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

[boolybooly]

Kagame can you state for the record that you achieved orbit? None of your screens or their text indicates an orbit and although you appear to be following the K-Prize rules in so far as the report goes, it would be presumptious of me to assume you had achieved orbit without a clear indication. I am sorry if that seems pedantic but it needs to be stated in writing or by image, psychic adjudication is notoriously unreliable

Congratulations to...

rudi1291 Advanced Pilot Precision Award 1st Class with Tourist Bus.

juzeris Expeditionary Astrokerbal Distinction (Laythe), Advanced Pilot Precision Award with Krau 6.

g00bd0g Utilitarial Commendation (51t), Advanced Pilot Precision Award with MK3 SSTO Cargo 1 Bay.

Evanitis Advanced Pilot Precision Award with Explosion Free.

Triop with Smallest SSTO.

- with MIG 15.

... on completing the K-Prize mission successfully. Thanks all for your mission reports and welcome to the K-Prize party guest list aka the roll of honour. Be there or be square!

PS thankyou spikes2020 hope you enjoyed it

Edited June 28, 2015 by boolybooly

[Evanitis]

welcome to the K-Prize party guest list

Weee! Thanks!

Not sure many people noticed, but the K-prize badge has a tiny bit lighter background than the forum. Depending on your monitor setup, it might even be invisible to you. Call it OCD, but it bugs me, so I made one with transparent background. Feel free to use it.

[Batz_10K]

Here's another 1.04 entry... This one is called the V-Machine

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[Edax]

I'm unsure if my Mothership SSTO quite qualifies for the K-Prize. Furiosa VI takes off into orbit carrying another Spaceplane, the Valkyria III (with 400 units of Liquid Fuel on board, and a detachable nose cone). In LKO, Valkyria III is detached to rendezvous with my spacestation to fuel up and plant a flag on Minmus to pay the bills while Furiosa VI lands back at KSC. When Jeb is done with his mission, Valkyria III also lands back at KSC. However, the side effect is that the detachable nose cone is left behind in orbit, making this SSTO Mothership/Parasite Spaceplane combo only 99.5% efficient. (Though the nose cone is part of the payload, and not of the mothership)

Takeoff

Valkyria III's engine is engaged.

Top Speed with payload.

LKO

Jeb is off to Minmus!

Who needs landing lights anyway?

Fuel situation critical.

With 10 seconds of fuel left, Mory guns it.

Landed, nothing but tarmac, and 14.92 units of fuel left. Valentina would approve.

[Tynrael]

I see many large and mid-range planes, I am not really into aircraft and this is my first space plane!

My entry is aiming for minimalist, I wanted advanced pilot precision by landing on the runway but overshot that, with a craft that does not fly/glide well (only 2 wings!)

I think this qualifies? It appears to hit all the requirements- though I will own up to many things right here! Launches from the launch pad, is un-manned, and lands in the water with a parachute. However, it is 4.09 tons and I was unable to get anything lighter into orbit that was able to de-orbit.

This is 1.0.4 and the heating/aerodynamic changes are something I am still adjusting to from 1.0.2.

[L3v1athan]

Here's my entry for the challenge: (v1.0.4)

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I put a satellite to scan ore on duna into kerbin orbit. (As I did the challenge in career mode I wanted to do something useful.)

As you can see in the pictures I prohibited any fuel drain from the satellite. The satellite was attached with a decoupler, therefore the seperation in the flight results.

To land back on KSC easier, I waited for daylight, that's why the mission needed 3.5 hours.

Although I overshot the runway first, I had enough fuel left to do a u-turn and land more or less smoothly on it.

Thanks for offering this cool and achievable challenge!

[selfish_meme]

Here is my entry, the SMA OrbitMaster. Orange tank to orbit and return. I even landed at night! A first for me, only one of the few times I have actually landed on the runway. This is a good plane, easy to fly, predictable.

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[fenya]

Hi all. This is my new universal shuttle "Finch", it can put itself into orbit and return, and can be used as a lander in complex missions.

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[iLikeRovers]

Here's my submission for the K prize using 2 rapiers, a nerv engine and no oxidiser on board.

I landed back on the KSP runway so I think this means the Advanced pilot precision award!

You can see the full pictures on this post or on imgur.

Edited July 5, 2015 by iLikeRovers

[SuicidalInsanity]

My first K-prize entry (1.04)

The airframe is a modified version of the spaceplane I attempted the Eve SSTO challenge with. 1260 tons, no jets, only rockets, can carry 150 tons of payload to Kerbin orbit. Craft is all stock parts, but I was using FAR, not sure if that disqualifies it.

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[t3hJimmer]

I've wanted to participate in the challenge for a while. I made this plane for the "BSC Redux - Stearwing D45" Challenge. It carries a small satellite to orbit and returns to KSC.

craft file available here: http://pastebin.com/EFhjLud2

[iLikeRovers]

@SuicidalInsanity That's a big plane! Where did you put the kerbonaut?

[SuicidalInsanity]

@iLikeRovers; There's a mk1 inline cockpit dorsally mounted near the aft of the plane. Its easiest to spot on image 7.

[Nothalogh]

@iLikeRovers; There's a mk1 inline cockpit dorsally mounted near the aft of the plane. Its easiest to spot on image 7.

Better question, where did you put the cargo?

[Remkeau]

My first K-prize entry (1.04)

The airframe is a modified version of the spaceplane I attempted the Eve SSTO challenge with. 1260 tons, no jets, only rockets, can carry 150 tons of payload to Kerbin orbit. Craft is all stock parts, but I was using FAR, not sure if that disqualifies it.

http://imgur.com/a/JrONq

Clap clap, I approve of this. Giant SSTO spaceplanes are awesome. well done

[Nefrums]

I did this mission for another challenge, but i think it might fit this one as well

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Landed on three of Jool moons before returning to land on KSC.

[boolybooly]

Many thanks to all for your mission reports. Congratulations to ...

Batz_10K Advanced Pilot Precision Award with V-Machine.

L3v1athan Utilitarial Commendation, Advanced Pilot Precision Award with SpaceplaneShort.

selfish_meme Utilitarial Commendation (36.5t), Advanced Pilot Precision Award with SMA OrbitMaster.

Fenya Advanced Pilot Precision Award with Finch.

ILikeRovers Advanced Pilot Precision Award with Small Liquid SSTO.

t3hJimmer Utilitarial Commendation, Advanced Pilot Precision Award with Stearwing XL.

Nefrums Expeditionary Astrokerbal Distinction (Laythe, Bop, Pol), Advanced Pilot Precision Award with SSTL.

... on completing the K-Prize mission successfully. Welcome to the K-Prize party guest list aka the roll of honour.

Edax, the reason Furiosa VI was a gatecrasher was that "Valkyria III's engine is engaged"during the ascent, since Valkyria III is payload it breaks proviso A to rule 1 and is therefore an official gatecrasher! I hope you enjoy the notoriety.

Tynrael, thanks for your video. Much as I admire the innovative launch and landing procedures used with Barebones Mk I space drone, it is hard to ignore the fact that it broke the K-Prize rules because lift off was not horizontal since it began with 45° descent ! So I hope you will settle for a gatecrashers link which I am sure the interesting mission report deserves... p.s. if you altered the launch angle so it flew horizontally at the launch it would count, fyi.

SuicidalInsanity, what a magnificent craft, unfortunately your doubts about FAR are applicable to the K-Prize because rule#3 was invented in the interests of fairness for the competitive aspect of the challenge and so that like can be compared with like otherwise. So sorry but I hope you dont mind too much that the link to your mission report has been added to the gatecrasher listing, with a miniscule quip and a subtle hint thrown in at no extra charge.

Edited July 16, 2015 by boolybooly

[parzr]

Here is my Gigantor. 90.9 tons of payload to orbit and 100% reusable.

She took a number of attempts both getting it to orbit and more trying, getting home. I put a good 10 Vernor's in the nose to allow me to glide with the nose pitched up.

http://imgur.com/a/wXrVB#0

[GoSlash27]

Mainway Aerospace (a subsidiary of Mainway Enterprises) is proud to submit the Mainway Adobe for consideration in this challenge.

http://s52.photobucket.com/user/GoSlash27/slideshow/KSP/Mainway%20Adobe

What sets the Adobe apart from other spaceplanes is that it's cheap, economical, easy to operate, and best of all is composed entirely of tier 7 or earlier parts.

Best,

-Slashy

Edited July 19, 2015 by GoSlash27

[drewscriver]

10 tons into LKO with my first decent 1.04 craft, Hikaze. More details here: Hikaze post.

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Took me a few tries to not break up in re-entry, but I eventually got the hang of it.

[parzr]

Thats a nice looking, unique design.

[Red Iron Crown]

I did this mission for another challenge, but i think it might fit this one as well

My entry from the same challenge (I only hit Laythe, though):

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[GraviTykillz]

1.04 K-prize run:

The S.S. Jules Vern

This passenger Plane carries 4 Kerbals plus 2 Crew on a quick tour of the moon.

Take off:

Refueling in orbit: I use MJ on the Refueler cause i cant dock for :huh:

Muner orbit :

Refuel at the Mun:

Headed back to KSC:

Home :

Group Photo!

Final Stats:

[Starhawk]

My entry from the same challenge (I only hit Laythe, though):

http://imgur.com/a/nuITt

Beautiful mission!

I didn't think 93 m/s was a coarse correction. Indeed, that seems pretty fine to me.

Happy landings!

[Red Iron Crown]

I didn't think 93 m/s was a coarse correction. Indeed, that seems pretty fine to me.

It was a coarse course correction to get the encounter, the next pic has the fine course correction to set up the aerobrake.