The Dropship Challenge, or Single Stage To Ground And Back To Orbit

[Nothalogh]

Single Stage To Ground And Back To Orbit, can it be done?

Let's say conditions are as follows:

Easy Mode

Capacity - 16 Kerbals

Docking port and RCS required

Origin and destination orbits - Low orbit, direction and inclination are up to you

Bodies - Kerbin or Laythe

No use of runways

No refueling on the ground

Fuel may be taken on while in orbit

Hard Mode

Above rules still apply, choose any of the following for maximum pain and maximum gain.

Do it with FAR

Do it from an interplanetary trajectory

Perform a zero length takeoff

Do it on Eve

Carry 32 Kerbals

Note:

Hyperedit is thoroughly approved of for placing the bird in the starting orbit

Infernal Robotics is now allowed

Also, please post craft files for others to try out your magnificent creation

Edited November 9, 2015 by Nothalogh
Further refinement of challenge

[Foxster]

Yes, it can be done...

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[Nothalogh]

Yes, it can be done...

http://imgur.com/a/7gBYl

It's absolutely hideous looking, like all dropships should be.

I love it

[tewpie]

There's quite a few sstos in the stock payload challenge that can be double ssto's (i.e. orbit, land, orbit again, land again without refueling).

[killakrust]

In fact, any SSTO that can carry 16 Kerbals, and has enough remaining fuel to de-orbit once launched could fulfill this challenge; you would just be doing it backwards.

[Nothalogh]

There's quite a few sstos in the stock payload challenge that can be double ssto's (i.e. orbit, land, orbit again, land again without refueling).

Those are Tankers, likely

[SpaceplaneAddict]

Um, can I use Infernal Robotics?

[cantab]

In fact, any SSTO that can carry 16 Kerbals, and has enough remaining fuel to de-orbit once launched could fulfill this challenge; you would just be doing it backwards.

It's not trivial though. You'll be re-entering and landing full of fuel and that means a hotter re-entry and a faster landing, and throw in the runway ban (though if you land on the KSC plain that makes no difference). I know from experience there's a world of difference between touching down at 50 m/s and touching down at 75 m/s.

While the challenge still probably isn't that hard for a spaceplane, it's something.

[Nothalogh]

Um, can I use Infernal Robotics?

Going for thrust vectoring, eh?

Sure, go for it.