Sun Racing

[Lazro]

What if you turn off the alternators through .cfg edits?

[GoSlash27]

I would not have expected RAPIERs to be legal, since they generate their thrust through internal combustion instead of solar power.

But since that is the case, I definitely would not recommend ion engines for this job. RAPIER has better Isp and t/w and the tanks are much more mass-efficient.

Just build for .6 t/w and minimal wings and let 'er rip.

Best,

-Slashy

[xtoro]

EDIT: Saw the new rules, have to reconfigure to take off at night...

Edited September 24, 2014 by xtoro

[xtoro]

Ok, so after my last post, I saw the new rule about leaving at 1:15, which left me in the dark. So I added some Rapier engines and I'm on my way again.

Starting

Sun is in sight

Well caught up to the sun, enough to run all my electric props

Should be able to make it directly under the sun. After that, my electric props and solar panels will leave me directly under the sun, forever.

2.5 Kerbal hours in so far and 470km covered.

[cantab]

I want to see an entry in RSS. Now that'll be a tough prospect!

[xtoro]

Ok so I left it on autopilot and went to bed last night (note the time) [click for larger images]

I caught up to the sun so I ditched my Rapier engines and extra 2 tanks. Now running only on electric propellers.

Woke up this morning and it's still going

Position of the sun is in the same spot, so it looks like I can indeed fly forever with this plane...

Again, notice the time

So it's been flying now for 2 days, 3 hours and 37 minutes.

Stats so far:

So, how do you want to calculate points on an infinite flight distance?

Anyways, here's what I got so far...

3,238,392 meters = 323,839

+75 points for have 5 power consuming parts

Double points for using electric engines

Triple points for being faster than the sunset (I caught up to it and I'm slowly overtaking it)

1,943,484 Points

But this number will continue to climb because the flight is still going...

EDIT: Have now passed KSC again and going for another flight around Kerbin. Not sure how many times I've gone around the planet so far...

Edited September 24, 2014 by xtoro

[TJPrime]

I'll go for this again, and I'll attempt to use the mk3 parts *shocks of horror from the universe itself*. The sun-chaser 2 is in development and launching tomorrow!

[xtoro]

Update, still going!

5,250,919 meters = 525,091

+75 points for have 5 power consuming parts

Double points for using electric engines

Triple points for being faster than the sunset (I caught up to it and I'm slowly overtaking it)

3,150,996 Points