Question about Gliders

[Redshift OTF]

So I am working on something right now but it would be nice to know if anyone else has done it. Has anyone managed to get a Kerbal into LKO with an infini-glider? And by LKO I mean a proper orbit with a periapsis greater than 70km preferably 100km by 100km. Any designs would be gratefully received!

[Guest]

Infiniglider-only orbits are not really possible, since the aerodynamics don't work in space, and the point at which you last applied thrust has to belong to your orbit. However, you could do infiniglider+Kraken drive...

[Redshift OTF]

I mean an infini-glider that could carry some kind of thrusting apparatus i.e. small rocket engine and fuel, ion engine or RCS engine to complete the orbit.

[Madrias]

I'm fairly sure it could be done. Infinigliders don't have to be particularly light, they just need lots of flappy-flaps. To carry an engine and some rocket fuel should be easy enough.

[Frank_G]

A very hard task in my opinion. I think the most critical part will be to reach the needed horizontal speed when talking about a glider. Once you are up high and fast it wont be a problem like with any other SSTO.

[merendel]

If you alow some form of propelent, even RCS it could be done. With no drive force once in vacume you prety much cant enter a stable orbit as you would have no way to raise your Pe. The only way you could do it without some form of space drive is to eject with enough velocity to do a Mun flyby and get a gravity assist to kick your orbit up (or enough to escape kerbin's SOI altogeather). I'd be quite impressed if someone did manage to infiniglide into a mun encounter, that would take some skill.

[TechnicalK3rbal]

I've seen someone got an infiniglider with an apoapsis that got up to the Mun, and then used the gravity to slingshot it further out....

[Tex]

I've seen someone got an infiniglider with an apoapsis that got up to the Mun

Hmm... I suppose that THIS could mean that you could use the Mun's gravity to attain orbit! Aha! Might hafta try this!

[cantab]

The gotcha being that if you use a Mun encounter to attain orbit, sooner or later the Mun will mess your orbit up again.

Also, it won't be LKO.

[Redshift OTF]

Interesting! I have actually built one although you don't need to flap much. Once you get above 30 m/s and engage SAS the craft accelerates up to 1300 m/s automatically and achieves an apoapsis of 70 km. This is carrying an RCS engine and Kerbal. There's enough RCS to push the apoapsis up to 100 km and then circularise for LKO leaving 20% RCS left. Total flight time about 5 minutes. I just wondered if anyone else has done this or done it better. I'll see if I can post a video tonight. I'm also working on an Eve capable version.

[Redshift OTF]

Well here's the video.

Let me know if anyone wants the craft file, instructions on how to fly it and other information and I'll stick it up on the Spacecraft Exchange. MechJeb is on there but I only used it to display information. RCS thrusting was done by holding H.

Edited April 17, 2014 by Redshift OTF

[AustralianFries]

That was great, Redshift.