Most Fuel To LKO

[brezzell]

Recently Hazard-ish joined the ranks of "Supreme Bad Ass SSTO Builders". I however, have not. I recently finished development on a SSTO that I can actually use to complete contracts. But im going to have too refuel it in orbit before I go anywhere. That's where you come in. Im curious to see how much liquid fuel and oxidizer can be hoisted to LKO in a single launch. Here are my stipulations:

-Must be done in a single launch

-No mods that add parts. Stock parts only

-Fuel needs to be in an 85k-95k orbit.

-Hyperedit is not allowed (obviously)

-Cost to launch must be under 200k

Please post pictures of your fuel depot and tell us how much it cost.

P.S. Use your best judgement ^

Big props go out to Robert G and Norcalplaner. Our best submissions thus far.

Robert G managed to get 28080 of liquid fuel into a 85k orbit.

Norcalplaner has hoisted 13476 units of liquid fuel and 16471 liquids of oxidizer.

Edited October 5, 2015 by brezzell

[Robet.G]

what fuel? Xeon Gas? how do you measure it? units? mass? Hyperedit isn't a part mod, can I use that? What is cost? the cost to launch or the cost to launch minus recovered cost? Does the fuel itself count as cost ? What fuel depot? I thought this was about sending fuel, do we also need to build a depot?

[killakrust]

I tried your challenge last night using your 200k Kerbuck (Kermolians?) limit. I managed to loft 2 of the largest S3 tanks (full). Am processing and editing the video atm.

Why did you remove the 200k limit? It'll just be a 'huge launcher' contest now.

[s1l3nt_c0y0t3]

Kerbuck (Kermolians?)

I've always thought of them as Kash.

[brezzell]

I tried your challenge last night using your 200k Kerbuck (Kermolians?) limit. I managed to loft 2 of the largest S3 tanks (full). Am processing and editing the video atm.

Why did you remove the 200k limit? It'll just be a 'huge launcher' contest now.

Great! Im really looking forward to seeing that video. I took out the cost requirement because of some the questions that were coming in. You're right though. Im going to put the cost requirement back in.

[Robet.G]

Great! Im really looking forward to seeing that video. I took out the cost requirement because of some the questions that were coming in. You're right though. Im going to put the cost requirement back in.

Again, are we talking cost to launch, or net cost after whatever is recovered. and how is the amount of fuel measured?

[killakrust]

I'm assuming you are thinking of delivering the fuel depot with an SSTO? Otherwise there is little recovery benefit. In that case I'd imagine that the recovery cost could be counted to bring down the cost to < 200k.

Good luck to you if that is what you are going to attempt. I'm thinking the ssto would have to be massive though.

I'd imagine that in the spirit of the challenge it would have to be done in one launch to orbit.

What do you reckon brezzell, it's your challenge?

[brezzell]

Of course im thinking single launch to orbit. If I had an ssto that could carry massive amounts of fuel, I wouldn't need to refuel it.

I just need to refuel my ssto when I get it to orbit. Get me the most liquid fuel and oxidizer in a 90k orbit for the least amount of money. Under 200k.

Use your best judgement. How would you go about this while spending the least amount of money?

Edited October 3, 2015 by brezzell

[Robet.G]

Of course im thinking single launch to orbit. If I had an ssto that could carry massive amounts of fuel, I wouldn't need to refuel it.

I just need to refuel my ssto when I get it to orbit. Get me the most liquid fuel and oxidizer in a 90k orbit for the least amount of money. Under 200k.

Use your best judgement. How would you go about this while spending the least amount of money?

I would make a reusable rocket that recovers most of the cost. so can you or can you not recover stuff? you still haven't answered any of my questions.

[Norcalplanner]

How much fuel do you need? I just slapped together a rocket using a Mainsail and 4 Kickbacks that can take up 1.25 orange tanks of fuel with a Poodle attached, and drop it off in a 90 km orbit, for less than 60K funds. Do it three times and you have 3.75 orange tanks in orbit for 180K funds. How much fuel do you really need?

[brezzell]

How much fuel do you really need?

My SOTO holds 7000 units of liquid fuel. However, I do t want to launch fuel everytime I fly. I'd like to get more than 1 use out of a "resupply mission"

I'd love to see what you came up with. Could you post some pics? When this is done, I'm going to post some pics of the best idea refueling my SSTO.

[killakrust]

OK, so I finished the video.

This was a fun challenge. I ended up making 5 iterations of the launcher until I got things right. The first few failures were entirely my fault for not keeping dead on pro-grade during the staging.

The final amount I got to orbit was 11750 LF, and 14363 Ox (so almost all of the fuel from 2 of the large S3 tanks). Total cost 199114. I had to take a wee bit just to get the final orbit. It's possible that a more economical gravity turn could leave you with full tanks.

Craft file

Edited October 3, 2015 by killakrust
added cost and craft link

[Norcalplanner]

My SOTO holds 7000 units of liquid fuel. However, I do t want to launch fuel everytime I fly. I'd like to get more than 1 use out of a "resupply mission"

I'd love to see what you came up with. Could you post some pics? When this is done, I'm going to post some pics of the best idea refueling my SSTO.

So it's just LF you need? Do you need any oxidizer or monoprop at all?

[Norcalplanner]

So I went ahead and did an entry with LFO. Ended up going with classic 2x2 asparagus staging with 5 Mainsails and 6 Kickbacks. Ended up with 2.08 white tanks worth of fuel in 90 km LKO for just under 200K funds. More description in the pics.

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[killakrust]

Nice one Norcalplanner. My attempts at asparagus recently always seem to end up really expensive. It's good to see that it's still an economical option.

[brezzell]

OK, so I finished the video.

This was a fun challenge. I ended up making 5 iterations of the launcher until I got things right. The first few failures were entirely my fault for not keeping dead on pro-grade during the staging.

OMG, Thank you.

- - - Updated - - -

So I went ahead and did an entry with LFO. Ended up going with classic 2x2 asparagus staging with 5 Mainsails and 6 Kickbacks. Ended up with 2.08 white tanks worth of fuel in 90 km LKO for just under 200K funds. More description in the pics.

http://imgur.com/a/c5HKV

Very cool!

[Wild Cobra]

OK, so I finished the video.

This was a fun challenge. I ended up making 5 iterations of the launcher until I got things right. The first few failures were entirely my fault for not keeping dead on pro-grade during the staging.

The final amount I got to orbit was 11750 LF, and 14363 Ox (so almost all of the fuel from 2 of the large S3 tanks). Total cost 199114. I had to take a wee bit just to get the final orbit. It's possible that a more economical gravity turn could leave you with full tanks.

Craft file

Nice.

I was able to get about a tank and a half up. My efforts aren't worth posting though.

[brezzell]

Right now Norcalplanner has the most fuel to orbit with about 13500 units of liquid fuel.

Thanks you guys. Keep it going though.

[Robet.G]

28080 Units of Liquid Fuel to 85,789m orbit

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[brezzell]

So it's just LF you need? Do you need any oxidizer or monoprop at all?

Pretty much. Im sure eventually ill need the oxidizer and mono. Right now im just looking for innovative ideas on lifting heavy tanks efficiently. Can we get the craft file?

- - - Updated - - -

28080 Units of Liquid Fuel to 85,789m orbit

Very sweet! The docking looks like its really hard to get to. Thats easy to fix. This ship will make my SSTO worthwhile. I should get 4 refuels out of this thing. Did you try and recover this guy? Can we have the craft file?

Edited October 5, 2015 by brezzell

[killakrust]

28080 Units of Liquid Fuel to 85,789m orbit

MechJeb..... *shakes head in dismay*

also, what LF tanks are those?? They are definitely not stock. I call shenanigans.

Edited October 5, 2015 by killakrust

[brezzell]

MechJeb..... *shakes head in dismay*

also, what LF tanks are those?? They are definitely not stock. I call shenanigans.

Stock Jet Fuel containers..... I think. Pretty smart.

[Norcalplanner]

Stock Jet Fuel containers..... I think. Pretty smart.

They're tweakscaled.

[Robet.G]

They're tweakscaled.

You're right I just realized they're not stock. But it makes no difference because they're actually less dense than the half length 2.5m tanks. Since this is mostly just a lift efficiency challenge I don't think it really matters what you're using as payload.

[Norcalplanner]

Pretty much. Im sure eventually ill need the oxidizer and mono. Right now im just looking for innovative ideas on lifting heavy tanks efficiently. Can we get the craft file?

So I just signed up at KerbalX. Hopefully you can find and download the craft here.