Engine test graph: KSP v. 1.0.4

[Dispatcher]

Hey,

You may have seen my earlier graphs and charts. This is a graph of test results from version 1.0.4.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/437/19343018161_9723f9f846_o.png

I don't know of a way of fairly comparing LFO engines with SRB engines, so I did what I think is the next best thing. The chart from which I based this graph actually has results of 3 tests. Only the 60% payload test is graphed. The other two tests: one was of efficiency and used one small Oscar B tank for LFO engines and the fuel mass of a Sepratron (or as close as I could get with the larger) for SRBs. On the other hand I maxed out the load using fuel tanks for the LFOs and the SRBs were full of propellant, for the "90% propellant" test. So for the "40% propellant" test which is graphed, I drained the SRBs of half their propellant. Recall that an empty fuel tank has roughly 10% of the mass of a full one, so the empty tank mass is counted as part of the "dry" payload mass. The percentages may be technically crude, but in practical terms it was easier to do this than go into the config files and change them. These were single stage tests with a starting atmospheric dV of from 1 to 1.04 due to practical variation. The air breathers did spool up before lifting off.

Edited July 5, 2015 by Dispatcher
Added explanatory commentary.