I didn't expect this to work...

[StrandedonEarth]

I just wanted to build a reasonably gargantuan craft, to make a screenshot for a kerbalized movie quote meme. I somehow managed to get nine-times symmetry on it. I only put one set of (nine) struts on it, out of habit. I didn't even use launch clamps, but the 1800 ton behemoth stood on the pad with only a little sag. After the photo op,  just for kicks and expecting it to erupt in a sea of explosions, I launched it. I had forgot to press 'Z' or even 'T' for that matter, so it struggled off the pad with a TWR of 1.06. I didn't realize this until at least 500m up

I didn't put on a single separatron, so I figured jettisoning the SRB's would kill it. The explosions seemed to confirm up, but I guess that was just some of them cooking off in the Twin-Boar inferno.

By this time I was hoping it would make it to space, so I used a slight spin to separate the strap-on boosters

Of course, I hadn't tried to do anything close to a proper gravity turn, so my trajectory left a lot to be desired. But the Ap never did quite reach space, topping out at 69,900m The second-stage Rhino didn't quite have enough TWR to get it to orbit, even with all 24 NERV's firing. I may have finally pulled it into orbit, but once that Rhino burned out I had no attitude control, so that oversized nuclear tug had to be abandoned to a fiery doom. Remember, this thing was never supposed to fly. No reaction wheels, RCS or vernors at all, aside from what the crew capsule had. Uh-Oh! The Crew! There were no parachutes either! But there was a third-stage Rhino, which served double-duty, first as a heat-shield, then to slow down for the splash-down.

So the mission that was never meant to happen went surprisingly well, even if it didn't succeed, but at least there were no fatalities either.

Later, knowing that it wasn't going to explode, I was barely able to get it to orbit. It helps to be at full throttle off the pad. It was still pointless, as there was no power generation on board, and that nuke-tug was hauling around a bunch of useless oxidizer anyways. And still no parachutes. Not the most efficient design, but it was only meant for a photo op.

[Scotius]

Kudos for getting that monstrosity to space Guess you've earned the Whackjob medal