Micro SSTO

[KosmoNot79]

The KSP is developing a new extremely lightweight SSTO design. They need your help to create one! (I know this is probably a common challenge but it would be nice to revive it)

Rules:

1. The SSTO can take off from the runway or the launchpad, but not from anywhere else (this will be noted in your entry)

2. The SSTO can be manned or unmanned (there will be two leaderboards for this)

3.  The score is solely based on mass (the size of the craft doesn't matter)

4. No Kraken drives, use of eva packs (this counts as a second stage) or other cheaty methods

5. The apoapsis and periapsis of the orbit must be above the Karman line

6. The SSTO doesn't have to be able to deorbit and land itself

7. If it wasn't already extremely obvious, it is a Kerbin SSTO

8. As evidence, you must have a video or screenshots of key events in the mission with fuel gauges left visible (leave the UI on)

9. If there's anything you think I should add to the rules tell me (criticism and feedback will be greatly appreciated)

Smallest Manned SSTO	Smallest Unmanned SSTO
1. TheFlyingKerman (3.687t)	1. TheFlyingKerman (0.985t)
2. Vyznev (3.984t)	2.
3.	3.
4.	4.

I will start to design a craft of my own soon!

Edited May 16, 2019 by KosmoNot79

[vyznev]

Let me start with this old entry to another challenge. It's optimized for part count (and the constraint of using no oxidizer), not mass, but at 7,825 kg wet launch mass it should at least make a decent baseline to beat.

More screenshots: https://imgur.com/a/mH7Mozh

Craft file: https://pastebin.com/C6tsnQVP

 

Edited May 13, 2019 by vyznev

[KosmoNot79]

13 minutes ago, vyznev said:

Let me start with this old entry to another challenge. It's optimized for part count (and the constraint of using no oxidizer), not mass, but at 7,825 kg wet launch mass it should at least make a decent baseline to beat.

More screenshots: https://imgur.com/a/mH7Mozh

Craft file: https://pastebin.com/C6tsnQVP

 

Great job!

[TheFlyingKerman]

On 5/2/2018 at 5:56 PM, TheFlyingKerman said:

I went 0.07t overweight and made it to the Mun

LKO is relatively easy, even SSTO

I am playing stock 1.2.x. One should be able to go further with more appropriate sized fuel tanks.

I built this unmanned ssto (the second one) which I think is 0.985t.

[vyznev]

I went and designed an actual entry for this specific challenge:

Wet mass at launch: 3,894 kg (+ 94 kg for the pilot). I suspect it would be possible to reduce the fuel and oxidizer amounts further, but optimizing the ascent trajectory would get correspondingly harder. (One non-obvious constraint is the heat tolerance of the air intake, which limits how fast you can go in the lower atmosphere.) This is the lightest version that I managed to successfully fly into orbit myself.

More screenshots and flight instructions: https://imgur.com/gallery/gB2XgRi

Craft file: https://pastebin.com/vmDrDJgp

[Mikenike]

I am not able to post pics but may have a mini ssto I will edit this later to include the part list and the paint + the weight.

[TheFlyingKerman]

3.687t not including crew (0.094t) and launch clamp (0.1t), 8 parts.

Ascend profile: 1. Start Rapier 2. Wait 1 sec. for the engine to develop thrust, then release launch clamp. 3. Turn 30 degrees at 25m/s and follow prograde. 4. Throttle down to 1/3 at 600m/s. Full throttle at 12000m (this prevents overheating and gives a more optimal, shallow climb). 5. Cut engine when Ap > 70000m. The engines automatically switches to close cycle afterwards. 6. Circularize at Ap.

Made it to orbit

[KerikBalm]

On 5/13/2019 at 2:12 PM, TheFlyingKerman said:

I built this unmanned ssto (the second one) which I think is 0.985t.

I think you should have to do it in 1.7x

There were some balance changes to the spark

[TheFlyingKerman]

On 5/15/2019 at 3:10 PM, KerikBalm said:

I think you should have to do it in 1.7x

There were some balance changes to the spark

Still haven't 1.7 because it takes ages to download. With the Spark nerfed this rocket probably doesn't work but the rules doesn't require 1.7

[KerikBalm]

It also doesn't say anything about mods, so I can mod an ant engine to have a 100:1 TWR, and 800 Isp :p unless specified, I'd think its limited to the current stock version