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

[dargie25]

Try the toiridal spike engines for your space engines, they seem more efficient even at full thrust than the other rocket engines.

[Nooblet68]

I\'m trying this challenge now. It\'s mostly a case of finding the optimal ascent with my current design.

[Sean Mirrsen]

So, with the balance changes, do we get a new challenge or merely reset the current one? Some of the more efficient designs will probably still work, but a lot might not. Fuel volume per tank was cut 20%, though at least all fuel tanks now carry proportionately the same amount/weight of fuel - every 200 fuel is 1 mass unit, the only difference between tanks is drag and dry mass.

In any case, my entry for the 0.16 part of this challenge, the Radiant 2.

Ascent was uneventful, if somewhat long because I had fuel to burn and wanted to squeeze as much advantage out of the air-breathers as I could. Final orbit is an almost circular ~201x~203km.

The craft has those little radial-mounted engines for maneuvering when the main stack runs out of fuel. I didn\'t want to use them on this flight, because it feels a little like cheating to be burning kerosene in space, but I severely miscalculated the re-entry path and had to try to alter my course to land closer to the KSC.

Well, it didn\'t presicely work, but I had enough fuel left to glide to the same shore that KSC is on, just quite a ways up north. Also found another reason why the little thrusters should only be considered an emergency measure - you can\'t turn them off once they\'ve fired, so your time in the air once you reenter is severely shortened.

Regardless, I did manage quite a safe touchdown. The craft refused to stay horizontal while standing still, so I had to take the second shot while rolling forward.

Didn\'t even make it to KSC terrain, but otherwise quite nice.

[MuzzledElk]

So, with the balance changes, do we get a new challenge or merely reset the current one? Some of the more efficient designs will probably still work, but a lot might not. Fuel volume per tank was cut 20%, though at least all fuel tanks now carry proportionately the same amount/weight of fuel - every 200 fuel is 1 mass unit, the only difference between tanks is drag and dry mass.

In any case, my entry for the 0.16 part of this challenge, the Radiant 2.

Ascent was uneventful, if somewhat long because I had fuel to burn and wanted to squeeze as much advantage out of the air-breathers as I could. Final orbit is an almost circular ~201x~203km.

The craft has those little radial-mounted engines for maneuvering when the main stack runs out of fuel. I didn\'t want to use them on this flight, because it feels a little like cheating to be burning kerosene in space, but I severely miscalculated the re-entry path and had to try to alter my course to land closer to the KSC.

Well, it didn\'t presicely work, but I had enough fuel left to glide to the same shore that KSC is on, just quite a ways up north. Also found another reason why the little thrusters should only be considered an emergency measure - you can\'t turn them off once they\'ve fired, so your time in the air once you reenter is severely shortened.

Regardless, I did manage quite a safe touchdown. The craft refused to stay horizontal while standing still, so I had to take the second shot while rolling forward.

Didn\'t even make it to KSC terrain, but otherwise quite nice.

Thats a damned good looking space plane you have there, loving that design.

...and that poor pilot looked to be locked in terror for the entire flight, regardless of what was happening. ;D

[hebdomad]

With the new update, I\'ve been busy rebuilding all my rockets. I guess I\'ll re-enter the K-prize again with an updated space plane. I honestly think there should be another prize if you can lift three Kerbals into orbit as well.

[boolybooly]

v16 balance has changed quite a bit. There are various options and I want to consult stakeholder opinion in the K prize challenge.

1. One option is to make a new challenge thread at which point whoever wants to adminster that can do so and I would take a back seat and make space planes.
   
2. Another option is to continue this thread and make a v16 section on the honours list.
   
3. A third option is a bit of both, since hebdomad has the second post on the thread, he could turn that post into a separate v16 honours list and take over admin of the challenge thread that way and add the 3 Kerbals prize. I could put the first post into a quote box with v15 at the top and refer readers to the second post for v16.
   

Comments please.

Edited August 30, 2012 by boolybooly

[Sean Mirrsen]

I wouldn\'t mind a new thread being created, tbh. Keeping the old list in addition to the new one would likely be redundant. I\'m probably not too reliable to start it myself though.

[Nooblet68]

I feel just noting the version it was in would do.

[Sean Mirrsen]

Idle curiosity: does climbing back onto the runway count for an Advanced Precision Award?

I made three passes trying to line up to the runway, and then the sun set and I said 'screw it', landed on the ground and taxied back.

[CanuckOverlord]

About god damn time, I finally managed to do it.

http://imgur.com/a/i28bx

^imgur album. Took two flights for my not to get ADD and actually take enough pictures. Stock 16.0, no Mechjeb involved. Ship is the Unity Orbital V SSTO.

Attached is the .craft

Instructions to fly:

1. ASAS on immediately

2. disengage ASAS near end of runway, pull up. Your nose will raise after you drop off the runway.

3. Point upwards about 70-80 degrees, facing due east

4. Disengage jets when out of jetfuel (or they\'ll eat your rocket fuel, those greedy bastards), raise gear

5. Raise apopthingy as desired

6. Circularize orbit as usual

5. Burn whenever to de-orbit. Just try to land on flat land.

7. Keep nose slightly above horizon and engine on lowest setting for last 4km vertical

8. Touch down and blow the chute.

[Shadownailshot]

I did this in .15.2 with two different planes, only landed at the KSC once with my Mk I model (out of 6 or 7 succesful launches), and only even landed safely once with my Mk II model (out of 2 launches, it is quite a ponderous beast). Unfortunately, my computer at home does not have internets and I was not able to get pictures. Are .15.2 entries still allowed?

[boolybooly]

Yes Shadownailshot if you want to post those then I will be happy to link them on the v15 honours list.

Sean Mirrsen, congrats on making the first v16 entry and getting so close to the objective. I think that your mission definitely deserves a Pilot Proficiency Medal because you got your behemoth to KSC terrain. Landing on the runway is particularly tricky so while taxiiing is effective and definitely proficient IMHO it does not demonstrate advanced precision. I hope you agree. I am sure you can do it if you set your mind to it so I hope you will take that into consideration in your next mission and will be glad to see you achieve that. I can however award you the v16 maximalist record...!

Congrats also to CanuckOverlord who completed the v16 mission with flying colours and the smallest v16 craft to date, welcome to the party! (I am assuming that landing was not on KSC terrain though it did look very flat so say if it was.)

[geb]

I tried rebuilding the archer in 0.16, and during testing I discovered that it can still reach orbit easily, still reach the Mun and land, but it\'s about 100m/s of deltaV short of what is needed for a takeoff from the Mun after all that. Jeb had to bail out and is now stuck in a low munar orbit in nothing but a suit.

I\'m pretty sure it should be capable of doing a Minmus mission still, but it\'s time for a new vehicle I think. Also time for a rescue mission, because Jeb is getting bored up there.

[Shadownailshot]

Yes Shadownailshot if you want to post those then I will be happy to link them on the v15 honours list.

Sean Mirrsen, congrats on making the first v16 entry and getting so close to the objective. I think that your mission definitely deserves a Pilot Proficiency Medal because you got your behemoth to KSC terrain. Landing on the runway is particularly tricky so while taxiiing is effective and definitely proficient IMHO it does not demonstrate advanced precision. I hope you agree. I am sure you can do it if you set your mind to it so I hope you will take that into consideration in your next mission and will be glad to see you achieve that. I can however award you the v16 maximalist record...!

Congrats also to CanuckOverlord who completed the v16 mission with flying colours and the smallest v16 craft to date, welcome to the party! (I am assuming that landing was not on KSC terrain though it did look very flat so say if it was.)

I\'m warning you, the pictures may be taken on my phone. Unless there\'s a screen capture button for KSP, I never looked into it really.

[Matticus88]

Can I take screenshots of the game?

Yes! With the function key F1 you\'ll take a screenshot of the current scene. The screenshots will be saved in a folder called 'Screenshots' that is located in your root folder of KSP. You can also hide the GUI with F2' date=' to make for better looking screenshots. [/quote']

That should do it for ya

[Shadownailshot]

That should do it for ya

If I\'d only learn to read... lol. I will have those up. I have two entries. The second one flies like a brick, so it may take me a while (hehe).

[Tarmenius]

I\'d like to submit the Gannet for v0.16. Very stable, easy to fly but has a tendency to pitch down a little when firing the engines outside the atmosphere. It can easily reach orbit with enough fuel and RCS for rendezvous maneuvers, or even reach the Mun. I only flew by it on a free-return, but I\'m betting it can make it to the surface, which I will be attempting shortly.

I even managed to land back on the runway after overshooting the re-entry.

[G Addict]

Looks like the Aerospike is even more ridiculously good than before, huh? I\'ll be building a 0.16 entry soon.

[Oggula]

A preliminary submission for the Minimalist prize on 0.16. I lost it to some pretty clever design, but now after the usual plagiarism I present you with Untitled Space Craft, liftoff weight 11.1 tonnes. More to come.

[hebdomad]

I\'ve rebuilt the Jet master Aether and with a few improvements I\'m getting even better performance. I think a new K- Prize thread should be made, with extra achievements for crew capacity and possible cargo capacity. But I think the old honour role should be rolled over to the new thread.

Having a new thread will help those looking for 0.16 space planes that work.

[Sean Mirrsen]

It should be noted that there is a curious (and serious) bug in 0.16 that will likely devalue all moon-shot attempts, so we\'ll have to drop the 0.16 list when 0.16.1 rolls out.

[hebdomad]

It should be noted that there is a curious (and serious) bug in 0.16 that will likely devalue all moon-shot attempts, so we\'ll have to drop the 0.16 list when 0.16.1 rolls out.

Yup I think your right there. Some people considered the Aero spike engine broken to begin with. It all depends IF 0.16.1 Fixes the bug in the first place.

[Sean Mirrsen]

It\'s already fixed, alongside a few more related bugs (read the thread), the question is when there\'s going to be a 0.16.1.

[Shadownailshot]

Damnit... I have my two entries for .15.2, but I don\'t have internet at home and forgot to bring the images to work with me. Wonderful. I will have them in a few days, I\'ve got the weekend off from work. By then I might even have a separate one for .16, who knows?

[A Fat Pokemon]

I present to you.. The F-22 Raptor ;P

It can easily get you to one of the moons and land, just coming back.. You\'ll need a bit more fuel.