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

[SkyRex94]

So i'd like to add this Challenge badge to my Signature:

May i just entry with my own Skylon Challenge Entry?

Stock Skylon replica

It qualifies for :

-Payload to Orbit

-Landed at KSC Runway

Cheers

[kahlzun]

Hi guys, here's my 0.25 submission. Incidentally, is this the oldest still-running challenge for the KSP forums? It's been running since 0.16!

I was feeling a bit cheeky, so while it technically meets all the K-Prize guidelines (Horizontal from runway, no staging, no refuelling, landed safely, stock parts) i can understand if this is a gatecrasher of some kind

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Edited December 12, 2014 by kahlzun

[hoioh]

Figured I'd take the challenge even though it's died down a bit at the moment. Considering the current runtime of this challenge I'm guessing this isn't the first time that happened.

So here's the KSE MK2 (Kerbin Space Elevator) lifting a tiny Research and Comms sattelite and returning to KSC afterwards. Had to do it twice because the first time I messed up on the runway, landing was smooth as a feather, but the balance twisted it a little and the left rear wing touched the runway breaking off. Luckily it doesn't take quite as long as the timer suggests.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[Spartwo]

boolybooly; You know my previous entry landed on the runway?

New entry with the first successful test of the mk2 hummingbird.

Building up a surprising amount of velocity before the rockets kick in.

At 200k(ish)

Re-entering.

Coming in.

Sun, Y U DO THIS?

Too much orbit slowing.

Braking.

Settled down in front of the SPH.

Things learned.

1- I could have a lower LF/O ratio.

2- Activate the rockets later.

3- Don't need that much torque.

[manni01]

Made a new SSTO that could bring 6-8 tons to the surface of Laythe

It might take around 12 minutes of atmospheric time to reach orbital velocities, but after that, it is just pure fun. Don't worry, I'll make more than just this one

Javascript is disabled. View full album

http://download849./a7r9tx380rug/p21or00v1hjnx3n/LC+Cruiser+II+_Ethos_.craft

[gm537]

Hi gm537, congratulations on completing the K-Prize challenge successfully with your SSTO VTOL, since the craft did take off horizontally even if the pilot did drop in at the admin helipad restaurant for a coffee on the way up! The K-Prize panel concluded that while this shows advanced pilot precision, landing twice in the same mission only counts if it is on different planet to the one it took off from and coffee is, in any case, its own reward! (The APPA 1st class requires orbital docking as well, but you do get a VTOL mention in brackets in the guest list / roll of honour, I hope that will suffice though it is a bit redundant since the name you gave includes VTOL anyway).

Haha! Coffee is indeed its own reward. Thanks for adding me. Once 0.90 comes out I may try again for some additional commendations.

[DMSP]

Here is an idea I had, but I don't know if it counts because I crashed at the end. I had forgotten to add parachutes but it would have made no difference to the mission (Apart from the landing) considering I had more than 200 delta V at the end.

Enjoy!

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[astrobond]

Hi All

For fun, a new Full stock, easy to fly, Tiny SSTO (less than 7Tons), with a bonus 40Kg Payload Christmas Tree for Minmus xD

"Minmus Pocket SSTO MVTOL Stock.craft"

(To use Rockets when Jet Engine out, select docking port control and press key 1)

(After Kerbin De-Orbit Burn, don't forget to select cockpit to control the flight/kiss landing as usual )

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Fly safe with Jeb !

[kahlzun]

Here is an idea I had, but I don't know if it counts...

Sorry dude, rule 2:

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

Edited December 14, 2014 by kahlzun

[WanderingKid]

I submit the Sparrow 4a for consideration:

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[DMSP]

Sorry dude, rule 2:

Good point! But darn.... Maybe if I strap some wings on... Hmmmm

[boolybooly]

Never mind DMSP your mission made the gatecrasher list

Congratulations to kahlzun, hoioh, Spartwo, manni01, Astrobond and WanderingKid for successfully completing the K-Prize challenge and bringing their craft safely back to Kerbin. Welcome to the guest list for the K-Prize party aka the roll of honour.

btw not sure if this is the longest challenge kahlzun but it has lasted a while and I will continue as long as it makes sense. If any enterprising mission modder was able to construct a mod mission script that could take on the functions of the K-Prize I would be happy to get the K-Prize committee to give it the stamp of approval and hand over the name and running of the K-Prize to that.

Edited December 15, 2014 by boolybooly

[ChaoticPheonix]

I call it the Atlas SSTO. Full stock. Had some crazy things happen during my re-entry that I am not proud of.... it decided that it had had enough of me and after the burn of re-entry, it went haywire and started spinning. I recovered it at around 3000-4000m up and was able to land it. Whew.

Anyway, I believe it contends for the Pilot Proficiency, Advanced Pilot Precison and the Minimalist record though I don't know where one gets the weight, but its pretty small.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[Kokanee]

In first for 0.90!!!!!!

Javascript is disabled. View full album

A sporty two seater commuter SSTO for today's savvy Kerbalnaut, the "Perigee" from Rocky Mountain Composites is guaranteed to get you from the home to office in style.

Up, orbit, down. Sorry copied over my sweet touchdown shot.

[YellowApple]

First time I've actually submitted any of my SSTO spaceplanes to this particular thread. If I'm not mistaken, this particular flight would earn me the Advanced Pilot Precision Award (surprisingly enough) and Utilitarial Commendation. I'm not sure if this comes even close to the Minimalist Record, but small size / minimum parts with an entirely-stock design was one of my goals.

I've been kicking around this particular design since 0.23.5, with incarnations for 0.24.2 and 0.25 prior to this one for 0.9. I've featured a prior incarnation of the Hummingbird (when I first devised it after toying around with speedboat designs) on /r/kerbalspaceprogram, but this is the first time that I've actually managed to document getting one to orbit and back safely, let alone without boosters, and even manage to deploy a payload.

Enjoy!

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Edited December 17, 2014 by YellowApple

[kahlzun]

P.S.: how does one go about embedding an Imgur album? I can't seem to figure it out.

[ imgur ] Code from imgur album [ / imgur]

[SkyRex94]

So i'd like to add this Challenge badge to my Signature:

May i just entry with my own Skylon Challenge Entry?

Stock Skylon replica

It qualifies for :

-Payload to Orbit

-Landed at KSC Runway

Cheers

[Alias72]

I made a 4.4 ton space-plane that can get into a 90km orbit and return to KSC. What are the rules for submitting it?

[Kokanee]

I made a 4.4 ton space-plane that can get into a 90km orbit and return to KSC. What are the rules for submitting it?

Read the first post.

[Kokanee]

Javascript is disabled. View full album

A light cargo hauling SSTO for all your LKO satellite launching needs, the "Ascension" from Rocky Mountain Composites will get your payloads where you need them, or your money back!

Up, 100x100km orbit, delivered payload satellite, back down and landing (I use the term loosely) at the island airstrip.

[YellowApple]

[ imgur ] Code from imgur album [ / imgur]

Cheers! Thanks.

[Captain Sierra]

I finally have a worthy entry. Will actually record the flight tomorrow. Bird has to use Stock Drag Fix to actually get to altitude but barring that, >11.7 tons to LKO. Dunno how much tonnage I can take to the Mun or not, but it's definitely doable.

[boolybooly]

Congratulations to ChaoticPhoenix, Kokanee x2 and YellowApple for successfully completing the K-Prize mission and a few little extras besides. I am having a hard time deciding which is the smallest of the four successful craft but I suspect it is Ascension by Kokanee. However I am going to make it a requirement henceforth that contenders for the weight records submit their craft's exact weight at liftoff so at this point noone has it.

SkyRex94 I liked the Skylon lookalike, very sleek, I hope you enjoy your gatecrasher entry as it used FAR which breaks rule 3, which I have since amended for greater clarity.

Hope everyone had a merry christmas and I wish you all a Happy New Year.

[Starhawk]

I've been playing around with SSTO's for a couple of releases, and since 0.25 I love the new Mk2 spaceplane parts. This is the current variant of my favorite design, newly rebuilt in 0.90.

Because it's so simple, I expect someone else has already created a similar design. Being new to the forums, I've only seen a fairly small number of other designs so far.

The Sparrow Mk2 is a minimalist design. Only 6.1 tons with selected fuel amounts, and only 18 parts. 100% stock. Flies beautifully. Takes off horizontally, but can pitch right into vertical climb. Flatten out at 10k or so, use the sweet spot for as long as you can, and circularization. I've previously made orbit in it using less than 30 m/s from the rockets.

It does, however, have no luxury features other than it's esthetic appeal. No solar panels, no RTG, no batteries, no RCS, and no docking ports. (Make sure you turn off SAS and lights once you make orbit! Those Rockomax 48-7S engines produce no juice.)

Being a two-seater makes it ideal for those 'rescue a Kerbal from Kerbin orbit' contracts.

Here's a look

Javascript is disabled. View full album

It has enough fuel left to do it all again! (Even though this was a fairly sloppy ascent.)

Edited January 11, 2015 by Starhawk

[hoioh]

I felt I had to re-do this having built a fair number of airplanes now and using my new experience I built the Triple Swallow (the bird, you dirty dirty man!) with a triple fuselage and wide, mostly straight wings. There's 1 definite disadvantage to this beauty though and that's that she likes to become unbalanced during flight because the system doesn't drain equal amounts from each tank, but instead favors the tanks on the left making the ones on the right too heavy requiring constant stabilization during the final ascent. Once in orbit all the remaining fuel can be moved to the central fuselage removing this issue altogether, still I believe KSP should integrate a fuel balancing mechanic as a standard or upgrade feature what with the new buildings and whatnot. Outside of that 1 fine issue she's perfect for carrying 2 small comm sattelites to Kerbin Orbit with fuel to spare (not much mind you!)

So without further ado I present to you the Triple Swallow:

Javascript is disabled. View full album