Low-tech gliding re-entry ehicles

[stormdot5]

I've been having trouble making a rescue vehicle for early career mode.

The general profile I'm trying to achieve is;

• Low tech - No R&D building upgrade, the less unlocks required, the better.
• Multiple crew return - Preferably 3 Kerbonauts, with a probe control for sending it up.
• Gliding re-entry - To come back without a heatshield, with some cross-range ability.
• Easy landing on wheels - Enough control authority and/or lift to land like a plane.
• Low cost - Intended to return Kerbonauts from LKO without costing more than mission payouts.

It would be nice to return the final stage engine and tank aswell for better value, but not neccesary. Also, final touchdown on parachutes would be ok.

I'm mostly having issues balancing the final stage craft in such a way that it remains controllable at low speeds. It often ends up with not enough control surface leverage, or it has excessive drag.

I'm sure others have used similar profiles to this, so if you could post your crafts/experiences that would be great. Thanks

[ForScience6686]

I don't have an example, but some tips from what I did similar to what you want.  Wheel placement is not a big concern since you won't be taking off with it.  I used small wings as my craft was put inside a fairing.  So I add angleto the wing to give added lift.  I prefer to have power when coming in to ensure I make the run way and when gliding in a terrier has enough thrust for small craft.  Other than that there are just too many design possibilities available.  But I do recommend testing it thoroughly before putting into use.  I would strap a couple srb on and launch it up to test flight characteristics before building the launch vehicle.  If you don't have fairing you can strap two planes radially to counteract the lift they will produce, and have a second rescue craft waiting in orbit. 

Maybe I'll load Some pics of my early rescue craft after work.  Although slightly modified as my career has progressed it is based on the same platform and is my go to for orbital rescues including mun and minmus.

 

[Evanitis]

@stormdot5 Sure thing.

Here's a very-basic five-seater:

It can't really be the tip of the rocket - even if you turn off all control surfaces, it'll still be wobbly. Today, I'd launch it upside down at the end of the main fuselage. Or multiple ones radially attached to the bottom of a bigger (higher tech) rocket.

An there's also this:

Eight tourists + pilot to orbit and back with 29 parts. The highest tech in it is the long mk1 fuselage. Though having wings in the middle makes the launches hairy. 2-3 flips on the way to orbit is calculated in the dV costs, and I never managed to get it even close to an equatorial orbit.

Though none of the above craft has landing gears. Both are quite capable of water-landings (though the longer one needs some expertise in such). I didn't feel that runway landings would pay for the added difficulty, weight and most importantly part count of wheels. One can still aim for the shore next to KSC for a good recovery percentage.

Edited February 29, 2016 by Evanitis