CES2-12 Antheraea, SSTO with large docking ports

[littlebattler]

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Antheraea

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Meet the Antheraea, a Single Stage To Orbit boasting a capacity of 4 kerbals. That's 1 full hitchhiker module! Its main purpose is to ferry kerbals, either from kerbin to LKO, or from LKO to wherever you want with refueling. With its twin nuclear engines, it's also very fuel efficient. In case you need to take off from other bodies, we have also provided you with an aerospike. Be warned though, we have not tested its SSTO capabilities on bodies where jets do not work.

Of course, aside from its impressive status as a 4-seater, it also carries with it not one, not three, but TWO clamp-o-tron srs. This is not something that you often see on SSTOs due to its status as a 2m part, so in case your space station has a few of these big boys, this is your chance!

P.S.: I like to call the wing tank-engine configuration the "Nuclear Vortex Turbine". Tee hee~

[Panichio]

That is sexy and practical. Hooray.

I still have only just made it into orbit with one Kerbal with a space plane. There are some things that just aren't compatible with my brain.

[gmeine921]

what was the trajectory for a good launch? I added only 8 small solar panels, a normal docking port, and a single RTG for 0.21. Also replaced the aerospike with another of the jets. I take off at about 90 m/s and climb for the first 20km at about 45deg. but, as i switch to the other engines, my climb rate switches pretty quickly to below 0 and I cant finalize it. any advice?

[Varyon]

Why didn't I comment on this way back on the 12th? This is just beautiful. Not exactly moth-like as its name suggests, but still very impressive. I might have to steal your "Nuclear Vortex Turbines" for future designs.

[littlebattler]

what was the trajectory for a good launch? I added only 8 small solar panels, a normal docking port, and a single RTG for 0.21. Also replaced the aerospike with another of the jets. I take off at about 90 m/s and climb for the first 20km at about 45deg. but, as i switch to the other engines, my climb rate switches pretty quickly to below 0 and I cant finalize it. any advice?

Oh yeah, you should level at around 15000-16000 m and accelerate to 1100 m/s ++ while climbing slowly to prevent flaming out. Then pitch up and switch to rockets. Turn off aerospike once you reach around 1800 m/s to save fuel.

Why didn't I comment on this way back on the 12th? This is just beautiful. Not exactly moth-like as its name suggests, but still very impressive. I might have to steal your "Nuclear Vortex Turbines" for future designs.

Thanks~ The moth name is more of a theme naming I have with my SSTOs, they're all named after butterflies and moths. And the docking ports look like eyes on the wings so...