VA escape tower landing

[karolus10]

Launch vertically VA capsule using standard LV-T30 engine and half tank - use only escape tower (fire tower when ~180m above ground and jettison when stop falling down) and RCS to land with crew alive ;D.

*Cosmos VA capsule parts needed

[Sean Mirrsen]

You can do that with just RCS, if you\'re crafty enough.

Our krew rises on a single solid booster. They seem nervous, because someone put an avionics package on their capsule instead of a parachute.

But have no fear! The krew are actually testing the newest in parachuteless capsule landing technology - an emergency cold thruster landing array!

The thrusters fire close the to the ground, quickly arresting the capsule\'s otherwise uncontrolled fall. The krew is pleased with the experiment\'s success.

However, they don\'t build RCS tanks like they used to nowadays, and the expensive landing system is completely destroyed when the pilot landed the capsule a little too hard. The krew is appalled, but safe.

Yes, I didn\'t use an LFE with a half-tank, but with terminal velocity being what it is, an SRB works just as well.

edit: wait, 'Cosmos VA Capsule'? Is it much different? *goes off to check*

[Awaras]

Good lord, I just tried a similar setup with just 6 linear RCS ports - you can almost reach kerbin orbit with one RCS tank!!! :o :o

[karolus10]

Yep, monoprop engines are nice (they could be better when we will could make enignes/RCS groups) but fuel consumption is slightly IMBA .

Also when I write this challenge i meant about slowing down craft just 2/3sec before hitting the ground (closer to ground/falling faster = better) in one, powerful burst (like opening parachute in last sec) .