Better SSTO Spaceplane Challenge (0.23.5+0.24) Fin!

[Sirine]

Congratulation for the winner!

1) O-Doc - Robin v1.0 - Stock

2) Overfloater - Astro-Cruiser - Stock AND Wanderfound - Kerbodyne Migration - Mod (FAR)

Polling Started!

1st part (1~10): Above.

2nd part (11~20): http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/92669-Better-SSTO-Spaceplane-Challenge-%280-23-5-0-24%29-Polling-Started%21%28Second-Part%29

3rd Part (21~26): http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/92670-Better-SSTO-Spaceplane-Challenge-%280-23-5-0-24%29-Polling-Started%21%28Third-Part%29

Challenge timeframe:-

Challenge Start: 16-July-2014

Challenge End: 31-Aug-2014

Well, to be fair as a challenge host, I will not be participate in this challenge.

Challenge Instruction:-

Create a SSTO (Single Stage to Orbit) "Air+Space Craft". A space-plane. You craft must be look like a plane, fly like a plane. Not rockets with wings.

Challenge guideline.

1) Single Stage to Orbit. (Means stage 0 only)

2) You must start from the runway. Liftoff horizontally and able to land horizontally.

3) No science equipments required. (No bonus for that, but if you like it, why not?)

Challenge Rules.

1) There will be PUBLIC poll-voting. After challenge close 31-Aug-2014. Only participants are allow to vote. And you can NOT vote for yourself.

2) You are allow to use any part, Stock or Mods. And must specify which/what mod you have used. Especially:FAR. So other can have a chance to test flight your SSTO.

4) Maximum parts allows 200.

5) No Alt-F12 part clipping. (Normal means part clipping allow). Example: "Editor Extensions Mod" are allow. Engines clipping each other are allow. Just don't Alt-F12.

6) A screenshot of your craft established standard LKO (min. 70kmx70km) with resource tap open and .craft file must be made available.

7) Flight ascend (takeoff) profile must include in in-game .craft description. Just click on your craft name a drop box will show up for you to input. Like below example.

Winning reference.

1) Make an SSTO that everybody love.

2) Try to promote your SSTO to participant. Due to only participant are allow to vote.

3) You are allow to change your .craft (posted) (to draw in more vote) until the times-up, challenge close.

4) Only 1 submission per participant. (Update craft please replace your 1st submitted post. Cause I'm address linking it from there.)

5) Try to include your SSTO flight statistic, such as description, usage, part count, weight, action group key etc...so, other will be interest in your SSTO.

Since I've got some spare times. Let me explain the trick of this challenge.

1) Everybody can submit their craft, even they ignore the rules, and they will be listed. So, they are eligible to vote.

Hence,

2) Participant who don't like rules to be broken, have their right to voice out (pursued) other participants for not vote for him/her.

However, please do this in a civil manner. (Remember that they can aways update their craft file until challenge deadline.)

3) All participant have their right to choose who they like to vote for. (and pursued other voter, to their liking.)

4) You main objective are to win the vote from other participants.

5) Be nice to each other for participant, cause they hold your vote. (Be civil)

6) You (Forum-er) don't like something, you have the right to say it. So, participant can improve it. But the decision to improve it is totally up to the participant.

7) You are encourage to promote your craft. State how good your craft are. Compete/compare with others participant. Example: Yours have the most Delta-v? or Most simple/easy to fly? Fastest time to achieve LKO? Most dummy-prof design? Most ugly? Most beautiful? Most aerodynamic? Most safe? Carry most passengers? Most cost saving? Most expensive? Most clipped? etc...

Winner rewards.

1) A logo showing (Your Forum ID) that you are capable of creating a Better SSTO. (Pending Updates)

2) There will be top 3 winner!.

3) "Star" rewards for video recording.✪

---

Poll board. All participant will be listed. (Even they break the rules.)

Forum only provide single vote system. You can NOT vote for yourself.

1. Voculus - Beak of Darkness - Mod (non-FAR)
   
2. GluttonyReaper - Heavy SSTO - Stock
   
3. Darren9 - B9 Spaceplane1 - Mod (non-FAR)
   
4. Teutooni - Alrai SSTO+VTOL - Stock
   
5. Overfloater - Astro-Cruiser - Stock
   
6. KandoKris - Roger Rescue - Stock
   
7. O-Doc - Robin v1.0 - Stock
   
8. Master Tao - Skathi - Mod (FAR)
   
9. eempc - Iolite Mk1 - Mod (Non-FAR)
   
10. SkyRender - Airbus Kerbin - Stock
    
11. Sensi - S2-5M SSTO - Mod (Non-FAR)
    
12. StevenJ - SF-38 Silvershadow MKIII - Mod (FAR)
    
13. WafflesToo - RAV-1 X2 - Mod (FAR)
    
14. DaMichel - X-74 Laythe Wing - Mod (FAR)
    
15. Scarecrow88 - SSTO One - Stock
    
16. Evis03 - ACSP: Advanced Concept Space Plane - Mod (FAR)
    
17. raygundan - The Loon III - Stock
    
18. kklusmeier - Cargospaceplane2 - Mod (Craft file missing) (FAR)
    
19. Westi29 - Constellation Phoenix Variant - Mod (Non-FAR)
    
20. British_Rover - Kord TriPower - Mod (FAR)
    
21. Wanderfound - Kerbodyne Migration - Mod (FAR)
    
22. OgreMagi - Puddle jumper - Stock (missing craft file/Pic)
    
23. shufflermuffler - PIP Mk1 - Stock
    
24. sumrex - Rum Runner - Stock
    
25. Jolly_Roger - Wedgie - Stock
    
26. Hodo - SP-10 - Mod (FAR)
    

[table=width: 700, class: grid, align: left]

[tr]

[td]Voculus[/td]

[td]Beak of Darkness[/td]

[td]Mod[/td]

[td]Non-FAR (B9, SP+, KW Rocketry, Aviation Light, Surface Light)[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Darren9[/td]

[td]B9 Spaceplane1[/td]

[td]Mod[/td]

[td]Non-FAR (B9+D12,IVA,SP+,IR)[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]eempc[/td]

[td]Iolite Mk1[/td]

[td]Mod[/td]

[td]Non-FAR (SP+, Rastar Prop-IVA only, Infernal Robotics-IVA only)[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Sensi[/td]

[td]S2-5M SSTO[/td]

[td]Mod[/td]

[td]Non-FAR (B9)[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Westi29[/td]

[td]Constellation Phoenix Variant[/td]

[td]Mod[/td]

[td]Non-FAR (BD Armory, BobCat DEMV ANT, Lack Luster Labs, B9, Hybrid Ion Engine Pack)[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]GluttonyReaper[/td]

[td]Heavy SSTO[/td]

[td]Stock[/td]

[td][/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Teutooni[/td]

[td]Alrai SSTO+VTOL[/td]

[td]Stock[/td]

[td][/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Overfloater[/td]

[td]Astro-Cruiser[/td]

[td]Stock[/td]

[td][/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]KandoKris[/td]

[td]Roger Rescue[/td]

[td]Stock[/td]

[td][/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]O-Doc[/td]

[td]Robin v1.0[/td]

[td]Stock[/td]

[td][/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]SkyRender[/td]

[td]Airbus Kerbin[/td]

[td]Stock[/td]

[td][/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Scarecrow88[/td]

[td]SSTO One[/td]

[td]Stock[/td]

[td][/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]raygundan[/td]

[td]The Loon III[/td]

[td]Stock[/td]

[td][/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]OgreMagi[/td]

[td]Puddle jumper[/td]

[td]Stock[/td]

[td](Missing Craft file & Pic)[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]shufflermuffler[/td]

[td]PIP Mk1[/td]

[td]Stock[/td]

[td][/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]sumrex[/td]

[td]Rum Runner[/td]

[td]Stock[/td]

[td][/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Jolly_Roger[/td]

[td]Wedgie[/td]

[td]Stock[/td]

[td][/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Master Tao[/td]

[td]Skathi[/td]

[td]Mod[/td]

[td]FAR, SP+, DRE[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]StevenJ[/td]

[td]SF-38 Silvershadow MKIII[/td]

[td]Mod[/td]

[td]FAR, DRE, B9, TAC, Procedural Wings, KW Rocketry[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]WafflesToo[/td]

[td]RAV-1 X2[/td]

[td]Mod[/td]

[td]FAR, B9, SP+, Infernal Robotic (removed)[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]DaMichel[/td]

[td]X-74 Laythe Wing[/td]

[td]Mod[/td]

[td]FAR, SP+[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Evis03[/td]

[td]ACSP: Advanced Concept Space Plane[/td]

[td]Mod[/td]

[td]FAR, B9, Hot Rocket[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]kklusmeier[/td]

[td]Cargospaceplane2[/td]

[td]Mod[/td]

[td]FAR, SP+, Goodspeed (payload only) (Missing Craft File)[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]British_Rover[/td]

[td]Kord TriPower[/td]

[td]Mod[/td]

[td]FAR[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Wanderfound[/td]

[td]Kerbodyne Migration[/td]

[td]Mod[/td]

[td]FAR, SP+, DRE[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Hodo[/td]

[td]SP-10[/td]

[td]Mod[/td]

[td]FAR[/td]

[/tr]

[/table]

I'm not a professional graphic artist. If you find that you need to provide me more presenting craft outlook for the listing. Please do so.

Edited September 12, 2014 by Sirine
Add spaceplane. Extended time frame due to 0.24 is out! Edit: Rules 1, from Jul to Aug

[Voculus]

WARNING: Huge wall of pics. Right-click and view image to see all the sordid details, if you so desire. Note: The B9 jet engines had their config files changed to exactly match the stock KSP turbojets. I just liked the look of the B9 model. The craft files have been updated to use the stock engines. I could also no longer find the DMTanks mod for the RTGs I used (same as stock), so those were replaced as well. No shenanigans here! And one last thing: There are two stages, with the second stage for the satellite payload only!

Beak of Darkness

Beak of Darkness Craft File <--This is my official entry!

Barebones Edition Craft File <--This is only for anyone interested in the ship, minus most of the mods.

Overview:

A light, easily-controlled spaceplane, crewed by a single pilot, capable of delivering small payloads into LKO. The CoM and CoL are precariously balanced when laden with fuel, weighed down with cargo, or bone dry. The canards and elevators give the ship much needed stability in all flight regimes, from takeoff to re-entry. The ship uses four turbojets to reach 30-35km altitude before the rockets take over. Once in space, the pilot can make use of external cameras to monitor payload deployment. And it looks cool as all get out, seeing it float off from inside the cockpit!

Stats:

Length, Width, and Height: Bigger than a breadbox.

Dry Weight: 16.2 tons

Wet Weight: 28.1 tons

Submitted craft carried a payload of 2.2 tons.

Ship without payload is 71 parts.

Mods required for the craft submitted: Beak of Darkness Craft File

B9 Aerospace ( Cockpit, Fuselage, Cargobay, Wings, RCS components )

KW Rocketry ( Rocket Motors )

Space Plane Plus ( For the Scram Air Intakes )

Raster Prop Monitor ( Not sure if this is required )

ALCOR Pod ( For external cameras )

Hull Camera (More external cameras )

Aviation Lights ( So we know which way is which! )

Surface Lights ( Gotta illuminate our bad self! )

MechJeb ( Only used for vessel info, and was not used at any point in the flight, demonstrating the ease of flying! )

Mods required for the barebones ship: Barebones Edition Craft File

B9 Aerospace ( Cockpit, Fuselage, Cargobay, Wings, RCS components )

KW Rocketry ( Rocket Motors )

MechJeb ( Better than cheating, amirite? )

CoL & CoM Relationships - With Payload, Without, and Nearly dry for re-entry: These are links to images, because it's boring stuff.

With Payload

Without payload

Nearly dry, as during re-entry

Ready for takeoff.

It's a bird! It's a plane! Yep.

Now we're cookin'!

Kicking in the burn at 35km! Airhog much? Why, yes. Yes I do. But I didn't clip them like a chump!

You'd be forgiven for staring at this gorgeous beauty!

Look at that sexy orbit! It's almost round, even!

The gaping maw of the B9 cargobay.

Watching the action about to unfold.

Some Kethane scanners weren't meant to be caged!

Like releasing a little duck onto a pond.

Preparing for re-entry.

Coming in hot! Is there any other way?

There she blows! By the way, all SAS units were turned off for re-entry. She's nothing if not stable.

Do a barrel roll! Because that's how the Beak of Darkness rolls! Oh, I slay me.

Mission complete!

Hope you liked it!

Edited July 17, 2014 by Voculus

[Master Tao]

I'm in! I prefer flying spaceplanes to rockets anyway.

[Pecan]

Please change the title to 'spaceplane', since VTOL SSTOs aren't eligible.

[Sirine]

@TJPrime : Looking forward for your entry.

@Voculus : A very impressive entry. However, please be realize that there will be only 1 entry per participant. Your may promote both of your craft now and see which is more popular (higher chance of getting vote). Later before the deadline, please let me know which one to put for voting.

@Pecan : Space-plane it is. Added. However VTOL is acceptable. As long as the craft is look like a plane, rather then rocket with wings stick on both side.

Edited July 16, 2014 by Sirine

[GluttonyReaper]

Craft File: http://www./download/haet62hxtq3ydwu/Heavy+SSTO.craft

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Weight at launch: 26.61 tons

Dry weight: 12.49 tons

Part count: 58

Physical dimensions: Quite Large

Action Groups: 1 to switch RAPIER engines' modes / 2 to toggle intakes.

100% stock, no mods used.

Holds 5 kerbals.

Probably not FAR or DRE compatible. Use at own risk.

Not certified for flight outside of LKO without refueling.

Landing without engine thrust is steep - do not be afraid! The craft will remain (mostly) intact on landing, as long as vertical speed is kept below 15m/s.

Edited July 17, 2014 by GluttonyReaper
Updating craft file.

[Sirine]

@ GluttonyReaper : Well done. Your main point for selling are the Hitchiker module? Fully stock are much appreciable by non-mod heavy player. And detail flight profile too. Wish you luck on getting more vote!

Update:-

Tested your craft. Nose heavy at the beginning, but after at high altitude >10km, it become very stable. Easy to handle. A thumb up design.

Below are some of my suggestion. Perhaps you should include "press 2 to turn off the Air-intake". And tuning on the control surface, will guaranty more safe landing.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Edited July 17, 2014 by Sirine
Adding update

[GluttonyReaper]

@ GluttonyReaper

Tested your craft. Nose heavy at the beginning, but after at high altitude >10km, it become very stable. Easy to handle. A thumb up design.

Below are some of my suggestion. Perhaps you should include "press 2 to turn off the Air-intake". And tuning on the control surface, will guaranty more safe landing.

Oops. I think I actually set up an action group for the the intakes, I just forgot to mention them. Thanks for the advice with the control surfaces. Updating craft file now.

[Hodo]

Interesting challenge, I may participate. I have so many mods though it will be hard for me to list them all. I may remove some of the ones I know most people don't use so others can test the craft. Like my ECLSS life support mod, I know it isn't hugely popular and just makes the game harder, and has no affect on the actual craft performance, but it is mandatory on all my craft, or any craft I test in my install.

[Sirine]

@ Hodo : Somehow I know, sooner or later your will be in this challenge. You space-plane are legendary. But, well what would you bring out to attracts more votes? Hints: It depends on who your competitor are. So far, 1 Mod heavy, 1 Purely stock.

[Hodo]

@ Hodo : Somehow I know, sooner or later your will be in this challenge. You space-plane are legendary. But, well what would you bring out to attracts more votes? Hints: It depends on who your competitor are. So far, 1 Mod heavy, 1 Purely stock.

The funny thing is I can enter one in each..lol One stock (with FAR) and one mod heavy.

But I will see what I can work out. It maybe a few days before I get a chance, life is a bit busy right now.

[Sirine]

@ Hodo : Perhaps you should just throw in a few flavored craft and see how is the participant like it. And choose the most popular one for voting.

[Darren9]

I have the B9 Spaceplane 1, a 61 part, 11.8T, 3 man spaceplane originally designed for a Laythe skydiving mission. Extremely agile in the lower atmosphere combined with low stall speed, it can land virtually anywhere.

Easy to fly on Kerbin with a very forgiving ascent profile to LKO it typically makes orbit with around half the fuel remaining. The final production version has slight changes at the forward cockpit, main intakes and rear battery bank to accommodate the "no-clip" rules of this particular challenge. JSI camera systems, retro rockets, skydivers parachutes and Mechjeb were removed as they were specific to the Laythe mission.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

Uses B9 with D12 Expansion and IVA Extension, Spaceplane+ and IR robotics Rework Structural parts. B9 Spaceplane 1 craft file.

[Voculus]

Darren, that beast is sweet! The front end reminds me of a Klingon ship.

[Pecan]

...@Pecan : Space-plane it is. Added. However VTOL is acceptable. As long as the craft is look like a plane, rather then rocket with wings stick on both side.

Thanks for the clarification :-)

[Hodo]

And .24 comes out and auto updates my current install LOL...

So until I fix all of my plugins, which I am not even going to mess with right now, I am going to hold off posting anything.

[Sirine]

@Darren9 : Simply nice. I like it.

@Pecan : No problem. Awaiting your entry. Sooner or later.

@ Hodo : Enjoy 0.24!, and remember to come back here once you are done with the contracts.

[Pecan]

No entry from me, I'm afraid. I'd love to but I'm too busy with other things.

Off topic, but affects this thread: Some (at least 4) of us are seeing embedded imgur albums as completely black. I raised this as a possible forum fault but KasperVid says in http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/86389-Blank-Imgur-Albums that the BBCode is wrong. Unfortunately that means I can't see any of the albums here (individual pics are no problem).

[Teutooni]

Cool planes so far! Here's another stock entry. Carries only 3 kerbals and no cargo. Went for a premium sportscar feel rather than high capacity.

Alrai SSTO+VTOL, features:

Pilot + 2 passengers.

152 parts, cost 105445, probably needs most if not all of the research tree open. Only stock parts, no mods required.

2 basic jet engines in a VTOL configuration. Fairly stable VTOL flight under all fuel levels.

3 stacked (no cheats, just a little clipping) tubojet engines ensure flameouts don't affect flight direction.

2 LV-N NERVA rockets with approximately 2000m/s delta-v (not sure, don't have mechjeb).

2 docking ports, shielded normal port located between VTOL engines and a jr. behind front wheel.

Pilot escape pod, capable of slight orbital maneuvering, re-entry and parachute descent.

12 solar panels provide energy for extended flights.

Flight characteristics:

Aerodynamically stable design. Can be easily flown without SAS. Still, maneuverable enough that it can go out of control if you jerk the controls too much. No need to adjust throttle levels or air intakes, just go full throttle for the climb. Once 2 out of the 3 turbojet engines flameout at around 30+ km, turn on the nuclear rockets. Don't turn off the turbojets until the last one flameouts, they can still provide a nice bit of extra thrust at 40+km. I achieved 73km orbit with around 66% oxidizer and 50% fuel remaining. Which leaves plenty to rendezvous with silly inclinations or higher orbits.

Pics! http://imgur.com/a/RovuA

Edited July 20, 2014 by Teutooni

[Fengist]

I have the B9 Spaceplane 1, a 61 part, 11.8T, 3 man spaceplane originally designed for a Laythe skydiving mission. Extremely agile in the lower atmosphere combined with low stall speed, it can land virtually anywhere.

Correct me if I'm not mistaken, but in the video you took for the other challenge didn't I see you dropping engines? That would imply it's not SSTO (single stage to orbit). Can it actually do that?

[Fengist]

@Pecan : Space-plane it is. Added. However VTOL is acceptable. As long as the craft is look like a plane, rather then rocket with wings stick on both side.

@Fengist: Well, the rules did stated you need to take-off horizontally, and land horizontally.

Entry removed. Ambiguous rules by OP.

Edited July 21, 2014 by Fengist

[Sirine]

@Teutooni Nice stock craft. Hope you will get some stock hardcore to vote for your craft.

@Fengist Welcome to the challenge. I believe Darren9 video was just an example of what his craft can do. SSTO do means single stage to orbit. And I believe his craft is more than capable of doing that.

About your entry... Well, the rules did stated you need to take-off horizontally, and land horizontally. However is still up to the participant to judge on that. They have your vote, not me.

[Overfloater]

Not sure whether this should be considered an entry, but here's a single stage ship i made recently:

Astro-Cruiser:

191 parts.

May not be absolutely dummy-proof, but -

those who know how to fly to Laythe and back will do more than fine, as this ship has outrageous amounts of delta-v.

Javascript is disabled. View full album

craft file

I am going to make a video of it, but not before this challenge is over. My mobile connection is terrible and I'm not sure when i'm coming home.

=========================

Update: video!

Laythe & Duna in one trip.

=========================

Update #2: it can also fly to Dres:

=========================

Update #3: ...and Eeloo too:

Edited August 15, 2014 by Overfloater

[pa1983]

Nice design! Like it.

[Overfloater]

Nice design! Like it.

I stole so many of your techniques for this one... x-D

tall landing gear; anti spin-out; separate jet & rocket fuel... If i built my cargo ships that way they would also consist of 1200+ parts!