Build Challenge - Untested Shuttle

[sevenperforce]

This is a fairly simple challenge. Build an orbital spaceplane and launch vehicle entirely in the VAB and SPH, without any testing and without using any stock game modules. Fly it into LKO and return it to a rolling landing at the KSC, without reverting to the SPH or VAB.

You can turn on "no crash damage" and "unbreakable joints" in the cheat menu because lots of times part force limits get messed up if you have a big rocket and a small computer, and it would suck to lose out for that reason alone.

This challenge has four categories:

• X-37 Simple: Build a spaceplane that launches inside a fairing on a traditional launch vehicle.
• Dyna-Soar Tough: Build a spaceplane that launches with crew, without a fairing, on a traditional launch vehicle.
• Buran Incredible: Build a spaceplane that launches with crew, slung on the side of a 1.5-stage launch vehicle like Energia.
• STS-1 Impossible: Build a spaceplane that recovers its own engines, slung on the side of its own drop tank, like the STS.

You can also buff with these achievements:

• Safe and Sound: Equip your crew vehicle with an independent launch abort system that will eject them safely at any point from the pad all the way to touchdown. Must be demonstrated AFTER your successful flight.
• Pay Lode: Carry cargo that is deployed into LKO.
• Far to Go: Send your spaceplane around the Mun.
• True Life: Use no reaction wheels, no monopropellant on ascent, and only monopropellant once in orbit.
• Impossi-Ball: Land your spaceplane on the Mun or Minmus.
• Elon-gate: Recover your first stage.

Edited June 8, 2020 by sevenperforce

[sturmhauke]

I don't think I'd call anything shuttle related "simple". Simple to describe, maybe.

[RoninFrog]

2 questions:

Can it be an SSTO?  Edit:  Also, which direction must the takeoff and landing be?

By "no reverts", do you mean no reverts, quicksaves, or anything?  Or just once it's launched, it can't go back to the hangar?

Edited June 8, 2020 by RoninFrog

[sevenperforce]

11 hours ago, sturmhauke said:

I don't think I'd call anything shuttle related "simple". Simple to describe, maybe.

Indeed.

10 hours ago, RoninFrog said:

2 questions:

Can it be an SSTO?  Edit:  Also, which direction must the takeoff and landing be?

By "no reverts", do you mean no reverts, quicksaves, or anything?  Or just once it's launched, it can't go back to the hangar?

I don't think it's possible to fit an SSTO into one of the above categories.

If you can do it on the first go, more points to you!! But it would be a shame to have to abandon the mission because of a small problem on the pad, so I will say once it is launched it cannot go back to the hangar but you can definitely re-try from launch.

[Laie]

On 6/5/2020 at 7:26 PM, sevenperforce said:

without using any stock game modules

what?

[sevenperforce]

2 minutes ago, Laie said:

what?

Like, none of the stock designs.