[0.22-0.23.0] Payload Fraction Challenge

[mhoram]

I like this, but can you please add a category for people who use FAR?

As now there are already two players interested in a FAR-category. I am inclined to do so.

Since I have never tried FAR yet, please give me some time to test FAR and set rules for this category.

Edit: Added a FAR category just now. Rules are in the OP.

Edited November 24, 2013 by mhoram

[mhoram]

After some testing and discussion, submissions for FAR are now allowed to use Payload-Fairings.

This does not affect non-FAR-submissions.

[Nadrek]

First off, this is a great challenge - in particular, I feel that payload fraction is the most critical metric for any lifter you're using to ascend from an off-Kerbin body.

Here's my rather mild entry - it started out as a technology demonstrator for subassemblies, normal engines used in radial mode, multi-layered 8-way symmetry, extended asparagus staging, and minor amounts of Mechjeb ascent path staging.

126.8t payload

752.05t including launch clamps on the launchpad.

16.86% payload fraction.

16/17 propellant stages.

On the launchpad:

In orbit:

Craft file:

http://pastebin.com/f77asuZY

Mechjeb hands-off after launch settings:

Orbit altitude 75.05km

Orbit inclination 0 degrees

Prevent Overheats on

Limit to Terminal Velocity on

Limit accel to 22.5m/s on

Corrective steering on

Autostage on, delays .15 pre, .2 post

Ascent path: Turn start 8km, Turn end 60km, Final flight path angle 0 degrees, turn shape 40%

Before physics kicks in, engage Mechjeb ascent autopilot.

As soon as physics kicks in, press R and space to enable RCS and launch.

There's obviously a long way to improve by cutting the X200-64's down to smaller tanks and more stages, and dropping the second central Mainsail. There's almost certainly too many struts, the regular size decouplers weigh too much, and the engines and ascent profile can almost certainly be tuned further.

[mhoram]

16.86% payload fraction.

16/17 propellant stages.

Thanks for the submission and sharing the craft file. This is a new stage-count record

[Sensi]

Hello fellow Kerbonauts.

Here is my entry for the light category :

Total mass : 39.348 t

Payload mass : 7.89 t

Payload fraction : 20.051%, rounded up to 20.1%

Stock parts, no FAR.

Fully mechjeb compliant. Ascent path : 9/75/0/40.

Craft file --> here <--

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Fly safe

Sensi.

[mhoram]

Payload fraction : 20.051%

Cool! Surpassed 20% in the light category!!! Gratulations.

Thanks for sharing the craft.

Will allow KSP 0.23 submissions, since the physics of both versions are comparable.

[mhoram]

doublepost

[mhoram]

So here is my entry for the heavy category - brought to orbit by MechJeb

Ship mass: 995.55 ton

Payload mass 180.60 ton

Stages: 6

18.14% payload fraction

.craft file of a similar ship: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/67230

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[Sensi]

Well done mhoram. I thought nukes were not suitable to get over 18% for payloads > 100 tons because of their poor TWR, but you prove me wrong

Here is my entry for the heavy category. Gotta love those puny but overpowered 48-7S.

Stock parts, no FAR, 16 stages.

Fully mechjeb compliant. Ascent path 9/75/0/40.

Total mass : 611.24 t

Payload mass : 111.64 t

Payload fraction : 18.26%

Craft file --> here <--

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Fly safe

Sensi.

[mhoram]

Well done mhoram. I thought nukes were not suitable to get over 18% for payloads > 100 tons because of their poor TWR, but you prove me wrong

Here is my entry for the heavy category. Gotta love those puny but overpowered 48-7S.

Thanks, I am a true fan of those LV-N's, you noticed that there are no 48-7S in my ship.

Gratulations for taking the lead in the heavy category! And thanks for sharing the .craft file.

The bottom view looks like many birthday cakes ;-)

[Sensi]

Here is my entry for the medium category.

I was visiting a friend yesterday when I saw this in his living room:

A twisted candle !

It gave me an idea on how to build a ship whose stages I could shed one by one. This would be more efficient than the two by two method, for sure. And after one hour of building and testing, I was proved right.

Stock parts, no FAR, 21 stages.

Fully mechjeb compliant. Standard MJ ascent path 7/70/0/40.

Total mass : 143.995 t

Payload mass : 29.725 t

Payload fraction : 20.64%

I lacked time to improve it, so no fine tuning was done, neither on the propelant stages (I suspect 2 aerospikes should replace 12x 48-7S somewhere in the upper stages), nor on the ascent path parameters. Feel free to fiddle with it and try to break through The Mythical 21% Barrier

Craft file --> here <--

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Fly safe.

Sensi.

[Jasonden]

A twisted candle !

I don't know about anyone else, but I find this totally fscking awesome! Nice job, Sensi!

[Sensi]

Thanks Jasonden.

Btw I did hack gravity for the first two screenshots so I had enough time to take them : this strutless ship is highly unstable and goes down in a few seconds. That's why the TWR of every stage equals its actual value x100.

[mhoram]

A twisted candle !

Payload fraction : 20.64%

Great payload fraction!!!

Although you scratch one of the rules:

No excessive usage of torque in the payload (explanation)

Before I commit it to the leaderboard with an "excess torque" notification, I wanted to give you the chance to replace the ASAS modules.

[Sensi]

My bad, I thought the rule was one ASAS module "per 50 tons", not "per 50 tons payload".

Anyway, this ship is well balanced and all engines are gimbaling ones, so here comes the Twisted Candle Mk II, now without any ASAS module. Same mass, same payload fraction.

And for the giggles, I want an "under-torqued" notification for this entry !

Craft file --> here <--

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Fly safe.

Sensi.

[mhoram]

Thanks for the second version.

I updated the leaderboard and think you earned some reputation for dominating this challenge in all three main categories!

[NKL]

hum. no jet engine? I saw the SSTO that O-Doc designed, and that schnitzel could just bring up 50% payload fraction to LKO... hehehe.

Also, ISP isn't well calculated. IRL, the amount of fuel consumed is the same throughout the climb, only the power change and goes up. It the exact contrary in ksp, I guess to ease rocketing/aerojeting/crashing. =D

the twisted design is completely wicked/Kerbalian. Goob job man.

[mhoram]

hum. no jet engine? I saw the SSTO that O-Doc designed, and that schnitzel could just bring up 50% payload fraction to LKO... hehehe.

That is why I excluded it in the first place. Jet engines give an extreme advantage in atmosphere.

[lunait]

OK, here's my submission. 100% stock parts except Kerbal Engineer Redux, and using FAR.

Number of stages in launch system: 4

Payload mass = 15380 kg

Ship mass at launch = 64695 kg

Payload fraction = 15380 kg / 64695 kg = 23.77%

I don't have MechJeb installed, so here's the craft file of the payload: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/24407836/Payload%20Challenger%20%28payload%29.craft

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[mhoram]

@lunait: Thanks for your submission.

According to the craft file, you used KSP Version 23.5.

But as stated in the OP this challenge closed with the arrival of KSP 23.5, because of ingame-engine-changes.

If you want to start a new payload fraction challenge, go for it but I would like to keep the results of this challenge 23.0-consistent for fairness.

[lunait]

Ah, sorry about that. I didn't read the OP carefully enough. (and also failed to notice that this thread was four months old... yay me)

@lunait: Thanks for your submission.

According to the craft file, you used KSP Version 23.5.

But as stated in the OP this challenge closed with the arrival of KSP 23.5, because of ingame-engine-changes.

If you want to start a new payload fraction challenge, go for it but I would like to keep the results of this challenge 23.0-consistent for fairness.