The Fabless Space Program Challenge [1.11.2]

[Krazy1]

Intro

The KSP Administration has decided to save money by eliminating all spaceship construction. They fired all the VAB and SPH workers and tried to outsource all manufacturing. Unfortunately, every other space agency did the same thing. That didn't stop our intrepid kerbonauts. They got access to the part storage facility and Bill will use his EVA construction skills to build everything right on the launch pad.

General

The main goal is to perform the challenges with minimum total packed cargo volume. You can brag about cost, mass, parts count, doing extra stuff but that’s secondary.

Use KSP 1.11.2+ because 1.11.0/1 are horrendously buggy in EVAC. Any game mode is OK but suggest Sandbox with “show ground crew” turned off for realism.  

No mods. You won't miss them much for this.  Stock + DLC only.

Pack the required cargo containers (varies with specific challenge) with parts you will use to build the ship. Attach (4) EAS-1 seats to the containers to bring the (4) kerbals to the KSC launch pad. Using the Kerbals’ 2 cargo slots is acceptable but parts must be included in the packed volume sum. The 4 EAS-1 seats do NOT count in total volume. The seats may be moved and used on the ship. You may launch from on top of the storage containers, not stacked more than 3 high, or directly on the pad. If you use a decoupler to launch, it must be in a container when brought to the pad and counted in the total packed volume.

You must be able to use EVA construction to build your ship, but you can do it last if you prefer. Let me explain. Designing a ship and test launching can take several iterations and it is much more difficult to make changes in EVAC because it requires removing/ installing one part at a time. That’s not fun. So you can build the ship in the VAB,  launch and complete the mission and then go back to the pad to build it the same way to prove it is possible. But be careful! You must be able to build it in every detail, like:

1. Parts must all be able to be lifted by 4 Kerbals at 1 Gee (unless more kerbals are allowed in the specific challenge).

2. Parts  must be in EVAC range, including necessary helpers to lift.

3. Kerbal must be able to get to their seat for launch.

4. If you need to climb the side of the ship that’s OK but explain how you do it and include any ladders used in the cargo volume.

5. The ship must not tip over or break at any step in the build process. Remember you can only place 1 part at a time in EVAC.

Bronze

Pack one SEQ-24 with parts. Build an unmanned rocket and launch it into orbit (PE >= 70 km) and land it safely (at least touch down under 10 m/s and the probe core must survive). I have done this.

Silver

Pack two SEQ-24 containers. Get a Kerbal to orbit and land him/her safely (at least alive and touch down under 10 m/s). I did it but it took several attempts.

Gold

Pack any quantity of the 4 SEQ-xx cargo containers. Get 2 Kerbals to orbit, build a satellite and land the Kerbals safely. Satellite must have a probe core, battery, solar panel, HG-5 relay antenna and a magnetometer. All of the satellite parts must be in SEQ container(s) on the ship when it launches off the pad. I have not attempted this.

Science Jr.

Pack any quantity of the 4 SEQ-xx cargo containers. Get 3 Kerbals to orbit, build a satellite and land the Kerbals safely. Satellite must have a probe core, battery, solar panel, any antenna and a SC-9001 Science Jr. All of the satellite parts must be in SEQ container(s) on the ship when it launches off the pad. I have not attempted this.

SSTO 

Pack any quantity of the 4 SEQ-xx cargo containers. Launch 4 kerbals to orbit and land everything together - no parts lost. You may bring as many helper Kerbals to the pad as you like. I have not attempted this.

SSTO - Ghost

Pack any quantity of the 4 SEQ-xx cargo containers but choose wisely… you must take them with you! Launch 4 kerbals with all of the cargo containers into orbit and land everything together. You may bring as many helper Kerbals to the pad as you like. You’ll need a bus or something for the helpers. This one is probably impossible.

 

Things to consider:

Those big Kerbal heads have very high drag at transonic speed and can cause your ship to become unstable.

Kerbals explode at only 800 deg. K.

If the pilot is not facing forward, SAS won’t aim correctly. There’s no “control point up” for a command seat. 

If you forget you're in EVAC instead of the VAB and drop a fuel tank, it will explode.  Save often! 

This is my first challenge - I won't have badges unless someone wants to make them. 

[Pds314]

wait... Kerbals can combine lifting capacity? 1.11 makes so much more sense now.

Edited March 31, 2021 by Pds314

[Krazy1]

Yes, since 1.11.1. In the lower left when in construction mode (press "i") it shows the mass limit depending on gravity and number of kerbals helping.  But parts you're able to manipulate is always limited to smaller parts, even in space.