Seen over the skies of Kerbin...

[inigma]

Rumor has it, SSI is working on a new long range shuttlecraft...

Edited December 23, 2013 by inigma

[tntristan12]

Thing sure is zippy looking but... I must ask... Why the side-mounted intakes?

[inigma]

Thing sure is zippy looking but... I must ask... Why the side-mounted intakes?

for looks. and in case you ever decide to go flying sideways...

[7499275]

AWWWW Its a Adorable!

Seriously very cute looking but how well does it handle?

[inigma]

AWWWW Its a Adorable!

Seriously very cute looking but how well does it handle?

As well as a flying saucer, or at least according to the news paper report. It's reported to be a VTOL SSTO that's been seen by eyewitnesses flying on jets alone 2300 m/s straight into 100k orbit without so much as a sweat. It's official handling is classified, as is the existence of the project, but rumor has it it can run circles around the VAB or nearest large asteroid while being chased by TIE fighters. All SSI certified craft are guaranteed to meet all certification requirements, and this includes balance and handling. They don't call them personal sport-utility spacecraft for nuthin'...

Apparently it's little brother has been seen as well, but is rumored to be a one-way craft that has been seen on the Mun by amateur astronomers:

Edited December 23, 2013 by inigma

[RocketTurtle]

Why the jet and the R.A.P.I.E.R.? Wouldn't it be more efficient with a jet and an aerospike?

[inigma]

Why the jet and the R.A.P.I.E.R.? Wouldn't it be more efficient with a jet and an aerospike?

Therein lies the secret nature of this project.

The craft reportedly only uses the RAPIER as an air-breathing booster to climb from the ground into cruising altitude, which for some reason known only to Kerbal physicists, a TurboJet and RAPIER is faster (as in accelleration) and thus more efficient at this than dual TurboJets, even with the extra .3 tons of the RAPIER. Unknown to the outsiders, the RAPIER on this classified prototype is not the same engine used for orbital insertion, nor for space propulsion. The RAPIER's space capability is switched off. By doing this, rather than twin Turbos or Turbo+Aerospike, the craft realizes a noticeable fuel savings. Only more testing will confirm if this design merits a true efficiency increase, but early leaked results are showing great promise.

Edited December 23, 2013 by inigma