Bottom of the barrel rocketry

[Pds314]

The aim of this challenge is to get to your destination as cheaply as you can, using some of the worst parts the game has to offer.

 

Craft restrictions:

 

Liquid fuel engine allowed:

LV-T45 Swivel: Yup. You get a gimballing LF engine. But it was that or give you access to the reliant which is basically better in every way other than having a gimbal.

Vernor engine: this is the LF RCS thruster. Overweight and oversized but that's perfect.

LV-1R Spider: A tiny, expensive, overweight engine that works poorly in vacuum and isn't aerodynamic? Yes please.

 

Solid Fuel Boosters allowed:

Flea: the first rocket you get in the game.

Hammer: as Flea but slightly better.

Separatron: This probably isn't meta.

Launch Escape System: Fly Safe!

 

 

Monoprop engine allowed:

O-10 monoprop engine: Frankly this will probably not be meta even for this challenge. But hey it you think it's good, this is where it could shine. Note the absence of any normal RCS thrusters.

 

Atmospheric engines allowed:

Juno: It's tiny, inefficient, and expensive for it's size. Good luck.

Goliath: Big, sorta expensive, and doesn't go very fast? It's perfect.

 

Ion engines allowed:

Dawn: It costs a fortune and even more to operate. I highly doubt It'll be meta.

 

Breaking Ground Engines allowed:

Both Turboshafts are allowed. Electric motors are not.

 

Reaction Wheels allowed:

Only command pod reaction wheels are allowed. No separate reaction wheels.

 

Command Modules allowed:

Mk2 drone core: expensive and awkward? yes please.

RC-L01 remote Guidance Unit: Even more expensive.

Cupola: very awkward.

Mk1 cockpit (not inline): Heavy for a single seater.

Mk3 cockpit: Oh? It's heat tolerant? It seats 4? Yeah I hope you like the cost, weight and size though.

Passenger cabins are not allowed.

 

All wings, control surfaces, structural parts, electrical, batteries, etc are allowed.

 

 

Mission profiles:

For all missions:

Recovery is deducted from flight only if you land at the KSC or in view of it.

No "recovering" mined resources or converted resources.

Base score = 1 unless it's modified, and can't be negative.

Final score = (cost - recovered) / base score.

Lower final score is better.

Stranded or killed Kerbals do not give you any base score, don't count towards mission completion requirements and reduce your base score by 1 per Kerbal stranded or killed.

 

First orbit: put a command module in orbit. If crewed, bring it back from orbit safely.

Keostationary satellite launch: Launch a probe core, a sufficient electrical power source, a stationkeeping system with at least 200 m/s of Delta V, and relay antenna sufficient to reach Kerbin's surface, to an approximate circular orbit with a  sidereal orbital period of between 5:54 and 6:04.

Mun sample return: Land on the Mun and return to Kerbin. +1 base score per additional landing and return from orbit. +1 base score per Kerbal landed. +1 base score if at least one Kerbal remains in Munar orbit throughout the mission.

Duna rover landing: Launch a vehicle to Duna and reasonably prove that it could drive for at least 100 km after landing (you need not actually do so). +1 base score per additional rover. +1 per Kerbal who reaches low Duna orbit. +1 per Kerbal who reaches the ground. +1 per Kerbal who rides a rover. So sending one Kerbal to Duna to drive a car there and return gets you a base score of 4.

Outer system exploration: Go to worlds beyond Duna's orbit.+1 for each additional flyby to a unique body closer than the radius of the object. +1 for each landing on a unique world. +1 for each Kerbal who witnesses at least one flyby. +1 for each Kerbal who lands at least once. +1 for each flyby and each landing with at least one Kerbal onboard. +1 for each Kerbal who is present for every single landing and flyby without exception.

Edited July 26, 2021 by Pds314

[camacju]

Is the Hitchhiker module allowed? Not sure whether it counts as a crew cabin and it's not a command module

[Pds314]

3 hours ago, camacju said:

Is the Hitchhiker module allowed? Not sure whether it counts as a crew cabin and it's not a command module

Passenger cabins in general aren't allowed.

[GoSlash27]

What about the Mk.1 capsule?

Best,

-Slashy

[Pds314]

1 minute ago, GoSlash27 said:

What about the Mk.1 capsule?

Best,

-Slashy

Nope. It's way too good of a part. Mk1 Cupola, Mk1 cockpit (not inline) or the Mk3 cockpit are allowed. There's kind of a trade-off between Mk1 cockpit's weight and Cupola's cost and shape.

[GoSlash27]

Okay, thanks for the reply.

Best,

-Slashy