Super-Ultra Heavy Lifter -- 320 Tonnes Max to LKO

[samhuk]

Hello Fellow KSProgrammers!

Here I present to you a pretty large lifter rocket.

It can send approximately 320 Tonnes into low kerbin orbit (100km), and is surprisingly reliable for it's size. Although I have seen larger lifters, 400 tonnes for example is one I have seen before, however this lifter is so smooth and easy to launch that you'll forget that your CPU is about to explode and the 32-bit thread shouting at you for using too much RAM and going on strike (/crashing).

I have used KWRocketry mainly, as they have nice 3m parts and powerful enough engines to go with them. I have used asparagus staging, which basically makes this feasible (without it, it only get's something like 3900m/s of delta-V).

You may notice I have Mechjeb autopilot on, and before you click on reply and do a anger-crazed message about how it is game-breaking, I only use it when I am doing a screenshot launch, as I cannot do all the lifting and manoeuvring while moving the camera angle constantly at the same time.

For most of the payload's mass, I have just used 2 big orange 3m tanks and 1 little one from KWRocketry.

Anyway, here's some pic's for you to enjoy and maybe get some design ideas from:

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Hope you enjoyed reading, and as always, any questions, rocket-ramblings, or boasts of your max payload mass achieved, leave them below!

Sam

[SuperBigD60]

You know, I bet if you took a shallower ascent path, you might get a more efficient launch and therefor more payload to LKO

What ascent path did you put into mechjeb for this?

[samhuk]

Hi SuperBig,

I use normally a 10km gravity turn and a turn shape of about 40%. I know that you can use a little less delta-v, I have done some research into that, and basically on a good launch you can get into 100km orbit with 4450m/s with 10km and 40%, and you can get it down to 4420m/s with a shallower ascent profile. However, that comes at a disadvantage, you are in the atmosphere for much longer, and so creates greater uncertainty/variation in the amount of time taken to launch. I have a space station that I always send stuff to, and the quicker you get out of the atmosphere, the more closer after orbital insertion you will rendezvous with another craft in orbit.

In short, shallower ascent = small saving on delta-v, but greater uncertainty with rendezvous. I choose to spend the extra 20 to 50m/s of delta-v to get a much more constant time-taken to get into orbit.

Hope this helps with your orbital rendezvous/construction antics

EDIT: Oh, and I am already working on an even heavier launch vehicle, with another asparagus layer.

This...

...Is just the beginning...

Sam

Edited November 14, 2013 by samhuk

[astropapi1]

This...

...Is just the beginning...

Another Whackjob in the making?

[samhuk]

Indeed...

haha

I am almost ready to post the even heavier version of this Super-Ultra heavy lifter, the Super-Ultra-Mega Heavy Lifter, and a little peek at payload...

650 Tonnes.

Yes, 6...50...

It is about 80% complete. I have figured out how to separate stages without seperatrons, using wings that create separating forces, and also acting as a launch-stabaliser

Oh an total vehicle mass of this S-U-M Heavy Lifter...

5000 Tonnes.

Sam

[DXTFantom]

Bring it on my computer can handle up to 780 parts thats really ceavtive really good job but if i took this and flew it with 100% fuel saveing you "Could" get up to 660 tons up into LKO "Possable" And i really think FAR is going to hate me for this lol an idea use jet inengines instend of soild boosters they will last longer and you can have x6 with one fuel tank and intake it would last up to 20K alt

[samhuk]

Bring it on my computer can handle up to 780 parts thats really ceavtive really good job but if i took this and flew it with 100% fuel saveing you "Could" get up to 660 tons up into LKO "Possable" And i really think FAR is going to hate me for this lol an idea use jet inengines instend of soild boosters they will last longer and you can have x6 with one fuel tank and intake it would last up to 20K alt

Ah, I try to avoid unrealistic launch craft. Jet engines on a vertical rocket? TWR of jet engines in real life sort of doesn't allow that (mass of jet engines in KSP are really too low, in real life they have very small TWR). I like to keep all my vehicles somewhat realistic. The one's I post on here anyhoo

Sam

[kola2DONO]

Nice lifter, may probably use it for something later.