The Whackjob / Robbii6 Kerbolympic Munar Pico-Lander Challenge!

[Whackjob]

Let's have us a fun little challenge while we eagerly await the new patch.

GOAL: Land on the Mun using the smallest possible lander, then return your Kerbonaut safely home.

CLASSES: There will be two classes. Stock KSP and "Unlimited" (modded-any-way-you-please). One victor in each category.

REQUIREMENTS:

1.) You may lift your lander into Kerbin orbit any way you please, excepting just hyperediting it out there.

B.) All mass aside from the lander itself MUST be shed prior to leaving low Kerbin orbit or at 100km altitude.

III.) Your Kerbonian must survive but the Munar landing, and the return home.

√16.) The Kerbonian must be seated outside of the vehicle in a command chair during transit both times, and must be totally exposed to the lack of elements.

SCORING:

1.) Weight only. The lowest weight wins.

B.) Screenshots must be provided during the trip to and from, including prior to launch, and after final landing.

ADDENDUM: These rules are not set in stone, and are subject to change due to excellent recommendations from all and sundry.

PRIZE!: Just the bragging (?) rights.

TIME LIMIT: Let's make it until 7/20 12:00pm EST. About a week.

LEADERBOARD

Stock

SkyRender = 1.423 tons

regex = 5.132 tons

Unlimited

tavert = 0.550 tons

robbii6 = 2.690 tons

Edited July 15, 2013 by Whackjob

[Guest]

--> Challenges

[Whackjob]

--> Challenges

*facedesk* Of course there's already a subforum for that sort of thing. Apologies. I'll see if I can flag a mod to port it for me.

[Whackjob]

Mine own first attempt at this, which definitely doesn't count, since it failed to survive the landing on the Mun:

[Bystander]

Don't mean to pick holes, but technically the Mun is orbiting Kerbin and therefore you're never going to leave Kerbin orbit.

Even trying to follow the spirit of the rules I could establish a phasing orbit near the Mun with my launch stage and deposit the lander into Muna orbit as it passed.

[tavert]

You don't need a seat, either. 2.022 tons.

[Whackjob]

Don't mean to pick holes, but technically the Mun is orbiting Kerbin and therefore you're never going to leave Kerbin orbit.

Even trying to follow the spirit of the rules I could establish a phasing orbit near the Mun with my launch stage and deposit the lander into Muna orbit as it passed.

Pick away. Nothing wrong with ensuring the details in minutia, so longs as it is productive. I'll alter the rules.

You don't need a seat, either. 2.022 tons.

Excellent. That would obviously make you the leader in the Unlimited category, but you also have to achieve a landing on the Mun, and then return to Kerbin. If you did later on in that thread, and I missed it, feel free to slap the back of my head and point at it. At the office... brevity is necessary.

Edited July 14, 2013 by Whackjob

[tavert]

I was using the imgur album embed feature. Mouseover the picture and click next.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[kahlzun]

Well, i can't beat that. Well done tavert!

[Whackjob]

Edited, corrected! U r teh leadr.

#EDIT: I'm suspecting my engineering chops aren't nearly as up to snuff as I thought they were. I'm gonna have a heck of a time trying to beat that!

Edited July 14, 2013 by Whackjob

[tavert]

#EDIT: I'm suspecting my engineering chops aren't nearly as up to snuff as I thought they were. I'm gonna have a heck of a time trying to beat that!

Took a lot of optimizing, and discovering some bizarre Kerbal ladder physics, to get there. There was a sequence of posts on the KSP subreddit a few weeks ago where people went from 3ish, to 2.65, to 2.53 tons. Though as open as "modded-any-way-you-please" is, it's only a matter of time before 1096bimu or someone comes around and does it with a tiny magic-powered engine.

[Whackjob]

This was my smallest lander:

Failed to land without cratering. Have a few tweaks in mind when I get home to test. But even so, I do not expect to win this contest.

"But it's the journey, man!"

#EDIT: Gah. Just noticed that pic is out of date and I ain't gots a new one. My latest model had a wee bit more engine and 5 seperatrons to act as a get-off-Mun booster.

Edited July 14, 2013 by Whackjob

[Whackjob]

Though as open as "modded-any-way-you-please" is, it's only a matter of time before 1096bimu or someone comes around and does it with a tiny magic-powered engine.

Well, we'll judge each ship on its own particular virtues. Safest way, I think.

[Guest]

Here is my entry, 5.132 tons completely stock (well, unless you count using Engineer in the VAB, in which case oh well):

Javascript is disabled. View full album

I could probably shave off a ton of weight by using only two engines but I do like my TWR.

[Whackjob]

Impressive, Regex!

[Guest]

Impressive, Regex!

Ah, damn, you changed requirement B while I was doing this. Welp, I'll do it again tomorrow or Monday after a redesign.

E: I did want to say that this is a great challenge, and thanks.

Edited July 14, 2013 by regex

[Robbii6]

Whackjob

Sorry it was getting pretty late here in the UK last night and i was so tired, thats why i haven't done anything yet but ill get started now

[Robbii6]

So close to beating the stock lander now its 3. something tones and im pretty sure this will work

[Whackjob]

Tried my own design. Failed horribly. But that's part of the fun.

[Guest]

So close to beating the stock lander now its 3. something tones and im pretty sure this will work

I can't wait to see it. I can get mine down to a bit less than 4.5 tons by using two engines. This one is tough because you have to bring along all the delta-V for the transfers.

[Robbii6]

Ive beat you regex sorry

[Robbii6]

Just uploading the photos now

[Robbii6]

3.67

Note weight

[Guest]

3.67

Well done, that is hilariously awesome. I love the tall stack you've got going.

[Robbii6]

Well done, that is hilariously awesome. I love the tall stack you've got going.

Hah thanks buddy

The big stack was a huge problem at first because it made the COM really high and i would not stop tipping ove on landing so i had to widen the legs out :/ hah took me ages to design it. at one point i finally got to the mun and i was on my way back when i realised... i forgot the god damm parachutes hahah