4 Man Kerbin Orbit

[superhero34x]

So I've been doing a lot of: Tourist x wants to orbit Kerbin missions. I was wondering if there was a design that somebody has that can take 4 or more kerbals into orbit around Kerbin and return them, and hoping to keep cost relatively low to improve my current money making efficiency. I can currently send 3 kerbals to orbit and back using OKTO probe control and the rocket cost 20,260. However, most of the time the contracts are only for 20k per kerbal. So if anybody could share a design that is more efficient I would be appreciative as I've been trying for 6 hours to get a 4 kerbal probe up there and back, but always fall short unless I spend like 40k for the rocket. Also, my science is only into the 90's bracket with Advanced construction, Aerodynamics, and Electrics.

Edited May 17, 2019 by superhero34x

[Gargamel]

Moved to gameplay Questions

[linuxgurugamer]

There is nothing in the contract which says you have to do all 4 of them in one vessel. If nothing else you could send 2 vessels up each vessel carrying to corbeils and then you'll have the contract done and it will pay you about 20K

[steuben]

With the 90's and 45's such a launcher is fairly easy. This design should point you in atleast one direction.

 

[Nich]

The mark1 crew capsule (1.25m, 2 kerbal x2) with a 1/2 loaded heat shield was my go to. 

From Top down I am thinking 

1.25m heat shield upsidedown,

probe core,

1.25m aeroshell,

crew cap,

crew cap with radial parachots and possiabbly small aero conrtols x4 as low as possible,

decoupler

FLT-800 and possibly FLT-200 (should get you orbit)

terrier,

decoupler,

a gray solid with steerable fins

 

I can test it out this weekend.

[superhero34x]

https://imgur.com/a/vPbYI7T This is the science that I currently have completed.

https://imgur.com/a/dmW52Eg This is so far my best attempt at making a 4 kerbal rocket that can orbit and return.

I understand that I don't need to perform all of the mission at once with all kerbals and that it can be split up. I am trying to design a rocket that will carry more kerbals per trip to increase efficiency and reduce the number of times I have to launch to orbit as I generally have 4 or 5 of the quests at once so I can have anywhere from 10-20 kerbals that need to orbit. The less number of times that I need to launch the better it will be for me. Plus, most of my rockets are wasted to I don't really get money back from recovery (Plus the added bonus of being relatively new to the game, I'm still learning how to cause a re-entry to place me close to the Launch site to increase recovery payout.) The 4 kerbal (or better preferably if $/kerbal can be maintained below 7000/kerbal) is simply to help me complete the contracts faster.

[bewing]

With an OKTO on the top (under the battery), this will get 5 tourists to orbit for under $16k if flown properly.

With a 1-star pilot and no OKTO, it will get 4 more kerbals to orbit much more easily.

And then it lands vertically on the runway for a huge refund on your launch costs.

Edited May 18, 2019 by bewing

[Snark]

@superher

A common four-passenger "go to LKO and back" type of craft that I use has an orbital stage that looks like this:

Holds a pilot and four passengers.  Needs no heat shield, just does a spaceplane-style reentry with the nose about 30 degrees above .  That package costs 7870 funds, uses 17 parts (you could probably get away with 15, if you eliminate the yaw fins), masses 6.34t, and has dV of 1281 m/s in a vacuum.  So, just stick that on top of a fairly simple two-stage lifter and you're good.