SSTO Spaceplane - Fuel Lifter (Almost stock, part included)

[evilC]

http://evilc.com/files/games/ksp/fuel_lifter_mk2.zip

Non standard part is an x200-32 fuel tank with 750 jet fuel and no oxidizer - weight of tank is same (2) and weight of fuel is auto calculated, so this is basically a stock part with a non-maximum fill.

I did this as there is no big jet fuel only container - it is possible to do with lots of smaller tanks but then fuel movement is a pain.

Features

Can lift the following fuel to orbit:

~ 75% of a Rockomax Jumbo-64 (Biggest rocket fuel tank in game)

1500 Monopropellant (Less any used for docking)

A bit of left over jet fuel.

Super cushioning landing gear design - undercarriage flexes to take impact but does not deform - good for hard landings!

Capable of taking extra loads piggybacked (And underslung if you moved or removed a few struts on the landing gear)

Can then return and land. Can also land with significant fuel on board.

Also capable of taking off, orbiting @ 75k, landing @ KSC, coming to a full stop, taking off again (without turning around or going back to start of runway), orbiting again, then landing @ KSC again- on ONE lot of fuel!

Powered by 12x turbojet engines with 4 ram intakes each and 4 toroidal aerospikes.

I haven't flown it much manually, I use mechjeb so instructions are for that.

Taking off

Mechjeb>throttle control

limit terminal, prev overheat, smooth throt, prev jet flame, manage intakes - ON

safety leave @ 5%

Mechjeb>Smart A.S.S>SURF>PIT to 40 degrees, Execute

Hit 1 to start engines, throttle up to full.

@ takeoff, raise gear and warp to 2x

@ 10km set PIT to 20 degrees

@ 20km set PIT to 10 deg

@ 30km the throttle should be at about 50%, hit 2 to turn on the rockets. DO NOT turn off jets yet - the jets being on keeps the throttle low, you just want to supplement the jets with rockets.

When out of atmos, kill all engines and coast to apo (which should be 80km), then circularize.

Landing:

It is very easy to go into a nasty spin, so this is how I avoid it:

Time your de-orbit burn, aim for KSC, can't really help you with that.

Move fuel towards nose if you can.

Mechjeb>Smart A.S.S>OBT>PRO GRAD

Warp as far as you can, it is OK to go to max warp (ignore warning). When you start burning up go to 1x or 2x warp.

@ about 700m/s fire up the jet engines (1).

Wait a little while until speed stops dropping, then it is OK to disengage the autopilot keeping you prograde.

Mechjeb>Spaceplane guidance.

As long as you are within ~30km of the runway, just turn it on with default settings, else you might hit a mountain.

Once within 10km, start slowing down - the landing autopilot will nose up and glide in nice.

@ about 5km, you want to be doing ~75m/s and speed constant. Throttle is under 1/3

As back wheels hit, cut engines and start hitting brakes.

Enjoy! Any comments or suggestions on the craft or flying it greatly appreciated.

Edited April 24, 2013 by evilC
fixed link, added pics

[KissSh0t]

It would be really great to post images of your lifter to interest people more.

[evilC]

It would be really great to post images of your lifter to interest people more.

Done.

I also fixed a typo in the link, should be able to download now.

[KissSh0t]

Holy Sh33t/////

Now that's a lifter...

[evilC]

re-upped.

I noticed a few errant struts on the landing gear.