Basic Rocketry Science Challenge

[Oxytropis]

This challenge was conceived after reading a post from a person claiming to be stuck, not being able to unlock enough science nodes to progress past LKO. I of course rolled my eyes and started to wonder, how many points I could possible get using the bare minimum of parts.

THE RULES

#1 (No antenna)The Antenna has been classified as a schedule I narcotic after kerbals found that transmitting at 1.21 GHz causes mild hallucinations, altered mood, and increased snacking.

#2 (Can only unlock the second science node(Basic Rocketry)) kongress has shut down the government in response to O'kerbal kare becoming law. All research and manufacturing is shut down and the space program itself is only funded for another month

#3 Challenge will end on 12/1 actual game time does not matter

#4 (Can only use Jeb)Mission control has become convinced Jeb is the only kerbal they can trust, after catching Bob and Bill selling antennae.

#5 This challenge is completely stock, no mods, Mech Jeb, developer console, or quicksaving allowed.

Leaderboard(will update at least weekly)

1. 773 Godot

2. 356 Oxytropis

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

I reserve the right to alter the rules, and or invalidate submissions at my discretion. Go anywhere you want, just remember Jeb must make it back to Kerbin. There are no max number of flights. You can use multiple command pods on your ships just don't add kerbals to them, no empty drop pods though(you can not recover unmanned ships). Challenge will also end if an update to KSP alters career mode in a way that would obfuscate, or break this challenge. Any exploits are of course forbidden but please post about it if you do find any. All rights reserved any and all submissions or inquiries must be submitted in writing by the end of the challenge date. You can submit an entry by mail by sending a self addressed stamped envelope to ***address redacted*** please enclose $100 for processing in lieu of snacks. several kerbals were maimed and or killed while performing research for this challenge

Edited October 31, 2013 by Oxytropis

[Oxytropis]

Update 356

Edited October 31, 2013 by Oxytropis

[Godot]

So, judging from your screenshot, bare minimum means, that unlocking the second tech tree node (which gives us decouplers, after all) is allowed

[Godot]

I reached 331:

In addition to the rules listed I only used a single orbital and a number of suborbital flights (as you mentioned that the poster didn´t go farther than LKO) ...

despite I am sure that you could do a flyby (probably even landing) on Mun/Minmus with the parts listed.

Missions usually were suborbital or atmospheric flights to the numerous Biomes on Kerbin, with EVA + Sample collection at the target Biomes and EVAs during the flight

Rockets were so simple even an absolute beginner could come up with them ...

For atmospheric and subortbital flights I used:

Capsule (with 2 Goo containers hangng on it) + Parachute

and then, 1-2 stages with 2 FL-T400 Fuel containers and a LV-T30 engine.

Exception was the orbital flight where I used the second stage as listed above and the first stage with 4 * (2 FL-T400 Fuel containers and a LV-T30 engine)

[SRV Ron]

I may have to redo Career Mode and take this challenge with the following designs; (The antennas can come off. They are only good for one report during launch anyways.)

Tier one;

Tier two

Warning, SRB booster ring will blow off from overheating.

More complex

In sub orbit;

Question? How many flights allowed? Kerbal has many biome for landing sub orbitals on for lots of science data.

Edited October 31, 2013 by SRV Ron

[Godot]

Addendum (to my last posting)

For completenes sake I did another 4 flights with 2 flybyes each for Mun and Minmus (one high and one low) .

With these 4 flights added my score went up to 773

Rocket was similar to the one I mentioned for orbital flight .. just with another stage with 7 * (2 FL-T400 Fuel containers and a LV-T30 engine) strapped below it