Leathan

Next task: Crash land a ship on Minmus' surface in a spectacular way but so that your Kerbal survives. Rescue the stranded Kerbonaut in a creative way.

Unmanned mun science station with docked kerbal: Next challenge: Build a manned rover and drive it to/into the swimming pool at Kerbal Space Center which was added in 0.25.

So, here is a first reference for the Non-Atmospheric or rather Non-Oxygenated Class. Payload: 32,0t Launcher: 145,4t launcher share of liftoff mass: 82,0%

Very nice launcher! It puts you on top of the Medium Class Ranking as of now, but please calculate the LSoLM with the class-specific payload of 32t. If I did the maths right that is only 70,8%. Also I think just by dumping fuel or minor design modifications you could adjust your maximum payload to reach an even better score.

Yes, multistage launchers are allowed and even encouraged. I will try out Jouni's design tonight, but since I think that it is legitimate I already put him on the scoreboard. Here is an example of a non-inert (not allowed) payload: a 36t orange tank at liftoff which ends up in orbit with a remaining mass of 32t. To avoid confusion I would suggest you add a docking port at the end as part of your payload. EDIT: I have tried out Jouni's 8t design and it took me quite a few attempts and a lot of peeking at vertical speed to fly it, but it does indeed work (sometimes).

So, why not... Here is my own contribution to the "Medium Class" challenge. Payload: 32.1t Liftoff mass: 144,9t Launcher share of liftoff mass: 77,8% I call this a hybrid launcher because it launches in a traditional fast gravity turn with the main engine on from the very beginning. I think it shuld be able to lift this mass with considerably lighter launchers, if a non-traditional ascent curve is used and sufficient lateral speed picked up before the main engine is fired. My guess for the winning entry in this category is 60% with an ascent to 20000 meters and 1500 m/s using turbojets/rapiers only.

Lightest Launcher Challenge Developing simple space launch systems is an easy task for advanced KSP users. Just strap some tanks, engines and boosters together and off you go. This challenge asks for more. We are looking for the man or woman capable of developing the lightest possible launcher for a given payload. This also has practical implications: a light launcher is much easier to transfer to distant worlds where it can be used in advanced interplanetary missions. RULES: 1) The launcher must take off from Kerbin space port's runway or launchpad. The inert! payload must be injected into a circular equatorial orbit of at least 120km. The launcher must include robotic control and may include multiple stages. 2) Only stock parts from KSP 0.25 allowed. Do not use mods which change the game functionality. It is a bonus if the launcher can also be used with Ferram Aerospace enabled, but not exclusively. Kerbal Engineer is recommended. 3) In case a special launch procedure is required which deviates from a traditional gravity turn, please specify. The launch should be replicable by good KSP users with a good success rate. Sattelite Class: min. 8 t lifting capacity Medium Class: min. 32 t lifting capacity Non-oxygenated Class: min 32t lifting capacity without the use of air-breathing equipment / wings Interplanetary Class: min. 128t lifting capacity In addition to the above four classes there will be a competition for the title Lord of Launchers. Compete in all four classes, in each category calculate the ratio of launcher mass to overall takeoff mass including class-specific! payload. (The Payload ratio is simply 100% minus this value and vice versa.) Average the four percentage values. The submission with the lowest average wins. The winner of this challenge has the legitimate right to call himself Lord of Launchers. SCOREBOARD [TABLE=width: 500, align: center] [TR] [TD]Competition[/TD] [TD]Winners [/TD] [TD]LSoLM[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Sattelite Class[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]Jouni[/TD] [TD]26,5%[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]2[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]3[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Medium Class[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]Jouni[/TD] [TD]26.3% [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]HelmutK[/TD] [TD]54.5% [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]Leathan[/TD] [TD]77,8%[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Non-oxygenated[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]1[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]2[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]3[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Interplanetary Class[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]1[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]2[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]3[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Lord of Launchers[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]1[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]2[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]3[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]