totm june 2018 Work-in-Progress [WIP] Design Thread

[xoknight]

Update: Re-designed fairings, chose to keep the launch escape system, Abort command works, and reduced vibrations and wobbling on Block A, and fixed block D.

TO-DO:

-Clip/shorten engines

-shorten Launch escape system

-Need something to fill in for the spherical tanks

-pray that my computer doesn't explode

Edited February 11, 2014 by xoknight

[barcode386]

This is the Pandora V. I'm uploading a video of a perfect take-off now. It'll be live soon on Youtube. http://youtu.be/BQyjDI0zC24

[Ithicatic]

I was inspired when I saw Rune's Tylo-capable lander, but I wanted to see if I could take it a bit further. I decided to try to make a two-Kerbal SSTO version capable of both Tylo and Laythe landings and returns (not necessarily in the same trip, I'm crazy not insane). It has definitely been an overstretch, but I've made some interesting landers out of the endeavor and I haven't hit a block just yet. Figure I'd showcase the evolution that occurred from each design. I've taken to calling them CTVL for Crew Transfer Vehicle and Lander.

A note on making it for two Kerbals: I've come to agree with the old NASA philosophy of redundancy and that goes double when it comes to the little green guys themselves. My Kerbals tend to push their equipment beyond their limits while exploring and rarely survive the experience. Since I have permadeath on, having a second Kerbal that can stay with the -precious science- lander and get it back to Kerbin is a necessity.

The SSTO requirement was attempted because rockets.

This was my first attempt at a Tylo-rated two-seat SSTO CTVL (mouthful). It failed both the Tylo-rating and SSTO status, but I really liked the look. It does come close to being Kerbin SSTO rated though, with a delta v of 4,400 m/s in vacuum. OK, so not THAT close, but close enough that I decided to use it as a base for making a Kerbin SSTO-rated lander.

My GrassKropper CTVL, taking inspiration from both SpaceX's Grasshopper and the bottom stage of Rune's Tylo lander. It has 2 full science suites, seats two Kerbals, plenty of docking capabilities, fairly decent control, and has a delta-v of 4,900 m/s. And it doesn't look half bad IMO. I've launched it to LKO, landed and taken off from both the Mun and Minus several times, and landed it intact on Kerbin (with lots of refueling, of course). I'm definitely proud of this one. The one drawback is the height, which makes it easy to topple when landing.

I attempted to shorten the GrassKropper a bit, resulting in the FatBoy. I'm not proud of this one, I was hoping to keep it leaner. Like no wider than the GrassKropper. Instead, it has love handles. Plus it only has 4,500 m/s delta v, 4,600 m/s if I take out the RCS fuel.

I started trying to trim some of the fat from the FatBoy and GrassKropper, so I could hopefully make the former thinner and the latter Tylo-rated. The GreyHulk seen here was my best attempt at replacing the Mk2 Lander Can with something lighter without losing the two seatedness. (That is too a word. Shaddup.)

After the GreyHulk, I gave up on making the lander an SSTO. With the GreyHulk crew section, and a couple of other changes, I could get the GrassKropper to ~5,500 m/s delta-v. To get more would require scaling back the crew size and/or science carried and it still wouldn't be enough. Instead I started making a two stage lander more like Rune's Tylo lander, using the GreyHulk crew compartment as a base.

This, called CopyCat, is where I stand currently. (Maybe rename it to King? I mean, those tanks kinda look like a crown. If you squint.) Total delta-v is barely 6,000m/s, ~3,900 in the top lander and ~2,100m/s in the second. Decent TWR on both stages too. It is Tylo AND Laythe capable, at least according to the math. (yes that means I haven't flown it at either body yet. Just trust the math. Trust it.)

I'm still hoping to get it to 8,000m/s delta-v, mostly through the second stage, but I'll be happy with 6k. Part of the problem with delta-v I'm running into is it's hard to add a significant amount while keeping the same width and close to the same height as I have now. I'm restricting it that way purely for aesthetic reasons. The aesthetics as a whole need a tune-up, at least to my eye. I'm also going to replace the decoupler between stages with a pair of docking ports. That way they can be lifted separately and I'd only need to replace the bottom stage if/when I have to eject it.

CopyCat is also opening up a possible 3-stage lander. The crew compartment has a natural division from the rest of the top lander. I'm considering making the crew compartment an independently engined (again, totally a real word) stage, with a pair of junior ports connecting it to the top lander stage.

Edited February 15, 2014 by Ithicatic

[xoknight]

Update: re-designed engines, added a small slanted skirt to Block A, fixes fuel flow, added more power/engines to the LK, shortened the Launch escape system, and my computer is melting.

Updated rocket (renamed N1 L4 in case of needing to go back to a earlier version)

Skirt with shortened engine

Lift-off

Getting some tilt, and weird fuel flow here (edit: fixed... hopefully)

Abort sequence activated

[xoknight]

Further update: I really like this...

To-Do:

-Work on LES (Launch Escape System)

Edited February 12, 2014 by xoknight

[Rune]

Snip

Well I'm very glad to have spawned that cool design cycle! They look good, and landers don't get enough love in the spacecraft exchange. Good job!

@xoknight, your replicas are very very polished. May I suggest a look at my N1 for interstage ideas? I think I got it to look good... also, getting the original engine configuration in the first stage (24 outer engines, 6 inner ones) is great to fill the void inside it, no need to break your head to simulate the round fuel tanks you can't see in the original anyhow.

Rune. Keep it up everyone!

[barcode386]

This is the Pandora VI. It has around 1700 parts and at least 9 stages. I'll be posting a video of a perfect launch on Youtube shortly.

[Redrobin]

Tried to fix the taper on the first stage of my N1:

Old:

New:

[Nephf]

Working on this at the moment. I hope to do a full Duna mission shortly It's similar to the Saturn "Nova" C-8 Rocket, a planned bigger version of the Saturn "5" C-5. And YES I use the old VAB because otherwise my PC would't like that. It has 8 Mainsails and (clipped) 8 Skippers in the first stage, 8 skippers in the second stage and 1 Skipper in the third. It has a 2-stage 2-man lander covered in fairings and CSM with enough fuel to slowdown without the atmosphere and flying back zo Kerbin. It has a 2 small rovers and a seperate sub-satellite for Duna an one for Ike. The payload has a 2.5 m diameter and is covered in 3.75 m fairings, which is th diameter of the third stage. The second stage has two diameters, 3.75 and 5 m. the first stage has an gigantic diameter of 7.5 m.

Edited February 12, 2014 by Nephf

[Spartwo]

I decided if my PC's gonna die I might as well do it in style.

240 tons of that is carrying capability.

[Cranium]

I finally got a good design for my odst pods. The new propulsion system is awesome.

http://i.imgur.com/UN3XMbX.png

http://i.imgur.com/hRmlmFf.png

http://imgur.com/a/GhqPL

I don't mean to be rude, because obviously your pods work, but they don't look anything like the drop pods...

[Spartwo]

Mass is up by another 50 to carry some Cutlasses as well as filling in the armor gaps.Part count is where the 742.

EDITv2:Dammit wrong button.

[xoknight]

Teaser update:

[Cranium]

Working on a range of SOEIVs for my new ODST program. Kinda got the idea after I saw andrew123's posts.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[barcode386]

Pandora VI. 3360 short tons.

[Spartwo]

Brought the part count down and threw it all away again.

I may have to hire somebody to launch it.

[Redrobin]

Trying Apollo style to Duna, rocket looks good minus some structural failures:

[Ithicatic]

Updated the two stage, 2-seater lander, seen here during atmosphere tests. Attached to each other via docking ports, so either can be replaced at will. 7,000 m/s delta v, split almost evenly between each stage.

Edited February 15, 2014 by Ithicatic
I can't imgur

[Woopert]

Teaser update: http://i.imgur.com/k8I2RQb.png

Looking good! Is it an LK lander?

[xoknight]

Yup, another teaser:

[Redrobin]

For your N1, xoknight, are lots of the structural fuel tanks empty? With the eight engines of Block B, it doesn't look like it would have the TWR to keep going.

[xoknight]

For your N1, xoknight, are lots of the structural fuel tanks empty? With the eight engines of Block B, it doesn't look like it would have the TWR to keep going.

1. Yes most of the fuel tanks are empty, actually the fuel runs out in about 20 seconds.

2. I have another 8 more radial engines hidden in the center of block B

Also, coming near 1,000 parts, surprised that the game hasn't crashed yet...

Edited February 16, 2014 by xoknight

[Redrobin]

Yea, my old N1 got over 1k parts, which is why I re-did it.

[Giggleplex777]

Playing around with tailsitter designs.

They work surprisingly well, but they'll never be great VTOLs.

[astropapi1]

Playing around with tailsitter designs.

http://i.imgur.com/i71ZBqj.png

They work surprisingly well, but they'll never be great VTOLs.

How did you manage to bring it to 0 horizontal speed? That's my number one problem with tailsitters.