Smallest SSTO for 1.0 challenge!

[Ferdoni]

Hello fellow kerbals!!

So I want to challenge you all in to making the smallest (in weight) SSTO. Can be a plane, can be a rocket, can be manned, can be unmanned, can be beautiful, can be ugly, your choice.

Rules:

- Part Mods are not allowed, only stock parts (MechJeb for instance is allowed)

- Only in version 1.0 (or 1.01/1.02, your choice)

- It has to orbit Kerbin minimal at a 70x70 orbit

- Weight has to be in 2 decimals precisely (as shown in the 'map' view)

Have fun!

Leaderbord:

1 - Nefrums (0,97)

2 - rocx (1.09)

3- Jouni (1.11)

4 - t3hJimmer (4.03)

5 - LittleBlueGaming (7.07)

6 - Postremus (8.16)

Edited June 15, 2015 by Ferdoni

[Postremus]

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8.155 Tons at launch.

can reach an 100k by 100k orbit.

It was build in 1.0.2.

uses monoprop for completing the orbit,

part cliping was used for a oktocore and a battery.

[Ferdoni]

Good design! I added you on the leaderbord

[Jouni]

The old 48-7S design still works in 1.0.2.

The launch mass is 1.11 tonnes. With a good ascent, you can get the periapsis a bit over 70 km. The reaction wheels are technically unnecessary, as the engine has thrust vectoring. You can also reduce mass by replacing the inline battery with a single radial battery.

[Ferdoni]

The old 48-7S design still works in 1.0.2.

http://jltsiren.kapsi.fi/ksp/1.0/small_ssto_1.jpeg

http://jltsiren.kapsi.fi/ksp/1.0/small_ssto_2.jpeg

The launch mass is 1.11 tonnes. With a good ascent, you can get the periapsis a bit over 70 km. The reaction wheels are technically unnecessary, as the engine has thrust vectoring. You can also reduce mass by replacing the inline battery with a single radial battery.

Nice work! what is your ascent path by the way?

[Jouni]

Nice work! what is your ascent path by the way?

It was something like turn 5 degrees at 70 m/s, and try to point to 60 degrees at 6-8 km and to 45 degrees at 10-12 km.

[LittleBlueGaming]

I just made a 7.6t (don't have it to 2 places) craft the the K-Prize, but that's designed to return and land as well. I'll try modifying it to see how low I can get it.

[LittleBlueGaming]

For a launch from the runway, I came up with this.

7.07 tons

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If I subtract the weight of the LF/O I had in orbit, the theoretical lower-limit with my ascent path would be around 5.4. I'm sure better pilots than me could get it even lower.

[rocx]

A new lowest mass SSTO! I present Miniraket 2, with a pad mass of 1.085 tons! An incremental improvement over the Miniraket, which had a pad mass of 1.33, an Jouni's similar design of 1.11 t, this one does away with reaction wheels and battery, replacing them with a single solar panel and three basic fins. Flown in 1.0.2.

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For overall lowest launch mass this could be improved by adding a second stage, but that's not relevant for this particular challenge.

Edit: here it is, with pad mass of 915 kg. I think this can be lowered even more with a three-stage design I have in mind.

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Edited June 9, 2015 by rocx

[t3hJimmer]

Here is my submission. I give you the "Micro Mini":

4.03 tons at launch

11 parts

Rapier Engine

Flown in version 1.0.2

• 
  

Edited June 12, 2015 by t3hJimmer
fugged up the Youtube embed code somehow

[Ferdoni]

Beautiful designs everyone! I also updated the leaderbord for you

[Nefrums]

Here is my entry:

0,97 t

8 parts

built in 1.0.2

using solid boosters to get very high initial TWR for a few seconds.

Orbit archived with over 150 dV to spare.

[rocx]

Very nice! I tried the same approach with three Oscars and two Sepatrons, but I couldn't achieve orbit. Have you tried comparing this design to one with a small nosecone? Would it save more fuel than its weight?

[Nefrums]

I did not try that mainly because that i could not find any where to place the battery.

I did have to try the launch many times as the craft is not very stable. But getting the speed up to over 100m/s in 4s saves alot of fuel as it means less time fighting gravity.

[Ferdoni]

Here is my entry:

0,97 t

8 parts

built in 1.0.2

using solid boosters to get very high initial TWR for a few seconds.

Orbit archived with over 150 dV to spare.

http://i.imgur.com/66X4xC1.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/00WEnRo.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/QoP8Awh.jpg

Love the design!!

You did what I couldn't archieve

I added you to the leaderbord!

[SHiftER2O]

I love how all these can fit in the Mk2 cargo bay

[Azimech]

Blijkbaar moet een SSTO gewoon een raket zijn en geen ruimtevliegtuig.

970 kilograms ... My car weighs more. I'm amazed!

[xendelaar]

Nice Challenge! Here's my entry for version 1.0.4:

I was aiming for a 1.0t SSTO vehicle but that sadly didn't work out. So now I'm stuck with this 1.1t piece of junk . With some better flying skills, I bet it would be possible with less fuel.

We're good to go! Counting down...

We're right on track

Apoapisis of 75km... 413 dV left... I think we're gonna make it.

Setting up final node

Starting burn

Mission accomplished! We have a stable orbit. Here's the money shot

[GoSlash27]

Here comes the Teeny!

.86t and a major pain to get to orbit!

http://wikisend.com/download/260862/teeny.craft

Launch procedure:

T-Z-Space.

At 70m/sec, turn prograde to 80° pitch

T to disable attitude hold (let it follow the gravity turn)

Switch to map and get it all set up

At Ap= 80 km, throttle to zero and T

At .6 electrical charge, add a hair of throttle and set pitch to -5°

At .1 electrical charge, Z and cross your fingers.

Best,

-Slashy

Edited September 18, 2015 by GoSlash27

[xendelaar]

Damn Slashy. That's a sweet little vessel you've got there. I would love to see you fly that thing into space. I bet i

couldn't even get that thing above 15km.

[GoSlash27]

Damn Slashy. That's a sweet little vessel you've got there. I would love to see you fly that thing into space. I bet i

couldn't even get that thing above 15km.

xendelaar,

Thanks, but it really doesn't require piloting skill to fly. It does take some timing and precision (and luck) to get it to orbit, though. The battery dies before it gets to apoapsis, so you have to get it pointed correctly and firewall the engines just before that happens.

The actual flying is a piece of cake. Most of the launch is hands-off without even using SAS.

Download it and give it a go!

Best,

-Slashy

[xendelaar]

Thanks Slashy. I will fly your creation tonight.

[michal.don]

Hi, is it possible to try this challenge in 1.04, or is it limited to 1.02 because of some changes in aerodynamics that happened in later versions, which make the challenge easier now?

thanks,

michal.don