The LV-1R Challenge.

[BadEnoughDudez]

I'll keep this short and sweet.

The scientific team on Kerbal has decided that the amount of waste products put into the atmosphere by large engines are damaging the environment too heavily.

Thanks to impending global warming, political types have agreed, and have placed a blanket ban on all engines.

Except, the LV-1 and LV-1R.

But space exploration must continue! We cannot be stopped! As such, the Kerbal Space Program has issued a challenge to it's best and brightest to see what can be done.

Build a rocket that can make it into space with at least one Kerbal using only the LV-1R and/or the LV-1 engines. Remember to take pictures and/or video along the way to prove it!

The Kerbal Space Government is NOT interested in cheaters, hacks, or wizards. NO DEBUG MENU.

Points!

Bronze: Make it to space! Send a Kerbal on a space walk to prove it!

Silver: Make it into orbit! Show your periapsis to prove it!

Gold: Land safely on Mun! Show your Kerbal on Mun to prove it!

Platinum: Send them beyond Mun! Land safely on Duna!

If somebody can do better than Duna, then I think you just win instantly. But I'd definitely like a look at that spacecraft!

I'd love to see photos and videos of attempts too, cause that'd just be funny!

Edited December 18, 2013 by BadEnoughDudez

[Hogbobson]

Good sir!

I tried your challenge because it looked cool!

Then I quickly figured out that you haven't tested your challenge. It's nigh-impossible! I'm sure there's *somebody* out there with a madder mind and machine than I who can pull it off, but it is more than improbably hard. xD

Edit: I did manage to get into Space (yay! (You ain't getting pictures. I doth be too lazy for that!)), but it took more than 400 parts, of which at least 380 were engines...

Edited December 18, 2013 by Hogbobson

[Kasuha]

I like this challenge's background story. It reflects nicely the rationality of our current intercourse with climate.

However the pointing system is a bit unclear to me. What does "send them beyond Mun" mean? For instance, landing on Minmus is easier than on Mun. Getting interplanetary is even easier. And to prove orbit, the periapsis is the important one, not the apoapsis.

[lajoswinkler]

It's not really enviromentally friendly as it might appear. The least polluting engine should be the one which gives the most thrust per its mass, meaning it's the most efficient engine. Banning a really efficient engine and replacing it with tons of less efficient LV-1R engines requires even more engines to cover for the lost efficiency.

Consequently, you emit more waste into the environment.

This is actually why lots of "eco hype" stuff is downright crap that just fills someone's pocket.

[frizzank]

This is actually why lots of "eco hype" stuff is downright crap that just fills someone's pocket.

Not sure how KSP rocket efficiency proves your point of "eco hype" in the real world. Sounds more like a troll than an actual critique.

You should have left that part out of your comment.

[Kasuha]

Okay, my first attempt.

Reach space - check

Reach orbit - check

Fuel left enough for:

- exit to interplanetary space

- orbit around Mun

- probably also orbit around Minmus

Edit: Minmus orbit confirmed

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Edited December 18, 2013 by Kasuha

[lajoswinkler]

Not sure how KSP rocket efficiency proves your point of "eco hype" in the real world. Sounds more like a troll than an actual critique.

You should have left that part out of your comment.

I wasn't making a proof, I was just presenting an analogy.

[Kasuha]

One thing to point out is, debug menu is not mentioned (prohibited) by challenge rules, and making a ship that can get anywhere in the system with infinite fuel is actually pretty simple.

[BadEnoughDudez]

DEBUG MENU NOT ALLOWED!

Come on people no cheating the system! The Kerbal space government is not interested in cheaters.

Neither are they interested in your completely rational explanation of engine efficiency. SMALL MEANS BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT!

On a less story driven point -

The minmus orbit and gold conditions are a good point. I will edit everything. The Platinum level challenge is then Duna!

Also Kashua, that's brilliant! I made an attempt yesterday that I'll post. I managed to get into space no problem but not orbit. I'll try again soon.

[ZenithRising]

I love this. Won't be able to try it until after New Year's when I go home (at the family's for the holidays now). Love your design though Kashua. Did you ever manage to land it on Mun or Minmus?

Also, I love the idea that in order to protect the environment they banned engines of a certain size, and now Kerbals are using a ton of inneficient smaller engines. Very bureaucratic. In some southern state they banned all full sized liquour bottles, so every drinks out of mini-bottles now, and actually gets way more wasted.

[Kasuha]

Come on people, it's ka-su-ha, not kashua.

No I did not land it, neither on Mun nor on Minmus. But that should be possible with slightly improved construction. The last stage has way too many engines and that reduces its dv.

Duna might be not too much harder than Mun landing, you just need to pack a chute and bring enough fuel to brake right before impact.

BTW, Mun landing was already done in another challenge.

[totalitor]

Here is my entry.

After couple of hours of designing my ship I managed to put that to orbit. No landing back becouse I forgot parachute.

Launching:

On orbit: