Kyknos series (easy to use and reusable SSTOs with payload from 18 to 81 tons)

[H2O.]

An SSTO for the working Kerbal!

Easy to launch, easy to land. Payload from 18 to 81 tons. All you have to do is strap your payload and build the fairing!

No powered landing, parachutes are sufficient (don't forget to deploy the landing gear)

Comes with subassemblies.

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download link (dropbox)

I hope you will enjoy it!

Edited May 18, 2015 by H2O.

[SHiftER2O]

.....technically, it IS an SSTO *mindblown*

[H2O.]

SSTOs don't have to be spaceplanes. They don't have to be reusable either. I think that with the new atmosphere, pure rockets SSTOs makes a lot of sense.

[SHiftER2O]

SSTOs don't have to be spaceplanes. They don't have to be reusable either. I think that with the new atmosphere, pure rockets SSTOs makes a lot of sense.

You know..... You just changed my game xD

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How high can it orbit?

[H2O.]

80-90 km, depending on how efficient is your ascent.

[SHiftER2O]

80-90 km, depending on how efficient is your ascent.

That pretty much beats most SSTOs in space plane design. Although, is this more or less meant for Kerbin Only endeavours?

[H2O.]

It is not the first rocket-only SSTO, I didn't invent the concept .

Yes, it is Kerbin only (SSTOs are a very inefficient idea for everything above LKO).

You can use the big one for a Munar fly-by with a small capsule if you want, but that is just a waist of ressource in my opinion.

[SHiftER2O]

It is not the first rocket-only SSTO, I didn't invent the concept .

Yes, it is Kerbin only (SSTOs are a very inefficient idea for everything above LKO).

You can use the big one for a Munar fly-by with a small capsule if you want, but that is just a waist of ressource in my opinion.

Well, You did bring it up again

Haha, true xD SSTOs are meant for LKO unless you have stations to refuel with

[H2O.]

Even if you have a station, there are so many things that are not adapted for vacuum operations on a SSTO. For instance, kyknos have mainsails engines, which have a great T/W ratio, but pretty abysmal ISP. Therefore they are not suited for interplanetary operation.

Edited May 16, 2015 by H2O.

[Captain Sierra]

Even if you have a station, there are so many things that are not adapted for vacuum operations on a SSTO. For instance, kyknos have mainsails engines, which have a great T/W ratio, but pretty abysmal ISP. Therefore they are not suited for interplanetary operation.

Look into Nertea's cryogenic engines, packing TWR AND Isp, something the stock engines can't do anymore. Their major downside though is the low density of fuel. They need more tankage to haul the same fuel mass (but rocking ~400 vac Isp means they go much further on it).

[H2O.]

Sure, but this is a stock build. And I think stock engines are pretty well balanced now, there is really a use for every one of them (the Poodle is good, at last!)

[Ninjahgoblin]

At what tier in career mode is this compatible with? Or only for Sandbox and late career mode.

---Am trying to find a Payload build for launching payloads into LKO for stations.

I use a number of part mods as well.

Looks awesome. Hope to try it some time.

[H2O.]

...

It is definitively late career. You need:

_big fuel tanks

_big landing gears

_Mainsails engines

I didn't think about that to be honest, I'm more of a sandbox player.

But it is a nice challenge: make at least the 18 tons version available much sooner! ... if only there were more than 24 hours a day

[Ninjahgoblin]

For sure man, thank you for the input. I have not touched the sandbox mode yet (I get the concept). Mechjeb in Career mode makes it difficult enough yet rewarding enough for me to never leave. I like growing pains in games haha making mistakes, choosing the wrong tech tree etc.

---->If you make a SSTO Payload version for early/mid career Ill def try it out.

I will also post back if I come up with a good SSTO design for early/mid career mode.

Attempting to make a refueling rig on a station and getting the fuel payload into LKO seems to be my biggest issue atm.

Trust me, if I could get paid to play KSP. I would. Never enough time in the day. Especially with a library of 200+ games. lol

It is definitively late career. You need:

_big fuel tanks

_big landing gears

_Mainsails engines

I didn't think about that to be honest, I'm more of a sandbox player.

But it is a nice challenge: make at least the 18 tons version available much sooner! ... if only there were more than 24 hours a day

[DMSP]

I have been using these.

They rock!

[H2O.]

Thanks DMSP, I use them on a regular basis too. Landing is hand-free, so it is not a pain to bring back on Kerbin.