Presenting: A rocket for Ben Stiller

[technion]

Yes, in this ridiculous episode, we attempt to get into orbit using only Ant engines.

Some interesting things occur here. Firstly, we find that, although the Kerbal Engineer parts have 0 mass, they do appear to have drag. Because with FAR installed, placing a KER part on top would send this thing upside down straight away.

Secondly, dealing with FAR makes me see another major deficiency. This thing literally can't fly without a nosecone. The only nosecone for something this size, the "Standard NC", has more than three times of the mass of the significantly larger "Aerodynamic nosecone". The latter actually made this much easier to fly, but looked stupid.

The standard NC is also the same exact weight as the Mk1 parachute, meaning we might as well use one of those.

At liftoff, there are 48 engines running. Again, FAR makes things interesting. Turning this thing low like we'd like to is just about impossible since there's no gimballing, limited torque in our small probe, and fins would make it too heavy. We therefore are forced to take a very inefficient profile and turn at about 22km where the air really thins out.

Here we migrate to the smaller Oscar tanks, each with two engines.

Nearly there.

The upper stages.

Circularisation burn.

Orbit!