Half Curiosity, Half Challenge: SSTO most Delta V on the Pad

[Just1ChanceFree]

What's the most Delta V you can jam into a SSTO (rocket) on the launch pad? I'd maxing out at about 6.5 k/s and trying to design something with about 7.2. Any suggestions?

[Ojimak]

Some people have created SSTOs that use only jets and ion engines (see this link for an example ion engine powered SSTO that I remember off the top of my head (do a ctrl-f for " ion "), thereby lending their craft ridiculously high delta-V values...

Maybe specifying "not including ion engines" might be better.

Oh, and just some questions: Why is a large Delta-V good? Shouldn't a smaller delta-V be a better hallmark of an efficient craft? Maybe a better question to ask would be something along the lines of "how great a payload have you hefted to orbit with an SSTO?" or "what is the greatest payload fraction have you achieved with an SSTO?," with both questions revealing some surprisingly well designed craft, if you search through the forums or if people respond.

-Ojimak

Edited May 1, 2013 by Ojimak

[Just1ChanceFree]

Maybe your right, what I'm looking to do is create a craft (using Kethane and Mechjeb) that is capable of travel to and from every solid planet in the system (save Eve). Then I intend to take Jeb on a grand tour. I'm building a SST0 that can function as a dropship on Tylo, down and up should need ~7000 m/s no? Its in part a "is this possible" question.

[Rune]

Hey, you linked my thread! (Feels overly proud of himself)

That is the Wedge you are talking about, and it was half an experiment to see if it could be done, I have absolutely no idea how much delta-v you can get out of it on ions. But I have done other SSTO's that can go to Mun, land, and then get back, so you can definitely get over 6.5km/s (specifically, the Grasshopper, a VTOL, but the great crash ate it and I haven't put it back up yet, it should come back soon). The trick is to max out the airbreathing engines (get to at least 2,000m/s on atmo), and then using nukes for circularization and in-space propulsion. Of course, all the fuel you can take while still being able to climb. So basically, spam intakes to get there.

Taking with you kethane equipment means quite a huge SSTO, though, all of that counts as payload, and it is quite heavy, so maintaining the mass ratio is challenging. Perfectly doable still, or at least math tells you so (the rocket equation with 800s isp says mass ratio ~2.5 to get 7.2 km/s).

Rune. Probably has been done before, though, few things haven't.