Estes Orbital Transport Inspired TSTO Design

[Korg]

First of all, I am brand new to KSP. That being said, this is like my third ship I have designed in KSP ever.  Overall it was a lot of trial and error (mostly error as the lives of many Kerbal test pilots and engineers were expended in the creation of this beast.)

The inspiration of this design comes from one of the model rockets I built as a kid in 1969.  The Estes Orbital Transport.

The Orbital Transport model was inspired by NASA's plans for a Two-Stage To Orbit (TSTO) using a fully reusable, air breathing  (scramjet powered) booster and a rocket powered orbiter. Those designs eventually morphed into what became the Space Shuttle.

My design uses all un-modded KSP parts. 

Here are some stats., photos and interesting features...

Overall Design:

• Part count: 151
• Stages: 2
• Crew: 4
• Passengers: 4
• 1 x Small cargo bay.
• Mass: 94.2 tons
• Length: 29.3m
• Wingspan: 13.7m
• Height: 8.0m

Booster: 

• Part count: 106
• Crew: 2 (expendable due to KSP's inability to fly two ships at the same time)
• Mass: 70.3 tons
• Length: 29.3m
• Wingspan: 13.7m
• Height: 6.3m 
• Engines: 
  • 4 x "Whiplash" turboramjets
  • 4 x "R.A.P.I.E.R."  hybrid jet/rocket engines.
  • 4 x "Separtron I" solid fuel separation rockets.
• Special controls:
  • Key 4: Toggle R.A.P.I.E.R. engine mode 
  • Key 5: Toggle All engines on/off.

Orbiter:

• Part count: 46
• Crew: 2 (expendable due to MY inability to successfully re-enter an atmosphere and land it)
• Passengers: 4 (also expendable)
• 1 x Small cargo bay.
• Mass: 23.5 tons
• Length: 20.5m
• Wingspan: 10.0m
• Height: 3.6m 
• Engines: 
  • 2 x "Dart" toroidal aerospike rocket engines
  • 4 x "Separtron I" solid fuel separation rockets.
• Special controls:
  • Key 1: Toggle "Dart" engines on/off
  • Key 2: Toggle fuel/LOX flow from forward tank
  • Key 3: Toggle landing gear 

Performance:

Despite my poor piloting skills, I was able to make it to a high elliptical orbit (apogee approx 3000km) with about 2 tons of fuel and LOX still in the tanks but no cargo or extra passengers (which is good because Valentina Kermen and Bill Kerman died during re-entry)

Here are some photos:

And the download:

http://www.nightwatchmilitia.com/ksp/orbital_transport.zip

I'm sure there are lots of mistakes in it, so suggestions are welcome!
 

Korg sends

PS: I should mention that it has some yaw oscillation if the SAS is turned on until reaching the stratosphere, so fly carefully.

 

 

Edited October 20, 2017 by Korg
Fixed picture links

[Speed_Kerman]

No in flight pics, no download clicks. Cool design though.

[Korg]

9 hours ago, Speed_Kerman said:

No in flight pics, no download clicks. Cool design though.

I fixed the download link.  I will add in-flight pics later.  

BTW I managed to successfully land (on water) but Valentina and Bill survived!!!  
 

 

[Korg]

As promised, in flight pics and a short movie of the separation of the orbiter from the booster...

Short video of the Booster / Orbiter separation...