The SRB Efficiency Challenge

[AlexL]

Thanks to the newly added tweakables, you can now thrust limit rocket engines, including solid rocket boosters, inside the VAB.

This this new tool in your arsenal, how high can you go using a single solid rocket booster?

RECORDS:

Rockomax BACC Solid Fuel Booster

1. 60,549m Travianw135
   
   
2. 34,951m AlexL
   
   

RT-10 Solid Fuel Booster

1. 43,480m Kurbis
   
   
2. 17,708m AlexL
   
   

Sepratron I

1. 151m kola2DONO
   
   
2. 113m AlexL
   
   

FAR Rockomax BACC Solid Fuel Booster

1. 626,017m UrstMcRedhead
   
   

FAR RT-10 Solid Fuel Booster

1. 
   

FAR Sepratron I

1. 
   

RULES:

• The Payload:
  
  • 1 Command Pod Mk1
    
  • 1 Mk16 Parachute
    
  • 1 TR-18A Stack Decoupler
    

  [*]Submissions guidelines:

  • Include a screenshot of your vessel on the pad or in the construction facility.
    
  • Include a screenshot that proves maximum altitude, with instrumentation visible.
    
  • Include a description of your flight profile, including the value of the thrust limiter.
    
  • The only source of thrust must be a single SRB.
    
  • If you used Ferram Aerospace Research, you MUST state it here.
    

  [*]Scoring:

  • A flights score is the maximum altitude reached by the pod, in meters, above sea level.
    
  • Scores will be divided into categories based on the SRB used.
    

  [*]Apart from FAR (optional), your craft and Kerbin should be stock.

  [*]No use of debug menu.

  [*]No use of unsporting propulsion modes (eg Infiniglider, FTL egg)

Edited December 23, 2013 by AlexL
entries from kola2DONO and Kurbis

[AlexL]

I'm kicking this off with three submissions, one in each category.

Flight profile:

• Thrust limiter at 100%
  
• Turn on SAS
  
• Fire SRB and release clamp
  

Sepratron:

Score:113m

RT-10:

Score:17,708m

Rockomax:

Score:34,951m

Edited December 20, 2013 by AlexL

[Travianw135]

Thrust Limiter set to 33.5 on the Rockomax BACC.

SAS on.

Release clamps and activate SRB.

The trick was emptying the capsule's monopropellant in the VAB.

[Kasuha]

You can get to Mun with nothing but SRBs.

Perhaps you forgot to limit it to just one stage, or to just one SRB? But you're using more than one sepatron.

[AlexL]

Hmm, I didn't realise that command pods come with a small monopropellant supply, good idea to drain that Travianw135.

Kasuha, I assure you that I only used 1 sepratron, the 2 pylons are just for balancing the craft, only 1 had a booster on.

I am aware that you can get to the Mun with SRB's, but he initial post does specify that this is a single SRB challenge.

EDIT:I've updated the rules to try and clarify.

Edited December 20, 2013 by AlexL

[UrstMcRedhead]

Ok I'll give it a try....

I'm going to start with the full sized BACC solid booster at 25, 50, 75, and 100 percent first. With one caviat; I'm using FAR because I'm playing with an already Modded Steam copy.

I know it doesn't count, but I still want to try it.

025 - 1056ms -- 116.5KM AP - It didn't have a positve TWR until about 10 of its fuel was spent.

050 - 1928ms -- 434.8KM AP - Much better

075 - 2118ms -- 568.6KM AP - Nice.

100 - 2185ms -- 626.0KM AP - OK...

I'll give it one more try at 85%.

085 - 2150ms -- 598.3KM AP - And I'm done.

Pictures:

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[AlexL]

Ok, I'll add a scoreboard for Ferram users. Though your labelling seems inconsistent. Did you get your highest flight using 85% or 100%? Your post and screenshots have those percentages linked to different heights.

Edited December 21, 2013 by AlexL

[kola2DONO]

Seperatron at 100.

Score : 151m

Sorry that i didn't have any pictures of the higest point, i forgot to take it.

Edited December 22, 2013 by kola2DONO

[Kurbis]

i forgot to take a screen shot on the ground. it was just what you see there though, i did not have any launch clamps or anything. trust limiter was either 33.5 or 35 (i am not good at remembering)