Better "Aeris 4A" SSTO. [Challenge]

[Sirine]

Updates

Part Count: 39

Mass : 17.02 t

MonoPropellant : 100

LiquidFuel: 870

• 720 for Rocket Engines (79.17%)
  
• 150 for Jet Engine (20.83%)

Oxidizer: 880

Description:The Aeris 4A is a spaceplane capable of reaching orbit, if flown correctly.

Your tasks

Build a better SSTO to replace the stock version. (You may submit multiple craft).

Rules & Restriction

1) 100% stock.

2) Part Count: less than or equal to 100.

3) Must have a docking port. (All size, shape accepted.)

4) Must have MonoPropellant Gas.

5) Must maintain the spirit of "Aeris 4A".

• Majority in using rocket engines to go to space. Not the jet engines. Horizontal takeoff and landing.
  
• Hence, maximum Jet engines fuel = 21% of total fuel.
  
• Minimum rocket engines fuel = 79% of total fuel.

6) No Alt-F12 part clipping. (Normal means part clipping allow).

7) Cubic Octagonal Strut and Octagonal Strut are forbidden to use.

8) A screenshot of your craft and .craft file must be made available.

9) Flight ascend (takeoff) profile must include in in-game .craft description.

Designer Note:

Build by advance user for advance users. SSTO, Min. 70x70km Kerbin Stable Orbit.

Accepting entry as per now.

Closing Date: 16-Dec-2013

Vote Date: 16-Dec-2013 Until 23-Dec-2013.

Voting will be held here (this thread).

Voting will be public in nature.

You may vote for yourself.

You may ask your friend to vote for you.

Moderator may trace for double vote. (Same IP, Same person, difference account).

Good Luck!

Edited December 14, 2013 by Sirine
Updates Participant, and Voting rules.

[Daddy Cecil]

eh? closing date 16 november, but you just started this today. i am confused.

[Sirine]

@ Daddy Cecil Sorry, changes done.

[Death Engineering]

Why the time limit? Why competing with the "BSC" challenges?

[Sirine]

Why the time limit? Why competing with the "BSC" challenges?

Answering your questions makes myself stupid and childish.

Time limit because I dont want to maintain this challenge forever. And after that anyone can repost the challenge.

BSC is not a registered trademark. My challenge rules and restriction are specific. There is big different, except utilize the "Stock Craft".

[Death Engineering]

Answering your questions makes myself stupid and childish.

Maybe it's the way you answer that does that.

But, thanks for the reply all the same.

Edited December 7, 2013 by Death Engineering

[Commissioner Tadpole]

I alterady have the Aeris 5A. Never flew it to Orbit, though.

[I_Killed_Jeb]

Why the time limit? Why competing with the "BSC" challenges?

because someone was shamed out of the comp due to ballot stuffing and pouting

[thereaverofdarkness]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jvi5r4b0kn924jx/Aeris%204A%20Medium.craft

I played around with several designs, and ultimately came back to my old SSTO Triangle. I adjusted it to make it more like the Aeris 4A. The new model has a part count of 70 and boasts a higher lift rating than my Triangle - it is quite able to lift off of the runway without going very fast. It is easy to lift off, easy to fly, and easy to get it into orbit. It doesn't have much excess fuel, but it can make easy excursions to low Kerbin orbit. It has 100 RCS fuel which can propel it a bit further if necessary, as much less than that is actually needed for docking. Docking is easy because I have the docking port on the nose. It makes translation controls appear sensible. It is pretty well balanced on its RCS when low on fuel, and the cockpit torque is enough to stabilize it beyond that unless you make really strong RCS burns.

Here's some pics of it in action:

(I initialy called it 3A, and corrected it after taking the pics)

And here is a heavier version I tried:

It worked well but had 106 parts and failed to land on Duna...I really shouldn't have attempted that landing >.<

Here it is scraping a low orbital pass over Ike, showing off the shadow to demonstrate how close it is to the surface...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/meopdmmv3d3t8pe/Aeris%204A%20Heavy.craft

Link if you want the heavy version ^

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wyg1njf3dp5q96r/SSTO%203%20Triangle%202.craft

My SSTO Triangle ^

Edited December 9, 2013 by thereaverofdarkness

[Sirine]

@thereaverofdarkness 1st entry. If there are no other entry you will be the winner.

Good news is, 0.23 will have SABRES engines!!! http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/60855-Squadcast-confirms-SABRES-for-0-23!

So, you won't regret for designing this 'rocket' base type of SSTO.

Bad news is, there are strict rules in this challenge that you must follow.

You just missing 1 little thing.

9) Flight ascend (takeoff) profile must include in in-game .craft description.

Only manage to get this Heavy version to orbit. The other 2 needs your flight profile.

Edited December 9, 2013 by Sirine

[sploden]

Instructions unclear. Now I have a frog stapled to my face...

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[Sirine]

Thanks for your submission, but you forget to include your own flight profile at in-game description.

And SSTO means Single Stage to Orbit. (Stage 0 only)

Clearly in order for you to mount your Kerman to the chair, you need to jettison the command pod. Hence, disqualified as a single stage.

However your craft are small and powerful, I enjoy flying it.

[700NitroXpress]

9) Flight ascend (takeoff) profile must include in in-game .craft description.

What does this mean?

[Sirine]

9) Flight ascend (takeoff) profile must include in in-game .craft description.

What does this mean?

[leafty]

The Aeris 4A - Aerospike Edition (45 parts):

This is the Aeris 4A with the following improvements:

- Aerospike engine instead of a LV-T30.

- Cleaner action groups.

- More fuel lines so that you don't need to transfer it for landing. (One of the major flaws of the original craft.)

- Replaced front winglets with advanced canards.

- Moved the front wheel back to sit under the docking port.

- Batteries and solar panels for prolonged orbit.

The downside of using a aerospike is that I use more fuel to get into orbit.

With the original craft:

With the Aeris 4A - Aerospike Edition:

I don't know how to build a "better Aeris 4A" since the original is already quite good for sending one Kerbonaut into LKO while keeping a low part count and a craft that stays easy to maneuver.

Edited December 10, 2013 by leafty

[Sirine]

The Aeris 4A - Aerospike Edition (45 parts):

This is the Aeris 4A with the following improvements:

- Aerospike engine instead of a LV-T30.

- Cleaner action groups.

- More fuel lines so that you don't need to transfer it for landing. (One of the major flaws of the original craft.)

- Replaced front winglets with advanced canards.

- Moved the front wheel back to sit under the docking port.

The downside of using a aerospike is that I use more fuel to get into orbit.

I don't know how to build a "better Aeris 4A" since the original is already quite good for sending one Kerbonaut into LKO while keeping a low part count and a craft that stays easy to maneuver.

Nice entry. With the redial air intake 'off' (At high altitude) you can make your craft go faster and save more fuel . I will test out your craft.

LKO with 205 fuel left.

Edited December 11, 2013 by Sirine

[Mesklin]

Here is my craft, Mig-29, SSTO variant. Two seats, two jet engines, two space engines, two pairs intakes, 1200+ m/s dV on low Kerbin orbit, docking capable and flameout proof.

On runway

Circularization burn

On orbit

Craft file

[Sirine]

Update as per "this" post time.

Edited December 11, 2013 by Sirine

[Sirine]

Here is my craft, Mig-29, SSTO variant. Two seats, two jet engines, two space engines, two pairs intakes, 1200+ m/s dV on low Kerbin orbit, docking capable and flameout proof.

On runway

Circularization burn

On orbit

Please do some minor adjustment for qualify entry:-

I need to fly a couple of times to get use to your craft to orbit.

Seems that the critical part are at 20~23km...Need to pickup speed from 800~1400m/s (throttle down while doing this)...Off Jet and pitch to 45 degree and 100% rocket throttle... As per your ascend description.

Side note: 2nd pilot expect to bounce-out from cockpit, and no ladder to hold on.

[sploden]

Define "enough Mono gas."

[Sirine]

Define "enough Mono gas."

Sorry about that, I thought I put a min 100 units of mono gas at the rules section. But seems thats my mistake. I apologies. And any amount of mono gas now accepted, since that was my mistake.

Edited December 11, 2013 by Sirine

[Lazro]

...And SSTO means Single Stage to Orbit. (Stage 0 only)

Clearly in order for you to mount your Kerman to the chair, you need to jettison the command pod. Hence, disqualified as a single stage.

...

...Or You could unlock a pod from the front. Or drive another craft out with a kerbal in it, Eva the kerbal, and have him board the seat from there... I just don't think that having a command seat is an automatic disqualification.

But, no instructions included, so in that regard you are correct.

[Sirine]

...Or You could unlock a pod from the front. Or drive another craft out with a kerbal in it, Eva the kerbal, and have him board the seat from there... I just don't think that having a command seat is an automatic disqualification.

But, no instructions included, so in that regard you are correct.

Yes, you are right. My rules are as hard as "Buckypaper". It will not change. Having command seat is OK. and the craft still count as SSTO. But having 2 stages is not. You might want to dismount the command pod, manually. and did not even need to drive a car for crew to be seated.

You can even build a remote craft without crew. But remember that at the end, this challenges will be vote for 'Better Aeris 4A SSTO". Other might not agree with you ideal, even it is 100% qualified as SSTO.

Edited December 11, 2013 by Sirine

[sploden]

Okay.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[Sirine]

Updated.

@sploden: I'm not good in flying your craft. End up have to use the RCS gas to circular the orbit. However, Light, Fast and Powerful...could suit your craft nicely.