Air-to-launch Orbit problems

[Hoody]

I have been experimenting with launching small rockets from the back of aircraft in-atmosphere (around 45000m) as a way of making a fully recoverable program in early-mid career. I am running into a problem. Once launched, I can switch to my rocket probe and fly it into orbit, but I cannot switch vessel back to my plane because KSP won't let me switch vessels while in-atmosphere. By the time my rocket is in orbit, my plane has disappeared (read: crashed).

Are there any tricks for handling this scenario? I don't necessarily want a space-plane so please don't suggest that. I want to make in-atmosphere air-to-launch possible.

I'd really appreciate any input.

Usual disclaimer: searched forums, didn't find what I was looking for; apologies if this is a repost.

[AeroGav]

11 minutes ago, Hoody said:

I have been experimenting with launching small rockets from the back of aircraft in-atmosphere (around 45000m) as a way of making a fully recoverable program in early-mid career. I am running into a problem. Once launched, I can switch to my rocket probe and fly it into orbit, but I cannot switch vessel back to my plane because KSP won't let me switch vessels while in-atmosphere. By the time my rocket is in orbit, my plane has disappeared (read: crashed).

Are there any tricks for handling this scenario? I don't necessarily want a space-plane so please don't suggest that. I want to make in-atmosphere air-to-launch possible.

I'd really appreciate any input.

Usual disclaimer: searched forums, didn't find what I was looking for; apologies if this is a repost.

I doubt the plane crashed.

However,  if an object goes out of physics range it reverts to an "on rails" limited form of simulation, with a fixed trajectory.  If that takes it below 25km then it is assumed to have hit the surface and is deleted.

There's a stage recovery mod or two out there - stage recovery? flight manager? that can fix this.

Alternatively, give the rocket stage more TWR so it can get above 70km before the launcher plane falls below 25km.  Once you're out of the atmosphere it should let you switch vessels.

[Raideur Ng]

Points out the difficulties and limits associated with this. You could release your craft, burn to desired AP and once it is above 25km, it will follow the physics rails. Before it is 25km away from the launching craft, you'd need to switch back and land / recover before the spacecraft reaches AP. A bit brutal but do-able.

Never tried it, but it sounds pretty nice. I have no idea if it would refund your aircraft once out of range automatically.

[sardia]

There's a mod that allows you to do air launches and recover both parts. It does a split save, which then recombines after you recover one craft. 

 

[Hoody]

Thanks guys. I found a happy medium: I get my plane to 60,000m, decouple the rocket and cruise it to 70 with an apo of 100 or so and a peri of 50. Then I can switch to the plane and land it in time to get the rocket before it hits the atmosphere, which isn't in itself completely necessary because if not active, I've found that objects with an orbit below 70 don't de-orbit when not focussed in any case (judging by the amount of "de-orbited" debris I have cluttering my 50,000m mark...

This seems to work just fine for my small air-to-orbit launcher. Thanks for the ideas.