The Laythe 0 challenge!

[Cant think of a username]

The story:

The KSP is in debt because of the crash of the most expensive rocket ever made. To make up for the lost funds, KSP accepted a contract to gather a surface sample from Laythe. But since the KSP is in debt, the mission must not waste any money. Thus the rocket has to be made with 0 funds or less. This seems impossible since fuel cost money and you can't go anyway without fuel. But impossible is not a thing at KSC. So its up to you to save KSP!

modes:

easy: Do a flyby of Laythe for (or less than) 0 funds.

medium: land on Laythe and get a surface sample, all for 0 funds or less.

Hard: land on Laythe and get 100 or more science, for 0 funds or less.

Super: Impress @Vanamonde (and me!)

Rules:

not allowed:

1. Docking and getting fuel and other resources from other ships/bases
2. Landing in the sea
3. Landing at other planets except Kerbin(you may enter orbit)
4. Killing any kerbal
5. using cheats (obviously!)
6. using deployed science from the DLC (other parts allowed)
7. using ion engines
8. restoring science (except from the lab)
9. Apollo stye (leaving something in orbit while landing a lander)

Flag: needs some refining:

 

Edited July 4, 2020 by Cant think of a username

[Ultimate Steve]

Just to clarify, for anyone confused, I believe that @Cant think of a username intends for us to  mine for profit.

[Cant think of a username]

Yep, but getting an huge tanker to Laythe is no easy task!

[sturmhauke]

What about getting a contract that results in a net profit?

[Cant think of a username]

43 minutes ago, sturmhauke said:

What about getting a contract that results in a net profit?

This is differant

[Flying dutchman]

i don't get why apollo style should not be allowed..

[xendelaar]

sorry if this is a dumb question, but how do I get a ship on the launchpad with zero funds in the bank account?

[Cant think of a username]

7 hours ago, xendelaar said:

sorry if this is a dumb question, but how do I get a ship on the launchpad with zero funds in the bank account?

no it is no a dumb question at all. I haven't thought of that! Just pretend!

[Cant think of a username]

20 hours ago, Flying dutchman said:

i don't get why apollo style should not be allowed..

Basically, I saying that the best way is using an SSTO

Edited July 5, 2020 by Cant think of a username

[Pds314]

On 7/3/2020 at 1:00 PM, Cant think of a username said:

Rules:

not allowed:

1. Docking and getting fuel and other resources from other ships/bases
2. Landing in the sea
3. Landing at other planets except Kerbin(you may enter orbit)
4. Killing any kerbal
5. using cheats (obviously!)
6. using deployed science from the DLC (other parts allowed)
7. using ion engines
8. restoring science (except from the lab)
9. Apollo stye (leaving something in orbit while landing a lander)

7. is pretty much an unnecessary restriction. No one in their right mind would waste xenon in a tanker that's supposed to generate a surplus unless said tanker is meant to go like 20 km/s. Xenon is ~500 times the cost of LFO for 12 times the ISP and can't be made via ISRU.

Additionally, you may want to make some kind of rule that prevents you from mining/converting and reselling the ore on Kerbin to fund a throwaway mission.

Edited July 23, 2020 by Pds314

[Cant think of a username]

My mission so far:

1. launch a huge ssto
2. got into a Laythe orbit
3. exploded upon entry
4. crashed
5. killed kerbal (BTW that's not allowed)

Second attempt:

1. added heat shields
2. landed on laythe
3. did the stuff
4. tried to liftoff
5. my craft was too heavy after the ore was loaded
6. crashed
7. did not kill kerbals

Third attempt:

1. remade ship
2. landed on laythe
3. rescued the last kerbals
4. got into Laythe orbit.
5. realized that I did not have dv to go back and have spare fuel to make the mission 0 funds
6. aborted mission and when home anyway

Fourth attempt:

1. remade ship
2. brought too less fuel
3. went home

Fifth attempt:

in progress.