Just Jim

OK, after reading this thread and taking some notes last night, I re-designed my SSTO prototype. The new one hit 1200 m/s at 22,000 meters... at a 20 degree incline!!! I could have gotten her much faster if I leveled out a little, but there was a storm rolling in, so I stopped at that point. She still needs more testing, but this one is finally close. Thanks all for the great info here!!! It's really helped me pin down what I've been doing wrong.

Oh really??? yeah, I can see why that would be considered cheating! OK, the OP said I could recreate the launch. I'm going to be test flying an SSTO this morning (it's so close I can taste it..... lol), but later I'll back everything up and set up a launch to get some screenshots. I have no problem with that.

Oh, OK. I suppose I could set up another launch, but I'll be honest, I don't know if I want to go thru all that again just to enter a contest. But I do have one question... what the heck is this "Hyperedit"? I keep seeing this word showing up.... is it like the Debug thing?

Wow.... I've been working on a smaller SSTO the last few days, and this thread just answered a ton of questions I had.... thanks!!!!

OK, the list of rules is really long, and I'm not sure exactly you want, but here's my big Jool Station She is 344 ton, fully automated, but can house 82, and has a large science lab. She can also hold 3000 units of ore and has a processor. Her fuel capacity is huge... I'll have to get the exact number. Believe it or not, it can be launched as a single unit. 550 parts total, almost 750 ton at launch. It's very hard to get into orbit, you really need to baby the throttle, so I don't have launch screenshots. But I suppose I can get one if I'm careful, and you really need it. Oh, only one mod: she has the antennas from Asteroid day. Not sure what other info you need.

I grew up with the movies, and I know a lot of people will disagree with me, but of the 6 movies I really liked the tragedy of Revenge of the Sith best. However, having said that, I also want to say I really, really, really like the new Star Wars: Rebels animated series. I was skeptical at first, but season 1 turned out to be very canon, with some very believable and likeable characters. And when Darth Vader finally did appear in the Season 2 premier... he was truly horrifying!!! Watch and tremble in fear for yourself: I will argue that if season 2 of rebels is anywhere near as good as season 1 was, this series could be as good or better than some of the movies!

Worked on a new smaller SSTO... this one has 2 turbojets and 2 nerv's... she did fantastic up to 26,000 meters, but not so great getting to 35,000 meters, where the nerv's really kick in. Might just be the way I'm flying her... I haven't done much since 1.0.4 came out, and I'm not positive the best method of getting an SSTO to orbit. I'll experiment a little more before I start changing things.

Cute.

I can't get this stupid dropbox to work....

I know... (hanging head in shame...)

Built and tested a new interplanetary shuttle: Starbird. She works... but just barely. Her mission is to shuttle passengers from a space station over Kerbin to one over Jool, and then refuel and return. And she can do it... but again, just barely. There is either too much mass or too little thrust. One wrong maneuver and I'll be sending a refueler out to top her off. Truth is, I'm actually getting much better results with my smaller raptor shuttles. But this mission was not a complete failure... far from it! My secret master plan was a complete success!! See, that shuttle holds 37, and 34 of those seats are occupied by my complete staff! Everyone, including scientists and engineers... most just rescued rookies!!! I've spent the last few days rounding everyone up and sticking them into a space station over Kerbin to await pick-up just for this. And this is a career game.... now do you see the madness to my method??? bwaahahahaha Everyone on that shuttle is now a 5-star, back in Kerbin orbit, and awaiting a shuttle back to the KSC!!!! One flight fully upgraded my entire staff.... Excellent.....

wow..... I've had terrible luck making an SSTO... but after reading this, it occurs to me my biggest problem is I keep trying to build bigger when I really need to think smaller. Thanks to all in this thread... there is a lot of useful info to consider.

I have several big space stations in orbit around all the major planets. I use them for transferring crew from one ship to another, refueling and tourists. I don't have any screenshots of my earliest ones, but they were simple self contained units. Then I figured out the secret to skycranes and started making bigger ones. when 1.0.4 came out I added big radiator panels Then built these monsters. But as pretty as they are, I'm going to get rid of these when 1.1 is released and start building bigger, more modular stations and take advantage of the new continual contracts. Oh, this is the ship I currently use to re-fuel my stations. One trip to Minmus or any smaller moon can yield a huge amount of ore and fuel.

Here's a really nice shot of Laythe beach with Jool high overhead. I plan on building a colony here right after 1.1 comes out.

I'm only using two. Asteroid day, which may become stock one day. And Chatterer, which I wish would become stock some day!!!

Just wait until you get to Jool...

Then it would be one heck of an amazing birthday present!!! (yeah, it's today...) What if the first visitors from another planet to Earth turned out to be Kerbin???

A couple really fun asteroid adventures! Haven't been here too long, but I suppose I'm next?

Nice! That looks a lot like my big skycrane. I never thought mine would work, but keep it pointed straight up and throttle slow in the soup and it can haul a small space station, or large station part, into orbit with ease.

OMG... you mean the Doomsday Machine??? I think I was 6 when I first saw it... accurate or not, back in the day that was my all time favorite episode!!!

Continuing to being all my people home for a major re-assignment... and getting really good at these pinpoint landings. This is hands down the best precision lander I've come up with yet. Tomorrow I'm sending a ship for the last remaining three out at Duna. Then the fun begins... hehehe

Actually, the best terrain I've visited, and one of the hardest to land on, has to be what I named the "Rock Gardens of Pol"

Although he's in his early 20's... Ironically enough it was my daughter's boyfriend that introduced me to KSP. Perhaps a little older than most posted already, but he's still a kid to me. ;-)

This is a sort of "science tower" I made for my larger ships. It's positioned right over the crew hatch so Bob or whatever scientist can EVA right onto the ladder, then climb up to reset the Science jr. lab and goo tank. All the other test equipment is within reach as well, so he can collect and keep any test required. It took a lot of tweaking to get the ladder just right so everything can be reached and reset.

I'm not sure about the efficiency one way or another, but a couple things I might factor into this before gunning the engines. I've found after 1.0.4 came out I have much better luck cutting back the throttle to keep my rocket under 300 m/s until I'm out of the lower atmosphere to keep the drag from sending my ship into a death flip. Drag can be a nightmare... And after I'm in space I seldom throttle up past 2/3rds, but this again isn't for efficiency, it's to prevent any possible overheating on longer burns. My point is, full throttle may be more efficient, but in certain situations it can also get you killed.