Nik75

Yes.. that is easy, made a similar 5-part craft too. But can we get down to 4 parts? Just for the insanity of it. Or three. Maybe 5 parts is the absolute limit?. It get's so very much harder just with one part less. EDIT: It is very easy to build a 4 part rocket based on Mk1 that goes to Eeloo and far beyond. (No orbiting) (No landing) (No return) A 4 part Minmus lander is also extremely easy. But the Kerbin landing is too complicated for me with 4 parts. Maybe there is some crazy designs or tricks that will make it with 3 or 4 parts stock. To Minmus and back with a sample. I have not got the slightest idea but MAYBE it can be done.

Yeah... maybe that is the only way to use 5 or fewer parts.

Amazing.. So cool with that Spark on top This just have to approach the limit of a possible Minimus lander with lower than 5000 funds! So what about a 5 or lower part Minmus stock spaceship? Is it possible if removing the other limits and just minimize the parts?

Very good! Super nice and also unique design!

@sevenperforce and @ManEatingApe Amazing... Could never have imagined so much variety in design for such strict rules. Thanks so much for accepting the challenge, and for all pictures and interesting writing. Was a real joy to see your missions from start to end! I sure have learned a lot.

Well, this was actually the second minmus rocket I built for this "challenge". The first one was 14 parts, including a solar panel, but over 10.000 in cost. It was almost the same design. And yes, it easily goes to minmus and lands on sealevel Ice Lakes takes a sample and returns to Kerbin. I tested the mission several times and it works with ease. Will post pictures tomorrow! And the heat shield is not needed at all and it is in stock and normal mode, but not if entering to steep of course. I usually have between 1900-2000 m/s dV left when in LKO. I'm just casual KSP player but I love this game! So I hope I have not cut some corners! Build it and try it if you have time. It's not as good looking as your craft but it works too :-)

Ok! Can't wait to see that spacecraft! Anyway, here is mine; Enters LKO with about 1900dV left for Minmus and back.

Amazing! How on Ear.. I mean, how on Kerbin did you get that low weight?

Great! Will be very interesting to see what you can do. I hope some more people here in this great forum would like to try! I admire Skystorms 9.04t rocket, as a beginner I would not have been able to build that one. It looks great and is a very nice solution to alot of problems with this type of low part, low weight design.

Thanks alot for all the explanation! Very interesting thoughts and good calculations! But my second minmus rocket just now reached within these specs; * Must be based on Mk1 command pod * Cost must be lower than 10.000* Maximum height is 6 m. * Maximum part count is 13.* Weight must be lower than 10 t. * Stock parts only What do you think about it? Can you figure out my design? :-)

Very impressive! Did not think of using an ion engine. Very nice indeed! So what about skipping the ion...? Would prefer the cost of the rocket to be about 10.000 Kerbal £

Haha so funny comments Let's say unreal parachutes are allowed. But everything have to be stock only for a gold medal.

Well, for the whole vehicle at liftoff...

Thanks for the advice. The specific restrictions was just an idea for me to see what people can come up with or if it comes just close to my design. And would like to see what others do before i post my screens. And one more plus would be a maximum height of 6 m. ;-) I hope you agree that there can be some interesting design decisions based on very strict numbers too.

Ok. Maybe a challenge it is. Just was wondering how much design variation there could be with such limits. And yes, maybe the parachutes could be replaced with something magic. Just makes it more intresting! It was just a little curiosity from my side if maybe with such strict limits like 14 parts and 11t weight there just cant be to many different designs.

I'm wondering how much design can vary for for a given set of limits, for example, a quick design experiment, Make a rocket that lands on Minmus and then back with a surface sample home to Kerbin. Limits: * Must be based on Mk1 command pod * Have real parachute/parachutes * Have solar panel/panels And the maximum part count is 14 . Maximum weight is 11 t. Would be very interesting what you come up with! :-) ! UPDATE ! ----> Kerbal Space Agency has rewarded Skystorm with a gold medal for achievement in RRD (Rapid Rocket Development) and for the very cool Minmus Rocket "Tiny Too II". KSA is still interested in some more rocket designs. But development and budget concerns has suddenly emerged. For ease of shipping and handling we would like to purchase 10 or more rocketships if the following specifications are met: * Must be based on Mk1 command pod * Cost must be lower than 10.000 * Maximum height is 6 m. * Maximum part count is 13. * Weight must be lower than 10 t. * Stock parts only * Parachutes and solar panels are optional. <----

Hi again, Foxter, Nefrums and the rest Been away for some time. Amazing designs. Really appreciated the ideas I see from your spacecrafts! This was my craft, that I built. Just three jets, then a Poodle, and then the Terrier. Built it for a combined Mün and Minimus mission. Then tried for Duna, Ike and managed to land on Ike and then safely back home to Kerbin. Had about 30 dV left when entering Kerbin atmosphere. It looked so small and low tech at launchpad so I did not believe that it could bring a Kerbal being landing and taking a surface sample back from a body out of Kerbins SOI... :-)

How did you get enough electricity for the ions? Did not see any big solar panels there, maybe I missed something

Wow... that's really good! You beat my rocket in every way, will share mine later, on vacation for a few days now, hope some other post some crafts here also! What engines do you use?

I use the Mk1 Command Pod.. You're number sounds good! The particular rules is just that I built a very simple spacecraft and I never thought I could go to Ike and back with that one. So I'm very interested in seeing if other designs are going to be very similar to mine, or if there are much smarter ways of building such a craft. I did not do any gravity assist or aerobraking. I use Transfer Window Planner and also MechJeb for the planetary transfer only. Actually I've never tried career mode, just use Science Mode, with Science set to 20%.

Ok thanks for clarifying!,

Ok! Sorry for posting in the wrong forum. So why is it not a challenge? Sorry for the newbie question.

Oh no! ... What where the numbers of your rocket? Height, weight, width, parts, cost? Thanks for trying, sure you can fix it

Hi! Stock only 1.0.4 or 1.0.5. As a beginner it would really be fun to compare the designs of others with that of what I made. Ok, but without ions and/or nervs! ?

Hi there... Who can build a manned lander that will go to Ike, orbit Ike, land on Ike, plant flag and take surface sample, return and land safely on Kerbin! Rules at launch: - 40 parts or less total. - 12 meter max height. - 31 ton max weight. Would be fun to see your designs!