'm going straight in.

Hmmm... interesting. If staging was allowed, would that mean that the ENTIRE vehicle doesn't have to stop? I think that would kind of go against the spirit of the challenge, but it gives me a crazy idea.

Yep, the Rapier is silly fast. Its thrust rating gives you the impression that it's not very powerful, but it gets more powerful the faster you go. Plus, not having to worry about fuel means you can make it really light. There's also a 'sweet spot' with number of engines vs. speed. At some point, adding more engines just seems to add more mass.

I've got one all ready for this! https://kerbalx.com/LevAerospace/M8-SpyRover-II-ORV Rocket powered, dual missile launchers in concealed panels, ejection seats, SIX WHEEL DRIVE! What more could you ask for? And... 100% stock!

This is absolutely the fastest I've ever gone at low altitude with a manned craft. It IS cheating, as I'm using an autopilot mod. Max speed = Mach 8.75, or 3062 m/s. I'm going to give an unmanned craft a go. My first few attempts got to around 8,000 m/s but kept flinging off into space. I have not the faintest clue how people are getting 17,000 m/s.

Hang on, didn't the OP indicate that the engines can't exceed 1000 "thrust"? I'm assuming by that they meant nothing above 1000 kN. I was going to post first by saying that these challenges always devolve into a huge engine attached to a tiny probe core and then it boils down to squeaking 0.1 m/s more than the last entry. But then I realized that I had never participating in one yet. So I'm getting to it right now! 0.1 m/s faster HERE I COME!

I'll second that!

We're going through some changes right now, but I will definitely talk to the gang about it!

I think the momentum has stalled somewhat due to the leader of the thread departing and summer activities / new job has reduced some of our availability. I'd like to make sure it keeps going, as we're all enjoying it greatly. I'm going to check in with the team and see what's what.

I think I probably dropped the ball on this one. I let the team know that the medal was done but I didn't have time to post it as I just started my new job. I can post it, but I haven't read through the reports, so we'd be working off the honor system I think. Full size: Pocket size: Also, I'm definitely doing challenge #8, even if I am on the team. Just need some free time.

Are reactors allowed, as in the ones in Near Future Electrical?

@Lo Var Lachland - he didn't actually say you could post later. He said "if you join by then", meaning talk to the three of them via personal message and then get permission. The only reason I posted a challenge was because they told me to, due to their unavailability to post one that week.

I'm not the thread originator, but as one of the contributors, I'm saying "no", I'm not going to lay off - I think that your challenge belongs in a new thread. I think you misunderstood whatever Alpha told you. This thread was created for a specific purpose, with a common theme, award plan, and a roadmap for where it was going. If you want to post your challenge, START A NEW TOPIC and post it there. I don't get why you would want to post yours inside another challenge thread anyway. I personally like your idea, and would totally do the mission, but it is its own thing. It's definitely more advanced than a challenge a typical "newbie" could complete. If I'm in error here, I'd like to hear from Alpha or one of the other originators.

Again...? Didn't we talk about randomly highjacking other challenges a couple weeks ago? Just post this as a new topic if you really want people to do it.

This challenge seems ridiculously over-complicated with excessively detailed objectives and would require way too much planning and time in real life to complete. I can't wait to do it! I'm going to have to break out Excel and make some charts... maybe even design some custom logos and advertisements for my mission. WOOT!

I saw this and had to do it! Here's the mission report: https://imgur.com/a/ZviyMYI. To summarize, I built a craft capable of skipping into the water at Mach 2.97 with 100% survivability! This gives me all kinds of ideas for lithobraking on Duna and Eve! I'm sure it would work there... yeah.

Congrats to all of the winners! @Scarecrow - for a very close satellite arrangement @hoioh - for bringing enough spares to make even NASA question the mission budget @TheFlyingKerman - for SSTO'ing the sats into orbit @KingDominoIII - for a very detailed mission report (and images in order!) @4x4cheesecake - for an incredibly symmetrical satellite arrangement @Lucast0909 - for operation WATCHMAKER and very thourough coverage @Kerbolitto - for an awesome looking SSTM delivery method Here is the Tier 6 medal:

Okay, I'm looking over the entries, so if you've got one to submit, make it so!

What those guys said - they beat me to it. Reduced thrust, plan your maneuvers at apoapsis and periapsis, make tiny adjustments. Also helps if you enjoy doing things to the last fiddly little detail.

I wanted to make sure that I receive the awesome badge I'm making, so here's my submission! https://imgur.com/a/LhIHYzg End result: satellites in stable orbit in front and in back of moon, over 100 days elapsed. Jeb is really, really bored.

Here are the medal awards for the fifth challenge! @hoioh - for their awesome SSTO-crewed Skylab! @Kerbolitto - for their confection-suffocation experiments (and another awesome SSTO)! @4x4cheesecake - for their historically accurate half-broken Skylab! @Lucast0909 - for Operation: CENTAUR, and yet another SSTO (I'm seeing some kind of trend here)! @SiriusRocketry - for their great station and the biggest fairing this side of Jool! @elon-kerman-jr - your medal is hanging downstairs in the ladies' room when you get your mission report filed! Below are the 100px and 400px versions.

Awesome! That was fast. And that is one HUGE fairing. I'm posting the medals this morning, so last call for missions reports!

I am going to be travelling this weekend, but I'll be happy to post the medals for the fifth challenge on Sunday.

I'll grab that screenshot for you. And it's funny - I've had almost no problems with reentry. Is there something in the way I built the shuttle that makes it easier? Maybe I'm just an amazing genius engineer and should be working for NASA. Or maybe I just got really lucky. I'm better on the latter. EDIT: Here's the orbit.