silks

Well that was anticlimactic. I think it takes them 3 days now to reconfigure the action groups on the second stage engines which someone managed to bug out.

The cheapest way to get payload to orbit tends to be via SSTO spaceplanes. It requires more time to design one and also to fly into orbit but could reduce the cost of one orange tank to a mere few thousand currencies(or however much fuel is burned). Check The Spacecraft Exchange sub-forum for some SSTO design ideas.

Your capsule came down first? That's one odd flight. The thing with recovering separate parts is that they need to have a pod or a probe attached to them. Otherwise they are just debris and you get no funds for them. I'd recommend not to bother with recovering SRBs, rather try to build an SSTO spaceplane or something similar that you can accurately pilot down again and get at least 90% of the funds back.

Gave it a try in hard mode career and after a successful attempt I was still lacking ~50m/s for a return. The hop between two biomes could definitely be shorter and the pilot more skilled, so I'd say that this ship is capable of the trip for sure.

Is reusing/hacking the instruments allowed?

Not exactly made for the challenge but perhaps this might inspire someone. It has only 5 engines and 3 landing legs since the whole craft is smaller in scale. 4 out of 30 landings were successful. I hope the actual falcon's success rate will be greater than 13%. Craft files: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bfbki4vfhcfyuyr/Ships.zip

4 out of 30 landings were successful for me. I hope the actual falcon's success rate will be greater than 13%. This one has only 5 engines and 3 landing legs since the whole craft is smaller in scale. Craft files: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bfbki4vfhcfyuyr/Ships.zip

Rough ratios would be 1 turbojet per 20t launch mass 4 intakes per engine 1 lift unit per ton Not sure how much fuel the turbojet would consume but you can calculate or test that and take enough with you for the ~13 minute ascent. Tilting the wings up by one notch in the SPH helps you fly at a positive angle of attack while having the engines and intakes aligned with your flight path. Maybe you can find something here http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/32913-How-many-lift-units-do-you-need-per-ton

Hope to see more entries, meanwhile here's one to maybe beat Klutterfly, named "Antichrist". It's lacking the science Jr. part though. cost: 9435 - 2917(recovered) = 6518 science: 20 parts: 16 Munar trip:

Klutterfly For when you are low on science but glowing with skill. Best low-tech spaceplane(Stock Aero) Craft download: http://sil.herobo.com/misc/Klutterfly.zip Part count: 52 Science needed: 200 Launch cost: 35429 Pros: low science requirement for an SSTO with payload can safely land on water has enough delta-V to collect science from the kerbin system Cons: is a challenge to fly into orbit flies like a rock when without payload doesn't look quite plane-y

Looks like NEWB-2 would be difficult to steer with all those solid boosters and 6G of acceleration. trip #2 stats: Funds recovered: 28633(Plane) + 2058(Lander) = 30691 Mission cost: 35429 - 30691 = 4738 proof:

Are spaceplanes appreciated? If so, I'll present Klutterfly. Part count: 52 Science needed: 200 Launch cost: 35429(intakes and wings sure are expensive) Pros: low science requirement for an SSTO with payload the trip could cost from $15000 to only $1070(recover everything except fuel) Cons: is a challenge to fly into orbit flies like a rock when without payload doesn't look quite plane-y

For when you are low on science. This craft in action: http://youtu.be/_8aqeBzERtM

Save stranded Kerbanauts! The fuel tank exploded and ASAS was lost while shooting for the mun. 3 Kerbanauts are stranded in a low orbit around Kerbin. The command pod has 2 hours worth of oxygen supply, due to a leak. Bring them back to Kerbin within that time. Jebediah forgot to pack the parachute You are given a ship designed just for a case like this. But you may construct your own ship for this mission as well. Time warp is lacking collision detection so make sure to keep your distance. Bonus points for landing in 1 piece. Replace ../saves/default/persistent.sfs with this file and bring them home before they run out of oxygen, good luck.