What can this rocket really do?

[painking]

So here I am, making rockets, getting to Mun, cursing every little hill and bump it has to hell and back. But I'm fairly certain my rocket is too good for just getting to Mun. Contains parts from the KW Rocketry pack.

This thing is a monster and I didn't even know. It wiggles on the launch pad, it shudders violently in flight. I'm too scared to execute a gravity turn with it, not even sure if it's capable of one and once it's in space it has all the manueverability of boulder in mollasses. But it has such huge fuel reserves that I can get the main tank over to Mun with 1K fuel left, despite the huge hits to fuel efficiency this thing experiences from flying through Kerbin's atmosphere like a drunken rocket ship. I can't even use all the fuel in the nuclear engine so I just toss it aside as I close in for a landing. It's brute force with no regards for efficiency but it gets the job done.

If I were to properly use this rocket for something bigger than a measly 1 kerbal lander, what could I do with it? How much more mileage could I get from this if I actually use gravity turns and pay attention to how fast I'm going as to not hit terminal velocity?

[stupid_chris]

Well first off, are you turning off the gimbal on the outer engines before launching? This might be what causes it to be so wobbly and stuff.

Then, if that was the case, there's really no reason to use the heavy KW Rocketry struts, normal ones will do just fine.

Also, the wing parts you added don'T have any control surface. Your best bet for large rockets are the R8 winglets (I think its their name).

And for how far you could go, depends on your payload really. I have a lifter similar to this one, I'll go take screens and I'll be back with that in a few minutes.

[CalculusWarrior]

Asparagus staging, an LV-N, and such a tiny payload? I'd say that you should be able to get to Duna if the phase angle is correct, but you might not be able to get back with that lander. I suggest downloading a mod such as Mechjeb or Kerbal Engineer that tells you your total delta-v, that would be a better way than simply reckoning.

Then, you can use this delta-v map to figure out exactly where you can go!

[stupid_chris]

This rocket has pretty much the same frame as yours, excepted I have double tanks and the Griffon 2m engine in the middle. And this can push 70t in orbit easily.

So with yours, if done correctly, you could push a good 40-45t in orbit. Or get really far if you do it right. Which means, a lot of potential.

[Uberick]

I highly recommend you grab a mod to check your d/v, otherwise use the rocket equation to check. Without that, you'll never really know:) Once you know your delta v, and your thrust to weight ratio, you can take 99% of the guesswork out of getting to, and getting back from, anywhere.

Getting to Duna actually costs just slightly more than getting to the moon. With a proper gravity assist, it costs almost EXACTLY what it costs to get to the moon.

[Sᴄɪɴᴛɪʟʟᴀᴛᴏʀ]

Turn off gimbaling on the radial engines in the first stage and add some struts between the lander and the rest of the craft. Your ship has a lot of thrust and channeling that through a weak joint may result in spectacular disassembly. When designing your ship have a clear focus on what you want it to do, I'd recommend you give more fuel to the atomic engine stage for a general boost to your delta-v.

[painking]

I wake up to good answers. Thanks for the advice.

[Snooze]

Asparagus staging, an LV-N, and such a tiny payload? I'd say that you should be able to get to Duna if the phase angle is correct, but you might not be able to get back with that lander. I suggest downloading a mod such as Mechjeb or Kerbal Engineer that tells you your total delta-v, that would be a better way than simply reckoning.

Then, you can use this delta-v map to figure out exactly where you can go!

*image snip*

That is the most awesome thing I have ever seen (and I've been to the seedy parts of the Philippines).