Simple SSTO for 1 crew exchange flights to LKO

[Scarecrow88]

Chariot SSTO is a simple to fly SSTO designed for use as a crew exchange vehicle for rotating crew in stations in LKO. It has enough fuel to reach orbits as high as 300x300 km, but if going above 200km I would suggest that it will probably need a fuel top up for the de-orbit burn. It certainly does from a 300km orbit, but I haven't tested the limit of how high it can go and return without topping up.

Action keys:

1 : Toggle engine mode and toggle air intakes

2 : Extend airbrakes

Pilot notes:

Take off speed is between 70 - 80 m/s

Initial climb out is 30 degrees nose up, but when you get to the point where speed starts to decrease, keep the nose on the top of the prograde marker.

At 10,000m nose up attitude should be 10 degrees, and just fly to build up speed

You should be able to reach 1300 - 1400 m/s by the time you get to 19,000m by which time the acceleration will start to tail off. When you sense that it is, press action key 1 to change engine mode and close the air intakes. Keep the nose at 10 degrees and shut off the engines once you achieve your apoapsis.

Coast to apoapsis and burn to circularise.

Don't forget to use the airbrakes, action key 2, on re-entry to help slow down, or you will burn up in the atmosphere.

Chariot SSTO is fitted with a Junior Docking Port. If your station isn't equipped with one of these, you will need to change it in the SPH before flight.

On the runway ready to go

Take off at 70-80 m/s

Initial climb out at 30 degrees until the speed starts to bleed off

Reduce to 10 degrees at 10,000

Orbit at 301,000m

Docked with a station at 275,000m for a fuel top up

Don't forget to use the airbrakes on re-entry

Back safe and sound

Chariot SSTO craft file

Edited August 9, 2015 by Scarecrow88

[Majorjim!]

So simple yet capable! And that's a great looking station too. Good job dude.

[Scarecrow88]

Thanks Majorjim. Looking at my station now, I realise I should have put the comms tower on the habitation end, and made sure that the fuelling rig had sepratrons fitted for jettison in case of emergency. If the fuelling tanks get ruptured, just have to keep my fingers crossed the crew can make it to the lifeboats in time.