Andetch

I think the ultimate challenge allows multiple launches to assemble a vehicle in orbit. Still, very similar.

Firstly - KDenLive is better than filmora and also free - I used filmora for my first video then switched. Secondly - I love the innovation, not something I would have ever considered as a concept, so this is why I trawl the KSP forums looking at stuff.... very inspiring. Thirdly - there was a challenge on getting to orbit only with nuke engines - I know this because I tried and failed. You should find the challenge and submit this. EDIT: Forthly - if electric power in the dark was an issue - why not use a nuclear power generator thingy? Just offset it into the main fuel tank so it doesn't affect the looks. You got nuke engines already so no issue with radiation....

Can I see some of your attempts? I may be able to find the issue?

Sounds like an issue with the Centre of Mass/Centre of Lift alignment, or not enough lift. But even small wings give enough lift to fly if you are going fast enough, so check that the CoM is behind the CoL, but not too far. Also, make sure your speed is high enough that you don't suffer a stall after liftoff.

Now someone can test it for you if they want. Sadly I can't as I don't have the mod installed and my KSP machine hates going online due to dying wifi adapter.

I think you need to close the requirements up a bit..... On a slight tangent - I also had an early minimus/mun lander system that only had enough fuel to get itself suborbital, so to return to orbit you had to launch at the right time and use the orbiting mothership to RV, dock, return the crew, undock and then return to stable orbit, leaving the lander to crash back into the surface. You could also bring the lander into orbit too, but it was before IRSU in career and was for getting some science so no point in keeping the lander.

There is a video of a suborbital docking on Eve by @Stratzenblitz75 here - a very cool craft and mission.

That technically it is not on a suborbital (or maybe even more technically it is?) as the AP doesn't go above 70KM, however it is so cool that no matter what the OP rules, that video wins the contest in my mind.

That should count even if it doesnt!

Or, I can put a ship into LKO with a PP of 69KM, and dock with that. At 69KM the aero-braking in very minimal, with a low drag design the AP won't change much each pass. Infact I have put some of my SSTO into "Orbit" with PP and AP at 69KM. Still counts as Sub-Orbit.

KerbalX link?

Love that video! I have only made it under the bridge without killing my kerbal once, and that was in my flying car - and I clipped something pulling up and destroyed the vehicle. Now you have given me a reason to spend hours and hours trying again.

I am no expert but I think that may be because the engine thrust output decreases with height. So 10M above sea level is where the engine is producing the most usable thrust - as you say 5M would be too risky!

Turbo? Juno? ....... Mod?

Also, that high you must be nearing the flameout speed! Good job!

I like the texture mod you're using! That probably contributes to the pretty!

Oh, and KAS (Kerbal Attachment System) could be used so you could in theory use the F12 menu to RV parts from the VAB (individual parts or small sub assemblies to not detract from the challenge) to enable building of vessels.

You could use the mission builder to start it off I guess.... and there are other mods that can create a star trek style space dock to allow to spawn vessels in sapce like they would from VAB

Admin will be round soon! I only mention this because you will be unlikely to get your answer here. And I am also interested in the answer. I tend to leave ships/labs around mun and minimus so I can do these contracts as they pop up. My advice with your current mission would be to test a new SSTO or something with a min flyby. (Or use mine)

I think this is in the wrong part of the forum?

@Gordon Fecyk let me make it clear - I love your designs and videos. I am a big fan, and i learn stuff from them too! You're even due a badge from an old challenge of mine that I forgot about due to an issue with my computer (so if you remember the really annoying to handle SSTO help yourself to the badge) I think I might have a go in your SSTO on my quasi-stock game, and I will replace the air breather with similar thrust lfo engines. Will be interesting to see how it performs - only one way to tell how it will handle

The one issue I see with @Gordon Fecyk's very impressive Eve SSTO is the atmosphere mod he states he is using. To my knowledge in stock ksp a)air breathing engines do not function on Eve and b) Eve atmosphere is 100km, not 60km. Other than that, I have to say it is a cool looking ship, and I definitely wanna play with the probe! Also, I wanna put KSC onto other planets! Which mod did you use?

Wow! KSP Celebrity quoted me! It almost makes me feel like I am special...... Almost. I think getting to Tylo is possible but the return certainly is not, unless using a crazy Scott Manly gyro drive system. But what would I know. I managed to put a lander onto Tylo once, ever so slightly misjudged the landing and blew the engine on touchdown. Not that there was enough fuel to leave Tylo again anyway. I think the posted mission is certainly impressive, but not what the OP was meaning by SSTO. I think, based on previous interaction, that Dal is looking for a single craft that stays intact and is capable of going from Kerbin's surface, to Eve's surface, and then back to Kerbin in one journey with no refueling or staging anywhere..... Which is just about as likely as myself getting into a loving relationship with [INSERT HOT CELEBRITY HERE]. EDIT: Also, I just had this afterthought - in the video he doesn't do a SSTO from Eve as he used a tug to finish off the orbital insertion of the lander.

Yeah, that was your mistake...... reading, pah! I know how hard it can be squeezing a few m/s more from a craft! I need 18 m/s more too. Currently getting 2 m/s more. (So my best is actually 803 m/s)

@DAL59 you need to get the definition of SSTO right in your head. SSTO = Single Stage to Orbit. Implied is LKO. Although, if you are on Eve surface then Low Eve Orbit would be implied. Therefore staging (and dropping parts) would be allowed en-route to Eve from LKO, and then again staging from LEO back to Kerbin. Some things I have seen on the forum would have some application for this, for example there is someone I saw with a nice SSTO launcher from Eve, but once out of the atmosphere the craft split up, with the launcher heading back to land in the mountains of Eve, and the craft able to go anywhere. However, it is generally accepted that anything leaving Eve surface as a SSTO will need to refuel in LEO, maybe have enough fuel to get to Gilly but generally speaking it won't have fuel for anything much. Also, using air breathing engines for Kerbin ascent would be a waste because what you gain in Kerbin's soup atmosphere, you would lose by dragging dead weight all the way to Eve and back (unless of course you staged after reaching LEO and dropped the air breather engines).