Multiple Launches to 80k

[Epic DaVinci]

Hello guys, this is my first Challenge submission so please forgive any noob mistakes.

I have not yet tried this myself as my Laptop that runs KSP is in for a small repair. BUT here goes...

Design and build a craft that can take off from Kerbin, Achieve 80k Altitude. Land back on Kerbin and repeat, using the same craft.

Following Rules Apply.

Craft must launch from Kerbin each time.

Mods are allowed (however, NOT Remote Techs Aeroprobe)

Unlimited Fuel is NOT allowed.

No refueling to take place (Weather in orbit or on the ground).

Fuel can be transferred to different tanks mid flight should you wish.

Parachutes are allowed, repacking is also allowed.

You can land anywhere on the Planets Surface each time.

150 Points per 80k Altitude Achieved.

+5 for every extra 50k Altitude on each Climb

+50 if No Jet Engines are Used

-10 for each excess Air Intake used (Example:- 4 jet engines = 4 intakes. If you use 2 per engine, you will be deducted 40 points.)

What do you think? Is this a possible challenge? or am i being silly and unreasonable?

Edited July 23, 2013 by Epic DaVinci
Changed ruling due to feedback

[Death Engineering]

With some changes to staging and relocating the landing gear, I bet my Eve ascent vehicle could manage a few.. cool idea.

[Giggleplex777]

I remember before 0.17, someone made a challenge where you have to take off, land on the Mun, return to Kerbin, and then do every thing again with the same ship. That was hard.

[Captain Sierra]

If I was any good as SSTOs I would do it but every plane I do has problems and torques off to one side or another on the runway.

[Mr Shifty]

+20 for every extra 10k Altitude on each Climb

Too generous here. A trip out to Minmus's orbit (which would be easy to get to) would be worth 600 launches.

EDIT: Fixed the math.

Edited July 23, 2013 by Mr Shifty

[J.Random]

Mods are allowed.

You may want to forbid RemoteTech's Aeroprobe from this challenge.

[Epic DaVinci]

Too generous here. A trip out to Minmus's orbit (which would be easy to get to) would be worth 600 launches.

Ok, ive modifyed the score to reflect this, hopefully, people would not want to waste fuel getting to a higher altitude and use it for another jump instead. Thankyou BTW

You may want to forbid RemoteTech's Aeroprobe from this challenge.

Added this exclusion, Thankyou.

[DesertWolf]

Humm, interesting challenge. I'll have something in a few hours.

Edit: is jettisoning allowed??

Edited July 23, 2013 by DesertWolf

[occar]

This is one that will be won with jet engines, I am sure.

[Thesonicgalaxy]

Hmm, seems like a fun challenge. Gonna report back when done!

[Epic DaVinci]

Edit: is jettisoning allowed??

Yes. you can jettison parts.

[DesertWolf]

My entry:

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Mods:

-procedural fearing

Initially I got a higher apoapsis , but didn't know screenshots hid mouse pointer in the map view. Lucky me I also took screenshots when descending, 175511m on first ascent 81305m on the second ascent. No jet engines were used, and definitely no air intakes.

Btw, Is this considered an SSTO??

Edit: Is it allowed to start a thread on my own creations? if yes, which section of the forums.

Edited July 24, 2013 by DesertWolf

[Giggleplex777]

@Desertwolf: In the Spacecraft exchange

[Giggleplex777]

I just realized that this challenge is just to reach 80 000m, not getting to 80 000m orbit.

[DesertWolf]

@Desertwolf: In the Spacecraft exchange

Thank you Giggleplex 777

and yes, it's just to reach 80,000 m of elevation.

[tavert]

There was a somewhat similar challenge a few weeks ago, though it required getting into 75 km orbit, instead of just 80 km altitude. Using a 1-jet VTVL with parachute landing I got into orbit and back 12 times. I used 16 intakes, and got above 130 km apoapsis on 8 of the ascents. So that would be 12*150 + 8*5 - 15*10 = 1690 by your scoring?

Here's 12, stock+MechJeb. VTVL with a parachute for landing, since it requires less attention this way. I had to quicksave/quickload in orbit each time otherwise the repacked parachute would fall off on deployment, and quickloading on the ground would occasionally break physics for some reason... Anyway, you could go even more times than this with a Kerbal in a seat instead of a cockpit and adding a few more tons of jet fuel (maybe wings too if you want to carry so much fuel your takeoff TWR is less than 1), it just becomes a test of patience.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Edited July 24, 2013 by tavert

[DesertWolf]

My second entry:

mods

-procedural fearing

On my first post, I went for simplicity and setting a goal, now am going for the challenge.

The first ascent was easy and long. Second ascent I was having doubts It'll go up, I dropped the fairing to help a bit. I ended up with a small surplus of D-v.

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Flight profile:

- No jet engines or intakes, and two ascents.

-First ascent: 80058 km

-Second ascent: 115 km

Points:

2*150 + 50 + (79978/10) = 8348

Edited July 24, 2013 by DesertWolf

[metaphor]

Did two ascents. The first one was a flyby of Eve, then return to Kerbin, then the second was a flyby of Duna.

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The first flight got to a Sun altitude of 20,462,000 km, and the second one got to a Sun altitude of 31,110,000 km. So that would be a score of...

2*150 for two flights

50 for no jets

5*(20,462,000/50) + 5*(31,110,000/50) = 5,157,200

Total score 5,157,550

[DesertWolf]

@ Metaphore: I am not sure if that's what the author meant. I assumed it was for within Kerbin's sphere of influence. Never the less, that is an impressive launcher.

[Armchair Rocket Scientist]

This seems as good a place for a first post as any...

Going for style points. Launch to 80 km+ orbit, land by KSC, Launch to 80 km+ orbit again, land by KSC again. Oh yeah, and every part of the vehicle can make a safe landing (assuming none of the boosters collide or something else silly like that).

The Vehicle

Stage Separation during first launch

That big stage doesn't fall apart when its chutes deploy.

Orbit #1...

Landing #1...

Launch #2. I had extra fuel, so I decided to launch into a retrograde orbit this time.

Passing 80 km again.

Coming home...

Safe landing #2! Not quite as close... Jeb contemplates the long walk back to the Astronaut Complex.

Anyway, I believe that's 350 points + a whole bunch of style points.