Jet engine booster: up to 1,8 MN/500 mps by 20 km!

[Behemot]

I just though I'll share this with you as even the guy who showed me KSP was not aware of this possibility. I have been experimenting with rocket boosting using jet engines and I think it is the best solution in there, way more effective even than liquid fuel engines.

I just buiilt ordnary long baby using stack-tricoupler. As the very first stage, there are three jet-fuel cans with 12 TurboJet engines alltogether. The fuel lasts long enough till 20 km where is not air enough to run the jet engines any more. This baby was able to give me aprox. 1,4 MN initial force (after running for aprox. 10 seconds before you release docking clamps) with more than 2 MN and 600 mps speed at 21 kilometers. This all weights just 80 tons and I still carry three bloody long solid boosters which will take me from 20 kilometers above.

Ordinary rocket with liquid fuel engines of similar performance I've built so far started with more than 150 tons! Can share images if you want but it does not really matter how your rocket looks like, the engines are important This is all with basic modules, no modifications even needed. if there are some advanced jet engines out there (haven't looked yet), than this would be even better.

Edited December 3, 2013 by Behemot

[bombo1]

Add some pics!

[Behemot]

This is the most hardcore version so far with 18 SuperJet engines. It still has some fuel left in 3 tanks when engines drop off because lack of air. Weight is somewhat over 80 tons but I can get thrust way over 2 MN and speed exceeding 600 mps at 21 kilometers Those 3 solid boosters can get me to 100 km altitude and those three liquid fuel engines are enough to accelerate to orbital speed. The rest has about 30 tons and can get to Mun surface. Still tweaking how to spare enough fuel to get me back But I only need to spare maybe 100 units or so. Using atomic engine is not that much better over some of the other more efficient engines as you have to carry over 2 tons (= to acelerate them, deccelare them etc., especialy landing costs much fuel when Mun is pulling you down) the whole trip where other engines weight fraction of that.

Edited December 3, 2013 by Behemot

[Starwaster]

Try it with Real Solar System Mod installed and let us know how it works there.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/55145-0-22-WIP-Alpha-Real-Solar-System-v5-2

[Behemot]

OK, things get messy with 21 engines but that's problem of the upper part, I am still experimenting with the rover itself, now it is attached in the middle of the upper part. But it did not lose structural integrity in the test flight though Got almost 3,9 MN maximum thrust and still plenty of fuel left…

Try it with Real Solar System Mod installed and let us know how it works there.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/55145-0-22-WIP-Alpha-Real-Solar-System-v5-2

Can I remove that later? I just don't want it to mess my savegames…can copy the game folder to somewhere else and experiment though.

[TinfoilChef]

Add some pics!

Even better, a craft file

[Behemot]

This thing stull holds together…more or less You have to launch it by the time engines get 90 kN thrust otherwise they will provide so much force it will tear apart. But the whole thread is more like about the fact there actually exists possibility to not only use jet engines for shuttles, but actually for boosting rockets up to 21 km altitude, as a first stage, much more efficient than liquid engines. I am feeding ten engines per fuel can here…

http://www.hwworld.cz/files/Test.craft

Edited December 3, 2013 by Behemot

[Starwaster]

Can I remove that later? I just don't want it to mess my savegames…can copy the game folder to somewhere else and experiment though.

Actually sorry should have given some warning. Don't use with existing save games because planets are either bigger (Kerbin is) or not in the same orbit. So ships have a good chance of being lost if their orbit isn't high enough or something worse. Making a new game folder is a good idea.

[Eldar158]

that interesting that not many people know this trick.

i got from long time ago launcher serial which use jets, that atlas 1,2,3 and 4.

the use of the jets make them very small, with around 30% payload/weight ratio.

want some links ?