Smallest SSTO in Kerbal Space Program?

[Adrian1600]

http://imgur.com/3pb6ITy

Only 8 parts is this the smallest SSTO you can make?

[Brotoro]

I recall a 3-part SSTO made from an X200-32 fuel tank, an LV-T45 engine, and a probe body. That was back before the days of needed electrical power for the probe, I think, so I'm not sure if a probe body has enough power for this anymore…maybe a solar panel part will also be needed.

[Adrian1600]

I recall a 3-part SSTO made from an X200-32 fuel tank, an LV-T45 engine, and a probe body. That was back before the days of needed electrical power for the probe, I think, so I'm not sure if a probe body has enough power for this anymore…maybe a solar panel part will also be needed.

no wings? how can that fly?

[SuperBigD60]

http://imgur.com/3pb6ITy

Only 8 parts is this the smallest SSTO you can make?

That may be the smallest I've seen, but I know you can make simpler ones with fewer parts

I think a mainsail, two orange tanks, and the black crew cabin makes it to orbit with 4

So perhaps a distinction is in order.

But, yeah, small stuff rocks

[SRV Ron]

I recall a 3-part SSTO made from an X200-32 fuel tank, an LV-T45 engine, and a probe body. That was back before the days of needed electrical power for the probe, I think, so I'm not sure if a probe body has enough power for this anymore…maybe a solar panel part will also be needed.

Smaller Rockmax engine, battery, solar panel, antenna, still SSTO. And it even has a scientific instrument.

Use a FL-T400 and Mun orbit is achievable.

Three part is still possible but you will run out of power once you reach orbit.

Edited January 30, 2014 by SRV Ron

[Adrian1600]

That may be the smallest I've seen, but I know you can make simpler ones with fewer parts

I think a mainsail, two orange tanks, and the black crew cabin makes it to orbit with 4

So perhaps a distinction is in order.

But, yeah, small stuff rocks

o when i said smallest i meant physical size not part count (dont really know why i added that to post)

[Adrian1600]

Smaller Rockmax engine, battery, solar panel, antenna, still SSTO. And it even has a scientific instrument.

http://i.imgur.com/Ur2ROA2.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/syqnIql.jpg

Use a FL-T400 and Mun orbit is achievable.

http://i.imgur.com/mp83ZO9.jpg

OMG wow thats just awesome you just totaly made my mine blow!

[SuperBigD60]

If you want to dabble with the other end of the spectrum of SSTOs, and particular large cargo SSTOs, might I suggest FAR and B9?

I definitely went at least 4 months where all I could think about was making a bigger cargo SSTO. I wasn't very good, but, whatevs

[DerpenWolf]

Smaller Rockmax engine, battery, solar panel, antenna, still SSTO. And it even has a scientific instrument.

http://i.imgur.com/Ur2ROA2.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/syqnIql.jpg

Use a FL-T400 and Mun orbit is achievable.

http://i.imgur.com/mp83ZO9.jpg

Three part is still possible but you will run out of power once you reach orbit.

http://i.imgur.com/Fzsw9pX.jpg

The funny thing is that I have done the same thing in experimenting with mini SSTOs, so far though I've found that the design shown in the bottem picture is about as light and small as you can get.

[Rhomphaia]

The funny thing is that I have done the same thing in experimenting with mini SSTOs, so far though I've found that the design shown in the bottem picture is about as light and small as you can get.

You can replace the FL-T200 with an FL-T100 and two ROUND-8s for a smaller version.

[Aragosnat]

Without mods. Looks like it at least for manned ones. I did have fun using this to assist getting just a Kerbal into orbit:

Needless to say was intresting to fly.

[Vanamonde]

This is my smallest.

[Adrian1600]

You can replace the FL-T200 with an FL-T100 and two ROUND-8s for a smaller version.

well tnx for tips i guess il have to change the title to smallest but still cool looking SSTO

[Zephram Kerman]

Doesn't win for part count or size, but it sure does look cool. Glacierre posted this in reply to my similar challenge a few months ago. At the time, it was the smallest I had ever seen. It looks even better nowadays, with the even-smaller rocket engines.

I added RCS and docking port for a fully-functional variant:

[Obstacle-Man]

This won't win for part count or size either.. but this is my self orbiting satellite.

Here it is during assembly:

The launch profile is to go straight up, then pitch over when apoapsis is getting up over 20km. Then burn nearly laterly until about 30km above the surface. At that point it's going over 2500m/s. When flamout ocurs I activate the second profile. The docking port releases the engine and stability component, activates the rocket engines, deploys the antenna and solar panels. Then we have a normal rocket powered orbital insertion.

[Obstacle-Man]

My last post is still under moderation I guess.. but Jeb decided to make a few modifications and convinced a co-conspirator to head out under cover of darkness with him to the Mun to visit the orbiting research station.

Unfortunately they didn't quite make it and have to wait for a fuel resupply. They have a Munar orbit of 573KM / 19KM currently.

[Xacktar]

Wow... and I have yet to even get a SSTO to work... lol.

[Spatzimaus]

Wow... and I have yet to even get a SSTO to work... lol.

The basic part of getting to orbit can be done with these simple designs you see in this thread; some of these require a lot of skill to get to orbit, and would be much easier with a couple extra parts, but the bottom line is that you don't need a giant design if all you want to do is reach orbit. If you want a design that can actually DO things beyond just get up there (like landing safely, docking with a station, or landing on another moon/planet), then you quickly spiral into the larger spaceplane designs we all know and love. My own spaceplane started at 17 tons, grew to 23 tons as I fixed the shortcomings of the original design, and then expanded to 34 tons when I decided I wanted a plane that could fly straight to Laythe from Kerbin.

The basic thing is, just don't overbuild until you know what you're doing. Keep things small, and you'll find it much easier to get to orbit in a single stage. (Of course, my biggest SSTO is just under 12,000 tons...)

[inigma]

SSI is all over functional mini SSTOs. Check us out in my sig.

[Prince of Rockets]

no wings? how can that fly?

The torque from the built in SAS on the probe body and the thrust vectoring from the LV-T45 engine. If you wanted to change things up, you could do it with a X200-32 fuel tank, a LV-T30 engine, a Inline Reaction Wheel, and a probe core. As long as the engine is running, you never run out of power because of the alternator.

[Anton P. Nym]

That's the first mark of my Peewee SSTO probe, the smallest I fly. The latest version (no picture yet) has a shielded docking port* in place of the parachute, a radial chute, and landing legs. Tends to land with fuel left over, which suggests I could lighten it even further.

-- Steve

* No RCS though, which makes unassisted docking a bit of a pain. I built a dedicated RCS-only tender, the Aphid, to help with that.

[Captain Sierra]

Smallest SSTO Ive built which works. Got some SERIOUS power too.

[Kasuha]

Smallest SSTO I have ever seen consisted of MechJeb part, FL-T100 tank, and 48-7S engine. Because with MechJeb you don't even need a probe core.

[Rhomphaia]

My smallest useful SSTO, the Siskin

1 crew, docking port and RCS and enough deltaV for orbital maneuvers. The prototype was smaller, with an FL-T100 instead of the FL-T200 but it needed a bit more for maneuvering.

The most extreme version has no docking port, solar panel, bipropellant tanks or rocket engines, only one RCS port and the capsule supply of monopropellant. And two more ram intakes and radial intakes. But it just goes to orbit and back, cant do any maneuvering.

[Anton P. Nym]

Tried something new, now that the RAPIER is in the game; the Arro Mite (28 parts) SSTO. Got it into an 80km circular orbit with fuel and oxidiser left over; enough fuel to do a precision landing. Not the smallest or lightest, but I like it.

-- Steve