Lightest rocket to orbit

[Banglaboy0916]

So the challenge rules are simple:

-The rocket has to have a periapsis  and appoapsis above 70km

-No clipping 

-One kerbal onboard

-The kerbal has to return safely to kerbin

-EAS external command seats are allowed

-No KAL-1000 overclock exploit

-No cheats

-No mods

-DLCs are allowed

Good luck!

Edited July 26, 2021 by Banglaboy0916

[Pds314]

16 hours ago, Banglaboy0916 said:

So the challenge rules are simple:

-The rocket has to have a periapsis  and appoapsis above 70km

-No clipping 

-One kerbal onboard

-The kerbal has to return safely to kerbin

-EAS external command seats are allowed

-No KAL-1000 

-No cheats

-No mods

-DLCs are allowed

Good luck!

No KAL-1000 or no overclocking exploit? As in, are we allowed to do something like use a KAL-1000 for automated control?

 

[Banglaboy0916]

Sorry should have been clearer: no overclocking exploit - automated control is fine

 

[CFYL]

This is my entry: an (unrealistic) TSTO that takes off on a whiplash and gets some crazy speed inside the atmosphere and circularizes using very little fuel. Ttotal mass is 3.593t. (I believe some people can beat me by as much as a few tons though.)

Soon after takeoff, Jeb feels nice. This 10°~angle was chosen after a bit of trial and error. Too vertical and the ship gets too little horizontal speed and is unable to circularize. Too horizontal and the ship is unable to break the atmosphere or even the sound barrier.

The rocket reaches max Q at 3636m.

Peak thrust of jet engine comes at 12627m.

Time to exposed to space.

TWR causes DV losses.

There isn't much DV left but we made it anyways.

And then we do a retrograde burn at ap and gets ready for reentry.

I am afraid that Jeb would get burned in the atmosphere but he just laughs.

Jeb laughs and laughs. Surprisingly the G and the heating are both VERY subtle. (Kerbin is too small.)

Now that we don't have a chute cuz its too heavy. Considering safety we had better...

Leave the ship. Yuri Gagarin actually did jump out of his capsule and landed in his personal parachute IIRC. Perhaps they had other concerns.

Now Jeb seems to be afraid.

With some maneuver Jeb landed at just 2m/s ground speed. But I couldn't capture a screenshot of that astounding moment so I planted a flag instead.

The entires hip weighs 3.593t and the trip takes 35min in total.