Burlak: unmanned reusable SSTO lifter

[1greywind]

Burlak is unmanned SSTO plane able to lift 10 ton payload from KSC runway to ~75×75 LKO orbit and then land back in KSC.

Plane has 6 R.A.P.I.E.R. engines (in manual switching mode) and only 12 intakes.

Tech info:

- parts count: 104 (only stock parts)

- engines count: 6 R.A.P.I.E.R.

- intakes count: 12 ram air intakes

- maximum speed in horizontal flight: ~1600 m/s

- electric charge: 1030 (plane doesn't have RTG or solar panels, because it is not intended for long flights)

- RCS fuel: 80 units.

- takeoff weight (with 10 ton payload): 42.32 ton

- payload fraction: ~24%

Root part is TR-18A decoupler so you can easily use this plane as subassembly.

Plane’s CoM is between keels – just behind decoupler. Mount your paypload there. Few struts to hold your payload are advised.

Download includes two files:

- Burlak_ SSTO Lifter.craft – standard SPH .craft file

- Burlak SSTO Lifter (subassembly).craft – subassembly .craft file

Action groups:

1: Toggle air intakes

2: Toggle RAPIER mode and shutdown them (this is to be sure all engines will switch mode even in case of flameout)

3: Toggle RAPIER engines

Typical flight profile:

1: Press SPACE to start engines. Set throttle to 100% and then plane reaches ~100 m/s takeoff.

2: Climb to 14-15 km altitude maintaining ~45 degree pitch, then reduce pitch to ~20 degree.

3: Wait until plane speed up to 1500-1550 m/s. Reduce throttle in case of engines flameout.

4: Press 2 to switch engines to rocket mode. Press 3 to restart engines and rise pitch to 45 degrees. Press 1 to close intakes and reduce air drag.

5: Burn until your apoapsis reaches ~80 km mark.

6: Then turn plane prograde and burn until you are on circular orbit.

7: Release payload.

8: Deorbit plane and glide to surface.

Some pictures:

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Video of typical lift mission (payload is 10 ton, 3 kerbal orbiter-lander):

After minor modification you can theoreticaly bring things from orbit to surface with this plane. All you need is to change decoupler on docking port. It has enough fuel to reach LKO and perform orbital randevu and more than enough RCS fuel to dock.

Download page

Edited January 14, 2014 by 1greywind