Which do you think will go higher?

[DarkGravity]

Two rockets (4 photos), identical except for the nose cone.

The one without the nose cone has mass 26 tons. With nose cone =26.2 tons.

Which one will go higher?

- - - Updated - - -

This thread got me thinking about nose cones. Great data in there: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/122595-Some-rough-test-results-with-different-nosecones

I'll post the results of my test here, after a few more responses are given, so the answer is at least a little hidden from those who are voting.

Edited May 22, 2015 by DarkGravity

[Caelib]

Probably the one without a nosecone because it's creating less drag.

[zarakon]

No nosecone by far

Parts produce drag on exposed surfaces in BOTH the front and back. So since that nosecone is so oversized on that stack and has a large exposed flat area behind it, it will create a lot more drag than without it

I don't think radially-attached parts are occluded at all, so the big nosecone wouldn't help to shield the side boosters

[SpacePi]

Without will go higher.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/122595-Some-rough-test-results-with-different-nosecones

[RobertR]

I'm with the other people saying without because the nose cone is too big. I'd be more interested in a which will go higher involving fairings with a fairly larger payload. I feel like the added weight isn't worth the reduced drag with the fairings but I'm too lazy to test it myself.

Edited May 22, 2015 by RobertR

[DarkGravity]

THE OFFICIAL RESULT: The one without the nose cone beat the pants off the one with the nose cone. It wasn't even close to being close.

If the rockets had 50% fuel in them: 7.8km vs. 13km. With 80% fuel: 16km vs. 47km.

(I didn't use full rockets, cuz I wanted to conduct a test inside a reasonably thick atmosphere.)

Edited May 23, 2015 by DarkGravity

[worir4]

Try it with the smaller nose cone that actually fits. Then I think nose cone will win.

[OhioBob]

Just posted this in another thread, but I'll repeat it here...

Mounting an oversized part at the front does nothing to occlude parts behind, other than the attachment face. For instance, radially attached parts produce the same drag whether they are fully exposed to the airstream or whether they are partially tucked in behind an oversized fairing or nose cone. Placing a 2.5m nose cone on a 1.25m attachment point is bad because the larger nose cone only increases the drag surface area while providing no other benefit. The large nose cone also adds mass, so it's doubly bad.

[DarkGravity]

Try it with the smaller nose cone that actually fits. Then I think nose cone will win.

Undoubtedly you're right. I wanted to test if a wide cone might help a pack of 5 rockets.

[zarakon]

Also, is that rocket white+gold or blue+black?

[Asharad]

Nose cone will fly higher based on my experience with model rocketry. But since KSP is pseudo science, I'm not certain.

[sj176]

Maybe it would go higher with a smaller nose cone?

[zxczxczbfg]

Maybe it would go higher with a smaller nose cone?

I think a 1.25m nose cone would work best, since the massive 2.5m cone is very heavy and has a lot of base drag.

[jarmund]

I'm thinking with nosecone.

Sure, the nosecone is heavy, and has a lot of unecessary drag, as it's so wide

-BUT-

Your probodobodyne will catch fire because of the shock heating fairly quickly, I'm sure

Probe cores seem to not like heat at all. Especially the Stayputnik.

[DarkGravity]

I did see fire in the air, but the probodobodyne survived.

[worir4]

I think I see what you are trying to do. Remove the small nose cones of the outer boosters for both rockets and then put the large one on. Then we can see if airflow is simulated.

[DarkGravity]

Actually, I wasn't trying to tease out the underlying academic principles. I was going directly to the applied phase. Since I don't normally send up my radially mounted rockets without nose cones, I wanted to see if it would make a difference when they do have nose cones... their usual nose cones. Your concept is a worthy one for the proper pursuit of science, however.

[MadChris48]

Also, is that rocket white+gold or blue+black?

pfftt, you know that's white+gold

[luizopiloto]

Drag... the big ones generates more drag than intended... but Squad is already re-balancing stuff for 1.0.3 update... I hope so...