SSTOs! Post your pictures here~

[Rune]

Long time I don't post here. Well, I can report I finally have a SSTO that can (barely) earn the sought after "Big Red To Orbit" price for R-SUV. The Nodachi is almost ready for public consumption:

The big red, BTW is suspended in a nifty payload adaptor that grabs it from both sides and sets the payload's maximum length without tail-strike hazard, itself supported by three ports which is going to make reloading and payload building very simple once I figure out some, shall we say, minor exploding issues. Things hang lower on the runway under weight ^^'

Rune. Coming Soon* to the R-SUV catalogue.

Edited April 24, 2014 by Rune

[mellojoe]

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Thanks to PorkJet's Mk2 Spaceplane Plus parts, this thing is fun. It isn't perfect by far, but it is useable at this moment. Just delivered 4 tons to orbit. Fully reusable.

((edit)) I have succesfully delivered 5.5 tons to LKO. Still testing and minor tweaks. Still don't know theoretical maximum yet, either.

Edited April 25, 2014 by mellojoe

[Overfloater]

I've converted an Astroliner VI into a LKO heavy lifter.

Here's its 1st test flight, putting 54 tons to a 150-km orbit:

[Tankbuster32]

Have a rep good sir.

[iDan122]

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Available on spacecraft exchange

[Uberdude9001]

My Masterpiece, the SS-1. It is VTOL and interplanetary capable, while weighing only 18 tons.

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[Camaron]

On request to build a plane that can drop three pods at KSC and land safely after orbiting itself and retrieving the Kerbal Heroes, I've developed this thing here.

[Sufficient Anonymity]

My mid-career SSTO. So far, it has just been used to pop mapping satellites and suchlike into LKO, but I want to have a play around with using it to launch some lightweight beamed power plasma engine-driven probes at some stage. That'll have to wait a while, as I'm not playing very much at the moment - my degree means a heck of a lot more to me than little spaceships.

[Deadweasel]

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[TR]

[TD]TranStar's newest shuttle, the HSOC-105 Starling, took its maiden orbital flight. The pilots were tasked to finally decommission IPEV Venture, returned to Kerbin and left in its parking orbit two weeks ago.

After waking the dormant ship's systems and transferring any useful equipment, Bill and Richford set Venture's final course and returned to the shuttle to follow.

While Bill maintained the shuttle's relative position as best he could with engines and airbrakes, Richford captured images of Venture's final flight.

With its primary mission completed, the Starling shuttle turns skyward to make the sub-orbital hop toward home.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

[Exothermos]

Since we're showing off LKO Orange tank lifters (Rune and Overfloater your builds are awesome as usual), I'll share mine. I've been low-effort tinkering with it for a long time, and it is still a total basket-case that needs more lift, but it should end up looking roughly the same after a long refinement period.

Cargo delivery is "pooper" style (technical term).

I still haven't decided how I want to wrap things up at the rear end.

Tail strikes are a problem. I could fix it with more prominent gear, but I've really taken a liking to burying them in the "skin" for a more aerodynamic appearance.

v0v Still very much a work in progress.

[Rune]

Holy mother of aesthetics Exo! Now off you go to the OSCTCA thread to show us those intakes and nose in detail.

Rune. In the meantime, I'll be picking my jaw from the floor.

[iDan122]

Skylon

[Overfloater]

I am working on a Laythe lander for a Jool-5 mission.

I needed to refrain from part-clipping so it qualifies for the challenge.

Be assured that it reaches orbit. Twice!

[Frank_G]

My new Delta-Wing SSTO Prototype. Made it to orbit, to the Mun and safe back home. Stock parts only, no part clipping, no intake hogging.

[Exothermos]

Holy mother of aesthetics Exo! Now off you go to the OSCTCA thread to show us those intakes and nose in detail.

Rune. In the meantime, I'll be picking my jaw from the floor.

Thanks! OK, I'm going to start a little series of posts in that thread.

Here is the first one.

iDan122, that little skylon is cool!

[O-Doc]

Since we're showing off LKO Orange tank lifters (Rune and Overfloater your builds are awesome as usual), I'll share mine. I've been low-effort tinkering with it for a long time, and it is still a total basket-case that needs more lift, but it should end up looking roughly the same after a long refinement period.

http://i.imgur.com/zrsCpkH.png

Cargo delivery is "pooper" style (technical term).

http://i.imgur.com/rxU79ly.png

I still haven't decided how I want to wrap things up at the rear end.

http://i.imgur.com/5RgNPuQ.png

Tail strikes are a problem. I could fix it with more prominent gear, but I've really taken a liking to burying them in the "skin" for a more aerodynamic appearance.

v0v Still very much a work in progress.

Those intakes are awesome! I might try that with large reaction wheels. If you need more lift then bury some tweaked off winglet stacks into those side fuel tanks. I'm guessing that's where you CoM will be.

[BeowolfSchaefer]

Here's a couple of my designs, pretty much all stock except the 5 way RCS from B9

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[mellojoe]

12 Passengers + 2 crew SSTO spaceplane. Hits a 100x100 orbit with over 1900 delta-V left. For tourists who REALLY want to see the world ... and beyond.

[mellojoe]

Can you tell I've been having fun with Porkjet's Spaceplane Plus parts pack? These parts are beyond beautiful.

SSTO cargo spaceplane. I forgot to take a shot with the cargo-bay doors open, but the entire length of the fuselage opens up for cargo.

Again, its mostly Porkjet's Spaceplane Plus Mk2 parts, but also includes B9's compound RCS thrusters as well as some misc lights.

Also, I have used Infernal Robotics to enhance the landing gear:

Here is the front wheel extended for take-off.

And here is rear wheels extended for landing.

By adjusting the length of landing gear, I make take-off easy by angling the entire plane upward on the runway. And for landings, making the rear taller than the front means I can adjust the flare at landing and still gently touch the rear gear down. Slight tapping of the breaks brings the nose down, and then the angle at landing keeps me on the ground even over bumpy terrain. Much more stable platforms both in take-off and landing, and all it takes is a simple extending pylon.

PS: I've also put an extending pylon on the docking port on the bottom, just to ensure enough clearance if/when docking in space.

[inigma]

The SSI Proton T (Type-3 Shuttlecraft)

3 Kerbals from a 120km orbiting target and back again without refueling (possibly capable of KSC-Minmus round trips too if you fly it right)

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[KissSh0t]

SSTO Shuttle Mk5

This is just an update of the original SSTO Shuttle Mk1, I will be updating the first post of this thread with this version.

It flies pretty much the same as the original, although this version is a bit more balanced, a little easier to take off with and is structurally stronger than the original.

If used correctly you can fly to other planets with this SSTO.

Craft File » http://www./download/exxdvwsa48s4p5n/SSTO_Shuttle_Mk5.rar

[Firerunner]

This is my X-Wing replica working SSTO. It is stock except for using infernal robotics to operate the wing "flaps"

Easily goes to orbit although the ~2k vacuum deltaV (if refueled) is a bit on the low side. Might look at some sort of Star-Wars lookalike fuel ring sometime, since the TWR with 4 rapiers in rocket mode is ridiculous.

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[Frank_G]

I just did a redesign of my latest SSTO to make it lighter and come up with increased range. On the first test launch it reached LKO with almost 2k of delta V left, but it lacks the excellent flight capabilities of the original design. However, when not attempting fancy maneuvers it flies very stable. I hope to get rid off at least two intakes in the next design stage to reduce drag during orbital flight and get more atmosphere speed and better acceleration. Maybe it even works to lose one jet engine and replace the aerospike for 2 smaller thrusters.

Regardless of the points i want to change on the next design, i am really satisfied with the looks of this craft. I especially like the way, the inline clamp-o-tron integrates into the form. I will experiment further with that design.

The reduced wing span feels much more elegant in my opinion.

And a mood shot i could not resist to take.

And äh next time i will add some RCS thrusters, so the RCS tanks would have actual use...

I hope you like it.

[edit]: I forgot to say, all stock parts, no part clipping for those who are interested

Edited May 1, 2014 by Frank_G

[iDan122]

More of a WIP:

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[Frank_G]

The SSI Proton T (Type-3 Shuttlecraft)

3 Kerbals from a 120km orbiting target and back again without refueling (possibly capable of KSC-Minmus round trips too if you fly it right)

http://imgur.com/a/toqY5

This is an excellent looking and compact design. I love the way you integrated those cockpits on the side. Well done!