Tower of Babel

[Lohan2008]

Using stock parts, what is the highest tower that can be built on Kerbal ? Multiple launches allowed. Bonus for least number of parts.

[ihtoit]

I think you mean tallest? To answer, assuming unbreakable joints: 2.5km.

[cantab]

I don't imagine Kerbals will give a very solid foundation.

Anyway, a tallest tower challenge isn't unreasonable, but I think it needs 1) launch clamps banned, otherwise making 2.5 km is trivial, and 2) a requirement for minimum time to stay up.

[Pds314]

Would mods extending the maximum loading range be allowed?

[pauix]

Would mods extending the maximum loading range be allowed?

The biggest thing I've seen that didn't collapse on the launchpad had 5000+ pieces, and I'm not sure it reached the 2.5km height limit. Going further than risks turning your CPU into a fried egg.

[ihtoit]

mmm... the thing with KSP since it still doesn't have proper multicore support nor does it use the GPU aside from actually rendering, is to run the app on the fastest processor you can get your hands on. My son has a quad core AMD FX he's overclocked from 3.2GHz to 5.5GHz, on a five pound copper heatsink and the most evil electrothermal core heat exchanger I've ever built! An entire 4cm^2 of Peltier heat pump running on 7V (should be 5V), for an idle gradient of over 50C. You bet that puppy's sealed with plastic caulk as well! And you can have all the RAM you like, unless you're running Linux and 64-bit Unity, you're gonna hit the 4GB wall.