[Stock] 30 sec Altitude Challenge!

[Mars90000000]

High score updated! The top 3 positions haven't changed! We also haven't broken the 50km mark!

[Ninety-Three]

I'm loathe to submit second place, but I'm having a lot of trouble launching my larger design, and I don't have the patience to reset until it works today, so here's a solid second.

Staging: 120,30,9,3,1

I completely guessed at the numbers to use for fuel left in each stage, but I doubt that optimal performance could take me to first place. For that I'd probably have to get a good launch out of my 288,72,16,4,1 design.

29178. I almost want to install MechJeb just so I don't have to deal with altimeter rollover.

[Spaceisbeautifulul]

Hooray!

Attempt #2 is a complete sucess!

Here is the beast on the launch pad:

And after 30 seconds, just look at that altitude!

WHOOPS!

I didn't measure it correctly, this isn't impressive at all.

Edited June 23, 2013 by Spaceisbeautifulul

[metaphor]

The F3 menu does give you a lot of extra height... 29558 on the altimeter, 30269 on flight stats highest altitude achieved.

[totalitor]

New record for me : 27264 m. One tip for all: put your vessel high at platform. You get 100 m extra.

[Fry-kun]

Improving mine a little, but not enough for top 3...

[robertordf]

after 6 design finally got it

about 15min real to get to 30s / 700ish parts

run #1 - 30163

http://imgur.com/a/c1BKJ#6

run #2 - 30471

To pass 32000 I will need 2000+ parts

will try 5.0 overclock tomorrow with another stage with more 1000parts

edit-typos

Edited June 14, 2013 by robertordf

[Mars90000000]

High Scores updated!

Jason Patterson is still in the lead with an altitude of 30,623m. Followed closely by robertordf with 30,471m and metaphor with 30,269m!

[Mars90000000]

Also! If you liked the challenge, don't forget to rate it!

[totalitor]

Improving a little bit: 28470 m.

[totalitor]

And more altitude...now 29269 m. In 30 sec does happen a lot!

[info600]

do note that this is done solely with Seperatrons...

I do have another another one that uses 45 Mainsails and 4 Rockomax mk 55s (and 16 seperatrons and 4 canards)...

ps. don't bother firing more than 24 seperatrons at a time, it's rather dangerous to everything

edit: a better attempt with the "Total Seperatron"...

Edited June 17, 2013 by info600
better try

[Mars90000000]

High Scores updated!

[THE WHlTE GUY]

[Ninety-Three]

I tried something new, but unfortunately it didn't score that well. The idea was to use just two or three stages of extremely dense sepratrons to get up initial velocity, then jettison a single RCS port (that part has a uniquely, astoundingly low drag) and watch as it flies through the atmosphere without resistance. The principle was sound, and maybe in a version of this challenge scored by weight it would have done well, but it was only coming in around 20,000 m. Having gone bust on my last creative idea, I'm pretty sure 50,000 m is just impossible, barring an actual supercomputer that runs some hundred-thousand part partially-burned sepratron beast. That is, impossible barring the few exploitative ways this thread has already produced (infiniglide, very tall launch clamps). Although speaking of exploitative, I've just had another idea allowable within the rules-as-written that should pass 50k, I should have some screenshots by the evening.

Edited June 17, 2013 by Ninety-Three

[zarakon]

How do you jettison a single RCS port? If I knew how to do that, I might have a crazy idea..

[Ninety-Three]

How do you jettison a single RCS port? If I knew how to do that, I might have a crazy idea..

Put a circular decoupler (they vary in how they decouple, so only some will work) on top of your ship, put an RCS thruster on top of that. It's worth noting that switching to a jettisoned RCS port resets the timer to 0 seconds, so remember to count however much time you had on the previous stage too.

[Mars90000000]

Updated High Scores!

I also reduced the achievement marks to make it more achievable, seeing as we haven't gone much past 30km yet!

[Dead Pixel]

With FAR:

You used far. if we all did, we would all go faster, but the challenge has to be stock

[Dead Pixel]

I dont know how you people go so fast lol. its i gave up on this, i was spamming the f1 key to get the highest picture

[THE WHlTE GUY]

[zarakon]

I built a stack separator monstrosity (1533 parts) that takes about 15 minutes to load (when it doesn't crash) and launches an Mk2 Cockpit at over 6000 m/s. Result is right at 30km, not quite good enough to take #1... but it can be improved!

[Mars90000000]

I built a stack separator monstrosity (1533 parts) that takes about 15 minutes to load (when it doesn't crash) and launches an Mk2 Cockpit at over 6000 m/s. Result is right at 30km, not quite good enough to take #1... but it can be improved!

Simply put, good sir, pic or it didn't happen.

[Fry-kun]

Simply put, good sir, pic or it didn't happen.

or post your ship file

[zarakon]

I will post once I'm able to improve it a little. I've been trying to make a version that will lag or crash less, but have just met some hilarious spectacular failures. I'll post some pics of those too