Ant SSTO ~17-19t ~4000-3500deltaV orbit ~100 parts (v0.21)

[carazvan]

Presentation

Re-introducing the Ant SSTO for version 0.21 with multiple versions for your needs:

(Basic) - Simple flying version to allow for you to tweak it as you wish

(Payload) - This version has forward canards moved up to allow for a 2x1t payload to be attached

(VTOL) - This version allows for VTOL but be advised it eats up fuel like crazy

(Lander) - This version adds landing legs for vertical (rocket type) landings of the SSTO in vacuum

Also presenting the:

Fuel&Taxi Rover - This craft can move around your Ant SSTOs on/off the runway and can fully refuel them 3 times

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Action Groups

All SSTO Ant Versions

1- toggle turbojet engines

2- toggle nuclear engine

3- toggle air intakes (all)

5- toggle horizontal landing gear

6- toggle ladders (all)

7- toggle docking port

SSTO Ant VTOL

4- toggle VTOL engines

SSTO Ant (Lander)

4- toggle vertical landing legs

SSTO Ant (Payload)

4- stage payload

8- toggle solar panels and comm array (the sample payload provided is 2 long range Ion satellites (~11000deltaV on their own))

Ascent profile suggestion

The simplest/most effective way I've found to get these spaceplanes to orbit is to stay around/just above 30k altitude in as level of a profile as possible while gaining speed to 2000+m/s.

At that point nose up to 20* and just carefully lower throttle to prevent flame-outs.

When jet engines are at less than 30% thrust shut them off, close air intakes and switch to NERVA engine and full power.

Download

SSTO Ant (Basic)

SSTO Ant (Payload)

SSTO Ant (VTOL)

SSTO Ant (Lander) <- I tend to use this one the most

Fuel&Taxi Rover

SSTO Ant Pack <- zip file containing all 4 versions & refueling rover

[carazvan]

Here's an album of Ant SSTO adventures:

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Ant SSTO Mission List

SSTO Ant (Lander) Tourister - Jeb takes the Ant out to see where he can reach

Chapter 1 - To the Mun and back

Chapter 2 - To Minmus and back

Contribution/Suggestions

Rune - thanks for the input; deleting the extra fuel lines from the KSPv0.20 version did fix the problem of uneven fuel burn

Edited August 2, 2013 by carazvan

[The Destroyer]

Looks nice!