SSTO Launcher

[Fellow314]

Imaginatively titled, I know.

This is a proof of concept of something I've been trying to do for ages, an interplanetary, multi-stage SSTO.

One or two problems:

The nuke retains it's shroud, for some reason (although quicksave and reload get rid of it.)

It leaves a separatron on orbit.

Undocking is tricky, requiring running the nuke at about 25% power before seperation, otherwise the docking ports grab it.

Docking it is a nightmare for Mechjeb. I've had to build in some docking ports for Jeb to aim at.

I lost the nuke on the runway at landing.

On the plus side:

It went up, separated, docked without knocking anything off, and landed. No-one died.

I suspect that adding the necessary weight at the front to make the pod a fully fledged lander might mess with the aerodynamics.

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https://www.dropbox.com/s/abanf34i8txao1f/Launcher%20NMJ.craft

[Fellow314]

Shakeout to the moon, with a proper landing pod and suitably adjusted aerodynamics.

Should be capable of going much, much further.

I suspect there are problems with the way the fuel feeds.

(Why do I always do things where it's dark?!)

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https://www.dropbox.com/s/kkx8hjzev56lx5l/Launcher%20%2B%20Pod%20NMJ.craft

Edited February 10, 2014 by Fellow314

[Fellow314]

To Minmus and back.

(eta, er, and a plane )

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Edited February 10, 2014 by Fellow314

[CavemanNinja]

I must say, very impressive sir. I can never get planes that far on just a nuke. But, maybe that's because I don't use a DSTO (double stage to orbit).

good job!

[Fellow314]

I must say, very impressive sir. I can never get planes that far on just a nuke. But, maybe that's because I don't use a DSTO (double stage to orbit).

good job!

Thanks.

It hits orbit on conventional rockets though. The nuke is just for the (hopefully) interplanetary stage.

[spaceman1999]

This is cool! Can we get a craft file of the lander separate please.

[Fellow314]

This is cool! Can we get a craft file of the lander separate please.

Sure

This is as a subassembly

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b7g45tdzb2ext54/Podreq.craft