Space Hopper V

[AlexL]

Designed to be a send a Kerbal to the Mun on the cheap, but without sacrificing aesthetics and still being fairly easy to fly.

My ascent profile:

1. Activate TurboJet. Keep at full throttle through ascent.
   
2. When thrust passes 75kN detach launch clamps.
   
3. Pitch over to get horizontal speed, but keep going upward ~100m/s
   
4. When you run out of air, fire the next stage.
   
5. Pitch upwards just enough to stop the time to apoapsis falling.
   
6. Raise apoapsis out of the atmosphere, and keep pushing it up as drag pulls it down.
   
7. Deploy the panels when the atmosphere is thin enough to get power.
   
8. Leave the booster on a re-entry trajectory and get the craft periapsis out of the atmosphere.

The top mounted drop tanks should run out during your de-orbit burn around the Mun. They're mounted at an angle on the parachute so will decouple out of your way, and won't interrupt your burn.

I like the comfort of having a delta-V readout provided by MechJeb, but it shouldn't be necessary.

Action groups:

• Power is provided by the Jet engine, then two extendable solar panels on the side of the pod, activated by action group 1.
  
• Action group 2 toggles the ladder.
  
• Abort shuts down all engines (the jet by closing air intakes), decouples all other stages and tanks, and fires up the small engine.

Craft file download

Edited August 30, 2013 by AlexL