OLD! Explosions with Hypothesis, CLOSED. But mods, keep this open for discussion.

[Bigcheecho]

Engine Height Challenge

Objective: To see what engines are best for certain payloads

Hypothesis & Experiment: The Mainsail, Skipper, LV-T30, and Aerospike will be tested for height with different fuel tanks. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HnJWcH2RvU0IwIiiparvfxRhq0WeU1oyVoycldxk2Kk/edit?usp=sharing <-- Experiment Log

Conclusion: Mainsails are best used as adjustable boosting SRBS and should be treated as such. The Skipper seems to prevail as a mid-stage engine capable of securing orbit and a first-stage engine for medium payloads. For small-sized rockets, LV-T30 & 45 are best as super-boosters, Aerospike after, and the already-famous Nuke at the top stage.

Screenshots: Coming SoonTM!

[Whirligig Girl]

the time is almost up, but there will be another one around September, maybe as early as mid-August. By then I can probably get a high-school teacher to judge it.

[Whirligig Girl]

Also, your entry is almost identical to my entry, and you had no pics.

[Tw1]

I've been meaning to plot delta V verses thrust with fuel tanks for every engine, for craft design purposes. Anyone done that yet? If not, must be my go.

[kahlzun]

it's a bit hard to see without zooming, but i've compiled an accurate picture showing the comparitive size of the Kerbol system:

[Whirligig Girl]

How does it show the scientific method?

[kahlzun]

How does it show the scientific method?

Ok, fair point.

How about this: From an equatorial orbit, is it always more efficient to do a bi elliptic transfer as opposed to a 'pure' inclination change?

Setup:

Assuming a 'standard' orbit around a body, at 0 inclination, how much dV is required to 'adjust' the inclination to 90, vs the same maneuver, but with the periapsis raised to just inside SOI?

Hypothesis:

Providing the SOI is large enough, this should always be the case. Bodies with comparitively small SOIs (and therefore gravity, and therefore orbital velocity) may be the only exceptions. Testing will use the same ship, fully fueled.

Note that the 'standard' orbit around each body will probably be different, but as I am unsure what altitude that would be on each body, 100km will be used.

Edited July 30, 2013 by kahlzun

[kahlzun]

ok, i crashed the lander i was using to test that.. oops. So, i havent been able to complete the testing, sorry.

when do we find out the results?

[Whirligig Girl]

Closed now.

[shadowsutekh]

Temporarily closed at author's request

[shadowsutekh]

Opened at request

[bgraves]

Okay! I can judge stuffs now.

[Whirligig Girl]

please follow the judging guidelines at the top of the Challenge guidelines, and PM me your results.

[kahlzun]

So, how'd we do?

[Agent30632]

So, uh, what happened to the results? Are the results in, or you just forgot about this thread?

[Whirligig Girl]

I forgot, but I don't have enough time to do this. If anyone wants to pick this project up, I'd be happy. The winner was chosen, but I can't find who it was.

EDIT: It was The Jedi Master who won, and I will be picking up this project myself.

Edited September 28, 2013 by GregroxMun

[Whirligig Girl]

Okay, I found it. The Jedi Master is the Winner! YAY! you get bragging rights!

Edited September 28, 2013 by GregroxMun

[kahlzun]

And who won the subsequent prizes? The second and third etc?

[Agent30632]

What happened to second and third prizes?