Lightest eve LES?

[Der Anfang]

So, just how light can one go with an eve launch escape system? So far, anything below 100 t that I have built can't seem to get off of the planet, even with 12, 13k delta-v, starting as low as 3 km above sea level. So far, what I can accomplish is a 120t lander starting at 3 km, and the payload of course is a nubby, cute little 1.5 t payload with seats, lol. I'd like to know how everyone else builds their craft, and how light you could possibly, theoretically go for a successful LES.

And I am not talking about single launch and back Eve LES vehicles. Docking and assembly can be permitted in space. I am asking just strictly about the LES itself on paper what is feasible for the lowest weight, as well as what altitude it can launch from to orbit. Still, a single launch stage is okay, too.

Edited March 26, 2015 by Der Anfang
I should reiterate...

[Taki117]

Have a look at this.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/44966-Lightest-Eve-Lander-I-could-make

Here's Scott Manley's Video

[FleshJeb]

http://garycourt.github.io/korc/

I'm doing this from memory, but I think the lightest you can do is about 30-35 tons with 48-7s, The lightest you can do with aerospikes is about 65 tons. My Eve ascent vehicle was about 75 with aerospikes, but it wasn't perfectly optimal.

Oops, these numbers are for version 0.25 and an OCTO2. It's heavier now.

Edited March 26, 2015 by FleshJeb

[Red Iron Crown]

Putting some wheels on it and roving to the top of a mountain can reduce the mass by about half, IME. Some interesting designs in this challenge from a while back.

[Mesklin]

I did it in version 0.25 and lander has 15.7 t (128 details), ascent part was 13.6 t (102 details). About 34.5 t on launchpad with using turbojets.

Now it is should be much heavier, OCTO2 alone is not enough on ascent stage, need also mini SAS. And you can place kerbal on ladder (eliminate 93 kg his selfweight) and/or use jetpack (+700 m/s deltaV)

DeltaV on ascent part is 9500 m/s (altitude for start should be more 6000 m)

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Edited March 26, 2015 by Mesklin

[GoSlash27]

My "legit" Eve lander was 52 tonnes. 48-7S asparagus sitting on top of an aerospike asparagus.

My highly cheaty Eve SSTO is right about 2 tonnes. Combination infiniglider and kraken drive.

Best,

-Slashy

[Der Anfang]

I did it in version 0.25 and lander has 15.7 t (128 details), ascent part was 13.6 t (102 details). About 34.5 t on launchpad with using turbojets.

Now it is should be much heavier, OCTO2 alone is not enough on ascent stage, need also mini SAS. And you can place kerbal on ladder (eliminate 93 kg his selfweight) and/or use jetpack (+700 m/s deltaV)

DeltaV on ascent part is 9500 m/s (altitude for start should be more 6000 m)

http://imgur.com/a/6AowL

Holy crap! Hahah, that's an awesome Kerb SSTO Eve LES. Very original! XD

[Windspren]

Isn't a launch escape system a SRB used to escape the launch when things go Kerbal?

[Motokid600]

Do it like SpaceX and have the upper stage act as the escape motors.

[Superfluous J]

My (untested) Eve Lander is 35.712 tons upon landing. That includes quite a bit of stuff that I will leave on the surface, including all the parachutes and a rover. It *should* have enough dV to reach orbit from sea level. That includes the chair and the Kerbal who will sit in it.

It *may* need a bit more oomph, but I'm hopeful it'll work without exhorting to breaking 40 tons.

EDIT: Ah I missed the whole "LES" thing. Depends on how you define it. My ship has an abort sequence that cuts all engines and then kicks off everything but the core, so the Kerbal can land under power (which on Eve is pretty easy). That's good enough for me (and more than I normally do, frankly)

Edited April 2, 2015 by 5thHorseman

[Commander Zoom]

Isn't a launch escape system a SRB used to escape the launch when things go Kerbal?

Yes. The OP contains a misnomer.

I came here to post that, IMO, if something goes wrong during your launch from Eve, the presence or lack of an LES is probably moot.

[Der Anfang]

Yes. The OP contains a misnomer.

I came here to post that, IMO, if something goes wrong during your launch from Eve, the presence or lack of an LES is probably moot.

Oy, my apologies. I was actually basing that off of the "Lunar Escape System", not the component that saves a command pod from an explosion. Even though the Lunar Escape System wasn't staged, the fact that most EVE landers use the command seats (or rather, that it isn't uncommon in an eve lander design) kind of reminds me of the whole "Escape system" thing, if I am making any sense. :S

[Tw1]

Technically, the lightest thing you can make to get of Eve with only stock parts and physics would be about 0.13 tones....

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Here's another one, which can land on Eve and get off it too. Can't remember how much mass this one had.

[Der Anfang]

Technically, the lightest thing you can make to get of Eve with only stock parts and physics would be about 0.13 tones....

http://imgur.com/a/91IJd

Here's another one, which can land on Eve and get off it too. Can't remember how much mass this one had.

Long range dirt collection? The secret is that that Kerbals have extremely long arms.

That ladder climbing glitch. I have seen that before. That made my night, though, hahaha!