Highest altitude on launch escape systems.

[Flying dutchman]

The Challenge is simple. You must try to get as high as possible, Easy right?

No. Because you can only use launch ecape systems with their asymetrical thrust as propulsion.

 

Scoring is easy highest altitude wins.

 

Leaderboard:

1 8636m dvader

2 3983m swjr-swiss

Edited September 12, 2019 by Flying dutchman

[swjr-swis]

Manned, unmanned? Max nr of LES to use? Vertical or horizontal launch? Does the craft have to remain undamaged?

Asymmetric thrust is easily solved by placing them in mirror or radial symmetry. After that, without any further restriction, its all going to be about the nr of LES used, which practically means whatever your computer will allow before a Kraken spasm attack.

Spoiler

A first entry at 3983m.

 

 

[Flying dutchman]

7 minutes ago, swjr-swis said:

Manned, unmanned? Max nr of LES to use? Vertical or horizontal launch? Does the craft have to remain undamaged?

Asymmetric thrust is easily solved by placing them in mirror or radial symmetry. After that, without any further restriction, its all going to be about the nr of LES used, which practically means whatever your computer will allow before a Kraken spasm attack.

  Hide contents

A first entry at 3983m.

 

 

Not bad! 

 

Vertical horizontal it doesn't matter. Whatever you like. The only real rule is that you don't use the debug menu to cheat. Any other exploits etc are allowed as long as you don't use any of them to power the craft.

Edited September 12, 2019 by Flying dutchman

[dvader]

I've never used the LES before so I thought this was a good opportunity to... I don't know... abuse it? I managed 8636m before the Kraken kicked in and stopped me from adding more stages.

https://imgur.com/a/luy7GxB

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AHHans]

Which part of multi-staging is so hard to understand?

Manned:

And not so manned:

[Aetharan]

Did somebody call for a ridiculous number of engines being used for something completely outside of their designed purpose?  That's one of my specialties!  I present Krakenbait!  This beauty pushed Jeb up to 23,234 meters above sea level, and set him down gently on the runway!

[Flying dutchman]

1 hour ago, Aetharan said:

Did somebody call for a ridiculous number of engines being used for something completely outside of their designed purpose?  That's one of my specialties!  I present Krakenbait!  This beauty pushed Jeb up to 23,234 meters above sea level, and set him down gently on the runway!

Sir you have blown my mind.

[Aetharan]

I have taken it farther.  Behold, the Krakenbait Mk.2!  Sleeker than its sibling, the Mk.2 carried Val up to 34,205m (with a safe splash-down to end the ride) despite reporting less total delta-V in Kerbal Engineer Redux.

[Pds314]

It seems like the biggest thing preventing me from just making exponentially bigger stages is that they shake apart.

[Aetharan]

37 minutes ago, Pds314 said:

It seems like the biggest thing preventing me from just making exponentially bigger stages is that they shake apart.

Once you get past that, either through design (to a point, auto-strutting to grandparent has helped me) or the use of a mod (Kerbal Joint Reinforcement helps), the next problems will be how much RAM you have available for the game to fill up, and your tolerance for seconds-per-frame gameplay in early stages of the launch.

[Pds314]

15 minutes ago, Aetharan said:

Once you get past that, either through design (to a point, auto-strutting to grandparent has helped me) or the use of a mod (Kerbal Joint Reinforcement helps), the next problems will be how much RAM you have available for the game to fill up, and your tolerance for seconds-per-frame gameplay in early stages of the launch.

Yeah I was doing some math on what it would take to get to orbit and the answer is basically "lol no."

Edited September 17, 2019 by Pds314

[Aetharan]

2 minutes ago, Pds314 said:

Yeah I was doing some math on what it would take to get to orbit and the answer is basically "lol no."

Considering it would take a little over twice the delta-v of my last launch, plus the ability to actually steer at some point?  I'd tend to agree.

[Pds314]

5 minutes ago, Aetharan said:

Considering it would take a little over twice the delta-v of my last launch, plus the ability to actually steer at some point?  I'd tend to agree.

Some >30000 part monstrosity weighing >20 kilotons might just reach orbit. And bring literally ANY machine down to many minutes per frame.

Edited September 17, 2019 by Pds314

[Pds314]

Hmmmmmm.... I wonder the viability of LES-powered helicopters? Breaking Ground prop blades can violate conservation of energy unlike normal wing parts. While lift-powered infinite free energy turbines are obviously not allowed in this challenge, LES-powered overunity turbines might be. The idea is that for the first few stages you might be able to get much higher altitude then normal, up to about the limits of helicopter flight. And then start your rocket there.

Edited September 17, 2019 by Pds314

[joshudson]

Well if you go for kerbin escape and the absolute win you don't need to steer. Doesn't mean it's going to be any easier. My computer struggled with the sepratron to orbit thing. I'll have to stand down from this one.

[Flying dutchman]

8 hours ago, Pds314 said:

Hmmmmmm.... I wonder the viability of LES-powered helicopters? Breaking Ground prop blades can violate conservation of energy unlike normal wing parts. While lift-powered infinite free energy turbines are obviously not allowed in this challenge, LES-powered overunity turbines might be. The idea is that for the first few stages you might be able to get much higher altitude then normal, up to about the limits of helicopter flight. And then start your rocket there.

Well, thats how i got to orbit on only nuclear engines. No dlc though.

 

 

Edited September 18, 2019 by Flying dutchman