SSTO - orbital adventures

[purpleivan]

I've been playing about with some vertically launched SSTO's after a few weeks ago making my first of these. That one didn't have the ability to return (safely) to the surface, so I rectified that today.

Mk1

Only a tiny payload volume inside a payload bay, that it shared with solar arrays, and parachutes etc. A crew of two takes this to orbit. Worked well enough for a first stab at this.

Went for a land touchdown, rather than splashdown. The flat terrain allowing it to balance on the aerospikes.

 

Mk2

A straight forward "bigger is better version, with a longer payload bay. As with all of these designs, a lare part of re-entry was a case of just letting the vehicle spin to pick up drag and spread heating, rather than a nice controlled descent... but hey, it works.

Upper half of the open payload bay, plus another one (closed in this image) available for cargo.

Plenty of heat on the return.

And a comfortable 7.4m/s splashdown.

 

Mk3

A payload only vehicle this time, that delivers 5 tons of playload to an 80km orbit.

Launch was uneventful.

Left with decent amount of fuel for circularisation.

Separation of the payload.

One orbital habitat, ready for business and for more deliveries to join it in the near future, to create a larger station.

Another "wobble, wobble, but ok in the end" re-entry.

Edited July 29, 2018 by purpleivan

[purpleivan]

Another couple of modules delivered to the station today.

Power Module

With a couple of gigantors, this will provide any electrical requirements the station is likely to have. Additionally, perched on the end of it is a small tug, which will be used to attach future modules to the station. The launcher returned to a nice flat bit of desert, for another safe landing.

 

Science Module

2nd delivery of the day was of a science module, with all the technical gubbins that any kerbal could ask for (just add scientists). This was the first module that would be attached to the station with the help of the tug.

After delivery to the station of the module, the launcher headed home for a gently landing in the lowlands.

Edited July 29, 2018 by purpleivan