best launch vehicle for space station

[JWOC]

WHat is the  best launch vehicle for putting a  14,3 ton space station in a 200 KM orbit 

[Warzouz]

14 tons ? A Mainsail and 2 orange tanks should get you to orbit even without staging.

Any launcher with minimum 3200m/s will do. 3400m/s to be comfortable or if you payload is very un-streamined. As always, if you rocket becomes unstable and flips, add more fins, or even wings at the bottom.

 

This is for 1.0.4, and quite cheap. I think the lightest launcher will reenter without much trouble (heavier ones are more concerned about heating). But if you discover the game, the best thing to do is to build a launcher your self, then upgrade it until it's stable and reliable. You can then adapt it to various payload. It's best to get your own launcher you're easy with. It takes a bit of time at first

And if you like space stations, check here :

 

[steuben]

KER will help you with this. budget about 4.6 km/s dv to get it there, maybe more if you are going to be rendezvousing with anything. But my launch profile is basically up and turn left.

• 2 x jumbo 64
• 16 x t800
• 1 x mailsail
• 4 x reliant
• 4 x hydraulic detachment manifold
• 4 x tailfin
• 4 x ftx-2
• 1 x advanced reaction wheel, large
• 1 x rc-l01
• 1 x z-4k
• 1 x rockomax

Yeilds about 4.6 km/s dv in vacuum. there is a little bit left over when I put a couple of test loads up.

There is room for optimization in there, and it will depend on what parts you have available to play with, and the design of your station.

But... have I been playing at the large end of the scale so long to find 15 tons to be small?

 

[Warzouz]

14 minutes ago, steuben said:

But... have I been playing at the large end of the scale so long to find 15 tons to be small?

 

That is so true :D, I don't use my 15T launcher anymore. Why launch one satellite when you can launch 2 for twice the price . 

[RizzoTheRat]

I find the biggest problem with launching stations is their bulk/length not the weight, as a result I'll often launch it as a core (single unit or multiple modules totalling about the length of a couple of orange tanks)  with a small transfer stage underneath, but the main lift stages radially mounted rather than underneath.  This is draggier than a tall slim rocket but a lot more rigid and easier to fly.

Edited March 7, 2016 by RizzoTheRat

[Warzouz]

I use "Kerbal Joints Reinforcement" mod (KJR). I don't like the stock joints handeling, even if KJR is a bit over-kill.

But maybe the new fairing in 1.1 will solve this issue : all stuff into the fairing will be rigid from what I understood.