The new standard in super heavy stock lifters

[Himynameisjake]

Disclaimer: file is not truly stock, includes a mechjeb unit, will remove and reupload tomorrow.

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This is the lifter you've been looking for.

http://www.fileswap.com/dl/ZEvWWBV6Qz/

Caution, it is a framerate hog, with almost 1500 parts without a payload, this means that (at least on my computer) the first couple stages are a no-go for physics warp. The file I linked here includes a 7 Jumbo tank with asparagus style staging. With that payload it has a whopping 4838 atmo and 5701 vacuum delta-v, you can get the 252T payload to an orbit of 620km without touching the fuel in the payload. It has flight controls (RCS and SAS*6), 6k Battery life and 6 RTG's to keep you powered up until forever. It's also so stable I just launch it from the platform, no Launch Stability Enhancers. Some of the strutting could be prettier, but that's as nice as I'm making it tonight. The center booster is set to 25% thrust limit and has its own RCS pack because it has a tendency to flail about when it pushes that big of a load by itself. The Mainsails are separated from the tanks by an octagonal strut to allow them to cool properly, meaning you never have to reduce thrust on any of the other engines. The vertical I-Beams can be removed, though I like to use them for stability of payload.

[Larrt_M]

Sorry, I'm a bit new at this. It looks awesome, just downloaded it.

Do I just add a decoupler to the top and add my payload to that?

I just put your lifter into orbit on a test flight. Pretty amazing!

Edited March 17, 2014 by Larrt_M

[Himynameisjake]

You can put whatever you like on it, a decoupler would let you separate your payload if you need to. you could also use a docking port lol.

[Larrt_M]

Yeah, I figured out that I could use a decoupler after I posted the question.

Your lifter is very easy to control.. nice work.

[Himynameisjake]

Thanks, that was the goal, make it silly powerful while still flyable. I'll be making a small change to it adding a decoupler to the innermost ring of six engines rather than dropping the tank set as a whole because the center rocket tends to swing when it's by itself if you push it too hard.

[Larrt_M]

Sounds good! I will definitely be watching for the updated version.

[Blue]

I try to make it a self-imposed challenge that any payload over 100 tons is too much for a single launch, and make the desired vehicle then require rendezvous and assembly. This keeps vessels smaller than a combination of about 6-8 of your sort of size boosters. It's also proportionately more efficient, and computationally more reliable than doing monstrously oversized spacecraft.

[Himynameisjake]

I try to make it a self-imposed challenge that any payload over 100 tons is too much for a single launch, and make the desired vehicle then require rendezvous and assembly. This keeps vessels smaller than a combination of about 6-8 of your sort of size boosters. It's also proportionately more efficient, and computationally more reliable than doing monstrously oversized spacecraft.

I like to get things done quickly and spend less time docking and more time flying. Not to mention I utilize this lifter for meeting challenge requirements like "single launch only" challenges. I am currently flying a Grand Tour mission that only required two launches with this guy (and realistically could have been done in one with another ring of boosters, but I didn't like the slow frame rate).

[kwinto]

It's really great lifter, but:

1. The very middle tanks stack blows up every time at the last stage, because of too many separatrons damaging it (24 separatrons!). I removed lower separatrons from each surrounding tank, leaving only 12 (2 for each tank stack) and it worked pretty well.

2. Why you install Mainsail (6t) and want to reduce it to 20% (1500KN down to 300) if you can install much lighter Skipper (4t) and limit it to 50% (600KN down to 325) or even install double LV-T45 pack (in case you need some gimbal), resulting 3t less mass...?

3. Top 7 tanks seem not to bo connected to anything (no fuel ducts between them). You staged them somehow, but i guess something went wrong resulting failed fuel ducts.

Sorry for my bad english.

[Hachouma]

The top 7 tanks are the payload, and not part of the lifter.

[Himynameisjake]

It's really great lifter, but:

1. The very middle tanks stack blows up every time at the last stage, because of too many separatrons damaging it (24 separatrons!). I removed lower separatrons from each surrounding tank, leaving only 12 (2 for each tank stack) and it worked pretty well.

Thank you so much! I have been struggling with that, very nice idea.

2. Why you install Mainsail (6t) and want to reduce it to 20% (1500KN down to 300) if you can install much lighter Skipper (4t) and limit it to 50% (600KN down to 325) or even install double LV-T45 pack (in case you need some gimbal), resulting 3t less mass...?

Because I have been struggling with wobble from the center when burning by itself, that's an idea I had not considered!

3. Top 7 tanks seem not to bo connected to anything (no fuel ducts between them). You staged them somehow, but i guess something went wrong resulting failed fuel ducts.

The fuel ducts and staging work fine for me, but I'm sorry if something went wrong with the process when you loaded it. They are actually the payload I just put on it as a base, to demonstrate the ridiculous lifting capabilities of this monster