Do I really need this huge rocket to put 14 tons of payload in RO+RSS

[berkekrkn]

into the orbit of moon? I'm using Realism Overhaul and Real Solar System. I've contract wants from me to build a space station around moon. I've built one with 14 tons of payload & 1.840 tons of rocket. It is really huge. 100m, 18m wide. The engines are producing 3x8000 kN thrust. Isn't there a cheaper way ? Also it has 14.000 deltaV and 1.20 SLT (for first stage)

Edited March 12, 2016 by berkekrkn

[Snark]

Suggestion:  Add "(RO + RSS)" to your subject line.

The single most overwhelmingly important and relevant fact here is "RO + RSS"-- more so than "14 tons".  Anyone who's not running those mods (myself, for example) will be totally unable to help you, and the people who are RO+RSS experts may not happen to look at your thread.  Calling out the actual problem in the subject line is more likely to attract the kind of folks who can answer your question. 

[Nich]

what is your payload fraction to orbit? 4% is pretty good but I just learned 6% is possiable with baloon tanks

[Joco223]

In RSS/RO you need big/huge rockets for anything really

 

[Frybert]

The short answer is yes, in RO/RSS everything is MUCH bigger than its standard kerbal counterpart.

 

On the other hand that DOES seem to be a bit excessive. Granted I've not yet tried getting that much payload to the moon, with the booster staging you should not need to be that tall. I would check that you are using the proper version of the engines you are using (go to action groups, then click on your engines, it should give you a list of different versions).

Finally, I would CERTAINLY put RSS/RO somewhere in your title.

[NathanKell]

If you're not using hydrolox, then that sounds about right. If you are, then you're underperforming. Saturn V managed 45t TLI on 2800t of rocket, so I'd expect ~900t of rocket for 14t TLI.

 

However, the biggest problem you're having is you're trying to play career in RO without RP-0 (or if you are playing RP-0, something is very bugged). Career in RO DOES NOT WORK without RP-0, it's seven kinds of messed up.