The K Prize - 100% reusable spaceplane to orbit and back

[that1guy]

Indeed, all that happened, I am thrilled to be back here. Thanks booly

[Landge]

The VindiGator is my SSTO I made back in 0.21. I haven't tried to repeat it in 0.23. Other than getting into orbit, or a not so quick hop to Duna, I just haven't found much use for spaceplanes. Jets on Laythe on the otherhand... unfortunately don't qualify.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

PS: This was 100% stock without spamming air intakes.

Edited March 7, 2014 by Landge

[zeppelinmage]

Here's my first (simple) submission for the K-Prize.

Introducing the Earl of Sandwich.

Mission profile:

- Initial orbit at 80 km

- Payload delivery

- Station docking at 500 km with crew exchange

- Return to KSC

Tonnage: 20.61 t

Part count: 62

Payload: 2x small satellite bays (single-digit tonnage)

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[mythic_fci]

2 Questions:

Is it alright if I use RasterPropMonitor and RCS Build Aid on my craft? They don't add any parts, and the crafts made with them are 100% stock compatible. RasterPropMonitor just adds LCD Displays to the IVA view, and RCS Build Aid does what the title implies - help find optimal RCS placement in the SPH/VAB.

Can I post a K-Drive spacecraft?

[Taki117]

For Funsies!

Out (Station is in a 200kmx200km orbit)

Javascript is disabled. View full album

And back

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Payload Variant

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Would have recieved: Advanced pilot precision award 1st Class, Utilitarial Commendation

Edited March 8, 2014 by Taki117

[Kasuha]

Does this qualify?

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[boolybooly]

Landge thanks for your mission report, congratulations on completing the K-Prize mission with VindiGator and earning an Advanced Pilot Precision Award 1st class for docking in orbit and landing at KSC runway. I have linked it in the v0.21 honours further down page1 since if I understand correctly that was when the mission was done.

zeppelinmage, thanks for your screenies of the Earl of Sandwich in flight. Congratulations on completing the K-Prize mission successfully and qualifying for a Utilitarial Commendation in the process for your satellite deplyment as well as an Advanced Pilot Precision Award for docking and a Pilot Proficiency Medal for landing on KSC terrain. Welcome to the K-Prize party.

FCISuperGuy yes feel free to post away, the mission rules are on the first page. I dont think IVA counts as any of the following.

3. All fuel tanks, wings (lift generators) and engine parts must be stock, for fairness.

Taki117, Explorer III is an elegant craft, nice mod parts in the sat design too, as you know its a rulebreaker but still deserves a listing on the Gatecrashers list.

Kasuha, thanks very much for your report of the unique dual direction vehicle which flew to land on Duna and safely back to Kerbin. I didn't find a name, if you want to supply one I can amend the entry. Congratulations on winning a well deserved Expeditionary Astrokerbal Distinction and welcome to the K-Prize party guest list aka roll of honour.

Edited March 10, 2014 by boolybooly

[Kasuha]

Kasuha, thanks very much for your report of the unique dual direction vehicle which flew to land on Duna and safely back to Kerbin. I didn't find a name, if you want to supply one I can amend the entry. Congratulations on winning a well deserved Expeditionary Astrokerbal Distinction and welcome to the K-Prize party guest list aka roll of honour.

Thank you, the name of the plane is Kaeris I. I'm sorry for not mentioning it before.

I can also offer a round-trip to Laythe with the same plane.

Edited March 10, 2014 by Kasuha

[boolybooly]

Interesting use of counterintuitive slingshot maneuvers there Kasuha, via Eve to Laythe. Your Exploratory Astrokerbal Distinction includes multiple Exploratory Kosmokerbal Commendations for the slingshots around Jool's moons, also you earned an Advanced Pilot Precision Award for a successful runway landing at KSC. Must have taken some patience considering the a mission elapsed time of 4312 days, but this got the most out of the surprisingly capable craft Kaeris. (Previous mission listing has been updated.)

[ABalazs]

I hope this is enough to get a lesser K-prize. Jeb took off, reached LKO and after overshooting a bit, he flown back and landed on KSC runaway from the opposite direction.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[boolybooly]

Looks good to me ABalazs, congratulations on completing the K-Prize mission successfully with X-901-AR, earning an advanced pilot precision award in the process for a safe landing on KSC runway. Even the best pilots overshoot occasionally but its a mark of good piloting and a versatile craft to recover from a course deviation and still come home safely. Welcome to the guest list (roll of honour) for the K-Prize party.

[Tejing]

I'd like to do a mission to submit for this, but I'm unclear on some of the subtleties of what's allowed. I obviously haven't read the whole thread, considering how long it is, so sorry if I'm asking things that have been answered somewhere. Here are my questions:

1. Can I use mechjeb? Are only some parts of it allowed? In particular, smart a.s.s., ILS, the utilities window checkboxes(manage air intakes, prevent jet flameout), and the maneuver planner would be annoying to do without.
   
2. What about part clipping? (I mean the kind the game lets you do without checking the 'allow part clipping' debug option)
   
3. Air hogging?
   
4. TAC fuel balancer? (note that this allows you to dump fuel, which you can't do in full stock and can increase your delta-v if you have an imbalance of liquidfuel and oxidizer)
   
5. Docking info displays?
   

[Damaske]

I have a question about Piggy-backed craft. With some real nice Shuttle and mini shuttles being worked on what are your thoughts on a Dual stage to orbit, or a piggy back atop a mothership then the craft leaps off the back of the mothership and punches for space. Most of these craft have small fuel on-board and or meant to be used by means of a shuttle like vertical launch or a strapped in atop the rocket and rocketed into orbit.

Others words for a DSTO there is a aft section that will take the craft to the edge of space, drops away and the craft rockets into orbit. For the Mothership apporch it would be a 2nd craft that lifts the first on up to the edge of space, drops away from the orbital craft allowing it to fly up into orbit as the mothership makes for the runway.

Ignore All of the above! I am leaving it there anyways I just realized that it would be using non-stock lifting surfaces and tanks therefor it would be a gatecrasher.

Edited March 14, 2014 by Damaske

[boolybooly]

Tejing, yes mechjeb, clipping and airhogging are within the rules, anything you can do in stock gameplay is OK and as long as dumping fuel is all it does then TAC is within the spirit of a reusable space plane mission so OK, though it is also perfectly legitimate to start with hangar adjusted tank loads so you dont lift fuel you dont need to. Yes to docking info mods. Generally speaking as long as they dont change stock flight and fuel component physics, mods are OK. I have tried to put the basic rules in the OP but there have been a few complex precedents throughout the thread.

Damaske, well it sounds like a really neat mission but piggy backing is outside the K-Prize rules due to the decoupling rule as it is a dual stage vehicle. So it would be a gatecrasher for that reason as well as non stock wings, but I am sure people visiting the K-Prize thread would be interested so please feel at liberty to link or report it here and say if you want a gatecrasher link... with suitable quip !

Rules

1. The craft may not lose any parts in flight, no decoupling allowed.

2. The craft must lift off horizontally, reach orbit (PE > 70,000m) and land intact ready for 'refuelling'.

3. All fuel tanks, wings (lift generators) and engine parts must be stock, for fairness.

Provisos to rule 1.

A. Payloads may decouple from the craft providing all payload tanks are full on decoupling and any thrust generators on the payload were not used prior to decoupling.

B. Docking is permitted providing no fuel is transferred (net per fuel type) into the K-Prize craft (it can be transferred out). Crew transfers are permitted.

Edited March 14, 2014 by boolybooly

[Overfloater]

I'll just put this here.

I don't see these very often nowdays.

Astroliner - Mega Comet

Puts 20.13 tons of exploration vehicles on Laythe.

consists of 701 by itself, ~850 parts with the trucks.

12 jets, 4 atomics, and looks kinda cool (but not even remotely as cool as Spaceplane Mk-II)

http://youtu.be/d53jfIfRnQs

Clickety click

[TeeGee]

I'll just put this here.

I don't see these very often nowdays.

Astroliner - Mega Comet

Puts 20.13 tons of exploration vehicles on Laythe.

consists of 701 by itself, ~850 parts with the trucks.

12 jets, 4 atomics, and looks kinda cool (but not even remotely as cool as Spaceplane Mk-II)

http://youtu.be/d53jfIfRnQs

Clickety click

Astounding! I've built only 2 of those ssto to laythe craft, but not one that can carry CARGO!

PS: The design for the craft at the end of your video (after you landed) looks similar to mine.

Other than that, phenomenal job and I look forward to what you can come up with next! (Duna ssto with cargo??)

[SeventhArchitect]

This here be me Dart 1 aircraft. Now, I'm gonna say she may not make qualifications, but it was not specified if the parts (stock) were modified. They aren't modded parts, but modified stock. Which, I can say is definitely different.

I'm leaning towards 87% not qualified. She's got good specs though. Easily surpassing mach 9 is just about the tip top of the list.

But! It meats requirements otherwise. The wings are stock, fuel is stock, engines are sotkc parts, but modified. By me. And it's a spaceplane. I say it could make orbit, and land more thna 30 times in one flight.

I am a horrible Spaceplane lander, so, I'm not trying. Parachutes all the way, bro.

[Damaske]

Damaske, well it sounds like a really neat mission but piggy backing is outside the K-Prize rules due to the decoupling rule as it is a dual stage vehicle. So it would be a gatecrasher for that reason as well as non stock wings, but I am sure people visiting the K-Prize thread would be interested so please feel at liberty to link or report it here and say if you want a gatecrasher link... with suitable quip !

It is not made, but somefing I was thinking aboot doing. IF I do go aboots doing it i'll be sure to record it via screenshots and then post a mission debriefing here once it flies. I am mostly waiting for the mini-shuttle or will it be a micro shuttle, to be finished and released to the public.

[airbus_sai]

Hello! An hour ago I made my first working SSTO, and my hands are still shaking... Read further why.

Sorry for the wall of text.

So, here it is, SSTO Jet Mk1.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201dxd.jpg

http://smages.com/images/ksp201qhq.jpg

Takes off nicely.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201qdq.jpg

http://smages.com/images/ksp201clc.jpg

It also can go straight up at this point. =)

But now I wonder if it could make it to the orbit.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201ddd.jpg

http://smages.com/images/ksp201uxu.jpg

http://smages.com/images/ksp201wxw.jpg

And yes it can!

http://smages.com/images/ksp201tqt.jpg

http://smages.com/images/ksp201mvm.jpg

At this point I found out I have no crafts to dock to. I'm leaving this craft like this.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201bub.jpg

-----

And here it is, "SSTO Jet Mk2 Cargo", modified version of Mk1. Bob will be it's payload. Along with two complex fuel tanks and small command modules.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201pmp.jpg

http://smages.com/images/ksp201hrh.jpg

http://smages.com/images/ksp201zzz.jpg

This one is heavier, accelerates badly.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201qvq.jpg

http://smages.com/images/ksp201zvz.jpg

http://smages.com/images/ksp201bib.jpg

Seems like Bob is enjoying the ride...

http://smages.com/images/ksp201pep.jpg

Solar panels are unobstructed, payload is mounted on radial decouplers.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201www.jpg

http://smages.com/images/ksp201mmm.jpg - from later time.

And yes, this one made it to the orbit, and even docked with Mk1 by itself.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201ama.jpg

http://smages.com/images/ksp201mkm.jpg

http://smages.com/images/ksp201uyu.jpg

I'm using Docking port alignment, yes. It's not game breaking, anyway.

Bob looks like he had seen something nasty...

http://smages.com/images/ksp201kyk.jpg

But Jebediah is doing his best. He couldn't resist and pretended that he is Van Damme.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201mrm.jpg

-----

At some point I transferred some fuel from Mk1 to Mk2-Cargo. So Mk2, in all it's glory, is not fair. But Mk1 is still good.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201ueu.jpg

Here it is just before reentry. I lowered both crafts periapsis while docked, undocked, and finished retrograde burn with Mk1.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201yny.jpg

During reentry I used remaining fuel for one more acceleration, cos' I missed KSC.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201afa.jpg

http://smages.com/images/ksp201mym.jpg

On final approach to KSC RWY09.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201hvh.jpg

http://smages.com/images/ksp201vlv.jpg

Touchdown and roll-out.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201mqm.jpg

http://smages.com/images/ksp201lyl.jpg

BONUS: Have you ever wondered, how hard are solar panels? Look, I deployed them with no cheats and...

http://smages.com/images/ksp201vzv.jpg

-----

Last part. So what about SSTO Jet Mk2 Cargo?

Bob is finally happy... or crazy...

http://smages.com/images/ksp201zkz.jpg

On remaining fuel my jet was able to reenter, and after 3 atmospheric brake cycles it was descending into the ocean.

I'm desperately trying to turn it towards island.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201mqm.jpg

I was able to do it, and now it glides without fuel. I got rid of fuel tanks, cos' they are meaningless. Some oxidizer left with them, too.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201tyt.jpg

700 m ASL. I'm starting to doubt, but craft has proven to be very glidy.

http://smages.com/images/ksp201jnj.jpg

400 m ASL. Looking good, seems like I'm gonna make it. But I feel very nervous...

http://smages.com/images/ksp201eie.jpg

Glides almost straight... Not it's yes or no. But water is so close...

http://smages.com/images/ksp201vpv.jpg

And... No. Too bad. But they are alive!

http://smages.com/images/ksp201qkq.jpg

After all this my hands were shaking like hell. 300 meters were between me and this island. If my hands were more straight, I'd chosen more good descend profile and made it to this island. But no.

-----

Thank you for reading, if you are still reading.

So I made it to an orbit and back with no payload on SSTO Jet Mk1, transferred some fuel out, and made it back to KSC in one piece.

Edited March 16, 2014 by diomedea

[boolybooly]

Overfloater, thanks for your video mission report, very impressive range and load carrying capability for Mega Comet. Congratulations on completing such an ambitious project without casualties! And on your deserved Expeditionary Utilitarial Distinction for delivering 20t to Laythe which includes the Expeditionary Astrokerbal Distinction for landing, also your Advanced Pilot Precision Award for returning to land safely at the island runway.

SeventhArchitect, cute plane, thanks for sharing it with us. I hope you don't mind being linked as a gatecrasher because as you rightly pointed out, modifying stock parts does mean that it is a modified craft. I have alerted the bouncers and added a quip!

airbus_sai, thanks for your mission report. Congratulations on completing the K-Prize mission with SSTO Jet Mk1. You were quite correct about the fuel transfer but maybe didnt notice that since the Mk1 docked during its mission flight it earned the highly regarded Advanced Pilot Precision Award 1stClass for docking in orbit and landing safely at KSC runway. Welcome to the K-Prize roll of honour aka K-Prize party guest list. BTW as an aside I dont know if you have tried Imgur image hosting but I find it very helpful for displaying large arrays of images like these and can recommend it since it is totally free!

[airbus_sai]

BTW as an aside I dont know if you have tried Imgur image hosting but I find it very helpful for displaying large arrays of images like these and can recommend it since it is totally free!

Sorry, didn't know about it at the moment of writing, and found it when my post was waiting for approval. I can edit my wall of text, if you like. And thanks for the reward and warm welcome.

[Cmdr. Arn1e]

Looks like I'm a bit late to the whole Kerbal party!

Today I managed to get my first SSTO up and docked with my spacestation, had been messing around for a while trying to get my lab staffed! Anyway This is it just about to dock:

and here is Hadzore (Or it could be Harmore...) making his way from the SSTO to the lab itself...

I do have to confess re-fuelling while docked with the station, and put it back down on the tarmac with a bit of a bump, resulting in the loss of the 3 lower engines...

[bsalis]

Well I am back!

This is my 0.23 K-Prize entry. Hmm, I wonder if anyone else has had a qualifying entry in every version since 0.16 inclusive. Anyhows, I have some more VTOL SSTO action here with Excalibur. Lots a pics, so low rez, but click pics for full size.

Welp, this is a 9-seater, so Jebediah, Bill and Bob load up with 6 noobs for some Zero Gee training action in spaaace.

We are off. Yes we are moving forward a little.

Jets at the back have a bit more TWR then needed. So ballistic we go.

Ascent.

Circularizing.

Orbit - Pe is 102Km.

We are back. KSC in sight.

Ok, so I botched final. Distracted by checking fuel and intakes to see why it was pulling left a bit, but didn't find anything. Heck, screw the runway, lets go find someplace more interesting to land.

VAB, I choose you!

Gentle now....

BAM! We are done here.

[Cmdr. Arn1e]

It is not made, but somefing I was thinking aboot doing. IF I do go aboots doing it i'll be sure to record it via screenshots and then post a mission debriefing here once it flies. I am mostly waiting for the mini-shuttle or will it be a micro shuttle, to be finished and released to the public.

Think using someone elses craft for this challenge is still classed as 'gatecrashing'...

Will be posting another entry soon, just trying to do a few other challenges now!

[Damaske]

Think using someone elses craft for this challenge is still classed as 'gatecrashing'...

Will be posting another entry soon, just trying to do a few other challenges now!

Yes it is modded content that I was thinking of using, and it was not going to be a single stage to orbit as it was going to be a piggy back system. The only way how it will NOT be a gatecrasher is for me to make a SSTO that will take the payload, in this case the mini-shuttle into space and then return to KSP.

In other news due to my video card giving out, cooling fan finally gave out. I've been forced to put my older Radeon card back in and lag city has returned. I recently found out it may also be from the Hot-rockets mod. But for now my kerbal space adventures are on hold till i get an up to date video card.