inigma

Very exacting flight profiles, but with practice, this craft is easy to master. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions!

I added the new Type II SSI Neutron to the General Catalog!

This is the Neutron. It is the SSI Ion's two seater big brother featuring a closed cockpit Amphibious Autonomous VTOL SSTO, perhaps the smallest ever (by realistic clipping and function) two seater closed-cockpit VTOL SSTO designed in KSP by anyone anywhere. It represents the best of SSI engineering and its design principles. Designed with 46 parts, it is one part less than the 47 part Ion. The Neutron Class: Is an SSI original Type II Shuttlecraft capable of undocking from 120km, landing at the KSC helipad, and redocking at 120km without refueling. Part Count: 46 Weight: 8.72 tons Fuel Remaining at 80km orbit: 90+ Real Time to Orbit: 14 Minutes The Neutron is flameout resistant, and lands on its runners or in the sea using VTOL. The Neutron Heavy Class: For though who love their wheels, the Neutron Heavy is also seen below with standard gear bays that are recessed into the hull. Although starting tonnage is lighter, its considered heavier with more wind resistance for the additional parts required, and thus has to work harder to get into space than the non-heavy class. Part Count: 52 Weight: 8.67 tons of pure happiness Fuel Remaining at 80km orbit: 80+ Real Time to Orbit: 16 Minutes The Neutron Heavy lands on landing gear or nothing at all. Certification Video: SSI Type II Neutron Craft File (runners) SSI Type II Neutron Heavy Craft File (landing gear) Flight Profile Neutron: Launch full throttle 65 deg. At 17k pitch to 45 deg At 21k pitch to 10 deg At 29k pitch to 0 deg Cruise at 30 until 2130 m/s Surface Ride 15 deg and decrease throttle until no more air at 45k. Coast to Apoapsis Burn rockets 45 degree to orbit above 70km. Flight Profile Neutron Heavy: Launch full throttle 65 deg. At 21k pitch to 0 deg Cruise at 29k until 1800 m/s Surface Ride 15 deg up and decrease throttle until no more air at 45k. Coast to Apoapsis Burn rockets 45 degree to orbit above 70km. Controls 1. Basic Jet Engine 2. Turbojet Engine 3. Rockomax 48-7S 4. Air Intakes Thoughts? Questions, Comments? Post below!

can it drop from 120km fully fueled, land, and make it back up to dock at 120km?

U perfected it! Gj.

interesting engineering concept. me like.

aw, so cute

SSI likes. Submit it!

You know... the update made the two-seater variant I posted above more stable... I think I'm going to publish it over the weekend as an official prototype once I finish tweaking a few things here and there. I got rid of the Ion's lone solar panel in favor of a generator.

These dropships actually fit the SSI footprint... hmmm

you gonna submit this to SSI?

Eureka. All I had to do was move the engine mount down. Awesome. Ill be adding a Type II shortly. Here is a preview. This design actually works as intended and could certify as-is. But I want to center the hoverjet more. I imagine I have more tweaking to do. What's really cool is turning the mk2 cockpit on its side, and sticking out like this: unfortunately such kerbals are stuck inside without a crew transfer mod.

it should be!

Ha. I've already thought of ways to make it even smaller. I'm thinking about dumping a fuel tank and an rcs fuel pod, and maybe a winglet or two, and aileron. Not sure why though. I love its corvette-like appearance. In all likelihood though, my next goal is to engineer an interplanetary ring that the Ion can attach to so it can travel to the Mun and beyond. The Ion should already be capable of landing on any atmospheric rocky body. The next major iteration will be working on a balanced horizontal rocket system so it can actually land on airless bodies like the Mun, as I want to see the Ion attached to stations orbiting such bodies. I've started designing a two-seater Ion... but to be honest I don't think there is a need. Your SSI Viper craft fits the design stream that the Ion (I hope) becomes a bedrock example of for other Types. Once moving crew around pods becomes part of the game itself, we can finally start clipping that second cockpit pod without worries its Kerbal can't EVA out. In fact, if you clip the Mk2 cockpit behind the Mk1 cockpit on the Ion, it looks very awesome. Very. So very awesome I have a craft with it just waiting for the game to allow crew transfer. Darn thing is, poor kerbal is stuck inside until then.

Thank you devs!

You guys all rock! Thanks for checking it out! I've invited HOC to test the craft sometime too.

The SSI Type I Ion and SSI Type I Ion Heavy are now certified by the Board of Shuttlecraft Systems Inc. Engineers and is now published in our General Catalog. Enjoy! OP updated.

Did you try following the flight profile in the op? Ill be glad to help teach anyone how to fly the Ion into orbit. The video should also be fairly clear. If not, let me know.

I wonder what I could be had with a 3d printer... Btw, if any of you take an Ion for a spin, let me know how it handles. The Ion Heavy is easier to land.

I am proud to present to you the SSI Ion. Fully certified. Video published (see original post in this thread for video and craft files). www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLd7In_hiW8

Octogon, do you think it could pass SSI certification? If so, we might be interested. See link in my sig.

Wow I like this. Its completely out of the box thinking.

Bear in mind too the definition of a spaceplane is that the craft has wings of some sort, and can take off horizontally. This obviously disqualifies a number of contenders.

Clip your intakes on the flatback and submit it to us. Looks great!

Welcome to the club.