Contract Based Tech Tree?

[infinite_monkey]

I'd like to play KSP in a private launch company style, but I'm missing a matching tech tree. In stock, R&D is basically just research (as you need science points), bot no real development. But private companies do mostly development.

What I want is a tech tree like this:

1. Start with sounding rockets
2. Light launch vehicle (think Falcon 1, Electron, Astra Rocket 3...)
3. Mid-class launch vehicle (Falcon 9 v1...)
4. Reausable mid-class launch vehicle (Falcon 9 v1.2 plus...)
5. Heavy launch vehicle (Falcon Heavy)
6. Super heavy launch vehicle (Starship)

Each vehicle should be unlocked as a package - currently, e.g. with Tundra Exploration, I need to unlock grid fins, landing legs, launch base etc. separately, as they are in different tech tree branches.

But here comes the twist: the tech tree nodes shouldn't be unlocked based on science, but on test contracts. For instance, if I want to unlock level 4 in my list, I need to test grid fins, i.e. use them on a suborbital trajectory over the sea, then splash down the booster. In order to unlock Starship, do a belly-flop test without the booster, etc.

Manned capsules should be unlocked separately, maybe with launch abort tests etc.

So my questions are:

• is it possible to unlock tech nodes via fulfilling a contract?
• is it possible to have contracts which make multiple parts available for testing at the same time (usually you only test one part)
• is anybody interested in something like this? Or is there already a mod that can do something similar?

There are lots of possibilities to fine-tune this:

• test contracts don't give you any money, you even need to pay a lot for the parts or for unlocking
• you earn money and reputation via satellite contracts etc.
• reaching a certain level of reputation unlocks investor capital, so you're able to fund your testing

The usual science-based tech tree should still be active for everything that is not (part of) a launch vehicle.

[Caerfinon]

1 hour ago, infinite_monkey said:

is it possible to unlock tech nodes via fulfilling a contract?

Contract Configurator can unlock Tech nodes base on a Behaviour. So theoretically you could unlock all the nodes necessary to get to the next level of rocketry.  

BEHAVIOUR
{
    name = UnlockTech
    type = UnlockTech

    // The ID of the technology to unlock on completion of the contract
    // this behaviour is tied to.
    //
    // Type:      string
    // Required:  Yes (multiples allowed)
    //
    techID = engineering101
}

See: https://github.com/jrossignol/ContractConfigurator/wiki/UnlockTech-Behaviour for more details

[Akagi]

Welp time to get to work

How does this first contract sound to you?

Quote

 

Go to 18000 m with an OKTO and bring it back safely

Parts: 

-Swivel

-1.25m decoupler

-1.25m medium fuel tank

-1.25m extra small fuel tank

-1.25m fairing

-tiny parachute (non-radial)

-OKTO

 

 

Sadly, I can only make this mod for the stock tech tree as I don't have Tundra Exploration