Cloudstream Chemical SSTO

[The Optimist]

A versatile SSTO, the Cloudstream is able to lift 10-ton payloads to LKO and is fully reusable. Packing a bit more than 5000 m/s of delta-v and a TWR or 1.3, it can SSTO off the surface of any planet that isn't Eve or Jool.

 

It can reach a 100km orbit and return easily just on its own tank. If you have heavier payloads or want more delta-V for a launch, you can add extra drop-tanks if you so desire. In its off-the-shelf configuration, it holds 2 kerbals and has one exposed docking port. Pick yours up today! Only 81 parts! And if you refuel it in orbit, it can land on any Joolian moon, or go to and return from Duna! The possibilities are endless!

Ad poster made by illegal RP division 

(Disclaimer: Interplanetary transfers are not covered by your warranty.)

 

(The Cloudstream in the album is modified without landing struts, extra chutes, and has a Mechjeb module. Your install has the two former and does not have the latter.)

https://kerbalx.com/WorkaroundIndustries/Workaround-Industries-MK1-SSTO-Cloudstream

 

 

 

Edited July 8, 2016 by The Optimist

[Majorjim!]

NIce work dude! The 10t payload makes it very useful indeed and puts it above just another crew carrier, kudos!

[The Optimist]

Slight upgrade to landing struts has been applied. As a footnote, the Cloudstream is not a huge fan of 2500 m/s reentries, and will likely vaporize after a minute of two in the atmosphere. 

[Majorjim!]

Make a 10t Mun return vehicle to fit inside!

[Zamolxes77]

I tried your craft, sadly it doesn't work in 1.1.3, not enough dV, not even to get into orbit. But with several modifications and a bit of streamlining : 

Fuel lines are not necessary, I only add them so Engineer would display the correct data. If flown properly, craft can get into a 75/75 LKO and still have around 900 dV left in the tanks. Also the body is made out of heat resistant materials so it would not disintegrate during re-entry, at least not as easy as before. Engines were offset to install a senior docking port on the back, during aerobreaking, deploy the airbreaks.

At the joint where fuel lines are, a cargobay can be installed and a modest payload can be taken into orbit, probably around 5 tons, didn't had time to test that aspect.

Edited July 13, 2016 by Zamolxes77

[The Optimist]

3 hours ago, Zamolxes77 said:

I tried your craft, sadly it doesn't work in 1.1.3, not enough dV, not even to get into orbit. But with several modifications and a bit of streamlining : 

Fuel lines are not necessary, I only add them so Engineer would display the correct data. If flown properly, craft can get into a 75/75 LKO and still have around 900 dV left in the tanks. Also the body is made out of heat resistant materials so it would not disintegrate during re-entry, at least not as easy as before. Engines were offset to install a senior docking port on the back, during aerobreaking, deploy the airbreaks.

At the joint where fuel lines are, a cargobay can be installed and a modest payload can be taken into orbit, probably around 5 tons, didn't had time to test that aspect.

I believe that it can in fact reach LKO from the launchpad. I don't know what's wrong with your install, maybe I'll test it.

[Zamolxes77]

 

4 hours ago, The Optimist said:

I believe that it can in fact reach LKO from the launchpad. I don't know what's wrong with your install, maybe I'll test it.

Nothing wrong with my install, fresh one since last week when 1.1.3 came out. Only mods I use are Interstellar, which doesn't mess with aerodynamics.

You are correct, your ship it can, in fact, make it into orbit with 1,000 dV left in the tanks or so. Problem is getting there, ship presents some high instability issues around 15 km or so. After 10 aborted launches I managed to figure out the problem and one trick is to lock the fuel in upper adapter. That doesn't solve the issue, just makes it less prone of flipping in mid air.

Anyway, once in orbit it performs very nicely. I did not believe it will survive the reentry, but it did, my testing wasn't exhaustive though, it re entered with some 800 dV worth of fuel, which I burned during aero break. Normally ships re enter atmosphere with very little dV left, if any, so I didn't get to test if it can withstand the heating effects. When completely empty it hits the ground at about 15m/s, which to my surprise, again, it didn't blew up or shed parts. Must be the crash tolerance on those M beams.

[PointySideUp]

I got to orbit on my third try, it is a bit unstable at some speeds, worse with the top tank empty.  It takes a light touch and barely any input for it to stay "Pointy side up"   

 

 

[Majorjim!]

4 hours ago, PointySideUp said:

I got to orbit on my third try, it is a bit unstable at some speeds, worse with the top tank empty.  It takes a light touch and barely any input for it to stay "Pointy side up"

I think the issue is a common one. You make the craft and during the creation of it you learn to fly it well. Then someone else downloads it and cannot fly it first time so says, it does not work.

I'm glad to see this is the case. @Zamolxes77 Just take a few flights to learn how to operate it. And treat it like a lady, no ham fisted button smashing.

 

[Zamolxes77]

44 minutes ago, Majorjim said:

 @Zamolxes77 Just take a few flights to learn how to operate it. And treat it like a lady, no ham fisted button smashing.

 

Well, sadly my bear paws are way to big for a keyboard, any keyboard.

[Majorjim!]

Just now, Zamolxes77 said:

Well, sadly my bear paws are way to big for a keyboard, any keyboard.

Wowzer, them's some big paws! Maybe you need a special 'dialing wand' If so, please mash the keyboard with your palm now.