Long range SSTO help!

[jmiki8]

Awesome! Does it use a jet engine (because I don't see any)?

[Mesklin]

On the last picture it is only lander, it should be connected to previous showed SSTO designed by m4rt14n

[jmiki8]

Oh, I see! Nice!

[Cupcake...]

I haven't really had a chance to push this ship to the limit yet, but all I can say is she goes a looooooooooong way!

Cupcake...

Edited February 17, 2014 by Cupcake...

[Armchair Rocket Scientist]

Your SSTO itself doesn't need to be long range. Unless you're going to Laythe, your wings and jet engines are dead weight once you reach LKO. Use your SSTO to launch stuff like nuclear-powered transfer stages, fuel tanks, habitation modules, and landers into LKO, and build your spacecraft there. If you are going to Laythe, there aren't good landing spots for your giant interplanetary SSTO anyway; build a smaller SSTO with STOL or even VTOL capability and get it to Laythe orbit with the heavy nuclear transfer stage.

[O-Doc]

I haven't really had a chance to push this ship to the limit yet, but all I can say is she goes a looooooooooong way!

Cupcake...

Sweet dropship Cupcake! How much rocket delta-v did you need to get the Laythe? I've got an SSTO with 7300m/s at LKO. Would that get me to Laythe and back?

I've been thinking about theoretical SSTO delta-v limits. I think 9000m/s is the most practical you could get. After that I suspect you would not be getting out of the atmosphere. 9000m/s is wings, wheels, turbos, a nuke and one cockpit.

[Mesklin]

How much rocket delta-v did you need to get the Laythe? I've got an SSTO with 7300m/s at LKO. Would that get me to Laythe and back?

SSTO can easily traveling to Laythe and back with 4000 m/s (with spare 300-400 m/s), with 7300 m/s you can also land on one, maybe two small moons of Jool

[O-Doc]

Cheers. I was looking at the subway map and not really sure. I know I can cut alot of delta-v with slingshots and aerobraking. I might have my showcase mission being a return trip to Laythe then. I'll see if I can squeeze in a Bop and/or Pol visit too!