[0.90.0] Lopac Lifter Family 10-520 ton V0.11: Low Partcount Lifters

[mhoram]

Thanks!

They are just the numbers needed to configure the Mech-Jeb Ascent Path in the order of appearance in the MJ-GUI.

MechJeb compatible (75 km, 10km, 75km, 0°, 40%)

Orbit altitude: 75km

Turn start altitude: 10km

Turn end altitude: 75km

Final flight path angle: 0°

Turn shape: 40%

I always assume of the Orbital Inclination to be 0°. If you use a different value, then you will need more fuel.

I did all my tests with Corrective Steering switched on, but it should also work, if it is turned off.

[BigD145]

You should update these with stock prices. It's actually quite important now.

Lopac 01 is $39750

Edited September 24, 2014 by BigD145

[mhoram]

They were originally optimized for partcount and not for costs.

Optimizing for cost requires a completely different approach and would simply not fit into this line of lifters.

If you are looking for cost effective lifters, you can get a few ideas in the Cost-Effective Lifters Challenge.

[BigD145]

Just having the information is important. Sometimes you have the cash to keep your part count down. Sometimes you don't.

[mhoram]

i misunderstood your intention. Good Idea I will update the list to include the prices.

Edit: Done.

Edited September 24, 2014 by mhoram

[BigD145]

After reading through your link of efficient craft I think your Lopac 32 beats out the competition at around the 300 ton payload mark. It's also a nearly dead topic.

[mhoram]

After reading through your link of efficient craft I think your Lopac 32 beats out the competition at around the 300 ton payload mark. It's also a nearly dead topic.

I can't believe that any lifter in this family is cost-efficient, because they don't use any of the cheap Solid Fuel Boosters or efficient Jet Engines.

All of them have a cost:Payload ratio larger than 2000:1 and in the challenge they reach values of 1000:1.

But the Lopac 12 could take the lead ;-)

[DJRWolf]

I tried to use the 52 to launch a 160 ish ton craft to 300km orbit and give a kick start to Duna. As soon as it lifted off it would veer off to the east. When I swapped it out for the 40 it launched fine. One craft file with lander and one without. Craft has MechJeb.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47197519/Duna%20Alpha%20I.craft

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47197519/Duna%20Alpha%20II.craft

[mhoram]

I tried to use the 52 to launch a 160 ish ton craft to 300km orbit and give a kick start to Duna. As soon as it lifted off it would veer off to the east. When I swapped it out for the 40 it launched fine. One craft file with lander and one without. Craft has MechJeb.

It seems like both, "Duna Alpha I" and "Duna Alpha II" lost a KR-2L engine in the central stack of the lifter. That is why they veer off.

Try the following:

- remove the changed Lifter from the 160-ish ton craft (including the structural panel layer)

- add a pristine Lifter subassembly to the bottom of your craft

- add struts from the structural-panel-layer to your craft

- launch

I just tried this with "Duna Alpha II" and this got rid of the described problem directly after launch (and also removes all the then-unnecessary reaction wheels).

[StormKat]

These lifters make life so much easier. Thanks!

[DJRWolf]

I think .90 has broken the Lopac boosters. Every time I load them in the fuel transfer pipes and struts are broken. Even putting them back manually will not fix them since I did that and as soon as I rolled it out to the launch pad they broke again.

[Giggleplex777]

I think .90 has broken the Lopac boosters. Every time I load them in the fuel transfer pipes and struts are broken. Even putting them back manually will not fix them since I did that and as soon as I rolled it out to the launch pad they broke again.

It's a strange bug. You'll have to use "new" struts and fuels lines from the parts list rather than the current ones.

[mhoram]

Thanks for the hint. Hopefully I will get some time during the holidays to look into this.

[Guest]

Please fix this! I use your lifters all the time!

[DJRWolf]

Been a while since any postings, any updates?

[mhoram]

Been a while since any postings, any updates?

Yes, the update is that there is an update.

It seems like it was very easy to fix the subassemblies for V0.90.0. I simply had to subassembly-save them from the original ships and now they seem to work again. Download links are in the Opening Post.

I did not testfly them as thoroughly as in my previous releases. But I hope that the specifications of the parts did not change so much, so that the lifters still bring their payload into orbit.

[panzer1b]

Thanks, these work great.

Well the 520t does, havent really had much need for anything less then that .

Finally have a (somewhat low part) lifter for my destroyer class capital ship, which weighs a little below 500t fully fueled.