Kergarin

So take at look at the "SSTO Hit and Orbit Challenge" This does not mean that we end here! I will still be active in both challenges!!

I hope this challenge does not exist? I challenge you to: Build a manned SSTO that can go to Kerbin Orbit, do a hit and go on the KSC runway, go to Kerbin Orbit again, do a hit and go on the KSC runway again, go to orbit.... And so on... As many times as possible! without any refueling! And finally land safe at KSC runway. If anyone is interested, I will show my attempt, create a badge a leaderboard and everything else Rankings 4 Orbits RS-17 White Phoenix by Kergarin 3 Orbits SSTL C-10 Scimitar Mk.1 by Val 3 Orbits Delta 2 SSTONX by Kergarin Rules: - only crafts piloted by a Kerbal, no drones. (the kerbal is your only payload) - no mods (informational mods are ok) - horizotal launching SSTO spaceplanes only - single stage, end with same parts as on launch - Your SSTO has to reach a stable orbit of at least 70X70km before starting the reentry. - your SSTO has to to hit the KSC runway with at least 2 wheels, before ascending again. - end with a landing. - takes series of screenshots from every part of flight or do a video. Resources Window always open! Good luck

Seeing what i possible, inspired me for another challenge. Are you ready for another one, or would that be to early?

Is it a Problem, if it is a SSTO? Thats my shortest MK3 Shuttle. And I think you can really call it Mini Space Shuttle I do also have a cargo Version, if thats a requirement By the way, this is the most easy to fly SSTO that i have ever build.

Are you on ksp 1.0.5? I didn't notice behaviors like this in my game

Or is it most effective to just add so much wingspace, that my aoa is nearly 0? So many ideas

Yes, I was thinking about Angeling the fuselage down, too. But would it really make sense to angle down the engines outlets? Since I'm at + 5-10 degrees aoa because I want to go higher up. and so my thrust won't support my ascend, it would only be up to the wings. On the other hand thrusting into the direction of travel is most times the more effective way Really good question what's better. In the end I would only need to angle the wings up, instead of everything else down

Most time of airbreathing ascend my heavy SSTOs do fly at an aoa of 5-10degrees. Would it make sense to angle my air inlets down to around 5degrees? They would then directly face the oncoming air. (I noticed that my engines flame out, if the oncoming air is "for some reason" around 180degrees away from my inlet direction. So I was wondering if the 5degrees already impact the intake air?)

Maybe not the lightest one, but still a master , and it looks nice! That's just crazy Even lighter than my first attempt for normal!! Really impressive! Made me laugh so hard Can't wait to see the final version!

Oh sorry, it should have been this emoticon: Just corrected it, better I look a little longer at it next time Are you sure you don't lose some thrust by this? Once I had some elevators directly behind my engines on an SSTO, and I'm pretty sure my thrust was reduced to zero. Don't have the time to test this right now. Maybe it just affects airbreathing engines? Or does the distance matter?

That's a crazy design Congratulations for new lightest SSTO! Isn't the top mounted nerv negative affected by the rudder?

Even if it might not be the lightest, here is my entry for master: 137.5t 44parts just a modified version of my standard SSTO Who Needs a rudder? had to land powered too, to use engine gimball 2 nervs worked: 30degree ascend until rapier flameout, then gravity turn until 70km, out of the atmosphere 30degree AoA until the nervs glow got me into orbit

The badges are finally there! please see first post i hope they are ok?

That's a small plane! And still so much LF left This absolutely beats what I'm actually working on, but I still see some room for improvement

Updated rankings @Nefrums: congratulations for being the first master and still lowest part count! love that nighttime touch an go pictures! @Val: congratulations for building the lightest one! didn't found the time to watch the entire video, but did you do that all in one turn without quickloading? Was working on the badge yesterday. Learned that I'm very bad at badges . Going to try again tomorrow...

@PacThePhoenix: still curious @Nich: I'm afraid the engine on the tank does break the rules a little. The engines should be part of the SSTO. Really sorry for that Hm... I don't know if I should try an open design or optimize my closed one first... Oh and have to do the badge!

@Coga19000: No its ok. I'm really curious and looking forward to see your idea now . And I think it's important to have some innovative concepts here. I have added categories to the ranking: - closed cargo bays for classical designs - open cargo for some more "crazy" designs So it's more fair to compare. I think. When starting this, I had much harder rules in mind. But I have realized, that would lead to all SSTOs looking nearly the same.

@Coga19000: Sounds interesting that's actually not defined in the rules. Normal level just says you have to land safe at KSC runway. Maybe you just give it a try? I didn't expect it to be that hard, to be the one who hast to decide the rules

Congratulations Nefrums @Coga19000: I'm sorry, but the rules say: " ... and return your SSTO with full orange tank as cargo to runway." That means one piece

Just updated rules and rankings. Please check if everyone is fine with that @Nich please check if engineer's report in SPH shows 99.0 or 99.1t You may use struts, but they won't help on landing. Even landing with the full orange tank inside the cargo bay is very difficult.

I think it should not be required for normal level. But I'm afraid, it will lead to a frustrating number of quickloads, if everybody is forced to fetch the tank in pro level without RCS if you want to be high ranked. What about at least 2 thrusters and one tank of any kind, as a rule for pro level? I think this would be fair to everyone, since this a contest about building SSTOs and not about orbital maneuvering. I will highlight it in the ranking, if it was a drone or manned. So you can see who is the best in both categories. Else it would be to many ranking lists I think. I understand what you are planning I will have to think about this. But I'm afraid we have to allow it, if we don't want all planes to have the same base design. What do the others think about this?

@Nich: impressive doing it with just 5 engines! But to match the rules, it would need a RCS system on the craft or on the cargo. How did you get it out of the cargobay? Or we could say, that RCS is not needed for first level. I have to think about that. (I will be at 39 parts without it ) You all can make suggestions if you would like RCS in the rules or not. @PacThePhoenix: I'm excited

Ok I will create a badge as soon as possible, maybe tomorrow! Here we go, my entry for normal level: Z2 Winglift SSTO: 44 parts, 102.3 tons, price 132.803 Ascend was not perfect, but still managed to get to orbit Updated rules. Informational mods are allowed.

Just added a third category Lowest price

I have edited the details in the first post. Any other questions or suggestions? Good luck!