X-84 Akkadian - Ultimate Challenge Spaceplane with Eve Lander

[Mephisto81]

X-84 Akkadian at KerbalX

The X-84 Akkadian is my attempt at the Ultimate Challenge:

Visit every body and moon in the Kerbol system. As a bonus: visit also every planet and Moon in the Outer Planets mod.

The vessel consists of three parts:

- X-84 Akkadian SSTO

- X-84a Ishtar Eve Lander

- X84b Traveller Probe core

The Akkadian is the workhorse of the mission: It is able to lift itself and the Eve lander into low Kerbin orbit. It has enough delta V to reach Moho from Eve. Enough thrust to land and take off from Tylo or Slate. And, it is sufficiently aerodynamic to land and take off from Tekto. Three Kerbals can travel comfortly and collect science from almost everywhere, except Eve.

The Ishtar Eve lander is being lifted to orbit and carried through space by the Akkadian. All is needed are four additional Whiplash Engines and some wings. In order to save some weight, the lander is only equipped with a command chair for one Kerbal as well as some basic science experiments. Also on board is the Traveller probe core.

The Traveller probe core is the key to fullfill the Ultimate Challenge: the contract requires a command module or probe core to land on every single planet and moon. As the Akkadian cannot land and take off from eve, and the Ishtar is not built to travel to every other body, the Traveller Probe core is the solution inbetween. It will land on Eve with the Lander. After reaching orbit again, the small probe will dock with the SSTO for the remainder of the voyage.

 

The vessel is surprisingly cheap: the whole package costs under 300.000 Bucks. Take-Off weight from the runway is under 150t.

And, practically no clipping was involved.

Some specifics for the Akkadian

Maximum mass:  109t

Max Liquid Fuel: 10180

Max Oxidiser: 4620

Crew capacity: 3 Krew

Range and Fuel Profiles:

Max Range (10180 LF / 0 Ox): 7023 m/s dV

Low Ox (10180 LF / 1000 Ox): 6400 m/s dV

Max High Thrust, Chemical Rockets only (3892 LF / 4620 Ox): 2592 m/s dV

Use Max Range, if target has low gravity suitable for Nerv only landing (Gilly, Ike, Bop, Pol, etc.)

Use Low Ox Range, if target has medium gravity and Nervs require assist from Aerospikes / Rapiers (Moho, Duna, etc.)

Use Max High Thrust for landing and take-off from Tylo. Remember to pack additional LF (800-1000 LF) for take-off from Tylo and transfer to Pol.

Engines

3x Rapiers (Action Group 1 to toggle, AG 2 to switch mode

2x Nerv (AG3) for interplanetary travel

2x Aerospike to provide additional thrust for high-G landings (Tylo) or more efficient Oxidizer use. Aerospikes have 340 sec vacuum ISP vs. 305 sec from Rapiers in rocket mode.

Also, it has 4 detachable Whiplash Engines to lift the Ishtar Eve Lander into Orbit.

 

 

Ishtar Eve Lander

The Ishtar Eve Lander is built to be lifted in front of the Akkadian into Orbit. For this, it has a detachable set of wings and control surfaces. To provide the necessary thrust for ascent, the Akkadian has four detachable Whiplash ram jets.

The Ishtar has a first stage with one Vector engine and six asparagus-staging drop tanks, the first two with additional Aerospikes.

The second stage is powered by one Terrier and two drop tanks with Sparks. The whole ascent vehicle has enough delta V to reach orbit from sea level with moderate skills. (You’ll have to know the atmospheric properties and general Eve ascent profiles, though. When in doubt, search the KSP forums or watch Eve ascent videos on Youtube.)

Maximum mass: 56t with wings, 49t lander only

Science Complement: 4x basic experiments (Thermometer, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gravioli Detector)

  Electricity: 2x solar panels in the Traveler Probe, 2x fuel cells on landing legs.