NovaSilisko

... Damn you Tsiolkolsky for not incorporating that into your rocket equation!

Eh. It\'s much more kerbal to actually launch for the moon and fail than fake it.

I did some calculations, it SEEMS like an external tank with a single RS-68 could reach orbit fairly easy. Assuming I got the exhaust velocity figure right (3950 m/s)...

I can get a single capsule into orbit with two stages, easy.

The brown color in the second picture is bad lighting ;p

The X-37 is still highly classified...

Looks great. Only suggestion, tone down the brown color on the booster stack a bit, it really feels out of place with the white shuttle.

Maybe you could email the dream chaser team for some reference photos? Tell them you want to make a model of their ship, I\'m sure they\'ll be friendlier than the government =p

Because it\'s kerbal, you numbskull! :u

Technically every robotic space mission is like that. There\'s a really small margin for error. That said, I expect the aeroshell/parachute combo to land right on top of the rover, trapping it forever.

Next thing I draw up is going to be a completely privately funded multipurpose interplanetary vehicle (ages before NASA even gets off the ground again!) Our powers combine, we are Boeingspacexbigelow!

KSC terrain extends quite a ways to the left (from default camera angle), should be a good position for speed runs.

Eh, I already have lander parts in there...

An alternate proposal could be to replace the docking port with a docking port + fuel pump, and boom, giant orbital fuel depot. Just fill it up with extra launches afterward.

I tried again earlier today... Not very fast, and poor acceleration but it\'s actually a good aircraft for normal flight.

>slow point towards the mirror link...

Perhaps that\'s a bad example :u

The External Tank Launch Vehicle Warning: Hilariously large image According to some basic calculations, the whole setup has enough delta-v to get into orbit, but I\'m not exactly the best at math. Let\'s take an unmodified external tank and put an RS-68 on it. RS-68 mass: 6,597 kg Navigation, fuel piping, etc: let\'s say 1,500 kg Total mass: 767,097 kg Empty mass: 33,597 kg RS-68 exhaust velocity: ~3.9 km/s Run that through Tsiolkovsky\'s rocket equation... Delta-v: ~12.2 km/s Which should be enough to launch 20,000 kg of payload! Privately-constructed Lunar Orbit Research Station Warning: Copypaste from later in thread and wall of text Not depicted is the Earth Departure Stage, the propellant tank shown is the hydrazine/tetroxide 'Replaceable Stationkeeping Unit', based on the Apollo service module propulsion system (The same the space shuttle\'s OMS is based on, but it used a different propellant. This uses the same prop as the shuttle) 1.3 km/s delta-v in total, more than enough for stationkeeping over a long period. These components will all fit in 3 Falcon Heavy launches and 1 Falcon 9 launch. 2 Falcon 9 launches if you want to send a Dragon capsule with the ship on its way to the moon. Replacement of RSU would consist of two launches, one for an EDS, and one for the stage itself. The stages delivered to the moon later have their own navigation systems, allowing them to be docked to the station without an EVA being performed. The initial one has a very basic system, only enough to deorbit itself after being jettisoned. This might seem like a lot of effort to replace the module, but it won\'t be needed very often as the amount of delta-v needed for stationkeeping is minimal, provided you are in a good orbit. As such, much of the initial propellant sent would be used to put the station into as stable of an orbit as possible without making it too difficult for visiting spacecraft to rendezvous with it. Centrifuge is 17m across, and spins at 6 rpm to generate 0.7g. Can easily be tweaked to move slower, but 0.7 seems like it would be the upper limit for comfort at the given size). The centrifuge is also only a sleep area, and since you\'re laying down in the pods at either end, the Coriolis force is minimized on your body. Should pods contain windows? Would this help or hurt motion sickness? Further capsules are delivered to the station via Falcon Heavy launches, for crew replacement. Future developments include additions such as multiple docking ports, allowing the station to be used as a 'rest stop' for lunar landing missions. Current job: calculate the EDS and figure out if a Dragon capsule launched at the moon full of cargo and crew could have the ability to put itself in orbit and rendezvous with the station, or if it needs a new propulsion system (if so, a scaled down RSU could work nicely) Minor todo: Decide exactly how the station is assembled: LIDS docking system, APAS system or Common Berthing Mechanism, or something in-house Future: add comms equipment, work out interior of BA-330 Possibly more to come in the future...

Or engineers trying to explain childbirth or something.

Ayep.

http://www./?4177cbvghy18j3g Mirror added on request.

Add engine gimballing and it will be possible!

All that means is the power of the explosion it produces... Which doesn\'t do ANYTHING right now.

Nobody really knows exactly what gravity is, so I\'ll save you the trouble